Friday, September 28, 2012

After-thought button-holes

It's almost October.

Our summer at home has gone by so fast. We've been busy and packed a lot into the 3 months that we've been home.  I've enjoyed meeting weekly with my knitting group and have been knitting, so I thought I'd try to update this blog a bit.

I finished these socks this week. I started them about 18 months ago, but didn't work on them that much, because I thought the angora in the yarn was causing me to be congested.  Now I'm not sure that is true, but here they are and now that they are done I'll wear them. They are warm and fuzzy.

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And yesterday I finished this cardigan.  It is made of some silk yarn I got for half-price. It is 100% silk, but feels a lot like cotton.  I haven't worn it yet, so can't really comment on what it is like to wear.

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I made "afterthought buttonholes" in the right band.  The directions called for working the right band first and making buttonholes every 12 rows or something like that, but I always do the left band first and then plan where I want the buttonholes.  so I did the left band and front.  The band is worked with the front. (See my Ravelry project page for more information on the pattern, yarn, etc.) Then I got started on the right side and was half-way up before I realized I had completely forgotten to work any buttonholes.  I'm sure I'm the first one to ever have done this.  :-)  Instead of ripping it all back, I decided to try dropping down in the buttonhole row to where I wanted the first buttonhole.  Then I put a piece of yarn through that stitch and using a crochet hook picked up the ones above it until I reached the location for the next buttonhole.  I repeated the process for two more buttonholes and then kept knitting up past each buttonhole location.  I would go 2 or 3 rows beyond, then drop down and make the buttonhole in the same way I made the others, so they all match.  I think they look fine.  The only downside is you do have to weave in 2 ends for each buttonhole.

Here's a close-up of the button-hole band.

 

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And here's the inside of the band.  It's not pretty, but this is silk.  I think in wool it would look nicer.

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We've had fabulous weather here--well unless you are a plant.  The plants would like more rain.

The trees are turning, so I thought I'd post a few pictures, but decided not to take too long at that part, so I just stepped out my front door.  These photos are all taken from my front and back yard.

From my front door.

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Looking down the street.

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Shrubs I planted in 2004, which were tiny then.

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Two kinds of Parsley, the only herb that grows really well here.

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Petunias still going strong in spite of the drought. I haven't watered them.

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Do you know what this is?  I usually cut these off, but this is the seed cluster of a Clematis.

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This one I took about a block away a couple weeks ago. I thought it was so cute.

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So that's my update. We're off to Finland on October 5, so look for photos on my other blog after Oct 18th.

7 comments:

Mary Ruth said...

What a smart recovery for the button holes! I always love your sweaters! Your knitting is amazing!

Love the Fall photos! And that little gnome secret place is so cute! I want to make something like this in my herb bed.

So glad to be able to come and see updates on what you are up to! I follow you on my Google reader.

Miss you and wanted to say hi!

Mary Ruth said...

I re-read my comment and realized I forgot to mention YOU look GREAT!

Cécile said...

Thanks, Mary Ruth! I see your pins on Pinterest these days, but haven't had much time for decorating or decorating boards.

Thanks for the kind comments!!

kaystir said...

Those are long fuzzy socks! You are ready for winter!
I think there is an after thought button hole technique in "Knitting Without Tears" that involves snipping a stitch. You idea is genius too!
Thank you for the fall pictures, there are not many fall colors here, nor will there be.
Have fun in Finland! I hope to go one day too. I can't wait to read how it went.

Julie said...

I love the socks, and that sweater looks smashing on you! We don't have much autumn color here, yet, so I was happy to see yours. Love the garden shots, too, and the gnomes are priceless!

Have a wonderful time in Finland! I look forward to seeing posts on your travel blog about your trip.

Cécile said...

Thanks Kay and Julie. I take the fall color almost for granted, since it's right outside my door every year. We are in the peak of fall color right now and it is gorgeous.

Enjoy the fall where you are. Ours will be about over by the time we get bck form Finland and your fall is in full swing.

Thanks for the comments on the knitting too.

L. P. said...

Those socks are nice colors and look toasty warm. The sweater, like all your projects, is beautiful. I myself have been experimenting with various buttonhole techniques lately on various projects, and evaluating which I like best. Yours is one more way to experiment. I got great fall pictures last weekend.