Sweaters for Dragons

Yes, the stockings are finally done and have gone to their recipient.  Here they are, freshly finished and on the legs:

And as a teaser, here’s a picture of the swatch for my next commissioned project:

They fit!  One done, the other one about 1/2 done.

I had T try on the stocking yesterday evening…it was too big.  Waaaay to big, despite the circumference of the stocking being the same measurement as his leg.  However, There was about three inches at the bottom of the stocking that fit well.  So, instead of using a stitches/inch gauge from the fabric, I decided to use an “effective gauge.”  I divided the number of inches around the leg where the stocking fit by the number of stitches.  This gives me an effective gauge of 5.88 stitches/inch.  I’m going to redo all of my calculations based on this gauge and cross my fingers (when I’m not knitting, of course).

Well, at least I got my major snafu out of the way at the beginning (fingers crossed).  I very carefully did all of my calculations based on the gauge of a previously-knit sock at 10 stitches per inch.  I cast on for the first stocking and happily knit away for about 4 inches.  I measured the stocking…and discovered it was 6 inches too big.  6 inches.  So I checked my gauge and was getting 8 stitches per inch.  I redid my cast-on calculations and recast-on stocking #1.  I checked last night and I am dead on.  Now I have to recalculate the decreases, which is on today’s to-do list.  Here is the stocking so far…

Not much to look at yet, but it’s coming along.

I have been commissioned to knit a pair of 18th century stockings for a friend of mine who does re-enactments.  I am writing the pattern myself, based on his research.  I’m going to try to keep a log about the process here.

The stockings will come to just above his knee.  They will have no ribbing and a false seam up the back.  The false seam was actually hand-knit into the stockings at that time so they resembled machine-knit stockings worn by the wealthy.

The yarn and dye process are not period.  Obtaining the ingredients to dye the yarn with indigo would not have been cost effective for a single pair of socks.  If, however, I get more requests like this, I may look into it.  The yarn is standard modern sock yarn, 75% Superwash merino, 25% nylon.  This was his choice to improve the wear of the stockings.  It’s going to be hard to tell by sight that they aren’t pure, untreated wool in any case.  I did offer to make them out of 100% merino, but the care and felting factors overshadowed the desire to “stick to period.”

Thus far, I have written out the pattern and dyed the yarn.  The pattern was a bear!  This man has very thick legs that taper very quickly from mid-calf.  I had to work a 100-stitch decrease into 6 inches.  I couldn’t get that to work out right and have the stocking look right, so I changed it to 8 inches and separated the decreases from above the knee to mid-calf and from mid-calf to ankle to keep to appropriate leg shaping.

The yarn color is the closes approximation I could get to yarn dyed with indigo.  I’ll post a picture of it tomorrow when the yarn dries. 

I’m hoping to be able to cast these on tomorrow, Friday.  My plan is to knit one from cuff  to ankle, then have him try it on.  Assuming all goes well, I’ll post an update at that point.  If all doesn’t go well, I’ll post at the point at which my frustration gets the better of me.

I finished these for Mom (not Spring-y, but they are green)…

Up Scaled Here There Be Dragons socks by Theresa Walunas out of Frog Creek Fibers Flocculent in “Dragon Scale”

And this to present the socks in at Easter…

Stripes and Ruffles – Basket by Peg Alexander out of Cascade 220 in “Violet”, “Tutu”, and “Lemon Yellow”

And I’m working on this for Mother’s Day…

Branching Out by Susan Pierce out of Skacel Merino Lace in a pale pink.

You may have noticed that the blog has been down for several days.  Although it is back, all of the registered use accounts have been lost.  If you registered, please do so again.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

I have been a bad, bad blogger…no cookie.  But instead of try to catch up on everything since (mumble, mumble), I’ll just pick up from here and share my latest FOs and some animal news.

Yesterday I finished this for my Mom’s birthday…

Qiviuk Webs Scarf, in Knit Picks Gloss Lace “Port

And I finished these, for me, today…

Lang Jawoll Color Aktion

The socks happen to coordinate with the outfit I’m wearing for a second interview tomorrow (SQUEE!), so I shall wear them.

In animal news, I am babysitting this…

….for a couple of days while her owner is out of town.  She’s a barred rock and, although she won’t lay for her owner, has given me two eggs in the 3 days I’ve had her.

Oh, and as I side note, my Mom has requested the Blue Pine Jacket for Christmas, so I ordered the yarn for it…

I’ve managed to finish four projects in the last month, and I’m close to finishing a few others.  Completed are:

Morgan

The Bat Shawl

Aloo bath mitt

The Neverending Pullover (my design)

In progress, and soon to be finished are…

Alix’s Prayer Shawl out of Cables & Lace Dragon Feet in “Mariner’s Wife”

Mystery Stole 4 out of Cables & Lace Spider’s Breath in “Rusty Hull”

Pinwheel Baby Blanket out of Knit Picks Crayon

And just for fun, I inherited a BUNCH of roving…now I just have to figure out how to spin it.

I got a FABULOUS Plurk Swap box from Jenny (tuabella) yesterday when I got home!  Here are the contents:

Dark chocolate bananas and dark chocolate mint meltaways from Northern Chocolate Co.

Brooks Farm Yarn Solo Silk (50% Fine Wool/50% Silk, fingering)

Briar Rose Fibers grandma’s blessing (100% superwash, sport weight)

The Tesserae sock pattern from KnitSpot

And, for the grand finale…

It Itches, by Franklin Habit

Thank you soooo much, Jenny!  I love everything!