Category Ravelry Monday

Weekly favorites from the recently added patterns on Ravelry.com.

Ravelry Monday: Hats, Hats, Hats

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Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First Pick: Quinny, by Julie Hahn (FREE! at Gourmet Knits)

Ravelry has been all a-buzz since the episode of Glee where Quinn wears this cute knit hat:

A couple versions of the hat have been released on Rav, but this is the one I like the best. The designer captured the look and shape of the original, including a bang-up job on the yarn button. I predict cute little pixie hats covering the nation’s heads (well, at least the Gleek heads), especially since this pattern uses bulky yarn and should knit up exceptionally fast.

Second Pick: Toasty Bean, by Chelsea Berkompas ($4.99)

I love knitting patterns that work with colorful yarn, mostly because a love colorful yarn and always want more.  This hat has a nice shape and lots of cool details — tassles, buttons, braids, etc.  It also has a very, very cute baby model :).

Third Pick: Inga Snoflinga Hat, by Johanne Landin ($5.00)

What a purty colorwork hat — cleverly placed snowflakes of different sizes and designs on a muted variegated background, yum! It looks like the pattern isn’t available quite yet, but it is a new listing, so with luck it will be up soon.

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Ravelry Monday: Shoggoth, Reversible Tiara Hat, Sho-sho

remilyknits 3 Comments

Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “Shoggoth” by Lee Meredith (part of an e-book, sold at $5.00)

It was a terrible, indescribable thing vaster than any subway train — a shapeless congerie of protoplasmic bubbles, faintly self-luminous, and with myriads of temporary eyes forming and un-forming as pustules of greenish light all over the tunnel-filling front that bore down upon us, crushing the frantic penguins and slithering over the glistening floor that it and its kind had swept so evilly free of all litter… — “At The Mountains of Madness” (H. P. Lovecraft)

I’ve played enough Arkham Horror to know that a Shoggoth isn’t something you want to meet ever, let alone have in your home — but this mini Shoggoth-pincushion is welcome to take up residence on my knitting table.  The designer captures the fluid asymmetry this particular monster should possess, while simultaneously making it cute.  A great first amigurumi project — you  can mess up a bit, and it would still be right! — and a perfect home for those odd buttons I’ve been saving up.

Second pick: “Reversible Tiara Hat” by Kristina Schling (part of a book, sold at $15.00)

This pattern makes clever use of the reversible nature of double-knitting to make a charming and warm beanie worthy of a princess. Although I love the popsicle colors of the sample hat, I think I might have to use golden yellow and princess pink — don’t you think?

Third pick: “Sho-sho” by Nokko Asano (FREE!)

I’m intrigued by this drapey shrug… I’ve been wanting to make one of these “rectangle with sleeves items for a while, because they look so comfy and wonderful.  I have put it off though, because it involves knitting a giant rectangle (just the kind of knitting I abhore).  This pattern, with large needles and a silk/linen yarn, may be enough to put me over the edge.  There isn’t any sizing on the pattern, which means I’d have to guess how much bigger to make it for myself.  (I’m not really “tiny Japanese” shape, more like “European peasant stock.”)  Still, it’s pretty and should knit up reasonably quickly. Pretty!

Ravelry Monday: DeeVine, Jaiozi (Dumplings), Lobster Beanie Hat

remilyknits 3 Comments

Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “DeeVine” by DeeTara ($3.99)

This hat is pure loveliness — beautiful swoopy leaves in an overlapping pattern that pleases me.  Slouchy hats keep me warm without crushing my hair, which puts them high on my “to-knit” list.

Second Pick: “Jaiozi (Dumplings)” by Dale Hwang (FREE!)

Mmmmmm, Peking Ravioli! Pan-fried, please.  Cannot resist this knitted dumpling pattern.

Third Pick: “Lobster Beanie Hat” by Christine Grant ($4.25)

Since I am a New-Englander, I had to include this hat on my Ravelry Monday list.  What’s not to love about a bright red beanie with a lobster on top?

Ravelry Monday: Pareval, Anchor Bay Sunset, and Bella Rue

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Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “Parseval” by Melissa Wehrle ($4.00)

This sweater is mostly-ribbed, with a bit of cabling towards the top with a big cowl neck.  This sweater made it into my (ever-growing) queue, because I think it has potential to look good on many body types.  The cabling will draw the eye upwards, and the ribbing will make the body and sleeves accommodating.  It’s worked mostly in the round — my favorite!  I don’t have a good, simple sweater right now … maybe I should start this one sooner rather than later?

Second Pick: “Anchor Bay Sunset” by Julia Duren (FREE!)

Simple, attractive, fingerless mitts — no fancy colorwork or cables, no girly lace.  Yet, with just a few purl rows in a contrasting color, these mitts look great!  Endless color possibilities — they could be a real stash-buster for sock yarn.  The pattern says they are designed to wear as-is, or over a wrist-brace for carpal tunnel or other RSI issues.

