Cowloncho: Part Cowl, Part Poncho

One skein of this.  One skein of that.  Put them together and what have you got?  A cowloncho!

I might be stuck in a groove.  A wonderfully happy groove of mixing yarns and skills.  Joining knit stitches with crochet work has always fascinated me.  Whether as a simple edge, dimensional embellishment or full blown mix it up throughout, I love making texture with stick and hook.

Lemaire Channel is my first cowloncho.  You can read about the yarns by clicking the link to the Ravelry project page.  The main body is knit at a loose gauge.  Then edges are crocheted on (can you say "sparkle yarn?").  A few strategic seams and the cowloncho is ready.

It can be worn as a simple cowl if the arm hole is ignored.

That armhole allows it to be a poncho that stays put. 






Use the armhole and scrunch up the rest like a cowl and you've got a cowloncho.

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice that it fits both me and she who crochets.  If you are more in the large or tall category, more than one ball of each yarn will be required.  

This made me so excited that I made another version with a crochet body and knit edges.  I'm thinking that I'll have to write up both patterns and let you make your own cowloncho. 

Z Top for Z Spring

Love it. 

My Z Top fits like a dream.  This is  Crane Hill by Miriam L. Felton and can be had free over on this page. 


I made one major change.  The back is worked without the V shaping.  It is just decreased (per the pattern) on the arm edges and then worked straight up.  Because the neck edge wanted to curl - the natural tendency of stockinette - there is a row of crab stitch across to control the fabric.

 The way that the yarn pooled might not be for everyone.  But it is so "me" that even my family said the magic word.  COOL.

My Z Top is Cool.

Ain't that grand?!

Fuzzy Knitting

Katia Jumbo.  Super bulky and gigantic to work with for someone who prefers a nice dk.  It is a fun fuzzy acrylic that works up fast.  Well, the Tree needed a fast shop sample made so I put down the Noro sweater and picked up the Big Needles to make a vest.

This is a re-gauged interpretation of In The Mood by Veronik Avery (click the link - it's free).  The pattern is great and it was easy to change for this fat yarn.

My only issue with the yarn was how to "weave" in the ends.  Normally, I weave in as I go, but that was not working on this yarn.   And I don't think there is a needle eye large enough to thread with this fluffery.

Adaptation was required.  I had to finger weave the ends through the stitches.  It was easy and allowed me to get the tension just right. 

This big super bulky vest is not my style.  It is a style that many will enjoy and within the first day on display in the shop, it garnered attention and several folks tried it on. 

Here is Annette, one of the owners, showing how cute the thing is when worn with style.

Making this vest (and trying it on) reminded me that this yarn world is wide enough and wonderful enough for everyone!

Yarn on people.  Yarn on.

A Magic Hem

How could I resist?  For days and days it spoke to me.  It called my name.  Finally, temptation won and I am the proud owner of  Woolfolk Tynd.  This is not a yarn to languish in the stash for "some day."  Oh, no.  It is a "cast on right now and get to it" kind of yarn.  So I did.

I thought and thought about the pullover that it wanted to be.  At first, a basic top down raglan with vertical bands of twisted stitches seemed like the way to go.  Subtle but worth a second look.  That plan is now in reserve for the future. 

Working in the round was the goal.  And something that would not require too much attention so that it could be public knitting.  Well, gentle reader, this is a story about what happened to the yarn.  Or is it a yarn with a story? 

There I sat, cakes of yarn, needles and an idea popped into my noggin' - Judy Becker's Magic Cast On is actually a folded hem just waiting to happen.  Now, I am making a bottom up sorta tee shirt that will probably have simple lace at the top.

This is the end of four rounds of the Magic sitting there ready to become a knitted hem.  Please know that I worked the front and back separately so that there will be a little vent on each side of the hem.

Rather than making a humongous sock toe, I worked a k2tog all the way across.  This joined the two rows of stitches into one band that magically became the hem.

Can I hear a Voila!  You will note that the yarn is a deep merlot/berry shade and I simply could not face making a traditional folded hem where one is forced to actually sew the foldy up part to the knitting stitches which just happen, in this case, to be dark and tiny (well, a size US 6 tiny) and make no mistake in 115 stitches and then do the exact same perfection to make the other panel and well. . . . I just could not do it. 

