Free Pattern : John's Jumper Cosy

Tea cosy for a large Brown Betty.  Pattern available for free in my Google docs.

Free Pattern: Hat: Quinto

See that hat on Zachary Quinto there?

Pretty cute, isn't it?  Well, I says to myself I says, I should make one!  And so I did.

SIZE:

20" circumference, unstretched.  Easily stretches to accommodate even freakishly huge brains.  My hat doesn't quite cover the bottoms of my ears, but it can be made longer.

GAUGE:

19 stitches = 4" in stockinette stitch.
Row gauge is less important.

MATERIALS:

One set (5) DPNs, size US 6
or One 16" circ, size US 6 and one set DPNs, size US 6
or One long circ for magic loop, size US6
or Two circs, size US 6
or size needed to get gauge.

Two skeins Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER in contrasting colors.  You will probably use most of the MC, and less than half of the CC.
For my sample, I used Nest (gray/brown) for the MC and Tent (green) for the CC.  The contrast isn't great, but I didn't buy the yarn with this project in mind...
To match the hat in the picture, I suggest Soot (gray) for the MC and Faded Quilt (light gray/blue) for the CC.

Eight stitch markers.  Preferably, the one for the beginning of the round is distinctive from the others.

INSTRUCTIONS:

With MC, cast on 96 stitches and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.  Place marker for beginning of round.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit every stitch of every round) until work measures 3.5" from cast on edge, or longer if desired.

Next round (MC): Purl.

STRIPE:
With CC, knit three rounds.
Switch to MC.
Next round: Knit
Next round: Purl

Repeat the stripe four more times, for a total of five stripes.

Crown decrease setup:
With MC, *knit 12 sts, pm*, repeat between * around.  8 markers.

Crown decreases:
1. *Knit until 2 sts before marker, k2tog, slip marker*, repeat between * around.
2. Knit.

Repeat these two rows until 8 sts remain.  Cut yarn, leaving 12" tail.  Draw tail through eight stitches and pull tightly to close.

Weave in ends and wear with pride!

Free Pattern: Hat: Ex Astris, Scientia

I designed this very, very simple hat for the "learn to knit" post I wrote over at ONTD: Star Trek for Academy Week 2010.  It would be a great first project for a new knitter, since it is in garter stitch, but is shorter than a scarf.  It is worked flat, and minimal finishing techniques are required.

FINISHED SIZE
Length crown-brim: 20 cm
Circumference: stretchy and variable

MATERIALS

less than 1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky (50-75 meters)
1 pair straight or circular needles, size US 11

DIRECTIONS

Cast on 20 stitches using your favorite method.  Cast on more for a longer hat, or fewer for a shorter hat.  Do not join in the round.

Work in garter stitch (knit every stitch, every row) until the piece is long enough to comfortably wrap all the way around your head, then bind off. A shorter rectangle will be tighter, and a longer rectangle will be looser. Remember that garter stitch is stretchy!

Seam the two short ends of the rectangle together to make a tube. Then, using a yarn needle, thread a piece of yarn through the ridges on the top of the tube, pull very tightly, and knot.

Weave in ends, and wear proudly.

And so it begins...

I had my first wedding nightmare last night, probably because I spent a lot of yesterday reading books I got from the APL about how to make a ceremony.

So in the dream we got married but Erik forgot to bring the rings along. No big, we just skipped that part. So later we were together and we got them out and put them on -- and they were ALL WRONG. His was something enormous and fancy, and mine was made of acrylic (clear plastic, not yarn!), carved with swirly designs, and had a giant opal in a prong setting (the prongs were acrylic too). I got really angry that he ordered something totally different from what we wanted, but he apparently liked them and didn't care what I thought. So I grabbed his and took mine off and threw them both on the floor (and they proceeded to bounce away) and I stalked off angrily in my wedding dress.

Anyway, it's quite some time before I have any good reason to worry about the rings being wrong/forgotten, since we don't even have the year chosen yet. BUT that doesn't mean we don't have ideas!

This is my engagement ring (in "Happy Feet" by Plymouth Yarns):















And these are some bands we like (from e-weddingbands.com)
For me:
















For him:
















Totally different than in the dream! So maybe you can see why I was so angry -- we're going for simple and classy.



