Tag Archives: knit

Yarn spotlight: Lindy Chain

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Aah, nothing like curling up on a cold Februrary morning with a big basket of chunky wool and a pair of needles, ready to make that oversized, insanely cozy sweater.

So, that’s why I’m currently thinking about fingering-weight linen, and light, gauzy garments.  What can I say, I’m fickle.

I want to introduce you to Lindy Chain!  (Fair warning, KnitPicks gave me a bunch of this yarn for free when I did some design work for them, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt, but I swear I’m telling the truth!)

5420254[1]Lindy Chain is an interesting yarn, perfect for summery, drape-y things like tank tops and light sweaters.  I could even see making a sun dress or skirt out of it!

This yarn isn’t just spun, like a regular yarn, it’s actually a teeny tiny thread crocheted (or possibly knit) into  a chain, like this:OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis open, loose structure give the fabric you knit with Lindy Chain a beautiful, summery drape.  It’s gorgeous!

Interestingly, though, when you wash and dry this fabric, it shrinks up like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  (And I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to hand-wash a tank top.  Sorry, but I’m not made that way.)  So, be sure to wash and dry your swatches if you plan on washing and drying your finished product.

So, there it is!  Lindy Chain!  (And later this week, I’ll have a free pattern for this pretty-cool yarn!)

Me Socks!

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On Monday, I talked about using January as Knit for Yourself Month.  And, usually I end up ignoring my own advice.  But this time, I totally didn’t!

I’m going to make my first-ever pair of toe-up, heel-flap socks in some lovely yarn that’s been hiding in my stash.

What’s that?  You’re asking how these could be my first pair of toe-up, heel-flap socks when I constantly have at least one pair of socks on my needles.

Well, I exclusively do top-down socks.  I know it’s kind of silly to get in such a rut, but top-down are the socks I learned how to make back in college, and they’re where I’m comfortable.  And, well, when it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?  To be fair, I experimented with toe-up socks with afterthought heels, and some with short-row heels, but that was years ago.  And anyway, I’ve never attempted a heel flap in a toe-up sock.

So, after finding the pattern in my queue on Monday, I downloaded the “Diagonal Lace Socks” pattern off Ravelry and looked it over. 2006685477_2221a6e6f6_z[1]

It didn’t look too bad, except that the designer expected me to knit a pair of socks for my size 10 feet with a set of US0 needles.  That wasn’t going to happen.  I loose patience with tiny needles, and rarely go below a US2.  But, for this I was willing to compromise.  I pulled out my US1’s and decided to make the “medium” size, instead of the “large,” and cross my fingers that the difference in gauge would make up for the few stitches difference.

Then I dug through my stash and found a skein of Hawthorne Speckle Handpaint that Knitpicks sent to me, in Cosmic Speckle.  (I think this colorway is unfortunately discontinued, but they’ve got lots of other gorgeous colors.  I highly recommend this yarn- it somehow manages to feel both crispy and fluffy at the same time; it would make a great pair of cabled socks.  I don’t know how they do it!)

26871_medium[1]So, now I’m off to find a good video of Judy’s Magic Cast On, and start my new socks!

Does anyone have any tips for toe-up socks?

(And, don’t forget to enter the Petite Presents Book Giveaway!)

A New Year, A New Pattern!

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Happy New Year!  Yay!  *Noisemaker sound* *Glasses clink*

What’s that?  After all that holiday knitting (and maybe one too many glasses of champagne last night), don’t you want something fun, quick and easy?  Don’t you want a brand-new pattern, hot off the presses?  Don’t you want something impressive-looking, yet dead simple?

Well, I’ve got the washcloth for you!

It’s the Snowbank Spa Cloth!  (It’s a “Spa Cloth” because it’s fancy.  It’s knit in silky smooth Comfy Sport, but you could make it in whatever cotton yarn you’ve got laying around.  Because who has time to go to the yarn store today?  I’ve got leftover cookies to eat and new books to read.)

55831220[1]It’s all knit in a single piece (so only two ends to weave in!).  It’s a lovely square of slipped stitches and rows of purls, that, if you look at them the right way, look a little like snowflakes (hence the name).  The whole thing is enclosed in a thin border of garter stitch that’s knit as you go for a super-easy, yet classy-looking washcloth.

And the best part?  It’s free!  And available on the Knit Picks website!

