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LYS Tour
Alabaster Shawl
Mongolian Cashmere
Neck warmer Pattern
Alpaca Ribbed Swirl Hat
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I have completed tons of additional
projects since moving over to Ravelry but here are a few for
inspiration:
Aug 2009 Japanese girl in Kimono
pattern
purchased from here
I’ve
been working on this project in short bursts in between a
great many others. I made a few modifications. Of
course, who doesn’t like dressing and undressing and
changing a doll’s outfits?! So far she only has the one
outfit but I made some changes to her so we can change her
outfits if so desired.
Two spiral
buns instead of a single round black. The
whole hair piece comes off and on in case I want to change
hair styles.
The hair
flowers come off and on in case I want to change
accessories. I
beaded the flowers with red wire, crimp beads, silver, bugle
and seed beads. I also added an adorable white flower button
to the back. I
added a strap to her shoes which also can come on and off at
will. The
belt doubles around and I added two strains of single
crochet for a tie. Therefore the kimono and sash both can be
taken off and changed. I really liked how the sari ribbon
edging looks on her. She’s just adorable! I love it!
Dec 4, 2009 Mad hatter hat
This
is my hat I made from playing with stranded colorwork after
my class at www.renaissanceyarns.com with Mary
Scott Huff!
The class started out with us all making our own motif on
graph paper, doing some math, and off into stranded
colorwork land we went! I knitted until the size seemed
right did a 3 needle bind off. Then I made tassles added
some wirewrapping and beads and here it is! I was hoping it
would go ok with one of my previous attempts at stranded
colorwork
but
I like this motif so much I may have to make some fingerless
mits to match!!! This hat is my 3rd piece of stranded
colorwork there’s a few mistakes but I love it! For the
actual knitting: I use the EZ method of picking with my left
hand in one color and throwing with my right hand in the
color I want more prominent or raised.
Jan 5, 2010
Basic Cable Hat by
Christine Quirion (in book Stitch n Bitch Nation)
I
just had to buy this local yarn from http://moonshadowalpacas.com/ (after
reading about it in the Wild Fibers Magazine) at Renaissance
Yarns. It’s just a sensational dream to work with…
I’m very pleased how this turned out!! And he wears it all
the time! The yarn is unbelievably soft. I knit it very
tight (small needle for the weight of the yarn) so the
fabric is very dense and heavy. It has a soft halo of fuzz
and is super soft! I did the decreases a little different so
that the cables seemed to continue to follow the rib more
closely. I knit with more repeats of the cable since my
gauge was tighter.
Mar 14, 2010
Pattern: from Melissa
Leapman’s Knitting Beyond Scarves book.
I’ve been working on this in between (started Jan 08)
other
projects talk about miles of garter! But I love it! It’s my
first “sweater” even though it’s a ribbon pull-over:) I
finished all the pieces 3-1-2010 but am doing a small doll
version of
the sweater to practice my finishing/seaming before I start
on my sweater (that I’ve been working on for over 2 years
off and on!) I lost quite a bit of weight between the start
and finish of this project. I put in some darting/tapering
at the bust line to bring it in. I also single crocheted the
extra fabric onto the wrong side of the pull-over. I
reinforced all the seams except for the on the sleeves. The
pull over is very heavy despite (or because of the ribbon?)
and quite lovely. I’m pretty happen with it for my first
“sweater”. This I would have done different if I’d known… I
would have seamed/finished the pieces as I finished knitting
them rather doing ALL the finishing at once. It took TWO
whole days of handsewing/seaming to finish it. Now, had I
done the body/shoulders before doing the sleeves, I would
have only the sleeves to sew on and finish:) I’m completely
happy with having practiced seaming on my doll version
before sewing my sized version. And I don’t mind finishing/handseaming
but maybe not quite that much all at once next time:) I have
another sweater the Kyoto that will a lot of handseaming so
I’ll do that as I go along I hope:) And this yarn snags and
splits very easy (even though I love it.) I completely
recommend the Knit Clips for help in seaming. There’s a
picture of me with the sleeve on with them in. They totally
don’t snag the yarn and help tons!!!
