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.
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.
This week I’m featuring another of my pattern sample projects for Plymouth Yarns: a square lace shawl made from Zino, a long-repeat color-changing yarn. The shawl is worked in the round from the center out, with a cool open/solid lace pattern that really suits the yarn. I especially like the border, which shows the long color repeats well. (My quickie photo (below) is shown before blocking.)
Project: Zino Lace Sample Knit
Pattern: Square Lace Shawl
Designer: Plymouth Yarn Design Stuido
Available: ask your LYS
Yarn: Zino
Lo, the gorgeous blocked shawl:
This was by far the largest sample I’d knit for PY — it took a lot longer than a pair of armwarmers or a little vest. It was also more complex–this was the project where I really learned how to work with the designer at PY, because I ran into problems/questions and we went back and forth a couple times before we settled on the right solution. Ultimately it’s her design, so naturally I want to serve that … but my job is to make sure the pattern adheres to her vision as I knit, so when I find things that don’t work, I stop and ask for direction. Sometimes, I even have something useful to contribute.
Last year at about this time, I joined a group on Ravelry called “52 Projects in 52 Weeks.” The group description runs thusly:
The goal is to start (and finish!) 52 projects in 52 weeks. You can knit, crochet, spin or dye. Mix and match, it’s your choice. The goal of the group is to hone skills, expand horizons and destash.
There are some guidelines given, but the group is open-minded and allows for a lot of interpretation, personalization, and outright alteration. For example, I often have more than 4 projects going at once, because that’s what works for me. I decided that a single thing was a project, no matter how
large or small. That meant that the bazillion-hour Mandala Shawl only counted as one project, but that the quick-knit Golden Snitch also counted as one project. (Other knitters chose to break down large projects into chunks, or count a pair of socks as two projects, or group several small items into a single project.) I also gave myself permission to count projects that I started in the previous year.
First question first: yes, I did finish 52 projects in 52 weeks! In fact, I finished 61 projects between June 1st, 2010 and May 30th, 2011. I also frogged six projects during the year — this was a relatively new behavior for me, because in the past I would force myself to finish projects, even if they weren’t working or making me happy anymore.
Which project had the most love over the last year? My East-West Bag won the most favorites of any of my projects over the last year. It’s complex and dramatic, so that’s not too surprising. I have 
many projects with no favorites at all (including the aforementioned Snitch!), so I will choose one that is a personal favorite of MINE to cheer on: my Touchscreen Cell Phone Cozy, made up as I went along. I used some lovely left-over yarn from my Socks That Rock club kit, and designed it to fit my new (at the time) Samsung Moment. I fills that role perfectly, and I love seeing my pretty Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn every day.
I thought it might be interesting to see how projects broke down for the year — who was I knitting for?
| Purpose | Count | % |
| Me | 15 | 25% |
| Remily Knits | 15 | 25% |
| Gift | 9 | 15% |
| Sample | 8 | 13% |
| Commission | 6 | 10% |
| Test Knit | 5 | 8% |
| Barter | 2 | 3% |
| Donation | 1 | 2% |
Also (potentially) interesting: what kinds of things did I make?
| Type | Count | % |
| Baby Clothes | 7 | 12% |
| Mittens/Gloves/Mitts | 7 | 12% |
| Toy | 7 | 12% |
| Scarf | 6 | 10% |
| Socks | 6 | 10% |
| Cowl | 5 | 8% |
| Sweater | 5 | 8% |
| Hat | 4 | 7% |
| Cozy | 3 | 5% |
| Shawl | 3 | 5% |
| Anklets | 2 | 3% |
| Bag | 2 | 3% |
| Dog Sweater | 2 | 3% |
| Earwarmers | 1 | 2% |
| Necklace | 1 | 2% |
The March 2011 Rockin’ Sock Club kit from Blue Moon Fiber Arts was extremely colorful, to say the least! The colorway had a great name: Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
Two great patterns, as usual, made it extremely hard to choose … but ultimately I decided on one and got to work. I love how the basic p1, k3 rib can get so excited with a slipped stitch here and there.
Project: Mar 2011 RSC Socks
Pattern: Intrepid Traveler
Designer: Gail Marracci
Available: to club members now (join up! it’s fun!) and to the general public in 2012
Yarn: BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight in Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
I’m proud to say I finished this kit’s socks *before* this month’s kit has even shipped! Even though they weren’t a “priority” project, they trucked right along. Inexplicably, the two socks pooled and flashed differently. This colorway is so wild, it really doesn’t matter.
I received my Summer 2011 issue of Interweave Knits a few weeks 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):
I like the collar detail, and tiered columns of lace on this deceptively-simple tee. I’m also intrigued by the suggested yarn — 100% silk, worsted weight, but tweedy? Heichi sounds really cool. If I had money to burn, I’d go ahead and get some Heichi in “Fountain.” More realistically, I think I’d try swatching in Shine Worsted (maybe “Platinum”?) and see if I liked the effect.
