Author: Marie Haigh

I started knitting 15 years ago right around the time of my marriage and the birth of my niece.

Reading Again

Marie Haigh2 Comments

I haven’t read a book in almost a year. About a week and a half ago, I started reading a blog (I suppose blogs don’t count as books; a shame, really, because I read a LOT of blogs) titled Yarn~Knit~Read~Lit. It inspired me to pick up a book.

So, what am I reading? An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott. It is about a country girl named Polly who comes to visit a rich family in the city. I am about halfway through the book. Thus far, I’ve seen Polly grow into a woman, move into the city (but not with the rich family) and start a music teaching career. Louisa May Alcott is a famous and well-written author, yet Jane Austen remains my favorite.

In knitting news, I have started on Block #7 for the International Fiber Collaborative panel. The block will be titled Spiral Applique Block, assuming no major changes are made to the design.

Hourglass Block, 6th in Ode to Quilt series

Marie Haigh3 Comments
The 6th block in the Ode to Quilting panel:

This block is very similar to the “9-Patch Block“. The only difference is that two of the blocks are made by sewing two right-angled triangles together. Additionally, as with each of the blocks, I used a different stitch pattern. Diagonal ribbing is featured in the Hourglass Block.

Pattern for Angled Nesting Squares Block:

Recommended Knitting skill level: Easy

Yarn: Lion’s Wool by Lion Brand or substitute any wool yarn from your stash that meets the below gauge specifications.
1. Color A = Midnight Blue, 1 skein
2. Color B = Cocoa, 1 skein
3. Color C = Cadet Blue, 1 skein

Needles: Lion’s Wool recommends size 8 (I used size 5)

Materials:
Row counter
Large blunt sewing needle
Safety pins

Gauge: 4 stitches and 6 rows is 1 inch/2.5 cm in Stocking Stitch.
4 stitches and 7 rows is 1 inch/2.5 cm in Diagonal ribbing.

Stocking Stitch Pattern: Knit all stitches on the RS; Purl all stitches on the WS.

Diagonal Ribbing Pattern: Work rows 1-6 in instructions to make ribbed squares.

Glossary:
K = Knit
K2og = Knit 2 stitches together
K3tog = Knit 3 stitches together
P = Purl
P2tog = Purl 2 stitches together
P3tog = Purl 3 stitches together
St = stitch

Knitting Instructions:
In Color B, make 4 ribbed squares.

  • Cast on 18 sts.
  • Row 1 (Right side of work): K2, (P2, K4) twice, P2, K2.
  • Row 2: P1, (K2, P4) twice, K2, P3.
  • Row 3: (K4, P2) thrice.
  • Row 4: K1, (P4, K2) twice, P4, K1.
  • Row 5: (P2, K4) thrice.
  • Row 6: P3, (K2, P4) twice, K2, P1.
  • Repeat rows 1-6 three more times.
  • Repeat rows 1-4 once more. Total rows = 28.
  • Bind off all stitches.
  • Do NOT block.
  • Repeat these instruction three more times to make a total of 4 squares.

In Color A, make 1 square.

  • Cast on 18 stitches.
  • Work in Stocking stitch for 24 rows.
  • Bind off all stitches.

In Color A, make 2 right-angled triangles.

  • Cast on 18 sts.
  • Row 1 (Right side of work): K all stitches.
  • Rows 2-3: Work in Stocking stitch.
  • Row 4 (Wrong side of work): P to last three stitches, P3tog.
  • Rows 5-6: Work in Stocking stitch.
  • Row 7: K3tog, K to end.
  • Repeat Rows 2-7 two more times.
  • Rows 20-21: Work in Stocking stitch.
  • Row 22: P to last three stitches, P3tog.
  • Row 23: K all stitches.
  • Row 24: P2, P2tog.
  • Bind off the 3 remaining stitches.
  • Repeat instructions once more to make 2 triangles.

In Color C, make 2 ribbed squares.

  • Cast on 18 stitches.
  • Row 1 (Right side of work): K2, (P2, K4) twice, P2, K2.
  • Row 2: P3, (K2, P4) twice, K2, P1.
  • Row 3: (P2, K4), thrice.
  • Row 4: K1, (P4, K2) twice, P4, K1.
  • Row 5: (K4, P2) thrice.
  • Row 6: P1, (K2, P4) twice, K2, P3.
  • Repeat Rows 1-6 three more times.
  • Repeat Rows 1-4 once more. Total rows = 28.
  • Bind off all stitches.
  • Repeat instructions once more to make 2 squares.

In Color C, make 2 ribbed triangles.

