Seems I’m on a bit of a kick. It’s just so easy to avoid other things when you’ve got little tchotchkeys to crochet.
Pattern: Birds of a Feather by Hannah Kaminsky.
Hook: 4 mm/G
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Fresco, color #5367, blue turquoise.
This little guy was a gift for friend Tuko, who’s birthday was yesterday. At her house a few weeks ago I noticed this book (maybe, one very much like it anyway) on the coffee table.
Me: You know, I always think of you when I see these things, but then I second guess myself and think maybe it’s a little too cute? Maybe we’ve outgrown cute?
T: I loooove CUTE!!!
Right then.
Now that I’ve tried it I gotta say amigurumi is freakin’ fun you guys, there’s no doubt I’ll be making more. It’s like instant plump and squishy gratification. The only real problem is finding enough people to palm these off on, though judging by other people’s reactions last night, especially my Dad’s, it wont be too hard.
Next, another birthday present, this time for friend Bonnie, who has a mass of red curls and will, I think, look fab in this color.
Pattern: Queen Anne’s Lace Scarf by Khebhin Gibbons.
Hook: 3.75 mm/F
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted, color #506, mint.
Sorry about the craptacular photo, I finished it rather late in the day and only had time to steam the thing, stuff it in a gift bag, and head off to the party. I wish I had something that showed the whole scarf, instead you get the pics I snapped when I first started it, harsh noon light and all. I want to make one for myself, so maybe I’ll have some better photos to show you then. It’s just such a cool end product, so organic, so Rococo, so easy to make. Right now I’m deciding between another solid colored one or an imitation of Yarnbee’s gorgeous version.
Finally, there’s something I didn’t make, but I wanted to show you guys anyway ’cause I’m smitten with it.
Back in November Tuko gave me this bracelet, which she commissioned her friend Christa to design and make. They picked out the colors together, especially for me, and I gotta say they’re dead on. Between the juicy hues and the abundance of those many petaled flowers (so many teeny stitches!) I feel like I’m wearing summertime.
Turns out my bracelet was the prototype for one Christa sells in her Etsy store, so if you want one, you can have one too. Or maybe one of the other charming pieces she makes? Personally I’m pretty enamored with the sequin rings.
29 Jan 09 | 8:29 pm
Meet my grandmother, the person who taught me how to crochet and knit, how to dance, which fork to use, how to play cards, and, by example, that you can figure out how to do almost anything, and do it well. She’s insanely capable, I’ve seen her fix everything from a clawed up leather jacket to a washing machine. When she makes something it is perfect, and if not she’ll figure out some clever way to make it so.
Recently I was at her house and she really liked some fingerless mitts I was finishing up, so of course I had to make her these:
Pattern: As if I even have to say it, Fetching by Cheryl Niamath.
Needles: US 6/4.0 mm
Yarn: Ugh, I wish I could tell you, ‘cuz I like it. I’ve looked all over the place, but no ball band, no receipt, no luck. It’s an aran weight merino, alpaca and cashmere blend, about 105 yds to 50 grams. If any of that is sounding familiar, especially if you work at Hill Country Weavers, drop me a line. It came from the back room, somewhere near the needles. ETA: I spent a little time sleuthing on Ravelry and found it! It’s Bristol Yarn Gallery King George by Plymouth, color #1042.
As much as I like the yarn, I wasn’t too excited about the mitts themselves. The loose picot bind off the pattern calls for has its own rustic, “why yes, I did make these” sort of charm that I think plays very well with the cables, normally. Not for Grandma though, instead I went with a standard bind off.
Which came out too loose, nicely matching my goofy cast on. If I would have thought about it for two seconds I’d have cast on with a smaller needle, I think I was just too excited to get started though. Whatever the reason, I messed up, but I did think a row of single crochet around all the edges would fix things up nicely. One problem:
That’s all the yarn I had left. Just enough to do the bottom of one mitt as it turns out. At least I could see that yeah, crochet would make things better.
So instead of all the edges, I pulled out the top two rows, re-bound off with smaller needles, and used the salvaged yarn to crochet just around the bottom of the other mitt. Worked out well I think.
I hope she likes them.
In other news… Thanks for all the opinions about the color scheme of my Icelandic sweater. I think I just threw the acidy citron yarn in there because I love that color so very, very much right now. You guys are right though, the mustard harmonizes better, the overall effect is cozier.
Also, I bit the bullet and frogged the problematic bits of my Oblique. One day this thing will be finished. And one day I’ll knit a sweater in exactly the time I think it should take, not half a year later. Right?
23 Jan 09 | 9:23 pm
Hello! Sorry for the long delay, but thanks very much for saying nice things about my hat. I’m actually reaching near total happiness with it. And look!
I haz a pom!