 Here it is.  Judy's Magic Hem.  Surely others have done this.  I can't be the only one to have an inspirational moment.  So, I'll not take credit for the brilliance. 

After making the first hem, I make a second that (I am pleased to report) is exactly like the first.  Everything was slid onto one needle and joined to work in the round.  Now, there is just round and round of stockinette to be done until a second color decides to join the merriment.  Public Knitting project accomplished!

Sewing Air

Lace knitting is not really my thing.  Oh, you might see me add an edging or work eyelets and pretend.  Occasionally there are lots of yarn overs surrounding decreases/increases.  But "real" lace.  Nope.  Not me.

Until now. 

I offered to knit a little pullover sample for the store.  Annette & Bruce thought I was being nice.  I offered as a way to force myself to sit and get over the fear.  I fought the lace. . . .I WON!

Not only did I knit the wispy stuff (that thinks it is sport weight), I actually managed to seam it into a final product.  There is no FO photo because Annette put it on and commenced to twirling and modeling as only she can do and I was too mind numb to think about going click with a lens.

If you are interested, the pullover is this cute sassy thing.  Or, if you are in the L.A. area, drive on over to The Knitting Tree, LA and pick up the pattern and the yarn. 

Yep, there just might be future posts all about my adventures in lace.

I'm as shocked as you are.  This could become a sub-obsession.

Still Learning After All These Years

 Pardon the old towel and the shadows from the desert sun, but pat me on the back and clap enthusiastically for my new skill.  That's right, I have learned the basic art of making felted soap.  Yippie!

This was a fun and bubbly class at the recent membership meeting of RKG.  The best part?  It was member taught.  I love learning from my friends and acquaintances.  It makes it so very personal, don't you think?

Caroline taught the workshop; the guild purchased the roving.  And we, the members, learned how to make this for no additional fee.  We did each bring our own bar of soap.  That's a very personal choice and it would have been impossible for the guild to take orders and be responsible for buying something so personal.

There are many videos and tips for felting soap available through your favorite search engine.  So I'll let you investigate on your own.

This is the other side of my soap.  I can't decide which side looks better - in my eye, both are perfect.  And considering that this was my very first effort, I am mighty proud.  That's why I want you to clap for me. 

Hopefully, the combination of the tea tree oil soap with the scrubby wool will be a winner.  If I like the result, there is much felting to do before the winter holiday season. 

Now, who want's to be on gift list?

I'm kidding, right?

A Walk With The Forest

 Forest is finished.  Thank you Myra Wood for your     fabulous inspiration.

In constructing this satchel, I left live stitches on each long (side) edge.  A life line held things securely during the final blocking and while the lining was sewed in.  

 

 The sides were then finished off by doing the following:  

*fold bag in half and return each half of the stitches to needles

*using a contrast yarn (something already in the fabric) work a 3-needle bind off to secure the sides

This is the back side.  The family was allowed to vote on which side was the front and which was the back.  

 The lining stops short of the sides by three rows on each edge.  This way, the side edges have no lining and flex so as to add depth to the satchel.  On the back side, it allowed easy access to the bound off stitches where I picked up and knit a flap for closure.

Here is the front with the short - and unlined - flap.  Finding the leather beaded bobble was pure fluke.  It is the perfect finish to a wonderful and functional satchel.

The family chose the correct side to be the right side, don't ya think?

Flowing Thoughts & Flowing Yarn

Run to the keyboard.  Type fast.  Skip a few lattes and a bagel and you can click your way to Knit In New Directions from Myra Wood.  Go do it now.  I will wait.

Whether you knit, crochet, quilt, draw or weave, Myra's journey into your own creativity will send your thoughts into a swirling mass of "must do NOW."

I was fortunate to spend two whole days with Myra in a workshop environment while knitters explored, learned and tinkered with yarn.  We thought about stitch patterns.  We deconstructed long color repeats to make our own color way.  We turned our work sideways and upside down.  We considered seams vs. picking up.  We were creative!

My mind is exhausted.

