The Unoriginal Hat - Designer: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The Unoriginal Hat is a free pattern you can obtain at The Yarn Harlot's blog. This pattern was a real exercise for me in cabling. At first I didn't like the 'work' involved, but once I got into it, I found that I truly did enjoy it and was loving the pattern being created by the cables. I used Cascade Yarns "Pastaza Paints" - 50% Llama and 50% Wool; the yarn is considered 'chunky' and the pattern called for bulky, so I doubled up the strands and knitted the hat on US #10 dpns. I encourage you to try this pattern out. . .

And Did I Mention More Luscious Yarns?

And, yes, more Peruvian Tweed Alpaca Yarn (can't get enough of it). . .

Fleece Artist

More Fleece Artist Yarn

And yes, more Fleece Artist Yarn

And Yes, More Luscious Yarns . . .!!!

Jade Sapphire Exotic Fibers 4-Ply Cashmere

Claudia Handpainted Yarn

Claudia Handpainted Yarn; Noro (center hank)

More Luscious Yarns. . .

Claudia's Handpainted Yarn (top and bottom) Fleece Artist 12Ply Cashmere (middle)

Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk Yarn

Fleece Artist Sock Weight Yarn

Melosa Lace Weight Yarn from One Planet Yarn

Lorna's Laces Sock Weight Yarn

My Luscious Yarns . . .

These are Colinette Yarns.

These blues, whites and taupe are Lorna's Laces Sock and Worsted Weight Yarns.

This lovely yarn of blues and pinks are from One Planet Yarns called Mama Llamas.

This Peruvian Tweed Yarn (which is really in its natural color) is my all-time favorite YARN!!! Its been called the 'poor man's cashmere'.

Cable Two Color Hat

This hat was supposed to be knitted on aran weight yarn with a US#5 needle, but since I had some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn to use up, I decided to use a US#3 needle and add a contrasting color of pistachio of the same yarn weight and company. I so enjoyed creating the I-Cord bow!! Hope you like it. What an easy pattern to follow and make!!

Meida Socks by Nancy Bush BUT Knitted by ME

These socks are finally done! I used a US#1 needle with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Weight in Seaside Colorway from Jimmy Beans Wool. It took me quite a while to finish these socks as the pattern was not that difficult but combined with the variegated yarn and my migraines, it took longer than expected. I fully enjoyed the outcome and hope the recipient enjoys it too.

Be sure to click on photograph to enlarge it, you will have a better look at the intricate details of the stitch.

Cable Two Color Hat

I am knitting this hat with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarn in Pistachio and Lavender. It is a free cable hat pattern by Classic Elite. I am using US #4 needle and am enjoying the colors and feel of this yarn. This hat is knitted on flat needles as opposed to circular needles. http://www.classiceliteyarns.com

Meida Socks by Nancy Bush

I started these socks months ago. It is my first attempt at knitting lace with cables on variegated yarn and is proving to be a challenge but I believe worth the work!!! I am using Lorna's Laces Hand Dyed Shepherd Sock in Seaside Colorway purchased from JimmyBeansWool. http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/ I am using US #1 needle. The pattern comes from the book Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from INTERWEAVE, page 69. This pair is slow going and I only work on them when I am alone as I do not want to lose stitch count nor lose my stitches on my needles.

Alpaca Cloud Accessory Scarf/Tie

This was great fun!!! I loved knitting up this fast scarf. It was knitted up in Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud Papaya colorway on US #10 needles. The yarn was lovely to work with and the pattern was just so easy. I blocked it but I realized I need work at blocking my finished items!!!

Update - Garter Helmet Hat

Sometime ago I knitted a helmet hat which somehow didn't come out as specified in the pattern. I kept the hat as it was since it was rather cute. I did notice that it needed a touch of something. What I came up with was a small tassel. It just made the hat looked finished. I hope you feel the same way. Since then, I was given a site to visit with the exact finished look of the hat I was supposedly knitting. I will follow those instructions and see what kind of hat I finally come out with. But until then, I will continue to enjoy what I do have. . .

Florida, August 2008

Its been quite some time since I posted. Not that much has happened, only that I've been knitting away and watching lots of TV -- one of my great passions. I had the opportunity, though, to visit sunny Florida. I went most especially to reconnect with family members I had not seen in quite some time. I didn't go to sightsee and visit all the 'hip' and 'cool' places, but I did 'wine and dine' with my 'cool' family and their 'hip' favorite restaurants!!