It’s scraggidy and a wee bit more oblong than round, but it’s as cheerful and charming as a pom can be and I love it.
I hope all your holidays were wonderful, that you are fully recovered from them, and are now happily crafting only for you (if you want to I mean, no pressure.) Right now Bri and I are very into staying cozy and doing domestic things like decorting, cooking and playing video games. We comb Craig’s List furniture listings together, send each other links from Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge, we’ve learned to appreciate the humble staple lifter. We’ve even cleaned and reorganized the closet, which is how I came across this.
This is the last little bit of the very first yarn I knit with in what I think of as “my knitting: modern era.” As opposed to “my knitting: crap era,” which was 20 years ago and eventually resulted in a renewed devotion to my first fiber craft love, crochet. No, this comes from years later when Brian got so bored of me mentioning that it might be cool to try knitting again, he hauled me down to Michael’s, convinced me to get a Susan Bates starter kit, complete with instructional booklet (heavy on 80’s sweaters and garter stitch pillow covers,) two skiens of what I believe was Red Heart, and exasperatedly told me to just try it already.
An important archeological find if ever there was one, but what to do with it?
This jack bugs me, it’s right next to the sink and it ruins my view while I’m doing dishes, chopping vegetables, or squeezing a lime wedge into a can of Modelo. Usually I try to cover up ugly things on the wall with framed pictures, but I couldn’t decide what belonged here. I’ve got the two Nikki McClure prints right over the switch and some photos on a wall close by, so I didn’t want anything too similar, and it had to be red, and graphic, and not too representational.
I tried cutting out a blowup of a section of a suzani from a catalog, which I should have known wouldn’t work. That paper’s wooh(!) shiny, even if you throw a mat and frame around it, it still looks like you cut a picture out of a magazine and framed it because you are lame and couldn’t make the effort to find some real art, or a real piece of fabric for that matter. Still not wanting to leave the house, or wait for shipping, I tried getting out some pens and making myself a little masterpiece, something that’s hard to do when you lack direction, inspiration, or even skillz.
It was a while before I remembered that hey, I’m skilled at making things with yarn! I should make something red, graphic, and not too representational out of yarn. This thing will be flat so I can put it in a frame that will cover up the jack. This thing will be a doily!
Now my taste doesn’t really run to the lacy, flouncy or frilly, but I do have a couple flowery things lurking around the house:
Maybe I could find a not very victorian doily pattern that had something in common with the shapes I already had goin’ on? And maybe I could use up the very last of The First Yarn, because for all its acrylicness, it’s actually a very pretty shade of red. Plus it’d be ironic (satisfyingly cyclical?) to use it for a crochet project.
Ok, so not much of a doily, more of a coaster I guess, or a potholder, a yarny trivet, whatever.
It still makes the kitchen prettier right? Even though it’s a bit small for the frame, and would probably have turned out more graphic if I had used a larger hook, I still dig it.
Pattern: Some sort of variation on Kimberly’s Flower Coaster by Kimberly Andrew.
Yarn: I’m thinking Red Heart Classic Solid
Hook: 3.75 mm/US F, maybe.
07 Jan 09 | 5:7 am
Like a year ago. In fact here it is making its debut at last year’s Thanksgiving.
Since then it’s seen a lot of wear. My intent was to make a sweater that was warm and blankety enough for lounging and pretty enough to class up the pyjama pants and soup stained t-shirt that is my standard around-the-house ensemble. After all, as lovely as it is to actually be a sloppy, sedentary lump on the couch, it sucks to look like one. I think I succeeded, so well that it’s become my standard grocery store/movie theater/airplane/restaurant (and anyplace else that’s inexplicably OMG freezing!) sweater.
That right there is the look of love. Comfy, cozy, yet totally OK to wear in public, sweater love.
Anyway, around January I took some pictures, threw them up on Rav, and proceeded to ignore my blog, kinda ignore Ravelry, and not knit all that often either. Then my mood changed, I came back, and found that a few people had said some really kind and flattering things about the Big Bad. They were also asking for a pattern, and that is a problem, because try as I might I can’t seem to write one.
Writing a pattern for a sweater is way harder (to me) than designing one. I have no idea about sizing, or other people’s proportions. I don’t know if the way I write out instructions would be clear enough, or maybe patronizingly too clear. Every time I sit down with my notes, my calculator, Ysolda’s sizing charts, graph paper, a lap top opened to this article, every pattern book I own to use for wording reference, and a strong cup of coffee - my brain shuts down. The whole thing just makes me wanna go “AAAAAGGH!” like a Muppet monster.
