Finished: Vine and Leaf Beret

December 30, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

Seven days of knitting frenzy equals one lavender beret. I got it into my head that I wanted to finish this before the end of the year, so there’s been a whole lotta clicking needles this past week.

Pattern: Vine and Leaf Beret (#11) from Vogue Knitting Fall 2009
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Color #340033 (Lavender), 1.25 skeins
Needles: US #3 16″ Circular & #3 DPNs

This was easy, especially after wallowing through the charts for the Japanese Butterfly Lace Beret. You just do four repeats of a simple pattern and then switch into a pretty simple decrease modification of the same pattern. It was a nice “pick up and knit a few stitches when you have a moment” project.

Here’s a shot of it, fresh off the needles and before its wet block last night–very beanie-ish.

The yarn–oooh, smooshy, smooshy. Love it, even though it will split like crazy should you happen to make a mistake and frog and then re-knit it. If you’ve ever been in my house, you’d know that I love this particular shade of purple (it’s what we painted our great room). I was torn between the lavender and a beautiful light aqua color…perhaps I’ll just buy the aqua as well on the next trip up to my favorite yarn store, Black Sheep Wool Company in SLC.

I would totally make this beret again; it’s easy, a pretty quick knit and the yarn was really nice to work with. (I may actually be making a toddler version, as Renaissance stood by me for quite some time yesterday, asking if it was for her…guess she took a liking to it.) The brim is pretty darn loose though–I’ll probably knit it on smaller needles next time for a better fit.

Japanese Butterfly Lace Beret Delivered

December 27, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

I did it. I parted with that beautiful hat. It was the plan all along, but it was a test of personal accountability to actually follow through with my original intentions.

It was worth it. She phoned me twenty minutes later in a very happy mood and said that her gift was “exquisite.”

Good. 🙂

Finished: Japanese Butterfly Lace Beret

December 23, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

Meet the model: Giant Penguin.
He thinks this hat is “cool.” (Hehehe)
This beret was created for a friend, and I just have this thing about wearing someone else’s stuff before they get to wear it, so I decided to have Giant Penguin step in as my model in order to avoid stray hairs or anything else that would be kind of embarassing to show up in a gift.

Anyway, the technical stuff:
Pattern: Lace Beret #13 from Vogue Knitting Fall 2009
Yarn: KnitPick’s Bare Merino Wool Sock Yarn, about half a skein (220 yards or so)
Needles: US #1 & #3 circulars, #3 dpns

Notes: The ribbing for this thing is just plain torture. However, once you get into the lace pattern, it’s pretty fun. I like this hat. I’m slightly tempted to make one for myself as well.

And blocking over a dinner plate is super amusing:I could not keep her away from the thing while it dried. Hopefully there’s no Dorito fingerprints on it–I kept moving the plate to various spots where I thought she couldn’t get to it, but she kept proving me wrong.

There’s not much else to say about this cute little beret, except that I need to walk it over to its recipient. I am sad to let this one go, I’ve come to like it so very much!

My New Response to Knitting Requests

December 22, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

It’s a weird phenomenon–word gets out that you know how to knit (or crochet, or sew, or quilt, or whatever…) and people start asking you to make stuff for them. It’s not rude or anything, they’re genuinely interested in your talents and are willing to buy the materials and sometimes add on a little extra money to make it worth your while. I’m not complaining, it’s fun to be “in demand.”

But I’ve got a lot of people who demand much from me.

And I’m a gifter. I really, really enjoy making stuff for other people.

But I have to say no. There’s just not enough time to produce all the items requested, paid for or not.

So my new response is: “If you buy the yarn and come over to my house, I’ll teach you how to make it yourself.”

Give a pal a handknit gift and you warm them for a couple of years. Teach them to knit and you warm them for a lifetime.

Finished: Inca Snowflake Hat

December 17, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

Rachel’s so happy that I made a hat for Emily because she knows that in a few years, when the other two are too big, she’ll be able to wear it!

(And don’t get all impressed by the supposed plethora of projects that are getting finished up lately–this was finished weeks ago, but then shoved into Emily’s dresser and completely forgotten. I noticed it today and realized I never gave it a proper “Finished” post.)

Pattern: “Inca Snowflake,” from Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Noro “Taiyo” Color #11–I had to use portions of two skeins in order to get the ear flaps to have the same color gradient.
Needles: You know, I really can’t remember. My dear, sweet toddler ransacked my knitting arsenal and fumbled everything together.
Modifications: The hats in this book are for toddlers, not Kindergarteners. I know I just basically followed the pattern but used larger needles…but that’s as much as I can tell you! I haven’t lined it with fleece yet, which will make it fit better. I’m still deciding if I’m going to embroider the snowflakes and put the crochet trim on it…I worked on this during the “morning sickness phase” and I just really don’t like looking at it anymore.

Glad it’s done…it makes my girl(s) happy.

Japanese Butterfly Lace Beret

December 16, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

Yeah, it’s not too terribly exciting to look at right now, but I’m very eager to see how it turns out.

And yes, I know that I have the Peacock Stole I should be working on…and that my head is still bare and releasing precious heat every time I wander outside in this frigid landscape. I really should be focusing on those projects.

However, I was sitting in church last week, and I started just looking around the congregation and when my gaze fell upon one of my friends I had the thought to make a hat for her. Having plans to start making a hat for myself after I finished the Bella Mittens, I shook my head and dismissed the thought–it’s not my job to furnish the world with handknit goods.

However, during Relief Society that same friend said something about promptings: “Just do it, even if you have no idea why.” So I decided to make her a hat.

This is the Lace Beret Pattern (#13) from Vogue Knitting’s Fall 2009 issue. I’m using KnitPick’s Bare Merino Wool Sock Yarn, from the stash, after deciding that I wasn’t going to buy any more yarn this year. I’ve never actually knit with just plain white before, and I’m really liking how it’s turning out.

