Knit Modified Veronika Top by CoCo Knits

 According to my notes, I started knitting the CoCo Knits Veronika Top designed by Julie Weisenberger on October 19th.  

Like so many of my projects, this one travelled all over the city and even across the Atlantic Ocean with my family and me.

We celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day in Toulouse, France.

 

Xena was still recovering from a cold in the beginning of our trip and it rained a lot so I made remarkable progress while we were travelling.

This top has a very unique construction.  Before it's assembled and even prior to blocking, it looks like garbage.  The photo on the above right is what it looked like before I steam blocked it with an iron.

 

The yarn I used is from Japan and called Habu #N-80, color 2.  It's 99% 4P wrapped merino with 1% silk.  It comes in 187 yd cones.  I used about 5 cones total (even though it calls for 7).

 

I knit the smallest size of the pattern.

 

Using a (crochet) provisional cast on, first you knit the sleeves flat and put them aside.  Then you start working the back flat from bottom up while it's shaped with YO short rows (which I had never done before and quite enjoyed).  You knit a matching front piece, join it in the round and then shape the raglan neckline with a very flattering bias BO (also a technique new to me).  Finally the sleeves are joined and the cuffs and collar are knit in 2x2 ribbing with smaller needles.  

Because I knit so loosely, I swatched first and went down a needle size for the body, cuffs and collar.

I modified the pattern to join the sleeves to each other instead of joining them to the back and front pieces for a less swoncho-y effect.

It still radiates positive cuttlefish vibes but it is less restricting having "traditional" sleeves.

 

Personally, I think this is the most professional/commercial looking garment I've ever knit.

 

This looks and feels like it came off a rack at a fine clothing store!

I am so pleased with this top and I would still like to knit a version without any mods in fingering weight wool.

Stitches SoCal and Recent Purchases

I actually bought this 2022 Fall Equinox right before heading to Rhinebeck but ran out of time to post it.  Not featured in the photo is the awesome herbal Healing Balm that accompanied it that I've been pleasantly using on a daily basis.  

I also intentionally waited until I got home to buy their limited edition Rhinebeck colorway, Rose Water.  Also featured in the photo of the sweater quantity that I purchased is their latest offering from their Tarot Club, 4 of Wands.

Amber, my Rhinebeck knitting buddy came to visit last week.  She arrived on Sunday, November 6th, just in time for us to attend my Eastbay Knitting and Crochet meet up at Schmidt's Pub.  It was so nice to finally show Amber around my neck of the woods, especially because it was her first time ever visiting CA!

While she was visiting, we went on a yarn crawl all around the Bay Area.

The main thing that I was somewhat shocked and relieved to purchase was what might be some of the last known available inventory of the Painted Ladies and Wanderlust colorways from Houndstooth Fibers yarn from Fiber Circle Studio in Petaluma.  Apparently the owner recently stopped dyeing.  I loved her yarn and I've knit a ton of projects with it.  While I am sad to see it go, I am also happy to embrace the ephemeral aspect of indie-dyed yarn.  

Amber and I both take advantage of public transportation on a regular basis and it was so nice to finally knit together on the bus and the train.

Amber got to meet Kristine and some of the regulars from my other knitting and crochet meet up at the Hyatt EMB last Tuesday.

I am so pleased and honored to know so many awesome, crafty ladies!

One of the highlights of Amber's visit was just sitting and knitting by the side of the the Pacific at (one of my favorite local chill spots) Mussel Rock Beach.

 

Less than 24 hrs after Amber returned to BK, Kristine and I caught a flight down to Burbank for Stitches SoCal.  

It was such a nice little trip and a tradition that I now look forward to every year.

Sadly, the show seemed somewhat underattended, underpromoted and generally small and dull.

For me, it's just a fun getaway so while it was sad to see it on the decline, I still more than enjoyed myself.

 

I just kind of wonder what the future holds for Stitches in general.  Will it ever be as big and frenetic as it once was?!  Why are events thriving on the East Coast and in the Pac NW but not throughout CA?

 

I was quite impressed with the unique colorwork in all of these Splendid Apparel samples.  I'd like to know if all of the samples were knit by and/or designed by the same person.  

