Woodland Shawl

October 2007

Pattern: Woodland Shawl by Nikol Lohr
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solid (2 skeins; colour: teal green)
Needle: 3.75mm circular
Finished Size (blocked): approximately 20 inches x 68 inches

I love this. The pattern was easy, and the results are gorgeous.

(Related blog posts here, here, and here.)

BAWK cozy

October 2007

Pattern: BAWK Hot Water Bottle Cozy
Yarn: Cascade 220 Quatro (<1 skein)
Needle: 5.0mm circular
Cable: 8-stitch horseshoe cable (instead of 6-stitch twist)

BOB (Bulky One-Button) cardigan

September 2007

This little cardigan is based loosely on a free online pattern called Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet -- I adjusted the gauge so as to use up a bunch of Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky (colour: chocolate), lengthened the body and the sleeves, used the knit side as the RS, and added a wide ribbed (1x1) button band on the fronts. And I love it!

(Photo shoot with Mooky at the original blog post.)

Garter-Stitch Cardigan for 3 Months

September 2007

Pattern: from Baby Styles by Beehive (vintage Patons booklet no. 117)
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull (2 balls; colour 5711)
Needle: 2.50 mm circular

Original blog posts here and here.

Blue Herring socks

August 2007

Pattern: Red Herring, from fall 2006 Knitty
Yarn: SandnesGarn Sisu (MC: 7133, 2 balls / CC: 2543, 1 ball)
Needles: 2.25mm circular; 2.5mm circular for Fair Isle section

More photos and info at original blog post.

Jitterbugs

July 2007

These short socks were knit from one skein of Colinette Jitterbug (colour: Toscana/55) on a 2.50mm circular needle. I cast on 60 sts., did a picot edge, knit 45 rounds plain, did a short-row heel on 30 sts., knit the plain foot, and did a regular wedge toe. And all while fishing at Crotch Lake.

See original post here.

Clessidra Stockings

July 2007

Pattern: Clessidra Stockings from the spring 2007 Knitty
Yarn: SandnesGarn Sisu (colour 9544), 3 balls + a tiny bit of a 4th

See original post for more info and more photos.

Josephine Top

July 2007

Pattern: Josephine Top from the summer 2007 Interweave Knits
Size: 40.5 inch bust (2.5 inches of ease)
Yarn: Pingouin Transat (50% cotton/50% acrylic), colour 25
Needles: 3.75mm circular; 3.25mm circular (for armhole edge only)

See original post for more info and photos.

Striped socks

June 2007

Yarn is Regia 4-ply Crazy Color (#5437). No pattern, just a plain st. st. sock for me to take to knitting night and work on occasionally. There are a few more details and another photo in the original post.

Monkey socks

May 2007

Pattern: Monkey
Yarn: Fleece Artist 2/6 Merino
Needle: 2.25mm circular

These socks are easy to knit; they look weird and bunchy before blocking, but a good block makes them lovely.

(Additional photos at the original post.)

Kate

May 2007

Pattern: Kate
Yarns: Patons Classic Merino, Moda Dea Washable Wool, Cascade 220, O-Wool
Needles: 4.5mm dpns

Fun project, fun result. I'm keeping this for myself because it makes me happy.

(Additional photos at the original post.)

House socks

April 2007

I knit these socks quickly, on a 3.0mm circ, at 7.5 sts./inch. The yarn is a mystery -- it's wool but had no label, and was sent to me by another knitter a couple of years ago. It's heavier than the usual sock-weight yarn -- sport, I guess. These top-down socks have garter-stitch cuffs, Eye of Partridge heel flaps, and short-row toes.

(Additional photos at the original post.)

Pattern: Quick sock recipe

Roza's Socks

March 2007

These socks are a birthday gift for my Aunt Nance. The pattern -- Roza's Socks, designed by Grumperina -- is from the spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Yarn is Regia 4-ply (2 balls), the colour of red wine (#315); I used a 2.25mm circular needle and my usual Magic Loop method. I enjoyed the pattern and followed it to the letter except for the heel flaps (mine are Eye of Partridge). There was plenty of yarn left over.

(Original post here.)

Bill's vest

February 2007

Pattern: Peter Easy vest (Berroco)
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish (washable 100% wool) -- 9.5 balls (black)
Needles: 4.0mm

My gauge was different from what the pattern called for, so I followed the numbers for the largest size to end up with the 44-inch size. Plus, the Swish can be machine-washed and -dried, which is great, but it shrinks in length by about 20 percent. Happily, the end result fits well. When the recipient is happy, the knitter is happy!

