SUPER EXCELLENT DEALS!

• 30% off either the single pattern for Landon or on Boys Knits as a whole on Ravelry through next Friday using code “knitmorelandons” through April 1st, 2016. No foolin’! (Thanks, Cooperative Press!)

• 15% off of your Lisa Souza order by using “Knitmore” in the comments box in the order page. Through April 15, 2016. Thanks, Lisa!

Since I can’t knit anything the way it’s written, here are my changes:

• Yarn: I’m knitting it out of sport weight yarn. In order to get the size I want, i’m following the stitch count for the eight year sizing, with the measurements from yarn standards.com for the 24 months size.
• 6 sts/inch on a US 4
• added 1” to sleeve length ( because I have long limbed children)

NOTIONS:

• I bought the Star Trek stitch markers here
• You can find the small dress forms here
• The library card bag is from The Fat Squirrel
• Walking foot for my Singer Featherweight (221)
• 4” Gingher embroidery scissors with enameled handles
• Black coil zipper
• Zipper stops
• Wire Cutter
• Pliers (mine are old, nothing fancy)
• White marking pencil

It turns out that Rex is adorable AND has an enormous head, so…

Afterthought steek:

• Step 1: Mark the centerline of stitches with thread, using a hand stitched running stitch (loosely) so that you have a visual guideline.
• Step 2: Using a walking foot on your sewing machine, sew down the center of the stitches immediately to the left and right of the marked column of stitches.
• Step 3: place a piece of cardboard or paper between the front and back. This will help ensure that you don’t accidentally cut the stitches on the back. (The one I used was the divider from a box of yogurt.)
• Step 4: using sharp scissors, take a deep breath and carefully cut down the center of the marked column of stitches.
• Step 5: admire your beautifully executed steek.

So, I…
- Knit facings. (72 sts on R band)

• Installed a zipper: pinned the top and bottom of sweater to closed zipper. Pinned zipper, slowly unzipped sweater to make it easier to pin. Using white thread, I basted the zipper in place (sort of) for ease of more precise hand sewing. I drew a straight line down the center of the zipper (to guide my hand-sewing), and backstitched the zipper to the bound-off edge. Holy CATS is black thread on a black zipper hard on the eyes. Final result: extremely tidy and lovely.

Next steps…
- Beat Emily at Stash Dash. (390 yards)