 

Obviously I didn't need to buy yarn but I still couldn't resist buying some Knudsen yarn.  The bases I purchased are from MI and NY but dyed in Utah.

I also spotted this fingering tweed from Two Guys in IL as soon as I arrived at Stitches but didn't want to buy it unless I had a pattern.

Much to my relief, Lindsey Fowler released her Hotdish Cardigan pattern literally while I was sitting at the show, trawling through Ravelry in search of a pleasing tweedy pattern.

 

I also purchased a rotating spindle from some Oregon based woodturners and a Tunisian crochet kit from Kira K whom it is always a pleasure to see.  

Our Crochet Baby Surprise Jacket was cancelled so Kristine and I were forced to take a pants sewing class.  It ended up being a lot of fun and my instructor, Sonya Philip, actually lives in SF not too far away from me!  Small world!

 

It was my first time seeing Irina since the beginning of 2022 and it was so lovely to catch up IRL after all of this time.  Not only did her nails that she did herself say, "Love to Knit", but she hand embroidered the roses on the cardigan she knit! I love her and miss seeing her so much!

I am finally back home now.  I just picked Matt and Xena up from the airport from their respective trips.  I have been crazy busy with work and planning for the holidays and believe it or not, we are about to head out of town (again) until the end of the month in 2 days.

Now, I just gotta wind some yarn, keep planning and stay positive for all of our upcoming adventures.

Knit Bat Cape Designed by Kate Bellando

Happy Halloween!  And I can finally say that with sheer relief and satisfaction! Once Xena decided she wanted to be a vampire bat for Halloween, I knew I just had to make something.  I wrongly assumed that there would be a ton of costume ideas to choose from on Ravelry but there really wasn't much for this specific costume idea.  Thankfully, I found the most perfect Knit Bat Cape pattern, designed by Kate Bellando, a designer I was previously unfamiliar with.

This costume was truly a labor of love on so many levels.  The pattern is designed for an adult with a 32" length but since I wanted it to be draping and almost touching the ground for Xena, I didn't make any modifications to the size.  

The pattern calls for size 10.5 needles but since I knit so loose, I started knitting the project with size 9 Signature Stilettos on 40" circulars, but then the cable broke.  If you didn't already know, Signature needles have a lifetime warranty and as soon as I contacted them, they immediately mailed a replacement set of cables.  Thankfully, I already had multiple spare needle sets to choose from and I immediately switched to Lykke interchangeable shorties while waiting for the other needles to arrive.  They're surprisingly quick for wood but nothing in comparison to Signature's stiletto tips for speed doing lacework. 

 

So if that wasn't enough drama, I ran out of yarn and had to order more because literally no store in the entire Bay Area had the correct quantity that I required.  I wasn't using any obscure yarn; it was Lion Brand Homespun but I suppose black is just in super high demand for Halloween.  I used this boucle-ish variety of yarn because I wanted the texture to be like wrinkly bat wings.  Unfortunately my yarn didn't arrive before I left for Rhinebeck so I couldn't return to working on the cape until mid-Oct.  By then I had just decided to keep going with the Lykke's for the sake of consistency.

 

I intentionally used acrylic yarn for this project since it's a cape for a kid and I wanted it to be machine washable. I didn't even bother to block the cape but I think I would've if I had more time.  I didn't even finish binding off until Saturday AM and we had Halloween parties to attend all weekend.

When I stopped into Joann's at the nth hour, after working all day on Saturday night to find ribbon, it was a full blown warzone.  There was hardly even any ribbon to choose from but I am very pleased with the glittery greenish black ribbon I ended up with, even if it is very rigid.

 

It's also worth noting that Xena is wearing the purple sweater I knit for her first day of school last year over her dress.  The sleeves are getting a little short but it's been so chilly lately that she needed extra coverage; the dress is sleeveless.

I love the art deco shape and design of this cape so much!  I want to knit one for myself in bright colors!  When I dropped Xena off for school this morning and saw all of the other kids' wack ass fast fashion store bought costumes, I was overwhelmed with handmade pride.  She does have vampire teeth but she hates wearing them.  I'm sure we'll have plenty more photos after we go trick-or-treating later on tonight.  I still can't believe all of the people that got trampled to death in Seoul, South Korea over a M_F Halloween celebration!  Ugh!