This week I cast on (and finished) a cute little beaded bag. It’s my prototype for a class I’m teaching at Unforgettable Yarns during the second week of July. More on that this Friday!
Month June 2011
FO Friday: Silky ZigZag Shawl
Last week I finished my “purse project” — a portable project that I carry with me and work on in tiny increments when I have time on my hands. I bought a skein of Tonos Pima Silk after reading a review in Interweave Knits, and I totally love it. The hand-painted colorway is subtle and intriguing. The soft, soft yarn is lovely to work with and lovely to behold in the finished item. I’ll talk more about the yarn in an upcoming yarn review post.
Project: Silky ZigZag Shawl
Pattern: ZigZag Shawl
Designer: Marion Bulin
Available: FREE! on Ravelry
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Tonos Pima Silk
I let the yarn determine pattern choice for this project. I wanted something with a lot of stockinette and uncomplicated structure so that the hand-painted colors could take center stage. However, it couldn’t be TOO boring to knit, or it would never get done! I also wanted a pattern that was flexible, so I could use as much of the skein as possible.
The ZigZag Shawl fit all my requirements! It is worked from point to point, and is easily adapted to be larger or smaller. I knit until my skein was half gone, then decreased down. I have a tiny bit leftover, which is perfect. The wide swath of stockinette is beautiful, and the garter-stitch edging helped speed the knitting along and helped me keep track of the increases and decreases.
Yarn Shop Review: Unforgettable Yarns
On Thursday, June 16th, I attended the Grand Opening of Unforgettable Yarns, a new yarn shop that is set up in the corner of the Andover Bookstore. They promised snacks, yarn tasting, snacks, and discounts on all purchases … how could I say no? My knitting group usually meets on Thursday nights, so we decided to go to the yarn shop opening instead. As it turns out, only two of us were able to make it, but I think we both had a good time.
I had stopped in earlier in the week for a covert sneak peek, so I knew a little bit about what to expect. The bookstore has devoted a corner of the first floor to yarn. There is a full wall plus a large bookcase filled with a good selection of workhorse yarns by Cascade Yarns, plus a shelf full of Noro yarn (Taiyo, Kureyon, and Silk Garden). They also have a rack of needles and notions, plus a variety of knitting books (including many of my favorites).
I have to say, I didn’t know how fun a yarn tasting can be! There was a long table set up with caked yarns on paper plates. Jars of knitting needles and an invitation to knit was all I needed — I knit a little with the Ultra Pima cotton, Cascade 220 Superwash, Cascade 220 Heathers, and the hand-painted Heritage sock yarn. The 220 superwash is sturdy and serviceable. I can see myself picking up a ball or two for a last-minute baby project. The 220 Heathers are GORGEOUS. I actually bought two skeins on spec when I dropped in last week to scout the shop.
I chose this pinky-coral colorway, and plan to make a Ruffled and Ruched Scarf with it. Pretty, no?
I really liked the hand-painted sock yarn, but (frankly) I really, really don’t need any more stripey fingering-weight yarn in sock quantities. I had a 3×5 card in my pocket with three possible projects on it, two of which were light sweaters. I really want to start making more tops for myself, so I focused on those. I ended up buying some of the delicious Ultra Pima.
After hemming and hawing, and with help from my friend Heather (who has an excellent eye for color), I settled on a pretty violet-blue-purple. I’ll be making a Ruched Yoke Tee for me!
This isn’t a huge yarn shop with a wide selection …. yet! But, I did overhear one employee say that if it was more profitable than cards, it could take over that space. Also, the owner talked about a lot of cool classes that will be coming up, so overall I think this shop has a lot of potential. I plan on making regular purchases, to show my support. Hooray for local yarn shops!
Cast-On Monday
This week I cast on (and finished) a wrist-strap cozy for my new i-Pod Nano. I’ve been using it every day since I finished it — love it!
I also cast on (for swatching) for a Ruched Yoke Tee (for me!) made from Cascade Ultra Pima. I bought this yarn on sale at a new yarn shop, Unforgettable Yarns, that has sprung up in a corner of the Andover Book Store. I swatched with a bit of this yarn at the Grand Opening and it is soft and shiny and purely lovely in every way.
New Pattern Release: iPod Nano Wrist-Strap Cozy
About a week ago my fourth (!) iPod gave up the ghost. It was a great little 5th-gen Nano in shiny purple. But, three of the four directional buttons no longer worked, so off to the recycling plant with it! I bought a 6th-gen Nano — newly tiny, and (joy of joys) with only a touch screen and no button wheel at all. Yay!
And what does a cute lime-green iPod need? A cozy, of course!
I used a few dozen yards of left-over sock yarn from my Electric Kool-Aid Socks. The cozy begins with a provisional cast on and a few rows of stockinette. Then stitches are picked up all around the starter strip. The rest of the cozy is worked in the round in a slipped-stitch rib that serves two purposes: it looks cool, and it provides extra padding. The top is finished with an i-cord BO that leads into an i-cord wrist strap.
This is the third iPod cozy I’ve made, and by now I know what I like in one! I decided to write up the pattern and share it with the world.
Pattern: iPod Nano Wrist-Strap Cozy
Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)
Available: FREE!
Yarn: Socks That Rock Lightweight
I would be delighted to answer any questions or help any knitters working on these patterns.
Cast-On Monday
This week I added two new projects to my needles. One is a design project that was accepted for publication through Knit Picks IDP, and the other is a test knit for one of my favorite designers.