Third Pick: “Bella Rue” by Amanda Rios ($8.00)

Although I adore this sweater for many reasons — the top-down construction! the button detail on the sleeve! the awesome pleated panel on the back! — I have a sinking feeling that adorable as it is, it just wouldn’ t work with my body type. Alas!

Ravelry Monday: Pansies, Alassë Míriel Hooded Cowl, and Grecian Goddess Socks

remilyknits 2 Comments

Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “Pansies” by Rebekkah Dickson (FREE!)

My favorite flowers are pansies, so I’m always on the lookout for good patterns (heck, good anything) that include pansies.  These are far and away the best knitted pansies I’ve seen — true to the flower, without being fussy.  The petals are knit flat, then sewn in place.  The pansy “monkey face” in added in post-production with duplicate stitch.  I can see myself adding pansies to a lot of upcoming projects … all I need is a little purple/blue/burgundy and yellow/white yarn, any weight will do.  Whee!

Second Pick: “Alassë Míriel Hooded Cowl” by The Jane Victoria ($5.00)

Can I just say, WOW, what an ingenious garment! Part cowl, part hood, part shoulder cozy… I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and I LOVE it already.

Third Pick: “Grecian Goddess Socks” by Katie Franceschi ($5.95)

I’m a sock lover, it’s true.  I just washed (nearly) all my hand-made socks, and stopped counting at pair 24.  I’m in the middle of a sock-a-long as we speak (where is clue #3, people?), and eagerly awaiting my first 2011 Rockin’ Sock Club shipment. But these socks call to me too! Alas, there are other things on my needles, so these faux lace-up socks will have to wait in my queue.

Alassë Míriel Hooded Cowl

Ravelry Monday: Goldfish in a Bag Hat, Open Heart Sweater, and Lady Jessica

remilyknits 3 Comments

Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.  As many an avid knitter is aware, the Winter 2011 edition of Knitty was released last week.  As usual, it is chock-a-block full of great patterns and articles.  Rather than have Knitty dominate Ravelry Monday, I will instead devote Wednesday’s post solely to Knitty, and talk about some other patterns today.

First pick: “Goldfish in a Bag Hat” by Carol White ($4.00)

This hat charmed me right away: bold design, cute, and clever too.  Looks to me like it is a simple rolled-brim bag-top hat with a color change and a bit of intarsia and embroidery.  I especially love the bag-tie on the top.

Second Pick: “Open Heart Sweater” by Alice Tang ($3.99)

Let me begin by admitting bias — I tech-edited this sweater for Alice, and it was in fact my very first for-pay tech editing job.  (Alice and I had swapped tech-editing services in the past.)  Although I haven’t actually test-knit the pattern, I am very familiar with the pattern. It is simple/elegant, with a neat twist (literally!) up the front on a reverse-stockinette background.

Third Pick: “Lady Jessica” by Veronica O’Neil (FREE!)

This feminine cowl makes me think of a steampunk heroine, corseted and bedecked in ruffles and lace, and wielding a big brass laser gun :).  It looks like a fun, easy knit and the final product is sure to win compliments.

Ravelry Monday: Toorie, Castle on a Cloud, and DROPS 130-12 Jacket

remilyknits 2 Comments

Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “Toorie” by Carina Spencer ($5.00)

I absolutely adore the unusual shape of this hat.  The gathers, the close-yet-casual shape, the nifty decreases opposite mimicking (but not repeating) the gathers — it all works.  For those averse to pompoms, perhaps a crocheted flower or big dramatic button could substitute. This pattern looks like it would work with hand-painted yarn quite prettily.

Second Pick: “Castle on a Cloud” by Katia Smits (€3.50 EUR)

I was lured in for a closer look by the allusion to “Les Miserables” — I mean, who doesn’t love Cosette? These fingerless mitts have something interesting going on every few rows — exactly my kind of pattern.

Third Pick: “130-12 Jacket” by DROPS Design (FREE!)

I had a hard time settling on a “free” pattern this week — but this little cardi is just fine.  Looks like it has some interesting construction, with right and left front panels curving to meet at the neck and lower back, with the upper back panel bridging the gap.  I’ve heard about DROPS patterns being terse — this one is no exception! Definitely no hand-holding here.

Ravelry Monday

remilyknits 2 Comments

This is my inaugural “Ravelry Monday” post, so let me explain a bit … every Monday, I’ll look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry. Based solely on my own personal opinion, I’ll highlight a few of my favorites, including at least one free pattern and at least one for-pay pattern.  I love novelty, but classic beauty always gets me too.

First pick: “Big Breakfast” by Amanda Berry ($2.95)

I’m a sucker for a cute stuffed food, and this breakfast-gurumi has it all: bacon, eggs, beans, sausage, tomato, and waffle!

Second Pick: “Nine Dwindling Cables” by Yarn Owl (FREE!)

Lovely, three-dimensional cabled tam! Love the color and the design.

Third Pick: “Hearts in Estonia” by Susan Gutperl (€3.50 EUR)

Like so many, I’m addicted to gorgeous lace just like this.