Saturday, September 15, 2007

No need for a hairdryer..

Patience, and time spent practicing crochet appear to have won.

Well you know what this means:
Kauni 036

Kauni is truly finished et voila enough sunlight remained to take a photo under natural light (ish).
Kauni 044
I am very pleased with the finished cardi - it has softened up a lot in the wash and is warm and snuggly and everything I wanted it to be.

So then, those steeks.... there seems to be lots of advice on how to finish off your steeks ranging from the "just leave them alone" to binding them in with another bit of knitting/ribbon. I've gone for a combination approach.

The steeks on the neckline and round the armholes I have trimmed and left well alone:
Kauni 037
They aren't under any stress and will never be seen and will gradually felt into the main body of the cardigan.

The steeks on the button bands however, may well be seen and could get pulled about a bit. The best tips I found were from the Rainey Sisters who have a method of crocheting on a steek edging. I haven't done eactly what Sally suggests - I folded the steek along the line of the third row of stitches from the edge so that the third row was on the edge and then did a line of double crochet through both arms of that third stitch. At this point the rest of the steek band was still attached (also I mean English double crochet which might be US single - it's all very confusing).
Kauni 039
I then very carefully cut the edge of the steek away from the crochet edge and it all holds together very nicely (for the moment). If at a later stage it all falls apart and is an unmitigated disaster then I will cover it all up with some pretty ribbon!

And just for a giggle - proof that I was blocking in the back garden!!
Kauni 033
I needn't have worried about running out of yarn either - here are the leftovers!
Kauni 046
Today is obviously the day for presenting FOs to the world. Another "project in a commute" on the train this week were these adorable booties for baby R in leftover Sugar Maple yarn from my Conwy Socks. Simple, quick and very cute - just about sums it up!!
Kauni 034

4 comments:

  1. You remember when you made the baby blanket and they thought it was shop bought? Congratulations - you've made another "doesn't look hand made" hand knit. I'm glad that it dried before the light went (the nights are drawing in now.....)

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  2. It's absolutely beautiful!
    Very lovely work.
    Thanks for all the inspiration.
    :)

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  3. I've been lurking for awhile now and finally coming out to say hi! Kauni looks amazing...you did a great job with it! I've enjoyed reading your thoughts through the steeking process. I'm wanting to do a pattern involving steeking eventually and just the word scares me! :) Anyway, beautiful FO's!

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  4. Glad it stopped raining long enough for your "garden" block party.

    Loverly work, Dearie...

    Blessings!

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