Tour de France Knit Along - Garter Yoke Cardigan

I made it. I finished my Tour de France Knit Along cardigan - yellow jersey - with twenty four hours to spare on the the deadline.

And here it is, taken bright and early, around 7:30am this morning before work. I had grand visions for a frosty morning for the photos, but wouldn't you know it, we got a clear, damp morning instead. C'est la vie.



This, pattern, the Garter Yoke Cardigan from Knit 1, was such a fun, such an easy cardigan. Best cardigan I've ever made, I think. Not perfect, but of the three cardigans (gasp!) I've made this winter, it's hands down my favourite.

And the Rowan Kid Classic? To die for. Yes, it's a little furry, but in a good way, not in a scratchy way. It's warm yet airy.

This whole cardigan used only a mere 6x50g balls. That's 300g and a bit extra, maybe about 100g more. That's unheard of for a cardigan in worsted weight! Just for the comparison, my February Lady Sweater used around 450g. All day, I felt the cardigan light as a breath. That mix of lambswool and kid mohair is gorgeous. Trust me.

In this photo of the cardigan drying yesterday, you can see the waist shaping the pattern uses.



I don't think I'll get the full value of the waist shaping, given I won't wear it done up. I tried but I feel not right when I do. I don't feeling that buttoned up, and prefer it partially open.

I am so happy with the colour. It's called Peat. In some lights, there are undertones of a red-purple shade shot through it, not so much variegated as just highlighted. In other lights, it's almost black, or almost brown. It can be a cardigan for all outfits, as far as I'm concerned.

The garter yoke neck opened up a little once it was washed and dry. I think, given I've done the larger size, this means the neck will probably annoy me a bit if it stretches more but over a t-shirt, it'll be ok.

I will make this again. And again. I'm already eyeing my stash for other candidates.

And the race? You know, those men on bikes? I didn't even see the end of it. I couldn't articulate anything about it in any realistic way. I would hear the voiceovers and sort of drift off, seeing only the scenery. Not the fault of the sport or the commentators. I'm sure it was fascinating. I just don't absorb that kind of commentary or detail.

But I do work well under pressure!

Bells

Sweet Evangeline

I needed a gift for my friend Julia and I needed it fast. It had to be bright and beautiful, warm and comforting, just like Julia, and so last Monday night I hit upon the perfect thing.

Within minutes I'd bought the pattern for Evangeline mitts (Ravelry Link) from the The Sweet Sheep.



I used part of a skein of Malabrigo worsted in Sealing Wax, which was what was leftover from a gift from Amy in Rhode Island a long time ago. I've sat on it for so long, not sure which would be the perfect way to use it and I knew I'd be able to get two pairs of mitts out it if I was lucky. It'll be easy. I'll be casting on a pair for myself shortly so that I can have something red on my hands for what remains of winter.

Julia adored these. You know when someone really gets what you've done? When you've hit just the right note? This was one of those moments. Very satisfying.

They're a fast knit (if you do the short version, the pattern provides a long and short version) and the cable is actually pretty simple. By the time you've carefully done a few pattern rows, you've hit the thumb and next thing it's all over. Instant gratification.

* * *

And in other exciting news, I have officially finished my Tour de France cardigan. It's drying as we speak and should be ready for work in the morning.



I found what I think are the perfect buttons yesterday at Addicted to Fabric.

Full write up some time this week.

I'll see if a few more name suggestions come in for the knitting bear contest and choose something shortly.

Bells

Knitting Teddy Bear

My not-so-little brother has quite the knack for unusual or unique gifts. You can't help but look at him sometimes, at that big dome shaped head of his and wonder what's going on inside. Once in a while, you are reminded that there's all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff happening.

When he told he was making my birthday gift, I was puzzled, to say the least. The last I knew of him making anything, he was a teenager making video montages that were both funny and touching. As far as I knew, he wasn't doing that sort of thing anymore, so what on earth could it be?

Then he showed up with this.



He'd gone to the Teddy Bear shop hoping they had a knitting teddy bear. They didn't, but the sales assistant had a suggestion for him. She sold him a bear and sent him on his way.

