Bell Curve

Completed: August 2008

Pattern: Bell Curve, by Kira Dulaney, Knitty

Yarn: Berroco Sensuwool (80% wool, 20% nylon), #6538, 9 x 90yd/50g; #6531, 1 x 90yd/50g

Notes:
Those stars are pretty and very clever, but they are hard on the hands! Here are some things that might help make them a bit easier:

Use pointy, smooth needles if you have them

If you have interchangeable needles, switch out the left needle tip for something smaller. This gives you more room around the stitches to maneuver. Theoretically, you'll be okay gauge-wise since it's the right hand needle that determines the size of new stitches, but if you're nervous about it, you might go ahead and swatch the whole thing with a smaller needle tip on the left. Another option would be to slip the needed stitches onto smaller dpn's if you're not using interchangeables

use a crochet hook to form the new loops for the star.

My row gauge was way off, but it worked out fine since I was going to modify the rate of increases to create a slimmer shape anyway. The skirt is about 1-1/2" shorter than the pattern. At the bottom, I used a contrasting color--knit 1 round, purl 1 round, bind off in purl.