Sea Witch is Complete

Cross-posted to Create Along

Once I got going with this knit I couldn't stop. Making the pieces in the round left nothing to seam and it seemed to knit up really quick. Both pieces are made pretty much the same except for the casing. I used yarn overs to allow for an I-cord waist tie on the skirt. I only used one yarn over on the inside of the top casing which I pulled elastic through. Not trusting that elastic could keep up with the bonny lass I sewed in some I-cord shoulder ties for good measure.

I definitely will use the Cotton Classic again and I have enough to make something else. Maybe a top for me?

Happy crafting!

Ruinwen
)

Sea Witch

Cross-posted to Create Along

Sorry I couldn't get this any clearer.


So I joined this fun KAL weeks ago and I just really got a block of time where I could swatch over and over until I found something that I liked this weekend.

Here is a scribble of my idea. This is an outfit for my niece consisting of a drawstring skirt with a ruffle edging and a matching top with elastic to hold it up and shoulder ties. I found a stitch pattern that was simple but eye-catching. All you do is P3, K3, P3 into the same stitch every 10 stitches and switch the orientation of the clusters every 5 rows. Kind of a super trinity stitch.

I am using the Cotton Classic in the purple and pink. The skirt will be made with purple and accented in pink and the top will be in pink and accented in purple. These happen to be the color choices of my niece and I actually think they complement each other nicely.

I really like this yarn. The pattern has little eyelets and makes a kind of mock lace. The cotton has good stitch definition and will be cool for summer.

I’ve named this outfit Sea Witch because it is the translation of my niece’s name and she loves the water.

I’m starting each piece with a simple casing. The skirt will have eyelets on it for pulling the I-cording through. The top will have one hole hidden in the back for the elastic cord to go through but it will be hidden on the wrong side and sewn up after the lace is inserted.

The goal here is no seams. I hate seams and having to match up sides and stuff. So there will be no seams on either piece. At the end of both the top and bottom I’m going to increase with yarn overs to make a place where another cord can go through and then knit for an inch or so to allow a nice ruffle to form. Finally, I will knit off in picot edging to make a cute curly ruffle. My goal here is princess feminine.

So that is where I am. Sorry, it took me so long to get going but hopefully I will have this finished by 4th of July…since I just missed my nieces’ B-Day. :(

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)

On the Day I Was Born…

I've been tagged again by Kimberly and this is one I hadn't done yet!

The rules are to go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday month and day only. Then post 3 events, 2 births and one holiday that occurred on your birthday, then tag 5 friends.

Events

1865 - American Civil War: A day after his surrender to Union forces, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his troops for the last time.

1865 - The last photograph of Abraham Lincoln alive was taken.

1912 - The RMS Titanic leaves port in Southampton, England for her first and only voyage

Seems like a bad day for a bunch of folks.

Births
1932 - Omar Sharif, Egyptian actor
1941 - Paul Theroux, American author

Love both of them

Holiday

Feast for Three Days - Third Day (Thelema)

I looked this up. It is a feast for three days celebrating the transcribing of The Book of the Law.

If you want to know more go here.

So there you go. I’m not tagging anyone. If you want to do it, then be my guest.

Have a great weekend!

Ruinwen
:)

Catching Up

With Mercury in Retrograde my life has been crazy. But here is a little update.

WARNING PARTIAL NUDITY......



…I tried to blur it as much as possible. This is a bikini top I made and I loved every minute of it. You can find the pattern on Knitty Gritty . I love the Cascade fixation and I love the way this looks. A very fun knit which could be easily accomplished in a day.







My little boy has been away and I miss him so much! My car is in the shop for a very expensive overhaul...both oil and steering fluid are leaking. DH just had an operation on his knee. He fared much better than my car (thank the Goddess!) The cats just take it all in stride. They have been sleeping more than usual. Here is a rare shot of them together.

Here is a moth that graced our window. She was so lovely. Nature is just amazing.

I love the way this ponchette came out. I used a wool/hemp blend that was wonderful to work with and I really like the way it worked up. This is my 2nd ponchette and I think the lattice of the lace is really pretty…I had to make a second one!

I have to be brutally honest, I hate to seam. I avoid it at all costs and redesign projects so I don’t have to pick up a needle. So since there is so much seaming at the end of this I kept the stitches on the needle and picked up a stitch at a time from the other side of the seam and did a three-needle bind off. I can’t tell you the joy that I experienced as a lovely little seam was created that was so beautiful I wept tears of joy at the simplicity of it.

So as much as I loved this simple pattern before…I adore it now! I look at my other one and want to rip it out and re-seam it with another 3-needle bind off…but I will resist. It was good enough for me once and I don’t want to be totally fickle about it.

I’ve been trying to find ways to stop having to weave in ends by spit joining or Russian joining. My philosophy is having a beginning and ending yarn end to weave in is more than enough. LOL

I spent the weekend at the frog pond and I could photograph a BIG ball of yarn that is really two hanks spit joined but it really would do nothing but depress me. I’ve swatched and ripped this project more than any other and it should be stuck on stupid easy but alas it is not.

Yarn - 6 : Ruinwen – 0

I have a few more things to try, one of which is a provisional cast-on in huge bulky yarn…it is like Manos on steroids. And my DH suggested going up to a 17…which will mean more swatching and pulling of the hair as totals need to be recalculated.

But I’m a stubborn Aries and I’m not down for the count yet. My niece will have a nice little dress if I have to spend every free moment conquering this yarn!

If you happen by the frog pond look me up I’ve got a little lean-to down on the East end…rip it, rip it….

Happy crafting,

Ruinwen
:)