Biscuit's House

Pink mohair for Octavie

I don't remember when I started knitting this cache-coeur( ballet wrap), probably it was over a year ago. I had finished all the pieces but had only assembled half of them when I set them aside, and I didn't pick them up again until this week, in a praise-worthy attempt to finish an unfinished project (one down, 999 to go).

I had taken notes, but I completely forgot the size of the knitting needles I used. I think it must have been about 3 mm. So here's the pattern for anyone brave enough to try (k = knit, p=purl; yo = yarn over, k2tog = knit 2 stitches together, p2tog = purl 2 stitches together, skp = slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over).

Back:
Cast on 28 stitches.
Row 1 : *k1, p2, k1, p1, skp, yo, p1**, repeat twice more from * to **,  end with k1, p2, k1
R2 : knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves ("yarn overs" are purled)
R3 : *k1, p2, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1**, repeat twice more from * to **, end with k1, p2, k1
R4 :  knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves  ("yarn overs" are purled)
R5 : start again from R1
Continue in this way until you have 12 rows.
R13 : k4, p1, skp, yo, p1, k12, p1, skp, yo, p1, k4
R14 : p4, k1, p2, k1, p12, k1, p2, k1, p4
R15 : k4, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k3, skp, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k3, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k4
R16 : same as row 14
R17 : k4, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2, skp, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k2, p1, skp, yo, p1, k4
R18 : same as row 14
R19 : k4, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, skp, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k4
R20 : same as row 14
R21 : start again from R13
Continue in this way until you have 34 row in total.
Still working in the same pattern as in rows 13 to 20, make the armholes and neckline as follows.
Decrease 2 stitches at the beginning of row 35 and row 36, decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of row 37 and row 38.
Continue for 8 more rows without increasing or decreasing.
Row 47 : cast off the 10 middle stitches and continue until row 50 on each side.

Left front :
Cast on 23 stitches.
Row 1 : k1, p1, *k1, p2, k1, p1, skp, yo, p1**, repeat once more from * to **,  end with k1, p2, k2
R2 : knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves ("yarn overs" are purled)
R3 : k1, p1, *k1, p2, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1**, repeat once more from * to **, end with k1, p2, k2
R4 :  knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves  ("yarn overs" are purled)
R5 : start again from R1
Continue in this way until you have 12 rows.
While working in the pattern described below, decrease one stitch at the beginning of rows 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50.
R13 : k1, p1, skp, yo, p1, k12, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2
R14 : p2, k1, p2, k1, p12, k1, p2, k1, p1
R15 : k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k3, skp, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k3, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k2
R16 : same as row 14
R17 : k1, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2, skp, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k2, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2
R18 : same as row 14
R19 : k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, skp, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k2
R20 : same as row 14
R21 : start again from R13
To make the armhole, decrease 2 stitches at the beginning of row 35, and 1 stitch at the beginning of row 37.
Cast off at the end of 50 rows.

Right front :
Cast on 23 stitches.
Row 1 : k1, *k1, p2, k1, p1, skp, yo, p1**, repeat once more from * to **,  end with k1, p2, k1, p1, k1
R2 : knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves ("yarn overs" are purled)
R3 : k1, *k1, p2, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1**, repeat once more from * to **, end with k1, p2, k1, p1, k1
R4 :  knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves  ("yarn overs" are purled)
R5 : start again from R1
Continue in this way until you have 12 rows.
While working in the pattern described below, decrease one stitch at the beginning of rows 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49.
R13 : k2, p1, skp, yo, p1, k12, p1, skp, yo, p1, k1
R14 : p1, k1, p2, k1, p12, k1, p2, k1, p2
R15 : k2, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k3, skp, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k3, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1
R16 : same as row 14
R17 : k2, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2, skp, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k2, p1, skp, yo, p1, k1
R18 : same as row 14
R19 : k2, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, skp, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1
R20 : same as row 14
R21 : start again from R13
To make the armhole, decrease 2 stitches at the beginning of row 36, and 1 stitch at the beginning of row 38.
Cast off at the end of 50 rows.