Knitting!
Second alpaca sock is coming along well -- did a couple of inches already today. I need to find the first one so I can carry it around to measure the second so I know when to start the heel.

UFO-mania!!

Oh gosh, I'm knitting on so many things and there are so many more I want to do! Goals ahoy!

1. Finish target practice socks by Oct 31!
2. Make the beard for the Viking hat.
3. Un-hibernate the cabled mittens!!! I want to wear them this winter...
4. New pancreas
   
5. Eclipse slipper socks (1 to go)
   

New things may be started as old things are finished, in this order:

1. Cabled mittens after the sockses (not really new)
   
2. State Fair yarn neckwarmer
3. Simon Tam (after mittens unhibernated)

And THAT'S IT because I have UFO sightings everywhere.

Knitting in 2009!

Whoooo new year! I have alpaca socks and acrylic microfiber mittens on the needles, but it's time to cast on a new project!

"Hey, Teach!" for Mom's birthday, changed to k the body in one piece to armholes.
Measurements:
chest: 38
waist: 34
hips: 42
bicep: 12
length: 19
This puts it at a size M

Body
Cast on 181 sts (mark 90 from each end-- side "seams")
Work 4 rows in 1x1 rib, ending with a WS row.
Work in st st until piece measures 8" from CO edge, ending with a RS row.
next row: [P8, p2tog] four times, p5. (m) 41 sts;
P4, p2tog, [p7, p2tog] nine times, p4. (m) 81 sts;
p5, [p2tog, p8] four times.
Work in 1x1 rib for 8 rows, ending with a WS row.

Bodice
coming soon!

Wish list 08!

Here it is! Categorized into yarny things and non-yarny things.

YARNY THINGS

• interchangeable circular needles (example)

• I have a gajillion big projects I'd love to get great yarn for (wool, silk, bamboo, depending on pattern). Take me to a yarn store and I get exactly what I need for the project! Things I drool over include this cardigan, this tank, this skirt, and oh, another cardigan.
• Sock yarn! Solids, stripes, weird colors ... I love socks :)

NON-YARNY THINGS

• Aladdin (I used to have it, but it got lost and I've been looking for a year)
• Firefly
• Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
• Inuyasha (I've recently gotten back into it -- I have the first 3 volumes and both movies)

Long time, no post!

So! I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Close, but I got my "withdraw passing" form in before the deadline, so I'm down to only 2 time-consuming classes (plus swing stuff plus applying to student teach plus paying attention to Erik plus everything else like sleeping), and financial aid has promised that my scholarships won't notice!

Here's what's going on in my world of knitting, since I'm a little bad at annotating Ravelry with priorities and such.

Finished, but not?
The Hat They Call Jayne -- have to remember to take home for Dad!

On the needles:
Fever -- needs to be finished by December 5!
Bjorklunden vid Sjon -- almost done!
Druid mittens -- barely started, low priority (except I wants 'em!!)

Queued for gifts:
Microbes for all!
Beer sweaters for M&D
Lacemats for G&G
Jayne Zunecosy (not in Q)

Further future:
Hey, Teach! (start when Xmas gifts have end in sight)
Short-sleeve cardi for me (frog ToE pullover, make ToE cardi!)

Need to figure out:
Something for Katy, Amanda, Matt
ideas:
Katy and Amanda -- fancy yarn (Noro?) and a microbe
Matt -- ??? not something knitted

Comments from all are welcome :)

beer + shaping = long hours of damage control

Last night was Friday, so I had a beer, and then went and watched Sunshine with my physics friends while I worked on the back for Mrs Darcy -- specifically, my little gather shaping and then beginning the cabled rib. Everything was peachy-keen until I got back to my room, the buzz wore off, and I realized that instead of decreasing 8 times centered, I had decreased 8 times on each side of center. WTF. So this morning at the coffee shop I had to rip back about 10 rows and fix my stuff. 4 rows later I realized I had placed the decreases off-center, and had to go back and fix that. THEN I screwed up the ribbing because for some reason I decided to put a p4 where there should have only been a p2, so I had to tink back and get that straightened out. So now I'm finally in the 3rd row of the ribbing (I made it up to the 8th while I was watching the movie .. ugh).

So that's my story and why this is going sort of slowly. It should be smooth (but long) sailing from here. I think I want to find a cabled celtic knot medallion or something to put on the back, to go with the celtic knot buttons I hope to find. Whoo!!

