Cast-on Monday: Regal Firefly Shrug, Damask Potion, and Pinky Pink Rose Ruffled Scarf

September 19, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

Oh dear, cast-on-itis hit hard this week!

It all started Monday, when I drove to Andover to teach my Steek This class. I was also signed up to staff the brand-spanking-new “Knitting 911” hour right before my class. I thought to myself, Self, you should knit on a project using Unforgettable Yarns yarn, while you are being the Knitting 911 Knitter. So, I printed out the pattern for the Ruffled and Ruched Scarf, wound up a skein of heathered-pink Cascade 220, and cast on right then and there.

Then, I went on a weekend knitting retreat to Maine with some awesome knitting friends. I had a terrible time choosing which WIPs and potential WIPs to take along …. so I didn’t choose. I brought piles and piles of yarn and projects and patterns — as if it were a month-long knitting retreat with a TARDIS to give us several extra years of knitting time. While there, I worked on about half a dozen projects, including my Flurry sweater prototype. I also cast on for my Damask shawl (largest version) with new Stroll Glimmer in Potion. I absolutely love it. It’s hard to see the sparkle in these photos, but please be sure that the Stellina is shiny in just the right amount, as well as being unbelievably soft to the touch.

When I arrived home late Sunday night, there was a Knit Picks box waiting for me! This box had six balls of Capra DK in Regal — destined to make a Firefly Shrug for my mom. I have to scoot on this project, because she needs it for a wedding in mid-October. I cast on today!

FO Friday: Zaubershawl

September 16, 2011September 6, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

“Sun in Cold Water” is the September KAL in the Beginner Lace Knitters group on Ravelry. Since purchasing a ball of super-colorful Zauberball in March, I’ve been searching for a pattern that would show off the stunning colorway. After several failed attempts, I’d put the ball aside — but this pattern seemed like it would suit perfectly. I’m pleased with the results!

Project: Zaubershawl

Pattern: Sun in Cold Water

Designer: Julia Faranchuk

Available: FREE! on Ravelry

Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball in #1536

This shawlette is a crescent, worked from the bottom up. The designer’s intent was to allow intentional pooling of a short-repeat variegated yarn — of course my extra-long repeat Zauberball doesn’t do that. The initial cast-on is provisional — you come back at the end to work a loopy crocheted-chain edge. (You can also make the crochet chain first, and pick up every 6th st to cast on.) Short rows shape the body.

After my recent spate of shawlette-making, I’ve become opinionated. I made a number of modifications to this pattern, to suit my own preferences.

using s2kp throughout instead of sk2p throughout
changed last two rows of chart to line up better with the leaves
short rows: did graduated lengths for a more crescent-y shape
3-st icord bind off at top edge
bottom finish: SC in each loop, ch3 between (instead of ch6)

Before blocking, the lace edging was very rumpled:

I decided to pull out points, rather than pin each of the 259 crochet-chain loops:

The blocked shawl:

New Pattern Release: Steek This Coffee Cozy

September 14, 2011September 10, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

Introducing my latest pattern: Steek This Coffee Cozy! I designed this button-up mini vest to fit 20-oz coffee cups. More important than a stylish accessory for your latte, however, is the opportunity to try out steeking!

Steeking is technique used to safely and securely cut your knitting to create holes where you want them. It is frequently used with complex colorwork sweaters, because it is easier and faster to knit colorwork in the round. It can be scary to steek a big sweater, so I created this scaled-down steeking project to help knitters try out the technique fearlessly. The cozy is worked in the round with stranded colorwork to create a classic fair-isle pattern. Then follow the step-by-step guide to steeking with a crocheted reinforcement.

Pattern: Steek This Coffee Cozy

Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)

Available: FREE! on Ravelry

Yarn: Cascade 220 Solids and Heathers

2775 Steek This

2776 Steek This

Inspiration: This coffee cozy popped into my head when I was thinking about fun, useful classes that I wanted to teach. If we get enough people, I’ll be teaching “Steek This” on Mondays this September at Unforgettable Yarns.

Yarn: Natural fibers, NOT superwash

Design/Skills Needed: This project is best for knitters who have experience with colorwork and knitting in the round. The tutorial walks you through the process of reinforcing the steek with a crocheted chain before cutting. Stitches are picked up along the two edges created by cutting, and the button bands are knit from there.

2755 Steek This

I would be delighted to answer any questions or help any knitters working on this project.

Cast-on Monday: Tappan Zee, Itty Bitty Blocker Sock, and Flurry Prototype

September 12, 2011September 10, 2011remilyknits 1 Comment

This week, I was waiting impatiently for two boxes from Knit Picks. I stalked my birthday-gift-card box online, and frowned mightily when it sojourned far too long at the nearby sorting center. To force the box to come, I swatched for a Tappan Zee in this gorgeous yarn …

I bought the yarn at half off at the Loon Mountain Knit-In. I only have two skeins — about 980 yards. The label claims “DK” — but I have to say it looks and swatches a lot like worsted. Of course the swatching caused both my boxes to arrive the very next day. Mission accomplished!

