The Lisa Vest

Just before Christmas, I was shopping in my favorite apparel store.  I was looking for a gift for my sister, when I happened on the most beautiful knit vest.  It was knit in a salt and pepper colored yarn, with a large shawl collar, a cross-over front and was longer in the back.  I loved it, but the one hundred dollar price tag made it a "no-brainer".  I could not afford to buy myself such a lavish gift, right before Christmas.

I thought I would forget about it, but when I ran across this yarn at JoAnn's, I knew this vest would be my next pattern.  The yarn is JoAnn's Sensation, All Wrapped Up in the Black/Grey colorway.  It is a Bulky weight yarn, and I purchased 6 skeins for the vest.  When the vest was completed, I had used approximately 600 yards.

The vest was knit on size US 10 and US 10.5 needles, and despite several false-starts, I was able to knit it up in about 10 days.  The ripping out and starting over 3 times, were all associated with getting the perfect fit.

The vest starts just above the waist on the back.  I wanted it to have a shaped armhole in the back, so it is knit from the bottom up about 2 inches, then the sides are bound-off to create the underarm and front pieces.  After decreasing for the armholes, the back in continually knit in 1 x 1 rib.  The underarm/front pieces are then attached to the back-shoulders. 

Switching to the larger needles, stitches are picked up around the outer edge of the entire piece with a long circular needle and are knit in-the-round, to create the shawl collar, the overlapping front, and the back peplum.

The ribbing changes every 3 inches from 2 x 1, to 2 x 2, to 2 x 3, and back to 1 x 1.  This creates some interest in the pattern, although it is difficult to see with this variegated yarn.  If it were knit in a solid color this would definitely add to the eye-appeal.  The vest was bound-off loosely, and closed with a carved-bone pick, I purchased at the Mountainman Rendezvous last year.  I was so happy with the final design, and the final cost was $24.00.  Quite a savings, don't you think?  You can find the pattern at:  The Lisa Vest.

Only one week left, to become a "Follower" of this blog, and be entered for a chance to win this hand-knit hot water bottle and its cozy cover.  The drawing will be held on January 31, 2012, and it will be on it's way to the lucky winner, shortly thereafter.

This past week, my husband and I talked to a group of ladies about our new alpaca endeavor.  We were both really surprised at the interest we received, at what we have chosen to do in our "golden years".

We received our first shipment of yarn, right at the end of the year.  This is the yarn produced from Licorice Whip.  We had it mixed with bamboo fiber, to create this beautiful gray heather. 

Cocoa Bean's fleece was mixed with fiber from a suri alpaca.  Although she is a really a pretty-faced alpaca, and great mother, she has very low-grade fleece.  The addition of the suri made the yarn very soft, and added a heather quality to the yarn as well.

Our yarn was processed at the Crooked Fence Alpaca Farm and Mill in Mona, Utah.  These are the holding trays, where the fleece is allowed to dry, after a  thorough washing.

Large washing machines are used to wash the fleece, and you can see that fleece from several animals can be washed at the same time, with the large dividers in the drum of this machine.

Here the fleece is combed into a gossimer cloud.

Then it is turned into roving.  Steve has been using the roving left-overs to create a rug for the fireplace hearth in our family room (pictures of the finaly product will be shown in a future post).  We have a few large bags of roving created from inferior fleece from our animals.

This is the spinning machine, where the roving is twisted into yarn plys, and then the plys are twisted into the final weight yarn.  I chose fingering weight yarn this year, since we only had two animals, and I knew I would be knitting most of it.  Our final yarn production was 10 (450 yd) hanks of grey from Licorice, and 8 (350 yd) hanks of light brown from Cocoa.

Finally, it ends up on these racks, for a final drying, labeling and to be twisted into hanks.  The mill was so interesting to me.  Having seen the machines at work, I cannot imagine the process of hand-spinning, on a spinning wheel, or with a drop spindle.  Thank Heavens for technology!

My next "give-away" will be a large hank from our first batch of yarn.  So stay tuned . . . . . and

Happy Knitting!