(Original post here.)

Coif

February 2007

This is the perfect way to combine ponytails with warmth. Yet another Knitty pattern: Shocking pink coif. I used a 50% wool, 50% soysilk yarn called Gianna (by South West Trading Company; colour 048), which is soft and warm but had lots of knots. The main part was knit on a 5.5mm needle; the i-cord on a 4.5mm needle. The pattern has two st. st. straps that tie under the chin. On one side, I changed the st. st. to a 2-stitch i-cord and sewed the end into a loop; on the other side, I sewed on a button. And I love it.

(Additional photos at the original post.)

Trellis

February 2007

This sweet little cardigan was knit with the mysterious, supposedly "recycled" EcoFil yarn (75% cotton, 25% acrylic) on 4.0mm needles. I followed the pattern for the smallest (6-month) size; my only change was to add slipped selvedge stitches at the edges and to put just a little more space between buttonholes (resulting in four buttons instead of five).


(Related posts can be found here, here, here, and here.)

Saddle-shoulder sweater

December 2006

I (mostly) followed the numbers in Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears for the seamless saddle-shoulder sweater -- I did knit the sleeves flat to avoid using DPNs. Yarn is Patons Classic Wool: 5 balls in "deep olive" for the main colour and 1 ball of a nameless blue for the constrast hems inside. I used 4.0mm circular needles. I'm very pleased with the fit, and I think the saddle shoulders are flattering.

Mom's Xmas socks

December 2006

New socks for my mom for Christmas. Yarn is Regia Canadian Color (#4744); magic loop on a 2.25mm needle. I cast on 60 sts. and did a fancy picot edge at the cuff. I think with multicoloured yarn like this, it's best to stick with plain stockinette.

Dad's Xmas socks

December 2006

These socks are an Xmas present for my dad. The gray-mix yarn is Regia 4-ply Color (#1933). I cast on 66 sts. and knit 20 rounds of k1p1 ribbing for the cuff. To give the socks some extra stretch, I did a k3p1 rib on the front 33 sts.; to make the knitting go a little faster, I did plain stockinette on the back 33 sts. Eye of Partridge heel flap on 32 sts.

Tom's Xmas socks

December 2006

These socks are an Xmas gift for my brother and his size-10 feet. The blue-and-brown combo reminds me of our 1970s childhood. Yarn is Regia 4-ply Color (#5171); magic loop on a 2.25mm needle. I cast on 64 sts., did 20 rounds k2p2 ribbing, increased to 66 sts., and then knit plain. Eye of Partridge heel flap on 32 sts.

Mini Christmas stocking

December 2006

This mini Xmas stocking ornament was knit flat on a 2.5 mm circular needle, using leftover Cherry Tree Hill and Koigu merino sock yarns. I used a free pattern from Little Cotton Rabbits -- and, specifically, the "zig zag" chart. I can hardly stand the cuteness.

Stashbuster Spirals Socks

November 2006

These are completely ridiculous socks. I used a pattern called Stashbuster Spirals Socks and a whole bunch of leftover sock yarn. Reserved for laundry day!

Embossed Leaves socks

October 2006

The Embossed Leaves Socks from the winter 2005 Interweave Knits (designed by Mona Schmidt). I used 2 skeins of Koigu KPM (colour: 1128) and a long 2.25mm circular needle. I'd highly recommend this pattern.

Bill's birthday socks III

October 2006

A nice, basic pair of socks for Bill's birthday. Yarn is Cherry Tree Hill supersock merino (colour: River Run, plus leftover potluck greens for the toes). Top down; c.o. 68 sts.; 2-by-2 ribbing at the cuff; short-row heel; wedge toe. To shake things up a bit, I used a new short-row technique for the heels (from a short-row tutorial on misocrafty's blog) and a rounder-than-usual toe (dec. 4 sts. every other round until 50% of total sts., then every round until 8 sts. left, then graft). These are a hit; the report is that they are "very comfortable."

Manly Ribbed Socks

September 2006

Pattern: Manly Ribbed Socks, by Ann Budd, from the IK subscribers-only site
Yarn: 2 skeins Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (colour: chocolate)
Needle: one long 2.25mm circular

These socks are a thank-you gift for my M.A. thesis supervisor. They're pretty sweet, and I hope he likes them.

Update: He loves them.

Fingerless Mitts

September 2006

Fingerless Mitts, designed by Ann Budd -- pattern in Weekend Knitting (ed. Melanie Falick). Quick knit, cozy hands. Yarn is Pingouin Mohican, a chunky wool blend (colour 05) -- 5 sts. per inch on 5mm needles.

