Errol

Do you know who Errol is? You would if you lived in our house! Errol is from the Harry Potter series and he is the old owl belonging to the Weasley family. He was also a handknit gift for my daughter Grace this Christmas:

Grace is a huge Harry Potter fan and she loved receiving this little owl.

Here are the pattern details:
Pattern: Errol by Andi Smith and from the book Charmed Knits. The pattern was available for free from the website: Click here.
Yarn: a random skein of single ply, bulky, handspun wool (I think it is romney)
Color: natural grey
Gauge: didn't check...
Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Comments: The pattern was written for flat knitting, but I did it in the round. I used glass beads for the eyes.

Scarf Swap

Yesterday I mentioned that I was in a scarf swap with Jamie from Deep Space Knit. Here is the lovely scarf she knit for me:

And a close up:

It is long and beautiful!! We first swapped the yarn that our scarf was to be knit with. I sent her Blue Heron Yarns "Rayon Metallic" (above) and she sent me Nashua Handknits "Ivy": an alpaca/merino mix with a hint of sparkle. I adapted the Meandering Vines Shawl by Susanna IC (pattern available as a Ravelry download) and knit this scarf:

Unfortunately, that is the only picture I took of the scarf. I hope it is keeping Jamie warm!

Christmas Gifts

I was too busy November - December to blog much, so I am trying to catch up and share some of the holiday knitting I did. These were quick and fun:

These are a great way to use up some scrap yarn. I definitely like the look of the solid yarn better with the cables. The pattern was from Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2008 magazine and was available for free download here. I will be making more of these with my solid yarn left overs for next year.

The ornament on the left used yarn from a scarf swap I did with Jamie at Deep Space Knit. I will post about the lovely scarf I received from Jamie tomorrow!

Carter's Alligator Scarf

It took me a couple of months, but I actually managed to finish this in time for Christmas (except the blocking....) Here is Carter's scarf:

I know, it would look cuter if he was modeling it, so I will try to update the picture later.

Here are the details:
Pattern: Alligator Scarf by Morehouse Farm
Yarn: Morehouse Merino Gator Yarn; 2 skeins (have most of 2nd skein remaining)
Color: Green
Gauge: didn't check...
Needles: US 6 / 4.25 mm
Comments: A great "carry-in-your-purse" project. My DH has now requested one. The yarn got really soft after blocking.

SeaGlass Bag complete!

I finished this bag this summer, but realized I never took the finished picture. This was a Christmas present for my daughter. Here is the front (there are little bead fish with bubbles rising to the top):

And the back:

And my favorite part is the liner (a Japanese fabric with sheep and a shepard):

Here are the details:
Pattern: My own
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino Worsted Weight
Color: Hand dyed lime green by AnniePurl (Ravelry)
Gauge:4.5 st/inch, unblocked
Needles: US 9 / 5.5 mm
Notions: beads, 1 tube 5/0 beads; fabric liner; ribbon for handle

Wow, I have been quiet lately! That means I have lots to share. I'll start with these cuties:

These were a very quick knit using scrap yarn. They are heading off to the UK to help raise money for a charity that gives support to caregivers of people with Alzheimers. I am sure I will be making more of these little guys to give as gifts this year, but first I need to drink some more wine...

And here is the link to the pattern so you can make some too!

Korknisses; MadebyManne/English translation by Saartje

SKP sock 4- Ziggy

Another fun pattern. And I love the color of the yarn. These are my socks for September, also knit for SKP sock 4.

Here are the details:
Pattern: "Ziggy" by Meg Meredith published in Knitty Summer 2008; 2 needle, toe up, wrap and turn heel/gusset
Yarn: ShibuiKnits Sock, 100% superwash merino
Color: 220 Peony and 4103 Roppongi; 1 skein each
Gauge (after blocking):
Needles: US#2.5/3.0mm

Comments: For me, stranded-knit socks are not easy to get the fit right (see Birdfoot bag). My gauge was right on, but I still found the wrap and turn heel/gusset too tight. So for the second sock I increased the number of stitches I worked the heel over to 39 (from 33). This gave a more comfortable fit. If I were to make these again, with the same yarn and needles, I would add 6 stitches (1 pattern repeat).

