giveaway winner and some q & a

The random number generator said #16 so the winner of the giveaway is Dodi of the lovely new-to-me blog live, laugh, food, craft.  Congratulations Dodi and please email me your address so I can get the apron and wool out to you!   Thanks to everyone for playing along - I am truly touched by all the kind comments you left.

And Tracy of Bits of Everything please email me your address and I will send you something - not sure what yet but I was blown away by this comment you left on yesterday's post.  Tracy wrote:

"YEAH!!!! I was so excited when I saw this post. I have been working on this and wondered what the finished product would look like. Here is a pic of my strips. http://bellaandmolly.blogspot.com/2010/02/here-project-there-project-everywhere.html
I will have to let know when I get it done."

Yes, that's right, this woman trusted me enough to begin piecing even though I neglected to post what the finished quilt would actually look like until yesterday - how awesome is that!

And now for some answers to your questions...

1.  How do you prepare your chai tea?

First, it's important to use a good quality chai tea bag.  My favorite teas (that are available out here in the country) are Good Earth Chai, Tazo Chai, and Twinings Chai.  Fill cup 1/3-1/2 full of milk and microwave for one minute to warm.  Then place tea bag in the cup and fill to top with boiling water from kettle.  Let steep several minutes and sweeten with honey.  Enjoy!

2.  What fabric did you use for this apron?

This is a home decor weight Free Spirit fabric.  It's from the Prairie Gothic line by Jane Sassaman. 

 

What size is your deputy tote and will it fit standard sized notebooks?

Well, I totally forgot to mention that the finished size of this tote is about 13" x 13 inches and that it will fit numerous 8 1/2" x 11" notebooks. (see photo above)  I took this photo several weeks ago and since then I have finished reading the book Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson.  Nobody asked but just in case you were wondering it's a beautiful book and I really enjoyed it.

 

How do you get your sweaters to drape so well?

While the correct size is important, sweaters need to drape well in order to look good.  My favorite way to achieve drape is to use a thinner yarn paired with slightly larger than recommended needle size.  If gauge is too tight the resulting fabric will be stiff and even a perfectly fitting sweater will not drape well or look as good.  Having said that, I do the opposite for cardis.

Updated to answer yet another wonderful question I just received:  

- even though I use a one size larger needle, I still try to obtain stitch gauge so that the sweater fits.  But I do not worry about getting the row gauge perfect - mine is usually a bit bigger than stated in the pattern but I don't worry too much about this because I usually like my sweaters to be about 15 inches from the bottom to armhole shaping so I just knit until I get that length.  If I'm knitting top down, I just stop when I reach desired length.  If you are a very lose knitter you will not need to go up a needle size because then you may have holes in your sweater.

- I also usually go down one needle size for the ribbing.  This pulls the bottom, neckline and cuffs in a bit and creates a more tailored look. I did this with the Francis sweater above.

- another tip is to knit sweaters a bit shorter so that they don't drape way over the belly giving me that 'bump.'  Shorter sweaters visually "cut" the midsection in half making the not-so-flat-belly less noticeable.  If you do not know what I am talking about here - disregard this advice completely. 

 

Drape is not so good for a cardi because it causes the bottom corners to sag and pull.  For a cardi,especially this shalom cardi where the bottom edges are not supported by buttons, I achieved a tighter gauge by using thicker wool + thinner than recommended needles to get a thicker fabric with very little drape that kinda holds its own shape.  I use this as a general rule but remember there are exceptions to every rule - when in doubt, follow the pattern recommendations. 

 

What music do your kiddos like to make up dances to?

We listen to a lot of music but our favorite music to sing along with and make up silly dances to has been the Groove to the Music Backyardigans CD.  This disk covers all types of music including swing, jig, hip hop, salsa, country, zydeco and rock and is our family's favorite CD to dance to - silly or not.  Go take a listen for yourself.

Please remember that I am not a sewing, knitting, tea brewing, or silly dancing expert.  (hmmm,  well maybe I am a silly dancing expert!  I'll have to get back to you on that one.)  Anyhow this is just how I do things so take what you want and leave the rest - or better yet tell me how you do things differently.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Comments

[Denise]

i love your sweaters. they fit you so perfectly and apron too!

[Lisa Q]

congrats dodi! such good stuff larissa! have a wonderful weekend.

[Jodi]

Lucky Dodi! She's going to love the apron -- oh and the wool too. Have a happy weekend.

[Lynnette]

Your knitting suggestions are wonderful and helpful, than you.

[Julia]

That cardi is just amazing. Wonderful suggestions. And that fabric....thank you. I need some.

[Beth]

Thanks for the Chai Tea recipe. I've been curious about how it's made. I'm going to try it this afternoon!

[dodi]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Larissa! Just sent you a private message with all my particulars.

So excited to see what comes of the yarn! Decisions, decisions.... ☺

[Stephanie]

Thanks for the tips on sweater draping, I tend to knit and crochet very tight and all of the sweaters I've made Jackson so far are very stiff. This makes a lot of sense now. Love the sweaters you make yourself, so pretty, you have great taste in picking out patterns. When I finally get around to making myself my first sweater, I know I'll be coming to your blog to chose one to make. :)

[Karen]

I don't know how I missed your contest but since I did, I'll console myself with going back and reading all the comments and finding new blogs to read!

[Karen]

PS The Larissa comments on my blog are some of my favorites! Sometimes I want to write back and say, "That made my day!" (but I don't get your email address on your comments.)

[larissa]

Karen thank you! Your comment just made my day.

[Imene]

I love the Q&A session! I learned fantastic things about knitting and dancing ;o)

[Meg Evans]

Oh, lucky Dodi! The Q & A was great--I like your thoughts on what makes a sweater fit well.

[kristyn]

another post I have to print out! I think I need to start a binder of larissa's wisdom.
I always love the fit of your sweaters!! thanks for all the knitting tips!
and your fabric choices...the best!

[theresa/t does wool]

congrats to the winners!!
your sweaters look great...
and I need to make that apron...I do~

[jane]

Thanks for the tips on drape. I don't get too concerned about row gauge either. I just sorta wing that part of my sweaters.

[Ruth]

Great tips on the sweaters. I have wanted to try making one for so long but I chicken out. Your tips will be great if I am ever brave enough to give it a try.

I love chai tea, too. One of my favorites!!

Ruth

[Term Papers]

Such a creative post.

[Heather]

Thank you so much for all of the amazing knitting info in this post, I had never thought of half of this, and I wondered how your drape was so perfect.

[kaet]

ha! just scrolled down to this post and my chai tea making question is answered!

[Louis Vuittion handbags]

I think it's absolutely fantastic, and I'm very happy to announce some very exciting news, about buying cheap Louis Vuittion handbags.

[ugg shoes]

UGG boot designs real sheepskin is produced for years of use. Definitely, you've got to look after them. Cozy, cozy, but not waterproof. So tend not to make an effort to be dressed in boots on rainy times. Remember that washing your hands, these sorts of footwear and let them dry on the boots in such air. UGG range of patterns, heights and colors, generating Ugg Boots Discount fantastic possibilities for everybody. They might be offered in sizes of people, such as little ones, babies, guys and ladies. When it arrives to acquiring this boot is taken into account within the option of pairs of high-quality nursing put on for your toes.

[ugg shoes]

Ugg boots are well-liked for decades. Winter boots pilots who wore uggs to retain as comfortable as doable through the Initial Earth War, the Globe broad web users who use uggs loved the beach, girls commenced within the earth inside course of its rebirth in 2003, uggs, Ugg fans cover a extensive spectrum of people.