A couple of Finished Projects

This project is by my niece Jodi--her second finished project since she learned how to knit.  Simple Garter stitch, about 40 stitches wide.  This was knitted with Fortissima Colori Socka Color in colorway "Grand Canyon" which is available on ebay in several colors. 

This scarf took one ball (420 m/460 yd) on size 3 needles.  She used it as practice knitting on sock yarn since she's almost ready to try a pair of socks.

The scarf measures 7" x 50"

This is my last "assigned" Pomp-a-doodle scarf, knitted for my great-niece Kaitlyn.  It's on size 35 needles, knitted with:  1 skein Red Heart Cotton Candy Pink Pomp-a-Doodle, a partial skein of Lion Brand Homespun Cotton Candy Pink, and a partial skein of Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Rose Mist.  This one may be my favorite.  It was easy to do and fuzzy & warm, yet lightweight.  Good color contrast.  It measures 7"x48".

I'd rather be knitting ruffles....

Found a pattern yesterday on the Red Heart website for a Ruffled Warmer Scarf.  (That's their picture, not mine..)

It's really neat--a freebie pattern advertising their new Boutique Yarn called "Changes," which is advertised as six yarns in one. 

I decided to download the pattern to see how hard it is and whether it will actually ruffle.  It's not too hard--you do have to keep track of which row you're on, and follow the pattern, just a repetition of 4 basic rows with an increase (and later a decrease) in width.

Some leftover Bernat Soft Boucle yarn on hand and some #10 Kollage single point needles, and here we go.  I started  it late last night and knitted until about 1:30 a.m.   It's ruffling like crazy...Here's what it looks like so far....

The pattern calls for casting/binding off 14 stitches every 4th row, so a crochet hook is handy to help bind off.  (especially with the slippery Kollage needles). 

The ruffles are a bit fuzzier than the pattern picture, but it's an interesting change.  And of course, I cannot do anything completely according to the pattern.
I've knitted ruffles before--but they were what I think of as "horizontal," or along the row--increasing or decreasing while these are "vertical" or along the row side.

Both are pretty neat.  Here's a ruffled hat I designed & knit (but haven't quite perfected...).  It's in Schaefer Hand Painted Worsted Weight Cotton "Laurel" yarn on size 8 needles.  It needs frogged about 10 rows and another 1.5" added in.  It's just too short, but the ruffles feel like ringlets.  It might be a cool "chemo hat" for a lady who feels the need for some curls.

I'd like a bumper sticker right now that says, "I'd rather be knitting ruffles."

 Happy knitting & get some sleep!

Stash of abandoned projects

After "Snowmageddon" yesterday, I'm working from home today, which means no camera to take pictures of stuff with, but at least I still have an internet connection...and an opportunity to go through my yarn stash.  I have a boat load of abandoned projects. 

In the past, some of my Bright Ideas have included:

 
1) A mink coat (one cuff finished--I abandoned the project after realizing bulky chenille was not a good choice and gave the yarn to a friend).

2) A squirrel (part of a side finished before I gave up on it). 

3) A yoga mat bag (this one is in the planning stage)

4) A BIG felted purse (about 50 rows from being done, then I need to find handles--tentatively decided to buy some suede tote handles like these to sew in after felting the bag. 

These handles retail for $18.99, but it's a pretty good sized bag, knitted on #10 needles, double strand.  So it's using a LOT of yarn and is pretty hard on my hands.  I only do a few rows once in a while.  It's in variegated blues and greens and will be gorgeous if it's ever finished.  I'll post a picture in process.   Should just start carrying the camera in my car so I have easy access to it.

I promised myself I'd finish this one!  We'll see how large it is when I finish--if I like the size it is, I may choose not to felt it, since it's pretty tightly knit already.

 
 

5) Merino wool cowl (with the expensive and awesome) Schulana Capo Nord I have in stock.  This yarn is one of those you wouldn't mind just carrying the ball around and snuggling with.  I am working with 3 different colors, and have started and abandoned several projects with it.  It's heavy worsted weight/bulky but really needs to be knitted on size 13-15 needles, and I have tried it on 10's.  They work fine, but the yarn is wasted when it's too tightly knit.  So I'll frog it and and try a slouch hat, see if that works better.   The Mango yarn just GLOWS, it's so pretty.

6) 45 degree Angle Striped Scarf--I have pattern down, no problem (will post it when I remember it), but when knit too tightly, it tends to want to curl up.  Not like stockinette curls at the edges--more like an apple peeling wants to curl up after you've cut it off the apple.  This one is posted here (knitted too tightly in Capo Nord) and then frog the scarf and try again with another yarn.

Anyway...Happy Knitting & Get some sleep!

Calculating Yarn Requirements

Here's an online calculator for calculating yarn requirements.  Knitting Calculator from Jimmy Beans Wool

This blog is a good place for me to store information resources I find handy--that way readers (if any) can use them too.

Happy Knitting & get some sleep!