Let's Take A Ramble

I have made a decision. This thing is way too confining. How, now? (to quote Nietzsche). Well, firstly, knitting is more to me than just making a pattern and knitting it up, or knitting someone else's pattern and loving when it comes out just like in the picture. Color me simple, but I still love that feeling.

Anyway, the mild announcement is an expansion in written matter.

Lately, I have been exceptionally bored. It's quite annoying, to say the least. I've been knitting quite a bit; I even finished a pair of my first (completed) socks here on ravelry. I've been working on That Other Pair as well, but I'm not completely enthused. The first one came out a bit short in the foot (teach me to be overeager in getting to the toe, eh?), so the second one will have the toe starting a bit later.

Still working on the Santa Cruz hat... and getting a bit bored with it, I must say. It's not the pattern, it's me. I love the color, the texture that's coming out. It's very nice.

I finished the knucks I started ages ago for my dad. I'll take pictures once I give them to him on his b-day. They're tucked away until then. I can't wait to give them to him! Alright, yes, it's sunny, it's warm, and he probably won't need them for a good 4 months, but I must say that I am very proud of them and I think he'll really get a lot of use out of them.

I just finished a book called The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood. It was all right, a good book, but not, in my opinion, an excellent one. But I would recommend it to knitters, especially. It tends to focus on the therapy aspect of knitting that so many knitters (me included) love.

I'm reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs and it's, again, okay but not excellent. It's more about personal relationships and the problems that arise therein than knitting, which seems to be just a bit more than a background for the plot, but not an integral piece.

I am beginning to want more yarn. Yes, I have quite a bit. No, it's nothing like any other knitter's stash I know of, by which I mean it's actually relatively small. I have plans for most of it, except for some sage green lace-weight that I love, but have no idea what to do with. I want to make a rectangular shawl, but I have no idea where or what to start... After looking at some of Jared Flood's designs, etc, I have determined that I want something complicated, textured, and true knitted lace - meaning the pattern formation takes place on the right and wrong sides and not just the right side.

But I really want some fiber that's exotic, inspiring, something that I can design from. Seriously, I need to get into a position where I can actually get yarn before I start dreaming about it! Alas, the funds are dried up at the moment.

It's looking more spring/summer-like outside. I am wanting some cotton cardigans, scarves, hats, mitts, that sort of thing. Back we go to the yarn craving. I really dislike, though, the fact that the hand-knit things I wear most often (this scarf and these mitts) are more fall-winter items. I want something lighter that I can wear in the spring and summer months.

But enough of that; spring's too nice for me to feel down!

Hello, hello, again!

Alright, so stuff is going on in the knitting realm... and in the other realms affected by it. My progress on my dad's knucks is significant; I'm 5 rows away from actually beginning the body of the first one. I couldn't get a good pic, otherwise there would be one. My camera only takes good pictures in natural, outdoor lighting...and it's cold out there and may rain any second. I don't want to subjugate my knitting to that. No, really, I'm just lazy.

I've finally convinced my brother to stop borrowing my failed VW hat for when he goes out in the cold and to let me make him one. He wants one with a 'slime face' on it..... meaning, basically, a hat that looks like the slime I made before. See previous posts.

I theroughly enjoy all of the knitting blogs I read. I get to go through projects without actually making them, through the experiances of other knitters. A terrific learning experiance, if you ask me.

I have some Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in gray heather that I want to use up. It's almost a full ball. I'm thinking of designing a nice cowl, but then again, Lamb's Pride is a bit scratchy for up close to the neck. I mean, usually I don't mind that, but I thinks something else may be in order. Perhaps a felting project? Probably not. I'm scared to death of felting!

Anyway, that's all for now...

Just Enough Mitts

This pattern I came up with when I was wondering what to do with a bit of o~wool in Willow that I had left over from making a cowl that I can't remember the name of at the moment!

These are attractive little mitts made for when it's just cold enough where you want something on your hands, but nothing to heavy. In other words, they're perfect for the typical winter weather of California!

The pattern is written for s/m ladies hands. The thumb gusset is roomy because I don't like tight thumbs! These can be easily adapted to a larger size if needed.

Just Enough Mitts

Materials:

*1 pair size 8 dpns
*tapestry needle
*heavy aran/worsted weight or light bulky weight yarn

Guage:
4 st 5 rows = 1 in

Mitt (make 2) :

Cast on 25st over 3 dpns (8, 8, 9)

Round 1: Join round by slipping the last cast-on stitch to the needle with the first stitch. Knit these two together. P1 "k1, p1" to end of round.

Round 2: "k1, p1" to end of round.

Repeat round 2 for 4 more rounds (6 rounds total from cast on)

Change to stockinette stitch and knit 4 rounds.

Thumb Gusset:

Round 1: k 11, kfb of next 2 st. k11

Round 2: k 11, kfb, k 2, kfb, k11

Round 3: k 11, kfb, k4, kfb, k11

Round 4: k

Round 5: k 11, kfb, k6, kfb, k 11

Round 6: k11, kfb, k8, kfb, k11

Round 7: k11, kfb, k10, kfb, k11

Round 8: k

Round 9: K 12, bind off next 12 st, k 12

Top edging:

Round 1: "k1, p1" to end of round

Round 2: "p1, k1" to end of round.

Continue rounds 10 and 11 (seed stitch) for 8 rounds (4 sets of seed stitch rounds)

Bind off in pattern; weave in ends.

Hello, hello!

Wow, it's been forever since I've posted! It's not like I have a crowd of devoted followers, so I don't feel too guilty... but it's there; the guilt is there...

