Elizabeth Zimmermann's work is genius

I have several baby gifts needed in the next few months. Way more for whom I can possibly get quilts done. So I decided that I would try to make little sweaters. I saw a couple of Baby Surprise Jackets on line at Knitting Paradise and was intrigued. Every single one looked different but each one was beautiful -- a work of art. So I looked up the pattern and purchased it.

Elizabeth Zimmermann designed the pattern and first printed it in a newsletter in 1968. It is a work of art. Knitted "flat", it is one piece folded almost origami style to form a jacket. The pattern as originally written was loosely explained in conversation style; however it has been re-written and is easy to follow.

I started the above BSJ last evening and have gotten almost half of the knitting done already. I call this my Coat of Many Colors. It is made using left-over Lion Brand Microspun yarn in several colors. I am so very excited to see it completed -- however, not so excited about weaving in all the ends. I think that I may try some long self striping yarn for BSJ #2.

Knitters in a twist

Instead of the international symbol for "NO" shown above, please imagine a crest with an American Flag and 5 colored interlocking rings. I can't show that, because I wouldn't want to be accused of infringing upon a trademark.

I have been reading about the interesting news of a controversy between the U.S. Olympic Committee and a community of knitters and crocheters in an on-line social website called Ravelry. (I must make a disclaimer here that I, too, am a member of Ravelry and it is one of my favorite sites.) The 'yarn' begins when Ravelry established its 3rd Bi-Annual Ravelympics set to coincide with the 2012 Olympic Games in London

The U.S. Olympic Committee has written Ravelry a cease and desist letter (you will need a membership to view the link) which has twisted the stitches of many knitters and crocheters. The letter says, "We believe using the name “Ravelympics” for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games.  In a sense, it is disrespectful to our country’s finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work." Hard work? The writer of this letter obviously has never knit a pair of toe up, two at a time, cabled socks on a single circular knitting needle.

I understand that the U.S Olympic Committee feels the need, as does any corporation, to protect their "brand" and the trademarks that they have established. However, to insult a group that is at least two million strong is probably trouble. At the time of the writing of this letter, the U.S. Olympic Committee's Facebook site has been inundated with comments from knitters and their supporters, the Ravelry post on this letter has 92 pages of comments from members and there are already over 5,600 results to the Google search "US Olympic knitting". Online articles have been written by the likes of Businessweek, USA Today, and TNT Magazine.

Patrick Sandusky, USOC Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, issued a statement apologizing for their unintended denigration of fiber artists everywhere, then had to issue an apology for the apology as it sounded as if they were asking knitters to make them handmade items. If there is any lesson in this, it is don't mess with women holding sharp pointy things.

Beemer's Blue Sweater

The sweater for Beemer , aka Mr. B, is done!!! He even agreed to model it for us on a 90 degree day! The pattern, wurstwarmer by Pamela Wynne of Flint Knits was easy and fast to knit. As with human sweaters, sometimes a pattern has to be adjusted for a perfect fit and I will have to make a couple of quick adjustment to the pattern to get it fitting him like a second skin. However, even the first thing my husband said when he saw it was, "it fits him perfect like it was made for a dachshund"!

The express reason I knitted it in the first place was that store bought clothing for pets were not made with the dachshund in mind. As discussed in an earlier post, their long body, deep chest and short legs make them perfect candidate for a custom made sweater.

As for the adjustments, the sweater is a little snug over the back between the sleeve openings and I think that the decreases at the belly are a little to "steep" for Beemer. His pattern size is medium. On the first row of the sleeve opening, the pattern says to leave 34 stitches over the back between the sleeve openings and 26 between the sleeves on the belly. On his next sweater, I will move the openings closer together on the belly side with 38 stitches over the back and 22 stitches between the sleeve openings on the belly side. I am hoping that this will eliminate the pulling that you see on the pictures above.  I also plan to knit the belly decreases more gradually. The decreases are done in every other row and I think that I will do them every third row.

Well, let's see. . . I think Mr. would look dashing in red! Don't you?

Happy knitting!

Latest Lace Project -- Song of Songs

This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. I am actually past the second corner and at about the 10th row on the 1st repeat of the body. I am knitting the True Love Stole from the book, Wendy Knits Lace, as my current lace project. I have to admit, it is harder than anything else I have ever done. I have trouble concentrating enough to get through a row sometimes. In fact, I am also knitting a sweater for my dog when I haven't the patience to knit --  which with this lace project is often.

I am using Silky Alpaca Lace in Pixie Pink. I like the yarn. It is smooth and beautiful, but it does not take a lot of abuse. There have been a couple of rows that I have had to knit and tink and knit and tink and knit again. Hopefully, I do not have too many rows like that as the yarn shows the wear. At the rate that I am knitting this, I will be posting pictures of the finished project at Christmas.

Oh, well, Happy Knitting!!!

Not Your Average Sweater

This is my baby, Beemer! And although summer is coming and it will be hot, I needed something fast and easy to knit when I couldn't concentrate easily enough to knit lace, so Beemer is getting a sweater.  Searching for a pattern is easy when you use Ravelry and not only did I find a dog sweater, I found a dog sweater specifically designed for the not-your-average-shaped-dog shape of the dachshund. The Wurstwarmer is a pattern available for sale through Ravelry. Most of the patterns that I knit have been free downloads, but this one was worth every penny of the $3.00 charge.

Designed by Flint Knits, the pattern's "short rows add extra material to accommodate a dachshund’s barrel chest. A long, ribbed, generously-sized turtleneck gently hugs the neck and allows for a wide range of neck and chest shapes and sizes. A long body covers the belly, and more short rows curve the sweater over the rump. Short, wide-set triangular sleeves will stay on even the wiggliest pups."

I am using some old acrylic sport weight yarn by Caron. And when I say old, I mean it -- the yarn is some 14 or 15 years old. The pattern is knit with only one yarn. However, you know I have a hard time not fiddling with a pattern, so I have incorporated a stripe into the sweater. I knit down to the end of the chest increase/short rows in navy, then switched to a medium blue just before the bind off and cast on for the leg holes. A total of 9 rows of knitting in the medium blue, then a single row of cream, three rows of medium blue, another single row of cream, 9 rows of medium blue and back to navy.

If you have ever knit socks with a short row heel, this pattern should be a breeze. In fact the sweater looked a lot like a giant sock until I intentionally knit in two holes for Beemer's legs! I am guessing that this pattern would be great for other long low dogs such as Basset Hounds, short legged Jack Russell Terriers and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. Although a Dandie Dinmont pretty much has its own sweater!

If this one works out well, I may be knitting an entire wardrobe for my Mr. B!

Happy knitting!