#nashuayarn

On May 9, I wore my hand-knitted "Charlie Brown" vest and mini-sock necklace for #MeMadeMay. The vest started as an intended "boyfriend sweater." The yarn is a #nashuayarn alpaca blend... a worsted weight one ply (singles). I tried on the body of the sweater when I finished that much and realized I really liked it that way, and changed gears to make this vest. It was a great decision. The zigzag portion I chose to hand-embroider in duplicate stitch, so it looks knitted in. Notice that the yarns are not the same. The turquoise is a many-ply "cabled" superwash wool. I like its sheen as a contrast to the fuzzy magenta. The armhole/neck edgings include a bit of the turquoise yarn I used for the zigzag stripe, to unify that color into the whole look. The sock necklace is a miniature version of my pattern "Chippy Socks for Kids," one of my most popular patterns. It starts at a newborn size, in DK weight yarn. These were knit from @cascadeyarns Heritage sockweight yarn, casting on only 16 stitches. I knit the necklace on my trip home from teaching a full class load at #SockSummit2011 in #pdx Portland, OR. My airplane seat neighbor couldn't figure out what I was doing. She thought they maybe were for dolls! The necklace "chain" I made as a double i-cord during the #SockSummit successful bid for the most knitters simultaneously knitting in the same room (on two single-pointed needles, much to the chagrin of we socknitters... very few socks are made that way). I used the needles I was issued and the yarn I had in my purse... and it was great to have it as a matching "chain" when I finished the six socklets. Screenshots of both patterns on @hi.ravelry are shown as the final two images here. #memademay2020 #knitover50 #knittersofinstagram #imakemyclothes #colorjoyfullife https://www.instagram.com/p/B__xN5ipBv_/?igshid=cgaviyg6xopr

On May 7, my #MeMadeMay choice was this sweater. It had been a #NashuaYarn store sample, and when the yarn went out of production I bought it. It was originally cropped, with sleeves too long, body too short, and neck too tight for me. It also had marble-sized bobbles on the cuffs and at the hip level. It was also a bit too tight at just the lower hip level. And it was (shudder) Ballet Pink. That is one of the colors that makes me look fully jaundiced. I ripped out all 4 edges (and all bobbles) of the original, saving myself the need to re-knit the body (which involves praying that I will like the fit. I begged a few skeins of that color from friends, trading for other colors in the same yarn from my stash. I un-seamed the bottom few inches of the sweater. I knit wedges to insert there, to increase the hip circumference by about 3-4" (8-10cm) total, and mattress-stitched them invisibly. (Image 3.) Then I picked up stitches at the bottom and knit down in a new textured pattern I made up as I went. I also improvised new cuffs and neck. THEN I dunked the sweater in bright blue-purple wool dye. And dunked... and dunked... and steamed to set. I had done a lot of yarn dyeing, so had a good idea of what it would take to keep the color from pooling or blotching. This particular dye fades with light, so it is slowly becoming more pink as time passes. My final photo shows the preserved color inside the hem, and the outside faded color. In the end? It fits comfortably, and I wear it often. I didn't have to worry if it would fit, I didn't have to do hours of stockinette worked flat (that many purls in a row can drive me batty), and I have a sweater which has kept me toasty for years (Aran weight, 30% Alpaca/70% Wool). I am too tired to take many photos, But am adding one from several years ago which was taken to show off the Sherlock shawl I knit. I tried to find a photo of the original design, too. It was the front cover image on a Nashua Snowbird pattern book, being worn by an ice skater. I can't find it on @hi.ravelry, so I give up. #knittersofinstagram #knitover50 #knitover60 #Imakemyclothes #RefashionedHandKnitting #overdyedsweater #colorjoyfullife https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9UUSCJy9T/?igshid=1kyr1ueae23b8