Counting Stars

Jeanne was an amazing person who was a teacher, wife, mother, weaver and knitter. Unfortunately, she passed away unexpectedly this week.

Jeanne was such a great addition to our SnB group, bringing so many beautiful projects she had knitted or wove:









Jeanne was the most unflappable individual I'd ever met. Even on the congested streets of Chicago, she kept her cool and made jokes to keep the rest of us distracted.




She took a trip with me once, and since we were drivng in an era before cell phones and GPS devices, I got us astoundingly lost. Through it all, Jeanne kept her calm and cool. She talked about her life as a teacher, about astronomy (which I'm hopeless in but find fascinating) and the probability of life in the vastness of our universe. I learned a lot on that trip from Jeanne, and laughed quite a bit, too.

I'm so glad I was able to see her and spend time knitting with her in April, it had been such a long time since we'd met up due to our schedules.

I hope she finds she was right about the amount of stars in our universe.

Yeah, That Lasted Two Months

Remember that great plan I had to plot out gift knitting which I created back at the beginning of the year?

History, baby.

So much going on at home and work, just fell so far behind my own goal objectives that I began to resent the existence of sheep.

I. KNOW.

I had to do something to get the merino love back, so I cleaned up the list and made it more humane for me.

I'm now going to snack on cheese and almonds, and contemplate how I'm going to wrangle that fucking shark hat pattern into a presentable finished object.

Meanwhile, Tank With Knitted Lace non-still life for you.

It's Supposedly Spring Around Here

I've been meaning to post this finished object for the past four weeks. However, the nasty gut virus (version 3) nailed me hard back in February, and life got in the way after that episode.

So, to the finished item!

This is going to a friend of mine that I promised back in January. My friends, if they nothing other than this one thing about me, know that gifts will usually arrive at least three months later than the celebration. If not up to five years later.

It's made from leftover yarn in my stash: Malabrigo. *sigh*









* * *

Malabrigo Yarn Rios
How much? .33 skein
Colorway: glazed carrot
Purchased at: Jimmy Beans Wool in Reno, Nevada

Malabrigo Yarn Rios
How much? .33 skein
Colorway: lettuce
Purchased at: Jimmy Beans Wool in Reno, Nevada

A hat based on the scrunchie hat pattern for a favorite person of mine.

Notes:
Size 7US circ needles
Cast on 104 stitches
6 rows knit
2 rows purl
crown is knit and decreased every other row (K2TOG every 8th stitch) to the top

A Day Late, A Donut Short.

I finished my leg warmers (aka as the renamed "boot toppers") on a day we hit 42F degrees. After a week where we had two days of -10F temps with the windchill.

Go figure.

But I'm ready for the next blast, should we get one this late in the winter. And with it being the Midwest, it's not out of the realm of possibility.






I adore these cables.




And if the snow is too high, reverse the cuff and bring the warmer up past the knee.










* * *

US 13 - 9.0 mm (for the cable piece)
US 11 - 8.0 mm (for the leg shaft)

Yarn
Plymouth Yarn De Aire

How much?
4 skeins = 436.0 yards (398.7 meters), 400 grams

Colorway
Manhattan

Purchased at
Jimmy Beans Wool in Reno, Nevada



Notes
The cabled band is sewn together with mattress stitch for a sturdier seam.

Stitches picked up around the edge - 70 total, adjust to 68 stitches.

Shaft of the leg is 2x2 ribbing, size 11US dpns. Knit to 6” in length.

Cable pattern used:
Cast on 28 stitches

Borders
Odd rows: K2, P2
Even rows: P2, K2

Knit Stitch – K
Purl-P
Reverse Stockinette Stitch-St st

Cable 8 Back (C8B)- slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 4 sts from left hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle.

Cable 8 Front (C8F)- slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 4 sts from left hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle

Skill: Intermediate
Cast On: Panel of 20 sts on a background of reverse St st.

Row 1
(Right side): k20.

