Update to My January 2015 Post - WIPs

Every year since I started blogging I've said I will try and do better, this year will be no different. I can't believe I haven't updated this since January, 2015 when I posted a list of what I had on Ravelry as WIPs (work-in-progress for those that don't know). So, here is the current status of my WIP list from last January.

Knitting WIPs

1 2 pair of Chester County Soldier's Socks 

1 pair of little boys reenacting socks

1 infant petticoat (still needs a waistband)

1 lady's claret polka in brioche (frogged)

1 men's brioche sweater (frogged)

1 men's night cap (2/3 completed)

1 Sailor's Sock (modern sock pattern)

1 1840's scarf

1 Spring Forward Sock (modern sock pattern for DD)

1 Fleur de Lis felted project

Crochet WIPs

1 men's scarf in Tunisian crochet

1 Celtic weave baby blanket

1 Tunisian crochet sontag (working on a new pattern) - still working on this one. I just need to make the collar and put everything together. 

I had 14 items back in January, 2015, I finished 4 items, frogged two and did a bit of work on some others. This doesn't include other projects that I worked on from start to finish in 2015, there were 22 of those.

Next post - 2016 WIPs

Have a great day everyone!

WIPs and the New Year

I posted earlier on my MorganAside blog that I don't do New Year's resolutions but try to set a goal instead. If you've read my other blog then you know that my goal this year includes a crafting "diet". This means that I'm trying to clear the WIPs and UFOs off my sewing/crafting table. So far it's been working. I've cleared 5 sewing UFOs and 5 knitting UFOs.  I should tell you that just before Christmas I had 19 WIPs listed in Ravelry. These are started projects not ones that are in there as "place holders".

The first WIP that I finished (for the second time) was a hat for a friend. She didn't like the first one so I frogged it. It took me several months to discover that I couldn't find a pattern that I liked for her. I ended up in the end creating one. The yarn for this project was Lino Plus from Wolle Rödel and was knitted on US #4 needles. My friend picked up two balls of it while on vacation in Germany. It wasn't horrible to work with and I was very happy with the results. I also made her two flowers, which have barrettes attached to the back of them. They can be attached through the lace.

The second finished WIP was the olive green Tunisian crocheted sontag trimmed with eggplant & salmon. It olive yarn is alpaca. The eggplant & salmon are wool. This sontag is suitable for Civil War reenacting. However, I have not seen anything knitted from alpaca in my research. Alpaca fabric yes, alpaca yarn no. It is a good alternative for those that can't wear wool. You can find the sontag & the pattern for sale at www.shop.originals-by-kay.com. 

Next was the knitted garters. These were knitted from an original pattern published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1862. I originally started these back around 2010, so it was definitely time to finish them. They're not difficult to make they just get a bit boring. Yarn used is Dale Garn's Heilo in Lilac & Lime Green. These will be for sale on the website listed above. 

The cowl below originally started as a scarf. More specifically it started as the Eyelet Scarf (#30 from 60 Quick Knits). The book was written for Cascade 220 yarn, I used Peace Fleece Worsted in Violet Vyehchyeerom. This is one of those where I can't remember when I bought the yarn,  I had about 21 inches knit when I decided I should've bought another skein. So it decided it was going to be a cowl. Now, it is waiting for me to go buy some cool buttons. BTW, I love this yarn. 

And finally, the last of the finished WIPs (for now!). This indigo dyed yarn was hand dyed with natural dyes back in 2007 by a fellow reenacting friend. I finally started knitting the socks (soldier's socks for DH) back in 2012 and set them aside with one sock done and the second one with only the cuff done. This past Sunday I decided it was time to finish them. I finished the second sock at 1am this morning (they could still use being blocked).  I'm happy they are finally done!

This takes me down from 19 to 14 WIPs. What's still on the list?

Knitting WIPs

2 pair of Chester County Soldier's Socks 

1 pair of little boys reenacting socks

1 infant petticoat 

1 lady's claret polka in brioche

1 men's brioche sweater

1 men's night cap

1 Sailor's Sock (modern sock pattern)

1 1840's scarf

1 Spring Forward Sock (modern sock pattern for DD)

1 Fleur de Lis felted project

Crochet WIPs

1 men's scarf in Tunisian crochet

1 Celtic weave baby blanket

1 Tunisian crochet sontag (working on a new pattern)

Now, I'm on to the next WIP - the first of the two pair of Chester County Soldier's Socks. I have the cuffs and legs done on both and the heel turned on one. 

Have a good one everyone. 

