Bubbles Bolster, 2/?

I've made significant progress, and with a rough measurement of 14" I'm getting to the point of needing to decide how long this baby is going to be.  My original decision was 20", but I only got 12" out of the first skein and need to have yarn left over for the ends. 

However, I really feel that the longer the better and perhaps won't finish this until the other pillows are completed and on the (yet to be purchased) couch!  Then I will know whether I want one long bolster or two short ones.

After 2 or three repeats I finally understand the pattern, and don't need to constantly look at the sheet for the directions for the pattern.  The work now goes a lot quicker than the first several inches!

The pattern is beautiful, but will look even better after a light blocking.

Bubbles Bolster

My gauge swatch for the Bubbles Bolster: the last of the pillows for the (yet to be purchased) Studio Day Bed.

There are several mistakes in the cables which is another good reason to make a gauge swatch: to practice the stitch pattern!

My gauge seems okay.  I think I have enough room in the gauge to knit a little more tightly, and am resolved to rip back if it seems off later on.

The yarn took to steam-blocking.  After a couple of passes with the iron the fabric really softened and opened up.

The biggest risk is deciding on the size before having the couch in my posession.  The pattern is only 6 x 14, and each pillow is 18 x 20.  Currently I anticipate making 6 x ?????

Plain Pillow, continued

Started working on the buttons for the Plain Pillows. Found this website with instructions to create custom knitted button covers.

I made a few changes and am pleased with the results!

Following the instructions using the same sized needle as the actual pillow (size 6) created a piece much too big, both in overall size and stitch size.


So I reduced the needle to a size 2, and also reduced the number of "knit even" rows. Voila!

After the first button my fingers were pinched and sore, so I amended the instructions a little further:

CO2

ROW 1: K1, M1R, K1, Ktbl

ROW 2: P1, M1, P2, M1, P1 (used cable needle to help pickup stitches)

ROW 3: K1, M1, K4, M1, K1

ROW 4: P1, M1, P6, M1, R1

There are 10 stitches on the needle.

Hole "repaired"

ROW 5: K
ROW 6: P
Repeat rows 5 & 6
ROW 9: K2tog, K6, K2tog
ROW 10: P2tog, P4, P2tog
ROW 11: K2tog, K2, K2tog
ROW 12: P2tog, P2tog
Don't BO.  Just pull yarn through final two stitches.

Here's a comparison of the final button with the first button which used the original instructions:

And finally onto the construction of the button:

--Place the button front on the WS of the fabric

--Hook the fabric around the teeth of the button front, then pop in the back.  Actually I found that I could skip this step.  Because the yarn is so wooly and thick the teeth were enough to keep the fabric on the button.  I didn't get the buttons with the tool to assist with applying the back.  I would recommend not skimping and to get the kit.

Socks as Currency

Andrea's socks are coming along. I was using the two-at-once-toe-up-magic loop method and enjoying it quite a bit; not having to worry about matching the sizes or lengths, and the benefit of having both socks finished at the same time.

I knew the cable was too short for comfort for this method, but was making do until it came time to pick up the gusset stitches. I had to remove one of the socks from the circular, and even so it was difficult to manage so many stitches on one needle. Perhaps I picked up too many stitches. Next sock I need to count the stitches I plan to pickup beforehand to ensure I pickup the same number on all four gussets.

I hope they are not too small!

Big Dotty, continued

Yesterday my Mom and I hit up Hancock Fabrics in Berwyn to search for the perfect backing for my Big Dotty pillows.

The good news is that I found the perfect fabric! The bad news is that the satiny sheen will elevate the luxuriousness of this pillow and I think it will clash with the hominess of the plain pillows I knitted to go alongside the Big Dotties:

The second Big Dotty still needs to be blocked, but I'm in no big rush since I have to finish the socks I'm making for Andrea before I can get her to construct the pillows.

Oh right, and I also need to buy the couch!