More Lace Knitting

I've been working on a few projects up to this point that are lace, not very successfully or happily, but recently there have been a few lace patterns that looked irresistible, also I have yarn waiting in my stash to be used ... calling out to me to knit it ...


The fine lace pattern is from the Spring 2009 Interweave Knits magazine, it's called Fountain Pen Shawl, love working the pattern ... really well written and very comprehensive, the designer even includes a lace BO so that you can achieve looseness while blocking your FO. For this pattern I had some Malabrigo Lace in the Purple Mystery colorway just waiting for me to knit it up. The yarn is really soft and cozy, yet light and airy too!! I'm really excited to continue with this pattern!!

This beauty is the Hemlock Ring Blanket and it's a free pattern (follow the Ravelry links to locate the original pattern). This pattern satisfies my desire to knit lace without it taking a year to finish the pattern. Also the Cascade Ecological Wool that I'm using is so beautiful to work with, plus I love the fact that it's not dyed or chemically treated ... always a plus when looking for 'Green' knitting projects!! This blanket should be a smaller blanket, like a lap blanket, so I'd say I'm almost half-way finished. I'm excited to finish this and I know it will be beautiful once finished and will perfectly coordinate our blue/beige couch!! Thanks to Jared Flood for making this version available!!!

Thank you to the ladies at Saybrook Yarn who are so sweet and helpful when ever I shop there!! I went in to buy The Cascade Eco Wool and originally I wanted a chocolaty brown, but they only had one hank left. I stared at two different colors for what must have been an hour. That wasn't working to help me see if I should have the color ordered or use the color they had in stock, so we found a skein of yarn that matched pretty closely to my sofa and compared to the colorways we were staring at. It turns out that the color they had in stock was an even better color, so I excitedly brought it home and cast on!! I was really surprised to find that what looked like charcoal in the store looks dark brown in my living room ... go figure!! It is so important it is to find a great LYS (or multiple LYS's) who are so patient, willing and helpful!!!

I've also been tackling a men's hat, like a Newsboy hat from the 1930's. I should probably say that the hat has been tackling me instead. I am determined to get it done before the spring officially arrives (my poor friend's head has been freezing all winter!!). I will post the pictures when I'm finished, if it's ever finished, not sure if I'm going to post the pattern though ... have to see how much finishing work is involved, it may not be worth passing on.

Ahhhhh ... Boston!!!

Recently we spent some time with my sister who lives a stones throw away from Boston. I lived in NYC growing up and since moving to CT, a much more rural area, I have longed for the hustle and bustle of city life. Since my sister arrived at Tufts to get her Masters in OT (so proud!!) she has been asking us to come visit, so we finally did. (She's so cute!!, but what happened to me? yikes ... I have no eyes!!!)

Although not directly in Boston, this area nearby was enough of a city to satisfy my longing. People walking every where, very little parking (not necessarily pleasant, but very city-like), dogs enjoying a nice walk with their owners on real sidewalks that didn't just randomly start and stop (you'd have to visit our area to know what I mean!!). It was great!! We ate at this cute little place the morning we left called Mr. Crepe, I got the Nutella stuffed one below, it was delicious!! I'm glad that my sister shared some of it with me, I'm starting to grow a fanny pack.



Here's the crepe maker on the left, he was so quick, every single one looked great ... you also can get an idea as to how huge the crepe's are in this picture, yum!! My sister making a silly face (somehow it's a family trait), Gman's getting his coffee fix ... it was such a cool spot, like a cafe/crêperie where you can hang out and eat or study, perfect for the college setting.

On the needles: I've been working on an English Driving Cap for a friend for what seams like a year, after multiple froggings it seemed like defeat, but I borrowed a store-bought version of the hat I'd like to make to use as a visual ... I think I'll get it this time (that is if the yarn can hold up to another knit and frogging). I'm also working on a beautiful blanket called the Hemlock Ring Blanket, it's like a huge gauge doily, totally awesome!! Also still working on some shawls, lace shawls, but I think I've just come to the conclusion that I just have no patience for lace knitting. I do, however, want to start the Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig in the Spring Interweave Knits Mag (I just haven't received mine in the mail yet, harrumph). So maybe I'll use the lace yarn in my stash for the Cardigan, sounds like a nice compromise!!!

Family & Hand Knits

My brother-in-law finally has his fingerless gloves, and just in time for the winter to almost be completely over. He really likes them, but won't wear them to work (which is why I made them for him in the first place, ironically!!) ... he's afraid of ruining them. Hand knits are great because there are always more to be made and give away.

In many ways knitting has fulfilled the spirit of generosity within me, but there just never seems to be enough time each day to devote to making things for others ... you know with life and all getting in the way ... but I find myself falling asleep at night thinking about what projects I have, or my new-found love for entrelac and what colors I will be able to work with next. I think it's gone from love to obsession to disease. There are times when I just want to stop and do something else, but something compels me to keep coming back. I'll see a baby who needs a burp cloth, a mother-to-be and want to make a cozy blanket for her new child, or someone who looks like they need a scarf.

Or ... my sister who keeps reminding me that I have yet to make her the scarf that I have been promising her for over a year. Sorry Sis, but I promised you pics of the scarf I'm working on for you. It might be hard to see what it's going to look like finished since it's still in its beginning stages, but let me know what you think. ;)

Entrelac & a Hannah Fettig Knit

Entrelac is one of my latest endeavors and, so far, the most interesting type of knitting I've done yet. It doesn't hurt my brain like some lace knitting does, and once you have the general concept of the pattern down you're golden. It's a pretty straight forward way to make something really beautiful and multidimensional without much complexity. I LOVE IT!!!!

