Trinity Stitch Cap

I like the look of trinity stitch (AKA blackberry stitch). It is actually a non-lacy looking lace stitch, made by pairing a double increase (working three stitches into a single stitch) with a double decrease (working three stitches together).

A few years back, I was making a Christmas stocking and couldn't figure out how to work this stitch in the round, but by the next stocking, I had it figured out. The pattern I used called for purling across the right side (the first and third rows), then working KPK and P3tog on the wrong side. To work in the round, I substituted PKP and K3tog for the second and fourth rows/rounds, and guess what? It worked. But all that purling!

So I decided to try working this cap inside out: I would have the side facing me be the wrong side of the cap, the side that doesn't look like blackberries. The side away from me would be the side I wanted  to be seen in the completed cap. Does that make sense?

Here's how I did it. You'll need two colors of worsted weight yarn. I used less than a skein each of  two acrylic worsted weight yarns, one unlabelled, one Dawn Sayelle. My gauge  with size 7 needles over the 2x2 ribbing was 10 stitches in 2 inches. The trinity stitch contracted somewhat, but stretches enough to fit my 21" head. To make the cap bigger add stitches in groups of eight (Important for the decreasing to work out).

Cast on 96 stitches with first color.
Work in 2x2 ribbing for 4.5 " making sure your stitches aren't twisted and marking the end of round
Switch to second color and P one round.
Rd 1 and Rd 3: K around
Rd 2: (P3tog, KPK ) 24 times
Rd 4: (KPK , P3tog) 24 times

Repeat these four rounds until length from cast on edge is 9.5", ending with a Rd 1. Begin decreasing for crown.
Rd 1: (P3tog, KPK, K 2, K2tog) 12 times   84 stitches at end of round
Rd 2: (K 5, K2tog) 12 times   72 stitches at end of round
Rd 3: (KPK, P3tog, K2tog) 12 times   60 stitches at end of round
Rd 4: (K 3, K2tog) 12 times   48 stitches at end of round
Rd 5: (K 2, K2tog) 12 times   36 stitches at end of round
Rd 6: (K, K2tog) 12 times   24 stitches at end of round
Rd 7: K2tog 12 times   12 stitches at end of round
Rd 8: K2tog 6 times, with 6 stitches left.

Cut yarn, thread through these 6 stitches and pull tightly. Fasten off by securing yarn end on side of work still facing you. Also, weave in any yarn ends on this side.

Now, turn hat inside out and enjoy!

Here's what the hat looks like before turning it inside out.

Here's the finished cap, turned inside out and brim folded up. No pom-pom for me, though the inspiration cap from Lands' End did have one.

How to sell on eBay

I'm no expert on eBay selling, but  if something, say yarn, doesn't sell at $14.99, nor at $12.99, and there's still no bids at $9.99, increasing the minimum bid back up to $12.99 seems counter-productive. I had decided to place a bid on the yarn at $9.99, maybe even both lots, but when I saw that the seller increased the minimum bid, took both items off by watch list. Good luck with that.

I also wonder how some people set their prices. Some of the yarns are so over-priced as to be ridiculous. If I can buy what you're selling at Big Lots for a much better price, why wouldn't I?  I know that there are Dazzle Aire fans who'll push up the prices on it, but most acrylic yarn isn't that distinctive. You may think that just because your Wintuk is old that it is valuable, but it's not.

"I support small business"

I am sick of the politicians and their "I support small business", as if "businessmen" are the only people we should care about. Consider this: a small business, IIRC, is generally considered to be one with 2 to 50 employees. That means that roughly 67 to 98% of people associated with "small business" are employees, not owners. So who really benefits from the politicians promises to support small business? The owners, of course. And what does supporting small business mean? Getting rid of any regulation that hampers the owners' ability to make more money, even at the detriment to their employees?

Then's there's the fantasy that lowering the tax rates on the highest earners will somehow create more jobs. Studies have shown that this is not true, but the Republicans continue to shove it down our throats, perhaps thinking if they say it often enough, it will come true, or enough people will believe it, voting them into office so they can cut the taxes on millionaires like Romney. The same Romney who claimed his show horse as a business expense. I guess since he's trying to sell the American people horseshit, it is a business expense.

