Burburry Paid Forward

 

I had plenty of Lion Brand Chunky yarn from the Robin's Egg Hat project for my friend, Tracey.  I realized the best use for it would be to make something to go with the hat.  I found the "Burberry Inspired Cowl" on ravelry.com.  It called for a silky yarn in a solid, but I'm very happy the way this turned out.  It's a very easy pattern to knit up.  You cast on 58 stitches in a provisional cast on and knit one long strip.  There are 16 stitch cables within the pattern to give it a "stacked" look.  This was not the first time I had done a provisional cast on.  I did use a super chunky yarn along with the working yarn.  If I were to do this again, I'd to the provisional cast on with two needles together.  By doing this, the live stitches at the bottom would be easier to pick up when you're done.  I thought it would call for a three needle bind off to connect the ends, but it had me do a kitchener stitch instead.  It was tedious, but worth the work when I saw the finished result.  I can't wait to give this to Tracey!!!

It's Hip to Knit Hats

Through Ravelry I have discovered the hat designer Wooly Wormhead.  This designer makes the coolest hats.  The minute I got some extra money, I was purchasing four patterns from this designer.  This hat "Buzzba" is a cool earflap hat.  As usual, the picture doesn't do the pattern justice.  I knit it up Paton's Classic Wool, worsted weight with size 7 needles.  The pattern was very easy to follow and I was able to finish this project in just one evening.  It came in many sizes from child all the way to adult.

I did have to spend some time weaving in the ends, but it was well worth the time.  I have worn the hat to work and have received many compliments on it.  I am definitely going to be following this designer for more cool ideas. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like....................

I don't usually consign, but when my co-worker asked me to do this for her, I couldn't resist.  Her daughter and partner had just adopted a beautiful baby boy and for their first Christmas with baby Jones, who could resist these cute stockings.  

I'm not sure where the pattern came from, but they worked up very easy.  After all, their just large socks.  However, I had one complaint; one stocking had a cool nordic snowflake design, but the pattern wasn't included in the pattern.  I had to search on ravelry.com for a nordic design.  I was having so much trouble doing the duplicate stitch that I just gave up and put a patchwork design on top, making a little pocket.  I think it looks rather nice.  

The name was to be embroidered, but I have no patience for that.  What I did instead was make a long, thin i-cord and tacked the name onto the stocking.  It's not perfect, but it's better than anything I could embroider.  I am hoping that the stockings are enjoyed for years to come.

For Tracey

I have a coworker, Tracey who is constantly giving me yarn.  God Bless her sweet mom who forgets all about the purchase.  As a result, Tracey ends up giving me the yarn.  I can see that her mother still has a good eye, because I absolutely love the colorway of this Lion Brand Chunky yarn.  

Instead of doing more squares, or something for myself, I figured I'd pay this "pay it forward" backwards - so to speak.  I made this hat from the Robin's Egg Pattern from ravelry.com.  The original pattern called for a (who knew) robin's egg blue chunky, but it works with almost any colorway.  Again, with most of my hats, the challenge was to find a cool button to go on the hat.  As luck would have it, Joanne's Fabric came to my rescue.  Another $2.00 button that is just as fashionable.  

Anyway........the recipient of the hat, Tracey, absolutely loved it and modeled it for me tonight.  Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to get a picture.  She looked lovely in it.  I plan to continue to knit like a "mad hatter" by doing some cool wooly wormhead patterns that I just purchased.

Brattleboro Hat

I had some leftover Paton's 100% Wool yarn that was left over from Alexandria's Blanket.  I have always wanted to make this Brattleboro Hat from Interweave Knits.  The photo is from my iPhone and really doesn't do justice to the sage colors of the hat.  The picture in the magazine was more of a minty green, but I prefer the sage green instead.  The buttons, which were a perfect match were found at Joanne's Fabric for about $2.00.  I can't wait for the opportunity to wear this!

Sockdown 2013-14

Let's face it. I love knitting socks.  It's my most favorite thing to do. It offers me the most variety and challenge in what I feel is a relatively short project.  I always get compliments on my knitted socks.  Even though I haven't completed my goal of the Cookie A Sock Innovation project, I have decided to try my hand at the Sockdown 2013-14 on ravelry.com.  Every month for a year, you are given a color theme.  You can knit their mystery pattern or "mock," choose your own pattern or a pattern from one of their suggested designers.  Participants are not allowed to cast on until the first of the month and must have their project completed by the end of the month.  This is a great motivator to get your project done.  

Since the September '13 theme is "tropical," I chose this beautiful colorway from Knitpicks.  Chroma Fingering is a 70%/30% wool blend and feels great.  The colorway, "Lollipop," has a great mix of yellow, green, rose, orange, and a bit of light purple.  It reminds me of a summer fruit salad.  

