Sakuyo Bartram apron pattern from Internet Archives via NorthTipton website

I made a variation of this apron many years ago, when I was first learning to machine knit.  I flared the front bib by increasing each side as I knit to make it more of a pinafore shape.  I used a punchcard machine, and I designed my own punchcard pattern.  I was quite proud of it.  Sakuyo gave me permission through the Machine Knit list (hosted by Amy Stinson) to publish my variation of her pattern and photos. Sadly, Sakuyo has since passed on.

  I ran across her pattern recently on the Northtipton site on the Wayback Machine.  Since I've lost my version, I am sharing hers as a memorial.  I ran it past Amy and she agreed that it would be an appropriate memorial.    I intend to knit this again.  Once I do, I will share photos of my version and an updated pattern,

Apron with pockets and bib

by
Sakuyo Bartram

Feel free to rearrange this pattern to use only the portion of pockets and bib if you'd like to.

BARTRAMSB@aol.com

1. This is a wonderful apron pattern that can be made on either the standard or the bulky machine. If you are using the bulky, just reduce the number of stitches and rows by 1/2. I used 100 percent cotton so I can really wipe hand while cooking. it's a wash and dryable in a machines.

2. Recommended yarns other than 100 percent cotton, are Trenzado, or Trenzi, Cancun or 2 strands 1/14 acrylics.     Tension 6 or 7.           4 ply for the bulky. Tension 5-6.

3. Cast on automatic or EON 200 needles. Knit as many rows stockinette that your fair-isle design needs. For instance, if your fair-isle choice of the season needs 64 rows, then knit 64 rows plain stockinette. Knit 1 turning row with a tension 10.

Change tension back to main tension + . for a fair-isle.

RC-000. Knit 64 rows in fair isle pattern of your choice. (I used pattern # 71 from the StitchWorld). Hang hem. Knit 1 row with tension 8 on all needles which have 2 sts each. Change back to main tension.

Change the row counter to 64.

Continue to knit with main tension and a main yarn to row-200.

4. Take knitting off on waste yarn. Rehang onto 100 needles in this  order. 1 st, 2 sts, 3 sts, and repeat all way. This will create the gather. Knit at 2 tension tighter for the waist-band for approximately 28 rows.  If you want to add fair-isle to your band, do so in the first 14 rows.
Hang the hem and latch tool bind off.

5. TIE: Make two. Cast on 160 stitches automatic or EON. Knit 28 rows
and hang hem. Latch tool bind off.

6. If fair-isle is added to the ties, do your first band with 14 rows fair-isle,  and then 14 rows plane, and the second band 14 rows plane and then  14 rows fair-isle.

7. As an alternative, you could use 2 pieces of ribbon.

8. Sew ties into both ends of apron band.

Pockets:

After knitted 64 rows of a fair isle, and hang hem, put the carriage on HOLD,  and all the needles but 65 on a right side of the bed in to HOLD.

RC-000. Knit 1 row to the left. Put 25 needles on the right side into a HOLD.  Only keep 40 needles in work position for the pocket. Knit back to the right  1 row, but no wrapping.
Knit 58 more rows. RC shows 60 rows.

Knit 10 rows 1X1 or 2X2 rib, and bind off.

Remove from machine. Push back those 40 needles to "A".

Keep the Carriage on the HOLD and slide to the other side.
Repeat the same process from the first pocket instruction,
only reverse it.

Push the pockets away to the right side of knits and beyond the machine.
Pick up 40 sts from both bottom of the pockets to fill the sts. Take off the Hold from the carriage and knit 1 row.

RC- 64. Continue to knit with main tension and a main yarn till RC shows 200.

Continue the instruction from # 4 to finished the apron.

The Bib:

RC~000
Hang the front of apron waist band, wrong side facing you on to the 100 needles.
Knit 6 rows and decrease 1 st on both side, and knit 6 more rows, and repeat until row counter shows 108 and 64 sts remain on the machine.
Knit 10 rows of 1X1, or 2X2 ribs, and bind off. It's handy if you how to do rib bind off by hand. Ms. Norma's "That Final Touch" has pictures to show you how.

Make a stripe. Cast on 16 sts and knit 150 to 200 rows, and attach one end to the right top of bib.

Make a button hole on each strap  by sewing machine.
Sew two buttons, one at the end and another one about 3" below on bib.
Steam iron on all the parts, and sew the pocket's side seams onto the
apron to finish  it     Done!

Sakuyo Bartram

The information, patterns and images contained on this page are for personal use and may not be altered, converted nor uploaded to any electronic system or BBS nor included in any compact disk (CD-ROM) or collection of any type without the express written permission of Sakuyo Bartram

How much yarn?

I'm reposting this information from my old web page.  I had to go into the Internet Archive to find it.  I updated it to include the Craft Yarn Council descriptions which can be found here. 

