Diagonal Triangle Tank

Ever handy with a spatula or knitting needles, here I am wearing my latest creation while cooking dinner. This is the Diagonal Triangle Tank (P90) by Iris Schreier of Artyarns ( http://www.artyarns.com/ ), who gave a workshop at the yarn shop I work at ( http://www.sticksandstringsknitting.com/ ) last weekend. I thought it might be fun to make her pattern and wear it to the workshop in case someone needed help with the class, and I had some silk yarn on hand in my stash from last summer's expedition to Webs. I used a size 6 needle, and, true to my propensity to modify all the patterns I encounter, I decided to knit this one "in the round". It was a challenge to interpret the instructions to knit as one piece, but I really enjoyed the construction of it, and of course, it is always useful to try on stuff as you go. I had to add a bit to the front to make it fit without being too revealing, and I kept the V in the back instead of squaring it off. I was going to add sleeves, but ended up finishing it as a sleeveless tank, so I could wear it as a vest. I used about 650 yards of yarn, and I have a bunch left over, so it might appear as a scarf in future!

Here is my friend Dot modeling it for me:

J&J Sweater

I was very pleased to finally finish this sweater. It is a combination of many influences, which began when a customer came to my shop with a photo of a cardigan that she wanted to make. As I didn't know of a pattern, and wanted to knit a similar sweater myself, I offered to design and write up the pattern so we could do it together. The first thing we decided was to use a worsted weight yarn and make it a pullover, which was a departure from the sweater in the photo. I chose Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, and a size 7 needle, and went to work swatching the large cable for the yoke. As I couldn't find one in Barbara Walker's Treasuries that fit my specifications, I modified one that she had, and knit the yoke cable first. I then picked up for the yoke and knit that, ripping it out twice to get the effect I wanted. I originally went with reverse stockinette, but later decided on a wide ribbing, which pleased me. The body and sleeves were picked up and knit downwards, so I could customize length and shaping. I narrowed the sleeves on my version to provide a tapered look, and went up to a size 8 needle for the hips. I added a section of wide ( 3X3) ribbing at the hem, which balanced the look and provided more length to the body. I am very pleased at how the sweater turned out, and I love the feel of the yarn.