Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Melanie writes in DC with SURPRISE!

I got so super frustrated with the Over the Knee Stockings and decided to write to the publisher. I found that their website had a thing that said you could write comments, and I submitted it in that way. Two days later (Thursday night really), I'm opening my email and see an email from Melanie Falick herself in my inbox!! She asked what the specific problem was so they could see what's going on in the pattern and get back to me. I told her about all of my difficulties and she sent me an email today to let me know she forwarded my mail to the editor who should be getting back to me about what to do.

With having received that first email under my belt, I set off on Friday to Washington DC to meet Betsy and her husband (it's still so odd to use that word!!). I had a SURPRISE to give them! I think they liked it...Here are a TON of pictures of it:


TONS of fringe and a fabulous stitch pattern. How could I not?


Here, the recipients show us just how big the afghan was. (finished dimensions ended up being close to 51 x 54")


It really does look like they liked it eh?


Close up of the stitch pattern.


I used two strands of Lamb's Pride Bulky in Creme together on size 15 needles. I got the yarn from Flying Fingers. I started on Susan Bates circs, but I really despised them. I kept having to push the stitches onto the needle part from the wire and it was pretty annoying. I changed to Addi Turbos in the end, which was a dangerous move because I fell in love with them. I really hate the idea of buying multiple pairs of circs though, which is why I usually use my Denises. In this case, however, I found the Denise needles to have too gradual of a tip which meant that I was trying to knit a stitch an inch onto the needle already, which was also pretty annoying. Most important skill I learned on this project would have to be how to drop stitches in the middle of the work to correct mistakes that had occurred in previous rows. I used this SEVERAL times, because it was just going to be obnoxious to undo all those rows of 152 stitches at a time!

I think they really liked it, and when they start churning out children I think I'm prepared enough to knit them blankets and trinkets. :-p

On the sock front, I wanted to take pictures of it while I was in DC with the Lincoln Monument or something silly like that a la Yarn Harlot. But the stocking wasn't really that recognizable. It's coming along though. I've made measurements and am proceeding to decrease as necessary. I've only completed one full repeat of the lace pattern so far (10 rows), But I think it's going to be alright. I'm a little nervous that I'm not compensating enough for the stretch of the material, but we'll just have to wait and see.

11 comments:

carrie said...

that blanket is GORGEOUS. completely and utterly. your friends are lucky ducks!

thanks for the warning about the stocking pattern. I have the book and have been tempted to give them a go.

Passionknitly said...

actually, after emailing them they made the instructions a bit more clear. you're supposed to move the beginning of the round to the middle of the lace pattern. I did one of the pattern rows like that, and it made sense.

Other than that it's just a matter of checking your gauge.
If you decide to make them and need help, i'm still making them.

MUDNYC said...

The pics look awesome, much better on the big screen than on the back of your camera. I'm sure your friends loved it, you can tell. Especially since it looks like Betsy knits.

Passionknitly said...

Betsy does knit! We knit together on the subway in DC. I've never knit with anyone on the subway before - it was awesome! I think i have a picture of her looking maniacal as she's knitting a sock...

Jerry said...

WOW! What an awesome afghan...that looks beautiful and what a very nice gift! I generlaly don't knit for others anymore since very few seem to appreciate it.

I love that!

Anonymous said...

i love that afghan!!!! it's very nice that you contacted the publisher and they got back to you. i also agree that checking your gauge is a very important aspect of knitting.

i love the name of your blog!!! knitting rulez!!!!

Katy said...

I'm sooo glad we got that chart-reading problem you had all fixed. The afghan and fringe look great!

Anonymous said...

Her friends do indeed love the afghan. my hubby just woke up from a nap - seems he's been sleeping with an off-white cabled hussie who goes by the name Lamb's Pride.
I wish I weren't so isolated in LJ-land - I can't be fully integrated into blogger until I think of a name as clever as Passionknitly.
Thanks again for the gift that love built..er..knit, and purled..and cabled a bunch. :)

Anonymous said...

"I wanted to take pictures of it while I was in DC with the Lincoln Monument or something silly like that a la Yarn Harlot."

That didn't stop me:

http://flickr.com/photos/czarina/64192597/

I finished off that sweater in record time... It's blocking in my hotel room. I'll be back in time to wear it to the snb on Tuesday...

CW Campbell said...

Fantastic afghan! Right on for NYC knitters, yo. And knitting on the subway is an absolute must if you want to stay (comparatively) sane...

Anonymous said...

gorgeous!!! What a great gift and so meaningful. I am sure they will treasure it for years to come. Lisa