Leaf Lace Shawl

September 2006

The popular-in-blogland Leaf Lace Shawl, designed by Evelyn A. Clark. I knit this off and on over a period of a few months, and it was such fun to knit. Yarn is Inca Gold 100% light-fingering-weight baby alpaca (colour: 404/charcoal), knit on a long 4.0 mm circular needle.

Finished size: 68 inches across, 33.5 inches deep at point.

Picot-edged socks

August 2006

I can't explain it, but somehow this unlikely colour combination works! These are just basic top-down stockinette socks, with a picot edge and no-wrap short-row heel. I cast on 60 stitches and knit very loosely. Yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (colour: Funky Stripe).

Fishing trip socks

August 2006

I knit these socks while on a week-long fishing trip at Crotch Lake, Ontario. (Most of the knitting was done in the boat.) I made up the pattern as I went. I knew these socks would be shorter than most, so I knit them toe-up, with short-row toes and heels. There are 56 sts. in each round. Staggered 4-stitch cables up the front were twisted every 16 rounds. Cuff is *k3, p2* ribbing. Regular bind off, but loose. Perfect colours for knitting at a lake.

Fancy Ribs socks

July 2006

I love this superwash merino from Cherry Tree Hill -- there's no dye lot, because this is a "potluck" (i.e., leftover colours) skein. The stitch pattern for the ribbing is from Ann Budd's pattern for Women's Fancy Ribs Socks (from IK subscriber-only content). It's hard to see, but it is truly fancy: a 2-stitch twisted rib. I did short-row heels and plain stockinette feet. These socks are super-comfortable.

Soy ribs toque

June 2006

Based on a free pattern online (Crumpart's "That chocolate's gone straight to your ribs" hat), I knit this fancy toque with Karaoke soy silk (#278; less than 2 balls) on 4mm needles. I made it longer than the pattern called for, so I could fold up more -- that double layer over the ears is going to be important in the winter!

Ribbed Koigu socks

June 2006

Luscious Koigu, squishy ribbing, new favourite socks. This is basically Nancy Bush's pattern for rib-and-cable socks (from IK) but with only ribs. Two skeins of Koigu PPPM (colour: 519), 2.25mm needles.

Golf socks II

June 2006

More ankle socks for Bill to wear golfing. I used 1 ball of Scheepjes Invicta Extra (colour 1361) on a 2.25mm circular needle. Nothing special to the instructions: cast on and rib for a bit; make a heel; knit a foot; make a toe; graft.

Golf socks

May 2006

Bill asked for short socks he could wear playing golf, and he finds thin wool cooler than store-bought cotton socks. I knit this pair with 1 ball (+ about 1 metre) of Scheepjes Invicta Extra (colour 1406) on a 2.25mm circular needle. I cast on 72 sts.; did 8 rounds of k1tbl, p1 ribbing and then 6 plain rounds; did an E.O.P. heel on 36 sts.; foot on 68 sts.; dec. toe to 20 sts. and graft. And they've been golfing and were reportedly very comfortable.

Plain blue-gray socks

May 2006

These socks were knit with Regia Stretch Color (colour 86). I cast on 54 sts., did 8 rounds of k2p2, and then stockinette; Eye of Partridge heel flap; decrease to 56 sts. for foot; decrease toe to 20 sts. and graft. They're snug and comfortable.

Zinnia ankle socks

April 2006

These short socks are the result of my first time knitting 2 socks on 2 circular needles. Yarn is Knit Picks Sock Garden (colour: zinnia). I used 2.25mm needles and cast on 64 stitches; plain stockinette heel flap on 32 stitches. The merino Sock Garden is very soft, but is getting pilly after only one wash. Plus, even though I used two balls from the same dye lot, the colours are much more intense in one sock than the other. But whatever -- cute socks.

My So-Called Scarf

April 2006

Pattern: My So-Called Scarf, from Sheep In The City -- modified (c.o. 16 sts. instead of 30)
Yarn: less than 1 skein Malabrigo kettle-dyed merino wool (colour: 24/vermillion)
Needles: 8.0mm
Finished length: 66 inches

Behold the softest scarf evah! This was a super-quick knit, and much more interesting than garter stitch. A great pattern for a subtly variegated yarn, and oh-so pretty for spring.

