Rosemal Hat and Mittens

I got the latest issue of Knitter's Magazine, and was not very impressed. Several of the patterns were for items I had actually seen in person at last year's Stitches. It is more than a little weird to know that the items you are seeing in a brand new magazine you get in the mail you have actually TOUCHED. And some of them were much scratchier than any garment I'd wear. Just sayin'.

Anyway, just as disappointment set in, I saw Rosemal. A darling mitten and hat combo made from Mission Falls 1824 Wool. I don't own any of that yarn, and loved the particular color combo shown in the magazine, so I have managed to find most all the colors and am ready to make them.

Meanwhile, I couldn't wait for all that so I started them in dk weight, using leftover Rowan Pure Wool dk from my mom's cardigan I made for Christmas last year.

They fit Grace and were tons of fun to make. All those colors, the embroidery and the fair isle made for some quick and entertaining knitting. The weaving in of the ends was a pain though, over 30 per mitten.

She loves them!

Words on Mittens, Pumpkins on Socks

I finished my Prayer Mittens! Yay me! (too much Disney Channel) Now I can move on to the next in my mental list of things I gotta knit. Xmas knitting is on agenda, as is the felted purse I saw in Interweave Felt. First I have to wind the 6 skeins of yarn....

I'm also working on my little pumpkin socks. This pattern is so easy that I can knit it without the pattern, so it is the perfect take along project. It has gone everywhere too. Lots of waiting opportunitites. I am very close to the heel flap, this photo is a few days old. I LOVE this yarn. This is Janice's French 75 yarn in "pumpkinhead" and the colors are so deliciously fall I am enjoying knitting this sock tremendously!!

In other news, yesterday was a day off of school that we ALL had off. Except Maurice, who was busy breaking his finger at the gym (ow). Since the fair ended Monday, and Disneyland wasn't in the picture, we ended up going up to the pumpkin patch and the movies.

The scarecrows were more realistic than the talking chihuahuas.

Mittens and Socks

My Jared mittens haven't been going well. I find the Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light to be VERY splitty and the alpaca fuzziness really obscures the pattern. I've decided they need a trip to the 'ole frog pond, and I will start again with some nice smooth Dream In Color Smooshy in a nice shaded solid brown.

But that is on hold while I work on other mittens. I have actually been planning these for some time - I had my friend Angela dye the yarn and I had to do the chart for them on the computer and get it all set up. They are the Poetry Mittens from Piecework Magazine. Instead of the poem the article used I put the Hail Mary prayer on them. They are for my daughter's teacher for Christmas. This year my daughter has her First Communion and she has a very special teacher, so I wanted to do something nice.

The first one is done - and it is going pretty well. They seem very long, but they do fit my hand quite nicely. Hopefully she doesn't have tiny hands.

I've got another First Communion project brewing in my mind. I'm thinking of knitting a lace veil for Grace to wear. I have been looking on Ravelry and found two different examples, one which uses a pattern from the Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting by Marianne Kinzel. I think I'm going to combine the cross panel of that one with some other lace patterns and create something new.

I did finish my Navajo socks too. They went off to be sold at the silent auction at Emily's school. I did get two new skeins of sock yarn from Janice of French 75 fame and I will turn one of them into the little pumpkins socks I saw on Ravelry. Those will be my halloween socks.

This is the time of year where I start my stealth knitting so I will give peeks here but not many details. My gift receivers aren't on Ravelry, so details will probably go there. I spend a lot of time favoriting and queuing over there, and I am starting to lose track of what my real "queue" of items I have to make is. There is the "want to make it queue" and the "someday I'll make this" queue. Wonder if everyone has that problem?

Bits and Pieces

I started a new Jared Flood pattern - Druid (Green Autumn) mittens from Vogue Knitting. Lots of cables, bobbles, interesting stitch patterns. Just love his patterns, as you may have noticed. I'm using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in a nice chocolate brown that matches my Celtic Cable Neckwarmer of not long ago. The only problem thus far is the alpaca is fuzzy and obscuring the pattern goodness. I don't want to stop and change yarn, but I may want to make this pattern again out of something that will show off the pattern more.