He and his girlfriend, Lisa, came up with this little guy. Lisa provided the knitting and Keith did all the requisite attaching of the needles and yarn to the bear.

See the bells attached to the fabric? Keith attached those so that the bear is....wait for it....

Knitting with Bells!

I love it. I totally love it. What a cute, clever gift! Thank you little brother. He's just adorable and he'll have pride of place on the table beside where I knit. I want to name him, because he comes with a birth certificate. Wonder what sort of name suits him? Suggestions welcome!

EDITED: I have had a couple of suggestions already of having a naming competition. Tell me what you think he should be called and somehow I'll come up with a winner!


* * *

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I've been plugging away at my Tour de France cardigan. I've not posted updates because miles of stocking stitch does not make for fun blogging, but I'm happy to report that I will absolutely make it in under the deadline of Sunday night.



Between tonight and Sunday, I have only got to knit one sleeve and given that the first one seemed to happen quite without me noticing it, including needing to take off the cuff and knit a little more length into it, I reckon I'll be done before I know it. Tonight, we are having a night of eating and drinking and watching the tour with our country friends. They all know about my deadline. They'll be cheering me on to the finishing line, I've no doubt.

Stay tuned for the finished cardigan in a few days!

Bells

Tour de France - Day Four

Apparently the Tour de France is well underway. I'd like to say it's been a great race so far and that I've hung on most, if not every moment I was able to watch but it's not true. Late at night when the race starts, I've been heading to bed, dosed up and trying to get better.

But I did discover yesterday you can watch highlights of the race on SBS at 6pm. I'll try and catch that, or hell, even record it!

Of course, I've been up front from the start about how this competition is for me, more about the knitting than the cycling. As long as I get to catch glimpses of the race and soak up the scenery, I'll be content. Maybe I'll have some late nights on the weekend.

There has been some quality knitting time though. How clever of me to pick something that was all about garter stitch for much of its beginning because frankly, that's all I feel like knitting! Here's what I've managed so far.



So very satisfying this yoke business. I'm very much enjoying the Rowan Kid Classic and I'm enjoying watching it grow. I'm also enjoying using an application on my iphone for row counting.

Yes, as RoseRed pointed out, you can always use a pen and paper but oh, pen and paper doesn't have that satisfying little click! And unlike traditional row counters, on which you can only count rows, this has an inbuilt counter for managing increase and decrease rows.

The application even has a bit of local flavour. Local knitter, Pransell, has a very talented partner who developed this iphone application. You can find it at Cordless Dog.

If you have an iphone, or an Ipod Touch, I really recommend this application. It's simple and neat and while you can get free ones, I think it's worth paying the minimal amount for the ability to count increase and decrease rows. It also allows you to have more than one project on the go at a time. I love it.

And lest anyone should think I've abandoned my Chevron Lace cardigan, fear not, it's still around. I had to modify it and reblock it. It's at the back window in the sun now, after I finished it some days ago.



I'll show it off when it's dry.

Bells

2009 Tour de France Knit Along

For some time now, I've been planning a special project for July. I'm not alone. Loads of others have been doing the same on Ravelry.

For the second year in a row, I'm participating in the Tour de France knit along. Anyone who knows me and my monstrous lack of interest in sport, and particular in actually watching yawn inducing sport, might well be surprised that I'd sign up for this, but the Tour de France is different. It's not sport in the usual way, I think. There's pretty scenery - and no I don't mean the cyclists - there are hours and hours of beautiful French scenery to watch. That's what got me in last year.

So to be honest, this event is really about the motivation get something substantial knitted up fast. Watching the race is really secondary. I'm not sure I even understand how it works. A bunch of obsessed guys ride their bikes around France. They wear different coloured jerseys. And it's hard. That's about all I understand.

But it's a great opportunity to really flex my speed knitting muscles and to focus on getting a single, decent sized project done in a very limited amount of time.

Last year I worked hard for three weeks and produced a cardigan for my sister, Adele. If you were reading then, you might remember it?



It was an achievement I was really proud of and I know Adele was thrilled with the end result but it was hard work, really hard, to get it done in that time.