Jean's striped socks

March 2006

These socks are part of a yarn-labour exchange -- Jean unravelled a shetland-wool sweater I'd thrifted, and washed and wound the wool for me, so I knit her a pair of socks. Yarn is Froehlich Wolle Blauband Maxi Ringel (colour 7704); needle was a 2.25mm circular. Just the usual sock recipe: top-down, a few rows of 2-by-2 ribbing, short-row heel, wedge toe. Jean's feet are smaller than mine, so I only cast on 56 stitches.

Quick striped socks

February 2006

I will never have enough basic top-down socks. I knit these socks in a week!

Yarn: less than one 100-g ball of Scheepjes Invicta Coloris (75% wool/25% nylon; colour 1704)
Needle: 2.25mm circular

I cast on 68 stitches, did 10 or 12 rounds of *p1, k1tbl* ribbing, and then switched to stockinette. Short-row heel on 34 stitches. The usual wedge toe. No attempts at stripe-matching -- actually, each sock happens to begin at exactly the same place in the colour repeat, but a knot in the yarn just two inches into the first sock resulted in randomness. This yarn is thin and tightly spun, and feels a bit stringy while knitting (similar to Wildfoote).

We Call Them Pirates hat

January/February 2006

This is the best part about being a knitter: making something that you really like and couldn't have had otherwise.

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates (designed by Adrian at Hello Yarn)
Needles: 3.25mm (a circ and then dpns)
Yarn: two 50-gram balls of Knit Picks Andean Treasure (100% baby alpaca): "Woods" (MC) and "Sunset" (CC)

I'd definitely recommend alpaca for a hat, as it's very soft and warm, yet light: zero itch factor. This was my first attempt at Fair Isle, and it really wasn't difficult -- I held the yarns quite loosely and made sure to always have the MC above the CC. Perhaps some Fair Isle mittens next?

Backyard Leaves scarf

January 2006

Pattern: Backyard Leaves (in Scarf Style)
Yarn: 2 balls Patons Classic Wool (colour: leaf green)
Needles: 5.0mm
Finished length: 7 or 8 feet?

As I was sewing the two halves of this scarf together, I thought, "This scarf is reeeeally long." I had just followed the pattern, never measuring, never holding up a piece and seeing that it was beyond long enough. That's OK. It means I can wrap it around my head six times and be warm.

Jaywalker socks

December 2005

What did I learn from this project? I learned that one ball of Silja isn't quite enough for one large Jaywalker sock. So... most of these socks were knit with Gjestal Silja sock yarn (colour: 331) on a 2.25mm circular needle, with toes finished with Patons Kroy (colour: norfolk blue). I like 'em.

Lexi's Hugs and Kisses socks

November 2005

Another wee pair of socks for another friend's wee new daughter. These are the Hugs & Kisses Socks from the summer 2005 Interweave Knits -- available online as a free PDF pattern -- knit with Regia Surf Color (a wool/cotton sock yarn) on a 2mm circular needle. (This baby is in New Zealand, so it's just the beginning of summer for her.) The only change I made to the pattern was to graft the toes rather than do a bumpy zig-zag bind off. These socks take no time, and the XOXO cable is too cute.

Dancing ankle socks

November 2005

Quick, stretchy wool/cotton/elastic ankle socks in Knit Picks Dancing yarn (less than 1 ball; colour: 23588/Tap) on a 2.25mm circ. I cast on 56 sts., did 10 rounds in K2P2 rib, 2 rounds plain K, heel flap on 26 sts. Easy peasy. And now into a drawer until spring.

Lace Leaf Scarf

November 2005

I knit this scarf in the time it took to watch Shadow of a Doubt on TV.

Pattern: Lace Leaf Scarf, by Teva Durham (loop-d-loop)
Yarn: 1 skein (126 m/100 g) Manos Del Uruguay pure wool (colour: 104/Prairie)
Needle: 9.0mm (I used a big sparkly Addi circular)
Finished length: 137 cm/54 inches

A two-hour scarf (plus blocking) is about as close to instant gratification as it gets. This one was fun and easy to knit, and I bet I won't run into anyone else wearing one like it.

Dad's birthday socks

November 2005

These socks -- a birthday gift for my dad -- are from a pattern (Double Diamonds) in an old Patons sock-pattern booklet (No. 113, "Socks by Beehive"). I used 2.5 balls of Patons Kroy (colour: mercury) and four 2.25mm dpns. The diamond pattern is done just with Ks and Ps, with moss stitch inside each diamond. It's a nice pattern. These socks are pretty huge: 11 inches from the top of the cuff to the top of the heel flap. It will be a while before I want to knit gray socks again...