I am also making a pair of plain socks, just 'cus. These are out of True Love Fiber, in the Navajo colorway. It is striping nicely, and I like the red/turquoise combination. These I'm planning to donate to Emily's school's silent auction. I donated a pair of socks last year and they asked me again, so here I go.

I got the new Debbie Bliss magazine, and it is NICE. Then the new Knitty for fall was up, and there were lots of nice patterns there. Then I got the Interweave FELT issue, and there is this stripey purse....I'm suffering from too many patterns, not enough time syndrome. This week has been crazy busy and the knitting time is taking a huge hit. Sigh.

The Stitches West 09 brochure is up at their website, and I'm all decided on what I want to sign up for. Last year I took the "heavy hitters" meaning Cat Bordhi and Lucy Neatby, and this year I seem to be more interested in the techniques classes, like short rows, and cables, and finishing, and stitch patterns. Nicky Epstein is going to be there, and maybe I can get into one of her classes. The one on knitted edges and flowers looked fun. Registration is Wednesday morning. Wish me luck!

Actual Knitting Content

Yes, it is true. I have been knitting, and therefore neglecting the computer, and most definitely neglecting the photographing of the knitting.

But, it is a rainy day and things are starting to come together for these few things I am doing for Christmas. I don't have time these days to knit everything I want to for gifts, so I chose a few select smaller items.

First, for Gary, some Dashing fingerless mittens. Don't know if he will really want them, but he can always give them to Carey. Or just pretend. I'll never know. They were fun to knit. And they fit me really better than the ones I made myself last year.

Then, for Lisa, the black hat for her trip to England. She has promised to photograph it in a very cool location for blog purposes, but for now we will see it displayed on Alex's head. Sorry Lisa, but he did wash his hair this morning! As you can see, it is another Koolhaas Jared hat. Go Jared! Create more hats! Love them! I am a little tired of the crisscrossing thing though, since I did it about 3 billion times with black yarn, but that feeling will be a distant memory soon.

Now, there are a few more things on the horizon that I have not posted here yet, but will post some of them to ravelry. Sneaky that ravelry thing, being in beta and therefore easy to hide photos of presents from those not on ravelry. Anyway, if you want to see them, I'm yarnpaperscissor.

Next on the List

I'm on a roll. Next up is Dashing, a pair of "manly" fingerless mitts for a guy who drives a lot. Hmmm.... wonder who that could be.

Started them last night, and they are going quick. Should have one done today. Don't you love school vacation?

Improvisation

If your name is Jean and you live in Wisconsin, do not read this post. God is watching you.

My Koolhaas hat is done. And quite lovely too, if I say so myself. My crush on Jared Flood is going strong. Hopefully Jean will like it. It is her color, periwinkle, and the pretty TrueLove Fibers yarn feels very nice.

Don't you think she needs a pair of mittens to go with it? I do. Problem, of course, is that there is no pattern for the Koolhaas mitten. So I made it up. I've made up things before, but this one I'm particularly proud of, since it was a little more complicated.

Since I in no way want to infringe on Interweave Knits or Mr. Flood, I won't claim this is my pattern, but here is how I did it:

Cast on 48 stitches on #5 needles. Do 2x2 rib until you like it. Do one more round, switching to #7 needles. I used the magic loop with Addi Turbos since I couldn't find my Knit Picks Options needle tips in size 7. Probably on something else I have forgotten.

Anyway, start the Koolhaas lattice pattern for two rows. Then start thumb gusset as follows:

Gussett round 1:Knit needle one in pattern. On needle 2, knit 11 in pattern, place marker, k1 f&b, k1 f&b, place marker, knit in pattern to end of row.

Gussett round 2,3,5, and 6: knit in pattern

*Gussett round 4: Needle one knit in pattern. Needle 2: knit 11 in pattern, slip marker, k1 f&b, k2, k1 f&b, slip marker, knit 11 in pattern.