Baby Aran Cardigan

Just finished a baby Aran cardigan from a pattern I got at the knitting-and-crochet site-that-shall-not-be-named.

I made it with  unknown acrylic yarn I bought at Goodwill ( I lost the labels). Judging by the colors, I'm guessing it's from the 70's. The original pattern called for a bobble and cable stitch that I really didn't like for several reasons: bobbles eat up yarn and I only had two skeins with NO chance of finding a third; babies lying on their backs will also be lying right on those bobbles; I tried them for the front and didn't like how mine turned out. So I substituted braided cables on the front and trinity stitch on the back. I also inserted a row of eyelets for an I-cord drawstring on the sleeves.

It will be my entry for child's cardigan, knitted.

Hallowe'en rules

There should be rules for Hallowe'en trick-or-treaters. These are mine:

1. No costume=no candy. If you're "too old" or "too cool" to wear a costume, then you're "too old/cool" to go trick-or-treating. Also, asking for candy when you're not in costume isn't trick-or-treating, it's begging, and there's a law against panhandling.

2. Don't ask for extra candy for your little sister/brother/whoever who was "too sick" to go trick-or-treating. Let this be a learning moment: either you learn to share or the invalid learns to suck it up when necessary.

3. If you're too young to eat the candy, you're too young to show up on my doorstep with your mom/dad/grandparents asking for the candy.

4. The candy is free to you, but not to me. Making nasty remarks about said candy within earshot of the person who spent money on it is rude. Next year, there may be no candy for you to complain about.

Have a Happy Hallowe'en!

More fair funnies

As I was picking up my Red Heart Super Saver Ripple afghan, my pineapple doily, and my pastel acrylic baby sweater, one of the ladies at the needlework area said "Thank God you entered something other than what those Wollmeise wannabes and Malabrigo mavens made." Of course, that didn't happen but I am supposed to believe that people were complimented on the fact that they didn't make any of above mentioned items.

I mean, we all know that because even the crappiest wool sweater is so much better than the best acrylic sweater that the acrylic sweaters should have to be judged separately. Like an Old Testament woman on her menses, they're unclean and should not be allowed near the precious natural fibers.

Also, why don't we attach the price tag, sales slip, or gift check receipt with our fair projects? That way, if the judges have any question about which entry is deserving of a blue ribbon, they can see how much you paid. We all know more expensive yarn automatically makes your knitting better.

Purple Aran

Aran sweaters are rich in history. The individual stitches have specific meanings . The grouping of certain stitches and patterns identify specific Irish clans, so that if I see a center trinity stitch panel flanked by rope cables and seed stitches, I know who your family is (or whose sweater you've borrowed). For centuries these traditions have been handed down from one generation to the next. When you make an Aran, you are honoring these traditions.

The only trouble with this history is that it's wrong. A famous knitter debunked these romantic fallacies in one of her Aran sweater books, but they will still pop up from time to time, and you can still buy an "authentic" Irish clan sweater on certain websites. The stitches have no significance beyond what you give them. I like the look of blackberry or trinity stitch so I use it in my designs because I like it, not because it signifies the Holy Trinity. There are no "authentic" clan patterns, unless you designate that your design is your family's "clan Aran".

So why is this important? To me, it liberates you from having to follow certain Aran rules, so that your sweater can be uniquely yours. Here are those "rules":

