Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Hat/scarf/writers sets for my boys!



I've been working on holiday gifts and trying to use my stash yarn. I made a cowl, hat, and wristers for each of my boys.

Cowl- I didn't use a pattern. I cast on 22 stitches using worsted weight yarn on size 8 needles. Knit two rows of alternating colors in garter stitch. When it measured 21 inches long, I switched to stockinette, put in button holes by casting off a stitch, three times, then cast back on the stitches on the next row. Very simple and quick!

Hat- I used the child size (pattern offers every size imaginable) of Luuk, by Annis Jones. I can't say enough how much I love this pattern. It's soooooo cute! Also, super fast to knit and hardly used any yarn. The only modification I made was to use a contrasting color (blue) for the last knit row and all purl rows in pattern. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/luuk



I also made some matching fingerless mitts. I cast on 25 stitches, knit in garter for 40 rows, cast off, seam up sides leaving five stitches open, five stitches from the edge. I ran out of Blue yarn, so they don't quite match. I rather like it that way because it doesn't seem all matchy-matchy.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Post Holiday MEEEE TIME!

I decided that after my holiday knitting frenzy and in anticipation of my annual winter depression, January is going to be the month for, well, ME! I have a few things on my needles, but first up are my fingerless gloves. I just need to finish the thumb and make another. Quick knit and great pattern. I did make them a bit longer than the pattern called for. I used Vickie Howell's Sheep (ish) yarn in gun metal. It's a wool/acrylic mix in a roving. I thought the roving might make the gloves crisper or something, but it didn't really. Also, it seems to already be pilling and it splits super easy so it's difficult to knit with. In other words, I wish I hadn't bought four more skeins of it! Anyway, I love the pattern http://voknits.com/2009/03/06/cold-turkey/

Gingerbread Man and Woman

I made this cute little Gingerbread couple for my daughter and her fiancé (oh, that's weird to say). They're perfect stocking stuffers! They only took about twenty minutes each to make, then you felt them. The pattern was so easy. I would say that it would even be an almost beginner project. There are increases and decreases, but since you're felting, no one will really be able to tell if there's a mistake. Also, I'm all about the quick satisfaction!

Pattern: http://torirotsstitches.blogspot.com/2011/11/ginger-bread-couple-and-hat-competition.html

Here they are before felting. Honestly, if you had some unfeltable brown yarn, these things don't actually need felting. I might make another pair to felt, just out of curiosity.