Fri Sep 8, 2006

Mistletoes-along with me

It’s official. We’re starting our knitalong. Here’s the specs-

Commit to knitting a Christmas stocking. Any stocking, any pattern. Make sure I know you’re participating. Check in with me on the blog on Fridays. Fridays are knitalong days. You can either comment to Friday’s post with your update, or you can email me before Friday with pictures, links, progress…. whatever, and I’ll include it in my post. You’ll be listed in the sidebar.

Here’s your button. A big thanks to Nate who is very busy, but managed to pop one out for us.

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And our list of participants so far-

Darra

Harriet

Michelle

Brandy

Danielle M

Jenifer, who’s knitting a stocking mitten.

Carrie (oops!)

Me- Laura

and I’ll add my little Olivia.

Did I miss anyone?

I didn’t cast on yesterday, but I did get a lot done in my garage! And I also spent a lot of time on stocking planning. I decided that instead of jumping right in, I’d plan out the color schemes for each stocking to make sure I adequately integrate all 8 colors so they all match, even though they aren’t going to match. Make sense?

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This is a sock that I absolutely loved ’til it was threadbare. Now I keep it to serve as inspiration for future socks. It’s store bought, but I like the color divide in the background with the design over the top. I think I’m going to loosely base the kids’ stockings on it’s design.

As of right now, I’m thinking about doing the top a solid color, the bottom half of the leg, and the foot in stripes of the remaining colors set aside for that stocking, and duplicate stitch a design on top. Abigail wants a snowflake, Olivia wants an angel, and V is undecided. I’m hoping she’ll go for Christmas trees. Clark might get a Superman shield, since there is a nice red, yellow, and blue in our color palette. But I’m undecided. His will be knit last.

I’ve practiced duplicate stitch on my swatch, and I think my gauge is tight enough to get away with it. (I tried duplicate stitch on my last stockings, but my gauge was looser, and it was a big, old, ugly mess).

And I still want to do argyle for Nate and I, but I’ve lost my IK issue that has the argyle article in it. (Fall ’02). I’m totally bugged. I can find every other issue and book I’ve pulled for inspiration, but that one’s gone. I haven’t given up, I’m just pouting.

Plus, the more I look at it, the more I want to do ALL of them argyle. It’d be so cool. But I don’t think the girls would necessarily appreciate it.

9 Responses to “Mistletoes-along with me”

  1. Maggie Says:

    I’m sorry, I can’t remember what you said in previous posts about the stockings…are you going to felt these?

    I was thinking of making each of us a little stocking for decoration purposes…small, to hang off our bookshelf. Or maybe a bunch of little ones to attach to a garland. A friend is knitting some felted ones for her nieces.

    So I may join your knitalong, although I’m not sure yet. Are you planning a cut-off date for joining? I recently ordered some shade cards for WotA and maybe they’ll give me some inspiration.

  2. Carrie Says:

    Yup, you forgot me, but I’m a newbie and JUST got a little blog going. . . so I understand. I’ll be out of town next week, but will try to post something along the way. I’m still in, even if I don’t contact you next friday.
    Thanks Laura, what a kick!

  3. Lisa Says:

    Hi Laura-
    Count me in! I am making a stocking for Jon since the one he has his mother made for him before he was born and it is falling apart. I really want to put it away and preserve it, so I will knit him one this year.
    Another good idea from PMF!
    Lisa

  4. Jenifer Says:

    Hi Laura,
    Just wanted to give you a link to my fairly new blog. I’m working on adding the Mistletoes button to my sidebar, but can’t seem to get it the graphic to appear…any advice “oh, Blog Queen”? (or is it your husband is the “Blog King”?)

  5. Morgen Says:

    Count me in for Mistletoes! Thanks!

  6. Connie Says:

    How fat does Santa make the stockings at your house? Will the duplicate stitch distort? Since I’ve never used duplicate stitch, I have no clue whether this is a real concern or not.

  7. Michelle Says:

    Just clarifying my participation.

  8. Katie Says:

    I knew you’d come up with a cute name for your KAL – Mistletoes, I love it! Maybe I could do a few mini-stockings as decorations – I like that idea. I’ll let you know when (if) I get started. 🙂

  9. Vicki Says:

    Oh, me, me, me!! Can I still join the KAL? I’m knitting a Grace Ennis design for my nephew — have knitted the part with his name and it’s stewed while I decide whether I like it and my knitting’s good. ; )

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