Ribbed Cowl

Hey everyone!

This week for the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup I decided to knit a long cowl from a single skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick (a super bulky yarn). After much consultation with the DH (the cowl is for him), I got out my ruler, did some planning, and cast on. I think it came out well and thought I'd share since doesn't everyone have a single skein of super bulky yarn in need of a pattern?

This long cowl is started with a provisional cast on to keep the initial row of stitches live. The cowl is then worked back and forth along the width of the cowl (approximately 5"). Once the yarn is almost exhausted (for me this was at about 28" of length), the stitches from the provisional cast on are "made live" again and the two ends are Kitchener stitched together. For those of you who wish to skip the fancy provision cast on and Kitchener-ing, a regular cast on and cast off can be used and the two ends seamed together.

The cowl is heavily textured given the bulky yarn, provides good warmth, and should be appealing to males and females.

Ribbed Cowl

Materials:

one skein Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick (approx 106 yards) or a similar amount of another super bulky yarn
Size US 15 knitting needles (straights or circulars are fine)
tapestry needle to accommodate yarn size

Gauge:

approximately stitches per inch (but gauge does not need to be spot on)

Directions:

Use a provisional cast on (I like the one from Purl Bee at http://www.purlbee.com/2007/12/10/provisional-cast-on/ ) and cast on 15 stitches

Row 1: (K1, P1) repeat until one stitch remains, K1
Row 2: (P1, K1) repeat until one stitch remains, P1

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until yarn is almost exhausted (almost 28" for me), reserving enough yarn to use the Kitchener stitch to graft the two ends together.

Place the reserved 15 stitches from the provisional cast on back onto your needle (the stitches are "made live" again) and using the Kitchener stitch, graft the two ends of the cowl together, forming a long (approximately 28" ) narrow (approximately 5") loop. I use the instructions from Knitty.com to Kitchener, http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html.

The cowl can be worn long or doubled for greater warmth (as shown in the photo). It has the benefit of being two-sided (both sides can be public).

A quick and easy project, good for anyone (unisex) that provides nice warmth for a cold day!

Felted Mini Drawstring Bag

For June's HPKCHC Potion's class, I wanted to do a small felted bag (a place to keep a house key tucked away). I decided to improvise. My pattern is provided here in case anyone wants to do something similar.

Felted Mini Drawstring Bag

Materials:

approx 11 grams of Paton's worsted wool yarn (or another feltable worsted weight yarn)

US 9 needles (either double point or a long circular to allow you to knit in the round)

CREATING THE BOTTOM (this will be a hexagon shape when you are done)

Cast on 8 stitches

Row 0. knit one row

Row 1. KFB, K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB (10 stitches)

Row 2. Knit all stitches

Row 3. KFB, K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB (12 stitches)

Row 4. Knit all stitches

Row 5. KFB, K to 1 stitch before marker, KFB (14 stitches)

Row 6. Knit all stitches

Rows 7-12: Knit all stitches

Row 13. SSK, K to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog (12 stitches)

Row 14. Knit all stitches

Row 15. SSK, K to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog (10 stitches)

Row 16. Knit all stitches

Row 17. SSK, K to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog (8 stitches)

Row 18. Knit all stitches

CREATING THE BODY OF THE BAG

Pick up and knit stitches around the base of the bag until you have 36 stitches on either DPNs or on a long circular set up to knit with magic loop - place markers after every 9 stitches with a different style of fourth marker to mark the end of row

Rows 1-6: Knit all stitches

Row 7: (Knit 7 stitches, K2tog) 4 times (32 stitches)

Row 8: Knit all stitches

Row 9: (Knit 6 stitches, K2tog) 4 times (28 stitches)

Row 10-11: Knit all stitches

Row 12: (Knit 5 stitches, K2tog) 4 times (24 stitches)

Row 13-14: Knit all stitches

Row 15: (Knit 4 stitches, K2tog) 4 times (20 stitches)

Row 16: Knit all stitches

Row 17: (K2tog, YO) 10 times (20 stitches)

Row 18-20: Knit all stitches

Cast off all stitches.

My bag after knit (before felting) was approximately 3 3/4 " tall, 2" wide at base, and 2" wide at base

To ensure that the eyelets at the neck of the bag stayed open during felting, I wove a small plastic bag through the openings

I put the bag into a pillowcase (pinned shut) and washed it in hot water in the washing machine along with a load of towels.

After felting, you can use a ribbon or single crocheted "rope" as the drawstring for your bag.

Shetland Sampler Cowl

Back in May of last year (2013), I took a spinning class, Spinning the Colors of Shetland, taught by Nancy Barnett at the Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival in Dickson, TN. Nancy provided us with fiber in a number of different colors of Shetland.

As part of the Tour de Fleece later that year, I spun up all my Shetland and had a great sampler of yarns. I had eight different colors of Shetland, spun from rovings, short forward draw. The final yarn was a 2-ply, varying from DK to worsted weight.