Mrs Darcy -- modifications

My modifications follow.

SLEEVES

CO 48 +2 for seam allowances, which are always K at the end of rows and slipped at the beginning of rows.
Work 40 rows in 2x2 cable rib, cabling every 4th row
Increase once at each end of next row
Work 39 rows in st st
Increase once at each end of next row
Work 39 rows in st st

Sleeve cap shaping:
1. (RS) BO 4, k to end
2. BO 4, p to end
3. BO 4, k to end
4. BO 4, p to end
5. K to last 4, k2tog, k2
6. P to last 4, p2tog, p2
7. K to last 4, k2tog, turn (short row)
8. P to last 4, p2tog, turn (short row)
9. K to last 4, k2tog, turn (short row)
10. P to last 4, p2tog, turn (short row)
11. K
12. P
13. K
14. P2, p2tog, p to end
15. K2, k2tog, k to end
16. P
17. K
18. P
19. K to last 4, k2tog, k2
20. P to last 4, p2tog, p2
21. K
22. P
23. K
24. P2, p2tog, p to end
25. K2, k2tog, k to end
26. P
27. K to last 4, k2tog, k2
28. P to last 4, p2tog, p2
29. BO3, k to end
30. BO3, p to end
31. BO4, k to end
32. BO4, p to end
BO all remaining sts.

FRONTS

I have widened the fronts to get my size, kept the tiny cabled 2x2 rib, and added another buttonhole (total of 4) and several more rows of ribbing, which will sit at my natural waist (just below the bust).

Right front (left front)

CO 42 +1 for seam allowance
work 4 rows in seed st.
*** from here, all instructions keep a 3-stitch seed stitch border at the right edge, or left for the non-buttonhole side (e.g. - RS row: K, P, K, k to end; WS row: p to last 3, k, p, k). Omit buttonholes on left front; work those rows in the established stitch pattern.

Work 4 rows in st st
Buttonhole row 1: In border: K2tog, yo, k1; k to end.
work 7 rows st st
work 2 rows in k2, p2 tiny cabled rib every 4th row (I did p1 next to the border, then the first k2)
buttonhole row 2; do first cable here.
work 9 rows in rib
buttonhole row 3; no cable
work 9 rows in rib
buttonhole row 4; cable
work 3 rows in rib
work 2 rows st st
begin scoop neck decreases:
dec 1 st next to border next 5 rows
dec 1 st every other row, 6x
work 3 rows
dec 1 st in next row

work 20 rows in st st

armhole shaping; worked at beginning of WS rows for right front (except where indicated). Switch RS and WS for left.
BO 4
BO 2
BO 2
dec 1
next row (RS): dec 1
dec 1 next 3 WS rows (18 sts remain)
work in st st even for 30 rows, place sts on holder.


BACK

CO 88 sts
Work 4 rows seed st
Work 10 rows st st
Next row (RS): K 36, ssk 4 times, k2tog 4 times, k to end.
Next row: P 36, p2tog 2 times, ssp 2 times, p to end.
Work 26 rows in cabled rib.
Work 40 rows in st st.
Armhole shaping:
1 (RS): BO 4, k to end
2. BO 4, p to end
3. BO 2, k to end
4. BO 2, p to end
5 and 6: repeat 3 and 4
7. Ssk, k to last 2, k2tog
8. P2tog, p to last 2, ssp
9. Ssk, k to last 2, k2tog
10. Purl
11. Ssk, k to last 2, k2tog
12. Purl
13. Ssk, k to last 2, k2tog
Work even for 30 rows; place sts on holder. *Note: I put a Celtic knot design on the back of mine, starting right after the arm hole shaping -- it should have been a few rows sooner, but what can ya do. If you want a chart, comment and I'll post it, though it may be a copyright violation since I kinda tried to copy it from somewhere.

Finishing: I did a 3-needle bind-off to attach the fronts to the back, and then did a crocheted picot bind-off for the stuff in the middle because it was way small. Sew up seams, weave in ends, block, and add buttons.

Mrs Darcy

Since Ravelry isn't actually a blog, I'm remembering I have this and now it's time to move on to planned mods.