  • Cast on 18 stitches.
  • Row 1 (Right side of work): K2, (P2, K4) twice, P2, K2.
  • Row 2: P3, (K2, P4) twice, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 3: P1, K4, (P2, K4) twice.
  • Row 4: K1, (P4, K2) twice, P2, P2tog.
  • Row 5: K2, (P2, K4) twice, P2.
  • Row 6: P1, (K2, P4) twice, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 7: P1, (K4, P2) twice, K2.
  • Row 8: P3, K2, P4, K2, P2, P2tog.
  • Row 9: K2, (P2, K4) twice.
  • Row 10: K1, P4, K2, P4, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 11: P1, (K4, P2) twice.
  • Row 12: P1, K2, P4, K2, P2, P2tog.
  • Row 13: K2, P2, K4, P2, K2.
  • Row 14: P3, K2, P4, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 15: P1, K4, P2, K4.
  • Row 16: K1, P4, K2, P2, P2tog.
  • Row 17: K2, P2, K4, P2.
  • Row 18: P1, K2, P4, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 19: P1, K4, P2, K2.
  • Row 20: P2, K2, P2, P2tog.
  • Row 21: K2, P2, K4.
  • Row 22: K1, P4, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 23: P1, K4, P2.
  • Row 24: P1, K2, P2, P2tog.
  • Row 25: K2, P2, K2.
  • Row 26: P3, K1, K2tog.
  • Row 27: P1, K4.
  • Row 28: P2, P3tog.
  • Bind off remaining 3 stitches.
  • Do NOT block.
  • Repeat instructions once more to make 2 triangles.

Finishing Instructions:

  • Take one Color A triangle and one Color C triangle. With right sides facing up, line the diagonal edges of the triangles together. The points of the triangles should meet. Secure with several safety pins. Using a mattress stitch, sew the triangles together. Remove pins.

  • Repeat these instructions.

          • Lay out all the squares on a table. Move them around until you have obtained the Hourglass design (the Color A square should be in the center with the two Color A triangles meeting at the top right and bottom left of the Color A square).
          • Using mattress stitch, seam the squares into three columns.
          • Then, seam the columns into one block, taking care to match the seams up.
          • Weave in any loose ends.

          Better Pictures

          Marie Haigh8 Comments
          Well, they aren’t perfect, but I did the best I could with the cloudy (snow flurry) weather.

          Without further ado:

          Can I share a little factoid with you? It measures 56 inches at the top (from point to point) and 28 inches in length. Why am I telling you this? Because when I drew out the design, I planned it to be exactly those measurements. And it is. I’m pleased and surprised and a bit giddy.

          I’ve decided to name it Anastasia’s Alpaca Shawl. Why? Well, I do go weak in the knees for alliteration. Plus, my niece ADORES Cinderella, but it seems a bit vain to name your shawl after Cinderella. So, I picked her wicked step sister; that seemed OK.

          The stats:
          Anastasia Alpaca Shawl
          Designed by me
          Started in July 2007
          Shelved in August and September because it was too hot
          Shelved again in December because Christmas was coming
          Finished in January 2008
          Approx 800 yards of lace-weight alpaca wool from Alpacas at White Horse Farm (local PA farm)
          570 Beads

          DONE!

          Marie Haigh6 Comments
          The alpaca shawl is downstairs drying on top of my ping pong table right now.

          Truth be told, I bound off all the stitches on Saturday. For 24 hours, it sat balled up on the server next to the basement stairs. It was waiting for somebody to take it downstairs and wash it and block it. I knew I didn’t have a hope of Dan taking it downstairs. Dan never even sees items sitting on the server waiting to go down. The trick is to block the doorway; then, he’ll take it downstairs. So, the shawl sat. I did manage to log into Ravelry and mark my shawl as 100% completed; ah, it is funny how much joy that brought me!

          When Nan left me a comment about checking in to see if the shawl was done, it provided the nudge I needed to pick up the shawl and take it downstairs. Thanks, Nan!

          I washed it. Then, conditioned it (since, I felt it was a bit scratchy for alpaca. The mill had erred in following the instructions given and mixed the leg fur with the soft body fur. It is the leg fur that is a bit scratchy since it’s courser to ward off the elements [per my understanding – by no means am I a farmer]). Then, the hard part started. I pinned it to a sheet folded in half. I pulled and pinned. Then, pulled and pinned some more. By the time I was done, my back was screaming and Jake was whining from having his play time be interrupted (yes, I suppose he is spoiled).

          Yet, it was all worth it (unless, of course, you ask Jake. He’s not sure yet).

          Pictures!

          Better pictures coming soon, once it dries and I can bring it upstairs into the sunlight.

          So Close

          Marie Haigh4 Comments

          2 more rows to knit!

          This count includes the Bind Off row.

          I can almost taste the sweet nectar of victory.

