zeebee beanie

My zeebee beanie is finally done. I finished the knitting part at my usual pace and had fun with the short row technique. The construction of the hat is fun to watch develop as you knit. I also like the look of the completed crown. But I took weeks to get up the nerve to graft it together. If you read schmeebot's instructions on finishing this may make sense to you too. For me, I start quivering when I read, "should you stumble and mess up the last stitch." It doesn't much matter what comes next because all I feel is fear. My head knows this is silly. I mean, making a mistake while knitting will have very little lasting effect on my world. In fact I can always frog away and try again. Yes, my head knows this, but for my heart it's different.

If you are thinking of making a zeebee too, let me tell you, my heart was wrong! The finishing was fine, not perfect, but fine. schmeebot's writing assumes you are a knitting neophyte and therefore goes into great detail.

It is true, however, I had never done a garter stitch graft/Kitchener stitch. Now that took me some time to figure out. I started with the reverse stockinette graft two times before I finally figured out how to do do a garter graft/Kitchener Stitch.

I thought I would share my findings with you so that you too can do a reverse stockinette, AND garter graft/Kitchener Stitch! First I have embedded a YouTube video of the stockinette graft/Kitchener Stitch (for those of you struggling to teach yourself this stitch). For those who are already comfortable with this stitch scroll down to my table the shows you the differences between the graft stitches.

Grafting / Kitchener Stitch Table

Type	Prep stitches	Front Needle (1st)	Back Needle (2nd)
Stockinette	F - S1: aitP*on; B - S1: aitK*on	S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on	S1: aitP off; S2: aitK on
Reverse stockinette	F - S1: aitK on; B - S1: aitP on	S1: aitP off; S2: aitK on	S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on
Garter**	F - S1: aitP on; B - S1: aitP on	S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on	S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on
F = front needle; B = back needle; *aitP = as if to purl; *aitK = as if to knit; ** For this to work, ensure purl bumps are snug up against the front needle, and knit stitches are against the back needle. Repeat as needed! Picture of my zeebee beanie to follow. This beanie is supposed to be for me, but it doesn't suit my large melon head! So this zeebee will have a very limited life. But I am certain there will be other zeebee's in my future!

zeebee photos

Pattern: zeebee beanie

Designer: schmeebot

Yarn: Posh Yarn's "Love is..." colourway, in Eva 8 ply (aran weight) 45% cashmere, 55% silk

Needles: 4.5 mm

Techniques: provisional cast on, garter stitch, short row shaping, garter stitch grafting

More pictures: click here

Multi-tasking

	I love tea and I was lucky enough to get a Brown Betty Teapot! It makes such lovely tea. One thing though, it cools off if we take our time drinking it. The solution, of course, is to make a tea cosy. And I have done it (Emu, No. 6196 - Striped Cosy with Pom-Pon). My love is teasing me that I now have truly become an old fogey! I will take pictures soon. / I tried the pom-pon but did not like it. Instead I crocheted a modified Bachelor's Button. I also crocheted a hot pad for the bottom of the teapot. / The yarn I have used is Patons Shetland Chunky - Earthy Brown and Canyon Variegated from my stash. / I had purchased this yarn for another Pick-up Diamond Helmet, Knitter's Magazine K77, Winter 2004, p. 46 (the one pictured here is also knit with Patons Shetland Chunky) but to make the tea cosy instead.
	I am also doing more work on my Reversible Cable Knit Scarf. I am loving it. (Sorry, this is an old photo.)
	I have started the Catalina Shawl with Fiddlesticks Garnet Lace yarn. It is 50% silk and 50% merino wool. This is my first lace project and there has been a steep learning curve. I think I have had to rip out at least 5 times! I am making headway now. Pictures are coming.
	After seeing Jared's zeebee and garter stitch scarf I knew I had to make one too. (see his entries for 5.29.2007 and 6.07.2007) I am making my own with Dee's Posh Yarn, Eva 8 ply cashmere & silk in Love is... colourway. Truly luscious!
	And I have added another project to my list (the only one I will admit to today). I want to make a Clapotis wrap in Hand Maiden fine yarn, Lady Godiva, Renaissance Colourway. I bought this yarn from an American shop (lovely to do business with them) and had to pay duty when it arrived (ouch). And it burned all the more when I found out that Hand Maiden fine yarn is hand dyed in Canada!

I have not touched my Autumn Afternoons Cardigan since March...