Hoya Multiflora and Easter Cactus

I knit a swatch from the cotton I had left from the kimonos. I washed it yesterday, measuring before and after. There's good news and bad news. The colors did not bleed, however the sample shrank lengthwise, from 6" to 5". This is not good because I think those kimonos are a little on the short side anyway. This will probably limit them to summer use, and maybe that will work out okay. On the plus side, the cotton softened up nicely.
I admit I should have swatched before I knit the kimonos, but I wouldn't have had enough yarn for two if I had. I will wash the swatch several more times, checking for fading and more shrinkage.


If I'm talking about swatches, why are you looking at tatt3r's houseplants? I put the swatch on my kitchen table and the flash bleached out all the color and definition. I decided to show pictures of my hoya multiflora. I am so excited to see it getting ready to bloom. It's also called 'shooting star hoya', and will have white and yellow flowers. I bought it in October '07 and it's doing very well.
I'm not sure where I got the Easter cactus. If it's from my paternal grandmother, who died in 1975, it's been around a long time. I can't remember when I got it, it's been sitting quietly in the corner for years. When it bloomed last year I was astonished to see it wasn't a Christmas cactus. I looked around on the internet and recognized the bloom of an Easter cactus.
It needs to be repotted, I think. When I watered it, I noticed that it took almost 30 seconds for the water to soak into the roots. It is very potbound, and I'm afraid I will overwater it and loose it. I took a cutting last month and saw new growth on it this morning. Diametrag says she needs to repot her Christmas cactus, so I think I will find a bag of dirt and do both plants. I need to do more research because all I have is African Violet soil and perlite. I think I should use orchid mix or maybe peat moss. I'm not sure. Help me out if you know what kind of mix I need for Christmas Cacti.

Sachiko Kimono - Yellow and Blue

The second Sachiko Kimono is done! I like the crisp contrast of the yellow and blue. I changed the diagonal decreases from garter stitch to stockinette stitch, and omitted the yo and the corresponding k2tog. The diagonals are still a bit short, but not as bad as the first one.

This is the last kimono until Bean makes his arrival. Then Diametrag can decide if a kimono is a good idea, and we'll finally know what size he needs for a summer outfit.

These little kimonos are the new 5 hour baby sweater. They take small amounts of worsted weight yarn, no fancy finishing, no buttons or buttonholes, and they are quick to knit! I spent more time weaving in ends than knitting sleeves. Perhaps if I had a proper sized tapestry needle, it wouldn't have taken so long. I need to go to the 5&10 and pick up one of those pink plastic needles, big eye and blunt ends.

I have another little green sweater I started, but it's not appealing to me right now. I'm not sure what I'm going to knit next. I may turn out the 2 pairs of slippers I promised my mom and dad. The 5&10 has Red Heart, hmmmm. It's a thought.

Sachiko Kimono - Done!

I ran out of Lentil earlier than I had hoped, but the sleeves don't look too odd. Bean won't care, and Diametrag is too sensible to be a fashion diva. If the sweater fits, Bean will wear it, I'm sure.

The diagonal on the fronts is done in garter stitch, and is very tight. This skews the whole thing, and I had to put the ties lower than expected. They should be placed where the sweater starts to decrease, but it is so tight, it's at least an inch away from the sweater edge. I hope it's a minor glitch in the over all picture. I have a plan that should correct that problem in the next little Kimono I'm knitting.

I have 3 more skeins of 1824 cotton, and it seems a shame to let them languish in my stash. I have two skeins of Maize and one skein of Sky. Oops. Maize and Blue is not a favorite color combination in Diametrag's house. (Go Spartans!) Well, the Maize is more of a creamy yellow and not a dark gold, so perhaps it would be best if I just don't mention the actual color name. Maybe Diametrag will regift it to someone who doesn't mind the colors.

Knitter's Details: Sachiko Kimono, 6 mos size, 3 skeins Mission Falls 1824 cotton, #6 needles.