For my October socks, I will be working with a Harry Potter-inspired theme as part of the Hogwart's Sock Swap 4 (HSS4). I will be using my own pattern and plan on making something similar to my HSS3 socks, but this time I will be knitting for a 4th year Gryffindor, so the colors will be scarlet and gold. I have a tweed yarn that I will be Kool Aid-Dyeing and I hope the colors come out right (Pineapple for the gold and Black Cherry for the maroon). We'll know after this weekend!

SKP3 finished - Rattlesnake Creek Socks

I finished these socks on the very last possible day, August 31. And I managed to get them posted to the SKP group with 90 minutes to spare.

Here are the details of this pattern:
Pattern: Rattlesnake Creek Socks -SKP2008 sock ＃3 ; top down, magic loop
Yarn: Nova Sock; 100% merino wool, washable
Colors: Peacock
Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm

Notes: I started with US1 needles, but switched to US2 for the cuff and all of the second sock. The cabling made these socks less elastic then others. It was a fun pattern to knit.

Ravelympc Finish Line

Well, I managed to make it across the finish line, barely!

Here is my finished (but unblocked in this picture) February Lady Sweater

I love the color and drape of this yarn. If I did not need to sleep, I would make 2-3 more of these!
The details:
Pattern: "February Lady Sweater" by Pamela Wynne/FlintKnits
Yarn: HandMaiden Great Big Sea Silk ; 50% Silk, 30% Wool, 20% Sea Cell; 3 skeins, had a little left over
Color: ocean
Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm


And both of my daughters squeaked in a knitted headband for Ravelympics (with yarn they dyed themselves!):

Good job girls!

I did not finish my Hanami stole, but it is coming along nicely (I will share an update later this week). We were happy to host many friends and family through out August, which made my summer knitting time more challenging then ever. I am glad I had the Ravelympics to push me along!

Summer Anklets complete

Quick and easy pattern! This is the first of my patterns that I have actually finished typing and proofing. It's yours for free if you like. Just click here to go to my website and download the pdf.

Here are the details:
Pattern: Summer Anklet (by Angela Dexter/BuzzandFuzz); top down, 2 needle
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 'Fixation Solid'; 98.3% cotton / 1.7% elastic
Colors: 5806 lime green (MC), 2406 blue-lavender (CC)
Gauge: 7.5 st/inch
Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm

SKP Sock 2 complete

I finished my second pair of socks for SKP: the Berlin socks. The original pattern sent out had a few translation errors (the pattern was originally in German), but once that was all straightened out, it was a fun lace pattern to knit.

Here are the details:

Pattern: Berlin-Pattern/Wollkistchens by Kristin Benecken (and if you are up for some German translations, here are some more great patterns by Kristen: http://www.von-stroh-zu-gold.de/muster/

Yarn: Seacoast Handpainted Yarns; Merino/Tencel
Color: Bubble Gum (and that is the perfect name to describe it!)
Gauge: 7.25 st/inch, unblocked
Needles: US#2.5/3.0mm

Comments: I think I need to attempt Kristen's Bremen-Muster and Hannover-Socken patterns in the near future...

Hogwart Socks

They're finished. The design and charts needed to be modified more than once but the end result was okay. The pattern still needs a little tweeking, so I'll work on that.

Here are my "shadow knit" Hogwart socks, in Ravenclaw colors.

And when you tilt them:

The Hogwart's "H" is on the sock on the left and the Ravenclaw "R" is encased in a shield on the right sock.

Here are the details:
Pattern: Hogwart House Socks; my own design, not yet published; 2 needle; toe up pattern with short row heel; 8 inch cuff
Yarn: elann.com Sock It to Me 4 Ply; 1 ball 46460 Steel Blue, 1 ball 41759 Platinum
Color: 46460 Steel Blue, 41759 Platinum
Gauge: 8 st/inch
Needles: US#2.5/3.0mm

My comments:
This was not only my first design in shadow knitting, but also my first time shadow knitting anything. It was fun and I learned some design tips as I went along. Once I get the right colors, I look forward to designing a pair of socks for each of the houses.

