11/11: OK, I lied. I never came back to summarize my notes. I do have to confess that my blathering here was pretty much chatter to make it seem way crazier than it actually was. What’s a fleece-to-finish with a deadline project without drama? This stocking is absolutely lovely and worth every twisted wrist stitch.

Quick notes:
About yarn choice- I noticed quite a few project notes commenting on this being a very large stocking. For this, I spun a smooth, worsted, quite firmly plied, 3-ply at about 15-16 WPI and the size is comparable to my other stocking projects. I’ll get some measurements to stick here but what I’m saying is make your yarn choice carefully.

The chart key for right and left traveling stitches is backward. Just switch them around.

The garter stitch/increase rounds between the top edge and stocking body are rumply as written. I dropped down a needle size there and then went back up for the body.

In the top, center motif, the pattern pic shows twists where the first two outer lines coming together drop down into the center where the lower set of lines meet…these twists are not in the chart. Add these, or not. I dropped the stitches back and added the twists.

Also came up with an idea for adding name to this stocking and others where I can’t duplicate stitch…my local pet supply has a machine that engraves dog tags, many simple shapes (heart, oval, etc.). I’ll attach tags to base of hanging loop.

Ravelympic 2010 project. Started from (super dirty = whole lotta work and time) fleece ahead of time so not entering this in fleece to FO event. I’m in the washing and combing (as I have time, between other projects) phase now.

1/10/2010: spinning begun, fine singles on my Joy

2/11/2010: Since event rules only require that I spin (and not wash and prep as well) during Ravelympics time frame as part of fleece to finish, decided to save what I’ve already spun (socks!) and begin spinning for this at cast on time so it’s a fleece to finish event project as well!

2/12/2010: began spinning first single (of 3 ply) with Opening Ceremonies at ZPDK cast on party

2/13/2009: finished first single, begin second
Technical issues = pattern errata no longer seems to be at Interweave (edit: errata is now available but not where main pattern here links to and it’s incomplete, see my 2/18/2010 notes for “affirmation” link), helped StickyKnit get started on her ravelympics project before realizing she’s now using the #4 Harmonies I need for my project…oops (edit: started her over on 3’s, which I later had to steal back to redo rumply garter stitch section)

2/16/2009: Had started project, got down to just below the garter stitch (with increases) section and…
The top part is tighter due to twisted knits and the garter section is looser anyway (no twisted knits), even without the 20 added stitches. It’s just not working for me. Inspecting pics of finished stockings (including the book illustration), they all look rumply at the garter stitch part.

I also don’t like that the top and body designs don’t line up (which is obviously what the garter stitch section is supposed to mask) but reworking the entire stitch pattern is more than I want to do with this project.

Frogged and starting over. I’m working the top part a little looser and will drop down to #3s for the garter stitch and then back up to #4s after. Hopefully that will even it out enough to block smoother.

2/17/2010: Caught back up to where I was pre-frog. The garter part is still rumply but not as much so I do think it will block out better than it would have. Moving on to chart 1.

Re: chart 1 Oh. Good. Hell. I have been knitting for 30-something years. I am a decent knitter. Probably even a good knitter. So. Why can’t I wrap my head around the apparent discordance between the chart and text directions? Why is a stitch that moves to the left called a “right traveler?” It was here (on the right) and now it’s supposed to be there (next row--one stitch over, to the left). It’s traveling LEFT. Are the key and the text wrong? Or does it mean, “This here stitch on the right is going on a little trip one row up and one stitch over so it’s the right traveler”? Gah. I need a box o’wine.

2/18/2010: Woo hoo! Affirmation that it IS the pattern that is all fuckered up and not me. The sudden thrill of clarity is short-lived. After tinking row 1 three times (not only because of the mislabeled key but also because of the simple--NON traveling--left and right twists that are charted {sorta- a knit crossing a knit but not moving apart, to be separated by a purl} but never mentioned ANYWHERE in the pattern or key), I am 2.5 rows into chart 1. In Olympic terms, I wiped out on the first hill and now must play catch up, knowing my opponents are so far ahead as to be completely out of sight. ~sigh~

2/20/2010: Well, crap. Was chugging (I think I can, I think I can!) along today and decided to do a quick comparison between my knitting and the book pic. I knew something was missing--as pictured, there are right twists in the center part of the top motif. The twists are missing in the chart. None of the other FOs for this pattern have the twists. It’s prettier with the twists. I was >this< close to bringing the outer lines in to meet the center. Glad I caught it in time to drop down and add a right twist. Maybe should have added another right before the lines all meet but it’s better. It’s fine.

Up to round 28, chart 1. I’ve got 3 more rows before I need to do some jigsaw puzzle magic with the charts. The side panel charts only go up to row 30 but are repeated along with the center panel (65 rows total)…no way am I going to keep track without the charts aligned. Chart 2 (34 rows, continuing from chart 1) is also flanked by the side panels…but they’re not included with chart 2. Wugh.

2/21/2010: Center 2 stitches of row 36 (chart 1) should be right cross
Knitting is sooo slow. No plain rows and my hands are really feeling it. Maybe not the best project for being off my arthritis meds.

2/28/2010, 11:00 PM: DONE! OK, needs washing, blocking and a bit of steam but the knitting is done and I’m calling it. Wugh, lighting isn’t great near the end of my desk, will get a better pic once it’s blocked.

twisty stuffs I might want to look at