I have this much accomplished.  These two chunks are either pieces for a bag or the beginnings of a tee shirt.  I am happy and excited about the freedom to just make fabric. Well, that and the whole lesson about tails should this turn out to be a bag.


Thank you Myra Wood.  You rock.

This & T-HAT

Do for others.  Period.  You have heard it from me in prior posts and at least once a year I ask you to provide loving hands creations for those who need a bit of extra love.

Well, as it happens the opportunity to do a little extra came my way.  The President of ESSS knitting guild mentioned that her daughter ( a labor & delivery nurse) sometimes has need for blankets and caps for extreme preemie babies.  I decided that I could use the Cherub DK from the stash to knit a few wee small blankets.

I knew that I had two balls of light pink and a skein of pure white.    The request to knit for these extremely premature little souls was "about fifteen inches."  Surely that one skein of white would make a square - would it not?

There wasn't quite as much yarn as I thought. 

Thoughts of waiting until my LYS reopened the next morning were of no comfort.  It would not work if that last little corner became pink.  Since I did not have any blue, I was hoping that the solid white would suffice for a little boy.

There is no way for me to know for certain, but I suspect that I am not the first knitter or crocheter to ransack the stash in the middle of the night looking for just a little bit more.

TaDa!  Success.    I'm happy to finish the first blanket and the remainder of this white is becoming a center square that will be surrounded by pink. 





And that's why I have a stash.  So I can help out a friend's daughter without waiting for the store to open.


Oh, and I made another chemo cap for these kind folks.

Right To The Point

Let's get right to the point.  Another project has been cast on.  I'm not a big nor talented lace knitter but something about this free pattern caught my eye.  Oh, sure - it is designed for a dk yarn.  So what can possibly go wrong if I make it out of lace weight?  Same stitches, different gauge, and there was no need to go shopping due to the stash.

Just add another to the long list of "on the needle or hook" at Maison Francois. 

I figure that if anything does happen to go wrong (am I tempting the yarn gods?)  the simple fact that I have already admitted to being untalented when it comes to knitted lace actually removes some the the shame should the inevitable occur.  But I am trying to control for mishaps.

Check out all of the markers!  One marker for every two pattern repeats.  Hopefully this means that I  never have more than twenty stitches to tink.  And I plan to use multiple life lines just for good measure.

Wish me luck, please.  This one will receive my total focus when I'm not working on the tee, the thread crochet shawl, the blanket, the new charity caps or testing a vest pattern for a friend. 

Let's Go Shopping

Last week was very productive.  And I even found time to knit!  This is my version of the Princess Kate Shawl.  The theme is the focus of a knit-a-long at one of the knitting guilds to which I belong.  Those of us who are participating will all wear our shawls at a holiday party in December.  And yes, I am patting myself on the back that I am finished months and months early.

The shawl is unique in the way it is constructed.  There are many shawls that are knit or crocheted side-to-side.  That is not the unique part.  What makes this one special is that the ruffle edging goes around the whole thing and it is worked as the shawl body is worked.  Fun short rows do the magic.

The other magical thing about this version is the texture that results from twisted stitches.  All that is needed to make the twist is to knit through the back loop (tbl).  I love the result!

I am convinced that this twist is what slowed down my knitting.  From cast on to weave in this simple shape took three months.  That's a long time for me to work on something so small. 

To be totally honest, this one got ignored a lot.  There was a crocheted tee, a shawl, two necklaces, a gift bolero, a gift scarf, two market bags, a shell, flip flops, a cardigan and three hats that interrupted the knitting.  So, I was not really slacking off. 

The thing is, I don't think this shawl is complete.  I keep looking at the center point and it looks dull.  As it happens, I was recently gifted a bit of copper metallic embroidery floss. 


And my thoughts are off and running!

Sleeve-to-sleeve Sideways Construction

Perhaps you'll enjoy seeing the sideways construction of my new cardigan.  This one is knit in one swoop from the cast on of the right sleeve ribbing all the way to the left sleeve ribbing bind off.  That makes for a large swath of fabric in the lap once the end is in sight.

