Blocking 101

OK, I have some questions about this blocking thing. I took the first sleeve of Pam off the blocking board and it slowly lost its length, although I have still netted over one inch (whew!!). The yarn is 100% merino wool and I steam blocked it.

So, a number of questions arise:

1. Is this just the way it will be due to the amount of yarn used?
2. Is this typical behavior for wool?
3. Should I have wet blocked for a more definitive blocking?
4. Can I re-block it now using the wet block method (if that is indeed the solution)?
5. Can it shrink with steam blocking? Please tell me no!

Thanks for any answers!

Updates

My leather buttons arrived in the mail and I'm terribly disappointed. One, they are very light (in weight, not color). Aren't leather buttons supposed to have some weight, some heft to them? My mother has 1 or 2 such buttons left over from some overcoat from the seventies, and if I recall correctly, they felt heavier than mine (I've already called her to see if she might have six of them, but no). Two, they don't have a patina to them. Obviously, this comes from use, but I was hoping to buy some with that antique look. Three, I just don't think they were made very well. They are getting sent back.

While we are on the subject of the Pam sweater, I was at the mall running errands and browsed thru Eddie Bauer. They have a brown sweater there almost like my Pam! Same background stitch, same main cable pattern, cardigan, shawl collar. EB's has pockets and plastic buttons. And no cabling on the sleeves! What a rip-off. The clerk saw me eyeing it like a hawk and approached me, "Isn't that sweater just beautiful?!" I replied, "Funny, it is almost exactly like the one I just knit, only I put cables on the arms too and leather buttons." :o) I tried to find a pic of it from the EB website but was unsuccessful.

The back of the Teriokhin braid is finished and the front started! I'm thinking about eliminating a stitch from each strand of the neck braid to make it less bulky. What do you think?

Pix only

I'm posting pix from a wireless hotspot while I eat an early dinner/late lunch before heading into the lab. In between my apoptosis assay, finishing my Western blot, gavaging 2 sets of mice, and feeding my cell lines, I should have some down-time to say more.


Edit/update: Ok, so I had ZERO downtime yesterday to blog. I staggered my projects to spend the minimum amount of time in the lab (it still ended up being four hours), which is why. First pic--I get the blocking thing now!! Maybe it's because I'm finally using natural fiber now. I got a little desperate when I saw the sleeves on Pam were going to be just a tad too short yet AGAIN, so I gave it another whirl. I gained 3 inches in arm length! Second pic--the whole sleeve. Third pic--the beginnings of the Teriokhin braid sweater from VK fall 2006. The thing has already "grown" since I showed off the picture. Kind of like little kids (not that I know about that). The color is "peacock" and has a greenish/mallard blue look to it. This photo doesn't illustrate that very well.

buttons

Found 'em!!

Henrietta

Here she is! Henrietta has been finished for about 3 weeks now, but I've been so swamped that I haven't had a chance to blog about her.

Pattern: Henrietta, from A Treasury of Rowan Knits
Needles: US 3 and 6, straight
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool, color Petal Pink (more like an orchid color), 8 balls
Mods: None.

This sweater is a tunic style fit. I don't think it was a sizing issue, as for once the sleeves are JUST RIGHT. . . .Well, in that case, maybe it was a sizing issue!!! (An old research advisor once said I had 'knuckle-draggin' arms.)

The bum-around-the-house factor here is huge. But it's still dressy enough to be work-appropriate, which is usually the goal of my knitting. Here's a photo sans manches:


I found an old scarf a roommate from undergrad (nearly 10 years ago, I'm feeling old!) was ready to pitch from her closet. I love scarves. It's part of the whole francophile thing. Matches pretty well, huh?

And oh, how I love the sleeve slits. Just enough to show off my watch. And my wrists. I think I have a rather lovely ulnar stylus. :o)

I was going to post progress photos of Pam, too, but the computer is acting up, as always. Perhaps later today.

Out

Last night I ventured out to get the Fall '06 Vogue Knitting, and----lo and behold, IK had their new issue out, too! The customers milling 'round the magazine racks must have thought me odd: I marched up to the rack, grabbed both magazines without missing a beat, and marched up to the cashier. There was no hesitation, no turning back.

Here's my favorite from each:

I'm calling it Teriokhin Braid after the designer, in VK, and

Northern Lights from IK. If and when I knit it, it will be a pullover. Is it me or does Lights look like a face?

OK, I'm throwing this pic on so I can update the avatar (I think that's what you call it).

Love/Hate, II

I was forced to use the lab camera yesterday. Never mind that the camera makes the color look like pus. It's actually a rich maize, and I chose it for a reason, which I'll explain later.

I love cabling!!! I'm actually getting excited for winter for once. I was so proud of myself until I noticed the mistake--Do you see it?



It's in the topmost pattern repeat, center cable. I crossed it backwards. I was faced with 2 options: One, frog back 16 rows (2 hours' knitting, yes I know I'm slow, but CSI was really good even if it was a rerun) to the mistake, or Two, drop 5 stitches down 16 rows and manage to re-knit the "filling" without leaving any "tracks." Cabling is great until you @$%* up. Then it's an absolute bitch to correct.

I opted for the former. Since then I've made it to the armhole bindoff.

So, the color choice was inspired by a sweater Gwyneth Paltrow wore in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Here's the pattern, from a Treasury of Rowan Knits.


G's is almost completely stockinette stitch, boxier, and with a zipper, though. The other commonality is the shawl collar this will have. Depending on my yarn supply at that point, I'm planning on making the collar more. . .voluminous? Is that the right word? Anyway it will be cozier than the pattern. I think leather buttons (or faux leather), the kind that look woven, might be nice.

Love/Hate

I was going to wax rapturous on my latest project when: One, I discovered a huge mistake in my work, and Two, this technology stuff would not upload the photos after I took the time to type out my woes.

In other news, who's excited about the new Vogue Knitting today???? Woo-Hoo!!!!!

While

It's been a long time since my last post!

I've assumed a multitude of new responsibilities in the lab and went to Mayo for a another opinion on maxillomandibular advancement surgery (and coordinated all the insurance paperwork and records scavenging from 3 specialists and the radiology dept). Plus, I've been having a difficult time accessing the net.

But I've been knitting, too! Pix coming soon.

I bought a new knitting book. . . and checked out a few from the library as well.

I'll let you know more shortly. . .