So, about that chamomile... I took it to back to Liberty, which was where I bought the yarn. I showed it to the Rowan Consultants, who all thought that it was funky and cool that the yarn from the same dyelot as so different, that the stripes were obvious. Yes. it does look funky and cool, but not if the back is stripy but the front isn't.
Jules had a dig and found more yarn from the same dyelot and we compared it all under bright lights and we found one that matched the darker skein and one that matched the lighter skein. She gave me one of the lighter skeins which match the front that I completed. She offered to reknit the back for me, if it should stripe again. How about that? One heck of a yarn shop or what? And the best bit was that I didn't have to go queue at the post office to return the pieces, etc. OK, I'm going to be a happy monkey, if I can get this back done. Three times lucky, right?
So in my disgust, I stopped working on chamomile and started this sock instead. Socks can be so soothing... except when they are stripey and I've just got into a tangle with bad stripes. It's a simple 3 x 1 rib patterned, destined for an old friend's mom, who had been alarmingly eying up a pair that I sent her from last year. It's been so cold on the east coast of the US, that thick socks are essential for keeping the feet warm.
I know Rowan has had a lot of grief with their monthly freebie members patterns, but boy did they come up with a winner this month.
It's from Adorable Knits for Tiny Tots by Zoe Mellor. I've got to get this book. I've got to knit this sweater. Anyone want to join me for a little knit-along? I'm not planning to start until March...and I've already got some Red Rowan HandKnit Cotton in my stash.
Posted by atu at February 6, 2004 10:31 PMYay - this is on my to knit list and I have the yarn on order and then at Kerries Place that you are organizing a knit-a-long! Count me in :)
Posted by: Tiffany at February 12, 2004 07:58 PMHi ,
Slightly off topic but could you possibly somehow enlarge your 2 Pre- 2003 DB smocked cardigans as well as the green cardigan from Tadpoles .
I would love to see them better !
Thanks ,
Christina in Greater London
Hi ,
Slightly off topic but could you possibly somehow enlarge your 2 Pre- 2003 DB smocked cardigans as well as the green cardigan from Tadpoles .
I would love to see them better !
Thanks ,
Christina in Greater London
Hi Polly - I'm in for that knitalong although I'll be starting in a couple of weeks time when we go away for the weekend. Its good to hear about some of the issues with the border, time to get my thinking hat on and work out what to do..
Posted by: kerrie at February 10, 2004 08:31 AMThose are the cutest little sweaters. Where else do you go for yarn in London other than Liberty? Are there any places to get Colinette yarns in the city. I always go to Liberty and John Lewis whenever I am there, but maybe there's a LYS that I don't know about. I would really appreciate the information. Thanks
Posted by: Hellen at February 10, 2004 01:46 AMDawn - more comments on free pattern - I have just cast on for 3rd time (keeping my sideways knitted border, though) - this time I have done as you suggested, a provisional cast on, straight up, no increases or anything, then when I have joined back and front I will put on the border and make sure it hangs straight, no gathering. No wonder you can't see it in the picture!The one I did is in Jane Crowfoot's finishing techniques book, gater stitch triangles with a lacey bit one side, very easy! Did it round a blanket once.
Posted by: Jill at February 9, 2004 07:49 PMIf I had a little girl, this is one knitalong I'd be joining. Cute, cute pattern. Almost makes me want to join the Rowan club!
Posted by: Becky at February 9, 2004 03:48 PMFurther comments on the free Rowan pattern
Jill, it looked even worse when I took it off the needles. After knitting the border, you're picking up approx 2 sts for each selvedge stitch, giving an almost gathered appearance. I'm going to knit a bottom border after knitting the rest of the jumper, maybe I'll have a look at your border to see if I like it better!
Dawn :)
Posted by: dawn at February 9, 2004 01:58 PMJust Came across this wonderful web site. Although I have never knitted socks before your pattern and yarn have inspired me. Where can I purchase the pattern and yarn.
Thanks
Rochelle
Dawn, I am also having problems with that border. It does work out, pattern is not actually wrong, but very badly explained and unusual abbreviations....... I didn't like the way it was done either - I have done a different border altogether (out of Jane Crowfoot's book)and picked up the right number of stitches from the border , I didn't like the way it looked with the increases, etc.in the original border. I started off with the sleeve - no problems there!
