WooHoo, I am ready for Summer (#131)

 

My Caesura Tuck by Asa Tricosa/  MY FIRST ZIGGURAT

When I choose this pattern, I was ready to try something different AND I wanted to make some headway using up stash yarn.
By doubling two lace weight yarns, I got just the right weight and a whole new look.
I had purchased the Artesano Alpaca Silk Lace in Ice Blue two years ago at the Good Wool Shop in Formby, UK (my husband's home town).  Originally I was going to knit up an airy, lacy layering piece (Athena by Rita Taylor), but after buying the Juniper Moon Farm Findley in Green (color 29) during a close-out sale at Living Eden in Red Hook, NY, I liked the look of the two yarns together. 

The pattern for Athena

What attracted me to the Caesurea Tuck was mainly the tuck in the back and the designer; I have one of her shawl designs in my queue since a while ("Semele").  Here is a link to the pattern:  Caesura Tuck.  
I named my project "Winter's Dreams" (click on the link to read my notes on ravelry).

Semele

I didn't know what I was getting myself into.  The beginning took me on quite a ride:
You start with a provisional cast-on (a new version of this for me)  at the front right, then work your way up with decreases around the neckline to the shoulder at which point you add stitches to get to the left shoulder (I like her method of adding stitches as it eliminates gaps).  That done you work your way down from here across all stitches to underarm level (at the same time you are working the tuck here).  Then you pick up stitches at the left front and work yourself down mirroring the neck line on the right, but this time by increases.  When left and right fronts are the same length, you join them and work down to the same level as the back to the underarm.  Once you join the front and back and start knitting in the round it is a "piece of cake".  The pocket is an "afterthought" pocket, picking up stitches later, knitting in the round and 3-needle bind off; much like an afterthought heel on a sock.

joining in the round

adding the pocket

Here are some pictures before blocking :

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When I blocked the top I decided to block the tuck as a fold for the entire length.

on the blocking mats

I had been thinking to add short rows across the shoulders, but for now I decided to wear it "as is", I can always add later.

A winding way, a zig-zaggy sweep with a great result :)!!

Click here for my project notes on ravelry :  Winter's Dreams

I am thinking to try Asa Tricosa's Ziggurat method again some time; perhaps next time a sweater.  
She has a lot of patterns out.  
You can look them up on ravelry or on her website www.asatricosa.com

For Asa's ravelry site click on this link

 

What's on my needles (#130)

  I am not knitting only socks 

But let's start with socks.

I finished the pair for myself in the beautiful Hedgehog Fibers Sock yarn Color "Tremble". I love the color and think the stitch I used is perfect for this. For the toes, heel and cuff ribbing I used the same yarn in a different color ("Aroma"). This was left-over yarn from Stepehen West's Building Blocks Shawl which is in it's final stages and may be done by the time I write my next post (in two weeks).

If you want to knit up your heel in a different color using the FLK method by the Sox Therapist (click for the $1 instructions), there are several ways to get that color change done. I have more extensive notes on ravelry, but let me quote myself here:

" TIP. When using a cc yarn for the FLK heel, make sure to work the first row in the main color so you have your working yarn sitting in the right position once you are done with the heel and ready to knit once again in the round.
If you forgot, you can carry your working yarn by doing a triple stitch in the first two sts of the last row.
A third way would be to knit the first two stitches of the first heel row in the main color and then switch to the cc at the third stitch thus positioning your main color yarn to use for the final heel row."

To  read all my notes on ravelry, click on the caption below the picture.
 

MORE

My husband's birthday surprise socks are also almost finished and at that will be ready way ahead of time (mid-April).  

Another Birthday, more Socks

My next two pairs of socks :)

 

When I saw the free pattern by Skacel for Tom & Ethel Socks in CaBaSi, I knew I wanted to knit these up for Tony and me.  The main difficulty was to choose colors we both like.  I ended up getting brown and light blue.  These will be my Anniversary present (35 years on July 1st !).  Tony's socks will be blue with brown stripes and mine will be brown with blue stripes. <3

The heel construction in this sock is similar to the FLK heel in as much that it, too, is worked entirely with short rows.  But the Sox Therapist's FLK heel pattern has additional information on how to custom fit your sock and where to place the heel for the best possible fit (well worth the $1 for the 16 page instructions).  Also her short rows are using a unique stitch and I will most likely use the FLK heel for these socks.

You can download the free pattern on ravelry by clicking here:  Tom & Ethel Socks

 

Caesura Tuck by Asa Tricosa

And last not least the Caesura Top is coming along in leaps and bounds as this is my TV knitting now after finishing my socks since I don't want to knit Tony's socks in front of him.

The red scrap yarn indicates where I will add a small pocket. I have to do another 3-4 inches to finish and then I will think about whether or not I want to change the sleeves from straps to slightly capped sleeves by adding a few short rows around the arm-opening.

Winter's Dreams