Knitting In The North

FO: Simple Baby Hat

 

 

 

Since I seem to be on a roll with the hats, I figured I'd knit one for my newest little nephew.  Stuart's younger sister, Judith, has just had her first baby, a sweet little boy (that is, I'm assuming he's sweet, he's so fresh we haven't even seen pictures yet, and I'm not sure of the absolutely final name... but he's got the same blood as Stuart, who has made some fabulous looking babies, so I'm going with it).

 

Judith is allergic to wool, so I went looking for other options, and came up with this lone ball of Patons Silk Bamboo.  The hat is on it's way east now, and I have high hopes of some pictures, once it arrives.

 

Particulars:

Yarn - Patons Silk Bamboo, 1 ball, Almond

Pattern - Simple Baby Hat, by Alison Williams, courtesy of Blue Sky Alpacas

Needles - 3.75mm

Notes - Not much to say about this one - a fast, simple knit, producing a super soft little hat.  Ahhhh... babies....

 

FO: Wise Old Owl Hat

 

 

Can you see the owls?  I confess, I'm not sure this was the best yarn for this particular pattern, as the marled yarn kind of hides the stitch definition, obscuring the cabled "owls" a bit.  Also, I'm a little distracted by that grumpy face... it needs to be kissed.  A little chasing around, and his smile came out, though. 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Wise Old Owl Hats

Yarn - Briggs & Little Heritage, in Anniversary Twist, about half a skein

Needles - 4mm

Notes:  Although there is a child version of this pattern, I used the adult size with aran weight yarn, and ended up with a hat to fit Liam.  I didn't really plan on using this yarn, but Mr. Particular had a specific plan in mind, and I just went with it.  I scrounged the eight smallest pairs of buttons from my thrifty button jar for the eyes, but would have used smaller ones, if I had them.  Some of those eyes are a little big.

Liam is holding true to his strong preferences, and I've discovered that if I care about him liking something, and wanting to use it, I will let go of my own very particular plan, and instead focus on creating something, with love, for him.  Sigh... growing up can be tough, but I'm learning as I go.  So, here is his blue owl hat, just the way he likes it.

 

Staying Warm

 

 

As I started to get ready for this winter to arrive this year, I decided that each of the kids needed a new hat for the season.  Here are Katie & Gwenyth, modeling their new woolies.

Katie really loves the colours of Noro, and so I used some Kureyon I had lingering in the stash to knit her up a Noro Hat, and a matching pair of fingerless gloves.  For Gwenyth, I also chose Noro, but instead used Bonbori, which is a bit chunkier & therefore faster to knit.  Her hat is a simple vanilla hat, and the fingerless gloves were knit with some old leftover tweedy wool.

Next up - warm winter woolies for the boys, too...

FO: Spring Forward

 

 

It's been so long, I've almost forgotten what it feels like to post a Finished Object, especially a pair of socks.  All my grand plans of a pair of socks a month have gone by the wayside, and truly, I have wondered if my sock mojo was gone for good.  This pair has brought it all back, though, and now all I want to do is cast on for another pair of socks!

 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Spring Forward, from knitty.com

Yarn - Handdyed from Knitty Dirty Girl, an etsy seller who is no longer dyeing yarn, sadly.

Needles - 2.5mm wooden DPNs

Notes - After the drama of the two socks not matching, and getting the yarn ready to re-knit, I wasn't sure I would be happy with these socks.  I followed the pattern exactly, however, and I love them.  I can't get over how simple the lace pattern is; I am usually the kind of person who has to continually refer back to the pattern or chart, but this lace pattern is so intuitive even I could remember it.  I am sincerely hoping that these socks are meant for me, although somewhere in the back of my mind is the thought that they are a gift, even if I am not sure who the recipient is yet.  It may be part of my twisted thought process that thinks I have to give away all nice things, instead of keeping them for myself, but then again, maybe not.  We'll see.  I definitely do want to build up my sock wardrobe, and these really are so pretty.

