Something for me

With short hair it means I wear a hat -- a lot. It is easy in the winter to have fluffy, wooly, floppy, fuzzy, nubby, ribby hats(s). But they look pretty silly in the spring and fall. And my head is pretty cold if I don't wear one. Solution?? Ravelry to the rescue. Found this cute slouch hat pattern. I used Reynolds Saucy -- 100% cotton, worsted weight. I don't think they make it any more. Luckily I had (and still have) some in my stash.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lace-ribbon-slouch-hat

I had my usual SSK problem. Do you slip knit wise or purl wise? I thought I knew but guessed wrong. I did not rip it out but I learned my lesson: look up SSK and which way to slip!

I recommend you count after your pattern rows to keep your unknitting to a minimum. This pattern also has a lot of yarn overs in it and if you miss one it will really mess you up.

Horcrux Socks

If you have read Harry Potter (or watched the movies) you have heard of a horcrux. Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort) divided his soul and put the pieces into objects -- making a horcrux. So a horcrux is a creapy object -- but these socks are really a tribute to Harry. The Z in the design, his scar.

 

I used worsted weight, Plymouth Encore yarn. I really needed to pay attention to the pattern because of all the yarn overs. And I always review how to SSK, I have trouble remembering to slip knit wise. The best suggestion I can make is to count the stitches after you do a row with all the yarn overs. If you make a mistake you can correct it before going too far.

I think the socks came out great.They are a free pattern on Ravelry, available in worsted and fingering weight.


http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/horcrux-socks-worsted-weight

 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/horcrux-socks-fingering-weight

I made Don a vest

Don said he wanted a vest, so happy to be able to make him something. I used Ann Budd's "The knitter's handy book of patterns." To avoid sewing the pieces together I knit left front, back, and right front all together. I love the binding I chose, curled edges with ribbing. Don made the sterling silver star buttons.

I used Encore yarn, worsted weight, size 7 needles. Don't do what I did -- check your gage! I did quite a bit of knitting before I realised how gigantic the vest was. I had to rip it all out and start over.

Beth's Bunny Ear Scarf

Beth knit a Bunny Ear scarf more than 20 years ago. She used yarn she spun and made  an  "I want one of those scarves" scarf. I had a mohair blend skein in my stash with yardage too small to make a Shawlette or Basic Garter Stitch scarf (Fiber Trends) and then I thought of Beth's Bunny Ear scarf. Ravelry has quite a few, you can search for bow-knot scarf or tuck-in scarf.

I made mine based on Beth's using size 5 needles. To increase I knit in the front and the back of the stitch, to decrease I knit two together. I increased to 22 stitches and made the "ears" a total of 6" before I separated the stitches onto two needles to create the pull through. It is warm and cozy and oh-so-cute.

If you can't see the entire pattern, click on the photo

Headband request

Morgan asked for a headband, sending me a few ideas of what she was looking for. I headed to Ravelry and found so many cute designs, but settled on the Whitney Headband. I had a skein of merino/alpaca blend in my stash that was perfect.

The biggest problem I had was finding a knitted flower. I read a few patterns and finally came up with my own flower pattern. I topped it off with a vintage button. Great don't you think?

Gail's Flower
worsted weight yarn, size 7 needle
Knitting is a little easier with circular needle
Cast off is a little easier with a crochet hook

Cast on 12 stitches
row 1: K front and back of each stitch (24 stitches)
row 2: Purl
row 3: K front and back of each stitch
row 4: Purl
row 5: K front and back of each stitch
row 6: Purl
row 7: K front and back or skip to row 9
row 8: Purl
row 9: K1, K front and back (repeat from K1)
row 10: Purl
Cast off with Russian cast off:
Purl 2, put on left needle P2 together
Purl 1 put on left needle P2 together

What have I been doing?

My sister told me "if you don't start putting some new stuff on your blog I'm going to stop checking it out." She's right. I have been knitting and not posting. Let's start with this beautiful scarf. I made one for a friend and loved it so much I made one for myself.

The pattern is Fiber Trends "Versatile Scarves" AC-32. It is has three different designs and written for three different weight yarns. I made the Basic Garter Stitch Scarf with one skein of Giselle from Classic Elite Yarns. It is a mohair, wool, and nylon blend purchased at Whippletree Yarn Shop in Woodstock, VT. I used a size 8 needle.

I find this pattern a close substitute for the Shawlette Pattern. I love the Shawlette Pattern, but it requires increases after a certain number of rows. I have a difficult time counting the rows so I tally each row, and that takes time. With the Fiber Trends scarf you increase every row. Easy! (Don's paintings in the background.)