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June 8, 2005
Some past knitting projects
One of my brother and sister-in-law’s guest rooms contains two gifts I made for them. Both are made of the same wool, a cream bouclé that came in an enormous mill end cone from I bought at a Christmas sale in 2001 from Webs. The afghan is made with a triple strand of the wool on US 13s. They were married on October 18, 2003. I started the afghan at the beginning of the month and knit it furiously on planes and in hotels as I traveled my way to visit them. I began by flying to Paris, and then flew on BMI from London to Heathrow. That flight was the only one ever I have been asked not to knit. There were no issues during security, and the stewardess found it fascinating, but then the male purser came back and asked me to put it away for safety reasons. Of course I complied; the flight was all of 45 minutes so little precious knitting time was lost, but I did think it was funny. I had a 36 inch plastic needle with more than four feet and four pounds of afghan hanging off of it. If I could have hijacked a plane with it, I deserved to. I continued madly knitting from Bristol to Devon and presented the finished product to my brother at 7:00 am at Gara Rock in Salcombe on the day before the wedding. He was appreciative, if mildly nonplussed, as he was buck-naked.
The pattern was adapted in scale from Charlotte Quiggle’s reversible scarves and afghans. There is a seed stitch border, but this is the main stitch element:
Multiple of 9
row 1: k4, p1, yo, p2tog, p2
row 2 (and all even rows): knit the knit stitches, purl the purls
row 3: cable4, p2, yo, p2tog, p1
row 4: repeat row 2
row 5: k4, p3, yo, p2tog
row 6: repeat row 2
The pillow was made for their first anniversary. It was again cast on shortly before leaving to visit them and knit on the plane and while visiting. It is a very simple design, a long rectangle folded like an envelope to enclose a pillow with a button closure in the back. It’s knit with a double strand on US 10 needles, and the border is seed stitch as is about two and a half inches at the beginning and end where the buttons are. The main pattern is one of my favorites, seeded rib check.
Seeded Rib Check:
Multiple of 4 + 3
Rows 1,3,5: K1, P1,*K3, P1*, K1
Rows 2,4,6: *K3, P1*, K3
Rows 7,9,11: As Row 2
Rows 8,10,12: As Row 1
Shorthand for construction of an envelope-style pillow
(Back of pillow) Seed stitch for 2.5 inches.
Change to 1 inch seed stitch border and seeded rib check until 1 inch before turn point of the pillow.
1 inch seed stitch
turning row of purl stitch
(commencing the front) 1 inch seed stitch
Change to 1 inch seed stitch border and seeded rib check until 1 inch before turn point of the pillow.
1 inch seed stitch
turning row of purl stitch
(completing the back) 1 inch seed stitch
Change to 1 inch seed stitch border and seeded rib check about 1 inch before the “envelope” when folded completely covers the pillow. The fit to the pillow should be tight. Don’t allow for any ease; instead fit it lightly stretched.
Change to seedstitch for 2.5 inches, placing button holes midpoint.
Sew side seams, sew on buttons, insert pillow, decorate with tassels if desired.
Posted by Leigh Witchel at June 8, 2005 6:43 AM
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Comments
This project is/was very impressive. You never cease to amaze me.
Posted by: Steve at June 10, 2005 11:07 AM