Cape Ann Knitting Retreat

I had a lovely weekend at the Cape Ann Knitting Retreat hosted by Claudia/CountryWool. It was a fun group, the views were amazing, and I finished my reversible baby sweater! Here is a picture of each side:

Can you spot the differences? The most obvious are:
1. The shoulder seam (knit line on right, purl on left)
2. The neckband (rolled in on left and out on right)
3. The waistband (rolled out on left and in on right)

What a great idea for a sweater. This way, if you make a mess, just flip the sweater inside-out and you're clean again (well, you look clean anyway).

I had never knit with Peace Fleece before and I really liked it. I think I see a Peace Fleece outer-wear sweater in my size in my future! The knitted sweater softened so much with a hot soaking. Claudia showed us some of her tried and true Peace Fleece garments and they looked and felt great after years of good use.

So here are my project details:
Pattern: kids' Harris Tweed Reversible Stitch Raglan by CountryWool
Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted; 1.5 ball
Color: Zarya Fog
Gauge: 4.5 st/inch before blocking; 4 st/inch after blocking
Needles: US 8/5 mm (I used 2 circ US4/3.5mm)
Comments: Fun and quick pattern to knit. I love that you can turn it inside-out and it still looks great!

Firestarter Socks complete!

Yeah, they're done and I am really happy with them. I made these as a Christmas gift (trying to be ready for the holidays this year), but I really wish they were for me! I don't enjoy knitting a second pair of the same sock pattern, so I guess I'll make myself a different pair of socks in the same yarn sometime soon.

So here are the details:
Pattern: "Firestarter" by Yarnissima; toe up with a fun, unique gusset
Yarn: Nova Socks (100% merino superwash wool), 1 ball
Color: Jester
Gauge: 7 st/inch
Needles: US#2.5/3.0mm

My comments:
1. Changed the provisional cast on to Magic Cast-On.
2. Pattern recommended gauge of 8 st/inch; I have 7 st/inch
3. I continued with St St up the front of the shin and ribbing in the back. I did ribbing all the way around for the last inch--probably should have ribbed 1 more inch.

I am really excited to start my next Yarnissima pattern: "La digitessa". Unfortunately, they probably won't be cast on until June because I have 2 other pairs of socks in the queue for April and May.

Jacobean socks

Well, I'm tired, but I finished my SKP2008 socks 2 days ago. Then I decided not to knit yesterday, but I'm jumping back in today.

So here are the details:
Pattern: Jacobean by Julie Persinger for SKP2008 sock1; toe-up pattern with short row heel; magic loop or 2 circular needles
Yarn: "Jitterbug" from Colinette; 1 ball (Recommended yarn=fingering wt)
Color: Velvet Damson #118
Required Gauge: 8 st/inch; My gauge: 7 st/inch, but I was making these for a Men's size US10 and the pattern was written for Women's size US7-9, so I did not adjust the pattern.
Recommended Needles: US 1.5 /2.5 mm (I used 2 circ US4/3.5mm)
Comments: Fun pattern to knit. I hope the short row heel holds up (I usually only use short row heels for baby socks and Christmas stockings).

You really can't see the diamond design in these pictures, but the design looks nice in person.

And here is a close up of the short row heel:

Back to knitting today. I hope to finish up my Firestarter socks.

Sophisticated Monster Hat Complete!

I am so happy with how this came out!

Here are the details:
Pattern: Sophisticated Monster Hat: Slightly Loopy Hat and Brainmonster combined
Yarn: Peruvian Uros Aran from Elann.com; I used 1.25 balls making size M-L

Color: 1930 Desert Rose

Required Gauge: 4.25 st/inch; My gauge: 5 st/inch, stocking st in the rnd, unblocked
Needles: I used US 9 / 5.5mm (but I knit tight)
Comments: All of my kids want one, so I am sure there are more monsters in my future!