With the goal of using this yarn for something other than just petting, I decided to knit up a cowl. I found a basic honeycomb pattern and improvised the pattern. I love having something as a final project which was started in the class. I share the pattern here for anyone else who might find him or herself in a similar circumstance with small quantities of several different colors of yarn (whether handspun or store bought).

Happy Knitting!

Shetland Sampler Cowl

Materials:

approximately 11 yards each of 7 colors (colors A - G) of a DK to worsted (9-10 wpi) weight yarn (approx 4 grams each for my 2-ply; my cowl includes colors A=white, B=grey, C=light grey, D=shaela, E=emsket, F=mioget, G=moorit) for a total of approximately 77 yards (28 grams) - these could be handspun or store-bought

approximately 90 yards of a main color (approx 32 grams for my cowl; my cowl includes black for the main color and I used KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Sport)

Needles: US 5 circular needles
US 7 circular needles for cast on and cast off (optional - used to help ensure edges aren't too tight)
or needles sized to obtain gauge

Gauge: 4 to 4.5 stitches per inch

Cast on 112 stitches using the main color with US 7 circular needles.
Join to knit in the round ensuring that your stitches are not twisted and use a marker for the beginning of the round.
Switch to the US 5 circular needles.

Row 1: Continuing with main color, Knit all stitches
Row 2: Purl all stitches
Row 3: Knit all stitches
Row 4: Purl all stitches
Row 5: Knit all stitches
Row 6: Purl all stitches
Row 7: Knit all stitches
Row 8: Knit all stitches

Row 9: With color A, (Slip2 as if to purl, Knit 6) repeat to end of row
Rows 10 - 14: Repeat Row 9
Row 15-16: With main color, Knit all stitches

Row 17: With color B, Knit 4, Slip 2 as if to purl, (K6, Slip 2) repeat until two stitches before end of row, Knit 2
Rows 18-22: Repeat Row 17
Rows 23-24: With main color, Knit all stitches

Rows 25-30: With color C, repeat Rows 9-14
Rows 31-32: With main color, Knit all stitches

Rows 33-38: With color D, repeat Rows 17-22
Rows 39-40: With main color, Knit all stitches

Rows 41-46: With color E, repeat Rows 9-14
Rows 47-48: With main color, Knit all stitches

Rows 49-54: With color F, repeat Rows 17-22
Rows 55-56: With main color, Knit all stitches

Rows 57-62: With color G, repeat Rows 9-14

Row 63: With main color, Knit all stitches
Row 64: Knit all stitches
Row 65: Purl all stitches
Row 66: Knit all stitches
Row 67: Purl all stitches
Row 68: Knit all stitches
Row 69: Purl all stitches
Row 70: Knit all stitches
Cast off using US 7 circular needles.

Francis Revisited

So now that I'm going to commit to blogging again, I think it makes sense for me to start with my most recent finished object, Francis Revisited.





Once I started to find my knitting mojo again, I pulled this pattern out of my "to knit" pile and cast on with yarn from my stash (Cascade Pastaza). What a bonus ... finding a pattern that would work for yarn I already had and like.

So mid-September I cast on and off I went. Earlier this year I learned the magic loop technique for socks (fodder for another post) and used that to do the sleeves. Let me tell you, sleeves have never been so painless.





I have to say, you can't beat a top-down sweater knit in chunky yarn. It doesn't take a lifetime to finish ... instant gratification (or at least 6 week gratification in this case) is what I like!





I used Cascade Pastaza for the sweater. I had a seen a few other people use this on ravelry. It was a great choice. I got gauge and I really like the slight halo I got from the lama content. I'm definitely shedding a little bit, but nothing like my part angora sweater (which I honestly should just frog so it stops taking up closet space).

Looking for a quick, easy sweater to get yourself going? Want something that looks soft and smooshy? You may want to try out this sweater in a nice fuzzy yarn.

My rating: Gold star!

Francis Revisited by Beth Silverstein
US 10 and 7 circulars (sleeves done magic loop)
Cascade Pastaza (6 skeins)
(50% lama, 50% wool)
Colorway: (lavendar) 300 (lot 8189)
Cast on September 16, 2010
Finished November 6, 2010 (funny... that's exactly one year after the last project I posted here on my blog... spooky!)

Mods: I did full length sleeves with no increases/decreases. I just knit straight down from the picked up stitches and then ended with 12 rows of seed stitch. I also did 12 rows of seed at the bottom of the sweater.

Ravelry details here.

A one year absence anniversary

Wow... one year! How the time has flown. Today, the anniversary of my last post, I feel compelled to post and to try to start blogging again.



Lots has been going on over the past year (and nothing too). Work has been crazy busy and that's the primary reason this blog has sadly been abandoned. Over the past few months I've slowly starting carving out a little time for recreation though. Interestingly, this has come less in the form of knitting and more in the shape of spinning! Yep, that wheel I bought some years back has been getting some exercise and I'm really loving it.