Posted by: Jill at February 8, 2004 11:09 PMJust what I needed--another WIP!! But I just HAPPEN to have some DK Cotton in RESERVE for just such a project (I prefer to think of myself as prudent and prepared instead of weird and obsessed, thank you). Baby Rosie would look ever so great in it, and now I get the idea from Jill that my skinny 7 year old could wear one, too--that's 2 WIPS????? It will be a nice reward next month, after finishing Portly Dad's chunky alpaca jacket, long overdue and soon to be re-named Cranky Dad's chunky alpaca jacket. I'm going to wait for others to solve the problem Dawn identified with the border. I'm not a great even-picker-upper to begin with and this sounds challenging.
Woo-hoo! New project exhilaration! Love, Kay
Posted by: Kay at February 8, 2004 04:14 PMNice looking sock.
Hope the Summer Tweed turns out well - glad they found the hank to match the front.Is it just me,but I don't find mis-matched hanks in the same dyelot of NON handpainted yarns the least bit cool and funky.It's great that Liberty,well Jules,are so good to you,a valued customer,but Summer Tweed is too expensive a yarn for Rowan not to be bothered by wonky dye lots.
Hope you're o.k.
Happy knitting,sweet Polly.
Love,Emma.
That certainly is good service for you - wow. Mind you I agree with Jill, if anyone deserves it, it is you. You do a great job here and over at Rowan of promoting the yarn dept at Liberty.
Love the sock too. What is the yarn by the way?
Should have also said that I love the socks too. Your work is so neat, as always.
Posted by: Louise at February 7, 2004 03:30 PMWell done Jules at Liberty for finding you the right skein, and offering to knit the back again for you too. That is what I call service of the best kind.
What a fantastic pattern from Rowan this month, I just may join you in the knitalong, I have a little girl in mind who would look so sweet in it. I must put the book on my shopping list for my trip.
Polly, Lyssie loves the socks you are doing, things they are a fantastic colour. What yarn are they please?
Posted by: Louise at February 7, 2004 03:27 PMYikes! Polly, I feel awful about the sweater...... :(
Posted by: Kristine at February 7, 2004 02:12 PMHi Polly
I started this last night. I'm not too pleased with the pattern - you knit the bottom border first, then pick up the stitches for the main part. You've got to pick up stitches along the selvedge but twice as many stitches as are on the border, and I can already see that the border will have to be s t r e t c h e d so that the piece looks even. My first thoughts are to cast on provisionally the sts required above the border, and once finished, join all of the pieces together and then do a knitted on sideways border. It really bags out at the start of the main part! It's also unnecessarily wordy. Have a look at the (odd) abbreviations! I had to re-write the border instructions in my own shorthand to follow them! I love the pattern though, and have bought some bright pink sugar candy cotton.
Dawn :) (who has enuff wips already!)
Posted by: dawn at February 7, 2004 12:13 PMGlad the ladies at Liberty came up trumps - when will those grot yarn stores out there learn that customer service like that keeps you buying from them even if you get problems?
I saw that adorable knits book in WHSmith last week - it has got some utterly gorgeous patterns in it, especially for girls.
Jo
xxx
You didn't say if you were going to take them up on their offer to reknit the back of your sweater. And if they were to do it, how would they match your gauge? ---derrr, they would swatch of course! can you tell that I hate swatching?
Posted by: ann at February 7, 2004 01:32 AMMarch should be just about right for me to join in, Polly - first I have to get the yarn - I don't have any in the stash but am pretty sure Greta has it in stock. Now I have 2 little girls to knit for I have to speed up the needles.
Posted by: Lesley at February 7, 2004 12:14 AMHi, Polly - you deserve good service at Libertys if anybody does.....
I have got that book (Amazon) but I saw several copies in Borders - most of the patterns are just as great as the freebie one, which I have already started! In very bright Barbie pink for Poppy, although she is nearly seven she is slim, and the width is OK if I just lengthen sleeves/body. Most of the sweaters etc. will fit her, luckily.
Posted by: Jill at February 6, 2004 11:31 PM