FO Friday: Shiny Purple Maluka

August 19, 2011remilyknits 2 Comments

Maluka is the August KAL in the Beginner Lace Knitters group on Ravelry. It was one of my nominations, so I was extra excited to cast on! I rummaged through my stash and found the perfect hank of too-pretty-for-feet sock yarn: a gorgeous purple wool-bamboo blend with a lot of shine and personality.

This shawlette is almost a scarf — very petite! But, quick to work up. You work the garter border first. The cool 3-over-3 bundle that makes a chain of circles that is very pretty. After the border is complete, you pick up stitches all along the edge, and work the body in a series of short rows to create a graceful crescent shape.

Project: Shiny Purple Maluka

Pattern: Maluka

Designer: Bea Schmidt

Available: FREE! on Ravelry

Yarn: Three Irish Girls McClellan Fingering

I’ve been wearing my Maluka constantly — even with grubby shorts and a T-shirt :). (I never said personal style was my forte!) I love how it drapes. The designer is German, so it’s not too surprising that the edging chart follows the convention of showing what you actually knit, rather than the right side of the work. I know there are knitters out there who prefer this style of chart, but I much, much prefer a chart that shows what the right side of the work looks like. I have no problem understanding “knit on RS, purl on WS” etc. For my own sanity, I did make up a “right side” version of the Maluka edging chart, which I have made available at Google docs for knitters who think like me. (You will still need the original pattern to make a Maluka, as this is only the edging chart.)

I modified the pattern just a smidge, nothing major. I used wrap&turn short rows, rather than the decrease/slip short rows called for. I found that the decrease was making a big lump in my fabric. I also wanted to use a little more yarn and have a slightly bigger finished object. For the neck edge, I decided to use an i-cord bind off, which I extended over the cast-on and bind-off ends of the edging. I am a bit of an i-cord fanatic! 🙂

In sum: great pattern, love my FO, another great KAL!

Tips and Tricks: Crochet Cast-On

August 17, 2011May 23, 2013remilyknits 7 Comments

One of my favorite cast-on techniques for small items where the edge will be seen is a crochet cast-on. It creates a flexible, sturdy edge that looks exactly like a traditional bind-off. After watching some friends, I realized that I do it a little differently than other people.

Above: crochet cast-on edge

Below: traditional bind-off edge

2715 bind-off edge

See how similar they are?

You can watch the video …

… or read through the photo tutorial.

Step #1: Make a slip knot and put it on your crochet hook (the hook should be about the same size as your needle).

Step #2: Hold the knitting needle below and parallel to the crochet hook, making sure to have the working yarn behind the needle.

Step #3: Wrap the working yarn around both the needle and the crochet hook (under and in front, over and behind)

Step #4: Pinch the yarn and knitting needle with your left hand; use your right hand to pull a loop through with the crochet hook.

Result: one st on needle, one loop on crochet hook, one loop of edge created

Continue: Wrap yarn around both needle and hook, then pull a loop through

Result: two stitches on needle, one loop on hook, two loops of edge created

Continue in this manner until you are one stitch short of the total needed (N-1) on your needle. Slip the loop on the crochet hook to the needle — this is the final stitch.

FO Friday (err, Saturday): Zylphia Over Yonder and Sapphire Papilionoidea

August 13, 2011remilyknits 2 Comments

In a special weekend edition of FO Friday, I bring you two projects I finished this summer….

Project: Zylphia Over Yonder

Pattern: Zylphia Cowl

Designer: Stephannie Tallent

Available: on Ravelry ($6)

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Blue Yonder

I tech edited this pattern, and absolutely could not resist casting on almost the moment I finished the editing work. This cowl takes the stitch patterns from Stephannie’s “Zylphia Pilots Her Airship” sweater (published at the Sanguine Gryphon) and scales it down into a beautiful lacy cowl. Turned picot hems finish both ends; the cowl is knit entirely in the round. I found the lace pattern interesting and easy to memorize. It shows off tonal yarn beautifully.

