Splurge!

I finished my Pimlico Shrug and I just love it! Once I get some good photos of it I will post.

In-the-mean-time, I casted on for my usual Itty-Bitty Hats - always a must knit for me, always have the yarn for it and always have babies to knit for so they are easy projects to have going while I try to decide what to cast on for next. Soooooo, while trying to decide what to do I thought I better use a couple gift cards that I'd had to one of my LYS. I decided on this pattern, Comfy Kimono from Rowan Classic Accessories that I always wanted to try but knew it'd be a lot to tackle and pretty pricey but since I had the gift cards I totally went for it!!! Check it out…


OMG, I hope this turns out! The Baby Llama yarn is soooooo nice.


This will be the most intricate pattern I've done. Hope mine looks as cool as the one on this model.


Wish me luck. It will probably take me until Fall!

Hat For Mitch

As soon as I came home with my yummy merino I casted on for this hat. It's a perfect ribbed hat and the yarn looks great in it. Plus, the pattern is FREE! I think my nephew will love!


Pattern Source: "A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend" FREE pattern from Stephanie Likes to Knit
Yarn: about 1.25 skeins of di.Ve' Autunno
Needles: size 6
Size: s-m adult
Notes: Cable cast on is a must! I usually just do long-tail cast on but the cable cast on sure gives a nicer, tighter and cleaner edge to the hat. -- also, next time I'm going to knit it a big longer, probably like 6.5 inches before the decrease so it covers the ears.

Koolhaas

I'm usually not into any pattern that calls for a cable needle but sometimes I can't resist. This Koolhaas hat is one of those times. I mean, can you blame me? (dang, the natural light outside was so bright, EZ's face disappeared! Must be alllll the snow!)


I know you've seen this hat a million times but isn't the architecture of the stitch pattern great! I'm sure I'll do this one again.


Pattern Source: "Koolhaas" by Jared Flood from Brooklyn Tweed
Yarn: Patons, Classic Wool Merino
How Much Yarn: 1 skein (about 3/4s of 1 skein)
Needles: size 6, 16" circulars
Size: sm/med
Notes: I did have some problems with one of the decrease rounds. It was driving me nuts too but thanks to Peaknit I got it straight. I emailed her about it and she dug out her pattern and tried to figure out what I was doing wrong - turns out I was just reading the pattern wrong. Thank you, Peaknit! That was so nice of you to help a fellow knitter out!

The pattern is in Interweave Knits 07 Holiday Gifts Issue. Or you can buy it here.

Head First!

When it comes to knitting Christmas gifts every year I play the same game with myself. First I say I need to start Christmas knitting (at least) by October, and then I decide I'm not going to knit any gifts and then by the time Thanksgiving comes and goes all of a sudden I get a fire under my needles and get all kinds of big ideas for knitted gifts! So despite being off to a late start I'm diving into Christmas knitting head first with this great free pattern from Knitty.

This is the most color work I've ever done - not much I know - usually I stray away from color work because it seems complicated, but this was easy and fun to do. Just as long as I kept my tension everything worked out great.


DH ended up stealing this one. That's OK though, it's a perfect fit for him. Now I just need to get knitting more so I have them in time for Christmas!

Pattern Source: Swell free from Knitty
Yarn: Lana Grossa, Royal Tweed, 1 skein each color. The yarn was from my stash and I LOVE the way it worked up.
Needles: size 7s
Size: small
Gauge: 4 sts per inch / 6 rows per inch
Notes: Took a bit for me to master the right gauge for my yarn and after a few trial runs I did. First time making twisted rope tassels like this and I love them! Fiddled with the pattern a little too. I started the color work after 6 rows and then worked 12 rows after color work before decreasing (If you are making this pattern you'll know where I mean).