Yes, I'm still here! - October 11, 2014

I can't believe I last posted something here back in February. I guess it's been a horribly busy spring and summer. It went by so fast that I really can't remember.

Back in February I posted that I had 12 WIP in my Ravelry projects, I have 21 currently (I finally put everything I have started in Ravelry). I haven't added the newest project to Ravelry yet, it's a knitted infant's petticoat. I'm using a pattern from Peterson's Magazine, 1859, pg. 157. It can be found in Google Books, here.  As can be the case with period knitting instructions there are mistakes, I will post both the original instructions and my (knitted in the round) version as soon as I have the petticoat completed (which could be a couple of days or weeks - depends on my sewing schedule). So far it's looking adorable.

In the meantime, here are a bunch of pictures of projects I've completed since February. Hope they give you some inspiration for your own projects. 

Half Day Off Mitts - Sara Lamb

 Felted Mobius Basket - Cat Bordhi

Used Cat Bordhi's Moebius Cast On and just played. 

Ravellenics

I had hesitated on joining in on the Ravellenics games this year because of all of the sewing and customer knitting and crocheting that I needed to get done. Not only did I join Team SHERlocked for Ravellenics,  I joined Team 221B for NerdWars (first year doing this one) but that is another post. :-)

I'm extremely glad I joined in on Ravellenics and very happy I found Team SHERlocked. They are a great group of people. Joining the team and competing in the games I've been motivated to finish 6 WIP projects (so far) and start/finish 3 new projects. Here's the photos of the ones that are done so far.  I'll try and post more about these projects later.

Tam of Rassilon by Ellen Hyde

1840s Double Knitted Scarf

Men's Scarf in Tunisian Crochet
by MorganAside/KayFig

Men's Scarf in Tunisian Crochet
by MorganAside/KayFig

Salter Path
by Melissa J. Goodale

Tunsian Crochet Boys' Vest

Tunisian Crochet Boy's Vest

Ladies' Knitted Under Petticoat
Godey's Ladies' Magazine

Easy Mobius Cowl
by Haley Waxberg

Now, as of this afternoon, I have 12 projects listed as WIPs (work-in-progress). That doesn't include the two sontags I've got started and one scarf that I forgot to put in when I started it (about 2 years ago, I think). Five of the WIPs I have in Ravelry are "placeholders", projects that I put in that aren't actually started yet. The other seven are projects that are in various states of completion. Two are Chester County Soldier's Socks. One pair has the legs done, the other only the cuffs. There's a red 1840's scarf that may never get done. A Circular Cape in Princess Royal stitch (patterns a Tunisian crochet pattern from the 1860s), it just needs the fronts attached to the cape, the neck edge finished and buttons. A pair of modern socks for my dd. A pair of mitts that only has one done. And finally, a shawl that I cast on for the Ravellenics/Nerd Wars. I don't think it will be finished for Ravellenics since it ends tomorrow, but I should be able to finish it by the end of the month for Nerd Wars.

I'm off to sew now and try and finish one more WIP for Ravellenics tonight.  Have a great day!

When I'm Not Sewing....

Okay, so as I mentioned in my MorganAside blog, when I'm not sewing, I'm knitting. Here's what I've been working on and completed. 

This is the second Ladies' Knitted Petticoat I've done (and sold).  You can find the pattern here.  Someday, I might get around to making one for myself.  Someday!

Both of these sontags are made from the pattern I created (which you can purchase here.) The blue, white, & red one is made entirely from Brown Sheep NatureSpun sportweight yarn. The green, white, and pink one is made from Cascade 220 (green), Cascade 220 sport (pink) and NatureSpun sportweight (white).  The green was a custom order, while the blue one is for sale, here.


The Winter Cuffs in Double Knitting were made from left over white and pink yarn from the green sontag.

 I've also been busy working on the Sewing Sisters (Facebook page) Laurel Leaf Shawl knit-a-long and several Norwegian Morning/Bonnet Caps. I need to get back to sewing so I will have to comment on them in another blog.  Have a great day everyone.

Scarf in Crochet, Peterson's Magazine, May 1864

Scarf in Crochet

Mrs. Jane Weaver

Peterson's Magazine, May 1864
 

 

 

 

In the front of the number we give a new and pretty pattern, printed in colors, of this Scarf.

 

Materials.-- One oz. of black split zephyr; half oz. of orange or salmon color.

 

With the black wool make a chain of seven inches long. Work in dc, making three stitches in a group. Repeat this every row until you have a piece worked twelve inches in length: then tie on the orange wool and work eight rows; then six rows black, eight rows orange. Repeat until the piece of work is three-quarters of a yard in length. This completes on half of the Scarf. Begin with the black, as at first, and work a second piece exactly the same as the first piece. Join at the back, and finish the ends with fringe alternate black and orange.