I stayed in Coral Gables supposedly one of the oldest areas in sunny Miami. The neighborhood was quite awesome. Old Spanish and Mediterrean homes and churches. Quite beautiful. . . While there I managed to start and finish a hat and a pair of fingerless mittens.




Both hat and gloves were knitted in Sublime's Angora/Merino Yarn on US #8 for the hat and US #6 for the mittens. It was done in two different lace patterns. I am enjoying learning to knit up lace and one day hope to challenge myself to a lace stole or shawl.

Quick Note on Yarn: This yarn was purchased by one of my daughters as a birthday gift. Not my birthday, but her's. You see, our pediatrician told us a story of how after a certain amount of time, parents shouldn't be giving gifts to their children on their birthdays but rather the child or children should opt to give a gift to their mother. Why? Simply put: she birthed you and went through much on your birthday. So celebrate your birthday by giving your mom a gift on your's and her special day!! Let me know what YOU think of this gift exchange. . .

Yarn Dyeing @ The Point Knitting Cafe

This past weekend I took a class -- a yarn dyeing class at The Point Knitting Cafe in the Village of New York City (http://www.thepointnyc.com/) It was so much fun!! The instructor was really a blast and since there were only two students we decided to share our color palettes. I only dyed three hanks of Kraemer Yarn. The first one is called Jeannie, 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon 100 grams Super Fine Weight approximately 420 yards before dyeing; the middle yarn is Kraemer's Sterling Silk & Silver, 63% Superwash Merino, 20% Silk, 15% Nylon, 2% Silver, 100 grams approximately 420 yards; and the third one is Janice, 100% Merino Wool, 100 grams, Medium Weight approximately 300 yards before dyeing.

I enjoyed this experience so much, that I have already placed an order for dyes and bare yarns to try out at home.

The Point is such a cozy shop. There is a cafe counter and you can order coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, etc. while sitting and chit chatting with other knitters! Visit the shop, you won't be disappointed. And while you are there, visit The Market, where artisanal breads are made one block east of the yarn shop.

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn - Seaside "Media Socks"

I am in the process of knitting a pair of sock from the book "Favorite Socks". They are called Media Socks. I am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in Seaside colorway.

These socks have a mock cable and lace design which might be a little difficult to see because of the busy colorway. The socks are knitted in US #1 dpn needles.

I just love knitting on smaller needles. I find as I expose myself to different designs and patterns, that I really enjoy using smaller sized needles versus larger sizes. I enjoy how the smaller needles create such a tight fabric that seems almost seamless. Granted, with larger sized needles you progress a little faster in your garment, but for me its the process of creating that I seem to enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy the end prodcut as well. I derive a certain pleasure in knowing that not everyone can create SOCKS! Yes, I have become a SOCK snob. There is a certain aura about the majic of turning the heel, picking up the stitches for the gusset, etc. Wow, what a feeling of accomplishment.

This yarn is also really nice to work with. I love Lorna's Laces products. The Worsted Weights are also great. Please check out this yarn by visiting your LYS or online knitting store.

"Vintage" Helmet Garter Hat

This hat was a dream to knit. Needful Yarn is a lovely yarn and held up well to my frogging. I so enjoyed this pattern and was supposed to put it up on my blog as I had received permission from the owner at my local yarn store, but unfortunately I either misunderstood the instructions or something was not "right" with the pattern, so I haven't debut it on the blog.

The hat is knit up sideways and there are these peaks and valleys throughout, but somehow my peaks never met my valleys at the right junction. So, I continued the pattern as I thought it should be and came up with this. Its actually for a newborn/infant or so, and it sort of reminded me of Saturday Night Live (SNL) The Coneheads , remember them? Anyway its still rather cute. I used US #3 needles and loved every moment of this knit up.

Self-Striping Beanie Hat/Cap

I completed this hat last night. This hat is made with Knit Picks Sock Yarn in the blue colorway with US #3 needle and US #6 needle. This is knitted in the flat versus on circular needles. I realize how much I hate knitting hats in the flat and then having to mattress stitch the seam. I am not very good at it so I struggle with the seaming and force myself to make hats that have seams in order to get better at this techique. But I may just give it up and modify such patterns to the circular style instead.

This hat was really fast. 92 stitches cast on on US #3 needle for about 8 rows to create the roll then switching over to US #6 needle to complete the body. The decreases were fast and barely noticeable.