Project: Sapphire Papilionoidea

Pattern: Papilionoidea

Designer: Caroline Wright

Available: on Ravelry (£2.00 GBP)

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Fingering in Sapphire Heather

I was lucky enough to test knit this pattern for the designer. I had been trying to decide what socks to make for my Dad — he’d requested “fancy” socks in Sapphire Heather with his Christmas Knit4UxMe. Then I saw these, and wow! It’s amazing how the butterfly emerges from the lacy pattern. This is another great pattern by an indy designer: well-written, clear, and definitely worth the purchase price.

2526 sapphire papilionoidea

Pictures from my dad, of the socks on his feet! 🙂

August 9, 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. It’s hard to know what colors might be around, but I’d love a ruddy purple and lime green for this one :).

#4 — Twinings ($7)

Yet another gorgeous sweater! This is the one that C was swatching for. I think I might go for some more Kumara in Thai Purple — I’m using some right now in my Two-Color Cowl, and it is SO soft and lovely. Perfect for cables, and perfect for wearing right next to the skin.

Cast-On Monday: Maluka, Steek This, and Kumara Two-Color Cowl

August 8, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

I weathered a bout of castonitis this week, starting three new projects. Fortunately for my WIP list, they are all smallish projects. In fact, one of them is already done, and another is an i-cord bind-off away from completion.

Last week Monday I cast on for my Maluka, the August KAL in the Lace Knitters group. This pattern falls directly into my current favorite category: one-skein fingering-weight lace shawlettes. This one begins with a sideways-knit lace edging, with the body picked up along the full length. The gently curve is achieved with short-rows. I used a skein of Three Irish Girls McClellan Fingering that I had left-over from a design project. I am in love with the pattern AND the yarn for this project, so it’s no surprise that I’m almost done. I started binding off this morning, and plan to finish tonight.

I also cast on for a new design project: Steek This, a colorwork coffee-cup cozy for a steeking class I’ll be teaching in the fall. My idea is that it will be less scary to cut a teeny-tiny colorwork project like a coffee-cup cozy, instead of making a whole colorwork cardigan and then taking scissors to it. I used Palette held double to simulate worsted-weight yarn, and a classic Fair Isle pattern from a stitch dictionary. I finished the knitting, steeked, and put on the button bands in a single evening. Alas, the prototype is a smidge too small, and the button band flares. I’ll fix both those problems in the next prototype.

My third new project this week is another design project: Kumara Two-Color Cowl. I’m upgrading my son’s Two-Color Cowl to adult size, using gorgeous soft Kumara from Classic Elite. This pattern is destined for the CEY Web-letter — look for it in the fall. I’ll be looking for test knitters in a week or two. If you want to learn how to knit flat in the round with cables …. post below!

FO Friday: Bazinga Bag and Eros Necklace

August 5, 2011remilyknits 3 Comments

I’m playing finished-object catchup this week with two sample knits for Plymouth Yarns: a bag, and a necklace.

Project: Bazinga Sample Knit

Pattern: Bazinga Bag

Designer: Plymouth Yarn Design Stuido

Available: ask your LYS

Yarn: Bazinga

The body, gusset, and handles of this bag are all in linen stitch. This helps even out the extreme fat-and-thin nature of Bazinga. The giant flower was … interesting. I had a devil of a time getting it to lay down and behave, then sew it in place. The handles are doubled and whip-stitched together, as are the seams between the body panels and the gussets.

Project: Eros Necklace

Pattern: Necklace

Designer: Plymouth Yarn Design Stuido

Available: ask your LYS

Yarn: Eros II

This piece was uncooperative, but eventually I nailed it down! Eros II is a novelty yarn, with colored metallic squares suspended in a skinny “ladder” of black yarn. This pattern called for the yarn (and I use that word loosely!) to be held double. Lots of short rows of increasing length creating the gradually larger ruffle. I’m not sure I would wear it … but it’s a sample, so once I finish and mail it off, it’s out of my hands.

