Here are notes from last night’s class as promised. It describes how to complete the whole swatch.

Swatch: Cast on 30 sts & knit 2×2 rib. Start and end with two knit stitches. Six or so rows total.

Instructions:
1. Place markers after 7th (red), 15th(white) and 23rd (blue) stitches.

(Note: In following steps I will refer to these markers by color : red, white and blue  so that I don’t confuse you when you turn the piece)

2. Work in pattern to red marker and turn.

3. Work in pattern to end and turn.

4. Work in pattern to white marker (slip red marker when you get to it) and turn.

5. Work in pattern to one stitch before red marker. We’re now going to close the gap for the first buttonhole.

6. Slip next stitch purlwise to right hand needle.

7. With left hand needle pick up bar from front to back, making a new stitch on left hand needle.

8. Slip previously slipped stitch on right hand needle back to left hand needle and knit it together with stitch picked up in previous step and turn.

9. With left hand needle pick up bar (front to back) and purl this stitch with next purl stitch on left hand needle.

10. Work in pattern to blue marker (slip white marker when you get to it) and turn.

11. Work in pattern to one stitch before white marker. We’re now going to close the gap for the second buttonhole.

12. Slip next stitch purlwise to right hand needle.

13. With left hand needle pick up bar from front to back, making a new stitch on left hand needle.

14. Slip previously slipped stitch on right hand needle back to left hand needle and knit it together with stitch picked up in previous step and turn.

15.  With left needle pick up bar (front to back) and purl this stitch with next purl stitch on left hand needle.

16. Work in pattern to end of swatch and turn.

17. Work in pattern to one stitch before blue marker. We’re now going to close the gap for the last buttonhole.

18. Slip next stitch purlwise to right hand needle.

19. With left hand needle pick up bar from front to back, making a new stitch on left hand needle.

20. Slip previously slipped stitch on right hand needle back to left needle and knit it together with stitch picked up in previous step and turn.

21. With left needle pick up bar (front to back) and purl this stitch with next purl stitch on left hand needle.

22. Work in pattern to end of swatch. Buttonholes are now  complete.

23. Finish swatch by working several more rows in pattern and bind off.

Finally got out my wheel and finished plying this roving that was spun last year. I tried to control the color by splitting the roving lengthwise, hoping I’d end up with my own Kauni type yarn. No such luck.

Hey, check out this pocket wheel. Doug was up at Village Yarn and Tea letting people try it out. Like many that night I was smitten and got on the waiting list. Thanks Naomi!

For the past week I’ve been carrying these socks around pretending that I have a project in progress. For now I’ll go with the flow. That probably means not much will get done in the next few weeks before NV starts again. Even though I haven’t been knitting I’ve been earnestly thinking and researching designs to use in upcoming projects.

Yesterday I jogged 11 miles and it took forever. Had just enough energy to eat dinner and then promptly fell asleep on the couch while watching TV.

Earlier this week I knitted a couple of swatches for my next project, Krista. I’ll modify it so that I can use it for my first project of year two (Nihon Vogue). Besides making necessary adjustments for my measurements, I’ll be adding poofy sleeves (a class requirement).

The first yarn is Classic Elite Provence. Not sure if I like it. Love the off-white creamy color but the yarn is a bit stiff. The stockinette part looks ok but the decreases stick out giving me the impression that the lace pattern in Krista might not look good with this yarn.

The other yarn is Panda Silk DK. A lovely bamboo, wool, silk mix with perfect drape. I’d love to use it but despite what the label says, it knits up like a fingering weight yarn. This time I’m staying away from fingering weight.

What I really want is a cotton silk blend that’s not too expensive.