Aran Rules You Can Ignore

1. Aran sweaters must be off-white/natural/bainin. Not true, although lighter colors do show off the stitch patterns better than a dark or variegated yarn. Shadows created by the 3-D aspect of the cables and textured stitches get lost in dark and multicolored yarns.
2. Aran sweaters must be wool. Wool was traditionally used, because it was the most readily available yarn. You can use whatever yarn you like, even acrylic!
3. Aran sweaters must be knitted in an heirloom appropriate yarn. The thinking is that because of all the work you've done, you're going to want to hand this sweater down, so make it in the "best" (code word for most expensive) yarn. Again, it's an option, not a rule. My best in show Aran cardigan was done in Red Heart Super Saver! (Since acrylic is virtually indestructible, I'll be able to hand it down when I'm gone.)
4. Aran sweaters are clan-specific. Not true. Use your favorites in any grouping you like.
5. Aran sweaters have a specific sleeve type. Not true. I've seen set-in sleeves touted as the Aran sleeve,  that Arans traditionally have raglan sleeves, and that most Arans feature a saddle sleeve. They all can't be true, so use the sleeve type you're most comfortable with.
6. Arans have a larger central pattern, flanked by smaller cables, with filler stitches at the sides. Again, they don't have to follow this design, but the use of filler stitches at the sides of the body and correspondingly, the underarms of the sleeves, is a good idea. Filler stitches, such as seed, moss, rice, and sand stitches are flatter and are less bulky. This allows more ease of movement in the underam area.

Purple Aran

The words "purple" and "Aran" don't seem to go together, but that's what's on my knitting needles now: a purple cotton cabled sweater, adapted (from a Bernat booklet) to be worked in the round. The yarn is definitely not traditional. It's a cotton, light worsted weight by my guesstimation, reclaimed from a Lane Bryant sweater that I bought at Gabe's for a dollar. It was only a dollar because the collar was already coming off, which for me was a bonus-it's already started to frog itself! If I work fast, it might be done for the Fayette County Fair. If not, maybe the Westmoreland county Fair.

One tip I learned from doing this sweater is that in order to make the cables line up correctly once the yoke is reached, you have to do a little math. I did the body first, and it took nine 12-row repeats plus the ribbing to reach 16.5 inches. Since the underarm length was to be 19 inches, I measured the 12-row repeat, added that to the measurement of the whole body and made up the difference in ribbing. Then when I joined the sleeves with the body, I was on the same row. This might not be important if you're working smaller cables that twist every fourth row or so, but this was a v-shaped cable that would have looked off-kilter. Although some knitting mavens suggest working the sleeves first, in order to make sure your gauge is correct, in this case, I suggest doing the body first. If you have a large row repeat, you might have to start some place other than row one on the sleeves in order to synchronize everything at the yoke.

So, Aran knitting tip number one: Plan ahead if you're working in the round to be sure that your patterns line up correctly, ie., all start on the same row when joining at the yoke. A slight variation in ribbing length may be enough, or you may need to adjust on what pattern row the sleeve cables should start.

The Trouble with eBay

It seems so simple. List your items and wait for someone to bid on them. What could be easier?

Well, that's what I thought until I actually listed some items on eBay: yarn I knew I would never use but it was too good to just donate to Goodwill, some out of print Barbie patterns, a Vera Bradley bag that I actually had bought on eBay (and foolishly didn't realize how big it was). Nothing Earth shattering. Then the wait for bids. In some cases, that wait was fruitless. Then the wait for payment, and as a new seller, even after the buyer paid, I have to wait until PayPal deems I'm not a con artist. And still waiting for payments.

But I have learned to be more specific in where I'll ship-US only. I've sent care packages to my brother overseas and filling out the customs form is no fun. I'm not a business; this isn't supposed to be a hassle for me. Since I don't get paid right away, it would mean shelling out for overseas postage then waiting for three weeks to get re-imbursed. At $40+ dollars to send a Priority Mail package to Great Britain, that's a not insignificant chunk o' change, and again, neither fun nor something I'm going to do.

So as soon as my yarn sells, or doesn't sell, my days as an eBay seller are done.

On a brighter note, I did buy some yarn, Nature Spun sportweight in a light brown, similar to the fingering weight wool I had previously bought. Maybe a scarf and glove set? 

Bargain of the day is three books from Goodwill: a Fannie Flagg novel, true story about Pat Tillman, and a true crime (my favorite type of book!). At $0.99 each, less the 15% "senior citizen" discount, it's a real bargain.

It's almost fair time, part 2

Less than a month to the Fayette County (PA) Fair and I'm almost done. I say almost because I'm still working on a sweater that may or may not get finished. It's a woman's Aran sweater from an old Bernat pamphlet that I've modified to be worked in one piece in the round. I also changed one of the cables that I just didn't like. I haven't reached the underams yet nor made the sleeves, so it's going to be close.