The new project of mine is a “practical” shawl — worked mostly in garter stitch with superwash worsted-weight yarn, it should be warm and cozy, and knit up quickly, too. I’m using the Danish wrap-style shawl as a basis for the shape. To make it pretty and fun to knit, I’m adding a bit of lace here and there — but not so much as to make it un-practical, or slow down a knitter too much. Knit Picks granted my every wish when they accepted the pattern, and then gave me Swish Worsted in Blue Violet:
I’m lucky enough to be on Kate Oates (of Tot Toppers) test-knitter list. Periodically she puts out photos and descriptions of patterns she needs tested, and it is a tribute to her and her designs how quickly the tests fill up! Lately I’ve been too slow to respond, and have missed out on testing a number of great patterns, but this time I got lucky! If you read Kate’s group on Ravelry, you already know about her knitpon — a chance to pre-order her fall collection for only $33. Today (Mon 13th) is the absolute last chance to take advantage of this deal — check out the awesome patterns: 
See that stripey boy’s sweater in the top row? That’s the pattern I’m test knitting. I ordered some great Wool of the Andes in the new Tonal colorways, and I’m already halfway through the body. It looks great on my youngest boy, who is very into dinosaurs. Here’s my pretty yarn, in Blue Yonder, Springtime, and Deep Waters.
New Pattern Release: Clewe Cowl and Minotaur Cowl
Last weekend I taught a class on möbius kntting at the last-ever Granite State Knit-In. We had an airy lodge all to ourselves: 150+ knitters of every stripe, enjoying a beautiful late-spring morning in New Hampshire with yarn and needles in hand. Lucky me, I even found a few great deals and bought a shawl pin, some laceweight yarn, and enough hand-painted DK (?) yarn for a cardi/shrug.
But enough about my squishy yarn! Back to the class. I really enjoy knitting on the edge of a möbius strip, and I wanted to share this with knitters who have never encountered this awesome knitted shape before. My OCD side loves knitting a true möbius, starting with Cat Bordhi’s möbius cast-on. The Clewe cowl uses this cast-on and takes full advantage of möbius knitting with the reversible Labyrinth pattern.
Pattern: Clewe Cowl
Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)
Available: FREE!
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky
However, the möbius cast-on can be tricky for knitters, especially if they are also tackling knitting in the round and/or circular needles for the first time. To make möbius knitting more accessible, I designed the Minotaur cowl, which begins as a flat strip that is joined with a half twist, creating a möbius base from which the knitter picks up stitches. From that point on it is worked on the long möbius edge, following the reversible Horns pattern.
Pattern: Minotaur Cowl
Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)
Available: FREE!
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky
I would be delighted to answer any questions or help any knitters working on these patterns.
Kudzu Knit-a-long
I’m absolutely delighted to report that my Kudzu Shawlette pattern made it up to #16 on on Ravelry’s “New and Popular” top 20 list on the Patterns page. (The list refreshes often, so Kudzu may not be there now.) I am quite certain this is due in no small part to the Beginner Lace Knitters group on Ravelry, which chose Kudzu for their June 2011 KAL. Before that KAL was finalized, I also started a KAL on my brand-spanking-new Remily Knits group on Ravelry. Of course I’m running the KAL on my group, but I’m also lurking in the other group to answer any pattern-specific questions. Join both, for the best of both worlds!
Mostly, I’m just plain SUPER EXCITED that people like my pattern. It is a huge thrill to see other knitters make something I designed. Here are a few of the wonderful WIP Kudzu Shawlettes:
Cast-On Monday
In the spirit of 52 in 52, I’m changing up my Monday posts. Instead of Ravelry Mondays (which, I admit, I have been a slacker about), I’ll post every Monday (or thereabouts) with a list of what I’ve cast on during the week previous.
This week I have only one new project added to the needles. It’s a design project, so I can’t tell you too much! I’m using this yarn (KP’s Stroll Tonal in “Springtime”):
The project is a twisted-stitch sock pattern based on a sweater I saw (and loved!) at Canobie Lake Park on Mother’s Day:
I’ve cast on and ripped out about half a dozen times already, but this final iteration is going like gangbusters. Once I get the leg done, I’ll start thinking about where I might submit the pattern idea for publication.
Kudzu by the Numbers
My latest pattern, Kudzu, has gotten a lot of positive attention on Ravelry! Today, it hit 1000 favorites, making it by far my most popular pattern today. There are already 26 projects, including many from two separate knit-a-longs (more on that Wednesday).
In honor of hitting that milestone, I give you (as requested) a row-by-row stitch count for both the full and midi length of the shawlette.
Please note: these stitch counts are for AFTER the row(s) are complete.
| Section | Row(s) | Sts (Full) | Sts (Midi) |
| Cast On | 0 | 253 | 178 |
| Rib | 1 – 4 | 253 | 178 |
| Open Twist Rib | 1 – 2 | 303 | 213 |
| Open Twist Rib | 3 – 4 | 253 | 178 |
| Leaves | 1 – 2 | 303 | 213 |
| Leaves | 3 – 4 | 403 | 283 |
| Leaves | 5 – 6 | 503 | 353 |
| Leaves | 7 – 8 | 603 | 423 |
| Leaves | 9 – 10 | 605 | 425 |
| Leaves | 11 – 12 | 607 | 427 |
| Leaves | 13 – 14 | 609 | 429 |
| Leaves | 15 – 16 | 611 | 431 |
| Leaves | 17 – 18 | 609 | 429 |
| Leaves | 19 – 20 | 607 | 427 |
| Leaves | 21 – 22 | 605 | 425 |
| Leaves | 23 – 24 | 603 | 423 |
| Leaves | 25 – 26 | 601 | 421 |
| Lattice | 1 – 2 | 599 | 419 |
| Lattice | 3 – 4 | 597 | 417 |
| Lattice | 5 – 6 | 595 | 415 |
| Lattice | 7 – 8 | 593 | 413 |
| Lattice | 9 – 13 | 591 | 411 |
Remily Knits 