Apr 6, 2010 Tempting
pattern available for free
Home
sick with the stomach flu and awaiting my first
bjd
so I started to work on some tops for her. I made this a
little smaller since it’s supposed to be a tight fit.
4-6-2010
She arrived yesterday 5-3-2010 so of course I had to dress
her! Here she is in her “Tempting” top. The pants were made
by Marsh. The
miniatures are from all over the world mostly Thailand, Hong
Kong, U.S. and the UK. Emi, a coco doll made by Sleeping
Elf, is a tiny bjd and
only 15 cm in height. I have tons more pictures of her and
her rooms in my flickr account.
I’m also on DoA.
Mar - Apr 10, 2010 Scribble lace as described by
Debbie
New in her book Unexpected Knitting
Cast
on 48 and knit in stockinette until I ran out of glam ribbon
yarn. It blocked to 27”x52” which is maybe a little smaller
than I’d like for a wrap. I’m considering sewing parts of it
into a shrug. I’ll decide after it dries from the misting in
it’s blocked form. 4-10-10
Yup 4-11-10 it’s a shrug! I love how this turned out. I
sewed it the sleeves closed and it’s done! I even have
enough left over fleece artist for some pedicure socks (I
hope?) I might be addicted to scribble lace… I’m already
planning another! Photos thanks to H! Also some just after
blocking and before blocking. Gotta love those lace wires!
Apr 10, 2010 A different Scribble shawl
I’m randomly adding beads of freshwater pearls, cowrie
shells, blue glass, and more to this scribble shawl by the
hooking technique as outlined here on knitty.
However instead of using a crochet hook, I used a piece of
nylon coated wire (the same stuff used for beaded necklaces
that you’d use a crimp bead on) bent in half. I fold it over
the knitted stitch that’d slipped off my knitting needle,
then stick the wire through a bead, then pull the wire
through the bead effectively pulling the bead onto the
yarn.
This is a similar technique used by folks who have trouble
threading a needle the wire is easy to handle and allows me
to knit along and then add a bead here or there.
I also routinely checked that the pearl hole was large
enough for my bent wire tool if not I used a “bead awl” to
open it a little bit. This turned out amazing! I would get
sooooo many compliments while I was just knitting it! I
wanted to be reminded of a trip
to Monterey Bay and was thinking of the kelp, sea otters,
and mermaids. I think it’s just gorgeous and funky all at
the same time.
I
did a long tail cast on of 40-some-stitches and bound off
with “decrease
bind off”. Now, it’s ready to be blocked 5-4-2010.
Although I imagine blocking is optional.
More photos to come - or rather at least a couple of it on
me! ha! So what’s up - blocked, unblocked, close ups of a
couple of the beads: pale green fresh water pearl, cobalt
blue glass, and dark green/dark grey fresh water pearl (not
shown larger blue bead and smaller light blue beads.) Blocking with lace wires & blocking mats to 26”x62” 5-5-10 Wearing it for the first time and wow! it’s warm!
Works perfectly with my shawl pin. It’s going on its debut
to work and my LYS today:)
5-11-10
Another top for my doll, Emi. She's also sporting some
jewelry I made for her. She's checking on the tomato starts
in the window:) The pants were made
by Marsh. Emi, a coco doll made by Sleeping
Elf, is a tiny bjd and
only 15 cm in height. I have tons more pictures of her and
her rooms in my flickr account.
I’m also on DoA.
Her top is from Nicki Epstein's Barbie
Knitting Patterns book. I tried making a bikini set from
the same book. I really like how the shorts turned out. I
will probably make more of those! I knit them
in the round to avoid seaming. The top I could use some more
practice on. I wanted a casual comfy outfit for sleepwear.
Her slippers are from ebay.
5-23-2010
We visited 11 shops on the
LYStour Sunday (it's tour of small independent yarn shops over the greater
Puget Sound and at each shop you receive 1-2 free one-skein patterns
designed by the shop plus the corresponding yarn is on sale.) Each shop offers a
door prize each day and if you go
to all 25 shops in the four days of the tour - you're
entered into the drawing for the great grand prizes.)
