Despite the fact that I will be knitting only stockinette for the foreseeable future, deep down I'm secretly glad he chose this cardigan. First of all, I love the classic look of the cardigan (Brooklyn Tweed's Longfellow by Michelle Wang), especially in the Forest Heather color he picked out -- not to mention the crazy deal I scored from Knit Picks on the yarn. Secondly, I love Brooklyn Tweed patterns. I feel like I learn a new technique every time I make one of their patterns. Maybe I will also let him choose his next sweater pattern, with stipulations of course!
Showing posts with label Gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gifts. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
The Commitment Cardigan
To kick things off in the new year, I started knitting a cardigan for Michael. Because I wanted it to be something that he would wear a lot, I asked him to choose any sweater pattern he liked. Remind me that I should think before doing that again. Not that he doesn't have good taste, because he definitely does... I mean, he did pick out a cardigan. I'm just not a huge fan repeating
miles of stockinette in finger weight yarn. But just as I am committed
to Michael, I am committed to making this sweater for him, no matter how
bored I may become while making it. Hence I dubbed this project "The Commitment Cardigan".
Despite the fact that I will be knitting only stockinette for the foreseeable future, deep down I'm secretly glad he chose this cardigan. First of all, I love the classic look of the cardigan (Brooklyn Tweed's Longfellow by Michelle Wang), especially in the Forest Heather color he picked out -- not to mention the crazy deal I scored from Knit Picks on the yarn. Secondly, I love Brooklyn Tweed patterns. I feel like I learn a new technique every time I make one of their patterns. Maybe I will also let him choose his next sweater pattern, with stipulations of course!
Despite the fact that I will be knitting only stockinette for the foreseeable future, deep down I'm secretly glad he chose this cardigan. First of all, I love the classic look of the cardigan (Brooklyn Tweed's Longfellow by Michelle Wang), especially in the Forest Heather color he picked out -- not to mention the crazy deal I scored from Knit Picks on the yarn. Secondly, I love Brooklyn Tweed patterns. I feel like I learn a new technique every time I make one of their patterns. Maybe I will also let him choose his next sweater pattern, with stipulations of course!
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Rauschberg and McIntire
It's pattern season over here in the New England Knitting Studio (aka my living room). Last month, not only did the Hoxey Cowl debut in Interweave Knits, I also self published two patterns: Rauschberg and McIntire.
This beanie is named after Rauschberg, a mountain in the Bavarian Alps. During my stay in Germany last winter, I spent an afternoon atop this majestic mountain celebrating the holiday season by listening to Alphorns, drinking glüwein, and looking at the breathtaking views of the snow-covered villages below. This traditional design is inspired by that warm and cozy feeling that comes with the holiday season, despite winter’s chill.
Rauschberg is knit in the round from the brim to the crown. Two versions of the colorwork pattern are provided in chart form. The beginner/intermediate version uses two colors, while the advanced version uses four. The advanced version requires one to work with up to four strands of yarn per round, which may be challenging for those who are not comfortable with stranded knitting.
I am currently making several more of the two-color hats, which may or may not be holiday gifts ;)These hats are so addicting -- plus all you need is two 50g balls of worsted weight yarn per hat! I also may or may not have bought a bunch of Wool of the Andes Tweed during the recent Knit Picks sale ;) ;)
While Rauschberg is a quick knit, McIntire is more of a labor of love. It may not knit up as quickly as other headbands, it's time well spent because McIntire is like two FOs in one! McIntire is a reversible headband with honeycomb cables on one side and rows of small cables on the other. The many intricate cables make this a perfect project for the detail-oriented knitter. The headband is knit in the round to create a long tube that wraps around the head. The ends of the tube are then grafted together, creating an invisible seam.
Looking ahead to December, my knitting time will most likely be dedicated to knitting Rauschbergs, but I do have some exciting projects, designs, and even a new blog series on the horizon. So stay tuned! In the mean time, I have to keep telling myself "Finish your holiday knitting first!!"
Rauschberg
This beanie is named after Rauschberg, a mountain in the Bavarian Alps. During my stay in Germany last winter, I spent an afternoon atop this majestic mountain celebrating the holiday season by listening to Alphorns, drinking glüwein, and looking at the breathtaking views of the snow-covered villages below. This traditional design is inspired by that warm and cozy feeling that comes with the holiday season, despite winter’s chill.
Rauschberg is knit in the round from the brim to the crown. Two versions of the colorwork pattern are provided in chart form. The beginner/intermediate version uses two colors, while the advanced version uses four. The advanced version requires one to work with up to four strands of yarn per round, which may be challenging for those who are not comfortable with stranded knitting.