Row 2
P20.

Row 3
k4, C8F twice.

Row 4
P20.

Row 5
k20.

Row 6
p20.

Row 7
k20.

Row 8
P20.

Row 9
C8B twice, k4.

Row 10
P20.

Row 11
k20.

Row 12
P20.

Repeat rows 1-12 until you have reached your desired length.

Cozy Kick

We've been under a Winter Storm Warning since yesterday 7 pm, and it doesn't look like it will lift until tonight around 9 pm. Seriously big snow this time, prediction is between 10" to 12"+. We'll see what happens...

Meanwhile, I have been on a bit of a cozy kick lately. It helps use up the half skeins of lovely wool I've had in my stash for a while now. The latest mug cozy/cover is for a friend. I made it to match the fingerless mitts I knit her early last year. It's based on several different hat patterns I've used in the past few yars.








* * *
Needles
US 8 - 5.0 mm double-points

Yarn
Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted

How much?
0.25 skeins = 52.5 yards (48.0 meters), 25 grams

Colorway
Loro barranquero

Purchased at
Knit & Knot in Bettendorf, Iowa

So Hot!

First, the teapot cozy works marvelously well! Tea stays piping hot for at least 45 minutes after brewing.

I also finished up the tea mug I wanted for my mug at work. Leftover bits of a sequined yarn and some sock yarn.








The fabric can be folded over for a small mug, and unfolded for a larger mug.

I rather like the stitch holder and will use that instead of a button.

* * *

Needle
US 7 - 4.0 mm

Yarn
Rozetti Yarns Polaris
Handpainted sock yarn

Hot Tea, No Iced Tea

After knitting a variety of teapot cozies and cup/mug cozies, I decided to make myself a cozy after a pot of tea went cold while I was reading last weekend. I grabbed some leftover cotton and wool yarns and whipped up a kind of shiny cozy for my two cup mini teapot. It photographed like crap, but it's quite cute in person.





* * *


Needle
US 5 - 3.75 mm

Yarn
various leftovers in blue

Weight
DK / 8 ply (11 wpi)

Love In A Cold Climate

I'm going to make some thrummed mittens next month, so I went in search of the perfectly dyed roving. After several false starts, I came across this luscious bit of wool. And the fiber artist couldn't have been nicer! I even received treats with my roving.

What To Do... What To Do...

While 2014 was fairly decent for projects, I've decided I've too many "I want" projects listed. I also have many friend gifts that I want to knit.



Time to organize!
January:
Redwood Cabled Boot Toppers - me
Shark Hat - Rose

February:
Thrummed Cloisonne Mittens - Kimmie
Steelers Top Knot Hat - Karen

March:
Sunshine Wrap - Jolene
Scrunchie Hat III - Veg

April:
Two scarves for Two Girls
Winter Gloves - me

May:
Princess Plaid Scarf - me
Cloisonne Mittens - Doreen

June:
Manly Man socks - Tom
Silken Scarf - Ruth M.

July:
Fingerless Mitts - Diana
Bacon socks - mine

August:
Duotone Scarf - Matt
Magic Square Hot Pad - me

September:
Fingerless Mitts - Bonehead
Comfy - Elle

October:
Tardis Scarf - Bryan
Surprise! - Erika

November:
Jade Fantasy Wrap - me

December:
Holiday Knitting



Of course, at any point and time, this schedule could be completely derailed. I'm willing to give it a shot!

Last And First - All In One Post

First post of 2015, the last knit project of 2014. This is a holiday gift for a dear friend. Easy stitch - half of the bee stitch pattern:

Odd number of stitches
Row 1: knit all
Row 2: *K1, SL1 - *repeat to end, K1

And that's it. I like the texture knitting that results.











