When a project's finished, it's important to immediately cast on something new. I'm really trying to work my way through some of my stash. With my leading continental wool source away in India, I'm likely to make some headways in working through some of odd-balls in my stash.
I've always liked this baby chevron jacket from Debbie Bliss. It's so cute and a great project for using up odd balls. It's not such a good project to buy yarn for since it uses about 5 different colours. Pity that the pattern only sizes up to fit a 1 year old.
Enter ATU... my version will use 2 colours. The dusky purple has sadly been discontinued. It's one of my favourite shades. I had 4 balls in stash with 2 different dyelots, and it was hard finding the right pattern for it. Usually trips to Peter Jones or John Lewis leaves me feeling a bit uninspired. They don't do the Debbie Bliss yarns justice, by allowing the the yarns to be pawed out of the packaging or to collapse into heaps of tangles. Finding 12 balls in one dyelot on a Saturday morning is like winning the lottery. Sorry to be so negative here. If you love yarn, love shopping for yarn and even pick up balls that have fallen out of the shelf, when you have nothing to do with their tumble, you'll understand. Not displaying it nicely really bothers me.
Amended : Anna brings up a good point, my perspective is merely that as a customer. The department stores are very busy on the weekend and I could imagine how difficult it is to keep things tidy and shelves stocked. My complaints are not against the staff, it's the customers that are really bad. People just don't put things back in the shelves when they fall out. The other thing that I should point out is that the Rowan yarns are well stocked. The problem seems to be that the Debbie Bliss and Noros are not and even if you can find someone to help you, they often cannot find 12 balls in the same dyelot because they don't have it in stock
With this pattern, dyelots will not be important. I'm also sizing up this pattern to fit a 2 year old and to have buttons all the way down. (maybe less pretty but much more practical for an older child). I love Debbie Bliss patterns, because not only are the children's stuff ever so stylish, but up-sizing patterns is really easy to do.
Now, I started out so enthusiatically, but the more that I look at this pattern the more I think, oh my god, this looks incredibly 1970's.... so I think that despite my progress, it's going to take a visit to the frog pond.
Sockapalooza News
I've forgotten to post this, but my pal Jackie has received her socks! Yay!!!!!!!! The New Englands are still MIA but I feel much better knowing that the retros have arrived and fit too.
That is a very lovely jacket.
I think I will have to knit one for my 2-yearold.
It's really very sweet, but I think it's having just the 2 colors that make it retro. I think you'll be much happier if you add a third color, even as edging or an accent.
Posted by: Sonja at May 3, 2005 02:02 AMPolly--It's lovely and fun and would look so cute on a little one! Hope you didn't frog, although it's your party and you'll frog if you want to! oxxo Kay
Posted by: Kay at May 2, 2005 02:17 PMDon't frog it! I love it! If you end up not loving it, I'd buy it from you! My 2 year old, is named Lydia (who was the seller of purple in the Bible) so we're always buying purple clothing for her!
Posted by: Wendi at May 1, 2005 09:52 PMToday I used my 30-year-old thermos flask that I bought with a Boots token I had had for a birthday. It is the exact colours of your chevron jacket, so you're right on with the retro 70s look! I'm very fond of this flask, by the way - it's one of those things that has gone with me everywhere I've lived.
Finished my koigu (greeny) socks but couldn't find the dye number for you.
I think the jacket is cute. And retro is so In!
I love my socks, I really do. I'm wearing them right now!
Posted by: jackie at April 30, 2005 03:31 PMThat chevron cardigan is extremely, extremely cute!
Posted by: Colleen at April 30, 2005 03:26 PMI love the look of the chevron cardigan, but frog if you really don't like it. I know what you mean about PJ/JL. I think John Lewis is worse, but that may just be a reflection on how busy they are.
Posted by: Mary at April 30, 2005 11:51 AMHey...I lived through the 70's and believe me, I saw nothing like that baby sweater then. It is as cute as can be and I would consider doing this sweater for a cherished baby myself. Keep knitting.........
Posted by: Pam at April 30, 2005 10:45 AMI keep meaning to take my camera to my lys and post photos of the best yarn shop in Sydney! The yarn is all accessible and it is quite rare for it to be bady mis-handled. OK, the bins are a bit mixed up sometimes but quite easily returned to their former beauty! Re Debbie Bliss, I know we are far away but we have been waiting for a DB order since October last year!!
Posted by: Lesley at April 30, 2005 07:54 AMInstead of frogging it, an easy way to update the pattern might be to add some contrasting color (maybe a nice olive / avocado that isn't too drab) when you do what appear to be the reverse single-crochet edging, top it off with an oversized button (or better yet, a ribbon bow) in the same contrasting color, and voilą! a cute, 1940's-style cardigan. i personally feel that the pattern would benefit from working a ribbed buttonband, neckband, and sleeve cuffs, but that's only because with all those stripes, you really need something to ground the colors, and, too, with how chubby babies are, some patterns can look kind of dumpy without the right amount of structure.
hope this helps! :p
Posted by: jade at April 30, 2005 06:23 AMI think it looks very nice, and I think that one of the advantages of knitting for small people is that they have no idea if what they wear is straight out of the 70's. :-) That said, if you don't like it, then you probably should frog it. No point in knitting something you don't like.
Posted by: Katie at April 30, 2005 03:21 AMOh, if only we were lucky enough to have DB's yarns in HK!
Posted by: joy at April 30, 2005 03:07 AMWell, as a child of the '70s, I don't see anything '70s-ish about this! You aren't using oranges, harvest golds, or avocado greens!
As others have already said... it's lovely! The purple shades are so pretty and it will make an adorable sweater for a lucky toddler once finished. :)
Posted by: limedragon at April 30, 2005 01:01 AMI think the jacket is sweet! Take a deep breath and step away from the knitting...
Posted by: Tara at April 30, 2005 12:54 AMDon't frog Polly!! The sweater is so cute!! Upsize it for Fluffy girls and I'm all over it, heheh...
Posted by: Debi at April 30, 2005 12:45 AMOh no! No frogging! I love it.... How creative you are making it to fit a 2 year old... The button idea sounds lovely!
Posted by: Dani at April 29, 2005 10:38 PMDon't frong, it looks lovely! I for one would be so sad if you frog it, of course you are the one that has to knit it!
Posted by: Jo at April 29, 2005 10:19 PMYou know Big Brother? If you could spend just one day as a fly on the wall watching what goes on in a busy yarn store all would become clear! Five minutes, no three, after you have nicely put stuff out its messed up a) groups teenage girls having a laugh b) barely supervised todders c)those deciding, and so on. Long gone are the days when property is respected, and theft is not uncommon. That you and many others are an exception is great and its sad that you are less than impressed. But would you be happy if the products were all in blister packs or behind glass? PS very admiring of your version of Bronte. Best Anna.
Posted by: Anna at April 29, 2005 10:04 PMDon't frog ! It's lovely.So pretty in the 2 colours and very ''now''.
The joys of a well kept wool department/shop.How I miss Chris & her Binns department.Neat,tidy,well displayed yet accessible.
the chevron jacket is ADORable. and i know exactly what you mean about P Jones and J Lewis. i want to be able to browse and feel inspired, not get a headache.
Posted by: anna at April 29, 2005 08:54 PM