I used a free Entrelac Scarf pattern online and just started knitting. I decided to do something a little smaller to start, and since my friend's baby boy has been, let's say, rejecting some of his formula recently, I thought this would be a pretty and functional way to get started with Entrelac. Using some washable and relatively cheap (b/c of baby puke and all) worsted weight cotton yarn, it took very little time, although that's not saying much since the piece is no more than a 4x6" rectangle. Regardless it was a great intro to this great way of knitting and fun too!! I thought it would be really lumpy, you'll know what I mean if you try it, but it blocked surprisingly easily and very flat!! Here it is ...

I have also started and finished (another quick one!) one of the patterns in Hannah Fettig's book Closely Knit, the Bird's Nest Pin Cushion. The nest itself was a little challenging for me, but I realized it was because my dpn's were too small (I found this out because my nest only fit four eggs ... it should have fit at least five ... ooops!!). The yarn I used was Sirdar Eco Wool and the eggs were some left-over periwinkle 'Cloud 9' from Cascade. My mom loves it and I hope she will be able to use it soon!!

Alvina Scarf (Free Pattern)

Alvina Scarf
(A Reversible Cable Scarf)

Yarn:
Malabrigo Worsted Weight Merino Yarn (100% Merino Wool; 216 yds/100g) Jacinto #193 colorway, 2 skeins.

Needles:
-US 9 Circular (A very long circular will work best)
-Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends

Gauge:
4 sts/7 rows = 1" in Stockinette Stitch. (If gauge is slightly off, no problem.)

Size:
One size fits all. Scarf measures approx. 4.5"W x 6' H.

Note:
To make a smooth join between the two skeins, see this tutorial on Felted joins (scroll down page until you can view the video tutorial, very helpful!!).

Cable Stitches:
C8F - Slip 4 stitches onto your cable needle, hold to front of work, K1, P1 (2 times), then K1, P1 (2 times) from the cable needle.
C12F - Slip 6 stitches onto your cable needle, hold to front of work, K1, P1 (3 times), then K1, P1 (3 times) from the cable needle.

Directions:
CO 464 sts.

Rows 1-4: Knit (this will be your garter stitch border).

Row 5 (WS and all other WS rows): K4; *K3; [K1, P1] 4 times; K3; [K1, P1] 6 times, repeat from * 16 more times; K3; [K1, P1] 4 times; K7.

Row 6 (RS): K4; *P3; [K1, P1] 4 times; P3; [K1, P1] 6 times, repeat from * 16 more times; P3; [K1, P1] 4 times; P3; K4.

Row 8: Same as row 6.

Row 10: K4; *P3; C8F; P3; [K1, P1] 6 times, repeat from * 16 more times; P3; C8F; P3; K4.

Row 12: K4; *P3, [K1, P1] 4 times; P3; C12F, repeat from * 16 more times; P3; [K1, P1] 4 times; P3; K4.

Row 14: Same as row 6.
Row 16: Same as row 10.
Row 18: Same as row 6.
Row 20: Same as row 12.
Row 22: Same as row 10.
Rows 24 & 26: Same as row 6.

Rows 27-30: Knit (this will finish off the scarf and leave a nice clean garter stitch border).

BO: *K2tog, place stitch on right needle back onto left needle; repeat from * to end. Leave at least a 6" tail, cut yarn. Weave in ends.


Do not block ... the scarf takes on a very feminine flair unblocked, the cables create twists and ruffles naturally. This is what I think gives the scarf something extra!!

I accept full responsibility for any mistakes in this pattern, so please let me know of any mistakes. You can email me here.

Pattern by Claire Getman, © 2009.

http://clairebearknits.blogspot.com/

All content on this site is the sole property of Claire Getman, unless indicated otherwise, and cannot be reproduced without express written consent. Patterns are restricted to a single copy for personal use only. Any other use must be approved in writing by the author.

What's so funny?

I can't believe it's been over two weeks since I posted last!! Last week was sort of a recovery week after Gman's (hubby) vacation...and I finally got to do a photo shoot for some FO's. I would like to post some of these as free patterns, that'll have to come in the future though.

I've never been one to make hand knits so that they can be destroyed, but my friends 2 month old son is so cute he deserves cute burp-cloths too!! To me that's funny, so against my normal MO! Usually I'm more of the 'I'll knit your baby a big cozy blanket!!' type, but I've been working on so many things lately that I just wanted to knit something that would be quick and easy. I'm excited to say that I'm actually getting a handle on crochet and I've added crochet borders to both of the burp-cloths(there must be a better name?!). I'll show them once the second one is finished.

In the meantime ... the above are photo's of my recently designed scarf and fingerless mitts finally finished ... the Alvina Scarf is a reversible cable knit using Malabrigo Worsted (post for pattern soon to come!!).

What's really funny is that I'm so unphotogenic ... it took us about 40 pics just to get a couple good ones!!

What does a Frog say? and Blond Brains

I must laugh at my Oh-So-Blond brain (better than cry, right?)... you know, the whole getting the punch-line of a joke 5 minutes too late kind of thing?

Anyway, I just Googled frogging and realized that I frog so much that I should probably get paid to do it...is there a job like that somewhere out there? Frogging is probably one of my favorite things to do (Eureka!! I have found my calling!!).

Check out this Knitty article all about it, this article can do wonders for one's knitting stress level or ego for that matter. It is especially comforting to know that we who frog our knitting are not alone in the WWK (wide world of knitters).

Although it pained my heart the first few times I frogged, I have learned that ripping out hours of pain-staking work is just one of those things that a perfectionist knitter must do to create a beautiful hand knit, otherwise those flaws will be haunting your nightmares!!