CSI: Chicago Style
Much of my life has been spent in the Corridors of Law. On any given day, you might find me at one of the Federal, County or Municipal courthouses of Chicago, waiting with the rest of the Press Corps to advance *the Story* with a suspect, lawyer or witness by getting a picture and sound bite.
A day last week was no different, except something knitterly poked it’s fibery little head into the proceedings. Right before a Reporter was about to deliver his goods LIVE, he fumbled with his earpiece, that umbilical cord that connects us, almost anywhere we are to the mighty, omnipotent Control Room.
It seems the little bugger was all twisted UP! Someone standing near said loudly, “Give it to her, she’s a Knitter!” pointing to me, as I stood, standing by, behind the camera, waiting to go LIVE with said reporter.
I must say, part of me was pleased – recognition in my chosen field is rare and stingy – and within seconds, I’d unknotted the naughty cord and ON we went, to what I believed was the (silent) CHEERS of my live shot mates…
>>>>>>> Remember this? <<<<<<<
Ah, the back of a beautiful ribbon top, called the Red Chinese Style Sweater from Rebecca (Magazine No.26 September – December).
I started this in 2003, getting the *yarn* as a reward for the stupendous amount of overtime I worked during the Cubs Playoff Season. I found this piece the other day doing Inventory of Lost Projects in my stuff; there it was lurking in shiny beauty, begging me to finish it…
I picked this project because it was So Pretty, So Sophisticated, So Party Girl. I could imagine me wearing it on the slightly formal Holiday rounds (there I go Twirling onto the Dance Floor…)
It is made from a ribbon called Tiffany – deep scarlet, slubbed with black. It will be trimmed with gold. I won’t be able to put the flower stencil on it because even though I have the design, I don’t have the transfer paper that they use in Europe and couldn’t find a substitute anywhere here.
Ahhh, but those who will not LEARN from their mistakes are bound to repeat them! No sooner had I shot the above picture, and gotten out the needles to cast on, than much of that lovely ribbon spontaneously JUMPED OFF Its BALL!
All of a sudden, I had a mass, a PILE of ribbon everywhere on the floor, which then (and how many times has this happened to you?) snagged on my feet when I rose from my chair and was dragged across the room!
Hannibal Lector is ALIVE!
But who am I – why, that chick that unknotted the earpiece in the Halls of Justice, that’s who. Am I intimidated by some rampaging ribbon who refuses to do my bidding. NAY! I say. Bring It…
Out comes the ball winder, and onto a core the ribbon goes – half-way there any bigger ball bits on the floor start cannibalizing each other, merging into knots and blobs. NO WAY!, baby, this is the Fiber Bureau of Intimidation and you’re going on the ball winder. Standing, I will gently tease the blobs apart, shake them, jiggle and un-do.
And here Hanni-Ball lays, after twice winding (yes, it took 2 spins to get out all the teeth), now stuffed in its cardboard wrapper, secured in a ziplock bag, twisted-tied tight…
Now, the question remains, will it be done
in time for the Holidaze?
Cast-ON and Deliver!
Hi, Bonne,
I believe I have that stencil if you’d like it. Let me know and I’ll go rummaging.
all the best,
caroline
I think the stencil is up on the Rebecca website.
Good luck, Johanna
Thank you C & J! I actually have the stencil drawing itself – like what’s on the site. It was in the pattern book I have. What I don’t have is the color transfer paper they use in Europe.
I looked for something like it here – but the stuff I found required really high temperatures to apply. I was afraid I would melt the ribbon yarn – it’s made from nylon…
Bonne, there is a design that looks the same/similar at the Rebecca site.
There are both Mac and Windows versions of the zip file.
I downloaded the Windows version, and it unzips to a jpeg.
It seems to me that you could drop it into a stitch design program (I tried it with SMM – had to convert to a bmp and would need row/guage adjustment that I didn’t take the time to do) and go forward from there.
If you really want the design on the front, that is.
Just thought you might want to know.
Love your work!
vts
If you’re going to duplicate stitch the design on rather than knitting it in, you might want to look at a disolvable transfer medium like Solvy.
You can get it (or others like it) at a lot of sewing places.
No heat required, just baste in place and spritz away when you’re done.
vts
Oh that sweater is SO pretty! I know you can finish in time. :)
Ooooooo…me likey!
Good luck!
Right on, Bonne Marie! Boss that ribbon into submission. It IS gorgeous stuff and so is the sweater. Just the thing for the holidays!
Twirl on.
You are inspiring me to pull out my also unfinished plain-jane version of that sweater in black Cotton-Ease and give it another go. The front of it needs to be ripped back to just below the keyhole neck shaping and then the bitty cap sleeves and edging left.
I’m looking forward to seeing how your’s turns out for you.
hey miss… if you really want that stencil on, we can see if I can get or find you that special european only paper :)
I really want to see where YOU knit!
You’ll finish. It’s short-sleeved, after all! The worst part of the job has been made easy for you. :-)
Two words…rubber band! I’ve only used ribbon-style “yarn” for a scarf & a half but I found that a wide rubber band around the “ball” (mine came wound on a sturdy cardboard core) keeps the stuff fron sliippping away – every so often I take off the rubber band, unwind some and put the rubber band back on.
great idea putting the yarn in a bag
Does anyone know which issue of Rebecca this awesome sweater is from? THANKS!!!!
The Pattern is from:
Rebecca/GGH (Magazine No.26 September – December).
Model #17…