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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Oh look a distraction!




I mean a pattern, of course. I'm calling this one Purple Rain. Reasons are as follows:

  1. Prince is awesome, and I don't care who knows it.
  2. I started it on a day when it was raining.
  3. I hate when it rains in the winter because then scary ice forms
  4. I fell on said ice, and am still a little wobbly.
  5. But I still wear my giant platform heels everywhere.
  6. I didn't fall in said shoes, I fell in sneakers..I don't know why I was wearing sneakers, but I find it humorous that I manage just fine in the giants and not in shoes with, you know, grip.
  7. It's something lacy in hopes that spring will come soon.
  8. I really just wanted to make a list.

A little about the pattern: This is an incredibly simple pattern to follow and, I think, is great for beginners lace projects. If you're able to "read your knitting" you can easily memorize it. The yarn used is also extra special because the boyfriend got it for me after only knowing me for a week..and it's taken me this long to figure out exactly how to use it.

Finished Measurements (After Blocking!):
Length: 55"
Width: 20"

Materials:
Yarn: Cadenza by Estelle [80% Superwash Merino, 20% Tussah Silk; 382yds/350m per 100g hank] colour: 955; 1 hank
Recommended Needle Size: 3.5-4.5mm [shown in 4mm, the bigger you go the more "airy" it is]
Yarn needle for weaving in ends, of course
Blocking Pins and quite a bit of them
A large flat surface out of the way, that you're willing to sacrifice for blocking time

Gauge: 30 stitches per 4 inches on 3.5mm

Abbreviations/Techniques Used:
yo:
yarn over
ssk: slip, slip, knit
k2tog: knit 2 together
p2tog tbl: purl 2 together, through the back loop (it's not that bad, seriously)

Pattern:

CO 60 Stitches

Row 1: k2, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3,* k2
Row 2: p2, *p5, p2tog tbl, yo, p1,* p2
Row 3: k2, *k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1,* k2
Row 4: p2, *p3, p2tog tbl, yo, p3,* p2
Row 5: k1, *k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1,* k3
Row 6: p2, *p1, p2tog tbl, yo, p5,* p2
Row 7: k2, *k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk,* k2
Row 8: p1, *p2tog tbl, yo, p6,* p3

Repeat rows 1-8 until one of the following happens:
  1. Your arms fall off, which I hope doesn't happen before binding off. How unfortunate
  2. You run out of yarn. Again, I hope it doesn't happen before binding off, otherwise you'll have to go back.
  3. You get sick of it, put it down forever, and later decide to bind off, seam up the sides and turn it into a square hat, or small pouch.
  4. You reach the 8th row on what you decide to be your last repeat as you have just enough yarn to bind off, which you do peacefully because you didn't push your luck and try for one more row.
I'm not telling you how to run your knitting life, but I suggest #4.

Finishing: Weave in ends. Do some hardcore blocking. Wear with some flair.

9 comments:

  1. 'Wear with some flair'.

    I heart you. And now I have yet another project to make on my incredibly long list!

    ReplyDelete
  2. 'Wear with some flair'.

    I heart you. And now I have yet another project to make on my incredibly long list!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think Prince would've wanted you to wear it with some flair. Very important step in the finishing process.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pretty shade of purple!!

    Sneakers have less than no grip on ice, they're more slippery than anything you can imagine. Ask me how I know :p *almost started crying in a parking lot once because I slipped and fell HARD on my knee*

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  5. I love it! It's been a very pruple months, all my WIPs seem to be purple.

    I've learned my lesson! Never run to the store in sneakers again. I just thought that sneakers have a little bit of grip as opposed to my heels being perfectly smooth and rounded on the bottom.

    Yikes! That reminds me of this time when I was in like grade 4, I fell on a piece of ice in the schoolyard and my knee bent..the other way. IN SNEAKERS!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the purple rain!!

    As for falling on ice --- I'm the world's biggest wimp on ice. I will walk miles out of my way to avoid ice. Ice (except in Mojitos) is the work of the devil.

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  7. It is the devil! Unfortunately, this ice was blocking my way into the store..and I really wanted an ice cream sandwich. Yes, I was in pain for a week, and continue to hobble around for another week for an ice cream sammich. But it was worth it.
    I usually avoid ice too, I'll walk on the road (because they're usually ice free) before I walk on an icy sidewalk.

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  8. Purple rain is great! Thanks for sharing the pattern and for visiting my blog!!

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  9. I love this, thanks so much, it's on my list of things to knit!
    Vicki

    ReplyDelete