The first box was my birthday order (gift card from my mom):

Mostly I got enough Gloss DK to make a Parseval. The orange/black combo is for a Halloween Cowl: Hocus Pocus. The Stroll Glimmer (shiny!) is for a Damask shawl. I also got a snappy little tape measure, and a sock-blocker key chain. Did I cast on with any of this yarn? No. I must focus on the other box. I did, however, cast on (and finish) an itty bitty sock-blocker sock with leftover BMFA STR Lightweight in “Electric Kool-aid Acid Test.”

The other box from KP is for my “Flurry Pullover” prototype. KP accepted my proposal, and this is my delightful WotA Tweed! I have swatched, waited impatiently for the swatch to dry (rainy weekend here), cast on, and knit the bottom 3-4 inches of the sweater. This sweater must be my knitting focus for the next few weeks. My goal is to knit through one ball of yarn per day — that should get this sweater done lickety split. Then “all” I have left is testing.

I swatched for the proposal using Swish DK in similar colors — not the right size, but enough to show the idea:

Fantasy Queue: Twist Collective Fall 2011

September 10, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

At a recent knitting get-together, we were all ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the latest Twist Collective. It all started because C was swatching for a sweater from this issue. We were all curious — luckily S had her new i-pad along, which turns out to be just the thing for browsing an online magazine and sharing with friends. I don’t know how this great online magazine escaped my full attention in the past, but now I’m properly riveted. Here’s my fantasy queue, if money and time were not limiting factors:

#1 — Boundless ($7)

I like this whimsical cape, even though some at knit night pronounced it “impractical” or “cute, but only on a child.” I have enough friends who dabble in the SCA or Assassin’s Guild or what-not that it is not too strange to wear a hooded cape…. besides, if I made it in Cranberry Gloss HW, how could I go astray?

#2 — Evendim ($7)

I love the asymmetrical collar and bold lace/cable design. The stockinette body might just do me in … but then again, I’m getting better at plowing through just that sort of thing (ask me how my Ruched Yoke Tee is coming along…). I would probably go with some lovely new Wool of the Andes Tweed, maybe in Flagstone Heather? (Have I mentioned yet that I am in LOVE with the WotA Tweed colorways?)

#3 — Hosta ($6)

This one really catches the eye, right? Right away I’m thinking … that is some cool double knitting or something, I must try it! I’d likely stick with the recommended yarn, using this as an excuse to try Madeline Tosh Merino DK,

FO Friday: Ruched Yoke Tee

September 9, 2011September 2, 2011remilyknits 1 Comment

Back in June I bought some pretty pale violet Cascade Ultra Pima at Unforgettable Yarns in Andover….

A mere three months later, and I have a new summer top!

Project: Purple Ruched Yoke Tee

Pattern: Ruched Yoke Tee

Designer: AnneLena Madison

Available: Interweave Knits, Spring 2011

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima

In general, a great pattern. Easy to follow, no errors (that I noticed, anyway), etc. I like the simplicity of the design. I found it to be great “travel knitting” because of the large swathes of uninterrupted stockinette. Like many other knitters of this pattern, I found the keyhole a bit too large for my taste. When I put the i-cord edge on the keyhole, I just skipped every third stitch to make it a bit smaller.

I wore it as written for a single evening … and the neckline stretched from “daringly revealing” to “downright scandalous.” I solved this by adding an applied i-cord edge (matching the keyhole edging nicely), and the top is now quite wearable. One other minor quibble — for me, the CO stitches under the arms weren’t quite enough — I should have added more. As it is, the fabric stretches a bit too much there (oh well). I also stopped about 10 rows early with the body — it was long enough already.

I really love this top! Comfy and cute. The Ultra Pima has been a dream to work with — soft, pliant, and not at all like most cottons I’ve worked with. Definitely going to use it again!

Fantasy Queue: Fall 2011 Interweave Knits

September 7, 2011September 6, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

I received my Fall 2011 issue of Interweave Knits over a month ago, and although I read it right away, I’m only just now getting around to making up my fantasy queue. Let’s make this interactive though — tell me true, dear reader, which pattern would you make from this issue, and out of what yarn?

Things I want to try (from articles and ads):

Extreme Double Knitting — this looks so cool!

#1 — Strobilus Pullover (p.31)

Mostly I’m intrigued by the construction on this top — biased lace, knit in the round for the body, then split into shoulders that go up and around. I’m not sure if I could pull it off — big chested and all — but I do really like it, at least in theory. I’d be sorely tempted to try it in KnitPicks Chroma … I guess after my Zaubershawl, I’m on a color-crazy mood. Maybe Galapagos, or Fossil? Failing that, I might go with the suggested Classic Eliete Ariosa in gorgeous Balsam.

