Posts filed under 'Rusted Root'
As promised, here is an official “finished” shot of Rusted Root, and the specs.
Pattern: Rusted Root by Zephyrstyle.
Yarn: Southwest Trading Company Bamboo. A bit over two skeins. It’s hard to tell because I started with a leftover skein. I ended up with about half a skein left out of the two and a half that I had to start.
Needles: Size 6 Addi turbos for the body and size 4 Addi Naturas for the ribbing on the edgings.
Started: April 2nd, 2007
Finished: April 16th 2007.
Click here for the blog archive of this project.
I wore this to work on the day that I took these pictures. Got lots of compliments, which was nice. The sweater did stretch out a bit by the end of they day. That tends to happen with silk sweaters, too. The fabric must get kind of heavy or something. It’s not bad, though. It still looked good.
As I mentioned, I loved the bamboo yarn. It is a fantastic alternative to cotton, I think. It was really silky and soft as I was knitting it and the fabric when knitted up has a really nice, light breathable quality to it.
This was my first top-down sweater and I really enjoyed the process. It got a little boring when I got to the body and had to knit stockinette forever, but that’s to be expected. The best part was not having to seam at all! loved that.
All in all, I’m very happy with it 
April 22nd, 2007
I finished all of the knitting on Rusted Root yesterday. Then I promptly tried it on (and took a picture). It fits! i really like the way it fits, in fact. And I love the fabric of the bamboo yarn. As I said, it’s going to be a really nice summer top. Nice and light and airy. Yay! I will wear it this week and take an official “finshed” picture. Stay tuned for that.
In other knitting news, I’ve been knitting away on the Striped Border Scarf from Victorian Lace Today. Incidentally, I had to start the whole thing over last week, after I posted my picture. Instead of doing a “crochet cast-on” I did a “provisional cast-on”. duh. So I decided to take out the yarn when I started on the center part of the shawl and I realized that I had live stitches on the end of my border. It worked out okay. The border just took a few hourst to knit. So I was was back on track in no time.
April 16th, 2007
Here is my Rusted Root top. I am really enjoying this project. This is my first top-down garment and I am just enamoured with the process. It was fun knitting the sleeves and trying to figure out how it would all work out. I’m already plotting some other top-down sweaters in my future. I’ve been wanting to make a lacy cardi for summer in a black cotton, bamboo, or hemp yarn. I kind of want to just design it myself using this method. Hmmm… a project for the black, red and metallic months of July and August maybe?
This is being knitting with South West Trading Company’s Bamboo yarn. I just have to say I LOVE it. It’s beautiful. It has the most gorgeous drape. And it shines like silk. And the two newer balls are really nice and soft to work with (they changed the yarn at some point. I had an older ball that is a little stiff. The newer balls are waay softer). And I think it looks pretty, too. The fabric is really light and airy. A summer cardi knitted up in this yarn would be gorgeous.
I knitted the first half with the older ball and one of the newer balls, switching each row. The older ball ran out so I’ve been switching each row with the newer ball, hoping to avoid pooling. I can really tell where the old ball ends and the new one begins. Not sure how I’m liking that…hmm. I’ll keep going for now. I guess if I have to reknit the whole thing it wouldn’t be the first time. sigh. that’s the story of my knitting life.
I got a gift certificate from my inlaws to B&N and I bought Victorian Lace Today with it. Oh my freaking god I love this book. This is on par with Nancy Bush’s Knitting Vintage Socks (my favoritest knitting book ever). It’s beautiful. The photographs are gorgeous. Simply breathtaking. I LOVE the little bits of history in it. I’m a sucker for that sort of thing. And the lace! Oh my God! The lace! Dude. It actually makes me want to knit lace. I thought I hated knitting lace. I don’t know. Maybe I still do. But this book is inspiring.
There is a section called “understanding lace” which was very helpful for the lace challenged like me. And each pattern states clearly what level it is. She even points out the patterns to start with if you are new to lace.
So I decided to pick one and just go for it. I was going to order some lace yarn from Knitpicks in a pink and yellow to go with the Project Spectrum theme. But then I decided that I just couldn’t wait. I had some leftover alpaca lace yarn and decided to cast on. I’m knitting what is simply called “Scarf.” It’s taken from a Weldon’s pattern, according to the book. Here’s my progress:
And I don’t feel like poking my eyes out with my needles!
April 9th, 2007
So here is what I have planned for April (is it really April already ?!?) and May.
First up, Rusted Root in some Bamboo from my stash:
This is the same yarn that I used for the Lotus Blossom Tank way back in June of last year. I frogged that a long time ago because I decided I would never wear it. I never wear the tanks that I have knitted. I don’t know why. And this has little flecks of yellow in it! Two birds with one stone.
Next on my plate, Some socks in Lorna’s Laces using a pattern from Socks Soar on Two Circs”
That’s all that needs to be said about that. Socks. Lorna’s Laces. Life is good.
And if I’m feeling ambitious, I’m gonna get this done:
That’s right. It’s Audrey. I think it’s time I knit this sweater up, already.
Notice that there is no pink at all? um yeah. I don’t have anything pink in my stash. I don’t know if I will knit anything pink at all these two months. If some ball of yarn somewhere jumps out at me on my outings, then maybe I will add that to my list.
April 2nd, 2007