Anyway, it isn't as though I haven't been knitting, because I have! Not only that, I've gotten my first knitting requests! Okay, so I got them a while back, but things have been hectic... here's the rundown:

knucks (1 pair for my dad, one for my mom)
3 Jaque Custou hats (Dad wanted 3 in each of the modeled colors, gray, brown, and green)
1 Give It A Swirl hat (for a family friend (I tested this pattern and this friend saw the result and loved it))

And I think that's it!

But that's not to say I haven't knit things for people. I have, and they've always liked what I made.

Anyway, am designing (sort of) a cable scarf... incredably simple, but I love it. I'm also thinking of designing and posting more patterns... I actually haven't been knitting enough, methinks. I can't seem to get past my love for making scarves... it was hats, but that's waining... now it's scarves... and cowls... I should get into socks because those are brilliantly portable and supposed to be fun, but I just can't get into making them since my first one failed! I couldn't bind off loose enough, so it wouldn't fit... Finances are an issue, so I can't do sweaters right now... or anything like that....

What I really want is a hood/scarf! I will make one, one day!

Oh, that's good enough for now!

Happy New Year (belatedly),and Happy Knitting!

Favorite Mitts

Favorite Mitts Pattern

Materials:1 skein of worsted/heavy worsted weight yarn. Fiber content doesn't matter; it's up to you!

1 pair size 7 straight needles (or size needed to get gauge)

1 pair size 7 double-pointed needles (or size needed to get gauge) (optional; for thumb)

1 tapestry needle (or a crochet hook if you slip-stitch the seams closed)

Sizes:
S/M (L)

Gauge: 16 stitches, 21 rows = 4 inches (gauge is not CRITICAL in this pattern, but try to get close!)

Pattern:
Cast on 30 (34) stitches using preferred method

Row 1: k

Row 2: k2, p 22 (26), k6

Repeat these two rows until mitt measures about 8 inches. Bind off.
Repeat for second mitt.

Fishing:
Fold one mitt in half, right sides facing in. Sew up seam for 4 (4.5) inches. Skip 1.5 inches, sew up remaining 1.5 inches. Repeat for other mitt.

Optional Thumb:
After the mitt is sewn up, pick up ten stitches around the thumb hole (or number of stitches necessary to make about 2.5 inches AROUND), starting at the top. Knit in the round:

Round 1: k4, kfb twice, k4

Round 2: k

FOR SIZE L ONLY: k 4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4

Continue knitting for about 1.5 inches, or desired length.

Bind off; weave in ends.

Note:

These can be embellished in any way you wish, from adding buttons, embroidery, or bead work before sewing them up, to adding bobbles and cables as you knit them. This is just a basic pattern - perfect for beginners, by the way.

You can do whatever you wish with this pattern, except sell it. If you decide to use it as a learning tool for a class, or you want to distribute it from your yarn shop, then I would just die of delight! In other words, please let me know; I won't stop you, but I'd love to know that my simple pattern was worthy of such enjoyment!
Happy Knitting!

Here are the mitts 'unmodeled'

Here is the size comparison. Large is on the left, small/medium on the right.

I hope you enjoy this pattern; I'd love to see variations on it!

What's This?

Well, it has been a while since I posted here! Time for updates, although since it's so late, I'm so tired, and the lighting is bad--no pretty pictures.

I can say this: I haven't been knitting for a few months. *insert collective gasp here*. Why? Well, because I got distracted, that's why! I'm back 'in the groove' now. I've got 1 hat, 1 pair of mitts (both for bro), another hat (for me), a neckwarmer (also for me), and at least 1 scarf (mine) in the works. I've got 3 hats pending for Dad and a Clapotis for Mom, who 'test drove' mine and really liked it. Also, mitts. I've got to make mitts for Dad and Mom. Promises are promises, after all! Shouldn't be too difficult.

This should be a pretty fun week, wouldn't you say so?

Oh! And I'm going to be posting my Very First Design on Ravelry! Probably either at the end of this week, or mid-week. I'm testing it myself, first. I'm afraid to get testers, haha. The pattern will be free, posted here, and linked from Ravelry to here. Say, maybe I'll get a few more readers, eh? (yeah, right :P )

Anyway, my eyelids are sagging and I've got a bit of studying to do before I go to bed, so Ta Ta For Now!

Nope, no pix

Okay, so, despite the lack of visual aid, I thought it would be wise to update my knitting activities--and revive my nearly-dying blog spirit. Hah.

Okay, so as far as knitting goes, I've finally gotten some Noro to work with, and I love it! One skein was Aran/Worsted weight and I made a hat out of it (have I posted about this before, I don't know) which I love! The sock yarn, I'm doing the same thing, except on US 3 needles, so the going is slow.

I'm using some surprisingly soft acrylic to make the VW hat (check it out on Rav) for my bro. I made one already--which turned out too big (my first real lesson in gauge), so I had to size down 2 needle sizes--I'm working on 5's now, which still doesn't get gauge, so I have to watch it. I'm adjusting the size as I go.

Also on the needles is the slouchy hat bag (which you can also Rav), which I am making out of Suri Dream yarn from KnitPicks. I like the yarn, but I should have realized how "Chrismas-y" the colors would look--green and red, can you imagine?. The bag is going to be both of those colors, so I don't know what I'm going to do about that.

I'm in the midst of designing a black-and-red stripped hoodie vest for myself. It's pretty much improvise-as-you-go, and I'm not taking any notes, so it's not going to be posted anywhere or anything. Aside from pix here when it's done!

The socks are still a WPI, as are the gray mittens. There are a couple of other very minor projects which I won't dare mention, but that's about it for now!

Happy Knitting!