Part of the brilliance of working this cardigan in one piece is the use of two provisional rows at the center front.  The arrow points to the bright yellow that is holding live stitches on the right and left fronts.  Use of this technique lets the color flow across the (eventual) opening and the row count flow across the front through to the back.

That big hole in the middle is the neck.  At first the written pattern for this section confused me greatly.  Luckily daughter who crochets knows how to read a pattern and visualize what must happen.  She explained it to me in different words than the designer used.  'Twas like a Stewart Light Bulb turned on at 150 watts. 

This one piece construction means that only two seams are required.  One for each side.  It was impossible to mess this up.  The alternating bands of stockinette and garter made it so easy to see how it all lined up.  I chose to work each side with two threads.  First from cuff ribbing up to underarm.  Then from the body side edge up to the underarm. 

After the seams were worked, the pattern directs that the provisional rows at the center front are removed.  That leaves the following for the edging:  pick up live stitches on one front, pick up and knit stitches around the neck, pick up the live stitches on the other front side and then pick up and knit stitches around the whole bottom.  That was a whole heap of stitches on a 40" needle, but 6 - 8 rounds and the thing was done. 

And I am still happy.

Seaside Colors

Try as I might with the 2014 determination to expand my colorway choices, this Tangier was too luscious to resist.  It is so me that it practically jumped onto the needles and demanded to get clicking.

Enter Seaside, my interpretation of this pattern over here.  Because the yarn changes shades throughout, working two colors per the pattern was not necessary.   It turns out that the colorway I chose is #12 aka Seascape.  It is filled with shades of the deep ocean and goes quite well with my preference for the jewel tones ranging from teal to almost jade and lightening up with a sunny blue and deepening with grey.

I just let the yarn do its thing and enjoyed watching the colors of the sea come to life.  Even the stormy grey color - initially not my favorite - showed up occasionally like the wild weather that can generate freshness.   That stormy shade had me thinking throughout the knit that something was missing.  The pattern does not call for buttons, but I flirted with the thought just to add the missing "thing that isn't right about this."  It bothered me through about two-thirds of the work.

Then it hit me like sun rays peaking out from a thunderhead.  Every cloud - especially those dark and stormy ones - has a silver lining!   And now my Seaside cardigan has a silver lining too.

Crawling!

Don't bother me, I'm crawling.  As in driving at a crawl whilst getting from store to store during the Yarn Crawl.  My plan is to hit my local area on the first day, then branch out on the next three days.  Sunday will find me checking out a few stores that I've never visited.

 

The list is made and daughter - she who crochets - has added a few items of her own.  That pesky job has her unable to crawl on the first two days and I'll be at stores that might have just what she needs.

The list is not all yarn.  It includes such wonders as buttons, needles and beads.  I will pick up my tote bag and get my first stamp at The Knitting Tree, LA where friends await.  Then it is off to the south bay shops and a hop over to the Long Beach area to round out Thursday.

That's about as much info as I can divulge.  Somewhere out there in Los Angeles county is a yarn shop with 1200 yards of teal/grey sock weight all in the same dye lot, and I'm going to find it!

Round To It

Plastic shopping bags are a thing of the past in my area.  There is a charge for paper bags.  Many people are now saying, "no thanks," tucking their purchases under their arm or in a pocket and walking out of the store.  My approach is different. 

The trunk of my car is loaded with no less than 6 - 7 shopping bags.  Different shapes, different sizes and even a few of the insulated types.  Add in that I frequent a Farmer's Market weekly and shopping bags are always coming into the house and returning to the car trunk. 

The ones that I use for fresh veggies and fruit (especially at the Market) are all washable.  The ones that I use for meats can be wiped out with anti-everything wipes.  Now that we are expected to reuse over and over, I don't want the germs and bacteria to re-touch over and over.  I'm not overly weird about it.  It is just that in the past, we could toss out the unseen and now we are expected to reuse. 

 I got around to making a new market bag.  It is made from this free pattern which is so wonderful that it gives the option for a small or slightly larger size and two different handle options.  The designer even gives two suggestions for the side stitches. 




The bottom starts out just like a top down hat, which is not my favorite thing to knit. 


The bag itself works up rather quickly if your have a few evenings in front of the telly.  I decided to make the smaller size which still holds a lot of veggies because it is so stretchy.

