Purly Whites

The last shrug detail

Here is the close-up of the "Lacy Shells"  edging that I added to the sleeves of the shrug.

It's a nice little edging from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge.  I love that book.

And for those of you who want to make your own simple little shrug.  It's really easy:

1. Choose your yarn and knit a swatch in K2P2 ribbing. 
2. Measure the circumference of your bicep.  Subtract 1-3" from that number, X for our purposes.  I think mine was between 1.5-2".
3. Figure out your stitches per inch with your gauge swatch.  Do not stretch the ribbing out when you count this. 
4. Multiply your stitches per inch by "X".  We'll call the resulting number Y.
5. Cast-on Y number of stitches. 
6. Rib that baby until you have the desired length from wrist to wrist.  I recommend slipping the edge stitches on the wrong side of the shrug.
7. Cast-off and seam up sleeves for your desired sleeve length.  You may have to futz around a little bit to get this right.
8. If desired, add a ruffle or lacey edge to the cuffs before you seam.  I used three needle bind-off to attach my lace.

Seriously, it is so easy you can barely even call it a pattern.  The other great thing about this is that you can use it as a scarf in the winter. 

My very own shrug

I finished my shrug about two weeks ago, but I didn't get it properly photographed until last week.  Then, when I started to post, I realized that I didn't have a nice close-up of the lace trim, so I waited on posting in order to take more pictures, which I did.  But the CD I burned of the photos is blank.  And since I'm at work with no detail photos, you'll have to wait on close-ups.  Such forgetfulness on my part.

pattern: self-designed, a 66"x5" rectangle, with the sleeves sewn into a tube and "Lacy Shells" edging from Nicky Epsteins "Knitting on the Edge" added to each sleeve using three needle bind-off.  The edge stitches were slipped on the wrong side to create a nice, even edge.  I also knit it a little smaller than I would like it as the cotton will stretch out.

yarn: 5 balls NitPicks Shine, in "cream"

gauge: 5.25 sts/inch and 7 rows/inch in K2P2 ribbing on size 5 needles

I'm actually very happy with how it turned out.  I don't feel like I would end up on a What Not To Wear trend-gone-wrong list.  And I think it is something I will continue to wear after the shrug trend runs its course.

The point of this project was to create something that keeps my arms warm in the over-air conditioned offices at work when I wear this tank top.  I wore it on Friday, and for the most part, was kept warm.  I need to sew it up just a little bit more at the top of the arms, and that will close off the little vents I had of exposed skin.

What I really enjoyed about wearing it, was that it doesn't move around or need constant re-adjusting like a wrap.  When I get in my car or sit down, I usually have to rearrange  my sweaters or the whatnot.  With this, there was no rearranging.  I've put an end to my fidgeting.  Excellent!

The yarn is super soft and comfy and I do like the subtle "shine."  It gives a nice depth to what would otherwise be a very matte cotton.  The only real drawback on this project was the endless 2x2 ribbing.  So boring.  Whenever I knit rib, I always swear that I'll never knit it again.  But I already have another rib project in mind.  Ribbing, it sucks me in.

The most boring knit, ever.

I've been knitting away on the self-designed shrug.  I don't think it could be any more boring.  And it was grey and cloudy out yesterday, so the photos I took all turned out pretty dull and the ugly vinyl floors in my apartment certainly don't do much to spruce up the photo.  I adore everything about my apartment except for the vinyl floors. 

The only interesting bit on this are that on the wrong side, I'm slipping the stitch at each end so the edges are neater.  You can also see about a third of the way up I increased two stitches on one edge.  I decided that I liked the right side edges to be purled, so I increased so it was the same on each edge.  I'll decrease on the opposite end so the sleeves are even.

Jumping on the trend bandwagon

I finished my ChicKami out of the Cathay over the weekend, but it is still blocking, so no photos yet.  And now I get to start a new project. 

I got a cute little top last year that looks fabulous with these cream colored pants I have.  The problem with the top is its sleevelessness combined with an overly air-conditioned office results in blue fingernails.  And no one should be that cold at work.  I've been trying to figure out a cardigan that would go with it, but I haven't found anything that fits well with the top.  Then it hit me, a shrug.

Now I am not a shrug-type of girl.  I hated the poncho and I'm devoutly against anything that resembles a bolero, no matter how fancy of a 21st century name you give it.  I think they are unflattering, and the two heros of my life, Trinny and Susannah, the hosts of BBC2 (or BBC America for those of us here in the U.S.) "What Not to Wear" most likely would not approve.  But a simple shrug with sleeves and a back and only the hint of it sloping over the front shoulders might not be so bad.  It's like a wrap or shawl, which I have no problems with, but without the falling off the shoulders problem.  I'm not sure if I'm rationalizing or if Trinny and Susannah would approve.  I guess I'll have to wait and see for the end result.

Side note: if you like ponchos or anything resembling  a bolero, please ignore me.  I know this can be a contentious subject, but I won't judge.  Although I'll be sad for you to wear something that is unflattering.  I am a firm believer that everyone has something fabulous about their figure and it should be shown off.  Also, everyone has their flaws and with the proper clothes, they can be concealed quite nicely.

I couldn't find a pattern I liked, so I figured I could design my own.  And since this is the first thing I've ever designed myself, how could I go wrong with a simple rectangle?

My first step was to find a yarn I liked.  When Carolyn raved about KnitPicks Shine, I figured it would probably work well and it was cheap, so I wouldn't feel too bad if I ended up hating the shrug and never wearing it.  I ordered a bunch of the cream.  So far I like it.  It's soft and doesn't split.  I decided to use K2P2 rib with a pretty lace at the end of each sleeve.  Here is the swatch with the top.

I decided to knit the lace, which is "lacy shells" from "Knitting on the Edge" by Nicky Epstein, first and attach it using a three needle bind-off.  This meant a provisional cast-on.  I was pretty excited, since I'd never done one, but it turned out just to be the chain cast-on, which I've done a lot.  Oh well.  So I'm knitting rows and rows of rib and when I come out on the other side, I'll post pictures.