Yarn Info

How much yarn to buy?   How much yarn do you buy to knit a sweater?  I guess the answer is really pretty simple:  or maybe not.  If you're in the store, and you see a yarn you absolutely have to have, buy at least a dozen skeins.  That's the simple answer.   The complicated one is buy pretty close to what you need.  I've compiled the information below from a lot of different sources and they didn't all agree.  I've tried to even out the numbers so they make sense.   So if your knitting pattern calls for a particular yarn or a particular number of skeins, please use it as the primary source for determining how much yarn to buy.  It always pays to buy 10 percent more than you think you will need.  You can always knit a hat or mittens or socks with the leftovers.  But, if you run out on the left sleeve, you're in trouble! Number of yards given is for a long-sleeved sweater.  You can subtract 10 percent for short sleeves or 20% for sleeveless.   Please note for special yarns like chenille or mohair, the length will be much greater per lb because of their great loftiness.  The cardinal rule is - ALWAYS make a swatch! The numbers given are a rule of thumb.   Variations can occur due to humidity, tension, type of yarn, and a hundred other factors. Approximate Gauge 4" 32+ s   x 24 - 32s x 20-24s x 16 - 20s x 26 r 12-16s  x 8-12s  x Needle Size 00-2 2-4 4-6 7-9 10-10 1/2 14-15 Cotton approx yds/lb 4200 2100 1260 840     Cotton 10/2 5/2 3/2 2/2 or 1/1     Wool approx yds/lb 6720 2800 1200-1800 1020 560 300 worsted(wool,acrylic) 1/13  or 2/24 2/13 , 3/15 , 1/5.5 2/7.5, 3/11 ,  1/3.5 3/6.4 , 4/8,  1/2 3/4 , 1/1 1/.5 Shetland Cobweb Lace Weight Jumper Weight 3 Ply yarn 4 Ply yarn Chunky Handknitting Craft Yarn Council     Baby or Lace             0 - 1 Fingering        2     Sport      3     Worsted      4 Bulky, Aran 4 - 5 Very Bulky, Icelandic     6 Infant 600 500 400 300     Toddler 800 700 600 500 400 350 6-8 1250 1100 950 800 700 550 10-12 1300 1200 1100 950 800 700 Teen 1400 1300 1200 1000 900 800 S 1600 1400 1300 1050 950 900 M 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 950 L 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 XL   2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 XXL or man's     2000 1800 1600 1400 ***Distelfink- or thistle finch, more commonly known as goldfinch, symbolizes good luck to German-Americans.  He is perched on a thistle, which is a symbol of hard work and perseverance. The goldfinch is a bird of the bright meadow, not of the dark wood.

 

Shout out to the Fuzzy Goat!

I ordered a "box of goats" from Fuzzy Goat Yarn shop in Thomasville, Georgia, after seeing a Facebook ad. The description on their web site was 

"Box of Goats is 31 whimsical surprises from Fuzzy Goat including pleasing yarns from Emma's Yarns and some indulgences just for you – a daily smile to delight you in December. Your box will include the 2020 Box of Goats pattern for one project, and 31 packages (one to open each day of December), including mini skeins to make the pattern."

It sounded like an Advent Calendar!  

So, it not only is a box of yarn, it is also a Facebook group and a Knit A Long.  (KAL) I am knitting on the machine, although it seems to be mostly hand-knitters in the group, and at least one crocheter.  The yarns are 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon.  It's a fingering or sock weight. 

The included pattern was for a scarf with a garter border and a simple pattern repeat. It calls for a size 7 needle, so the resulting fabric would have a lot of drape, as that is a fairly large needle for that weight of yarn.   It only calls for 42 stitches to be cast on.  This seems like it would be quite narrow, for a scarf.  OK, I can do the garter border by using the garter bar.  But the stitch pattern?  "Sl 1 wyif, K1"  Can't do that.  

A slip stitch with yarn in front is not easily achieved on the knitting machine, at least not on my Brother machines. I can do a slip stitch with yarn in back very easily, but with yarn in front?  I can't do this stitch on the machine. 

The skeins are each 40 yards long. The color names on the labels are very amusing.  

Today's is "Fun Guy" 

  So I have only opened the first 5, but I assume each one will be a different color.  So, I opened up Stitch World and started looking at the multicolor tuck and slip stitches. I thought about doing #306, which is frequently used for baby blankets, but I settled on stitch pattern # 308.  I decided to supplement the supplied yarns with one from my stash.  It is the same weight, I bought at Vogue Knitting conference when we were allowed to travel.  The label says it is from Carodan Farm and the yarn is Chincoteague Colors - Goldenrod.  I will use it as the background, ecru in the stitch world illustration. 

On my first attempt at this, I tried to follow the color changes per the stitch pattern design to use multiple colors.  But I did not have the pattern synched with the color changes, and after knitting almost 200 rows I realized that I was getting stripes on the right side.  After ripping all the way back to the garter rows last night, I decided it would be better to just knit the entire mini-skein all at once and then change to the next.  I'm on my third mini-skein now, and the scarf is about 2 feet long.  If I use all 15 mini-skeins, I will have a 10-foot scarf?  Here's my progress so far. 

I liked the Advent Box so much I went ahead and signed up for the Good Vibrations Tour.  Like I really need more yarn.  But these yarns are so nice, they are a pleasure to work with.  I hope they are doing a similar Facebook group with the Good Vibrations Tour. It is nice to see other people's work.