Baby Surprise Jacket: Increases

Guest post by Elizabeth DeHority

We left off doing decreases until we got to 90 stitches on our needles.  You can look at your pattern to tell you how many rows you were supposed to have done, but I have no doubt that any mother who has more than one child helping her knit might have any number of rows knit so far.  Guess what!  It really doesn't matter, it all ends up folding up right no matter what.

 

 

This is not a mini pink BSJ.  This is an oddly shaped swatch.  Have I ever told you I LOVE to swatch?  I am so totally a process knitter.  It's the sensory experience, the colors and the textures that matter to me, not so much the finished garment.  Except for Rosary socks.  I'm good at finishing Rosary socks :-)

 

See those two diagonal lines?  They are INCREASES, not the decreases we've been doing.  We have many choices about how to do our increases.  They all work out just fine, so if there's any particular method you feel comfortable with, go right ahead.  I thought you might like to see how similar they end up, though.  The diagonal on the right was made with the same "knit into the front and back of the stitch" (KFB) that we used for the increases above the cuff.  The one on the left is the original Elizabeth Zimmermann Make One  (M1) increase.  Let's look at both for a minute.

 

 

I do the KFB increase, without leaving a regular knit stitch in between, because for me it's fast and easy.  I like only having to move one marker, and it seems less fiddly to me.  Of course you can also do the KFB sort of increase WITH a stitch in between, so that your diagonals for the increases will line up perfectly centered with your diagonals for the decreases.  It totally, truly doesn't matter. 

 

 

 {Elizabeth Foss' increases, using two stitch markers, knit front and back increases, and a knit stitch between the two increase stitches. My thanks to Ginny for talking me through this part. I couldn't reach Elizabeth DeHority, so Ginny and I talked it to death. In the end, these increases look just like the Chloe ones I know and love, so I settled comfortably into a very familiar pattern. -EF}

 

 

But here is the original EZ M1 increase.  Note that this is NOT the same one as in the video.  EZ liked to do her M1 by making a backwards loop over the right needle... if you have the pattern in The Opinionated Knitter you can find this info in the little box on page 102.  (Don't worry, we have our own video.  Just keep reading a minute first.  Breathe. )  If you choose this kind of increase, you might want to leave the single knit stitch between your increases, because two loops right next to each other can get a little too tight and hard to work on the next row.  The downside is that you need to move two markers.  Some people I know (Hi, Mrs. Foss!!!)  love their orderly stitch markers, so this might not trouble them. 

 

I think they look remarkably similar in garter stitch.  In the stockinette stitch part of my swatch, you can see the differences, both are fine... so for this BSJ project, just go with the one that is easier on your hands and your brain.  I guess it would be good to do both sides the same, but if you want to experiment and you're not a swatcher, this would be a good project to try out any increases you've read about...

 

And we'll keep going at these increases for a while... see your pattern for our target number of stitches where we add ten, evenly spaced across the back... This implies that we actually know which section is the back...  it's hard to see it yet, but it's actually just the part in the middle, between the diagonals.  Count your stitches BETWEEN the stitch markers, or pairs of stitch markers, divide by ten, and remember that number.  I'm not telling you how many stitches between your markers out of respect for the copyright, but also, because, honestly, truly, your counts really might be different from mine by several stitches and I don't want you to stress or rip back.   

 

So anyway, remember that number?  The divided by ten one?  Let's say it was six point something or other.  You can increase ten stitches evenly enough by doing five knit stitches, then a KFB in the sixth one. therefore turning every group of six stitches into seven.  What about the leftover ones?  Don't worry.  When you get to the markers for the increases, stop counting and just increase as you've been doing. 

 

 

And we'll keep doing this until we get to the part where we cast off for the front of the neck.  That's where our next BSJ post will start. 

 

I promised you a video tutorial for decreases, though.  Here's the link.  

Creative Inspiration: Paint Creekside

Morning dawned bright and beautiful. When the question was posed, they couldn't decide: drag the easel outside and paint in the sunshine or go to the woods and play in the creek?

It hit us all at once.

Duh.

Paint Creekside! 

So we did.

