Mi Scalloped Border es su Scalloped Border

I only know a few key phrases in the Language of Lace, without any real mastery or context (and my accent is probably terrible).  I'd say I'm just fluent enough in Lace to order a beverage and locate the loo.

Fortunately for me, a little lace goes a really long way most of the time, so I use it with restraint, and repeat elements wherever possible, for continuity and cohesion (or at least, that's the goal).

Case in point:  Gentle Reader Millie sweetly asked about the border I used in my EPS cardigan, which made me think you might like to experiment with it too.  It's super-simple, and the repeat is so short you can easily stick it just about anywhere.  I combined mine with 2 x 2 ribbing, but there are lots of other ways and places to use it.  Here's the chart for you (feel free to reproduce and share):

Cast on a multiple of 6, plus one.  Row 1 is worked from the WS.  My photo shows a cable CO, but long-tail would be pretty, too, and has the advantage of starting with the WS facing for the first row. 

Remember that this needs to be worked from the bottom up, so if you want to put it on the cuff of a sleeve, like I did, you'll probably want to work that sleeve from the bottom up, too.  I thought of that too late and had to resort to grafting acrobatics.  Oops.

Other than that small requirement, you'll find that this is a very well-behaved little edging; one that will be welcome in lots of interesting places.  Where will you find to put it?

EPS, a la MSH

Meanwhile, back at my Elizabeth's Percentage System test laboratory...

When last I updated this project, things were looking bleak in the yarn supply department.  As in, I was running out fast.  I had finished the body by adding 1" long sleeves, with the intent to make them however long I could at the end.  I finished the neckline and plackets, then divided my remaining yarn in half, to finish each sleeve from the armhole down.  Then I realized that the edging I wanted on the cuffs had to be worked from the bottom up.  So I worked one cuff edging from each half of my sleeve yarn, then set them aside and hoped for mercy from the Knitting Gods. 

I worked from the armholes down on each sleeve, then grafted the cuffs on, hoping to end up with a sleeve length that was in any way wearable. 

Here's an action shot of the graft:  A combination of DPN, circulars and one lone tapestry needle to get the job done.  Desperate times call for Desperate measures.  Fiddly much?  I'm pretty sure I didn't exhale the whole time.

And then I ran out of yarn, one round short of the second sleeve's end. 

Trying not to cry, I grabbed my purse to storm out of the house.  Not sure where I was headed, just OUT.  But the car keys were in the other purse; the one I had just changed out of the day before.  And so was this:

The remains from when I wove the ends in on the main body.  I don't even remember where I was when I wove them in - somewhere without a garbage can though - or I wouldn't still have the ends in my purse.  When spit-spliced together, they added up to exactly enough to knit a round and graft on the second cuff.

Say what you want to about those Knitting Gods, but sometimes, just to keep us wondering, they are kind.

Oxygen deprivation notwithstanding, this was a really good exercise for me.  I followed Amy Detjen's short-row insertion strategies (Originally Elizabeth Zimmermann's, perfected by Meg Swansen, and tweaked for prime time by Amy), and they really really work.  Follow Amy around the country to where she is teaching, or take her class on Craftsy to soak up some Genius.

I finally understand where the short rows have to go and why (different for every person's body), and best of all, I've cracked the code to putting a circular yoke on my own very square shoulders (Don't be in a hurry to start the yoke decreases!  Suck it up and keep knitting longer than you want to after joining the sleeves). 

Do I wish there had been less fabric in the main body so there could have been longer sleeves at the end?  Yep.  Do I wish it were a little longer, overall?  Affirmative.  Do I still love the color of the yarn enough to wear this in spite of not loving 3/4 length sleeves? Yes, and Yes.  Wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt under it compensates for both the length deficiencies. 

And let's not forget:  The goal was to get a whole sweater out of exactly three skeins of yarn, which I did.  Yay Me.  Oh, and the other trick that never fails:  Use more buttons than are usually called for on a cardigan front to avoid Gap-osis.  I have 11 here, when there would normally be 5-7.  And make sure there are an ODD number, no matter what.  Because it always just looks better that way.  These are antique shell, with a super-cute exposed shank attachment. 

This is the perfect time of year to make an abbreviated cardigan.  In most parts of North America, we still want a sweater on most of the time, but a short one like this affirms your belief in the promise of Spring.  Why not try your own EPS sweater?  I promise you'll learn a lot.  But please, do make sure you have enough yarn first.

Six Word Stories Totally Thrilled Me

Before I announce the winner of the six word cast-on and bind-off story contest, I have to tell you a favorite of mine.  That it really is six words is just a coincidence, because it was given to me by a student in one of my classes, and I've never forgotten it:

        "You mean there's more than ONE?"

Remember the moment you discovered there was more than one way to cast on and bind off?  I happened to be there when this lady did, and it tickled me all to bits.  Her six words represent all that is beautiful about what happens when knitters come together to share what they know.  Her knitting would never be the same after that day, and honestly, neither would mine.

Okay, down to business.  To begin with, as always, you all blew my mind.  I laughed, I cried.  It was better than Cats.  Call me crazy, but I just cannot get enough of the stories knitters tell, and these were an absolute smorgasbord.  Thank you Gentle Readers, one and all.

Of course, choosing a winner would be all but impossible for me, so I naturally pawned it off on Phillip.  According to his Husband Contract, Phillip is in charge of all the household chores that are icky, dangerous, or just seem hard.  But even Phillp, bastion of evenhandedness and diplomacy that he is,  couldn't pick just one.  

Lucky for us, I've been saving up extra prizes for just such an emergency, so we can also choose 2nd and 3rd place winners to receive some fun treats, too.  Ready?  Here they are:

        Third Place:  Karen S.
        "400 stitches. Rip. 398, 402, Victory!"

        Second Place:  Melissa 
        "Head hopelessly lodged in vicelike neckline."

        First Place:  Kim D.
        "One knitter, 50 WIPs; What's bind-off?"

Thank you so much, Gentle Readers, for sharing your cast on and bind off stories.  Could the three geniuses above please send me an e-mail with your mailing addresses?

You all are winners to me.