For those of you joining the program late, this is Mary Weaver's Mrs. Darcy Cardigan.

DESIGN

• Add tiny gather at back, just below ribbing, so there is ease in hips but waist is still tight. -2: (K2tog)4x, (ssk)4x (or whichever gets them slanting how I want -- if anyone is using this for reference, be aware that I knit really weirdly). -1: (P2tog)2x, (ssp)2x (same note). 0: ribbing begins.
• Change twisted rib (I don't much like how it looks) to 2x2 rib with tiny cables, for a little more elasticity. Also, I love tiny cables :)
• Lengthen waist ribbed section slightly (make it up as I go, and don't forget to count!)
  
• Shorten garment to place ribbing at natural waist (counting!)
• Seed stitch borders instead of garter stitch (I think it looks more polished).
  

SIZE
I am not a Small.

• Back: CO 88 sts (with gather decreases, this makes 78 for the rest)
  
• Fronts: CO 42 sts each.
• Sleeves: CO 48 each.

SHAPING
This pattern seems to have shaping problems, mostly in that the armhole shaping is very tight. These are my preliminary ideas to help out with that.

Body (each instruction is worked once on each side):
BO4
(BO2) 2x
(k2tog) 2x
(k2tog every other row) 6x
work even in st st for 28ish rows?

Arms (full instructions)
1. BO4, k to end
2. BO4, p to end
3. BO2, k to end
4. BO2, p to last 4, p2tog, p2
5 and 6. work to last for, k/p 2tog, work 2
7 - 10. work to last 4, 2tog (short rows)
11 - 13 (and possibly beyond?). work in st st.
continue starting with row 10 as written in Mary's pattern.

This is what I have for now. Swatching is complete, and I'm just waiting to actually finish my last project before I jump on into this one :)

ETA: switched some k's to p's -- this is stockinette stictch!


7/11: Cast on the first sleeve! I was going to do them both at once, but I realized that would be pretty crowded.

Tiny cables every 4th row.

Goal: Be able to wear it to the first day of Computational Physics, weather permitting :) If all goes REALLY well, be able to wear it when I visit Moine!

stashbusting ideas

StumbleUpon just gave me this page where you can buy plush subatomic particles! These would be SO MUCH FUN!!

Major updates

Woah! I know I don't really have any readers, but it sure has been a while. Let's go with the current projects status.

• red summer halter top with lace or openwork bottom --- red sweater yarn, #6 circ, #2 for cables.
• mohair lace shawl --- #10 straight needles, fuchsia mohair yarn, "diagonale" pattern
• Nautiloid, from Knitty --- #8 DPNs, denim wool-ease
• big-needle sweater --- #19 straight needles, red heart casual cotton yarn w/ acrylic filler
• felt purse --- just needs assembly now
• very low priority: maroon capelet
  

Future projects (in the works)

• fisherman's wool something-or-other (wrap? shrug? sweater? ss cardigan?) --- designing. some ideas here.
  
• bday present for Katy???

That's really it for now, I suppose.

EDIT April 28:

Decided to knit some beaded wire napkin rings for Mary for her wedding, based on the Knitty pattern "Venezia". I'm using 2 of my #8 DPNs (scavenged from Nautie), the 24 ga. wire and drop beads from the Evenstar, and some colored beads from the beaded bobby pins kit. 24 is very hard to work with, but it's turning out neat. Maybe after this I'll attempt something with the 28 ga. that came with the kit.

new projects!

HUG: http://www.magknits.com/warm04/patterns/hug.htm on 19's, hold 2 tog.

Mohair: http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTbranchingout.html with 3x patt rep or another lace.

projects for the holidays

Hooks/Needles current status, updated 12/21:

* stitch markers -- find yarn needles and put them in there, too
* #2 dpn - one for use as cable needle
* #4 long circ - Fetching
* #6 short circ - Norwegian headband (Amy, binding off)
* #8 dpn - klein hat
* #10 - empty
* #11 - loaned out
* #13 - empty
* #15 - Lizzy lace-up mitts
* H - empty (capelet)
* N - empty (afghan)

Current projects (high priority)

1. Norwegian headband (Amy, xmas) (blue n white, #6)
2. klein hat (P.H.M., xmas) (eclipse, #8)
3. Fetching (EKA, xmas/jan) (red heart sport, #4, #2 cable)
4. Maroon capelet
5. red babydoll

