Revisting the Druid Mitts

I've lost count as to how many times that I've actually cast on for the Druid mitts. If you aren't familiar with them, they are on the cover of Vogue Knitting Fall 2008. They are the most beautiful mittens ever. I know that I've cast on and knit 3 or 4 cuffs in different yarns and needle sizes, but until now, I've not produced a fabric that I think will stand up to the Labrador winters.

All that has changed though, with this cuff. I'm using a smaller than recommended needle size. The yarn is Knit picks essentials kettle dyed sock yarn. I'm holding two strands together to produce a thicker fabric. Wish me luck!

Still with the cowls

I seem to be on a never ending quest to keep knitting these things until I find the perfect one for myself. I may keep the green one. The orangey one is knit in Fleece Artist kid aran. I liked the colours in the skein, but not so much as it is being knit. I will be gifting this. They are both from free pattern recipes that I found on ravelry. One is here...http://newtonsknitting.blogspot.com/2008/10/garter-cowl.html

The other is here....http://www.ravelry.com/projects/insaknitty/wham-bam-thank-you-lamb-neckwarmer

I also made another pair of saartje booties. I forgot how cute they are.



These are done in Dream in Color Classy (or smooshy?) leftovers from the tulips baby cardigan kit that I bought a long time ago.

I've got cowls on the brain

Seriously, ever since I saw a link to Sara Palin wearing a quiviut cowl, I've been wanting one. As a result I've been trolling the internet for cowls, neckwarmers, gaiters, scarflettes, etc. I had almost forgotten about this little gem from knitty called Tudora. Its going to be a Christmas gift because yellow isn't my colour. I love the idea of a simple buttoned neck band. I have an idea for a pattern of my own thats been ruminating too. I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, here are some pics of my tudora knit in (I think) Berella Muskoka superwash merino (Its that or Paton's Classic). Super fast easy knit for anyone looking for some last minute gifts.

Wild Fire Knit

The Yarn Harlot is knitting one therefore, I must knit one. I present the noro ribbed scarf (that I'm knitting in SWS).



I don't follow the crowd. I make a point of not following the crowd, or I should say - I try to resist following the crowd, but sometimes resistance is futile. But hey! I haven't made a clapotis yet. (I actually cast on for one, and promptly frogged it, but not before getting this far)


I even got further than that and it was looking gorgeous, but I didn't want to take a picture of it. I started it in Kauni, and it was a poor choice. The colour is gorgeous, and it would have been beautiful, but the yarn is so sticky. Its meant for colourwork. Doing those intentional drop stitches was a royal pain in the arse with the kauni. The kauni will wait. I have something in mind. You will see.

I finished another Kim's hat - this time I made it big enough for Riley. Hopefully I have. Since I haven't seen him this year one can't be too sure. Perhaps his head grew inexplicably large in the past year. I really hope not.

A Hat for Max

This actually started out life as a 'hat for Riley', but for some reason it was turning out small. So now it belongs to Max. This actually works out okay. I 'owe' Max a handknit since I recently finished a sweater for his little cousin Morgan. I'm such a true Libra in that I have to be fair to everyone.

Morgan's sweater was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but he is growing so darned fast that I had to give it to him as soon as I finished. I'll do the same with Max's hat. The next time he visits, the hat is his.

The pattern is 'Kim's Hats' from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The yarn is Valley Yarn's North Hampton with a tiny bit of Noro Kureyon.

Mad Eye Patch (Free Pattern)

Materials
Size 4 mm hook
Small amounts worsted weight black, blue, white (I used Paton's Classic Merino)
50 yds (?estimate) light brown
tapestry needle
small amount of fiberfill
two buttons
elastic (about 6 inches)

This pattern is made up of 4 pieces. The eyeball part, the socket part and two straps. Here is a picture of all 4 completed parts before being pieced together.