FO: Multnomah

 

 

Some time last fall, I was overcome with the urge to knit a red (or reddish) scarf.  I went prowling around my LYS, and picked up this multi-coloured sock yarn that I liked.  I carried it around the store for awhile, as is my habit when a yarn has caught my eye, but ultimately went with something different (which I ended up not using at all, as I got busy with Christmas knitting - which I still haven't shown you - ridiculous).  A few weeks ago, I popped into the LYS for some other purpose, but that same yarn grabbed my fancy again, and this time made it into my bag.  I came home, sat down and cast on for this scarf (modeled by my beautiful, and younger than she looks, daughter).

 

 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Multnomah

Yarn - Austerman Step, colourway 0134

Needle - 3.25mm

Notes/Modifications - After looking at many, many other Multnomahs on Ravelry, I chose to knit this with a one stitch centre column, instead of using five stitches as called for in the pattern.  I like it a lot like this, although I didn't think about slipping the stitch on the wrong sides until it was too late, which is kind of too bad - that would have looked sweet.  I also used a chart written up by another generous Raveler, which helped work the lace into the increases, and avoid blocks of garter stitch.  I like it, and I'm going to enjoy wearing it.  If I can get it away from my beautiful, and younger than she looks, daughter.

 

 

 

FO: Clapotis

 

 

It seems almost silly showing this to you, and calling it a Finished Object, when it's been in use for the past two years!  Crazy how time goes by so quickly...  I've meant to take a picture of it for ages, and the other day, I had spring fever and cut all my hair off, and Katie thought it would be a good time to record both for posterity.

 

The yarn for this project was a gift from a knitting swap pal in Australia, and I love it dearly.  Soft, warm,  and beautifully heathered, every time I wear it I think of that continent far away...  some day, maybe I'll make it there myself.  In the meantime, I feel fortunate to have this little piece of it with me.

 

 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Clapotis

Yarn - Bendigo Woolen Mills Rustic 8 Ply, Pink Opal, 2 balls

Notes - This pattern has become so famous in the knitting world, there's really not much left for me to say about.  A generous knitter on Ravelry offered up a spreadsheet to keep track of everything, which I found very handy.  I used the Rule of Fifths" while I knit, weighing the yarn as I worked to make sure I got the best size possible with the yarn I had and using one fifth for the increase section, three fifths for the length, and reserving the last fifth for the decreases.

Dropping the stitches was loads of fun, although it did require a bit of work - this yarn is a tad grabby, and the stitches had to be encouraged to run.  I wear this constantly:  as a scarf, a wrap, or a shawl.  It's useful, and you can see the yarn has held up amazingly well. 

 

 

 

Well.  I'm glad I put this up here.  Now I feel better.

 

FO: (Not)Chenille Cardigan

 

 

 

 

One of the many joys of having a scrumptious baby in my life, is the opportunity to knit cozy little things!  My lovely little nephew is growing quickly, and so was in need of a new, spring sweater from his handy auntie.  This yarn is an orangey sort of brown (not quite as orange as it looks in the above picture), perfect for a sweet ginger boy.

 

 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Adorable Chenille Cardigan, from Natural Knits for Babies & Moms, by Louisa Harding

Yarn - Knitpicks Comfy Bulky, 3 balls, Adobo colourway

Needles - 5.5mm

Notes/Modifications - I was casting around for a pattern in the right gauge, and came up with this.  It wasn't the best patten I've ever knit, and I doubt I'd do it again.  What I really need to do, I think, is wrap my brain around the math for basic top-down knitting, and make that my go-to for things like this. 

This was the last of my Knitpicks Comfy Bulky, and although it's beautifully soft, and admittedly wears very well, I'm glad to see the back of it.  I was very put out with Knitpicks and the difference in the gauge I expected to the gauge I got (this is a Chunky Yarn - not Bulky).  I doubt I'll use it again, and really, I'm not terribly inclined to order from them anymore.  Good thing we now have an amazing yarn store here!

The buttons were from my jar of thrifted ones, and the kids & I had a great time sorting them out and choosing just the right ones.  Amazing how endlessly entertaining that can be!

FO: Creature Comforts Cardi

 

 

 

Even though this pattern is called a cardi, I think of it more like a vest, and so chose it to knit for my Vestuary project.  It made me happy that I had a great yarn in my stash all ready for it, and I finished it in time to wear to the Film Festival this weekend!  (Which was very interesting, although I'm quite tired now...)