          Half of me wants to stay up and knit until it’s finished. The other half – the logical half – thinks I should go to sleep. Selves don’t let other selves knit while tired. Bad things always happen.

          My Whereabouts

          Marie Haigh6 Comments

          Guess where I went yesterday?

          One can’t go to center city Philadelphia, home of three fab yarn stores, without going to at least one of them! It’s impossible. I told myself that I wouldn’t have the time and wouldn’t go. When I got out of my dentist’s office early, my resolve grabbed a canoe and headed down river. Next thing I knew, I was walking to South Street.

          Of course, I had to leave with something for my troubles.


          It is organically grown cotton by Blue Sky Alpaca. After swearing off cotton for years, I thought I would give it a try again. Why do I hate cotton, you ask.

          My reasons for hating cotton:

          • If my hands get the least bit warm, it sticks to them like feather to tar.
          • Cotton lacks the stickiness of wool. Wool wants to lay down with its fellow kind. Cotton has no such feelings. Thus, as the Yarn Harlot would say, “it’s not as forgiving as lovely wool”. It separates with the flick of a needle and is slippery to boot.
          • It’s not as warm. In Pennsylvania, the cold months outnumber the warm months. It’s important to have something warm nearby at all times.
          • It’s not as easy, fun or enjoyable to knit as lovely wool. It takes a steadier hand and more patience.

          Knowing how much I hate cotton, I was still wooed by Blue Sky Alpaca’s cotton. First, it’s organically grown. Second, it’s amazingly soft. Third, it was dyed in a lovely brown and Loop only had one skein (I needed 2) of the dyed merino wool that I wanted.

          My plan is to knit this cotton into a Chevron & Diamond scarf for myself. I’ll be reporting back to you on what I think of the yarn.

          I Love Cards

          Marie Haigh5 Comments

          I love cards.

          I love to send cards. I love to receive cards. Most people would agree with me on this level.

          Yet, I think I’m falling into the extreme category. My dear sister bought me cards for Christmas – two sets of 12. I bought 35 more cards for myself this month, but most of these don’t count since they are for for Christmas 2008. I made an additional 10 cards by hand. (One doesn’t count; it’s for Christmas!)

          Yesterday, I went searching for the perfect card to send my friend as a “Welcome Back from India” and decided that I didn’t have any cards. None. Well, none that I’m willing to give her. Some cards aren’t for giving. They are for keeping and framing.

          So, I sat down and made another 9 cards.

          Some of these don’t count. Two are for Christmas and three are for Valentine’s Day.


          This is my favorite. The pic is from a 1956 encyclopedia. It shows a line of ladies working at Grand Central Station. Isn’t that neat?


          I don’t have a problem. Do I?

          International Fiber Collaborative

          Marie Haigh7 Comments
          Long-time readers may remember my Ode to Quilting blocks. Although I have taken an extended break from them, I have not forgotten them. Over the next 2 months, you’ll be seeing a lot of them. I will be using the 5 FOs.

          And the current WIP (an Hour Glass Block)

          Coupled with the addition of 3 yet to be knitted blocks to create a 3 foot square panel. This panel will be submitted to the International Fiber Collaborative to be sewn together with 800 other panels. The massive 2400 square foot artwork will cover an abandoned gas station in concern over our dependency on oil.

          Would you like to join me? Here is more info from Jennifer Marsh, the organizer behind IFC.
          The goal of the International Fiber Collaborative is to provide an opportunity for people who enjoy working with crafts, whether professional artists, hobbyists or students to come together from all over the world to express their concerns about their countries extreme dependency on oil for energy. Those who participate will crochet, knit, stitch, patch, or collage 3 foot square fiber panels that will express each participants concern about this topic. By designing and creating a panel and participating in this project you are, in the larger picture, expressing your concern about this important subject to the rest of the world. Once all 800 panels are received, they will be sewn together to completely cover an abandoned gas station in central New York State, USA. Panels are due March 15, 2008

          2 Pieces of 9, Sewn and Starred

          Marie Haigh4 Comments

          More progress on my Christmas Tree Skirt (I hope nobody is sick of Christmas yet?!):


          I think I need a bigger star to top my white tree, don’t you? I was trying to cut corners. You know – make my life simple. So, I purchased a star button for my tree skirt. I bought the largest star I could find, but they just don’t make buttons beyond a certain size.

          Maybe I should knit a star. Yet, the thought of constructing a 5-pointed star makes my head swim.

          I could sew one. That would be SO much easier.

          Yet, to keep in the same medium, maybe a felted star would be better. I’m not talking about knitting a star and then felting it (the swimming would start again). No, I’d buy felted fabric or fabric that felts and cut a star motif out of it. That might work.