Bird Foot sock, I mean, bag

I eliminated 2 UFOs this week as part of my 2008 resolutions:

1. I ripped out a hat project that ran out of hand spun yarn (since I did not have any more roving or yarn). I didn't even bother to take a picture of it.

2. I finished my "Bird Foot"! This was a SOTM sock kit from Red Bird Knits. I love the design and will make the socks in the future, but my gauge was way too tight on this start (I started back in 2006). It was too pretty to rip out, so...

And I found some fun fabric for the lining:

It's just the right size for my keys, phone, and Shuffle.

Here are the details:
Pattern: "Bird Foot" by Red Bird Knits (a sock pattern)
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Color 4-ply

Color: Varigated Orange (#4728) and black

Required Gauge: 8.5 st/inch; My gauge: 10.5 st/inch
Recommended Needles: US 0 or 1 / 2 or 2.5 mm (I used 2 circ US1/2.5mm, should have used US2)
Comments: Beautiful pattern. I followed the Chart 1 to rnd 65 and then grafted the stitches to close the bottom of the bag. I made a 4-st Icord 42 inches long (107 cm). Then I added a quick fabric liner so my keys wouldn't get stuck in the stranding. I am very happy with the outcome and will make the actual socks later.

I love clearing projects off my needles!

Thrummed Mobius

I have been trying to wait for the sun so I could get a good picture of this, but I can wait no longer. The picture does it no justice, but I finished my Mobius!

It looks so much better on than this photo suggests. I will update this picture when I am wearing it out in the sun. Unfortunately right now in Maine, it could be a few days before we see the sun...

This was my first mobius, but it won't be my last! I am really not sure how Cat Bordhi came up with the idea of this cast-on...wow. It took me a couple of tries, but once I got it, the rest was a piece of cake.

This is a Fleece Artist Kit using Blue Face Aran and I used the "Seastorm" colorway. I love the greens and blues mixed in this yarn. And the Blue Face Leicester Aran is so soft. Here's a picture I took with some sunlight:

It took under a week to knit this, with many other things going on around it. I didn't have any pattern changes (I know, shocking!). My next mobius will be "Caplet" in Grande Godiva, but that will be one of my March projects.

So here are the details:
Pattern: "Thrummed Mobius" by Cat Bordhi
Yarn: 375m/250g Blue Face Aran (did not use all of this); 50g Kid Mohair Sliver for thrums (used probably 10g)
Color: Seastorm
Gauge: 2.5 st/inch
Needles: US#15/10.0mm (I knit tight; recommended needles: #13/9mm)

Comments: Fun and quick pattern. Great diagrammed instructions on "Mobius Cast-On". For thrumming, I made each thrum very thin and rolled the piece in my hand to slightly felt; I spaced my thrums every 3-4 sts.

February Project of the Month: Hearts, of course!

You know I love a quick KAL, so here's my last KAL on Ravelry:

February's project: Heart shaped pillow. And look, I already made one (it only takes a couple of hours with sock yarn):

This one is for my Valentine! I used Nova Sock yarn in "Jester" and I stuffed the heart with some cotton balls near the seams and lavender buds in the center. It is such a quick project and a great way to use left-over yarn.

Pattern comments: The pattern says "row" when it is actually knit in the round.

If I didn't have so many project goals for February, I would make a bunch more of these!

January Socks...Autumn Sail socks

I finished my socks for January! Okay, to be fair, these were really my socks for NOVEMBER and I just finished them in this last week of January, but at least I am knitting again. It feels good. And I checked one thing off my list for my 2008 resolution.

I am calling them "Autumn Sail" socks because I used the 'Sailor's Rib' pattern from A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker and the colors remind me of sailing in the fall here in Maine.

So here are the details:
Pattern: "Autumn Sail" (my own); cuff down, magic loop, standard flap heel and toe
Yarn: Nova Socks (100% merino superwash wool), 1 ball
Color: Hercules
Gauge: 7 st/inch
Needles: US#2.5/3.0mm

I know I've said it before, but I really do love this yarn. Light weight and warm! I'm using this same yarn for my February socks. More on those later.