Sleeves :
Cast on 30 stitches.
Row 1 : k1, *k1, p2, k1, p1, skp, yo, p1**, repeat twice more from * to **,  end with k1, p2, k2
R2 : knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves ("yarn overs" are purled)
R3 : k1, *k1, p2, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1**, repeat twice more from * to **, end with k1, p2, k2
R4 :  knit or purl the stitches as they present themselves  ("yarn overs" are purled)
R5 : start again from R1
Continue in this way until you have 8 rows.
R9 : k1, *k1, p2tog, k1, p1, k2 tog, p1**, repeat twice more from * to **,  end with k1, p2tog, k2
R10 : p2, *k1, p1**, repeat from * to **, end with p2
R11 : k2, *p1, k1**, repeat from * to **, end with k2
R12 : same as R10
R13 : k1, p1, skp, yo, p1, k12, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2
R14 : p2, k1, p2, k1, p12, k1, p2, k1, p1
R15 : k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k3, skp, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k3, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k2
R16 : same as row 14
R17 : k1, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2, skp, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k2, p1, skp, yo, p1, k2
R18 : same as row 14
R19 : k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, skp, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k2
R20 : same as row 14
R21 : start again from R13
Continue in this way until you have 42 rows in total. Working always in the same pattern until you cast off, decrease 2 stitches at the beginning of rows 43 and 44, and 1 stitch at the beginning of rows 45 and 46. Make 4 more rows without increasing or decreasing. Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of rows 51 and 52, and 3 stitches at the beginning of rows 53 and 54. Cast off. Make the second sleeve in the same way.

To make the ruffle, I just crocheted around the front sides and the neckline, after assembling the pieces. The left front has only one row of crocheting, the back and the right front have several rows, with 2 sc in each sc at the second row, and finishing with sc - *ch3 - skip 1 sc - sc in next sc**.

Chocolate and strawberry

Not done much on evenings this week, apart from watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and knitting/crocheting a little. What a waste that it took me so long to come across Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I've watched it about 3 times already and it may be my favorite movie ever. Sure it's completely irrealistic, it's fairy-tale India, when Tina dies of complications after giving birth to Anjali she still has time to talk and write letters and look beautiful. But I love the songs, the colors, the story, and of course not least of the movie's charms is that it stars my beloved Shahrukh Khan.

Today I finally found the energy to stuff and finish the "buns" or éclairs I had knitted this week. They do quite look like éclairs (though éclairs have a filling of the same flavor as the icing, not of white cream) and Puni understood right away what they were supposed to be. Off to Etsy they go.

I tried 100% acrylic and a cotton/acrylic blend. Though I prefer the texture and feel of the cotton blend, I think the acrylic yarn lends itself better to this particular case.

Last night I had hidden the presents brought by the Easter bells to Puni in the garden (after checking the weather forecast, and in order not to have to get up too early today).

Soon after getting up Puni spotted an egg on the grass through the window, and off she went to hunt.

Ah the innocent joys of childhood...

Fickleness

I should have been working on the cursed rabbit this past week-end, but instead I finished Pélagie's dress.

Pélagie turned out very different from what I had intended. She was supposed to be a plain doll in a homely dress. But after I chose silver thread for her shoes the glittery yarn of her dress sort of imposed itself. She's not the bee's knees but not too bad I guess.

Off to Etsy she goes. Overpriced I'm sure but I always have trouble setting a low amount for things I've spent a lot of time on. She'll probably go on sale in a few months!

Bounty

I came back home quite late again today, so no time for much more than edging a small (too small) scarf while watching another episode of my beloved Arsène Lupin. (And tomorrow night I will see my Puni again, yay!)

And of course, for reading. Thank you Connie, the magazines arrived today! What a bounty!

I began with MSL tonight, and I'm going to take a couple of the others with me tomorrow to my parents' for the week-end.

I don't know if I should thank you for this though!

