Pat's Knitting and Quilting
January 29, 2009 I've had a bag of bits and pieces of Koigu leftover from Charlotte's Web since 2004 and When SKA had their December leftover challenge, I decided it was time to use this yarn! What I should have realized is that the result of using 4 different variegated yarns in a spiral pattern, just makes 1 giant variegated yarn...Oh well - I think it made a pretty pair of socks and despite the tangled mess of knitting with 8 balls at the same time, it was fun!
Pattern: Stashbuster Spirals (sort of)
I've been cutting beautiful batiks to remind me that spring really is coming! This lap quilt is going to be all color play with very simple blocks. After taking this picture, I've pulled out many more fabrics because I decided to make it 80 (5"X 4 1/2") blocks instead of 56 - will still be a lap quilt at about 40" X 50" - more on this when I get some blocks made.
Prize winnings!! I love random generators :-)
and lastly....Dave wants a pair of heavy warm boot socks....I didn't want to make boring bland socks and told him if I could use the above bright gorgeous yarn, I'd do it - he said "YES". I'm excited that he is expanding his sock yarn horizons....if this appreciation of bright wild yarn keeps up, he will surely get more socks in the future!
January 22, 2009 A special pair of mittens - I'll keep these for myself :-)
Pattern: " Maimu's Mittens" from Folk Knitting in Estonia by Nancy Bush The picture in the book shows little flower nupps, but the chart diagram shows crosses - I really liked the flowers so rewrote the chart to match the picture. Another photo of my favorite part of these mittens....
out in the bright sunshine and snow pictures...
SO.....I frogged Irtfa'a! It 's a long story of indecision, but in a nutshell, I made a mistake on the cast on and just couldn't live with it. Every time I took out the shawl, I spent the 1st 20 minutes pulling and stretching the edge to see if it would smooth out with blocking - trying to convince myself - "oh don't worry Pat - it will be under your hair anyway". I couldn't persuade myself to keep going and (with great relief) finally ripped! (had only the last stitch pattern and edging to go)
Irtfa'a (above in her last photo) is being reincarnated.
Her beautiful BMFA Corvid Laci is now becoming...
a rectangular shawl from Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby called "Alpine Knit Scarf with double rose leaf center pattern and diamond border"(Ravelry pattern page) When I joined Ravelry in 2007, this was the 2nd project I queued - a gorgeous shawl! I am thoroughly enjoying this new morning coffee/breakfast knitting project.
January 16, 2009 I'm not having a baby - I'm not a grandma yet - I don't know anyone who is having a baby, but I wanted to make this quilt..so I did! I will be all ready when a baby appears! I don't know exactly why I even wanted to make it (not my regular style of quilt) - nostalgia maybe? ANYWAY - I think it is adorable and can't wait for a baby to come along :-)
Pattern: Mother Goose and Friends (free pdf pattern from P&B textiles) designed by Sue Garman.
Here are a few close ups ... I love the prairie points!!
Knitting ... the mindless stockinette of Acer is so satisfying to me right now.
January 12, 2009 Warm stranded worsted weight mittens - practical in every way! On my quest to knit at least one pair of mittens from each of my pattern books this winter, Striped Mittens are my choice from Favorite Mittens. Alternating 2 colors and ALWAYS carrying the same color on top/bottom creates ridges that look like one color has been knit above the other - looks kind of like corduroy. There is no "jog" in the vertical striped pattern and Robin's different method of increasing keeps the stripes continuing on the thumb gore. The mitts can be worn on either hand - no right/left to worry about. You can imagine how warm they are with the dense stranding inside!
Pattern: "Striped Mittens" from Favorite Mittens by Robin Hansen They had been worn for a few days, before I realized I hadn't taken an "off the hands" picture - still looking good!
Next mittens are from Folk Knitting in Estonia - "Maimu's Mittens". After an ill fated attempt (I had tried using KP Telemark, but that is a VERY heavy dense sport weight yarn - at 103 yards in 50 grams, I think they just twist their worsted weight tighter and sell it as sport weight - and they were way too stiff), I came up with a great yarn combination - Silja/Mt. Colors Bearfoot/Lorna's Laces Sport which are all heavy fingering/light sport weight.
Just look at that cool cuff! A double start cast on followed by YO braids, colorwork, and little nupped flowers - I LOVE it! The hand pattern is not easily memorized, at least for me, so theses mittens are slated for "pay attention" knitting time. A finished quilt coming next ...
January 6, 2009 I certainly had no problem with boredom while knitting these socks! My enthusiasm stayed high throughout the process with 4 different colorwork patterns, braids interspersed here and there, and soft beautiful yarn. Robyn's gorgeous design uses motifs from traditional Latvian Mittens and I think they are one of the prettiest pairs of socks I have knit!
This was my 1st time knitting with Estelle Ariquipa yarn - it is a wonderful blend of superwash wool, alpaca, and nylon - I REALLY like this sock yarn with its beautiful colors and soft, luxurious alpaca touch.
Pattern: Latvian Dances "Ilze" by Robyn Gallimore of Red Bird Knits (October 2008 SOTM) They fit me to perfection! Here are a few more views since they look so pretty from all different angles...
click photo for bigger
Now that these are done, I am in the swing of NaKniMitMo and am focused on mittens - 1 pair almost done (needs thumbs) and a new pair cast on with very cool cuffs - pictures next post...
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