For the pattern, I am choosing the "Magic Mirror" pattern from Jeannie Cartmell, one of the chosen designers.  It's a great asymmetrical pattern which includes techniques such as a turkish cast on as well as a short row heel.  These are two techniques that I have yet to master.  This pattern can be found on ravelry.com for free.  I will use size 1 bamboo needles for the project and will be casting on tomorrow.

Here we go........

An Old Favorite for Vacation Knitting

I began these socks while I was home on vacation in Tennessee.  The "Jaywalker Sock" pattern is a very good beginner pattern for the new sock knitter.  The yarn used was some wool/bamboo blend that had been given to me a while ago through a swap.  The original idea was to use this yarn to make Cookie A's "Monkey Socks."  I didn't like the self striping pattern of the yarn because it detracted from the pattern of the "Monkey Socks."  The yarn is super soft and feels great against my feet.  The socks could have been more stretchy, though.  I can see me whipping these up for a swap or a quick gift.

Sock Innovation - Rick

It's been a while since I've been working on the Sock Innovation Project.  A January surgery as well as full time classes sidelined me from working on the project. 

I made these Rick Socks with a nice red/orange colorway.  I like how the "racing stripes" came out.  The pattern was easy to work up.

In hindsight, I wish I had waited until my shoulder had healed more before I started the second sock.  The first sock was pre-surgery and the second-post surgery.  You can certainly tell which is which.  The second sock is a lot looser then the first.  While I do plan on doing this pattern again, I am tempted to rip out the other sock completely and start over.  We'll see if I have the nerve to that.  Coming next, Milo....................

Aubrey's First Birthday

When Aubrey's first birthday came around, I couldn't resist making "Flo the Elephant."  

This pattern is free the e-zine knitty.com and I have listed the link at the bottom of this post.  It calls for 100% Worsted Weight Wool.  Luckily I had some Paton's Classic wool left over from my "Alexandria's Blanket."  The pattern is very easy to follow as well as easy to work up.  As you can see, you knit up the separate pieces.

Once the pieces are done, you begin sewing it together.  At first I was a little apprehensive.  I don't know anyone who likes assembly.  However, because you do it a little at a time, it's not so bad.  Because it's a straight garter stitch pattern, it's easy to use the mattress stitch which gives you almost seamless joins.  You first sew the back down to almost the end of the trunk, then stuff the trunk.  Then you assemble the underbelly to the body and stuff some more.  You then sew up the legs and stuff again.  Once it's all assembled, you attach the pads of the foot the ears.

I used regular qualofill for the stuffing and you can really pack it in.  A good tip is to keep stuffing so that it can stand alone.

Once you have it all assembled, then you can add whatever embellishment you want.  You can attach flowers, or an initial in any complimentary or contrasting color.  I used some nice heathered blue from Paton's Classic Wool (again, left over from a previous project).  I used a blanket stitch around the feet and ears and a satin stitch for the eyes.

I just can't wait to present this to Aubrey's parents.  I have already received many compliments on this project and will probably do it again.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEff10/FEATff10SIT.php

International Exchange Rate

One of my favorite swaps on Ravelry is the International Scarf Exchange.  I love creating for someone else and can't wait to see what I get in exchange.  My partner in this exchange is in Dover, Tasmania in Australia.   
The "Lace Ribbon Scarf" pattern is from the Spring 2008 issue of knitty.com and made with Deborah Norville fingering weight sock yarn.  I love the blue and green colorway.  I wanted the colors to represent the color of the ocean.  The scarf was an easy pattern to follow and work up.  

The length of the scarf ended up being 82".  The design of the scarf is for the wearer to be able to wrap it around their neck and have length left to drape down.  My swap partner loved her scarf.  Below is the beautiful scarf from her.  It was made with hand spun merino from Tasmania.

 I love the colors and it looks great against my forest green jacket.  Although it is merino wool, it is very soft and subtle.

Last Minute Christmas Scarves

These Keyhole scarves are were made this Christmas for my mom and sister.  It was a free pattern provided by Koigu and requires around 100 yards of fingering weight yarn.  The pattern doesn't specify a needle size, but I used a Size 7.  

The scarf on the right was made from Online Supersock which was leftover from my first pair of knitted socks.  The scarf on the right was hand spun merino wool that I had purchased in Lancaster County, PA a few years ago.

The pattern was very easy to follow.  The only difficulty was dividing the stitches to make the "keyhole" portion.  However, even a beginning knitter can accomplish this project.  The pattern was a simple rib, but I can see how you can modify the scarf with different rib patterns.

I love the way both scarfs knitted up.  It was interesting to see how different yarns created the same scarf, but with a little twist.