I'm only entering about half of what I had been entering in the past few years. Just didn't  have the desire this year to make baby things or knitted doilies or something for St. Patrick's Day. We'll just have to see how things play out this year with my entries. As usual, there are some I think should win, and probably won't, and some I think are OK which will probably get blue ribbons (I hope). In any event, I get to grouse and gloat while checking out all the other entries.

Here's what I've collected since 2004. There should be another Grand Champion purple ribbon, but for the first year that I won, I didn't know where to pick it up!

It's almost fair time

Aran Sweater Barbie

Every year since 2004, I've entered the Fayette County(PA) Fair. I enjoy seeing how my projects compare with other people's. Sometimes, an entry I think can't miss doesn't even place fourth, like this Barbie entered in the Doll Clothes category. The picture doesn't show her kilt or knitted knee socks , which I made using #10 crochet thread and size 000 needles.  But no ribbon of any color. I'm often not sure what the judges are looking for, so I just make what I like.

Same outfit, just bigger

And because I like Aran sweaters and kilts,the next year, I entered a bigger doll with essentially the same outfit: crocheted hat, cabled sweater, kilt, knee socks. I guess bigger is better, as this doll outfit won a blue ribbon.

I'm going with baby doll clothes this year: knitted sweater and leggings, crocheted hat and booties. It's done, just needs to be photographed.

What a bargain!

Today's bargain is a pair of Easy Spirit Motions for $5. That's right, five dollars for a pair of shoes that retails normally for almost $70. I bought them at Gabe's (Gabriel Brothers, if you're not familiar with them) and it made the trip worthwhile.

Yesterday's bargain was 6+ skeins of a vintage fingering weight wool for $6.99, including shipping, from eBay. I don't know how I lucked out, because that's a great deal.

I'm going to need all the money I save to buy health insurance. It is outrageous what Keystone Blue costs. I wish that the US would get universal coverage. I would go back to practicing medicine in a heartbeat if tort reform was enacted and the threat of medical malpractice was mitigated in a government run health care system.

Bargains!

I just love a bargain. Who doesn't, except the baby in those commercials with Jimmy Fallon? My bargain for the day is The Chronicles of Narnia priced at a dollar (less my 15% senior discount) at Goodwill. I had previously bought the first five in the series but couldn't find the last two until today. Now I can donate my individual copies back to the Goodwill for someone else to enjoy and still have a copy should I want to re-read them. It's a win-win situation.

Now, if I could just find the last three Harry Potters.

Red Heart Bear

Just finished the most adorable little bear from a Red Heart pattern, using Aran Fleck as the bear color (it's a pool-ar bear) and various scraps of other acrylics for the bathing suit and accessories. Very cute and I'm definitely not an amigurumi fan. The ears were the hardest part but I hobbled something together that looks ear-like enough for me. Pictures to follow.

Update: As promised, here's my bear. I modified the ears and bow. The directions were clear, but I couldn't get either to look right. I love the rubber ducky swim ring! I did make the pail, but not the fish.
For you Red Heart fans, you'll recognize the bear is Aran Fleck, my favorite RHSS color. The other colors were just miscellaneous acrylics that I had lying around.

Goodwill has yarn! (sometimes)

Even more hit and miss than finding yarn at Big Lots is yarn at Goodwill. I've been lucky enough to find cashmere worsted weight and Noro Kureyon sock in single skeins, but a lot of what is there is acrylic. Nothing wrong with acrylic, and I've bought it at Goodwill myself, just I know it's not everyone's favorite. Right now, I've got 4 skeins of a laceweight mohair, a big skein of a microfiber from Joann's, and some baby yarn waiting. Unlike some people who decide what they want to make, then buy the yarn, I find the yarn and then decide what I want to make with it.

If you want to try yarn at Goodwill, here's some tips that I've found helpful.

