Project 9: Wrap in Striped Pattern with Round Border

I've been searching for a shawl to knit.  It's proven rather difficult to find the right one.  Jane Sowerby's book Victorian Lace Today includes many of the patterns I like from the earlier Weldon's publications.  I have a single issue of Weldon's Practical Knitter, Sixty-Second Series (published c. 1910) which is subtitled "How to Knit Fancy Stitches, Shawls, etc".  I found this pattern which has potential:

The shawl is made by knitting the "centre" square, then picking up the border stitches and knitting the edging around the outside.  I like this better than knitting the four border pieces separately and sewing them on, which many of the Weldon's patterns require.

However, this project is fighting me every step of the way.  First, I had trouble winding the skein of Madelinetosh Lace yarn.  My trusty old yarn winder is getting a little cranky.  I wound the yarn so tightly that I couldn't pull it off the ball winder, so I had to hand-wind a ball off the winder.  Blech.

Next problem is charting this pattern.  It's going to take some thought.  The "stripes" section is pretty simple, just columns of yarn over/knit two together (but even that is causing trouble, see below).  The tricky bit comes with the bobble "flowers" in the 2nd section.  I'm working on charting this in a non-confusing way.  So far, it's confusing :-)

And today's problem: I cast on the 198 stitches for the stripes section.  Knit 13 rows.  And realized I was doing it wrong.  I read the instructions as knit 1 row, work the yo/k2tog pattern on the 2nd row, and repeat for 28 rows.  Nope.  I am supposed to work that lace pattern EVERY row for 28 rows.  So back to the beginning and casting on those 198 stitches AGAIN.

To be continued.

Project 7: A Cravat Knitted with Cockatoo Wool Finished

And a soft, pretty scarf it is.  I didn't love knitting with boucle, those little curls have an annoying tendency to get picked up instead of the actual stitch, and it's easy to lose your stitches.  I recommend frequent counts to make sure you still have the correct number of stitches on the needles.

I do love how soft the yarn is, and not itchy.  Perfect for a scarf!  I cheated a tad by using a yarn with a smidge of nylon, which isn't accurate to the period.  But it's as close as I could come to the original "cockatoo" wool.  I purchased my yarn from this seller on Etsy, and I am happy with the color (Lakewater Blue).  The base yarn seems to be pretty common for hand-dyers to use, so a search of Etsy for boucle yarn should turn up quite a few sellers.

The "fringe" on this scarf is kind of fun; it's simply a looped chain of crochet.  Easy-peasy.

You can download the free pattern here.

Lady's Undervest Photos!

Pia took pictures for me, thanks P!  One of her students modeled, and a darling model she is. 

Project 7: A Cravat Knitted with Cockatoo Wool

Starting again with a 250 yard skein of boucle.  I bought this from Yellow Dog Farm on Etsy, and it's the same base yarn (78% mohair, 13% merino, 9% nylon), which is very soft.  The colorway is "Lakewater Blue", blues, greens and purples.

Should be plenty to finish the Cravat this time!

The 100th Anniversary of the Titanic

2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  I love the fashions of this time period, and some day I'm going to sew myself an Edwardian dress.  I know, my last sewing project (a 50s style dress) is currently languishing in a box.  But I can dream, can't I?

A fantastic source of patterns for historical garments is Sense & Sensibility Patterns.  To commemorate the Titanic's anniversary, Jennie has put together an e-book on 1912 fashions, which you can download here. 

Project 8: Egg Cosy

What could be more Victorian than an Egg Cosy?  If it could be covered with something cute, it would be.  And what's cuter than a soft-boiled egg in an egg cup, topped with this little cover?

The Egg Cosy is from Weldon's Practical Knitter, Twenty-Eighth  Series (1895), and republished in Weldon's Practical Needlework Volume 10.

If you want to knit this project, you'll need teeny tiny needles: size 000.  I am using Paternayan Persian Wool, which comes in 8 yard skeins in many colors.  It's commonly used for needlepoint and crewel embroidery.  The yarn is 3 strands, you'll knit with 1 strand, so you need to pull a strand off to start your knitting.

Once I got through the first couple of round on the tiny double point needles, everything calmed down and it was easy to knit.  And since it's such a small project, it didn't take long.  In fact, I started my cosy last night and finished it today.  I'm just waiting for the cute egg cup I ordered to get here so I can take a picture, and then I'll provide a pattern.

Project 6: Infant's Fancy Knit Vest in Lemon Pattern

The sweet lacy vest is all done, with a pretty silk ribbon for the neckline.  I don't have a baby handy to photograph sadly.  Pia is going to see if she can use a friend's baby for a good picture for me.

Meantime, here is the completed vest.  I have written "modern" instructions for the vest and you can download the pattern here