A little knitting update

I have broken my knitting block by taking a class on Crafty to learn Brioche knitting. It was exactly what I needed- learn something new to get me excited for a new project. The class was taught by Nancy Merchant and was very easy to follow. I picked it up pretty quickly and really enjoyed it. The class was on sale, maybe it still is, so go check it out if you haven't learned Brioche yet.
I will also be test knitting something Brioche for Donna Druchunas. (How cool is that?) She was looking for knitters wanting to learn brioche on Instagram. I mentioned that I had just begun learning and would be happy to try it out. I am waiting on some videos now. Excited to see how her teaching is different and what techniques I can learn from her. 
Another activity to get the knitting juices flowing- Stitches West! I went to the Marketplace on the last day of the conference with a friend and walked out with a knitting kit, yarn and some stitch markers. How could I not be excited to get some knitting done now. The one thing I didn't get that I wish I had was a drop spindle and some roving.   Yup, another thing to learn and get obsessed with. 
I have also had a friend request a hat for her upcoming trip to New Zealand. Another Sock Head Hat coming up! Yay.
Happy Knitting! _________________________________________

Knitlandia by Clara Parkes

Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World by Clara Parkes

Hardcover, 160 pages

Published February 2016, STC Craft/Melinie Falick Book

Source: publisher for review, NetGalley

I am a knitter and familiar with the names of the designers and authors mentioned in this book. Some of the places Clara Parkes travels to are places I have been and seen or heard of. It's so much fun to read this travel log of a knitter, designer going to conventions and retreats I remember hearing about and wishing I could go to. 

This book is definitely written for knitters. If you are a knitter you will love it. 

If you are not a knitter, you probably won't enjoy it as much. 

I was hoping to see Clara Parkes at Stitches West this weekend but was only able to make it to the marketplace on Sunday afternoon.
Happy Reading and Knitting! _________________________________________

I need something to knit

I have not knit one thing since before Christmas. I packed up my knitting into a bin before having guests over through the holidays and I have yet to pull it back out. I am not lacking in supplies. I have plenty of yarn- just need a pattern. Something that calls to me and needs to be made. Any ideas?
A portable and quick project would be best. No blankets. No Sweaters. 
Socks? Hat? Some fingerless mitts?
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Christmas Knitting

I thought I would do some Christmas knitting this year. Try and pump out some quick knit hats for some family and friends. The hubby thinks I can get six more knit before Christmas. We shall see. Going to be using the same pattern for all of them and just switch up the yarn being used. 

Pattern: Sockhead Hat by  Needles: US2 circulars Yarn: Socks that Rock in Flower Power Wandering Wool, High Peaks Sock in Deep Amethyst
Above are the adult hats for myself and a friend. Below are the matching hats for our girls. :)

Happy Knitting! _________________________________________

Time to block

This summer was filled with lots of shawl knitting. First for the Through the Loops Mystery Shawl KAL and then Bay Area Knitter's Mystery Shawl KAL. 

Fun knits and beautiful FO's. Well, they will be once I block them. They have been sitting on my desk waiting patiently to be completed. 

I am loving the greens. They feel perfect for fall. Unfortunately, the 90 degree weather here in the Bay Area is not feeling like fall. 

We are in need of rain and cooler temps ASAP. 

Finished!

I finally finished the little girl's new socks! Her previously knit socks accidentally went in the wash and felted/shrunk. Oops.  This was my first time trying to come up with my own sock pattern. It was fun, but time consuming.  
I figured out how many stitches I needed to cast on for her little foot and then went searching for a cable pattern that would work for the number of stitches. I settled on the Double Hourglass. I picked a weird number of stitches, (don't know why) so there had to be some messing around with them for the pattern and also with the heel, but not too bad.  I love the way they turned out.
Happy Knitting! _________________________________________

Stitches West

Yarn. Have I told you how much I love buying yarn? It's a bit of an addiction, I am afraid. It's not a bad one to have, right?
Sunday I made it to the MarketPlace of the StitchesWest convention in Santa Clara. Wish I could have taken some of the classes, but we didn't get back from our vacation to Banff in time. Shopping for yarn in a gigantic convention space was perfectly okay. And I went with a friend! Always more fun with a friend. 
Anyway. I spent a bit of money but all on some really lovely yarn.
A Miss Babs Leftie Set which I have already cast on. Some Wandering Wool in a beautiful variegated purple destined to be something for the little girl and three skeins from Yarn on the House in three different shades of gray.
Same day cast on for the Leftie Shawl.



Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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Knit Wear Designing?

Have you ever thought about designing your own knitting/crochet pattern? 

Maybe you knit up something for yourself, child or partner but never thought to write down what you did. I have done that a couple times and look back at my knits wondering if I could recreate it. I just have no clue how to write up a pattern, chart, etc, besides the basics. 
Well, I saw this call for pattern submissions on Storey's website for their new One Skein Wonders book and started to think about actually designing something. Maybe not for this book, submissions need to be in by September 15th, but for myself or here. Not sure I am creative enough to come up with something but I am willing to give it a try. 
What I would need help with is gauge and sizing for different ages. 
This would be a challenge, but a fun challenge. 

Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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Sweater in Progress

I have been slowly working on the right front panel of a sweater. This knit is all for me.
Pretty cables, huh?
It is the Stranger Cardigan by michiyo for Brooklyn Tweed. I had been looking for a cabled cardigan for awhile and this one just seemed perfect.
I got some nice discounted yarn on WEBS, a really pretty dark teal. It is a little more green than it looks in the photo. The yarn is Valley Yarns Stockbridge in Deep Teal. Love it. This is going to be a very cozy sweater. 

Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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FO Friday: GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley

Pattern: GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley
Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky in Black
Needles: US 10 cable

My sister put in a request for a black infinity scarf and the GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley fit the bill perfectly. It was a quick knit considering it is bulky yarn. I didn't have a long enough cable any bigger than US10 so went with a smaller needle than the pattern called for. I think it looks nice with the smaller needles. 
I did have to cast on extra stitches (200) and should have knit more rounds to make it wider, but I got lazy. I didn't want to wind up another skein. It ended up about 7 inches wide. 
Anyway, I am really happy with it. Am about to start another one for myself but in green. Will use enough yarn to make it at least 10 inches wide, though.

Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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FO Friday: Alessa Hat

Pattern:Alessa Hat by Sylvi Design
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Paints
Needles: US 8 DPNs

Well, that hat didn't take all that long to finish! I love it, and more importantly, the little girl loves it!
Very nice pattern, and the yarn is really soft and light for our mild non-winter weather right now.  I knit it pretty loosely. Maybe a little too loose, because I got some really bad ladders where I switched to the next dpn. It is a reversible hat, so having the purl side on the outside hides it a lot better. It also makes the cable stand out a lot more.

Modifications: I used aran instead of bulky and used smaller needles than pattern calls for. I wanted it E sized. Fits her great. Used dpns instead of circular. I think next time I will go with the circular to eliminate the ladders.

I have yarn left over. Think I will make one for myself. :)

Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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Finding time to knit

Now that the holidays are over and all the knitted gifts have found their homes, it is time to start knitting again for fun. I have a couple projects that I just started- a lace scarf that will be sent out for a swap on Ravelry and a hat and mittens that the little girl requested. First, the scarf.

Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronique Avery
Yarn: Artesano Superfine 4ply alpaca
Needles: US 4 Straights

I am making the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronique Avery. It is a free pattern on Knitty.com. I am using some yarn that I bought at a cute little yarn shop in Scotland 5 years ago. It is a really pretty heather green. Hoping my swappee likes it. Not looking all that great in the photo but will be very nice after it is blocked.