1. You might have to ask where the yarn is shelved. The usual suspect areas are household goods and domestics.
2. I take a few minutes to check whenever I'm shopping near a Goodwill. You never know when the good stuff will be waiting there for you.
3. Sometimes the yarn is bagged  so it's impossible to feel. I've bought  unlabelled acrylic I thought was wool and  unlabelled wool I thought was acrylic! I was pleasantly surprised with my wool and disappointed with the acrylic, although I did make a crib blanket with it, then re-donated the leftovers.
4. Since the yarn is often unlabelled, not only is its content unknown, so is the yardage, which can also be a problem with vintage yarns that often didn't have yardage listed, just weight.
5. If you're concerned about bringing home unwanted pests, keep the yarn in airtight plastic and away from your other yarns. I've also placed yarn in the freezer for 72 hours, though some sites say a home freezer doesn't get cold enough to kill larvae. However, I've never had a problem with moths.
6. If the yarn seems soiled, you can wash it first. I've washed acrylics still in the skein with no problem.
7. I've rarely found yarn that is still being produced. If there's any question you'll run short, you might forgo using Goodwill yarn, as it's doubtful you'll find more.

Hope that helps. Good luck at Goodwill.

Big Lots yarn shopping tips

So, you want to try Big Lots yarn. Here's a few tips I've learned.

1. If you don't see yarn, ask! My local Big Lots don't have an actual "crafts" area, so the yarn is sometimes where you least expect it: stationery department, electronics department.
2. If one store doesn't carry yarn, or the yarn you want, call or check out other stores. I check out three different stores on a fairly regular basis, and the selection at each varies.
3. Don't believe the labels. I've found fingering weight yarn that burn tests as wool despite a label declaring it to be "100% polyester" or something like that. Easiest way to do a burn test is to cut off a short length and just burn it. Wool will self-extinguish, leave an ashy residue and smell like burning hair.
4. Labels may also not reflect the actual weight so look for the heavier ones to get more bang for your buck.
5. Buy more than you think you'll need. It might not be still there if you run short.

Big Lots has yarn, part 2

Here's the socks I made from the yarn that someone on Ravelry declared "I had that exact same yarn but mine wasn't wool" because, as we all know, monitors reproduce colors so accurately that she could tell hers was exactly the same, not to mention how frequently yarn companies produce the same colorway in two yarn fiber types (Noro does, I think, but not many others). Oh, and then that yarn is sold in western PA and out west (Wyoming or Montana, I'm not sure) in Big Lots. And it just so happens that the one person who is arguing that Big Lots doesn't sell wool yarns also just happens to be that one person who bought that yarn. Believable? Not to me.

I made one pair from Cookie A.'s Monkey sock pattern from knitty and the second pair from a pattern I downloaded when it was free: An Easier heel by Helena Bristow.

Five People You'll Meet

1. The self-styled knitting maven. She claims to know 57 varieties of cast on techniques, an equal number of ways to bind off, and the best way to do a left leaning decrease on the purl side of stockinette knit using Eastern combined knitting, but strangely, most of her projects are  hats.
2. The hard core yarnographer. She admits to petting her yarn and  having "yarngasms".  'Nuff said. It's yarn, not your sexual partner.
3. The yarn snob. She equates her worth and yours with what you knit with. Natural fibers are of course the best, but the true yarn snob will sneer at your Brown Sheep Worsted and announce that domestic yarn just isn't the same as imported.
4. The One-True-Way knitter. Hers. Everyone else is doing it wrong.
5. The magic loop fanatics. For them, magic loop is THE answer to everything. Best way to knit socks? Magic loop. Best way to avoid ladders? Magic loop.  Meaning of life? Magic loop.

Big Lots has yarn!

Big Lots has had yarn before. I still have the Red Heart Maypole I bought in Jacksonville, FL in the early 90s! I'm not that slow of a kntter, just a hoarder in training. But the yarn that they have now is mis-labelled (intentionally?) and I've found some really nice wool sock yarn. Even if some crazy bitch on Ravelry insisted that the yarn in my photo was not wool:"I bought that same yarn and mine wasn't wool". Just one more reason why I left Ravelry: crazy bitches who will argue with you over the truly stupidest things.

Anyhow, I'm finishing my second pair with the green yarn that IS wool. Pictures will follow.