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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7896441.stm

I am a BBC news addict.  They posted an article on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, about how “Knitting can delay memory loss.” Just what I need, another excuse to knit!  Upon reading the article I have to agree with it for a number of reasons.  One, it seems like with every project I spend the first part of the project doubting it will work.  I think of all the reasons why it won’t work - is my gauge swatch really right (guage swatches are liars sometimes), is this yarn going to work, how am going to change what ever it is in the pattern I don’t like and is going to look right, will I look like a pickle in this sweater, etc….  Then I have to do math (terror for us liberal arts majors) and wonder if my knitting instinct is correct.  All this requires critical thinking skills which help in keeping one’s memory.  Second, knitting is also a great way to relax.  Once you get into the groove all the stress seems to go away.  Third, I have a great knitting buddy and even though we don’t always get a lot done we have a good time gossiping, sharing laughs, and using each other as sounding boards.  And finally it makes me take time out for myself -I get to do something that I enjoy!  So keep your mind sharp by knitting!!

Last night I met my good knitter friend, RR, at the Barley Mill.  We brought our projects and made a resolution to knit from our stashes for the next 6 months.  No new yarn. That means no more Rubber Made containers for yarn and unfinished projects. Here is my plan -  after I finish the nightie I am going to make a vest out some camel yarn I got on sale, rip a-part this sweater that has been sitting in bag in the closet for over two years and finally finish it, make a bunch of  felted flowers out of that Rubber Maid container of Lambs Pride (Yes, I have an entire Rubber Made container of Lambs Pride) and finish the steering wheel cover and dice that I saw on Knitty on Gritty.  Being true knitters we spent the next hour looking through the “Knitting Lingerie Style” book trying to decide which project we want to start on - either the boy shorts and halter set or leggings and racer back top.  Such decisions!!!  Then I opened the daily e-mail from Interweave Press and ended up downloading the free pattern for hand towels.  This resolution may be harder than I thought.

This Skirt Portion Completed

To start the project I made two gauge swatches, both 20 stiches by 20 rows on size 4 and size 3 needles, and washed and dryed them.  Since I will be wearing this as a dress not as a nightie I wanted the gauge to be tighter and the swatch that came closest to the gauge in the pattern was the size 3 needles  I decided to use size 3 needles.  I debated in my head the correct size to knit the garmet as a dress.  In the picture it shows the nightie as being fitted and I wanted something a little looser (I’m always cold so I will need to fit a shirt under it).  I took my measurements and was somewhere between a large and meduim so I decided to make the large.  I am also thinking the yarn will shrink a little bit horizontally too and I’d rather have something a little big than something for my daughter to wear in a couple of years.  I cast on 112 stitches on straight needles and completed 5 inches of the vince lace pattern, then knit  the 5 inches onto to circular needles.  I deamed that first group “The Back” and put some green scrap yarn so I wouldn’t get confused between front and back.  I cast on another 112 stitches and knitted the vine lace pattern for 5 inches, then joined the front with back and now everything’s wonderful because we’re all on circular needles.!  I followed the pattern and did a lot of knitting in the round - 24 inches (I wanted the skirt section to be 20 inches and 20 inches X 20% = 24 inches) of it!!!! until I did the waist decreases per directions.  From the waist I knitted 12 inches (10 inches from waist to underarm X 20% = 12 inches).

I know it’s a lot of knitting  (35 inches!) but when you have an 18 month old it’s easy to pick up and put down knitting in the round.   If I had to do it all day I’d go crazy, but when a little person comes running after you with a sippy cup saying “wader” you get up and get her water.  She doesn’t doesn’t understand that anyone needs to finish a row.

Now it’s time to put in the false seam down the side so it doesn’t look I’m wearing a tube.    I am hoping to find some uninterupted time and some good light to do that.  Knit on!

The Vine Lace Pattern on the bottom

One of my favorite knitting books of all time is “Mason Dixon Knitting.” I saw the “After Dark Nightie” and decided I wanted to make that as my first post-Shayna (my daughter) project.  Never on to take things lightly I decided to make a dress instead of a nightie because who wants to go through all that work and not be able to show it off to the world???  During my pregnancy I met the writers of the Mason Dixon book at Abundant Yarn in Portland,and they had on display a pair of baby jeans that’s Kay Gardiner has published on Knitty.com (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTblu.html  ).  I feel in love with jeans, made two pair and in the process discovered Rowan Denim - you wash it in warm water with your jeans and dry it.  No pampering this yarn!  I decided to make the After Dark Nightie with Rowan denim because with a toddler I need to be able to wash whatever I make and I like the colors/shades.  But here’s the caveat - I need to account for 20% vertical shrinkage.  I got started and ended up ripping out the vine lace pattern several times because I kept messing up for whatever reason.  Any new parent will understand that babies cloud the brain.  I took a week of work to clean and knit and got the vine lace portion finished.  I knitted the pattern on straight needles for 5 inches.  I found it really helpful to use stitch markers every 9 stitches to keep track of where I was in the pattern.  Stitch markers - don’t leave home without them!