{quick big brother assembly}

{The best watercolor water  for nature pictures is collected in the creek}

{sittin' 'n' thinkin'}

{she dresses herself.}

{sharing sunnies from karoline's easter basket. sarah annie looks worried that she's going to be cut off.}

{serious stuff}

{Nick's masterpiece}

{this moment: she sews}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Baby Surprise Jacket Knit-Along: First Ten Rows

Good Monday Morning:-)! Are you ready to knit? Did you look at your pattern and utter some version of, "Huh? This is like no pattern I've ever before seen. I'm out of my element knitting when I can't see where the knitting is going?"

How do I even start?!

The good folks at Schoolhouse Press have graciously given us permission to post Elizabeth deHority's answers to just those questions when I posed them to her. I read her "translation" and then read the pattern and tah-dah!

{The First Ten Rows}

Remember, if I can knit this jacket, you can knit this jacket. Without further ado, here are Elizabeth's line by line words of wisdom for the first ten rows:

This is garter stitch, so knit every row.  Don't purl back, BUT remember that you do your decreases on row one (after cast on, that's row zero) and on odd rows.  Once I get a couple of rows done, I mark the side that FACES ME ON ODD ROWS.  You'll see this below at Row Five.  That way when you put your work down, even without the pattern, you can tell where you are and where to go.

 

 

Use just the regular stitch markers that you know and love.  You will need four, but five makes things easier.

 

Cast on per the pattern, putting simple plastic stitch markers after stitch 29, 42, 118, and 131.  (row zero)

 

Row 1:  Knit to marker, move marker.  Knit five stitches.  Slip one stitch from left to right, without knitting.  Knit the next two stitches together, then PSSO:

Pick up that stitch that you slipped, which will be the second over on your right needle, with your left needle, and pop it over the first one.  (pull it over and drop it like a necklace around that K2tog.)  Here's a video, demonstrating PSSO (also called a double decrease).

Knit 5. Move marker. knit 76. Slip marker.  Knit 5.  Then do the double decrease again. Knit 5. Slip marker. Knit 29.

 

Row 2:  Knit  back.  Big breath.  That row one is always tricky :-)

 

Row 3:  Knit to marker. Move marker. Knit FOUR. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit four.  Move marker. Knit 76. Move marker. Knit FOUR. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit four.  Move marker. Knit to end.

 

Row 4:  Knit back.

 

Row 5:  Stick a safety pin or a yarn loop on the side facing you, maybe on row three or something, so that you know when the pin is facing you you're on an odd row.  Then:  Knit to marker. Move marker. Knit THREE. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit THREE.  Move marker. Knit 76. Move marker. Knit THREE. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit THREE move marker. Knit to end.

{Elizabeth Foss  (How many Elizabeths can we get in on this project anyway?) note: you don't see a marker for the right side in my pictured project because I'm switching yarn every other row. Once I finish a ridge, I switch. I know when I'm on the right side because it happens every time I switch. Of course, this only works if you are striping every ridge. Honestly, I can't even remember why I decided to stripe this much. I'm sure there was a perfectly good reason somewhere along the way.}

 

Row 6:  Knit back.

 

Row 7:  Knit to marker. Move marker. Knit TWO. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit TWO.  Move marker. Knit 76. Move marker. Knit TWO. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit TWO move marker. Knit to end.

 

You should see a diagonal line forming where you are decreasing.

 

Row 8:  Knit back.  Breathe.

 

Row 9:  Knit to marker. Move marker, knit ONE, slip one, knit two together, PSSO.  Knit ONE.  Move marker. Knit 76. Move marker. Knit ONE. Slip one. Knit two together. PSSO.  Knit ONE. Move marker. Knit to end.

 

Row 10:  Knit back.  End of day one. 

 

{My BSJ with bulky yarn, handspun by Elizabeth deHority. White and Pinkish purple stripes, for my tiny two-year-old to wear right around her third birthday. Actually, after Elizabeth DeHority saw these pictures, she declared the yarn too loose and sent me all new yarn. Now, I've knit using these instructions twice. New pics on Ravelry.}

Let us know how you're doing! Please leave a comment, and then leave a link as well, so we can find you. (If you don't have a blog, join anyway. You can post pictures to the Flickr group. Just take pictures as you knit along and upload them to the group so we can Ooh and Ahh.) I'm looking really forward to seeing what yarn you've chosen and what ideas you have about stripes and such.