This year I've been putting a lot of thought into what I wanted to do. I knew early on it would be something for me, most likely another cardigan, and it would be a piece that, although challenging in terms of size, would not just about kill me like last year's project did. For that reason, I scrapped early plans to knit a Tangled Yoke cardigan. I knew I had to be realistic. If I chose a fine gauge cardigan I'd struggle.

So I chose worsted weight yarn from my stash - Rowan Kid Classic in Peat.




And I matched it to the Garter Yoke Cardigan (Rav link).

I love the shape of it. I love the idea of it. Now that I've done a couple of top down cardigans, I'm in the zone. I'm good to go. I'm pretty confident that, dramas notwithstanding, I'll get it done on time.

By mid-late July, I'll have a brand new cardigan in luxurious Rowan Kid Classic. Happy happy joy joy.

Bring on July 4. I'm ready. Are you? Fancy joining in the fun? The Ravelry 2009 Tour de France knit along group is taking sign ups now. And you don't have to do a whole cardigan or garment. There are several categories, one to suit everyone!

Bells

There's got to be a morning after

I could feel everyone sharing my pain last night! Honestly, it was palpable. Not long after I posted about the would-be disaster of the cardigan neckline, I developed a shocking migraine and retired to bed, too much in pain to even think too much about the problem.

Oh hang on, let me back up. Between discovering the problem and developing the migraine, I did a bit of surgery, attempting to see if there was a solution simpler than ripping out all the seams. 

And who do you think was responsible for coming up with that solution?

Sean!

He took the cardigan, put it on a coat hanger and showed me that actually, it sat right. At some stage earlier I had thought it did, but then it seemed crooked again. I just couldn't see sense. Then he showed me I hadn't imagined it. We counted the rows, we measured and yes, one side was longer than the other by about five rows, but from some angles, it seemed ok, just not ok enough. 

And on the shorter side, I'd knit the band on too tightly, so it curled. Those of you who suggested such a thing were most insightful. 

This morning, in the bright light of day, things were better. I had a feeling it was going to be ok. 

Tonight at a wonderful SnB, I reknit the band under Kuka's watchful eye and got it sorted! I believe having the knitting police there also helped. 

It may still be slightly wonky. I'm not sure. I modelled it for the girls and there was much nodding and approval - it appeared to work. Tomorrow, I'll block it like my life depends on it and hope for the best.

Adele has promised not to notice the wonk, if indeed there is wonk. Only tomorrow will tell. 

Bells

I cried and cried

See this?

I'm so upset I couldn't even be bothered trying to take a decent photo.

How did I miss this? I have held the pieces together so many times. I have measured and measured and even redid the top of one side once. And still, I somehow missed this.

I found it tonight, just two days out from presenting it to Adele.

I am far, far too run down and emotional right now to even contemplate undoing all that seaming and ripping out the band and doing it all again.

Some things are just too hard.

Bells

The Knitting Police

Remember just couple of weeks ago, during the Tour De France knit along, I declared that there were no knitting police?

It seems I was wrong.

These cute as a button (but oh so strict) little dudes arrived by mail at the end of last week, determined to whip my knitting arse into gear. They are the Knitting Gendarmes, for French they must be, I'm sure of it.

They arrived with a label which read "The Knittinged Police."

Somebody has a great sense humour. That person is Jess from Button Beauty, who was inspired to make them after my post on the subject. Too, too cute. Thank you, Jess! Sean and I first saw them on Saturday morning and we laughed and laughed.

Just wait until Will, who loves a puppet, sees them this weekend!

And how, might you ask, is the project going for which I feared the scorn of the knitting police? 


Very well, thank you! All seamed up, one more band to do tonight, then attaching the lace collar. Voila! It will be completed in plenty of time for seeing Adele in Sydney on Saturday. 

Please note the use of stunt buttons, a technique much used by our good friend RoseRed (who is, this very minute, suffering the torture of rigorous pampering in Fiji!!!). The stunt buttons shall be attached before too long. 

Back to it! 

Bells

Across the finishing line

I did it. I really did it. I've knitted everywhere this weekend, at a rate of knots, and I've finished the knitting of the cardigan for the Tour De France knit along. I think that means I qualify for the Green Jersey, right?