Eventually I gave up and made this announcement: “It’s a pretty simple design though, and I’m sure many of you are capable of improvising your own sweater that would look pretty much like this one, so please feel free. I’ll be flattered.” Some people took me up on it (yay!) and emailed a few questions. A lot of the questions are understandably repeats, so in order to save me, and maybe you, some time I thought I’d just put up some general notes here. If your specific question doesn’t get answered feel free to email me, leave a comment, or contact me on Rav.
- The general idea was to keep the color repeats a consistent size by making each piece of the sweater about the same width. In my case this meant that each front side is 6″, the collar is 6″, each side of the back is 9″, and the sleeves start off at 9″ around the wrist and end up being 13″ around the top of the arm.
- The main body is worked in reverse stockinette.
- The collar is 1×1 rib, with a slip st selvage on the outer edge, and the lower edges of the body are 3 rows of 1×1 rib as well.
- The collar is worked separately then attachedafter the rest of the sweater is all sewn together.
- The cuffs are also worked separately in 1×1 rib (with slip st selvage,) grafted to form a ring, then attached to the sleeves.
- The seams down the center of the back, attaching the collar to the sweater, and attaching the cuffs to the sleeves are all worked so that they are visible on the public side of the sweater. Although I think if I had it to do over again I’d just work the cuff to sleeve seams normally.
- All other seams are worked traditionally.
If you do make your own Big Bad Noro good luck, and be sure to send me a picture:)
07 Nov 08 | 7:7 am
Favorite.
Anyway, here’s the hat I made for him.
Yarn: Reynolds Odyssey, color #502, 2 balls. Blue Sky Alpacas Sport, color #527, less than 1 ball.
I really like the Odyssey - pretty colors and it’s merino, so nice to knit with and wear, even when it’s knit at a dense gauge. I’m a little worried about its delicacy though. As soon as I was done making this I put it away in my ugly but useful yarn organizing thing, when I pulled it out lots of the stitches had been pulled. So either the cats got it out, had a field day, then put it neatly away, or it got thrashed simply by sitting in a drawer with a bunch of yarn. Very mysterious.
Needles: 6.0mm/US 10 for the cast on, 4.0mm/US 6 for the ribbing and lining, and 5.0mm/US 8 for the body.
Pattern: My own.
This is pretty much my standard guy hat. If you’re a guy, and I made you a hat, it’s some variation of this one. The math involved is not taxing at all (even for me,) there’s only one fiddly bit, and no time consuming stitch patterns, so they’re easy for me to crank out. ‘Course that doesn’t mean that each and every one isn’t made with love, care, and all the other insubstantial goodness that a hand-made gift simply reeks of. I use this pattern a lot too because fashion-wise it’s unadventurous. Normally I’m all for ‘zazz, but when giving a gift, especially to a man, and especially one he’s supposed to wear, I feel a bit safer making something basic but useful. Still, what details there are I like.
Like the double hem, it looks folded but is actually attached, so he doesn’t have to futz around with it. And since the lining doesn’t show I can get away with using a crazy color if I want.
Usually it’s alpaca, keeps ears super toasty, it’s silky soft and hypoallergenic, ‘cuz giving someone a hat and a mysterious rash is not what I’m usually going for. Plus with a lining I can use any scratchy thing (Noro) I want for the rest.
Then there’s the spiral crown. Love nice, neat k2tog, hate all its sloppy left-leaning counterparts. So as far as hats and I are concerned, spiral crown = instant best friend.
Besides, it’s pretty.
09 Jan 08 | 12:9 pm
I knit some socks for B, and we’re both quite pleased with ‘em, but other than that I can’t really think of too much else to say. So today’s post will be written by my good friend (and non-knitter) G, pictured last time with the pub quiz trophy he, and his thorough knowledge of Norse mythology, was mostly responsible for winning.
Firstly Id like to thank Maia for immortalizing my midsection and right hand and forearm on the internet. Secondly Id like to thank Jesus for making large beer steins and Spaten beer.
If I were you Id be knitting some of these bad boys because they go well with jeans and concrete everyone has some of those. Seriously though I would always carry a pair of these socks in case you step outside of your apartment barefoot in the cold. That way you could whip them out and have warm and toasty feet like no problem.
There you go, good advice from G. Personally, I think that having “warm and toasty feet like no problem” can only make a day that much better.
Yarn: Regia Patch Antik, color #5759. 1 ball.
Needles: 2.75mm/US 2
Pattern: My own, for feet of unusual size.
12 Dec 07 | 11:12 pm
Sorry about that. Two months and counting without a post, what a ludicrous way to start a blog huh? Truth is that for a good while there I was too distracted with birthdays, showing off my fabulous town to friends and family, enjoying what it is that makes my town so very fabulous, and uh, wining gigantic beer steins at my local pub quiz, to do any knitting.
Yup, there was no knitting, sorta unheard of around here. Fortunately (and strangely) October brought with it a near constant demand for ipod socks.