I am becoming envious of this beret…but I can’t pilfer two intended gifts in a row, so this will most definitely go to its intended recipient. And besides, it probably won’t even fit me anyway because I have an enormous head and I’m making this in the smaller size. Thwarting my own greediness from the start…smart move.

Finished: Bella’s Mittens

December 9, 2009February 1, 20152 Comments

I extend my apologies to the two potential recipients of these mittens, but I’ve decided to keep them for myself.

Pattern: Bella’s Mittens by Marielle Henault
Yarn: Peruvia Quick by Berroco, Color #9125 “Sea Turtle,” 2 Skeins
Purchased at: Kamille’s
Needles: #10 DPN & #8 DPN
Started: September 2009
Finished: December 8, 2009

I love bulky yarn. It makes you feel like you’re a superspeed knitter. I love cables. There’s something about manipulating stitches to become cables that I happen to find very exciting. This pattern offered both good things. It’s a good pattern and I recommend it to everyone, especially since it’s free!

Yes, the mittens were originally slated to go to one of two Twilighters whom I figured would appreciate them immensely, but then the past two days’ worth of snow alerted me to the fact that I own ONE glove. I’ve owned this ONE glove for about three years now and I keep it because I like it and I maintain a hope that its mate will magically reappear.

A person can only hold onto hope for so long; especially when it encompasses dried, frozen skin that starts to crack and bleed. It would be absolutely ludicrous to give away a newly finished pair of mittens when I so desperately need a pair of mittens for myself.

Another perk to these little lovelies is that they’re loooong. My maternity winter coat only reaches about halfway down my forearm. (Actually, every coat I’ve ever owned has only reached halfway down my forearm. Why is that?) Another problem solved. The wonderful bell-shaped cuff fits OVER my coat sleeve. No gaps!

*blissful sigh* They went out for their inaugural use last night as I carried things in and out to my Relief Society’s Christmas dinner and they passed with flying colors. It’s so nice to be warm again.

And the Knitting Mojo Returns!

December 2, 2009February 1, 2015Leave a comment

Let me tell you, I have missed my quality time spent with yarn and sticks. Now that I’m over my nausea (for the most part), I can once again stand to look at a project for more than two minutes without wanting to throw up! Yay!

This is mitten #1 of the pair of “Bella’s Mittens” that I started back in September. It had been left abandoned on the shelf until a few days ago. I know of a few young ladies who would probably like it very much if they became the owners of such a pair of mittens.

The idea that they might be done in time for Christmas gifting has been hampered by occurences such this:This is commonly referred to as “pride goeth before the fall.” I got cocky about doing the cables and stopped looking at the directions and then did them backwards and didn’t realize it until about ten rows later. But the mistakes have been corrected and I have moved on.

Oh knitting, I have missed our daily chats. Let’s not ever stray from each other ever again.

Peacock Feathers Stole Swatch

September 9, 2009February 1, 20151 Comment

I was browsing through knitting patterns while I was staying at my granny’s house in Seattle and she really liked the Peacock Feathers Stole. So I offered to make it for her. (Ignore all the weird mistakes in the swatch–I do it on purpose, to make sure I understand the stitch pattern and to see if I could feasibly fix mistakes without having to rip back to them. Obviously, that will not work with this one.)

The swatch blocked perfectly to the preferred 5 1/2 by 5 1/4 inches. Excellent.

I’m using JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk #036 Juniper. I bumped up my needle size to US4 instead of the recommended US3 because I tend to knit tight.

I was going to try to be a super knitter and have it done for Christmas because, seriously, how awesome would I be if that happened? (And hey, Eunny Jang finished her Peacock Feathers Shawl in nine DAYS.) But after trying to stick to “the schedule” of completing eight rows a day for that to happen, I developed a perma-headache and a slightly nauseated feeling whenever I thought about picking up the thing again. In my book, that points to TOO MUCH. So, much to my knitting pride’s disappointment, I am mandating that this project be downgraded to “slow-and-steady.” It will be ready when it is time for it be ready. No more than 2-4 rows a day, with the occasional day off. Not as much bang for your buck, but it will still get done. Eventually. (Boring.)

Also, in beginning to knit this little darling I have come face-to-face with my worst fear: What if this truly is above my skill level? My knitting skills are definitely being stretched with Lil’ Ole Mr. Peacock here. It’s 109 stitches across, NINE DIFFERENT charts to follow, 304 rows…and that’s just half of it, you get to knit the other half when you get to that point.

Why keep on with the crazines and the mental exhaustion? Because it’s for my granny, whom I adore immensely and would do almost anything for. I have wanted to make something “big” for her for forever, and she has finally given me my head to do so and darn it, I’m going to do a spectacular job with it. I have created the odd knitted article here and there for her, but nothing that I would actually want her to confess to having been created by me. I made her a scarf when I was first learning to knit and I really wish I could somehow locate it and burn it–Fun Fur was involved. And then I made her a very nice Lopi Earflap hat–that was two sizes too big. This stole needs to be drop-dead gorgeous and as near perfect as possible.

I did have a great idea last night that kept me from sleep for many hours: BEADS. How gorgeous would this be if I incorporated beading into it?

So much potential for such unproven hands…

Cable-y Goodness

May 10, 2008February 1, 20153 Comments

Indeedidly doo, el Aran Scarf es finito. I love this scarf. Hopefully my pal does as well. It won’t be going out in the mail for a while yet, as this weekend is Birthday Weekend for me and I’m thinking that I’ll have to wait for our next paycheck to pay for the regional goodies and shipping. Or not. And then I’ll be completely done.