Test Knitters Needed: Marilla’s Very Practical Shawl

August 3, 2011August 2, 2011remilyknits 1 Comment

I just finished the sample for a pattern for Knit Picks IDP worked in their GORGEOUS Swish Tonal (Blue Violet colorway). I need a few intrepid test knitters to help me ferret out any errors or confusing bits. If you’re up for the task, send me a message!

Marilla’s Very Practical Shawl

Design details: The shawl begins with the bottom edging, worked from right tip to left tip, with a short-row corner halfway through. Stitches are picked up along this bottom edge, leaving 8 repeats at both tips to form the ties. The body is worked from the bottom edge, with decreases to form the spine and top edge. After the body is completed, the neck edging is worked from right tip to left tip and joined to the body as you go.

Craft(s): knitting
Number of Testers: 2 for charts, 2 for written directions
Approximate Hours to Complete: 30
Deadline: August 26th, 2011
Tools needed: #8 needles, tapestry needle
Material needed: 1100 yards of worsted-weight yarn
Pattern Difficulty: middling — skills needed include basic lace work, picking up stitches, short rows, and joining a lace edging to the body as you go
Formats Available: PDF
Pattern Style: full written directions, charts for some portions

Testing needs: Error checking for charts and written pattern; clarity of directions for construction; confirmation of yardage requirements.

Cast-on Monday: a sunsuit for Lillian

August 1, 2011December 29, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

This week I cast on for a gift project, using my yet-to-be-published baby sunsuit pattern. This one is for my pledge sib from Epsilon Theta — well, for her baby girl, Lillian, to be honest. Here’s a photo of the progress as of a few days ago:

FO Friday: Diplodocus Sweater

July 29, 2011July 30, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

I recently had the good fortune to test knit this adorable sweater for Kate Oates (of Tot Toppers). If you like this pattern, think about joining her KAL (starting August 1st). If you buy the pattern before the KAL starts, you’ll get it for a mere $4!

Project: Dino Sweater Test Knit

Pattern: Diplodocus

Designer: Kate Oates

Available: discounted to $4 until August 1st, buy now and save! 🙂

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tonal in Blue Yonder, Deep Waters, and Springtime

Like every single other thing I’ve test knit for Kate, this pattern is well-written and thoughtfully designed. Simple things like adding a button to the neck on the smallest size (baby heads are big!) make all the difference. The sweater begins with the neck, and short rows are worked across the back to make the neck scoop down in front. The colorwork dinosaurs are worked without increases (thank goodness). After the dino yoke is complete, the sleeve stitches are held while the body is worked in stripey rounds. Although Kate provides a gorgeous striping chart (I followed it exactly), she also encourages the knitter to be inventive — stripe as you like! 🙂

You can see how much my 6yo son likes his new sweater … he wore it in June, in Massachusetts, for several days in a row. The size 6 did come out a tiny bit big for him — but then again, he is a smallish 6yo, so please blame the knitter (not the pattern).

Back:

Closeup:

Front:

Fantasy Queue: Knitty First Fall 2011

July 27, 2011July 27, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

A few weeks ago, I was anxiously awaiting the new patterns from Knitty’s First Fall 2011. Then they came out. If I sound a little underwhelmed …. well, I am. I hate to admit it, but this really isn’t my favorite issue of Knitty. Which is to say, instead of wanting to make nearly ALL of them, only about half call me with their siren song. I’m used to unremitting “ohhs” and “ahhs” when I page through a new issue of Knitty — this one has a few “hmms” and “uh, what?” That said, there are many more patterns that I could ever reasonably make, so for this post I answer this question: If I had unlimited time and money, what would I knit, and with what yarn?

Chasing Snakes

Often I’m drawn to complex sock patterns with a whole lot going on. Recently, I learned the folly of my ways … and then up pops this little number. Bold cabling in a non-traditional irregular sinuous pattern zig-zags down the leg, while the rest of the sock takes a background role. If I were being very, very good I would use some of my stashed yarn for new socks … but in my fantasy queue I spring for some Stroll Tonal in “Canopy.”