Ladder wrap pattern

per Ravelry I am posting my ladder wrap pattern here :
CO 18 sts with 8 YO's (once every two sts)
1:(k2,yo)
2:(p2,yo)rep.
thats it and b.o. when the yarn ball ends.![alt text][1]


Also I am adding my pattern for Hot flames Man sweater:


I used one each of the classic wool. The flame design on the bottom is a reverse of the “hot rod socks” graph by PinkLemon aka Melanie Gibbons. It was the best one to match my husband’s flame cane. And I liked it much better than the ones I came up with.
on each piece you will leave off 2 sts on one end. hence 3.8 and 6.8 repeats on pattern
note this on your graph to keep the pattern in order.
Front C.O. 45 sts in red for FRS and FLS rep flames 2.8x . @ 17 in. B.O. 2sts (5x) over 10r K side for right and P side for left. @20.5 In. B.O. 1st (6x) over 12r, P side for right front,K side for left front. K four rows then B.O. or hold all(24sts)

Back C.O. 110 for back in red. follow flame patt. 6.8x
at 17in B.O. 10 sts on each side ;then 2 sts every opposite row(5x) continue to 22in you will B.O. for neck shaping:B.O. 8 sts, then 1 st(6x) left side then knit to 24 in. hold sts. (25 sts)
Sleeves : C.O. eight and knit 24 rows ,crochet seam to BLS and FLS with matching yarn ;each row to a b/f st. with one Bst. left>just st two tog.
P.U. sts around sleeve hole(75sts ttl.) on B&F knit in the round to 1in before wrist bone. begin: k1sl1 round, Kall round, repeat for 2 in. B.O.

Once sweater is seamed, add a 2-4 inch red bottom by:P.U. all bottom sts. (K1,Sl1),( P knit sts and knit sl sts. ) rep. 2 rows to prevent rolling.

the finished sweater will have a zip front and a k1sk1, p1 k1( as sleeves) collar for stiffness
and possibly side pockets If I can figure out how I want them.

UFO's

For some reason I cannot seem to get finished with my bikini bottom. Mainly because I cannot wrap my mind around how the pattern is supposed to make this tiny scrap fit over my rather round ass. Am about halfway through it, and that is: to the part where I am supposed to connect(i think) the legs/bum together and round them I want to add a few rows to be sure it fits. Then again I don't want it to be too large and make my ass look bigger and lumpier. Also the poncho I am making to go over said bikini is giving me trouble. Since I am making it from scratch I kinda forgot where I was going with it and fubar'd the half I already made, BUT I can't just unseam it because once i figured out that was all I'd have to do I also realized it is too short. It would be OK for a regular poncho @ 60 sts on 8mm, but I want it knee length so I can just wear IT over the suit and be appropriate if I see a Starbucks near-by. I just cannot do the teen girl walking in in flops and a teensy biki thing I see around here during the summer months. I mean REALLY who goes grocery shopping in a bikini top and daisy dukes?! IMO that's kinda skanktified. 'specially when one has a kiddo with them. I digress

I re-started the poncho on 9mm with (x4)80 st x 80R squares which hopefully will be enough. By gauge it should anyway. and then I'm BO about 10 sts at the top left (x2) and right(x2). Once I run out of skein yarn I'll frogg the failed one. because I really don;t want to deal with ripping and winding while amidst the projects and house stuff if at all possible.
I also got some more potting mix for topsoil to bribe some lettuce and tomato seeds with. I potted the tomato seeds, and the romaine I just put in the garden along the border of the collards I have already planted for the Guinea pigs. No one(human) in my house likes collards but me , and I only like them in my salad. We do however like lettuce. The caladium are sprouting root buds, so I haven't killed them yet. Basil, Oh my gosh, the basil on my porch. I have PLENTY of basil And something else in another pot, but I can't remember if it's the lavendar or chamomile, as I planted them both in it. I did the lavendar in early march, but when It didn't sprout I added some cham, because it ALLWAYS grows good for me. I usually can get at the minimum enough for a few pots of tea before the summer dries it all up.
other than that, the only news is Me trying to talk PG and Girly out of keeping a kitten. They want the cali, I want them ALL gone. Frankly I've had cats all my life, I am pretty much catted out. The thrill of the litter box has gone, along with the hope of ever taking a shower without the cat also wanting to take a stinky Poo at the same time. Oh and the small fact that I am allergic... But yes I suck it up, and take antihistamines...And hack...and do eye drops. PG on the other hand seems to (while I appreciate his thinking I am super mom)believe I can muster the energy to keep up with him, Girly, AND umpteen pets. Because we all know I will inevitably be the keeper of the litter and designated vet driver. No freakin way.