We started at
one of our favorites
Renaissance Yarns (well, actually I had popped over there on
Thursday and fell in love with the pattern, an Alabaster
Shawl designed by Michelle Maurer. I just HAD to buy the
amazing yarn by Shaeffer yarns in 50% wool & 50% silk in a colorway named after famous women. I chose Rosa Parks! A
mini-bio of her is included with the yarn.) I can't wait to
start knitting the shawl! This is my favorite LYS tour
pattern to date!!
Then we went to
Cultured Purls in
Issaquah. They have a lovely selection of yarns and notions.
We picked up our patterns, a lace wine bottle cozy. Next was
Hilltop Yarn
in Bellevue where we picked up the crocheted "Infinity
Scarf" and knit slouchy beret pattern.
Acorn Street was
our next stop where we picked up a "Sensational Cowl"
pattern and we noted their great selection of yarns and
buttons. At Weaving
Works, we picked up a great knit long silky arm-warmer
pattern and a crocheted denim baby sunhat. There I bought a
little Nabucco yarn (27 yds) for a little top for my doll.
They offer tons of classes and interesting yarns & buttons.
At the Fiber Gallery,
we remembered all the interesting yarns they carry including
steel, scrubby, raffia, and more. H really liked their
vintage scarf pattern and bought the corresponding yarn. I
went a little crazy and bought 14 skeins of
Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time
Cotton
enough to make a throw blanket. I remember seeing a lovely pattern for
one in the book,
Knitting in the Sun that has a drawstring bag travel
feature. We swung into
Bad Woman Yarns
for their really nice pattern, Cascading Leaves Cowl. We
have really
liked their pattern every year. Then we went to our favorite
Seattle shop, So Much
Yarn and were greeted by our favorite French Bulldogs,
Fiona and Angus. We picked up our free pattern, ruffled
anklet socks, and I bough two more skeins of
an alpaca lace paints by Cascade to match those that I'd purchased in March. At
Seattle Yarn in West Seattle, we both bought the yarn to
make the felted bag pattern. At
Burien Yarn Stash,
we also bough the yarn Cascade fixation to make the bottle
cozy pattern, and I bought a bag of local
Lollipop Cabin
yarn in tiny balls of fingering for doll clothes. Our last
stop the Knittery
in Renton, had a lace face towel and I bought a couple
needles I'd be keeping my eye for in
small sizes OO and OOO. Then we had some tasty dinner at
Lemongrass
where I had the tastiest satay ever! Shitake yum! We did a
bit of shopping in the new
Uwajimaya and called
it a day!
Starting the Alabaster Shawl pattern as
mentioned above: 5-24-2010
I tried starting this and clearly did not know what I was
doing. ha! I had to go in to Renaissance Yarns and get a
little help even to start.
5-25-2010 After my rough start I realized I
was still making some terrible mistakes and needed to rip
out my first three inches. It is quite obvious to me I’ve
never knit lace from a chart. And all the lace I’ve knit so
far has been super easy:)
5-27-2010 I let this sit a couple days and
went back to Renaissance yarns where I sat, started, and
knit on this for over 2 hours with some help. Now, I seem to
have gotten a good start but occasionally my stitches are
off and I have tink back a little. However now it looks
right! I am in love with this pattern so it’s a must-make
and a good learning exercise:)
So far I’m using markers on either side of
center stitch and one two stitches in on each side to remind
me of the knit/garter edging.
Things I’ve learned so far:
1) lace knitting charts have blank spaces (no stitches) in
them - do not knit these. ha!
2) I am to imagine this chart is folded in half and the
stitch on the farthest left is the middle stitch (*not
a mirror remember to always knit right to left - chart - see
6-3-2010)
3) purl all wrong side rows
5-28-2010 Gotta love Ravelry.com I did some
cruising in “Techniques” for knitting lace tips. Here are
things I’m going to try and see how they help.
1) Enlarge chart (I’m already using a magnet
chart holder)
2) Color code - each icon for various stitches like K2Tog,
SKP, etc. I have colored pencils so this should work/help.