This photo was taken at the Yarralumla Nursery yesterday where Sean and I looked for bare rooted trees and I had the most delicious and outrageously expensive salmon bagel. But it was worth it. I got lots of knitting done and it was a perfect Canberra winter's day.



My plan was to have Adele's cardigan at the very least ready for seaming by the end of the Tour De France. And so it is. Not that the race has actually finished yet so technically I have until around 2am local time to do the last bits, but as if I'm staying up until 2am on a Sunday night - much as I would love to.

So, here is Adele's alpaca eyelet cardigan, blocked and ready for seaming. Notice anything?


Yes, one side is still wet.

The rest was blocked yesterday (blocking before seaming is fabulous. I'll do it again. Apart from anything else it deliciously delays the moment when you have to start doing all that seaming. Worth it just for that!) and the bit that's still wet is still wet because I screwed up over dinner last night.

I supposedly finished the right front over a meal of coq au vin and bordeaux with friends last night, just in time for the most amazingly velvet chocolate tart (made by our friends' teenage son, Caleb!) and dessert wine.



The wine was probably the reason I screwed up the arm hole and had to redo it today (will I ever learn?). But it's done now and I have the smallest amount of work left to do on the collar.

Phew.

I treated myself last night to a bit of easy work on the slow going Malabrigo Pi Shawl while watching the race around midnight. I'd had a goodly amount of wine by then. I do sometimes know my limits and lace collars don't fit in with second helpings of dessert wine.

Now all that's left is to take my sweet time over the next fortnight finishing it off before I see Adele and hand over this project which has been an absolute delight and a labour of love. I hope she likes it.

I'm off to eat red cooked pork belly made by Sean and start swatching for the Gathered Pullover! That was always going to be my reward for finishing Adele's cardigan in three weeks.

Bells

There are No Knitting Police

Tour De France 2008 ends this Sunday and with it, the Knit-Along. I'm supposed to have my sister's cardigan finished by Sunday and honestly, I'm not sure I'm going to make it although I'm giving it my best shot.

Two nights of insomnia were made slightly less distressing by knowing I could use the wee small hours to knock over a bit more of the cardigan while watching the race. I always try and see a good side to insomnia, which isn't easy because if you've ever suffered from it, you'd know it's quite a lonely and upsetting state to be in.



My sister called a little while ago and asked how I was going, if I was going to have it done and I related to her a conversation RoseRed and I had about this in which RoseRed had one bit of sage advice.

There are no knitting police.

This is something I've heard before but sometimes, it smacks me around the head as good sense.

I am once again amazed to find out that no one is going to be standing over me on Sunday night chastising my slackness in meeting the deadline, unless of course I am my own knitting police. That's not an unlikely scenario.

That said, I finished the sleeves today and am pretty happy. I would have liked to have them finished by last weekend but it wasn't meant to be.



In light of all this, I've reset my goals ever so slightly. If I can have the body all done by Sunday, as in, all knitted up, I'll be happy with my success.

If the band and lace collar aren't done, I'll cope. But the body. That would be good. I'll consider myself having succeeded and then can spend the next little while finishing it off so I can give it to Adele in mid-August when I visit.

Does that sound reasonable?

Bells

Calling all booklovers

I'm on the hunt for a book. Not just any book but a special book. It's one I read as a child and I remember nothing more than the bare bones of the story.

It was a book given to me by an elderly woman in our country town church when I was probably about 8 years old, maybe 10. Her name was Mrs Ford and she was, I'm sure, very old. One Sunday, she handed me two hardcover books she thought I would love. I couldn't tell you what the second one was, but the one I remember was about a girl and her mother who, I think, lived and worked with the circus.

This wasn't a picture book. It was a novel and I remember at the time thinking they were very old books. They had that yellowed, dusty look to them. They must have belonged to Mrs Ford in her childhood.

Over the years, the books disappeared. Lost or given away probably and I've always remembered this one about the girl in the circus and wished I could find it again. I remember only that they lived in an old wooden caravan together, like gypsies I suppose, and they travelled with some kind of show - it might not have even been a circus. It might have been a travelling country fair.