#2 — Dahlia Cardigan (p.76)

I think I’m in love! What a neat way to include lace in a garment! I love the pattern, the construction, the color — everything. This one made it into my for-real queue, and I’ve been right on the edge of buying yarn for it several times. The main thing that’s held me back is the recommended yarn — Serena is an alpaca/cotton blend, something that’s a bit hard to come by. There’s some shops near-ish that may or may not have it, but no indication of what I might have to pay. I like to peruse online before showing up in a shop and getting hit hard by sticker shock. Provided I could convince myself that all-alpaca yarn would work, I might go with Knit Picks Andean Treasure in their new Royal Heather colorway.

#3 — Wheeled Lace Shawl (p.81)

This looks like it would be a fun lace pattern to knit. The edging is put on after blocking … intriguing! I think it would be extra-dramatic in a bold colorway, like Eggplant Aloft (from Knit Picks).

#4 — True North Mittens (p.98)

This mittens just want to be made in Knit Picks new WotA Tweed! Colorwork mittens are fast and easy in worsted-weight yarn, and I love the reindeer. I think I’d follow the “customize it” suggestion and swap plum out for deep red. My palette choices: Down Heather, Rabbit Heather, and Barn Door Heather.

Cast-on Monday: Zaubershawl

September 5, 2011September 4, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

Way back in March, I bought this super-colorful Zauberball at Mind’s Eye Yarns in Cambridge, MA. I had been on a socialization trip with my puppy, Clewe. The owner was kind enough to invite him inside!

I took so long to decide on a color, he actually fell asleep upside down on the shop floor. Aw, cute!

I tried several different patterns with the Zauberball, with no luck at all … until I decided to try it for the BLK’s September KAL: Sun in Cold Water by Julia Faranchuk. I cast on Sept 1st, and I’m zipping right along with the pattern. The colorway is SO much fun — a little out of my usual palette, but there’s nothing wrong with that! I can’t wait until it’s done and I can block it out.

FO Friday: Summer Rain (AMS KAL 2011)

September 2, 2011September 1, 2011remilyknits 2 Comments

For the third year in a row, I was a happy member of Renee Leverington’s “Anniversary Mystery Shawl” group. The KAL began in May, but I made the project even bigger by doing four panels (instead of three) and adding beads throughout the shawl. The last few rows were taking me 1-2 hours each, but the finished project is 100% worth the effort! I love the weight of a beaded shawl, and the click-clack the beads make as the shawl swings.

Project: AMS 2011

Pattern: Summer Rain

Designer: Renee Leverington

Available: $6 at Renee’s shop

Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk in Blueberry — my first time knitting from a cone!

Beads: size 6 in “gunmetal iris”

“Summer Rain” was another creative and flawless pattern, just as I’ve come to expect from Renee. The pattern called for three triangles, blocked into a half-hexagon. I decided I wanted more shoulder coverage and added a fourth panel and blocked it as a 2/3-hexagon. I also went a little crazy with beads! Near the top beading rows were few and far between, but I systematically increased the amount of beading until it was nearly every row on the final “clue” of this mystery shawl.

Did you know that beads are hard to photograph?

This year four members of my knitting group worked on the mystery shawl. The first person to finish entered her shawl in a local ag fair and won 2nd place! I’m the second person to finish — two more to go!

I was surprised by how nicely the Zephyr lace yarn stretched out while knitting. Silly me, I thought it “barely” needed blocking. Here is a before shot — you can see how dense and crumpled it is compared to the blocked photos above.

Here’s the pinned-out shawl! I used Knit Picks cables (from the interchangeable set) to block the top edges, and I pinned out points along the bottom edges. The shawl dried super fast — completely done in just one afternoon.

Cast-on Monday: a pansy and a wristlet

August 22, 2011December 29, 2011remilyknits 1 Comment

Last Monday, I didn’t have any new projects to talk about! The horror! I went a whole week without casting on anything new. How tragic. This week I made up for this lack by casting on TWO new projects, using yarn I bought at the Hub Mills sticker sale.

Here’s my start of Panzee, in CEY Cotton Classic. I’ve never actually made a washcloth before, and I just love the Pansy Cloth pattern (by designer Theresa L. Jones).

I also cast on for my Hellebores Wristlets, in CEY Silky Alpaca Lace. As far as I can tell, I’ll be able to make the wristlets AND the hat from a single ball of the super-soft very-purple yarn. This project came about because the designer of Hellebores, Anne Hanson, was chosen for a designer JAL by the 52 in 52 group on ravelry.

Remily Knits

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