Abbreviations

In knitting and crochet there are ALOT of abbreviations. I have a habit of saying them in my head as I go to remember what comes next. Only I do it in a different way. ktbl= ktable, k2tog/p2tog= k Tog or p Tog(sounds like Dog) for k3tog and up I just think # and Tog.
slp(slip as if to purl)= spell, yes I know it's a bit backwards but if you say purl fast it's sounds like pell(at least here in the south)
st st I just cut down to SS
Giving them names helps me think faster than thinking letters. Of course the simple ones I keep the same, like K, P, beg,co, Bo, cab.
Right now I'm copying a pattern for goblet socks. And Oh my gosh it's a pain. It's not a wordy pattern which would make it easy to copy down in a notepad. It's one of those graph patterns that take forever to copy if you don't use graph paper. I'm the type of person where I can't visualise symbols as words. I NEED words to burn them into my brain long enough to write it down. Little circles and slashies do nothing for my noggin. I have a photographing memory with numbers and words, just not with graph stuffs, I think that was my biggest trouble in higher math, squiggles and pi signs don't stick well. So I sketched out the grph on a pad and am going to have to translate it to words so I can get it when I'm knitting it. Oh the sacrifices I will make to churn out a pair of socks. I want to wait to make them until I can get I nice wine coloured yarn, which I think would do them very well, or perhaps a golden and brown colourway...or gold and red and brown... I have some great yellow and green that I want to do a scaly dragon-esque or parrot like pattern with, but so far I haven't found THE ONE PATTERN that makes me say' WOW I could see that as the animal.' My cotton socks remind me of mermaids and the sea, I like that. I really enjoy a pattern that gives an image along with it. Not only is it functional, but also artistic as well. Something that will capture your attention and take you away to a magical place in your head.

Going Strong

During the mad rush yesterday PG and I got about half of Girly's room done, not counting the top border. Mr. expert told me to get masking tape for the borders....$1.99 Masking tape does NOT take the place of the $8.99 roll of PAINTERS TAPE. no matter how much you try and make it. SO now I have to get thinner to get the seep off the bottom border and door frame, as PG went slap happy with the roller, and forgot we had a BRUSH to get those pesky nooks. Yet MR. fire alarm is unscathed and carefully painted around... That's what happens when you marry a fireman. To hell with the doors, the fire alarm MUST NOT be teh pinks!!!On the positive side he actually likes the colour, just of course, not the Flatness of the paint. Which I expected, and it really doesn't bother me. I'm sure there's some sort of clear coat paint for walls , right? Cars have it, It would stand to reason walls should too. Why let cars have all the fun.
I finished up one of my Aunt purl socks at Sally's yesterday before the painting. I picked at the patttern a bit to make it fit me better. I am Never happy with a pattern, I MUST pick. Even though I should finish the other one, in all it's '80 style glory, ( I swear when I saw this thing finished I had flashes of crimped side ponytails, and madonna-esque gloves.)I'm not in any hurry to do it. It's warm as crap, but not something I would wear to market...unless It was on one of my grungy, nonmatching days. Which incedentally I am having today. Now I am working on a wrap in Patton's Divine Amethyst I need something fun and fancy to do. Plus it's insanely easy with K2, YF, rep pattern. I can't decide if I should try and sell it, then buy more to make me one, or keep it for myself...I really need to get up my stash for an online sale. Family keeps nagging me to do it. Really I just don't want the monotony of churning out generic pieces for the masses. I wouldn't mind so much if I just do unique ones, and tough cookies if someone wants one JUST like it in a week, unless they are going to front the money. Then of course I would'nt object:P

