mayflower

In the time that has passed since my last post, I knit the entire back and seamed it to the front, and am almost done with one sleeve! I am still very pleased with how my spur of the moment, sudden inspiration driven, Silk Garden baby is turning out.

The angle of this photograph makes the raglan shaping look a little shorter/ shallower than it really is. In my first post about Silk Garden, I commented on how I desire a clean, calculated shift in colors that match on both sides, whether it is in the sleeves, or in the front and back panels. So obviously both sides of the V-neck had to match, not just in color, but also in its duration.  Short 1 1/2 inch- 2 inch gradations in the body followed by long 4" ones in the neck shaping  would really bother me (haha, I feel so anal!). To get the colors to match, I cut the Silk Garden when I reached the neck shaping, and spliced it to the other side. Yes, this is many rows worth of splicing...but hey, no ends to weave in! Splicing is one of the coolest knitting tricks ever, more on it later.

To achieve a consistent gradation in the V-neck area, I removed long segments of each color. Look what cute bundles they make!

mmm, I adore Silk Garden!

Here is a shot of the reverse side, where I mattress stitched both sides together. Has anyone ever seen a pattern or garment where fair isle's "wrong side" is showcased? The backs of fair isle panels are so interesting, and is almost always posted in blogs along with the fronts.  Why not create a design that stars the always neglected reverse side? hmmm...

I've become accustomed to calling Justin "Hospital Boy"! HB is now walking BY HIMSELF!! I know...what?! After the doctors surveyed the damage on the day of the accident, they announced that it would be six long months before he would walk. It hasn't even been three months! Ah the miracle of a positive attitude and youth (being 25  has helped immensely) He is going to PT/OT twice a week to regain full range of motion in his wrist and ankle, and is still home from work. He has a slight zombie-esque walk from the boot on his right ankle, bringing to mind this scene from Shaun of the Dead..

Remember this scene? Haha...hilarious!!

Oh, and the 7 random things? I'm thinking! :)

The Silk Garden Fair Isle has been the most addictive knit yet! The shifts in colors, textures, and thicknesses of the Silk Garden paired with the beautiful and interesting chart work have been utterly mesmerizing. Overall I'm pleased with the way the colors have played out. You never quite know how a skein translates into a knitted fabric!

I do find that band of bright lilac in the middle slightly irritating. After that point, I started editing less-than-pleasing colors as I came to them. I cut out a section of the same bright lilac, some near-black, and about five yards of BRIGHT yellow  (Have you noticed I have never knit with, nor do I own, a skein of yellow yarn?) I'm about an inch or two into the raglan/ neckline shaping. Much more on the construction later.

As for the chart, it's actually the body chart for Venezia, Eunny's creation in a recent Interweave Knits. I'm not calling mine Venezia, because the only similarity is the actual chart. It's a completely different knit. I xeroxed the chart page, then highlighted the area that would be knit with the Silk Garden.   

After knitting and reading the chart simultaneously with little luck, I made marks on each row with a pink marker to help me visually. I would read the row until the first pink mark, knit, then look back at the chart and read from the first to the second pink marks, then knit it, etc. After a few rows, I realized I was just looking at the chart, then saying the numbers out loud

"black, 2, 1, 2, 2" or "starting with black, knit 2, knit 1 in color, knit 2 in black, knit 2 in color". 

I decided it would be easier to just write the numbers out for the entire row and chart. For most of the body, I knit directly from the written version. Much, much faster. Strange, since you'd think I'd be more visual...yaknow, with a studio art degree and all ;) How do you all Fair Isle?

Clover mini circs! I saw a pair over at pieKnits and literally squealed! They're 8.25 inches and perfect for sleeves. Brilliant! She sent me this link and I bought the three sizes they have. I'll report back after they've gotten some use.

Hospital Boy is Hospital Boy no more! After my last post, the surgeon gave the ok to start putting weight on his left arm and left leg. In a show of utmost determination and strength, he went from being bed ridden, to WALKING (or hobbling) on a modified walker in just one week!WAY ahead of schedule! He shocked everyone, including me, and was allowed to go home within a few days of his first steps. 8 weeks and 1 day. Amazing. His right wrist and ankle are still healing, and because of the severity of the damage, will take awhile to fully regain motion and mobility.

Kicking back, enjoying a couple cold Mexican brews on Cinco de Mayo!

I've taken a lot of pictures of his progress over these past two months, and have posted them in an online album. After I receive the okay from him, I might post the link. I'm continuing to document and photograph his progress, because this journey is definitely not over yet.

Have a wonderful week!