Cable Footies

Finished these Cable Footies last night. It's been a long time since I've done socks, actually never done adult booties before. I was always afraid of the kitchener stitch but since Susan posted her tutorial I had no fear! I think they turned out great, they were fun to knit and I will make more. This pair is going off to my Aunt. She's going through some pretty rough kimo right now and I wanted to send her some knitted love.The pattern is from One Skein and I used Atacama, 100% Alpaca. Love the yarn. It's actually left over from the Slouchy Cardigan that I knit last winter. Here's a (not very good) photo. The pattern for this is out of the Knit Café book.I had 3 skeins left over from the cardi because I didn't do the hood. It was plenty enough to make these footies and I think I'll even be able to make a baby hat or two from what I still have on hand!

Karate Sweater Finished!

Number of times I ripped out the back, 4
Number of times I ripped out the button band, 3
Number of skeins I over bought, 3
End result, priceless!
Despite all the hang ups, book errors, etc… I LOVE this sweater! Seriously, probably the most favorite thing I ever knit for myself. And the yarn, ooooo the yarn, it feels soooo good against my skin - it's so soft!Even though the pattern called for it, I didn't do the belt and belt loops on this because I didn't think I needed it and I'm not always a big fan of a belt just floppin' around when it's not actually tied. Besides, I think I knit mine a little shorter than the one in the book and if I wanted to I could always put a leather belt on top of this, that might be cool.
The only thing that I'm not completely satisfied with is the button. It's so hard to find a cool button these days. The one I got will do for now, besides I can always change it or take it off and use a cool pin or something for a closure. Oh yeah, if your going to do this pattern I would suggest not knitting in the button hole like the pattern calls for. I didn't because the stitches are so big you can easily push a button through and this way you have more freedom with what you want to use for a closure and where you want it to go.

Now I'm just waiting for the cool weather so I can wear this baby out! For now, I'm snuggling up with it on the coach!

Pattern Source: Karate Sweater from the book Big City Knits
Yarn: Soft Chunky by Wenlan Chia
Size: Small (FYI - the book called for 6 skeins and I only needed 4!)
Notes: This book has a lot of errors, you can find most here but I also found an error in the chart for the pattern repeat on this - the symbol "/" should mean P2tog, not K2tog

Coachell-A-Licious!

I'm very happy with how my Coachella turned out. The Metallic FX (which was from my stash - Yay!) almost looks like body armour or something. It's a dull/sparkly finish and I think it's pretty cool, especially for a night out on the town. Unfortunately my racer-back bra still showed (a lot) under this top. I do have a solution though, I'm wearing a long tub top under it here and I really like the way it looks and I still feel comfortable - let's face it, the Metallic yarn agaist the skin doesn't feel the best!

If I did this again I might try to work it on a larger needle (just one size up) so I would have more room and maybe get more drap, and like I told Tina, I would probably do it in a bamboo because that type of yarn really does give you a nice soft drap.

Pattern: Coachella
Source: Knitty
Yarn: 5 skeins of Berroco, Metallic FX
Notes: I didn't do the optional bust shaping. I probably would have had more drap if I did.

Summertime Tunic

Yey! My Summertime Tunic is fineto!I'm one happy knitter!Pattern: Summertime Tunic
Designer: Katie Himmelberg
Source: Interweave Knits, Summer 2007. It's also a free pattern that you can download here.
Yarn: Reynolds, Gypsy. 100% cotton. 7 skeins.
Notes: The yarn was a bit 'stiff' to work with but once I finished and washed the piece it softened up. Kind of has a nice, denim-like finish.

Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet

Anthropologie is my favorite store and when I stumbled upon this Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet I had to knit it!The pattern is free and easy and it's from the blog Peony Knits. There is also another pattern on there called the Circular Shrug - I think I'll try that one too because it's designed after a piece from another favorite store, Urban Outfitters.

This knit was so fun, easy and fast (only about 6 hrs) and I must say, so cute and cozy to wear! I plan to make many more. Thank you Peony Knits! Great work and thanks for making it a free download!

I knitted mine with exactly 4 skeins of Chimera by Lana Gatto. Knit on 10 1/2, 24" circluars and dpns.