Poncho pattern

I am making this pattern after the fact, as I can't ever do a pattern when I am actually making the thing, I don't know why, I keep a notepad for just that reason.so any gaps, or errors please let me know and i will look more closely, also bear in mind I am a small person , so your particular size on this sould be determined by width around your shoulders for the body, and the difference between that and the size around the largest part of your breast area(with your arms crossed for more room, you will need a measuring friend!!) for the centre: any who: here goes: CO 138 in main colour worsted weight, on 6.mm for body
and 60 on 6.mm for centre.
Body:
feather and fan:
R1: K a row,
R2: P a row,
R3: K1,*(k2tog)3 times, (yo,k1)6 times, (k2tog)3times, rep from* to last st. k1
R4:K row(ws)

rep 1-4 rows: 4 times
then
R5:k row,
R6: P row,
R7: K1 , (yo, k1)3 times, (k2 tog)3 times, then rep.from row 4 after *
hint: for every k2tog, you should have equally a YO,k1. So if you end with say the last k2tog's and have three sts left you can either (a) k all sts, OR (b) k2tog, yo K last. as long as your yo's and K2tog's are equal it's all good.
R8:K a row(ws), Repeat 5-8: 4 times.

~if you want a longer poncho you can rep from 1-4 again or 1-8 depending on how long you really want it. each 4x rep of 4rows is 2 1/2" at the high peak, and 3 1/4" at the low(longest) point

after the last repitition's Knit on wrong side row, stockinette from your upper breast to collarbone. for me:four and 1/2 inches,
this would be the time to seam in the centre: on (looking down at in your lap)left side of centre to right side of body. Hold them right side to right side and SC in them both on the last st of every row(that you can get). Or the good ol' needle seam works too, either or.

Centre:
follow pattern of body untill 8 rows into the stockinette,
row : continuing in stockinette, dec by(k1, k2tog)every right side row until you reach 20 sts(or one third of the sts you cast on). on a p row hold 'em on the needle and SC down side and back up to the top.now you can tie off now you have 22 sts to do :to the bulky below after seaming together with the body.
( you will place the buttons after the holes, unless you want them closer together, or are using smaller buttons I'm using ones the size of quarters)

now tie in your new bulky colour yarn. : k a row, p a row, P a row(RS), 5 rows of stockinette,
then R9:(p one , p2tog)
k row, P row,
R12: (k1, k2tog) K row, p row
R15: (k1, k2tog ) stockinette four rows.BO

buttonholes : on left side of body(looking down at it): sc to about the5th row(I added an extra button, told ya I knitpick) ch, 5, sc to the 14th row ch5 tightly, sc up to one inch into stockinette, ch 5, sc to four rows from top of main colour, ch5, sc up to bulky, sc all the way back down and tie off, and weave in ends. (this for me actually aded up to chaining every tenth Sc as I skipped a few rows and just used larger Sc since I couldn't fit the hook in some of the tighter rows)
Start on Right side bottom of bulky: sc3, ch3(button holes), sc in 2nd row,rep two more times, sc around top and back to bottom of bulky yarn. Hold together as you would wear it andput the buttons over the holes, poke the buttons strings through through the holes and sew/knot on to the button side:)that way they will be straight and dead on the holes That I think should be it. It's long enough to reach my elbows, but short enough I can wear it while doing the dishes and not get it too terribly wet.( how horribly martha!)
With some of this stuff, like the way to make button holes or the how to of putting on the buttons, seaming, is really no big deal to do it your own way, these are just ways that are easier for me. I hope I have been inteligible. I will go over this A few more times in the next few days to make sure I've been thourough, as this patern writing is a new thing for me, so I want to be the utmost of clear I can be.