The cotton sides and acrylic bottom/rim/strap can be washed in cold water without harm.  If I have to reuse it, I will re-clean it!

Invited To Secret Action

With some delight, an offer came my way.  A simple sheet of folded paper, passed to under a table held the invitation and a set of instructions.  A nod of the affirmative and my mind was off and racing.

This is all that I can share.  I know it is not much and it only gets you to wondering what deed is afoot.  Lets just say that the final item will include contributions from many people.  Each one invited to participate has unique artistic skills that will all merge together.


The instructions are simple: 

• Square 
• Twelve inches per side  
• A due date that allows for artistic dithering. 

The opportunity to join others and bring a moment happiness to some good people has brought on the zen.  I'm relaxed, working at a mellow pace and smiling.

Said It Before, Say It Again

If you read the last post about my Destin summer top, you know that the plan was to wet wash that cotton/llama rather than just steam it into a state of relaxation.  Many of you have never wet washed and depend wholly on steam to open lace and make pointy shawls.  And some of you have never blocked by any method at all.

All I have to say about the two other camps (steam & nothing) is "to each their own."  I have a reason from most everything that I do yarn wise.  I've said it before and I'll say it again and again.  I wet block (by hand) most everything.  Some very specific acrylic goes in the wash.  Linen gets washed and then tumbled with with balls to work that linen into softness.  I even wet wash silk.  Getting a little preachy, so I'll get back to the point.  

 Look at what washed out in the cold water!  Can you imagine what would have happened had I not soaked the yarn and just wore it on a cloudy day when suddenly a downpour of Biblical proportions occurred and I was also wearing my favorite cream colored linen pants?

I'll tell you what would have happened.  A tragedy of Biblical proportions!  That's what would happen.

And that's why I wet wash most everything I put to hook and stick.

Thanks for listening.

Destined For Sunny Days

Finally, the new summer top is done.  The endless rounds of boredom have ended and I still have a modicum of sanity.

The pattern worked well, but I did a few modifications.  My waist shaping was modest.  Had I been thinking with wisdom, I'd have considered that more severe shaping would have been better due to the tendencies of cotton.

The length was my own choosing, so naturally I love the length.  Hopefully the llama in the blend will prevent the cotton from shrinking up too much.

The pattern suggested that after satisfying a certain number of stitches on the sleeves, that 20 - 30 more rounds be worked prior to ribbing.  I did not do any additional rounds and jumped straight from the underarm increases to the ribbing.  And it is perfect for me.

I'm going to soak this before wearing.  Red always seems to run a bit and steam might not be enough to put my mind at ease.

Tangled Mess

If you read the post from last week, you know I was stash diving for purple.  That search was fruitless.

Look what I did find! A wad of cotton and a ball of black.  Yippie for me.  

As it turns out, I need to knit up a sample for a Knit-A-Long.  Cotton will work great.  And since the cotton has a twist of orange & black, the solid will ground the whole thing.

Don't go asking what the KAL is.  I can't divulge that just yet.  Samples must be finished.  Words must be written.  Options and suggestions need documentation.  And then, in a few months all will be revealed to those who need to know.

PS - and it only took 15 minutes to untangle what turned out to be three balls of the twisty cotton.

NightStar Shawl

Nightstar Shawl

Free Pattern Now Available on our site!

    

 NIGHTSTAR is a triangle shaped shawl.  It begins with a garter tab that extends to become the garter edge.  A stockinette field grows from a center spine of repeating star stitches.  The lace pattern is totally reversible and worked on a multiple of two stitches.  If you desire a larger project, just work more rows of this section.  Increasing within a row of star stitches creates the bottom wave.  Beading adds sparkle and helps the shawl to hang well.  The bottom edge is reverse stockinette and rolls to the wrong side.

 Much thanks and gratitude to Merilyn and the gang at FoxyKnits for introducing this pattern at 2014 Stitches West.  If you are looking for the perfect yarn, go no further than Koigu.  One skein makes the stockinette section and one skein for the lace and beaded edge.  I'm partial to the subtle solid colors (KPM), but check out all of the Koigu options at FoxyKnits.