* * *
Details

US 7 - 4.5 mm
Yarn used
245 yards, 5 skeins

Yarn
Plymouth Yarn Angora
How much?
2 skeins = 98.0 yards (89.6 meters), 20 grams
Colorway
Baby Blue

Yarn
Plymouth Yarn Angora
How much?
3 skeins = 147.0 yards (134.4 meters), 30 grams
Colorway
fawn

Not Too Shabby

I did fairly well this year given I had a massive amount of free/knitting time eaten up studying for my boards exam.

January 4 - Three Kinds Of Soft scarf (mine)
January 11 - Tricor Lux ruffled scarf (Tulisa)
January 25 - Cabled Collar Scarf (Brenda)
February 9 - Cafe Slouch Hat (Nancy)
February 22 - Sweater Repair (Monica)
March 12 - Twisted Carrot Hat (Stephanie)
March 19 - Dead Fish Hat IV (Cathy)
April 1 - Twisted Lettuce Headwrap (Jolene)
May 17 - Fingerless Mitts (Kimmie)
June 27 - Tulips Sweater Modified (Ruby)
August 24 - Drop-Stitch Wrap (Christy)
October 1 - Cashmere Cowl (Karen)
November 2 - Ribbed Bolero Shrug (mine)
November 18 - Silky Merino Angora Cowl (Nancy)
November 27 - Dishcloth Mania (Seneca)
December 4 - Beauregard, the Cabled hat (Seneca's beau)
December 10 - The Beau Scarf (Seneca's beau)
December 14 - Scrunchie Hat II (Seneca)
December 31 - Thumper Scarf (TBA)


I think out of all the projects, this is by far my favorite and I'm totally prejudiced because Rubylicious is one of my favorite wee people:








Rubylicious in cookie action mode:




The sweater is my absolute baby sweater "go to" design by Lindsay Pekny - Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby

The yarn was Malabrigo Silky Merino in turquoise color (bought at Knit & Knot) and two strands of Handmaiden Fine Sea Silk in pumpkin color (bought from Knitty Noddy ages ago). Horse ceramic buttons (Rubytastic was born in the Chinese year of the Horse) bought via Etsy.

Merry, Merry!

My girl and her beau were in town for the holiday, and it was a wonderful time having them here!

The Beau loved his new scarf, the color looked absolutely dreamy on him with his skin tone, and of course it doesn't hurt that he's not hard on the eyes to begin with! To respect his privacy, I cropped the photo to just the scarf...






And the girl! She loved her winter hat - I was so happy. I made her wear it for at least 20 minutes. I got an eyeroll from her, but she complied as I had put a lot of work and money into that hat.













* * *
Needles
US 7 - 4.5 mm

Yarn used
273 yards

Yarn
Plymouth Yarn Angora
How much?
1.5 skeins = 73.5 yards (67.2 meters), 15 grams
Colorway - Cream

Yarn
Plymouth Yarn Encore Colorspun Worsted
How much?
0.65 skeins = 130.0 yards (118.9 meters), 65 grams
Colorway - 29 Pink

Yarn
Tilli Tomas Flurries
How much?
1 skein = 70.0 yards (64.0 meters), 50 grams
Colorway - Hush

Notes
There’s six layers/rings:

Ring 1: Encore with angora
Ring 2: Tilli Tomas Flurries - Hush (knit rows, Encore)
Ring 3: Tilli Tomas Flurries - Hush (knit rows, Encore)
Ring 4: Tilli Tomas Flurries - Hush (knit rows, Encore)
Ring 5: Tilli Tomas Flurries - Hush (knit rows, Encore)
Ring 6: Encore with angora
Crown: Encore with angora

* * *
And with that, my holiday and birthday (both the girl and beau have holiday birthdays) knitting is complete. I can knit any fucking thing I want with no deadlines - woohoo! I feel like dancing!

One Down, Two To Go

Simple pleasures, simple gifts.

A 2x2 ribbing scarf.











* * *

Needle
US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn
Cascade Yarns Longwood

How much?
1.5 skeins = 286.5 yards (262.0 meters), 150 grams

Colorway
turquoise

Purchased at
Knit & Knot in Bettendorf, Iowa