Eyeball
* Pattern is worked in the round. Each round begins with ch 1 and ends with sl st in first sc of round to join.
Rnd 1 (Black) – ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st, fasten off
Rnd 2 (blue) – attach blue at first sc of Rnd 1, ch 1, 2sc in every st, sl st (12 sts total)
Rnd 3 – ch 1, (1 sc, 2 sc in next st) 6 times, sl st, fasten off white (18 sts total)
Rnd 4 (white) – attach white at first sc of Rnd 3, ch 1, (2 sc; 2sc in next st) 6 times; sl st (24 sts total)
Rnd 5 – ch 1, (3 sc; 2 sc in next st) 6 times; sl st (30 sts total) fasten off

Here are some photos of the eyeball being worked







Socket
Work in brown

Repeat rounds 1-5 of eyeball part
Round 6 Ch1 (4 sc; 2sc in next st) 6 times; sl st (36 sts total)
Round 7 Ch 3 (counts as 1 DC) DC in 35 st around in front loops. Sl st to ch 3. Fasten off

Hard to visualize? See here




Straps (Make 2)
With Brown, Ch6. DC in 3rd st from hook (counts as 1st DC) 3 DC across Chain 2 turn
Round 2 - 3 DC, Ch 2 turn
Repeat Round 2 until 3 inches long ending with 3DC (omit C2)
Fasten off



Finishing

Sew straps to socket at a slight angle as shown



Weave in all ends.


With brown, whip stitch 'eyeball' to 'socket' as shown, but leave a small opening to stuff slightly with fiberfill.





Sew elastic to both ends of straps and sew buttons in place. Note that buttons are purely decorative.



Try on patch and enjoy

Gift knitting continues

I've finished off 4 things recently. So, I thought I would show them off. They are destined to be gifted to someone this holiday.

This hat is Half Pipe from Debbie Stoller's Son of Stitch and Bitch.

I've had this book since it came out, but this is the first project that I've made from it. There are quite a few really neat patterns here. I always find that when I put a book down for several months and go back to it, there seems to be new patterns there that I didn't see the first time around. I've got so many books in my knitting library now, its beginning to get a little embarrassing. I think I will put off buying any new books until I reexamine all my old ones for new possibilities.

These mittens are the Elegant and Easy Cabled Mitts from Designer One Skein Wonders.



This being the third time that I've made them, its safe to assume that I like this pattern. And I do, but I'm done with it now. I had to force myself to finish these, I had become so bored with this pattern.

And this is Marigold by Marnie Maclean - a free pattern available online from Spindlicity. This is only my second pattern with my handspun. As I've said in an earlier post I'm determined to knit more with my hand spun. I have cowls on the brain, and I want one for me - so a cowl is up next.



And finally, I have the little bugger that caused a knitting fatality. I won't be rushing off to knit with cotton anytime soon, but I do like this little hand towel. I've always liked mitered knitting too. I guess a wool one wouldn't be that effective hey?

Damn, I hate cotton

So, I'm knitting the hanging mitered hand towel from Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines. Its a kitchen hand towel so of course its in cotton. At the hanging loop part you hold your yarn doubled. This is hard to do with cotton because there is absolutely no give in cotton. This is why I hate it so. That and that fact that it is so .... ummm...not nice on the hands. Unlike wool, it isn't soft to the touch. It is dry and crunchy. I have a friend who hates the feel of cotton balls, the way they squeak in her hands. Well thats what knitting with cotton is like. And....look! Look what it did to my needle!

Marigold

This Harry Potter house cup thing is just wonderful for production. I'm knitting up lots of little gift items. The latest is for Herbology class. We are required to knit something plant like. I'm knitting marigold from Spindlicity Summer 2006 edition. I'm using my handspun too. The Sea and Surf scarf was such a success that I'm determined to use my handspun in more projects.

This little hat is knit in a lace pattern that resembles leaves. I don't think it will keep a head warm or anything, but I do think it will be great for those 'bad hair days'.

Alohamora

Thats a charm from the Harry Potter series which opens and closes. I'm knitting in the House Cup challenge on Ravelry. Charms class this month was to knit something that opens and closes. So, I've knit this gaiter. It was a very, very fast knit. And so cute too. This pattern is from Knit.1 Fall 2007. I knit it in Brown Sheep Burley Spun. I may keep this myself or give it away, I haven't decided. I have enough yarn left over to make another I think.

Anyone Remember Finnegan?