I love the gentle curve of this slip-on cardi. I know I’d probably die from knitting the lo-o-o-o-ng ribbed edging (twice!), but it would definitely be worth it to have this pretty and useful item in my wardrobe. This begs to be made from KP’s Stroll Tonal sock yarn — I’d hem and haw and then go with “Thunderhead” (my favorite of the new Tonal colorways).
Let’s pretend for a moment that I could pull off wearing this skirt … it is SO cool. Such nifty construction: bias! short rows! Cotton yarn and wool yarn in the same project! Cats and dogs, living together!With all that going on, I’d stick with the recommended yarn (and swatch like a crazy person).
This simple tee is designed to show off the amazing leaf edging, and it does its job well. I’d probably go with Cotlin is “Loden.”
This week I’m featuring another of my pattern sample projects for Plymouth Yarns: a child’s sweater made from DK-weight sock yarn. The professional model is an adorable blond girl … but of course before I sent it out I had to take a home-photo on my slightly-too-large youngest boy — he was cooperative, if slightly silly. Please ignore his desperate need for a haircut!
Project: Happy Feet Sample Knit
Pattern: Cabled Sweater
Designer: Plymouth Yarn Design Stuido
Available: ask your LYS
Yarn: Happy Feet DK (color 61)
This was a fast & easy project — basic shaping and making-up, and the all-over cabled rib pattern looks great and is fun to knit. I’m a huge fan of Happy Feet DK, but you MUST wash & block a swatch with this yarn — it opens up and softens considerably with washing. Before washing and blocking the sweater, the fabric was tight and hard — almost crunchy. After washing and blocking, it was soft and had a nice give, lovely to touch.
Um, hooray! What a great way to brighten my day! Anything Doctor Who is awesome, and this Dalek-inspired cozy is extra awesome. It makes me want to buy a coffee press just so I can make a cozy for it.
Oh My Heaven, that’s some pretty lace! Check out blog for Patusha’s Knitting Club for free, beautifully formatting charts and pattern. As of right now, the pattern is available is … some language that uses a different alphabet (but the English version is coming soon). Experienced lace knitters know that all we really need is the cast on and the charts! 🙂
I’m just charmed by this knit — even though the pattern book is in French, and even getting the book seems to require speaking French … if I had a little girl who’d wear it, I’d totally learn French :).
Frothy, drapey, pretty … and very, very simple. Made in laceweight yarn on big needles, the finished cardi should be lightweight and warmer than you’d expect … just the thing for spring. What really sells me on it though is that it reminds me of Annie’s cardi (the ghost in “Being Human”). This one made in into my queue! I think I’ll use something browny-grey?
This elegant geometric shawl evokes formal gardens: box hedges and well-tended rosebushes in measured rows. I think I’d go with green or maybe shocking pink.
I love the subtle shading and simple pattern to show off the beauty of natural wool. Gorgeous. I’d be tempted to use my usual palette of blue/green/purple, but I hope I’d have the strength to stick to the lovely colors provided by the sheep themselves.
One of my agility friends asked me to knit custom coats for her charming mini poodles, Gizmo (left) and Golly (right). She wanted durable, washable yarn that was also soft and cozy, and came in her dogs’ signature colors. In terms of structure, the coats needed to have turtlenecks, front leg sleeves, and a high belly cut to allow pottying without soiling the coats. We looked at a couple different patterns before settling on the attractive and versatile “Biscuits & Bones” pattern, sized from XS to XL. The modified “X’s and O’s” cable pattern resembles circular biscuits and long bones–very clever!
(This week’s FO is a re-wind — I’ve been working like mad all week on a design sample that I can’t share just yet.)
Project: Gizmo’s Red Coat and Golly’s Purple Coat
Pattern: Biscuits & Bones Dog Coat
Designer: Patons
Available: FREE! at patonsyarns.com
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Eggplant and Red (3 balls per coat)
Don’t you just love Golly’s grin??
I made Golly’s coat first (purple!) and made very few modifications. The neck to tail is worked flat to the leg holes, where the work is split into three parts and worked separately for a few rows. Then flat work across the entire piece resumes, continuing through the butt decreases. Ribbing is picked up and knit in the round for the leg holes and around the belly/back (after the chest is seamed). My only serious modification was to keep edge stitches in stockinette, to make the picking up and seaming easier.
Gizmo is such a handsome fellow!
With Gizmo’s coat, I wanted to try knitting the chest in the round, to avoid seaming later on. At the leg holes I worked just two sections (back and belly) flat, then rejoined for more work in the round, then worked flat for the back after casting off for the belly. This ended up being trickier than I anticipated … if I ever make another coat from this pattern, I will probably just make it flat and deal with the seam.
Overall, the pattern is clear and well-written. The cable patterns were written, so of course I charted them to avoid going insane. (I work much better from a visual representation of a pattern.) I really appreciate that it came in so many sizes, and also that it accounted for the real chest shape of a dog (many dog sweater patterns seem to think dogs are shaped like humans, oops). Swish Worsted was, as expected, perfect for the job at hand. The boys look great and are cozy too!
Remily Knits 