When I make this hat again I will use circular needles. . .pattern was easy enough to adapt it to circulars.

Cabled Rimmed Hat

I recently completed this little girl's hat made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarn in Pistachio and Lavender colors. The pattern is by Knit Picks under the free pattern section. I made a slight modification to the pattern in that the cable band should have been 21" but I cut it down to 19" and picked up the required 88 stitches to complete the cap portion. It worked out really well and I hope it will fit the 8 year girl I made this for! I hope she likes it.

Etsy.com

http://www.grandviewfarmvt.net/

I recently decided to venture into surfing on Etsy.com. To my amazement and surprise, I found lovely yarns and wonderful vendors. I made a yarn purchase from Grandview Farm Vermont. A small family owned farm. I just fell in love with the picture of the yarn I saw on this site. Well after contacting the vendor, she made a special listing on her site so that I could order the amounts of skeins I wanted. The yarn came from her sheep named "Fedora" and was handspun by the vendor, not Fedora of course. . .

This yarn is so soft and clean. I wish I could just put my head on it to sleep its so soft!! Please visit this site and support our local farmers. I love doing this and wish we could all support them. They do a great job taking care of their animals and their 'homegrown products'. Good old USA made. . .

You can also find this site on http://www.etsy.com/

Baby Bobble Hat - Pattern by Debbie Bliss

This hat I will never do again!!! I found that working 80 stitches on a 16" circular needle was a little difficult not to mention that making 'bobbles' was no easy task. The instructions were excellently written out, but the maneuvering was not an enjoyable task. I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn in natural on US #6 -16" circular needles. I tried using 12" circular needles, not enough space to maneuver the existing stitches. I switched over to DPNs, but the needles seemed to be too heavy for such a delicate yarn and created ladders throughout. In addition to the difficult task of working a small amount of stitches on a circular needle, this particular batch or ball of yarn arrived with several "KNOTS". Something I had not encountered while ever using this yarn before. The finished product was very pretty despite all the hankerings with needles and knots!!!

More Socks??

Well, yes, more socks!! I love knitting socks and I love this Retro Anklet sock pattern found in the book Socks, Socks, Socks, page 10. I used Colinette's Jitterbug yarn, Jewel colorway, with US #2 needles. I know the socks look like they have no shape, but they fit beautifully. The colorway is such a happy color and I thoroughly enjoyed working with this yarn. Colinette never seems to disappoint me!!!

Pretty Lacy Wristwarmers - Pattern by PurlSoho

These wristwarmers were knitted with Alpaca & Silk by Blue Sky Alpacas, US #6 needle and using a free pattern by PurlSoho. The first wristwarmer came out pretty good!! The second one will have to be redone as the cuff and wrist slit were not identical. The pattern was not wonderfully written out for this beginner, and I am sure that advanced knitters would have no problem with the written pattern. The lace pattern is really pretty and the yarn makes it that much more luscious. . .

Cardigan/Sweater with Hood Finally Done!!!

Well I finally finished the Lorna's Lace Shepherd Worsted Cardigan/Sweater with Hood. I am somewhat please, but not entirely. Overall the sweater came out 'okay' for being my VERY FIRST attempt at a sweater. This one had buttonholes, pockets and a hood to boot!!! My pockets have alot to be desired. . . they are not evenly placed!!! When unbuttoned my pockets look fine, buttoned you can tell its unevenly placed. . .

I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted Weight yarn, US #7 needles, Jay Pond Colorway Mill End, 225 yards. Out of the six hanks of yarn I purchased, I used four for this project. Not bad. . .

I used white button with a little flower design. The buttons cost about 50 cents at a local store.

Two Tone (Actually Multi-Colored) Cardigan Progresss

I am in the process of attaching both left and right fronts to the back of the cardy. After this I will pick up stitches to begin knitting the hood portion. The sleeves have already been knit and are ready for attachment when the pattern calls for it. I have yet to knit the pockets and then attach those as well. This has been a learning experience for me. As stated in earlier posts, this is my very FIRST sweater attempt and I almost started to regret it. Had it not been for Carole Wulster of The Knitting Software Company, I would have given up. She helped me with the buttonhole spacing and the neck shaping all via email. Her instructions were right on the money!!! Great lady and great software, albeit that I have yet to learn how to use the software more efficiently. . .