Knititude

Reader knit: Fern Fitted Shell

Many thanks to Terry for allowing me to post this great photo of a beautiful Fern!  (She used KnitPicks Shine and was very happy with the result.)

A short revisit

I wanted to mention a couple of tiny pet peeves; these are not on the order of chronic lateness (my own or someone else's), crazy drivers, or even PMS headaches or frizzy hair.  No, these are niggling concerns--yet nagging nonetheless.  First:  the tendency of drapey and/or fine gauge sweaters to show the outlines of hardware such as belt loops, belts, snaps or buttons (and I'm sorry, but I refuse to wear leggings under everything); second, the tendency of many sweaters to hang shapelessly at the small of the back (which is after all part of the waist).  These are two reasons I really like how the Chinese Lace pullover fits; the lace has enough relief and texture, plus a slight flare, which combine to conceal the tops of jeans very nicely (and yes, even the dreaded muffin top--not saying that I have one, but...); and the ribbing and side waist decreases and increases give a shapely fit, even at the small of the back.

And this?  A gorgeous version of Chinese Lace, from Angelika, in Germany; it puts my own to shame.  Thanks, Angelika!

A couple of reader knits

Here is a lovely Sherwood with a few minor mods, by Eileen; according to her the color is really more red than it appears in the photo.

And below are only three of the Maple Seed hats knit by Sandra, who is apparently making one for everyone she knows! 

Another reader knit--hooray.

Sandra sent me an email with a link to this gorgeous lavender Maple Seed Hat; the cotton yarn shows off the stitches beautifully.  (Maple Seed pattern here.)  Thanks Sandra!   

Another reader knit

This cute raspberry number was knitted by Thiire from Finland.  She e-mailed me before starting the hat crown decreases: 

I am knitting the smallest size, and am about to start the crown shape.

Crown shaping: 
Rnd 1: *K1, YO, k2, SSK, (k2tog) twice, YO. Rep from * to end of rnd. 64(72, 80) sts.
Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8: K.
Rnd 3: *YO, (SSK) twice, k2tog, k1, YO, k1. Rep from * to end of rnd. 56(63, 70) sts.

I do not understand the parts which I colored red above.
Am I meant to do k2tog twice (or not at all) in the round 1?
Am I meant to do SSK twice or not at all in the round three?

At first I didn't understand her confusion--and then I realized that she was wondering if the fact that the k2tog and the SSK were in parentheses meant that they should only be worked for the medium and large sizes.  I was trying to avoid confusion by using those parentheses, but I think they are really unnecessary.

Thanks for your question, Thiire!  This pattern-writing is certainly a learning process.   

My first reader knits!

Nancy sent me this picture of her Rose-of-Sharon hat, made from my pattern featured in the June Magknits.  I love the purple and white combo--and love being able to post a picture of something I didn't have to knit myself!  Perhaps someday I'll even have enough reader FOs to require a Gallery, a la the Grumpster's; one can dream, anyway. 

I know of at least one more WIP on its way to becoming an FO:  click here to see a lovely pale green Beaufort hat in progress.