3) fill in a number in long stretches of stockinette (so I
don’t have to count 5 or 6 stitches that are only knit
stitches)
4) additional markers at each chart repeat
5-30-20101 I was stuck again but on row 35. I
was unsure how to repeat chart B so I went to the yarn shop
for more help (yet again.)
1) Lifeline through row 34 (and will do again at each chart
B repeat)
2) What I did was to repeat increases on either side of the
highlighted (square) motif and then the motif multiple times
across each row. So it looks like K2, yo, (increases),
motif, motif, motif (multiple times), then (increases), then
yo, center stitch, then reverse = yo, then (increases),
motif, motif, motif (multiple times), then increases, yo,
k2.
3) placed stitch markers at each motif repeat
4) if I count each motif and increase section against the
number on the chart as I go, I seem to be making less
mistakes. Each motif is 12 stitches for example. The
increase sections are 4 total: one on each side of the
center stitch and one on each outer edge these increase each
by one stitch every other row. Keeping track as I knit along
seems to be reducing my need to tink a row or two back when
I miss a yo or some such thing:)
6-1-2010
When the pattern says repeat chart B - I’m doing all the
rows of chart B not just the highlighted motif. After doing
rows 11-34 which are all of them of chart B (even rows are
purl only), I’ve increased enough stitches to add more
motifs. This is the hep I needed from the post below.
6-3-2010 Now after reading in the Alabaster
KAL on ravelry.com - the designers says the chart B is to be knit right to
left on both sides of the center stitch (and of course it
says that in the pattern but I guess I missed that)? what?! So now, I
realize today I was knitting half of the shawl wrong. EEK!
The kind yarn shop owner ripped out over a 100 rows of this
shawl and re-winded the ball. So, yes I'm starting the whole
thing OVER! The chart is to be read right to left on both
sides of the center stitch. It's only yarn and time, right?
Practice?
I I love this yarn and the shawl is gorgeous.
The yarn, the pattern, and I deserve this to be done
correctly so there ya go. Do over! If it was just a stitch
or two, I’d be willing to deal no one would know but this
was waaaay too much. I’ll take photos again as I
approach exciting points in the shawl but it’s back to a
ball for today.
Later that same evening, I restarted it. Yes,
I worked chart A once, then completed chart B, and left off
before bed in my second time through chart B. It looks way
better done correctly now that I know what to look for. Go
me for stubbornness? determination?
*New cool lace learned thing - my
interchangeable
harmony needles have a hole for the tool for changing
needle tips/cables and that perfectly holds dental floss for
my lifeline. Now, I can set in a lifeline with NO work. Feed
the floss into the hole on the right needle (remove stitch
markers) and purl across an even row and the lifeline
automatically follows the cable! How cool is that?!!! Next
odd row, pick up my markers and it's always a good time to
count my motifs and increases making sure I'm on track:)
Thanks for tip,
Renaissance Yarns!
6-5-2010 I'm really glad that we
frogged my earlier work. I can see the pattern more easily
now in the shawl, it seems to spread/lay better, the
decreases and increases also spread/lay better, and it makes sense
to me as I see it developing.
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8-20-2010
Mongolian Cashmere neckwarmer pattern
One skein: Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere
Pattern for a small neck
14-16"* cast-on 100 (over both needles for a loose cast on)
on size 4 needles holding two strands together (knitting
them as one) and work in the round the following two rows
(cartridge rib) and repeat them until the length you wish is
achieved. For a wider neck just cast on more stitches.
I used long tail for cast-on and used EZ sewn bind off to finish.
If you don’t know how to do the bind off, click here for
more details
http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/FEATsum06TT.html
Gauge is 6 stitches to the inch in pattern (not-stretched at all)
Row 1: (K3, P1, K1) repeat to end
Row 2: (P2, K3) repeat to end
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9-12-2010
Alpaca WavesHat pattern by (me) to match above
neckwarmer using Blue Sky 100%Alpaca Sport Weight and the
left over Mongolian Cashmere - I'll be working on
writing up these patterns soon, I promise!
(below)
2-6-2012 Yes, I finally got around to
completing the patterns Waves hat and matching neckwarmer in word and
in pdf
And check
my etsy site
selling handmade jewelry and stitch markers and more!
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