Fiber Fool

Pattern: Based on Simplicity 4197, view F
Material: Stretch Corduroy from Jo-Ann, left over fabric from my other skirts
Embellishment: Based on my sister, Amber’s, typical flower doodle
Inspiration:Elisabethan
Cost: ~$15
Time: ~8 hours total

Notes: The base of this skirt is *super* easy and quick to make. I have a sneaking feeling that my summer wardrobe will contain several of these. I added some linen to the bottom for a touch of color. It will fray slightly, but will be controled by some decorative stitching.

The iron-on flower was stitched down using the split stitch and all six strands of DMC embroidery floss. The button was part of Susan’s stash that she built with the aid of her water aerobics ladies. Two of them (and they are large) cost only 29 cents so you can guess how old it is.

The shirt I’m wearing is my own, but I got a ribbed v-neck sweater and a 3/4 length v-neck tee with lace at the edges for mom and dad to give her. I also got some brown tights. Then, the icing on the cake was finding the necklace that I am wearing in the photo shoot. I suspect she has some other outfits it’ll look good with as well. I know brown and turquoise is one of her favorite color combinations.

I hope this was a good choice. She doesn’t wear skirts to work, only to church, but whenever I’ve been shopping with her in the past few years she is always drawn to skirts. Particularly skirts with embellishment of some variety or another on it. I figure a good gift is something someone wants but doesn’t need, right? Hopefully she’ll also recognize her “flower” on it too!

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1. Amber’s Skirt 3, 2. Amber’s Skirt, detail, 3. Amber’s Skirt, 4. Amber’s Skirt 2

As written in our holiday letter, near-to-final draft (thankfully I caught it):

“Drew worked off those extra fika calories this summer by excavating large sections of our yarn in preparation for a patio installation.”

ROTFLOL!

It could just be an excuse for procrastination and ennui, but I am not in a frame of mind to decisions it seems. So, dear readers I am seeking input!

My own funky skirt is a dark brown corduroy cut on the bias with a mostly rusty orange color paisley with a hint of a bright olive green. However, I have sat with the paisley designed and the fabrics chosen for closing in on a week now without actually cutting out the pieces and ironing them to the skirt. Why? I’m unsure how to orient it. So, please check out the options above (you can click on it to see it at Flickr as well), only a few of the many permutations I’m sure, and vote for your preferred method. Feel free to add comments to the post explaining/selling your opinion on the matter.

In case you are wondering, the scale should be about right. The skirt is A-line and reaches to just below my knee (similar to the shorter skirts in the photo shoot for Friday’s post). The paisley design nearly fills a sheet of paper. There will be some crazy quilt inspired embroidery around each of the three fabrics to hold them in place as well as make the paisley seem more paisley.

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As an update, it is just past midnight and this will post in the morning automagically. But, I went to bed about 10:40 or so and laid awake for an hour. It was likely somewhat caused by reading creativity stimulating material right before laying down. So, I got up and heated up some milk with a touch of vanilla as well as a rice sock. I’m hoping warming myself up and curling up with a fiction book not about highly creative individuals will get me ready for sleep. I am giving myself an hour and then I shall try to fall asleep again and see what happens. No television. No creative books like knitting stitch dictionaries or embroidery books. I’m hoping it works and I’m hoping not waiting until I have to stumble to bed will allow me to try get myself back onto a more normal schedule. As it was, I went to sleep at nearly 7am and slept right through water aerobics yesterday. I can’t have that happen again!

Here it is, hours before dawn and I haven’t had a wink of sleep. That has been the status quo this past week and a half or so. I’ve only recently given into getting up and trying to distract myself with television in hopes that it occupies my mind enough that I can fall asleep. I will apologize in advance for the photo-less post. If you need photos, check out Friday’s post below. If you wish to read me wax philosophically and whine continue…

(Read on …)

Pattern: A Derivation of the DK Balance Sock Pattern
Yarn: 2 balls Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boot Stretch, with a fair bit remaining
Needles: Two US 1 Addi Turbo Circulars (16 inch and 24 inch lengths)
Recipient: Myself

Notes: I used my Balance sock pattern as the basis for these knee highs. However, I turned it upside down and knit them toe-up, starting with a Turkish cast-on (thanks Deb!) and a wedge toe. I started with 72 sts around the foot. Then I used the standard heel flap heel, but with the flap on the bottom of my heel. Once the heel was turned I began the pattern again so they have a clog heel. I knit the leg for 5.5 inches and then began increases 4 sts per row every 8 rows. I set the increases to be at the back of the side cables and on either side of the center back cables. I increased to a total of 116 sts at about 13 inches of leg (when on the leg, about 15 inches when not on the leg).

The top cable ribbing and stitch count did not provide enough grip to keep the socks up so I ran 5 strands of .5mm elastic through the wrong side knit stitches - one at each cable cross and one at the very top of the sock. I tied each string of elastic with a square knot and have left the tails as they don’t show when worn.

I did not like this yarn. It did not like to stay plied so it was very easy to split it. Ultimately I think the socks have a bit of a grungy look to them with this colorway as well. I’ll certainly wear the knee highs a bunch regardless. As you can see they go well with at least three of my skirts so I should have nice warm legs this winter.

These knee highs went quite quickly. I finished them last week, but we haven’t had much in the way good photography lighting. They took about 3.5 weeks or so. Not bad for a plus-sized knee highs!

I’ll definitely make some more. Hopefully at least one more pair this winter in perhaps a chocolate brown or black… Next time I’ll plan on a bit more negative ease so they are snugger and stay up better. I would also decrease a bit between the widest calf placement and the beginning of the top ribbing. Ultimately, I suspect the extra elastic would be helpful in most pairs though. But, this pair is a little sloppy looking.

Now, my next project - how to block knee highs! :-) That’s why there are no unmodeled shots in that mosaic above!

I hope all of you in the US had a lovely Thanksgiving. We stayed home and did our own vegetarian/non-vegetarian hybrid dinner and then settled in for a couple of old movies - The Ladykillers and Christmas in Connecticut.

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1. DK Balance Knee High Toe Detail, 2. DK Balance Knee Highs, 3. DK Balance Knee High Kick, 4. DK Balance Knee Highs in Fourth Position, 5. DK Balance Knee Highs, 6. DK Balance Knee Highs, 7. DK Balance Knee Highs, 8. DK Balance Knee High Side Detail, 9. DK Balance Knee Highs, 10. DK Balance Knee Highs, 11. DK Balance Knee High, 12. Putting On DK Balance Knee Highs, 13. DK Balance Knee High Kick