Which reminded me that years ago I had made some from a recipe in this and that it had been quite delicious...(can't find it anymore on my shelves though, wonder if I left it at my parents'...)

And as I'm a lazy girl I ended up splurging on one of these! Tsssk!

Interestingness

I haven't done much tonight, apart from watching an episode of Arsène Lupin and singing Let's do it (nothing to do with Maurice but it doesn't hurt to listen to the song with two beautiful young men as visual background even though it seems a waste that they are gay - I mean in the movie, not the actors). So just a quick leg photo and a me-too about interestingness. When I don't have much to post about I should just skip it, but I've been trying hard since beginning this new blog to post every day and am reluctant to let a day pass without a post when I'm home.

Difficult to see in the photo, but the shoes are silver-colored.

According to Flickr, this is my most interesting photo, it has 309 views and 14 people count it as a favorite, way much more than any of my other photos. I guess it's because I posted it in an amigurumi group and amigurumi are in, but I was surprised when it first came to the top, because it was taken at night in artificial light and doesn't belong to what I think are my good photos.

The second and third most interesting photos were also posted to the amigurumi group, so were the fourth and fifth - so the ranking is somewhat skewed by the leverage of amigurumi people.

Looking at photos ranked by "most favorited", first place also goes to the crochet ice-cream, and the photo above is second with a score of 4. This is one of the photos I'm proud of, and I'm proud of the outfit too - though if you look closely the edge of the bonnet is not finished yet. Third is a baby bunting photo, not bad but there are other photos I think are much better, for example this one or this one. I guess it really depends on the way people find your photos and what their main interests are.

Blah

Mondays should be outlawed. I'm suffering from my usual "Monday jet lag". I've almost finished Pélagie this evening, but I'm not very happy with her, I'm dissatisfied with the things I've been making lately, I'm feeling blah.

Pélagie is because of the song in The young girls of Rochefort about the murder of Pélagie Rosier, an aging demi-mondaine cut in pieces by a spurned lover. Often when I make a doll and see all the parts lying about I think of this song. And if you haven't seen the movie, you should.

I decided to make her on a whim, because the pattern was in a magazine I got last Monday, because it called for Rowan coton glacé which I had in my stash, because I was feeling like watching Arsène Lupin DVDs (starring the one, the only, Georges Descrières) in the evenings (and I like to have something pretty straightforward to knit or crochet when watching films).

But the pattern had several errors in it ; but she's nowhere near as cute as in the magazine ; but I suck at embroidery ; but I feel like I've been wasting my time.

Sigh. Maybe when she has clothes on and a couple accessories I'll be happier with her.

As we say here, there are days with and there are days without.

Revelation

Totally fascinated by this demo on Whip up, I took the stole I began a couple of years ago out of its hiding place. I'm from the continent but always knitted the way shown at the beginning of the video, which is slow work. My mother knits "the continental way" but for some reason I didn't learn it. I remember learning to knit along with a cousin my age when we were small, and we both held the yarn with the right hand. A couple of times I tried half-heartedly to hold it in the left hand, but it was even more awkward and even slower so I gave up very quickly. Now that I know the proper way to do it...I will try again!

Miaougique

Miaougique's ball gown is finished ; it had been in the almost-completed stage for a long while, missing only the handbag which I made today.

I decline all responsibility for the blinding color of the dress ; it was selected by Puni. We didn't find any golden yarn, only fine golden thread which I used doubled with the pink yarn. I managed to make the necklace with the golden thread alone, but when I tried to crochet it to make the bag it soon became mission impossible so I used it in conjunction with the pink yarn again.

For those new to Miaougique, here's a repost from my old LJ diary:

"A few weeks ago I wanted to drop out of the rat race for a while, to make something not to show off but just to enjoy it. I went to town with Puni the week I was on holiday, and we went to the yarn shop to buy sewing thread. While there I also bought a kit to make a knit baby doll and its clothes. I had bought a kit for a larger knit doll a couple of years ago but had never made it. I started making the baby doll and then I remembered about this book I have. I found it at my parents' a few years ago and asked my mother to let me have it. I used to love that book when I was a child, it fascinated me. I took it from the shelf to look at it again, and found this paper I had forgotten about, where I had copied a pattern from the book.