These little guys were quick, simple, and totally made me hungry for longer, more complicated projects. Knitting appetizers if you will. So yeah, it’s now almost December and I’ve been making other things that I’m all excited to talk about, but why not start off with what got me back on the couch in the first place?
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM, color #115, way less than 1 ball.
Needles: 2.75mm/US 2
Pattern: Made it up, but in a nutshell:
- C.O. enough sts to stretch around your ipod (should be divisible by both 3 and 2,) join.
- Work in 2×1 seed or broken rib for an inch or so. P 1 round. K until the thing is long enough.
- Divide sts between 2 needles and graft together.
Yarn: Regia Strato Color, also way less than one ball. I’ve no idea what color because I lost the ball band and the internet isn’t helping me out either.
Needles: 2.75mm/US 2
Pattern: This one’s even simpler and more obvious but:
- Magic C.O. enough sts to stretch around your ipod (should be an even number.)
- K around until your sock is an inch too short. Work k1 p1 rib for an inch or so.
- Tubular B.O. all sts.
01 Dec 07 | 1:1 am
Yay!
Pattern: my own
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere in cashmere blue, less than one ball.
Needles: 3.25mm/US 3
Mmm, pretty, no? I wish I’d thought of attaching the I-cord to the inside and making it the “public side.” ‘Course then the bonnet wouldn’t have made such a matchy set with the socks, and the seams might have made baby E’s head look too much like a baseball.
I am digging the gathers at the back of the neck though, and of course the picot edging.
My apologies for the denim, I just didn’t have anything even vaguely baby shaped lying around the apartment. Instead of my knee, try to imagine one of the charming creatures from a Debbie Bliss book doing the modeling.
Even with the extra step of writing a pattern, this was a very smooth knit. The only rough patch was the tedious business of the attached I-cord, the row of sts I picked up around the neck were too loose and the cord sorta flopped around instead of sitting snuggly against the bonnet. At first I though I was going to have to frog and pick up the sts again with a much smaller needle, but a bit of strategic tugging with a tapestry needle evened things out just fine.
Overall I’m pretty happy with it, I wanted something simple and unfussy to match the socks and the bonnet pretty much fits the bill. Still, it’s not the most exciting thing either, and I’m not sad to see it off on its merry way to San Francisco.
Wanna see what I am excited about?
I’ve got plans. Big, cozy, shawl-collared plans.
I’m trying not to let the giddiness get in the way of my ability to do math.
12 Aug 07 | 10:12 pm
When I was still a semi-beginer, knitting wise, my oldest friend announced she was gonna have a kid. She was the very first of my friends to do so and visions of smooshy blankets, little cardigans, tiny hats, and most adorably, booties that can fit in the palm of your hand, danced in my head. I bought this book and picked out a basic bootie pattern. I also bought some yarn, it might have been called Softee Sweetee Cloud for Angel Baybees, or something. Anyway, it was light blue, it came from a big ol’ craft store and it was acrylic.
The pattern really was ok, clearly written, error free - all that good stuff. It was just a little too adventurous for a knitter who up until then had a pretty monogamous relationship with scarves, perhaps occasionally cheating with a hat or two. The foot/toe junction was awkward, confusing and required a fair bit of blind faith on my part. Finishing was worse: one regular straight seam (no problem there) one between two pieces of curved seed stitch (scary) and some grafting (scarier.) None of this made any easier by my yarn choice. However, between The Big Book of Knitting, the internet, and my own willingness to do the same tedious thing a couple times over, I got through it. And I even ended up with one fairly cute, honest-to-god baby bootie. But that’s it, just one. I was so over it that I have never ventured into bootieland again, not even to finish the pair.
Little tiny feet are undeniably cute though, as are little knitted garments to keep them warm. So when another favorite couple announced their big news I decided to make these:
Besides I like making socks, socks are fun.
Pattern: Better-than-booties baby socks by Ann Budd. Free from Interweave.
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere in cashmere blue, less than one ball.
Needles: 2 mm/US 0
Man I love a picot hem. No matter how fussy it is to k2tog off eight tiny needles, I always think the end result is charming.
I also really like the zig-zag bind off. It sorta mirrors the picot hem and makes a functional element decorative. Plus I’d never seen it before. I don’t know when my attitude changed, but nowadays coming across an unfamiliar knitting technique is thrilling, not scary.
My one mod was to replace the the chevron lace with a row of 9st diamonds I unvented in the interest of gender neutrality. I realize that the idea of a picot sock with lacy diamonds being less girl-specific than a picot sock with lacy chevrons is silly, and if I had truly been committed on the whole gender neutrality issue I would have made some plain ribbed socks, but these were more fun.
21 Jul 07 | 6:21 am