My last post showed that I finished the cinnamon bay bag. To be honest, finishing the blanket killed my knitting mojo for quite some time. Too much stockinette in the same color, over, and over, and over (and over). =]



Switching into spinning, and then get this, actually knitting with my own yarn -- that my friends is inspirational! In later posts, I'll catch you up and show you some of what I've done.

Yesterday though was one of those great fun days (and spinning and fiber related). The Torrance Fiber Festival happened and I went with a great group of women (the Southern California Fiber Fiends on ravelry. We got to see and touch all kinds of beautiful fiber and yarn, had a great lunch, and got to laugh and talk about all kinds of great topics. I'm so glad they let me join them in all the fun. I came home all energized and excited about life.

And those feelings my friends certainly beat out stressed and demoralized (which is what I often get at work)!

Looking forward to posted here again in the near future.

p.s. today's lovely pictures are purchases from the festival this weekend. To-Ply's handpainted BFL roving in oranges and Mendenhall merino washed fleece. Goodies for future fun!

Cinnamon Bay done

Yes friends, a near miracle ... I have finally finished a project again.

Between the craziness at work and the work at work I feel like there have been weeks in a row where I have knit not one stitch. About two weeks ago I decided I just had to finish my biggest UFO and went to the task.



I'm pleased to say that the Cinnamon Bay beach bag blanket is done and turned out pretty nicely.



Today was a beautiful day outside so we thought it would be great to take some photos and the dog and our outside kitty, Ricki, decide to help out.



Quite photogenic aren't they?



The idea of this blanket, knit from the center out, in the round, is that an i-cord drawstring runs through the edging and you can cinch it up into a bag. Nice idea if you want to use it as a beach blanket because it becomes one less thing to carry.



All in all, I'm pretty happy with this one. The jeannee is a pretty nice yarn and the color is really great. The final project looks quite nice too. The bad news, like any large blanket, it takes a long time. Not a great thing for me since I was so busy and then bored with miles of stockinette. I was never so glad to get to edging ... it was very exciting! I think this would be cute even knitted to a smaller size without the drawstring for a child.

Cinnamon Bay beach bag blanket by Carol Feller from Knitting in the Sun
US 8 dpns and circulars
Plymouth Yarn jeannee (about 16 balls)
(51% cotton, 49% acrylic)
Colorway: (lavendar) 0023 (lot 37841)
Cast on June 18, 2009
Finished November 6, 2009

Mods: Nothing major. I did stop a few rows short of the recommended number for the large size bag because I was worried I was going to run out of yarn. Turns out I had plenty.

Ravelry details here.

And time passes

It's amazing how quickly time can just get away with me. Every semester I say that time goes faster than in the previous year. This year, I really mean it!

Work is still crazy busy, me having said the word "yes" to far too many people and too many projects. I'd say Spring will be better, but I'd probably jinx myself. =]

Everyone around here is good... the whole animal kingdom: cats, dogs, chickens, and people all happy and content. And after ummm,, maybe 3 months, I finally have a finished project to show (next post).

First, let's have fun with the chickens shall we?

Life as normal (or not)

I'm taking life around here just like the chicks do ... one step at a time.

Life doesn't feel very normal right now. I actually feel like someone pressed the time and a half button. I have twice as many things to do these days and not so much time in which to get it all done. This of course makes for a lot of undone "to do" lists.

I am still trying to carve out time for myself, and the chickens, and the cats, and the dog (and of course the spouse ... that's a given... =]).

The hens (and they are now officially hens) have all started to lay now. Beatrice continues to lay almost every day (I think she's only missed about three days in the 3 weeks she's been laying). Ada and Bettina are still just getting started but seem to be getting into the habit. But man on man, are they loud in the morning. I knew roosters were loud but I had no idea that hens could make such a ruckus. That egg song phenomenon ... that's just part of the story. There's also all the agitation that happens before they lay and the chatter that happens when one's in a nesting box that another wants to get into. Crazy chicken talk I say!

Last weekend (not yesterday mind you, but a week ago), S and I took off one afternoon to catch a little down time. We needed to sooth our souls with the Pacific.



It was a great time to go. The marine layer started coming in so it was cool and overcast, almost foggy on the beach. The lights came on at Santa Monica pier while we were there too which made for a nice view. Ahh the ocean ... she is calming.

The other really nice thing S did for me was we went on a yarn visit when we were in Santa Monica. For the first time, I visited Wildfiber and WOW is this place great! The picture on their web page does not do the place justice! The yarns... the colors... the softness. I could have purchased a million things.



Instead I settled on one smallish purchase... some Manos is this fabulous green color. I'm not sure exactly what I'll make, but it's going to be great to knit with. It will be nice to get back to some wool. All summer I've been working on an endless stockinette stitch blanket in a lavendar cotton. I'm sure it's going to be nice when it's done, but it's past finished already. Luckily, I've only got 12 rows left ... now granted every row has about 700 stitches, but hey it's only 12 rows! Gotta look for the little things these days you know. =]