I remember the book was very sad. I think maybe the mother died. I don't remember the ending more than that it was very sad.

Does anyone know this book? Or do any librarians among you have tips on how to find an old, half forgotten and beloved book without typing 'girl who lived with her mother in a wooden caravan and the ending was very sad' in google?

I'd really appreciate any help in finding it. When I was talking to Sean about it this morning, it was his suggestion to put the word out this way!

The Cardigan

The cardigan is going well. I might make it by the weekend, if 'by the weekend' means finishing it late on Sunday night! The sleeves will be cast off this evening and the fronts started shortly after that. I'm not doing that many stitches on straight needles again. The intensity and weight is killing my arms.

Bells

Tour De France - Chasing the Breakaways from the back of the Peleton*

Did I say I was going to knit a cardigan for my sister in three weeks?

I think I was crazy. Who was I kidding? A full sized adult cardigan in three weeks? Just because I made a pi shawl in three weeks does not mean I could get a cardigan done. 

Madness.

If you look at the Tour De France knit along blog, you'll see people are flying along with their knit-along projects. I look and I sigh. I feel like I'm lagging. Adele's cardigan is coming along, just not as quickly as I'd like.

Since I returned from the comfort of my hotel room in Alice Springs, I've not watched much of the race at all - 10pm to 2am is prime sleeping time, even for a sometimes insomniac like me and I've had a crazy busy week and a few little knitting related hiccups.

First of all, the good bit. The back. It's done.

Nice, easy bit of work done mostly in my hotel room. 

Next, the sleeves. Two at once, to avoid that nasty second sleeve syndrome. RoseRed, in discussions, said she didn't know if she thought doing two at once saved you that much time. I fear she might have been right, not least of all because I spent days (ok, evenings) screwing up before I got it right. 

If you've ever tried to knit two sleeves at once on a circular needle, you might have figured out that it's not straightforward. I thought it was before I set out. Piece of cake.

Nasty piece of cake, actually. I kept getting confused, forgetting which sleeve I'd done last. Yes, I could have used markers. Yes, I could have written things down. But no, not for me the simple approach. I winged it. And screwed it. You see, when you knit two at once on a circular, there are two ends that at any time, might be the right one. Fail to pay attention and you're down the back of the peloton, or worse still, taking a nasty spill.

With straight needles, you're flying. Only one end available for working on at any given time!

So we're on track now. I'm back to straight needles for the first time in, like, forever! Who uses straight needles anymore? Ok, I know lots of people do but I haven't in a long time and I tell you what, bunched up next to Sean on the couch (our tiny 2 seater) I can see why I gave them up for a joke. I think he's going to start sticking sharp things into my ribs soon, just so I can see what it's like.

This is not a difficult knit, I'm just not focused. But I will be. A week to go and I'd really like to have a crack at finishing it on time. If only because a)I have more yarn I want to knit with and b) in Sydney, where Adele lives, it's not cold enough for alpaca for all that long. I want her to wear it.

Finally, Roxie asked to see the Sunnyboy bag in hand for scale. Sean stepped up to the plate.

See, not that big. Not too small. Just right.

Right, there's a glass of wine and a bunch of BBC crime shows waiting for me. Oh, and some overly long straight needles. 

Happy weekend everyone!

Bells

*Thanks to Sean for the title. I was struggling and only came up with 'Tour De France Update". Yawn.

Let the sprinting begin!

Tour De France started on the weekend and with it, the Knit Along. I knew it was coming and I was itching to cast on on Friday night, the night before the race. That would have been naughty though, because you weren't supposed to cast on in my catergory until Saturday.

I was saved from cheating by the fact that the measurements I'd taken for Adele placed her neatly between two sizes. I was going to have to measure her again, wearing a version of the cardigan I'd made myself. It was a good thing she was coming back on Saturday.

And anyway, no one likes a cheat, do they? Especially not in a race like Tour De France. I know I've set myself a huge goal - knitting a cardigan in three weeks, but still, that's not a reason to cheat.