Current projects (low priority)

* afghan

Future projects (high priority)

1. Shrug (me) (big needles, cotton and grey?)

Future projects (low priority)

* Dr. Who scarf (any and all scraps, large-ish needles)
* something with that camo sport yarn and/or maroonish stuff.
* cami (#4, #6, tan sweater yarn)
*

To be frogged

* grey shawl (very old, never finished, don't want, can use for shrug and/or macbook case)
* tan sweater (for cami)
* tan scarf-thing
* any old sweaters.

keep on tickin'

Now that school's started, the knitting fervor has died down considerably. Front of the autumn sweater is done, but I haven't started the back yet. Also I made a little trombone mouthpiece case, but I still have to seam it.

*sigh* I wish I could knit more, but I have quantum :(

new project...

I was reading the 'Tosa paper the other day, and for some reason, a picture of the East freshman activities suddenly made me want to knit one of those babydoll-esque tops, with the straps and buttons. Now, I just bought a whole bunch of yarn, so I wasn't going to go out and buy more. So instead I went up and dug through the box of winter tops in my room --- bingo! Red-orange turtleneck that's been falling apart since my junior year of high school. It's the perfect color for a fall top (though I have yet to figure out what to wear under it... probably black), it came apart easily with minimal cutting, and it's wool/silk/synthetic. Actually a really nice yarn, now that I'm taking all the pills off.

So here's the plan. I've already started the front, using #10 straight needles and the lace pattern for Knitty's Totally Autumn throw. It's a slightly bigger gauge than the original sweater, but it's nice and drapey. I've got 5 pattern repeats across the front, and for the back I think I'll do two on each side and a fancy braided cable up the middle for shaping. Then at the top I'll get into some ribbing just below the bust, and attach the straps and find some buttons in that pound I have.

The goal? To have it finished before I move into the Swing House in a week! Here we go!

state of the knittles

Hello, gentle readers. This is the first entry of the dedicated knitting blog, and it will be BORING unless you're like me. Stay tuned for project updates and (hopefully) pictures, now that I'm home and have internet on Clementine.

Hooks/Needles current status:
needle holder complete.

• stitch markers -- find yarn needles and put them in there, too
  
• #2 dpn - empty
• #4 long circ - winecozy
• #6 short circ - Norwegian hat (who is it for? maybe me or Amy. Do I have a good winter hat? I can't remember.)
• #8 dpn - klein hat
• #10 - empty
• #11 - empty
• #13 - empty
• #15 - chenille feathers scarf/shrug
• H - empty, but used for maroon capelet
  
• N - empty, but used for afghan

Current projects (high priority)

1. Winecozy (M.G.S., roomwarming) (maroon red heart, #4)
   
2. klein hat (P.H.M., xmas) (eclipse, #8)
   
3. feathers shrug (K.M.G., xmas) (feathers stuff, #15)
4. Norwegian hat (someone, xmas) (blue n white, #6)
   

Current projects (low priority)

• Maroon capelet
• afghan (these are both crochet, it seems)
  

Future projects (high priority)

1. Mac socks (E.K.A. bday) (#2, blue and white sport)
2. Macbook case (E.K.A., NKYMAS[UYGTR], xmas) (#?, grey from shawl)
3. Shrug (me) (from tan sweater) (#10/11, cotton and something else maybe for bulk)
4. other xmas gift items - more wine cozies?
5. Mac socks (me, same)
   

Future projects (low priority)

• Dr. Who scarf (any and all scraps, large-ish needles)
  
• something with that camo sport yarn and/or maroonish stuff.
• cami (#4, #6, tan sweater yarn)
  

To be frogged

• grey shawl (very old, never finished, don't want, can use for shrug and/or macbook case)
  
• tan sweater (for cami)
• tan scarf-thing
• any old sweaters.

I think that's all for now.

knitting!!

I found a new free knitting patterns website, and I'm getting excited about the patterns!!
This is a reference list of projects I like:
cute tank top
pie!
chunky cardigan
opera gloves
simple socks, with an apple logo!
cropped hoodie
swirly, beaded hat
long-sleeved shrug --- this is the sort of thing I've been looking for!
tricksy scarf -- Grandma, look at this!!
so yeah.