Happy New Year - Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone!  I wanted to thank each of you who have been following my blog over the past 9 months.  It has been a transforming experience for me.  Along with blogging, I have designed 10 original knitted items and have written a pattern for each. Knit-Zilla Knitting Patterns. There has been a huge learning curve involved, but I think I am improving every day, and it has been a joy to talk to you about our joint interest in knitting.  Knitting has always been my instant relaxation technique.  It also keeps me from doing that "hand-to-mouth" thing called "snacking".

As 2012 begins, I have made a two simple resolutions for my life in the coming year:

Resolution #1.  To lose the 10 pounds I managed to pack-on in 2011.  I have set this one in motion, by joining a gym.  So far, I have been diligent in going and working really hard at meeting my goal.  However, the scales indicate that I have gained 1 pound for each day I have done this.  Everyone says I am gaining muscle, and it weighs more than fat, but my pants are not telling this tale.  They are a little tight!  Oh well . . . I shall prevail . . . I hope?

Resolution #2.  To learn to say "NO", when asked to perform a task for which I will be resentful for not being paid for my time.  This one is going to be HARD for me.  I always get caught in that "feeling flattered" mode, when someone asks me to re-create something I have made, for them.  This flattering feeling quickly turns to resentment though, when I start putting hours and hours of my time into the creation of this item.  The resentment quickly turns to anger, and I always take it out on those I care the most about.  And for some reason, these requesters almost always forget to say, "thank you".   I've decided I wouldn't mind filling these requests, if I were paid for doing them.  So . . . my plan is to calculate the time and cost involved in making the requested item, and telling the requester that I charge a meager $10 per hour.  If they still want the item, I'll happily proceed.  Otherwise, I'll know that person will no longer be making requests.  This process will not include my family, as I love to knit, and sew, and cook for them.  And my sisters always have an interesting trade worked out, whenever they make these type of requests.  Well . . . here we go.  Hopefully, I won't be making this resolution again next year.

In 2010, I knit this Jenny Watson design from the Queenslace Collection, for my daughter.  It took me about 4 weeks to complete, and it was knit from Caron, Spa - a soft bamboo yarn.

I just loved the lace stitch pattern and the softness of the yarn.  It was really fun to knit.  My husband thought the pattern looked like shark skin.

At the beginning of 2011, I decided to knit me one too.  I chose the same bamboo yarn, in a color that I love to wear, and started knitting . . . thinking it would easily be done by the end of January.

It was a cold winter, so I started by making this "Infinity Scarf" in the same lace pattern.  It worked up quickly, and I quickly did the cast-on for the sweater.  That was when I was derailed. I decided I needed to knit a warm vest for my Dad's birthday (in a former post), as the apartment he was living in was really drafty.  After that project was complete, I started getting requests from various other people for knitted items they needed, or wanted.

It was June before I had the body completed and pinned out for blocking.  The fit was perfect, and I was so excited to finish it.  It was summer, but I thought it would be light enough to wear as summer turned to fall.  That didn't happen, as once again, I was pulled towards other projects.

In October, I started my Christmas knitting, but a cruise became the perfect opportunity to knit the sleeves to complete my sweater.  The items I was knitting for Christmas, at the time, were too bulky to fit in my purse, for easy knitting on the plane, the tender to various ports, and on the deck of the ship.  There wasn't a lot of knitting time, but I did manage to complete the sleeves a few days after my return. 

After blocking, the sleeves were flipped over the end of the daybed in my sewing room.  I was too busy with Christmas knitting to sew them into the body.

 Finally, on Christmas Night, I found the time to sew the sleeves into the sweater.  I was so pleased.  The fit was perfect.

And the scarf went with it beautifully.  Jenny Watson is definitely a designer that I will be closely following.  Her patterns are carefully written, and easy to understand.

Don't forget.  On January 31, 2012, I will be drawing a "Follower's" name . . . to win this Hot Water Bottle and Knit Cover.  If you are already a "Follower", no need to sign-up again, your name will be included.  If you are interested in winning, simply sign up as a "Follower".  If you would like to make your own, you can find the free pattern at:  Free Hot Water Bottle Pattern.