So anyway, this is the cardigan I'm making for her. It's from Cleckheaton Studio Mohair booklet #941. I think it will suit her really well. I chose this pattern not because of its links to anything French but because it's for Adele, which is a good French name, thereby qualifying for entry into the race.

I made it for myself two years ago and this time am avoiding mohair. Instead, I'm using some lovely soft alpaca which Adele chose from the options I gave her.

By the time the race started on Saturday night, Adele and I were in our PJs, and we were all full of Beef Bourguignon (oh how apt!) and Tarte au Citron (doubly apt! I swear I didn't plan it!) and very nearly ready to fall asleep on the couch. But we waited up and I started the cardigan and was on my way. That's all that counts.

I love the eyelets. They keep me just interested enough in all those endless stocking stitch rows.

Finally, tomorrow I am going to Alice Springs for work. For all you overseas-ians (a term coined by RoseRed recently) this is where I'm going.

Look for Canberra, just south of Sydney, then go to the middle of the country to Alice Springs. It's the most central city in Australia and it's in the outback. Population around 26,000 and temperatures a good 15 degrees (celcius) warmer than here!

This will be my first trip to the Northern Territory - the red centre! I'll be gone from Tuesday to Saturday for an Indigenous Education conference so am not sure what kind of internet access I'll have. I've future dated a post to publish in my absence so it'll be just like I'm still here.

Think of Sean, home alone, fending for himself for the week. I really wish he could come with me.

Bells

A Knit Along, A Cardigan, A Sister and a Bottle of Bordeaux

Winter is now officially upon as. Just as the Americans treat Memorial Day weekend as the start of summer, I like to think of this weekend, the Queens Birthday long weekend, as the start of winter. I love winter. Truly I do. Cardigans. Red wine. Hand knitted socks. Warm food on the stove. And July.

July is going to be fun, I've decided. It's a month I'm quite fond of, being my birthday month and this year, instead of bemoaning the whole turning-36-and-still-not-pregnant thing, which quite frankly can get me down at the best of times, I've made plans.

A few days ago, I just thought those plans would include a visit from my sister and nephew, stretching out the birthday celebrations over a week and probably a work trip to Alice Springs. Those are all fine plans, but now, thanks to RoseRed's foresight, I've got something else to add to the list. She emailed me on Friday afternoon and alerted me to the fact that something exciting had been announced.



The Tour De France Knit Along! See that lovely new button in my side bar? It takes you to the blog and means I'm in the Green Jersey team. That means (and I hope it's ok to lift text from the blog):

• Green Jersey – also known as a Sprinter. You are choosing a project of average skill for yourself BUT you plan to speed knit and finish it before the end of the Tour. This category is all about the race against the clock.

It took me all of 15 minutes to figure out what I'd do. The team behind this Knit Along have given participants a fairly broad opening for the theme and in my attempt to come up with something French, I've gone about as broad as you can.

Adele is a lovely French name, non? My family is not French but I believe the family story goes that Dad was reading a book when Mum was pregnant and came home announcing that he loved the name Adele. And so my yet to be born little sister got her name.

I, as a result, have my project for the Tour De France Knit Along. I've been planning for some weeks to knit a cardigan for Adele and she's been perusing the pattern links I've sent her throughout the week.

A pattern was chosen (a Cleckheaton cardigan - I'll blog it later). Yarn was selected. And at the last minute, the knit along was announced. Perfect synchronicity.

So I will be sprinting throughout July, sprinting to get my sister's first made-by-me cardigan done - cast on is July 5. Cast off is July 27 (or before).

Wish me luck! And if you think you're up for it, check out the blog and pick a Jersey team for yourself! Sign ups are limited so move quickly!

Not interested in cycling? That's ok, because I'm only in it for the scenery and I bet I'm not the only one! The cycling is just one small part of it. Really, it's just a way to combine more knitting and more TV watching as well as joining lots of other people and getting to know new friends. I've met a new one already. The Green jersey team leader is Sarah at Blue Garter. The world grows ever smaller.

On the coldest, greyest days in July, I'll be hanging out in a European summer in my mind and at some point, drinking a bottle of Bordeaux we were given as a wedding present. That seems fitting.

Bells