For My Twirly Whirly Girls

My cousin has the two (2) cutest twirly whirly girls. On one of my trips to Seattle, I found this yarn at Michael's:

It just screamed: "Buy me for the girls!" It was in the colors they seemed to love. And, when I saw it, I just knew it was meant to be some kind of twirly whirly skirt, one of the girls' favorite items to wear.

After scouring the web and consulting with my cousin, I decided that I wanted the skirts to be a combination of the Twirly Girly Skirt & Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt. The Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt pattern was no longer available but, the Twirly Girly Skirt seemed to give me a good idea on what I needed to do to make the girls skirts (top-down and in the round). So, here's what I did:
Based on the Twirly Girly Skirt and inspired by the Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt:
For Maya's skirt, I used three (3) colors, a light pink (lp), a cream color (c) and the pink gumdrop (p).

For waistband:

• Cast on 124 sts using my Denise Needles US8 with the lp and join in the round.
• Knit a 1x1 rib for eight (8) rounds.
• Knit an i-cord in the c.
• Thread the i-cord through the fourth row of the ribbing to create a drawstring for the skirt.
• Add pom poms to the end of the i-cord.

Then begin the Skirt portion:

• Knit for sixteen (16) rounds: p 4 rows, lp 2 rows, c 3 rows, p 5 rows, lp 2 rows.
• Knit 4 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating * to the end of the round.  Knit for twelve (12) rounds, increasing every other row: c 4 rows, p 6 rows, lp 2 rows
• Knit sixty-six (66) rounds: lp 1 row, c 5 rows, p 8 rows, c 6 rows, p 8 rows, c 9 rows, p 10, rows c 12 rows, p 6.25 rows, & c 0.75 rows.
• Finish off the skirt edging using c with a moss stitch edge for four (4) rows.
• Total number of stitches 458.

After learning from Maya's skirt, for Ashtyn's skirt, I used three (3) colors, a purple multi (pm), a cream color (c) and the purple gumdrop (p) using the same needles and size.
For the waistband, I did it the same way as Maya's skirt. 

For the Skirt portion, I wanted to change it up so, here's what I did:

• Knit for sixteen (16) rounds: *c 1 row, p 1 row, c 1 row, pm 1 row, c 1 row*, continue * for 5 repeats, ending with pm 1 row.
• Using c, knit 9 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating * to the end of the round.  
• Knit for five (5) rounds, alternating p, c, pm, c, and p every other row.
• Using c, knit 5 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating  * to the end of the round; total number of stitches: 82 on each side.
• Knit for three (3) rounds, alternating pm, c, and p every other row.
• Using c, knit 1 st, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below, knit 9 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating * to the end of the round, total number of stitches: 98 sts on each side.
• Knit for seven (7) rounds, alternating pm, c, p, c, p, c and p every other row.
• Using c, knit 13 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below, k 6 sts*, repeating * to the end of the round; total number of stitches: 103 sts on each side.
• Knit for five (5) rounds, alternating p and c every other row, ending with a p row.
• Using c, knit 13 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating * to the end of the round; total number of stitches: 111 sts on each side.
• Knit for seventeen (17) rounds, alternating p and c every other row, ending with a p row.
• Using c, knit 13 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating * to the last 7 sts, k last 7 sts; total number of stitches: 117 sts on each side.
• Knit for seventeen (17) rounds, alternating p and c every other row, ending with a p row.
• Using c, knit 13 sts, make 1 by knitting into the stitch below*, repeating * to the last st, k last st: 227 sts on each side.
• Knit for seventeen (17) rounds, alternating p and c every other row, ending with a p row.
• Finish off the skirt edging using the stockinette stitch, alternating every row: c & p, ending with p, for 4 rows.
• Bind off using c.

The tops of skirts were mostly primarily based on the Twirly Girly Skirt; where I tweaked it was in the waistband (where I ribbed it) and I replaced the elastic portion with a pom-pom drawstring (similar to what's shown in the Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt).  I liked the idea of the drawstring version more because 1) the girls don't live anywhere close to me (and I have no live models of their size where I live to test it out my WIPs/FOBs on) and 2) in case it's too big (or too long), I felt that the drawstring option gave my cousin and the girls more options on how they could wear it (they could wear it like a strapless dress if it was too long, draw it in more if it was too big, or heck, even wear it as a poncho if it was too big at the waist! :P).  The Cherry skirt was primarily based on the Twirly Girly Skirt although I tweaked the skirt portion to incorporate multiple colors.  The Grape Skirt was primarily inspired by the Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt as I wanted that one to be more of an A-line skirt.  Here's what the skirts looked like:

Maya's Skirt

Ashtyn's Skirt

After finishing the skirts, I found I had an extra skein of the purple gumdrop.  So, I decided that I was going to make tops for the girls in which it could be interchangeable with the skirts.  I scoured Ravelry and found these patterns: Cellular Stitch Kids' Poncho and fáinne geal an lae; I decided to make a cardigan using the cream yarn and a poncho using the remainder of the purple gumdrop yarn.