*Gussett round 7: Needle one knit in pattern, needle 2: knit 11 in pattern, slip marker, k1 f&b, knit 4, k1 f&b, slip marker, knit 11 in pattern.

continue increasing like this every third round until you have increased a total of 8 times.

*Note: the pattern stitch right before and after the marker was knit through the back loop most of the time, and crossed when it made sense. This is why I don't write patterns for a living.

Next round: knit in pattern to first marker, remove marker, slip stitches onto waste yarn, remove second marker, knit to end of round in pattern.

next round: when you get to thumb gap, cast on 2 stitches using backward loop method to allow for pattern to flow right.

Continue in pattern until you have completed chart a total 4 times, do row 1 again, then follow the hat pattern for the decreases.

Pick up thumb stitches and knit in stockinette until long enough, decrease a while and end.

Easy as pie! Thanks Jared!

Anemoi #1

The mitten is done. It is too big.

They have disaster written all over them.

Pattern - fine. Knitting - fine. Yarn - not good. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby. It fuzzed out too much, and didn't keep the distinct colors very well. It would not wear well. Disappointing.

Gauge - WAY off. Should have used a size 1 or 2 needle. I think when I started the first time I should have stretched the ribbing out and it would have fit. I didn't and then switched to bigger needles and that was a mistake. The row gauge is off more than the stitch gauge. They are mittens for vikings.

They will be back, not right now, but at some point they will return, lovely mittens for normal handed folk. Trust me.

Furry Finishing Friday in February

Cuppy and I got down to business and finished the corded bag I knitted a few weeks ago. I tend to put off sewing, but today got busy and added a lining and zipper to create a fabulous bag that I can use for makeup or knitting goodies or something.







Cuppy thought the lining looked great.


For some reason, she hasn't left me alone all day and really wanted to be my model.















Remember the fabric from Tracy's bobble bag? So frugal, I am.

Check another thing off the finishing list.

On the Anemoi mitten update -- I got home from the kids orthodontist appointment (Alex gets his braces off next time!) and was missing a needle. Argh. Fixed that situation this morning, so I'm off and running (or knitting) again.

I have also been working on my swatches for homework for Stitches. Not hard, just need to get them ready. I'm SO excited.

Tracy, Mom, and I (Crafters Gone Wild) got together yesterday and played with felt. I'm close to finishing a little needle holder that I will photograph soon. It is cute!

Round 2

I ripped. I started over. This time using size 4 needles. I can get it over my hand now, and am wondering if it is too big. We'll see after a bit. If it is I will probably live with it since the cuff fits fine.

As you can see, I switched the colors.

So far, the fair isle chart is going fine, even though the back side of the mitten is not symmetrical so you have to pay attention. The palm of the mitten is a very easy repeat pattern, so it all evens out.

I'm now worried the red is going to bleed into the white. Never a moment without anxiety. I have no experience with red Debbie Bliss, and I guess I could have "washed" the yarn before knitting, but that seems more than a little complicated and it also sounds like a giant knotted mess waiting to happen. I'll live on the edge and hope.

Oh, What to do...

I started the Anemoi Mittens. The directions are very detailed, and this is not the simple pattern you find in a magazine. It calls for things I have to look up to figure out. I first looked up the tubular cast on, then gave up on that and did my regular long tail cast on and it looks fine.

It calls for size 0 needles to do the cuff with. I am making a size large, since I have big hands, and the body is supposed to be size 2 needles. Since I am lazy by nature, I didn't swatch, it is a pain to do in the round, and I figure jumping in and starting is just as good as swatching. Right? It's only a mitten. I figured size 0 for the cuff would be too small, so I started with 2's. I'm using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. It seems thicker than I thought it would be and the band calls for size 3's.