Yarn Along Ramble

I've done very little knitting or reading since the last Yarn Along. I've done a lot of driving to the airport, some very brief hellos and way too many goodbyes. And the Triduum. That lack --ahem-- isn't going to stop me from posting a too-long Yarn Along;-).

I'm just little further on my latest Chloe (#6). I do have some plans, though. I met Ginny yesterday at Fibre Space, where a very nice guy named Micah was incredibly patient and showed me absolutely every non-animal yarn they had, all the while checking to be sure I wasn't going to go into anaphylactic shock just breathing the wool in the air. We had mixed success. I did buy a yarn to try and a sweet inexpesnive project bag to replace my Ziploc bag. I'm not really thrilled with the yarn yet, but we'll see what happens on the needles. If you are at all local, I encourage you to head to Old Town Alexandria and check out Fibre Space. It was just as I envisioned a neighborhood yarn store: warm, friendly, cheerful, everyone just happy to talk knitting. In addition to their kindness towards me, I heard them helping other customers during the time I was there. Just great folks! And a very nice selection--all those yarns I've spent hours researching online--right there to touch. (And how fun was it that they have a giant Mac right there on the counter, where I could log in to Ravelry and check a pattern? Very cool.) So well worth the trip. I drove over an hour and Ginny drove further. But I know we'd both do it again. Maybe we'll see you there.

It was a beautiful day in Old Town and Ginny and I had time to linger a bit over lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed my grown-up day out of the house. I didn't even get lost going or coming--truly I tell you, the GPS has changed my life:-). Patrick returned home late yesterday evening, ridiculously jet-lagged and dehydrated, and he flew out very early this morning. I had hoped to sit and knit while he told me all about Holland last night. But he was so tired he was incoherent. I have a sense that the next few months will be ones of intensity for him (and us). What do I bring to that this year that I didn't last year? I bring knitting. It's true that knitting is a stress-buster. Truly true. I admit to knitting through tears this morning as that early flight left the ground. Wet cotton doesn't move well. For me, all my knitting heretofore has been inextricably woven with listening to the the Word of God. Knowing that the only thing I know for certain is that there is much uncertainty ahead, I don't think I'll change my knitting rhythm even though Lent is finished.

With Paddy on his way back to Bradenton and Mike back out on the road, the bluebells all turned to green, and no plans for any further entertaining until late next month, it's time to settle into a new household rhythm. I'm reading --and applying-- Organized Simplicity. I'm also hoping to begin reading these three books on dyeing. (Just realized the links didn't work in the post on painting yarn. Sorry!). I've ordered a wee bit of alpaca to try to knit without itching. I'm really hoping that will work, because I do want to hand paint more yarn and I'd prefer an animal fiber. The books above address more than just animal yarns, though. I see some silk fabric dyeing and painting in the very near future.

I love to talk knitting and reading with you. Elizabeth, who nudges me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis, has me planning a knit-along. I wanted to knit a Chloe;-). She suggested the Baby Surprise Jacket. The pattern (which isn't really a pattern, but more like suggestions) for the jacket is available at Schoolhouse Press and in the video linked above. Included in the pamphlet is also a pattern for an adult one. My hope is to find my go-to non-wool yarn and one day knit a surprise jacket for myself. For now, though, I'll be knitting a baby jacket. If you're wanting to read an Elizabeth Zimmermann book (abundantly available at lots of libraries), the Baby Surprise Jacket is in Knitting Workshop. We're going to knit it together over the next few weeks, with Elizabeth assuring that I am successful. You know, Elizabeth has taught me that a mentor is an invaluable gift. So often women (and teenaged girls) are afraid to try new things, even though they really do want to know how to do it. We are so afraid to fail. And are we all perfectionists at heart, just a little bit? A truly good mentor, who can come alongside, and push a little while ensuring success? Unbounded blessing. Makes me stop to think about the ways we can blesss each other. Where can I mentor and help someone over her own doubts and into the sunshine of success?

Be sure to stop by and visit Ginny and see what other folks are knitting and reading.

{comments are open here for knitting and reading conversation}