I started with the poncho first (using the same needles and size); once I read the pattern twice (yes, I'm still having issues following patterns :P), starting the pattern was relatively easy.  As I started the increase row (to shape the shoulders), I had to re-learn what "sl1-k2tog-psso" was.  Once I got the hang of that, it was a really quick knit.  I finished this project in a record ten (10) days! 😃

Then I started the cardigan.  The yarn I was using wasn't working out. :(  The cable was looking muddy and lost.  So, I scoured Ravelry again and found this pattern: Kiddie Capelet.  It was so cute on the model that it seemed perfect alternate piece.  So I tried - again (this was an interesting pattern in which the needle sizes started with US 8 and gradually moved all the way up to US 15; I got to use nearly all of my big Denise needles!) ...  And, as the pattern stated, it was a very quick knit (I finished it in a record six (6) days)!  The only change I made to the pattern was to do the final portion of the pattern five (5) times (instead of two (2)) and to make the end more ruffly, I bound off using my sock bind off.

After all that, I still had a teensy-weensey bit of yarn left; so, I thought it might be fun to make some flower pins to add to their tops.  I found this pattern on Ravelry: 
Knitted Flower.   Once I got the hang of it, it was quite easy to make. 🤗 I finished it off in 2 days (and, yes, nearly all the yarn is gone - I'm done making stuff for the girls ... for now 😉).

I hope my girls enjoy their twirly whirly skirts and their tops! 

Up-date:
The girls seem to like their skirts, especially Maya!  She loved her skirt soooooo much that she immediately took off her current skirt and insisted she wear her new one!  She twirled in it nearly the whole time we saw her! 😍

Here she is in her poncho (which we had to convince her to take it off since it was so hot that day!🌞):

As you can see, Ashtyn was more sensible - she didn't want to try on her outfit; it was too hot! ☀️😝

Update: pictures of one of my twirly whirly girls in more appropriate weather wearing her poncho:

Isn't she soooo cute! 😍

Knit in Public Day 2017

This year, Knit in Public Day was over a long weekend in our state.  To celebrate, we spent the day cruising around and knitting (& crocheting - well, Hubby crocheted, at least)! :)  Here we are doing our individual crafts at the pier:

Serenity by the Bay

 Casting on, matey!

And, now onto crochet.

Perhaps next year, we'll have bigger projects going on so there's actually more to see!:P

All Gussied Up

Back in February, I was able to do a mini yarn crawl in Seattle in which I picked up a Fringe Field Bag.  I've been looking at how others had taken care of and dressed up their Fringe Field Bags and thought it would be fun to do the same with mine.

First, I obtained a tin of Martexin wax and with Hubby's help, we turn my Field Bag into a waxed canvas bag.

I had purchased a patch, some buttons and pins as well as were given some patches for my Field Bag.  After consulting with my Mom and Hubby about where I should put everything, I began the process of decorating my bag.  I must've spent a good portion of a Saturday gussying up my Field Bag as I hand sewed the patches and buttons on (something I really dreaded doing since my hand sewing tends to be quite atrocious! :P).  Amazingly, I did a very good job in which my stitching was very neat and clean.

Here's my Field Bag, all gussied up!

The "Front"

The Right Side

The "Back"

The Left Side

I'm looking forward to showing off my gussied up Field Bag now! ;)

Up-date: Tabi Monogatari v5

When I initially made these socks, it looked perfect.  Unfortunately, for some reason or another (or more likely, just plain distraction based on what was going on at that time), I binded off the tops of the socks too tightly.  So, Hubby dreaded wearing these socks. 😞  I took it back and it sat in my "to-do" pile for ages.  I finally got around to fixing them so that they would be wearable.  It took me two (2) days (over the course of two (2) weekends) to rip out the edges (and a portion of the top of the socks) to re-knit and bind off.