The cuff uses 2 colors and with the red and white I chose, looks pretty good. Very candy cane like. However, it is too small. With the stranded two color ribbing, it doesn't stretch much, and I can't get it over my hand. Here is my dilemma. Do I--

1. Rip the entire thing out and start over using 3's or 4's?


2. Keep going and give them to a small handed person? (who?)


3. Keep going and use them as a Christmas decoration (they are cute)

I'm leaning towards ripping the whole thing. It took me about 2 hours to do the cuff, slower because of the fiddling with the two colors. I'm not anxious to rip, but maybe I ought to bite the bullet.

Here goes.

UFOs and Monkeys

I'm finishing the watermelon cardigan. It is not exciting me terribly, but I need to get it done. Small unfinished objects are easier to ignore. Large ones are a monkey on my back, nagging at my soul until I finish them. This cardigan has been eating away at me very slowly, for a year.

It is almost done. As you can see, the pieces have been finished. I need to block them, then sew them up. The pattern was from Better Homes and Gardens Knit It! Magazine and it called for Fun fur at the neckline. I am very over fun fur, so it will get a few rows of garter to match the border edge. The pattern also calls for ties at the front. I am going to try for a zipper. It is pretty heavy, so I think a secure closing makes more sense.

I finished the pieces late last night and this morning was Knotty Knitters, and I am still procrastinating with starting the Anemoi Mittens, so I started a pair of socks. I know, I know. Wanna hear about the socks?

I am making Monkey, by Cookie. Very cool pattern so far. So logical, so straightforward. Lace that makes sense. Isn't that nice? The yarn is Tofutsies, by SWTC. It is superwash wool, cotton, soysilk, and chitin, which is made from shrimp and crab shells, and is naturally antibacterial. It is the most fun combo of colors. The sock thus far is sort of half blue/purple and half green/pink. Not a sock for the color-challenged. I also bought this yarn in black/grey/white. That I am saving for project spectrum.

I've got to start the mittens. It starts with a tubular cast-on. Why? I don't know. I had to look that up in Vogue Knitting. That is how far I've gotten. I really want to make them. Really I do. Really.

Warm Hands Warm Heart

I finished the second mitten this morning, just in time to be worn to the freezing gym to watch Alex's basketball game.

Grace's first reaction was, "Now make me red ones."

When I finish a project my immediate thought is "now what?" I get this feeling of empty space needing to be filled. Then I mentally go over what is next and I get overwhelmed with the list. For a split second the possibilities are delicious, then I remember which item on the to do list is most pressing, and then get going.

I think I will take out the "monkey on the back" that has been taxing my spirit, namely the watermelon cardigan for G that I started last year. Luckily I knew I was not speedy with finishing things so I started it in a size much too big for her last year, which should be about right now.

I looked at the pattern again this morning and it is easy. It is really interesting (at least to me) how I was choosing simple patterns then that I wouldn't even consider now. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the finishing part. Sewing seams by hand is a drag.

The cardigan will be my "mindless knitting" for use while doing social knitting, and I will start the Eunny mittens for use while I'm doing "concentration knitting" since I'm going to have to pay attention to the chart.

On the computer front, Blogger is finally ready for us to switch to the new version. Hopefully all of this will not disappear and nothing will mess up. Think happy thoughts.

Toe Up and Finished

Lucy socks are done. The last one started with stripes like the first and then morphed into swirls. I'm calling them fraternal twins.

The Socks that Rock yarn makes a nice sturdy sock. It might come in handy if it snows tonight!

It is ironic that the day I finish my first toe up socks, Wendy posts very detailed instructions that further explain her method which I used. I did most everything right. You'll have to squint to see what I am talking about. (It only involved how I pick up the wraps and knit them. Very technical stuff)

The next item on the agenda is Warm Hands Warm Hearts Mittens for Grace. The pattern is by Maggie's Rags, and I am usuing Debbie Bliss cashmerino dk in color 18009 on size 4 needles. I am making her the size medium, although they seem like they will be a little big. This one I finished up just now, and I will hurry and cast on mitten number two in time for the big freeze tonight. Luckily children have small hands.