Well, I've made a green Finnegan. You know, the grey hand puppet dog from the old 'Mr. Dressup' series. Its a Canadian thing.

He came about by accident. As you can likely tell, he is made from a sock, a hand knit sock. The other sock was felted. On Ravelry, I'm participating in the 'Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup'. I'm taking transfiguration this month. The assignment was to 'transfigure' a WIP or a thrift store find using steeking, embroidery, sewing etc. into something else. Well, here is my something else. I like him.

Sea and Surf

I love this stitch pattern so much. Its the first time I've worked with my handspun yarn, and I'll admit to not wanting to use it. I can't really put my finger on why I didn't want to use it. Too precious - maybe. Not good enough - perhaps. And of course there not being enough of it to really do anything meaniful with.

This pattern is a freebie, but it first came to my attention in Spin off magazine. There were so many different versions of it, and it required very little yardage. So, I gave it a try and I couldn't be happier with the results. I'm thinking this might be a nice gift form my mom. Initially it was to be mine, all mine. But after seeing the qiviut cowl on Sara Palin, I've been hankering for a cowl. In handspun. My handspun. This, combined with the fact that I gifted some handspun to a coworker and she made a delicious cowl out of it. I cant' stop thinking about it. Like I needed something else in my queue right?

Moving right along

I'm up to the heel on these toe up socks. I must admit that I much prefer the heel flap method of turning a heel than this short row business. But, I must broaden my knitting horizons by trying new techniques. They sure are pretty though.

I'm also moving right along on the handspun scarf. I can tell how overspun this stuff is as I'm knitting it. Its not something overtly apparent by just looking at it, or even just touching it. But knitting with it, is a different story. This pattern is a perfect fit for handspun yarn.

I'm no longer a 'toe up' virgin

So I got my second installment of sock club yarn and pattern. I didn't realize at first glance that these are toe up. Like any technique in knitting that I've yet to try, I was nervous about this. It seemed fiddly and besides, I like cuff down just fine, thank you very much.

But, since this is my first ever sock club and I'm such a keener, I'm determined to knit all patterns as is. So, I've cast on and knit one toe. Not fiddly. I like. I'm not a convert yet, but we'll see.




Oh, yes. See that very cute little sheep stitch marker? Its from scarymerry on etsy. I love them. I've also bought a pop tart set.

I have a new computer!

Lalalalala! Yes thats me singing. I'm so happy. Pictures load so quickly. Now, I have to get my good camera back from repairs at the Future shop, but I'm hopeful. In the meantime, my old standby camera will suffice.

I've finally bitten the bullet and have decided to actually work with my handspun. I'm knitting the sea and surf scarf from Interweave's Spin Off magazine. I do believe this pattern is available free somewhere on the internet too. It really highlights handspun yarn very well I think.



I also finished my sock club socks.


They are called Flying South, and they are in Fleece Artist. I love them. I got my second installment of sock club yarn too. It is droolworthy.



The pattern that came this month is called 'Twisted Licorice'. Its a nice cabled rib pattern. I will be casting on shortly. This is my first sock club and I'm really enjoying it. It is so nice getting surprise yarn in the mail. So far I have loved the two skeins that I've been sent.

Sock Club

Have I mentioned that I joined one? To be honest, I'd almost forgotten. That is until I saw the strange charge on my visa, but what a nice surprise. I'm to get a skein of yarn per month along with a sock pattern. The pattern for September was called 'Flying South'. The colourway was a gorgeous autumn colour with burgandy and pumpkin, forest green and brown. So nice - and it was Fleece Artist. My favorite.

Swamp Thing

This thing has been on the bobbin for quite some time. I think it only fitting that 'Swamp Thing' come off for Halloween.

Mittens, mittens and more mittens.

I've been churning out mittens left right and center it seems. I do love knitting mittens. I've also been on a bit of a felting kick lately too. Here is the 'Dumpling Bag' from Interweave Knits. I'm not sure who I'll give this to. The dots and flowers are neelde felted on after I felted the bag in the wash.



I really like the Lopi for felting projects. I even did these mittens afterwards.


And here is another pair of cabled mittens. I did these for charity and they will likely be headed to Natuashish.