Totally Bare Bears!

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Or at least one bear.

My bears are coming along!  I’ll admit, I’m slowing down a little bit, but that’s just because I’m actually working on the projects I should be working on.  You know- Christmas presents, birthday gifts, etc.

Unfortunately, that means that I’m working a little less on my bears.

This one, I believe, is number 5!   (So, still not bad)

But, there’s something missing on this one… What can it be?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Oh right!  Clothes!

I had a big, full skein of this bright shade of blue, so I thought, “Hey, why not?”  Thus was born the naked blue bear.  (I followed the pattern, but instead of changing colors for the sweater and pants, I just kept going with blue.)

The only problem is, he looks a little oddly proportioned without differentiation between top and bottom.  (Look at his stubby little legs!)

See?  Here’s one of my other bears:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I think he looks much more well-proportioned.  But, maybe it’s just me?  Or maybe it’ll look better once I stuff the bears and give them little faces and everything?

How are your Mother Bears going?

What’s that?  You haven’t ordered your pattern yet?  Click here to help out!

Operation Mother Bear is Go!

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It’s here! It’s here!  My pattern showed up in the mail, and I’m dropping all my Christmas knitting to start on my first bear!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAFor my $5 donation, I received a beautiful (and heartbreaking) pamphlet on the Mother Bear project (can a pamphlet be heartbreaking?), my very own copy of the knit-in-the-round pattern, and an adorable tag for me to sign and tie around my finished teddy’s wrist.

Upon examination, the pattern looks well-written and straightforward, and I’m raring to get started!

I dug through my stash, and found some nice heathered merino (leftover from designing my Human Beans) in lovely mahogany, evergreen and grassy green shades.  It’s super soft, and pretty strong-perfect for a stuffed animal.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHave you gotten to start on your Mother Bears yet?  Did you order your pattern?  It’s not too late!

Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away!

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OK.  Fair warning.  I’m going to complain about something that I probably shouldn’t.  If you want to skip this post, I totally understand.

That being said, here goes:

It needs to rain more.

I know, I know!  I live in Seattle, and I’m complaining because the weather’s been too nice?  Give me a break!

Summer started extra early this year, and it has been sunny and warm for months.  We had a few blissful weeks of rain and clouds, but now it’s back to being summery- I even had the windows open yesterday!  I thought I lived in Seattle, and not Los Angeles!

Where is my rain?  Where are my clouds?  Where are my days spent curled up beneath an afghan, watching the rain drip through the cherry tree outside my window, a cup of tea on the end table and a half-finished sweater in my lap?  Where is my rain!

Maybe there’s some kind of knitter’s rain dance I can do?

I could make this gorgeous shawl in lovely rainy colors.

Color Affection by Veera Välimäkicolor-affection-2_small_best_fit[1]

I could knit up these socks with their raindrops, waves and cloud patterns.

Water Cycle Socks by Tami Sheifferdscn0958_medium2_small[1]

Or, if worst comes to worst, I could always just make my own raincloud.

Rainycloud by Anna Hrachovec483379646_e95e3b0597_z[1]

How’s the weather in your neck of the woods?

Mama Bear

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve already got Christmas on the brain.  I’ve been cranking through lots of projects… that I can’t talk about here because family members read my blog (lame!  Not really, but it does throw a cramp in my blogging this time of year).

But when I do a lot of targeted, purpose-driven, knitting sometimes I get a little burnt out.  I can start to feel like I’m “manufacturing” projects, not actually knitting.  Sometimes I want to just make something fun- like a stuffed animal.

And, you know, if it’s a stuffed animal for a good cause, that’s even better!

So, imagine my excitement when I found this amazing teddy bear-making project (or rather, re-found… I had read about it before, but totally forgot about it).283434_220092554695040_4064929_n[1]The Mother Bear Project  makes adorable, one-of-a-kind, hand-made teddy bears and then distributes them across Africa to children whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS.  Could you ask for a better cause?lesotho1[1]I went over to their website, and saw that they have patterns for the same bear, both knitted and crocheted, worked flat and in the round.  bear_about[1]The best part (other than that whole helping-children-in-need thing) is that the pattern is so simple, it just begs to be embellished.  Take a look on Ravelry to see everyone’s take on the basic Mother Bear.  There are bows and dresses, overalls and striped shirts,  and teddies of every color of the rainbow!Mother_Bear_in_Liberia_1_medium2[1]This project is just inspiring!