Pattern:Alessa Hat by Sylvi Design
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Paints
Needles: US 8 DPNs

The little girl has been asking for a hat and mittens, so we finally went to Michael's and picked up an approved green/purple combo yarn. It's acrylic but incredibly very soft. And it is mating washable so for a three year old...perfect. She picked well.  I am making her an Alessa Hat by Sylvi Design. The mittens...not sure yet. May try and come up with something that mimics the pattern of the hat.  What do you all have on the needles? Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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Handmade Christmas

For the past 10 years, my family has exchanged handmaid gifts in an attempt to limit the amount of money we all spend. I has been a tough year for some, but we still wanted the excitement of opening gifts. In years past, I have knit hats, made photo books and ornaments. This year is a mix of all of the above. My plan is to finish projects, that have been sitting on needles for years, in time for Christmas. I have an unfinished lap blanket for the inlaws, a pair of gloves for my SIL, a cowl for my sister and some pottery at my ceramics class that need to be glazed. I am going to be busy this month. Ack! I only have one month left!!! Yes, a month. In Laws Christmas will be on the 21st!
Will you be making handmaid gifts this year?
Happy Crafting! _________________________________________
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Review: Lace One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant

Lace One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant

304 pages, paperback

Storey Publishing LLC, September 2013

Source: ARC through NetGalley

  The patterns inside this book are varied and many. They can have you, your family and friends covered from head to toe in lace. From delicate shawls to thick warm socks, you will be busy kitting some lovely lace items for quite a long time. A great stash buster for all your yarn. This is not only for lace weight. 
There are plenty of beginner patterns, such as the Etta Hat. Knit with worsted weight on size 6 needles in the round and an easy to follow lace pattern, this is a great one to start with. There is no chart for this one, but are for the more complicated patterns. The glossary has abbreviations explained and techniques  for different cast-ons, increases and bind offs described.
I am currently knitting the Wavelet Hair Tie. The pattern and chart are both easy to follow and it seems to be knitting up nicely. Lace weight yarn on size 7 needles makes for a lovely open lace. It should look nice after blocking. My yarn isn't as fine as in the photo, so probably not going to be as lacy.
Lace One-Skein Wonders was published today, so go get yourself a copy! 
Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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Wedding Shawl All Finished

Pattern: Triinu Scarf by Nancy Bush Book: Knitted Lace of Estonia Yarn: Madeline Tosh Lace, terra Needles: US 4

I am finished and absolutely love it. Can't wait to take over to the bride to be and see what she thinks about it. The pain of knitting this was worth it. 
One modification was made. I widened the scarf to a shawl by adding two more repeats of the lace pattern. I cast on 110 stitches. The lace edging had to be slightly modified as well so it could work with the increase in stitches. 

Happy Knitting! _________________________________________
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FO Friday: Baby Knitting All Done! (for now)

So much baby knitting this spring and summer. Babies popping out everywhere!

We were blessed with a nephew just last month, way out in Maine. We can't wait to see the new little guy when we visit next month. I had to send a package before then with some knitted goodies before then. 

 This little kitty is adorable! I will need to find the pattern and share with you at a later time, because I really can't remember what it is. I found it on a knitting blog and didn't save it. Ack! Anyone have an idea where it is from?

 

I also knit up this warm and cozy blanket. I do remember what pattern I used for this one. It is the second one I have made. The previous one was last year for a cute little Texas baby. 

Pattern: Baby Chalice Blanket by Karen S. Lauger

Yarn: Berroco Comfort, worsted weight, navy

Needles: US 10

The next two were made for a San Francisco baby who is due in a couple weeks! A friend for the past 19 years is having her first baby and we are all so excited to have another baby amongst our group of local friends. For this little guy, he gets a chevron blankie and a chick that matches his Land of Nod bedding a bit. A little homemade to go with the modern decor. :)

Pattern: Chevron Baby Blanket by Purl Soho

Yarn: ? Can't remember!

Needles: US 15

Will have to look up the pattern for the chick, as well. 

Happy Knitting!

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 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.