It was an interesting (and good) experience.  For this particular pair of socks, it was actually quite difficult to rip out since 1) the end color was a dark grey (a very dark grey) and 2) the ends were so well woven in (and appeared to be felted in), it was hard to discern where I actually hid the ends!  I finally broke down and actually cut a portion of the tops to rip it out.  For right side, I was able to save a good portion of the top and only had to re-knit a few rows before binding off again.  For the left side, I struggled to find  the end and it was very well felted in.  I had to cut the yarn several times before I was able to properly rip it out.  This essentially meant that I ripped (and cut out) most of the top portion and had to re-knit twelve (12) rows before being able to bind off.  It was quite harrowing as I kept cutting and cutting the yarn for it to rip out properly!

Now, it fits perfectly.  Hopefully, Hubby finds it much more comfortable to wear! ❤️

All Wrapped Up

My best friend, D has been eyeing out my knitted goods ... that's amazing (for her) since as far as I can remember (and that's been a very long time now), she's always mocked me for my love of knitted goods, particularly since we live in a very warm place (though that has never deterred me though from loving and buying knitted goods! ;)).

I think that now we're much older (in addition to the simple fact that she can generate less heat than she used to) and that she travels to cooler places now, she (finally) understands and can appreciate knitted goods. :P ♡

So, like the sucker I am, I offered to make her a scarf - something relatively "easy".  I don't know why I foolishly thought that making a scarf for D was going to be easy since my D is never easy! :P  First, we spent months picking and discarding patterns until we finally settled on this pattern: Patons Textured Stitch Wrap.  It looked wide enough to be cozy and comfy; it had enough interesting texture on it so it wouldn't be boring (for her) and there was nothing to "holey" to keep her curious fingers from stretching out the holes and making them bigger than they should be (yes, my D is really a 3 year old ... maybe a 5 year old on her good days! :P).

Then it was time to search for her yarn.  My D is the pickiest creature on Earth so, I knew she had to pick her own yarn or else my knitting would be for nought.  So, I took her to my fav yarn store and told her that she could pick any colorway from Malabrigo Rios collection since it was:

1. a natural wool product (something I know she wanted (versus an acrylic yarn))
2. superwash (so I know she can wash it and not have it shrink or felt)
3. most importanly, have an interesting variation of color on the yarn (so that she would like it more and to keep her interested in her scarf longer - yes, not only is she a 3 year old but also a little birdie that's easily distracted! ;P)

After a few hours (yes, I said a few hours), trolling through Ravlery & Instagram, driving P (the owner of my fav yarn store) a bit batty, and after a series of texts with Hubby and my other friends, B & W (they were all together), we finally decided on this yarn:

She waffled on this color and another more colorful one but ended picking her favorite (boring) color.  (Actually, the color is amazing ... I'm almost tempted to pick up a few more skeins to make myself a sweater with this color! :P)

Now, I'm sure you must be wondering at this point: Wow!  Are you going to teach D how to knit?  And the answer is: No way!  It'd be faster for me just to knit it than to teach her!  (OMG, I just turned into my grandma! :P lol)  She might not even complete the project if I left her to her own devices!  So, you must be wondering then:  So, what's with all of this rigmarole;  why such the big deal on the pattern and yarn?  Well, like I said earlier, my D is the pickiest creature on Earth.  If she didn't like/love the pattern AND the yarn, my knitting efforts would be in vain.  I know, I know ... there are many schools of thought out there about this:

• If you knit something for someone, just knit what you want and it's up to them to love it (or not)
• What you knit for someone is what you wanna knit; if that person doesn't love it then that's on them, not you
• Knitting a requested gift might make your knitting more of a chore than the actual enjoyment of knitting
• blah, blah, blah

In the end, D's my best friend and I know how she operates.  I knew that if I were to make something for her, she had to love it first before I even began.  And, she had to go through "the process" to understand what she was getting and if she'd even wanted the end product.  While it might sound crazy to most people, this was worth it to me.  I don't often make gifts for others (although I know it hasn't seem like it) so, I would rather that they find something they like (and that I can accomplish as I often do have a say and generally "guide" the recipient along the project) rather than making something I like and they hate.  After all, what is the point of making/giving a gift to someone if it's really for you??  Isn't the gift about them?

So ... in the end, I ended up special ordering the yarn (there was only 3 skeins and I needed 4).  It finally came in and using my Denise US7 needles and a 40" cable (I eventually switched to a 24" cable), I proceeded to follow the pattern.  Here's how it went:
After reading over the pattern and giving the first segment a go, it was a relatively quick knit (although I must admit, I didn't read it as thoroughly as I should have since I think I missed a few repeats the first time around; but, I did (eventually) get the hang of it! :P) :)  It took me just a bit over eight (8) weeks to finish it.  I hope she enjoys it! :)  Its a wrap!  

Boy - it was really long; I was worried I didn't have enough blocks!

(And, yes, she loves it - it's just the right length!❤️)