Fabrics

41x45" $80

61x58" $80

103x45" $100

47x40" $80

Jacket Pattern-Starting Out

Note: always slip the first stitch of each row, to ensure easier picking up of stitches.
For most sizes (34-40") 71st is enough, as there is plenty of ease, but for larger hips use 75.
Make the first triangle, center back, at the hem. Cast on 71 sts.
Row 1.
Row 2. K
Row 3 Using contrasting color, k1, k2tog, knit to center three stitches, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k to last three stitches, k2 tog, k1.
Row 4. K
Row 5, with main color, repeat rows three and four
Continue decreases at each side and center until five stitches remain, bind off.
Measure the long edge of this triangle and that will determine the width of the back times two. In other words, if it measures 11", then the back width will be 22".


Here's the triangle at the bottom center of the body.
The diamonds are made with 71 sts, and the decreases are done over the center three stitches as follows:
knit to center three stitches, sl 1, k2tog, psso,
Triangles # 3,7,10,11,15 and16, and the smaller triangles 13 and 18 have decreases (k2tog) one stitch in from the edge, on the right side only.
Since doing this pink version I have improved the neckline, and eliminated the triangles 21-25.


This is probably enough to get you started. When you have gotten this far, I will show you the rest, with instruction and pictures.

Muffin Top Gone!

OK I am embarrassed to be sharing...or even taking these photos, but nevertheless, the diet is working.
As you can see, I am in need of a bra that fits. as this one is not tight enough and I am falling out. But focus on the lessening of the rolls of fat at the waist. And how flat is my stomach? No butt either.
Must improve my posture...

Choices for you

This is the one you chose when it was first on offer, but knitting with it yesterday, I decided it was too Grreeeeennnnn against the red and would look like Christmas.
Below: This purple merino goes well with this multicolored merino which goes from orange to pink to magenta to purple.

The pink merino is complimented by this Paint Box merino which has MANY colors in the lot. This would be a fun combo.
And then the same pink merino in combination with Amazing yarn, which has wonderful color combinations too.


So....whatever you choose, I think they are all good ones, or at least better ones than that red/green/yellow combo.

The Laundry Hallway

The floor and transition strips are in and I await the baseboard for the grand finale. But, in the meantime I have washed down the floor, dryer and washer and done five loads of wash and discovered a use for my wide ironing board. It usually sits in the closet, since I never have to iron anything on it. But I thought I could use it as a folding table!
Sometimes I am just a genius.
BTW, I keep the laundry basket there instead of in my room since I didn't have a good spot for it. I just put my laundry in it as it happens and then when full I wash it.

The Closet Cleanout

Zuppa

And here's what I sorta made...garbanzos, roasted peppers from a jar, big can of chicken broth, big can of tomato puree, veggies, cayenne pepper, Celeste's oregano from last year, and a bay leaf, salt and pepper. I hope it tastes wonderful. It will be hard to eat without a lotta bread and butter. I am usre I will add fresh basil at the end.
the recipe http://www.pinterest.com/pin/193443746467661590/
that video I wanted to share. The dance and that guy's eyes. O my!
http://youtu.be/lcpV7MR7DWQ

Drawer Cleanout

I have solved my slow hot water problem FINALLY. We turned the water heater to the highest setting and now I have almost instant hot water. Much better than waiting a whole minute or more for the water to get hot.
And now for the great drawer cleanup. Yay!


I am amazed at the amount of stuff I tossed out and then the amount that I am donating to Goodwill. How many slotted spoons did I have to have? I am now down to one. What a good feeling. I have three potato peelers! Two sets of measuring spoons and cups and way too many scrapers and spoonulas. Only two spatulas. Hmm. (my little camera is acting up, not focusing automatically, see first photo.)


Tony was chewing on the plastic pencil and dropped it as I took the picture. He looks so innocent, but is really a baaaaaadddd little doggie.

Neckline Update

As promised here is the next step. I feel that the shoulder seams should be sewn before the shoulder triangles are picked up to knit. I also like to do the collar at this point too. To make it simpler than my first attempt at explaining this,
Knit the neckline 'wedges' by decreasing on both edges (sl 1, k2tog, k to 3 sts before the end, k2tog, k1) until only 21 stitches remain. Note: On the right front, the stitches are picked up from the center front edge. On the left front, the stitches are picked up from the top of the diamond instead. So ending threads are not on the same side when the wedges are completed. I cut them both and put the live stitches on holders as you can see. I will weave the loose yarns in later.
Then stitch the neckline/shoulder edges together, cut yarn, and with main color (whatever that is!) pick up the live stitches on the inside left front, and continue to pick up and knit around neckline.

 I bound off the back neck at five stitches but I may go back and undo that and leave more stitches open or live to make that neckline 'seam' more seamless. I think that the center back neck seam shows most of all when stitches are picked up there, so the fewer picked up, the better, if that makes any sense to you.

paint or dye effects

Using Setacolor textile paints, which I have a ton of, and just pressing the brush down and allowing the paint to dry in the spotty looks. I can't recall if I used two coats, one with a foam brush and one just really wet fabric first...have to play with this. Dried in the sun, quickly.



Also using Setacolor. Paint is applied and scrunched up fabric is pressed into it. Set it in the sun and it makes this design all by itself.


Thickened dyes, I have the thickener in my closet, sodium alginate, made from seaweed. Squirt on the thickened dye and squirt regular dye in between.  Same with the next piece below


The darker pink and the yellow were the thicker dyes and the rest of the colors were squirted into the empty spaces. Done on pimatex fabric, a poplin weight, single layer.