This is my first funny knitting experience for 2012 . . . I thought I would share:

Yesterday, I walked into the parking garage where I work, to go get some lunch.  When I opened the passenger-side door of my car, a cat jumped out.  It scared me, and I screamed . . . right out loud.  Then I looked down, and found the cat that came out of my car, was actually my knitting.  I am working on a black, gray & white vest.  I was quite embarrassed, and quickly looked around to see if anyone had heard me.  As best as I could tell, no one was coming to my aid, and I couldn't stop laughing, as I drove off to get my lunch.  Perhaps I should name this design "The Cat Vest"?

Let me know if you have any knitting stories to share, as I think a collection of such tales would make a great read.  You can simply add your story as a comment below, or e-mail it to me at:  knitzillaknits@gmail.com.

Happy Knitting!

Christmas Craziness

Phew . . . Christmas has come and gone for another year.  It was a great one, but I am exhausted!

12 sets of felted slippers.  I created a crocheted version this year, in hopes of saving a little time.  It did cut a few hours out of each set, but ended up giving me tendonitis, as I'm not used to crocheting so much.  You can find the pattern at:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-felted-slippers.  I'm still trying to shake the tendonitis, but I'm sure that making one or two pairs, won't cause you the same.

As much work as they were, each of the slipper gifts was greatly appreciated.  This made the effort worth every minute.

14 hot water bottle covers were knit for my neighbors and co-workers.  I can't take complete credit, as my Mother knit 6 of them.  I gifted one of the covers I knit back to her, and the last one (seen below) will be given away to one of the "Followers" of this blog, on January 31, 2012.  Get signed up, so I can send it to you! 

I was worried that these long-time favorites would be too old to be remembered, for their usefulness.  My children didn't even know what they were, but those who received them as gifts, were all excited and quick to tell me what they had planned for theirs'.  If you are interested in knitting your own, you can find the free pattern at:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hot-water-bottle-cover-30.

Along with all of the other craziness, I knit two hooded cardigans for my daughter-in-law to give to her Mother and Little Sister for Christmas.  This is the "Ilene" version.

This is the back view of Ilene.  I've written a pattern for each cardigan. 

A different cable pattern was used on each.  The pattern is currently in the review stage, in hopes of catching any errors, and to develop charts for the stitch patterns.

This is "Rachel", the little sister version. 

This is "Rachel's" back view.  You'll note that she is knit from the top-down, with raglan sleeves.  The sleeves were placed on stitch holders, while the body was created.  The sleeves were then placed on the needles and knit at the same time.  Stitches were picked-up around the neck to create the hood, which was knit flat, and seamed together along the top.  And, of course, I had to add a "poor baby" tassle to each.

"Rachel" has this cable stitch pattern.  Watch for the "Ilene and Rachel" Hooded Cardigan pattern on Ravelry.  I hope to publish the pattern there soon.

I hope all of your Christmas knitting was a success.  I'm so glad to slow things down, and get started writing and knitting some of designs that have been floating around in my head for the past several months.  Christmas night provided a few hours to start swatching for these designs.  During the week that followed, I was able to write the pattern for a Toddler's Hooded Jacket with a round yoke. 

My daughter took this pattern back to Idaho with her.  She will be test-knitting the design for me.  She is a beginning knitter. 

She is currently expecting twins and has just started her own call-in radio show, so I don't expect she'll have a lot of time to spend on this jacket.  If you are interested in giving her a little support, you can listen to her show  on Monday through Friday from 11:00 to 1:00 MST on "Local NewsTalk with Carissa Coats".  I'm sure she would love to receive a call from you too, if you want to speak to the issues she is discussing.

This is the "Lisa Vest", which I am "test knitting" myself.  This is the back, with armhole shaping, but once the armholes have been established, it will be knit in a circle.  When finished, it will overlap in the front, with a large shall collar, and it will be longer in the back.  I haven't decided whether it will have one large button, or if I will secure it in the front with a sweater pick.  The picture appears to be in "black and white", but this is the actual color of the yarn, a black, gray and white varigation.  I was hoping for a salt and pepper effect.  I'll have all of the yarn details published with the pattern, so stay tuned . . .   

2012 appears to be a very good year, as long as we all survive to see 2013.  The Mayan Calendar will be running out  on December 21, so who knows what will be happening.  Remember the big melt-down expected in 2000, and we're still here!  Happy New Year . . . . and happy knitting!