10 to go!

Pattern: Gathered Pullover from Interweave Knits Fall2007

Yarn: Dale of Norway Svale

Needles:US Size 8

Mods: I started with a larger size on the bottom to accommodate my hips and decreased evenly up to the waist, creating an a-line silhouette. I used short row shaping and a three-needles bind off at the shoulders. Then I picked up stitches around the armholes and did the sleeve caps with short rows as described by Barbara Walker in Knitting from the Top and continued knitting the sleeves in the round to the end. I picked up the neckline and joined it at the center back, decreasing at the center point of the v-neck to bring it in just a little.

Verdict: LOVE IT! The cotton silk blend makes it a perfect 3 season sweater. I was worried that it would stretch out with wearing, but it's holding up nicely. The only thing I would change if I knit it again would be to hem the edges instead of rolling. I think it would dress it up a bit.

Knitcircus Issue #4

Well, I got the okay to share the super secret knitting. It will appear in the fall issue of Knitcircus.

Butterfly Dreams Mittens






































They will also be publishing Moose's Argyle Vest in additional sizing.

































Both patterns are already on Ravelry. Knitcircus will be available October 1st for $7.50.

Thank you to everyone how encouraged me and gave me a much needed push down this road!

Another weekend, another hat

A Better Bucket Hat

Yarn: Alpaca with a Twist, Baby Twist in Purple & Plymouth Baby Alpaca DK in Turquoise
Needles: US size 6
Mods: To make it Maggie sized, I used DK weight yarn, size 6 needles, and I didn't make the hat as deep as the pattern specifies.

The flower is the 5-Petal Flower available here.












I think I'd like to block the brim a little to enhance it's flare. I, maybe, should have switched from the contrast color under the brim to the main color a round sooner, but I sort of like the row of turquoise purl bumps at the bottom. I think I want to make one for me next. Black with something bright under the brim, maybe orange.

Capitan Hat

In addition to the ogre hat, I knit up Rosi G.'s Capitan Hat this weekend. It was a fun and fast knit on US size 10 needles and Encore worsted held doubled. I used about 1 ball, making it a $7 project. The best thing about it is it's flattering on just about everyone. Maggie, my sister, my mom, and I all tried it on and it was cute on everyone. I'll have to think about a couple more of these for the holidays. This one, I think, is destined for my SIL.














This is also going to the hat contest at Gene Ann's Yarns. If you're interested, the deadline for submissions is October 15. Votes for your favorites will be accepted until November 15. Popular vote decides the winner, who will take home a $100 gift ceritifacte to Gene Ann's Yarns.

Ogre Boy

Ogre Boy
Originally uploaded by daniknits

Pattern: Ogre My Ogre - available as a free download on Ravelry

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes - doubled. I don't know what color.

Size 10 Needles.

Mods: none, except for yarn and needle size to make a smaller hat.

I.love.this.hat! It's bound for a hat contest at my lys. I don't think it'll win, but it'll be really cute in the window.

11 to go!

Maggie's Winter Cardi

Pattern: Shrug This

Yarn: Brooks Farm Solana

Needles: US size 8

Mods: Button hole at the neck for the button I still need to buy. Slightly longer body and long sleeves. I put the sleeves on waste yarn at the point the pattern told me to bind off the sleeves. I cast on 8 stitches under each arm and continued until I was happy with the body length. Then I put the sleeves on dpns and picked up the eight stitches under the arm. I knit in the round to my desired length. I didn't add any shaping to the sleeves. It didn't seem to need it. I still love the pattern, though I'm thinking of it more as a recipe at this point. Brooks Farm Solana is one of my very favorite yarns and it's superwash, making it great for the kids.





I'm off to knit on my comfort shawl next, but what I really want to do... See that orange yarn on the shelves behind Maggie? It's for my Susie Hoodie (Ravelry link). I really really want to cast on for that today. It's raining and chilly here. I'm going to try to resist, but I make no promises.

3 Down - 12 to go!

It was good weekend for knitting. Not many plans, crappy allergies, and a bunch of shows to catch up on on the DVR. I frogged the French Market Bag. It felt good.

I Finished the Super Secret Knitting and sent it off. Here's a tiny sneak peak.

















I also finished the Bat Hat. Cute, easy pattern. The only mods I made were to knit it on smaller needles and a little less deep to fit a smaller head. I also didn't double the ears to make them thicker. That is purely because I was running out of yarn. I think it's fine. I kind of like how the ears curl a little. Here's Matty (with a bigger head) standing in for his cousin to model it.






















I've got one sleeve done on Maggie's Winter Cardi and hope to be to show you a finished object tomorrow.