Feb 23, 2015

Symptom No.2: Quadrature for Korrigan

And here is the second report on Solenn fever.

This symptom named Quadrature for Korrigan keeps you warm and also keeps you from breaking away from the fever, especially when you'd already had precursors such as
 ,   and   .

The Quadrature is a part of All Korrigan, which contains baby cardigan, girl cardigan, hat for all the family and this baby blanket, and whose hallmark is these beautiful decreasing cables.
We have no baby but I'd wanted to make this blanket for a long time, and here's why.

Isn't it lovely?

This project has two totally different phases. You begin with a few stitch from the center and work in the round in St st, increasing beside the axes as you go. This phase is perfect for TV knitting, while the final border demands more concentration with p rnds and cables (and increases). Needless to say it's rewarding and through the St st part, you're looking forward to working it.
I had some problems concerning the proportion to keep for this border.
This pattern offers a bonus version for adventurous knitters who want to make a larger blanket, work with other gauge and/or knit larger cables. As this blanket is for us, I'd bought 825 m/902 y of yarn (instead of 625 m for baby blanket) to make a larger one.
Well, the more you work in St st, the less proportion you need to keep for the border as the number of rnds is fixed (34 or 50 rnds). But when your yardage is limited, you need to find the point (=the proportion) to begin the border in order not to run short of yarn. I realized too late that I'd worked in St st more than I had to (7 balls of 11, more than 63%), whereas if I'd work larger cables, I needed to stop at 40% (60% for the border). I decided to work "normal" cables to unravel less portion, because I need about 50% for the border. I was afraid that the border would be too narrow compared to the St st part, but that's not the case, it's nice as it is (this is my personal opinion:) ).


I've liked the yarn, Nepal from Drops (65% wool/35% alpaca, 75 m/50g ball). It's warm, soft, fluffy, very agreeable to work with and reasonable! I'm sure to use it for other projects.

To conclude, despite several unravellings (see my Ravelry page), I love the result!

Project data
Pattern: Quadrature for Korrigan by Solenn Couix-Loarer
Yarn: Drops, Nepal: #0500, 10.5 balls (787 m/861 y)
Needle: 5.5 mm / US 9
Gauge after blocking: 15.5 sts per 10 cm/4"
Notes: 93 sts between markers before the border part (I could have begun with 95 sts)
on Ravelry | in French | in Japanese

Feb 13, 2015

Symptom No.1: Mademoiselle Lancelot

As promised, here's a report on the first symptom of Solenn fever.

It's named Lancelot, after one of the Knights of the Round Table (please do NOT pronounce the "t"!), a pullover pattern for boys that I transformed in dress.
I don't claim the paternity of this idea: I'd seen a red and straight tunic project on Ravelry, knitted for a girl of 12 years old. But my daughter is only 7 and a half years old, and must be more active than a big girl. Hence the idea of making a dress with a flared skirt.

The pattern having a reputation of being cut small, I chose 8Y size. For the dimensions of the skirt, I was based on a dress found in a Phildar's catalog (8Y), and started with 152 sts (more sts than 12Y, the largest size) - that give me 80 cm /32" of circumference. After the hem, I decreased every 10 rnds at each side of the front panel and at 1 st from the side markers for back (- 4 sts each time). After dec til 128 sts, I increased once to have 132 sts (8Y) for waist shaping. That was also to easily follow instructions of raglan decrease.
I also modified the sleeves, beginning with less sts and increasing "evenly" to 8Y sts count - in the pattern, increases stop at the elbow.


And here's the result!
My daughter can run and/or dance!

I used Balance from o-wool, a cotton-wool blend yarn, because she's always complaining that it's hot and I was afraid she would never wear it if it's 100% wool. The balance is just perfect, neither too hot nor too cool, and this yarn is organic!

I just regret that it's a little too short and it cannot be worn as a dress next year. The sleeves are a little too large as this pattern is designed for boys. I'll certainly adjust it next year.


The last words on the pattern, that is very clearly written (in French), and the front panel motif is very addictive, simple, efficient and easier than it looks like (just 2 sts to cross!). I add that I used about 625 m - euh, 683 yards, thanks Ravelry -, instead of 600 m for 8Y size pullover.

Notes
Pattern: Lancelot by Solenn Couix-Loarer (heavily modified)
Size: 8Y (length to underarm: 44.5 cm/ 17.5", skirt length: 32.5 cm/12.5")
Yarn: O-Wool, Balance: Ruby (625 m / 683 y)
Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 6 (4 mm)
Ravelry project page | Blog post in French

Feb 10, 2015

Solenn Fever

It's a new disease, I'd had some precursors here and there for a few years, but it broke out a couple of months ago.

Symptom No.1: Lancelot

Symptom No.2: Quadrature for Korrigan

Symptom No.3: Lucky (me)

The last one is very recent, as for the two first, they've come to end. I'm reporting them shortly.
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