 

 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Creature Comforts Cardi from MadelineTosh

Yarn - Noro Cash Iroha, 7.5 skeins, colourway 106

Needles - 4.5mm Denise interchangeables

Notes - I knit the smallest size for this pattern, and was dreadfully concerned all the way through that it was going to be too small.  I always forget how much Noro yarn seems to grow upon blocking, though, and the finished fabric is beautifully soft and drapey, and the fit is just right.  I did go down one needle size in order to get gauge, and I didn't knit the ribbing on a smaller needle, because I was concerned about stretching the rib over my *ahem* motherly hips.  Although I knit to the correct length, and then blocked the piece before seaming, I still needed to stop the arm seam about an inch short (I used some leftover sock yarn for the seaming - do not try it with the Cash Iroha).  

I'm thrilled with the finished knit - it's soft and comfortable to wear, and I forsee it being a versatile part of my wardrobe.  It went beautifully from work to the film festival to home.  Plus, the leaf panel up the back is terribly impressive, and leads to lots of comments and compliments from people around you... and what's not to like about that?

 

 

 

FO: Lanesplitter

 

 

 

 

Two finished objects in a week!  I can hardly believe it - although the truth is, even though life has been busy, there has been knitting, and now I'm playing a game of catch-up to try to show it all to you.  I've been calling this my Library Skirt, because I cast on in celebration of being offered my new job (which I'm loving).  I got to wear it to work this week, and will confess I was terribly excited and full of the wonders of my new skirt.  It was very gratifying then, to have two different customers compliment it - I love that.  Plus, I bounced around all over the place showing the ladies I work with.  It's been a while since I've knit something both that I enjoyed making, and like wearing.

 

 

 

 

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Lanesplitter

Yarn - Noro Silk Garden, 4 balls

Needles - 5.5mm bamboo straights

Notes - When I swatched for this project, I had a heck of a time getting gauge.  I settled on using the 5.5mm needles, but had concerns once I had some fabric coming off the needles that it was a bit too loose.  I likely would have gone down a needle size, but my girlfriend talked me out of it, and in retrospect I don't think the skirt would drape so nicely if the fabric was firmer. 

The beauty of this pattern is that it is knit on the bias (a la Clapotis), which gives a great shape as well as lots of control for sizing.  I increased until about 18.5" in length, and then knit until the fabric was about 36" long.  My hips are around 38", and I was counting on the skirt growing with blocking.  I realistically could have stopped about an inch sooner, as the fabric grew even more than I thought it would. 

For the waistband, I picked up stitches using some fingering weight wool, rather than the worsted weight cotton the pattern calls for, and it worked fine, making a smooth band without bulk.  I did insert elastic into the waistband, and when I blocked the final piece, pulled the hem of the skirt out into a bit of an A-line shape.  I have worn this a couple of times already, and I love it!  Comfortable, pretty and unique - what's not to love?

 

 

 

FO: Quickie Socks

 

 
 

 

With the chilly winter days we're experiencing here, and after the focus of Christmas crafting, I decided that a worsted weight pair of socks would be just the thing.  I had intended to make them for myself, but my mom begged for another pair of wool socks, so these will be going to live with her as soon as I can organize myself to put a package together and mail it away.  They knit up so quickly, though, I'm sure I can manage a pair of my own one day soon.

 

Particulars:

Pattern - Quickie Socks, from The Joy of Sox

  Yarn - Knitpicks Swish Worsted, Marine Heather, 2 balls

Needles - 3.75mm bamboo DPNs

Notes - It would have been helpful to read the errata (later found on the book's Ravelry page linked above) before I started these socks.  As it was, I figured out the heel directions without too much difficulty, but I always find it annoying when a pattern doesn't make sense.  Grumble, grumble.  I like my socks to be a bit longer than this pattern is written, and so added one extra half repeat.  I worried I would run out of yarn, so didn't make them any longer than that, although in hindsight I could have managed one full repeat.  When I make myself a pair, I'll definitely add some more length. 

I am still actively trying to knit from stash as much as I can, and was happy to find these two balls in the back of a drawer in my yarn dresser.  It's motivated me to get all of my yarn listed onto my Ravelry account, so that I can remember what exactly I have in there - how fortunate am I to have so much yarn I can forget about some of it?  Luxury, indeed!