I don't remember why I had copied it, maybe for my grandmother to make the outfit for me, or just because I loved to copy things from books I enjoyed. Strange to think this paper is more than 30 years old. I had this doll when I was small, my grandmother had made her for me, and I was cross because she didn't have enough pink yarn, so she had a yellow band on her torso, also her arm and legs weren't finished in a pointy way like in the book, but were sewn straight and flat. My mother and grandmother made some clothes for her and I remembered I knitted the slippers.

When I was a student I made one in white, my mother embroidered her face and made her hair, I don't know what happened to her. Maybe she was with the things I left with my then-BF when I went to Japan, as I broke up with him while I was over there, I never saw again the stuff I had left at his place.

Anyway I felt a strong urge to make this doll and her clothes for Puni, so I set aside the baby doll kit and made the doll and an outfit. I intend to make all the outfits from the book.

Puni is calling her "Miaougique", it's a word she heard in her Hello Kitty DVD.

The doll on the cover is in the "masterpieces" chapter of the book, and I thought she was unattainable when I was small - my mother couldn't crochet well and when I made the second doll when I was 18 or 20, I couldn't crochet either. So I'm definitely going to make Marie-Laure as well.

This book is from 1974, I was pretty sure I wouldn't find it online, but I did.

Poupées de laine

I found from this site that the author had written another book about yarn dolls, so I ordered it and it arrived today.

Poupées tricot

I don't like it as much as the other one, but it was interesting and a strange feeling to, like opening a time capsule."

Angel's nest

Father Winter has come at last. This morning I got up and went to the bathroom, whose window has wavy glass so you can't really see outside, but after a while I noticed it was abnormally white outside. I went to the corridor window overlooking the garden, and lo and behold, several inches of snow had fallen, the pine tree was groaning under the weight, and strong wind was blowing snow from the garage roof making it look like a blizzard. We don't have TV and don't listen to the radio, we look at the weather forecast on Internet only when we go on a trip, so this was a total surprise. I hope most of it will have melted by the time I go to Paris on Thursday morning. Here people are not used to snow so when it appears life comes to a standstill : cars are crawling, trains are delayed or cancelled, people arrive late at work. Paris without snow is enough of a hassle. It makes one wonder how they manage in Canada.

I was waiting with the camera when Puni came back from school, she was completely dwarfed by the whiteness of the garden around her.

On the other hand snow has the advantage of reflecting the light making it possible to take photos even on a cloudy day. I finally got around to taking daylight photos of my nid d'ange and listing it in my Etsy shop.

I made it by adapting a pattern from Marie-Claire Idées (Autumn 06). The pattern was baby-size so I made a swatch with my yarn and calculated the stitches. I added a vertical band afterwards for the buttonholes, this way I could knit without thinking of the buttonhole spacing and adjust the size to the doll.

The knitting part was easy, I did it while watching Bionic Woman DVDs, but lining the nest with fabric was another story, I wouldn't do it again in a hurry. In general I find lining a knitted or crocheted piece with fabric very troublesome. I embroidered the hearts and snowflakes afterwards, I find it easier and neater than jacquard (knitting with several colors).

I had intended to make a matching nightgown and stuffed toy, but I'm not into making doll clothes right now, and have a million other things I want to do, so I abandoned the idea.

Knitted gifts

I gave these things to my sister for Christmas. I made them with supplies from La Droguerie. I hadn't meant to buy any yarn when I went there last November in Paris, but I was tempted by the knits on display.

The collar is very easy to make, just a long rectangle gathered with a ribbon threaded through the middle. The fingerless gloves are not much more difficult, they're truncated cones knitted on 2 needles, then sewn together leaving a space for the thumb.

It was fast too since these things were knitted with 8 mm needles. I rather enjoy working in different scales, 0.75 mm needles for one project, 8 mm for another, it gives some variety.