NOTE: Modern Fingering weight would be the closest equivalent to Split Zephyr.

 

 

 

This is my first attempt at making this scarf. I used some leftover Brown Sheep Nature Spun yarn in Irish Shamrock & Mountain Purple. I used a size H ChiaoGoo bamboo crochet hook to make it. I made a 7" long chain with the green yarn, skipped the first two chains and made three double crochets in the next chain. I then skipped the next two chains and repeated the 3 double crochets until the last chain where I made only one double crochet. *I chained two, turn, then made three double crochets in the top of the middle double crochet in the previous row, repeat this until the end of the row, make one double crochet in the "space" between the last double crochet set and the "single" double crochet at the end. Continue from * until 12" long, break yarn, leave a 5" tail, tied on the purple and continued the pattern for 8 rows, then back to the green for 6. You can repeat these until the scarf is 27" long or your desired length. Remember this is half of the scarf.  I did three sets, alternating purple and green. Instead of making a second 7" chain, I crocheted into the opposite side of the original 7" chain and repeated everything I did for the first side. Once you have finished the last of the green rows (if you've made it 27" long on the other side you should have about 54" of scarf now). Break the yarn and weave in all ends. There are no measurements for how long to make the fringe, so I just wrapped the yarn around a hardcovered book. I used 4 strands of purple and 2 strands of the green folded in half and attached in the "spaces" at the end of the scarf.

Thank you to my friends, Marta & Kay for use of their original Peterson's Magazines. You can also find this pattern on Google Books, here.

 

Knitted Under-Sleeves Pattern - Peterson's Magazine, Jan. 1859

Here's the original pattern for the Knitted Under-Sleeves from Peterson's Magazine.  Knowing how horrible I am at seaming my knitted items, I chose to knit these in the round.  I realized after I finished the first one that I forgot to narrow the cuff, it doesn't seem to have made a difference in the end.  I will add a picture from the original Peterson's as soon as I find which photo file I put it in.  My notes follow the original pattern.

 



Knitted Under-Sleeves

by Jane Weaver

 

Peterson's Magazine

January 1859, pg 84

 

 

 

We have designed this Under-Sleeve for winter wear, and having knit a pair can testify to their comfort.

 

Materials Required: 2 oz. brown single zephyr, 1 oz. crimson single zephyr, 1 pair steel knitting needles, common size, 1 pair bone knitting needles, small.

 

With the crimson wool, and steel needles, cast on 70 stitches, knit 1 row plain, rib 30 rows like the top of a stocking.  Join the brown wool, and with the bone needles knit 50 rows plain. Join the crimson wool, use the steel needles, knit 30 rows, ribbed. Again the brown, knit with the bone needles 13 rows plain. With the crimson wool knit 30 rows as before. Brown, knit 13 rows plain, narrowing 1 stitch at the end of every row. Finish with the crimson wool, Knitting 30 rows ribbed. This last to fit the wrist.

 Knitting the undersleeves in the round.

I used one skein each of Brown Sheep NatureSpun fingering weight, black (pepper) & white (natural), Size 1 and Size 5 double pointed needles (you'll need 4 or 5 of each size). I ended up adding two stiches so that the K2, P2 ribbing came out even (otherwise you end up with 4 knit stitches at the end of the round). Because of the ribbing these are fairly stretchy, remember to cast on & cast off loosely. If you tend to cast on tightly try casting on over two Size 1 needles or over one of the size 5 needles.

CO 72 stitches with white wool.  Divide stitches on 3 ro 4 DPNs.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit one row with the Size 1 needles.

Next row, *K2, P2 to end. Repeat from * for 29 more rows.

Join the black wool and change to the larger needles.

Knit one row, purl the next. Repeat these two rows until you have 50 rows completed.

Join white wool and change to size 1 needles.

K2, P2 ribbing - 30 rows.

Join black wool and change to size 5 needles.

Knit one row, purl the next. Repeat these two rows until you have 13 rows.

Join white wool and change to size 1 needles.

K2, P2 ribbing - 30 rows.

Join black wool and change to size 5 needles.

Knit one row, purl the next. Repeat these two rows until you have 13 rows. *This is where I made my mistake. Your suppose to narrow at the end of every row (if your knitting them flat). If your knitting them in the round I think I would alternate doing them at the beginning on one row and the end on the next).

Join white wool and change to size 1 needles.

K2, P2 ribbing - 30 rows.  

Cast off loosely. Weave in all ends. Enjoy!