Have you ever taken part in a big group-knitting project like this?

An Open Letter

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To the Creators of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries:

Greetings from a huge fan! I love your show. I love the characters. I love that Season 3 is now available through Netflix. The strong female characters, the fashion, and the delightful storytelling. There’s not much I enjoy more after a long day than snuggling up on the couch with a cup of tea (or a stiff Tom Collins), a sock-in-progress, and a new episode of Miss Fisher.

Imagine how excited I was when, in Episode 4, Season 3 there was a knitting story-line! A young street kid has a sweater that had once belonged to his father. When he comes to live with Miss Fisher and Co for a few days (because of reasons), Dot discovers the sweater and offers to re-knit it in his size.DotWhat a fantastic gesture! And totally something that a knitter would do (we are a sentimental lot). Dot rips out the sweater, winds it up and casts on, all in (I think) an evening.

Then- and here is the first problem with this episode- the boy demands (demands!) that Dot finishes the sweater by the next day!Dot3Oh my god! I can’t even.

The gall of someone to demand knitting! Nothing makes me less inclined to keep knitting more than someone demanding knitting, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. If someone comes up to me and says “Make me a hat,” you can bet your best pair of Addi Turbos that I will not be making that person a hat.

But, does Dot respond like a normal knitter- nay, a normal person? No! She just smiles and gives the kid a look that says, “Oh, you scamp.” I know that Dot is an obliging and sweet young lady, but honestly, show a little backbone!Dot4And here’s most ridiculous part:

She actually finishes the sweater the next day!Dot5What?!

Dot’s sweetness and helpfulness aside, that’s just physically impossible. To knit an entire sweater for a 13-year-old boy, seamed, finished and blocked in what is clearly aran weight yarn (a thin worsted, at most) in 24 hours, even without breaks for sleeping, eating, or catching murderers is physically impossible. Seriously? Who fact-checks your knitting?

So, here’s my advice: next time you have a knitting-related storyline, please fact check it with an actual knitter.

Sincerely,

An Avid Fan

PS.  What’s up with Hugh this season? He’s being a butt. Make him stop.

PPS. Where does Phryne get her earrings? I need them.

PPPS. I still love your show.

Christmas Socks

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You know how families come up with little sayings and quotes?  One of the things we say is “Christmas socks” in a very silly voice.  Actually, in this silly voice (skip to about the 50 second mark, or just watch the whole thing.  It’s funny.):

It’s Mr. Bean’s Christmas special!  We watched it every year, and I always thought it was fantastic.  (Still do, although now I realize how ridiculous the show is… and that laugh track!  Oof.)

So, now, every year when we’re opening Christmas presents, if anyone gets a pair of socks, we all say “Christmas Socks,” just like Mr. Bean.

And this year, my father-in-law will be receiving Christmas Socks.  (Even if he doesn’t get the joke.)

I finally finished my orange socks!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI’m so pleased with how they turned out.  I love the reinforced slip-stitch heel, and I can’t get enough of the basket-weave pattern on the sock uppers. (It’s a pain in the butt to knit, but it looks great!)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI’m so happy with these Christmas Socks!  Now… just to make Christmas presents for the rest of the family… Wheeee!

Inspiration: Lace Shawls

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All this talk about lace (and blocking lace) has gotten me itching for a new project (despite the fact that I have a million other projects I need to be working on, and I’m working more than 40 hours a week for the summer- Wheee!).

I usually am not terribly girly with my clothes. You can find me more often in flannel and jeans than dresses and lace.  But, I admit- I’m a sucker for a gorgeous lace shawl.

There’s something fantastically satisfying about knitting up something beautiful and complicated- especially with beads.  Lace shawls drape amazingly and are simply gorgeous.  I don’t even wear most of the ones I’ve made over the years.  I have several hanging on my walls as art.

And when I’ve had a bad day, I love ogling lace shawl patterns, and lusting after skeins of luxury lace yarn at my local yarn shop.

Sigh…

Rainshine by Boo Knits

rain3_zpsrsexz0oo_medium2[1]Out of Darkness by Boo Knitsdarkness6_medium2[1]Snow Angel by Boo KnitsIMG_7621_medium2[1]Do you have a guilty knitting pleasure?