Uma Joy Designs

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Distracted but Still Here

Sorry for the month or so absence. I've been on the go with the girls and enjoying the weather. Here are a few pics of what we've been up to.

Been thinking about knitting and have been on Ravelry almost daily, but can't seem to get it together to sit down and accomplish anything. Is this normal for having two kids under 3?? By the end of the day I am pretty much wiped out and just want to sit and chill for an hour or so before my bedtime.

I've been too much inside my own head these days as well. Still questioning my decision to not go back to work full time. Ironing out the financial issues and all. Going around and around in my mind until I started to drive myself (and my husband) crazy. I am happy to say that I am finally at peace with my decision. There's not much I am sure about lately, however this I am. I want to enjoy this opportunity to be with my girls for as long as I can while they are still so young. It is a time to cherish.

Monday, April 7, 2008

First Sweater for Me

I finally decided to knit something for myself. I fell in love with the Big Cash from Zaol and really wanted to make a sweater that I could wear most of the year. It is a super bulky yarn, but it's 50% cotton and I'm making it sleevless so hopefully I can wear it fall-spring. I'm making up the pattern as I go, but I'm still worried about the fit. Since it knits up really quickly it wouldn't be terrible if I had to frog it but I'm sooooo hoping I don't have to! It might be hard to envision in this picture, but it's going to be a tunic style tank dress type of thing...this is the front skirt section.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Soli Pattern

Sorry for the delay in posting...and I still haven't had time to figure out the PDF document links. Anyhoooooooo here's my pattern for Soli. Let me know if it works out for you!

Size: Girls 2
Knitted Measurements: Chest 22”/56cm
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4”/10cm using size 8 needles
Materials:

MC: Berroco Touché Orange #7920 (3-1.75oz/50g skeins)
CC: Berroco Touché Yellow #7917 (2-1.75oz/50g skeins)
US 8(5 mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
spare needle (any size 6-8) for 3 needle bind off
stitch holders (3)
tapestry needle for seaming
crochet hook size 5.0mm

Abbreviations

BO: bind off
CC: contrasting color
CO: cast on
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
MC: main color
p: purl
rep: repeat directions
RS: right side
sc: single crochet
st: stitch
St st: stockinette stitch
tbl: through back loop
WS: wrong side

Stitches Used

Seed st: (on an odd number of stitches) row1 k1p1 across row, row2 k1p1 across row. Rep.

St st: row 1 (RS) k, row 2 (WS) p. Rep.

3 needle bind off

Pattern

Front Skirt

CO with MC 75sts and work in seed stitch for 3 rows.
Row 4 (RS): k.
Row 5 (WS): k1, p across row, k1 (repeat for all WS for helpful seaming during finishing).
Row 6 (dec row 1): k1, k2tog tbl , k across row to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Rows 7-13: St st.
Row 14 (dec row 2): rep Row 6.
Rows 15-21: St st.
Rows 22-78: Continue decreasing every 8 rows until 55sts remain.

Bodice

Row 1: Join CC and p across row. 55 sts.
Row 2-5: Seed St.

Shape armholes:
Row 6 (RS): BO 5 sts in Seed St. Work in pattern across row.
Row 7: BO 5 sts in Seed St. Work in pattern across row. 45 sts.
Work in pattern for 2”. End with RS row.

Right side of bodice:
k 22 sts in pattern. Turn. Work in pattern for 9 rows (Place 23 left front sts on holder).
Row 10 (RS): BO 12 sts. Work rem 10 sts in pattern for 2” (5cm). Place sts on marker. Break yarn leaving tail for seaming.

Left side of bodice:
Rejoin yarn at the neckline and work 1 row in pattern. Work 7 rows seed st. Next row (WS) BO 13 sts in pattern. Work rem sts in pattern for 2”. Place sts on marker. Break yarn leaving tail for seaming.

Back

Work as front to Row 5 Bodice.
BO 5 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Continue in pattern for 3.75” (9.5cm) ending with WS.
k 10 sts in pattern. BO 25 sts in pattern. k 10 sts in pattern.

Right shoulder:
Place 10 left shoulder sts on marker. Work in pattern for 2” (5cm). Place front right sts on needle and use 3 needle bind off method on WS to join shoulder seam.

Left shoulder:
Work as right shoulder. Join shoulder seam using 3 needle bind off.

Finishing

Seam front to back from armhole to bottom edge.
Work sc edging around armholes and neckline of bodice.
Weave in all ends.