Category Archives: Knitting

Vignette

Posted on 28 September 2012 by Kris

I’m really glad the weather finally cooled down enough for me to model this sweater, because I finished it two months ago and have been wanting to share it!

I never really used to knit patterns in colors close to the original. But now? Look at Arm Candy. And Peregrine. And now, Vignette! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, because those are all colors I love anyway. But still.

Pattern: Vignette by Amy Herzog
Yarn: Cascade 220 in color 8908
Needles: US5 / 3.75mm and US6 / 4.0mm Clover bamboo circulars

Although the funny thing about that is, I was actually originally planning to use this yarn for Peregrine. But then I bought the Cascade 220 Sport during a sale, and then Vignette was published, and, well… I changed my mind. And I’m really glad I did, because I love this sweater. I did get seriously stalled out – it took me nearly two months to get around to seaming it, after I finished all the knitting – but I’d like to think it was worth the wait.

I recalculated everything to fit, as usual, but I do wish I’d made the fronts just a tad wider, to keep them from pulling so much at the buttonband. I also included bust darts, and I think I may have finally gotten the vertical placement right! But I probably should have moved them about a half inch or so closer to the buttonband. Oh well. Still, I think I’m getting better at this bust dart thing!

I had to rework the front chart a bit, due to my different row gauge and need for more rapid increases.

I also had to change the sleeves. It’s partly because ¾ sleeves are not flattering on me. But I was also limited by the yarn I had – I would have preferred long sleeves, but since I didn’t have enough yarn, I went with short ones instead. These aren’t perfect – I kind of wish I’d made them a hair shorter. And I’m also not sure I love the turned hem, though I think that’s probably because I sewed it down a little too tightly. But I like the sleeves well enough.

Imperfections aside, I’m pretty happy with my Vignette! Now if the weather would just keep cooling down so that I can actually wear this…

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Accessorizing

Posted on 24 August 2012 by Kris

Another 2-FO post today, in the name of catching up!

Earlier this year, I realized that I needed more hats, since half the ones I’ve made are no longer in my possession. Luckily, I have enough yarn stashed to make several more! Here’s my latest:

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in Chocolate
Needles: US5 / 3.75mm and US6 / 4.0mm Clover circulars, US6 / 4.0mm Crystal Palace DPNs

I did 5 repeats of the main chart, rather than 4, because otherwise the hat wouldn’t have provided enough coverage! (Which would sort of defeat its purpose, don’t you think?) I love how it turned out, and think it’s cute and cozy. I’m almost tempted to make an identical one with the leftover yarn. Not quite, but almost.

There’s also a bit of cabling action in this next project, although not a ton:

Pattern: Windward Cowl by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in color 3064
Needles: US5 / 3.75mm Clover bamboo circulars

I added more pattern repeats to account for my finer gauge. I kind of wish I’d added a couple of more, but I do like the cowl as is. It was pretty fun to knit, too. I’m not totally sure how well the yarn will wear, but it’s so soft and warm and lovely.

Only problem is, I can’t actually wear either of these projects right now, since it’s been too darn hot. I’ll be glad to have these in late fall and winter, though!

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Colorworking

Posted on 17 August 2012 by Kris

Thanks to a combo of remnants swaps and leftovers from my own projects, I wound up with a fair amount of Dale Baby Ull in my stash. So to help reduce that amount, I did a couple of small colorwork projects earlier this year.

I stumbled upon the Carola’s Mittens pattern ages ago – I think someone may have faved it – and bookmarked it, but for some reason I never got around to using it. Until now:

Pattern: Carola’s Mittens by Juliana Frychel
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull in 5755 and 5135
Needles: US0 / 2.0mm and US3 / 3.25mm Inox DPNs

The obvious modification was making these fingerless mitts, since I have very little use for mittens. (Okay, so that didn’t stop me from making Anemoi Mittens back in the day, but I think I’ve gotten slightly more practical in the past few years.) Not a super intuitive knit, but I found it really fun anyway. And I dig the finished product!

And because I hadn’t hit my fingerless mitts limit yet, I made another pair:

Pattern: Based on Border Socks by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull in 5755, 7436, and 7502
Needles: US0 / 2.0mm and US1 / 2.5mm Inox DPNs

I kind of wish I’d gone up a needle size for the colorwork, but otherwise I like these, too.

So, I’ve gotten some of my Baby Ull out of the way. Now I just have to figure out what the heck to do with the rest!

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Getting my crochet on

Posted on 13 August 2012 by Kris

Crochet is probably my first real craft. My mom taught me when I was three or so, although I forgot about it sometime between then and college. (No wonder it came so easily to me when I tried it again at age 21!)

The only crochet project I’ve ever finished as an adult was a single scarf. I’ve done crochet bindoffs and the like for knitting projects since, but I’ve just never had much desire to go beyond that.

Until now.

This is the start of the waistband for the Chamomile Tunic (with an American quarter for scale). I have 26 more flowers to crochet. In laceweight.

I’m sure that sounds a little overly ambitious for someone who hasn’t seriously crocheted for… well… ever. And maybe it is, but it’s not actually beyond my skill set. It’s just a little rough on my hands and wrists because of the scale. So I’ve set an upper limit on the number of flowers I make per day, and as long as I crochet no more than that, I’m fine.

After I’m done with this waistband, the next step is to pick up stitches along the top and start knitting up. I won’t be done with crochet entirely – the sleeves and neckline have a crocheted edging as well – but this is by far the trickiest bit of the entire pattern. I’m having fun with it so far, at least!

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Monkey

Posted on 10 August 2012 by Kris

Today’s FO is a carryover from last year’s personal sock club. I bagged this yarn and pattern up back in January 2011, but since I failed at finishing last year’s club, I kept the three remaining pairs from 2011 and then added three more pairs’, to create this year’s sock club.

After something as fiddly as my newest Sharks socks, I was relieved to draw this for the next pair:

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A
Yarn: Claudia Handpainted Fingering in Jungle
Needles: US0 / 2.0mm ChiaoGoo circular

Yes, you read that yarn right. Luckily, the Claudia’s Handpainted Fingering in these socks uses their old base – Louet Gems, which has been wearing just fine in my Mock Wave Cable Socks so far – and not the current, poorly wearing base that I used for my Sharks socks (both the original and redux). So I’m not super worried about this FO. On the other hand, I don’t particularly like working with the Louet yarn.

Luckily, the Monkey pattern is very easy and quick, so I didn’t have to work with the yarn for that long.

The socks aren’t particularly stretchy, so they’re not super easy to put on, but they’re nice and comfortably snug once they’re actually on. All in all, I’m pretty happy with them.

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