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| Four-color and Two-color Rauschberg Beanies |
I am currently making several more of the two-color hats, which may or may not be holiday gifts ;)These hats are so addicting -- plus all you need is two 50g balls of worsted weight yarn per hat! I also may or may not have bought a bunch of Wool of the Andes Tweed during the recent Knit Picks sale ;) ;)
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| Captured Michael sporting a Rauschberg in the streets of Salem. |
McIntire
While Rauschberg is a quick knit, McIntire is more of a labor of love. It may not knit up as quickly as other headbands, it's time well spent because McIntire is like two FOs in one! McIntire is a reversible headband with honeycomb cables on one side and rows of small cables on the other. The many intricate cables make this a perfect project for the detail-oriented knitter. The headband is knit in the round to create a long tube that wraps around the head. The ends of the tube are then grafted together, creating an invisible seam.
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| Side 1 of McIntire... any guesses where this picture was taken??? |
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| Side 2 of McIntire |
What's To Come!
Looking ahead to December, my knitting time will most likely be dedicated to knitting Rauschbergs, but I do have some exciting projects, designs, and even a new blog series on the horizon. So stay tuned! In the mean time, I have to keep telling myself "Finish your holiday knitting first!!"
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
It's Fall, Right?
I have mixed feelings about rain... I hate getting soaked, but I love being indoors looking and listening to the gray world through the window. Though this morning, I'm leaning more towards dislike with regards to rain, because it seems to have brought back the warmth and humidity of summer with it. I mean, its 73 degrees with 100% humidity.... on the last day of September...
I'm a bit bitter because I am excited to finally wear all of the hats I've been making, scarves I've pulled out of the closet, and that cardigan I finally got around to blocking. I know the cold weather will be here soon, but I'm too impatient! I have too many knitted things to wear!
This week I finished a cozy new headband design. The pattern is not available yet, but I am preemptively sharing the finished sample. It seems like my projects as of late have been "secret" submission pieces, and I want to actually share something I've been working on.
This headband is knit in the round lengthwise, like a long tube to fit the circumference of the head, and then seamed at the edges. The headband is also reversible, featuring a honeycomb pattern on one side and rows of crossed stitches on the other. Double the design and double the warmth!
The sample pictured used one skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca (Worsted, 50% Wool/%50 Alpaca, 215 yds/100g) in Winter Rice. I'm currently working a second sample in Malabrigo Rios (Worsted, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 210 yds/100g) in Pearl Ten.
Once I finish writing the pattern, I will put a call out on ravelry for test knitters. If you are interested, put your ravelry name in the comments and I will earburn you!
I'm a bit bitter because I am excited to finally wear all of the hats I've been making, scarves I've pulled out of the closet, and that cardigan I finally got around to blocking. I know the cold weather will be here soon, but I'm too impatient! I have too many knitted things to wear!
This week I finished a cozy new headband design. The pattern is not available yet, but I am preemptively sharing the finished sample. It seems like my projects as of late have been "secret" submission pieces, and I want to actually share something I've been working on.
This headband is knit in the round lengthwise, like a long tube to fit the circumference of the head, and then seamed at the edges. The headband is also reversible, featuring a honeycomb pattern on one side and rows of crossed stitches on the other. Double the design and double the warmth!
The sample pictured used one skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca (Worsted, 50% Wool/%50 Alpaca, 215 yds/100g) in Winter Rice. I'm currently working a second sample in Malabrigo Rios (Worsted, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 210 yds/100g) in Pearl Ten.
Once I finish writing the pattern, I will put a call out on ravelry for test knitters. If you are interested, put your ravelry name in the comments and I will earburn you!
Sunday, April 5, 2015
The Gift of Giving
Happy Easter everyone!!
I received a care package full of holiday nerds rope and some cute spring attire from my mom yesterday, which inspired me to write about some gifts that I was finally able to give this week. Currently I have a pile of finished projects sitting on a coffee table in my room, just waiting for me to give them to their intended recipient. What happens is, it takes me longer than expected to finish a gift. Then I miss the opportunity to give said gift at the appropriate time. Instead, it sits on that coffee table until the next time I see the person (or in some cases, until the following year unfortunately).
I received a care package full of holiday nerds rope and some cute spring attire from my mom yesterday, which inspired me to write about some gifts that I was finally able to give this week. Currently I have a pile of finished projects sitting on a coffee table in my room, just waiting for me to give them to their intended recipient. What happens is, it takes me longer than expected to finish a gift. Then I miss the opportunity to give said gift at the appropriate time. Instead, it sits on that coffee table until the next time I see the person (or in some cases, until the following year unfortunately).
Recently, though, the pile shrunk by two! I previously posted about a test knit I did for a pattern called the Hive Mind Cowl. Note its not available yet, but as soon as it is, I'll post it because I love this cowl! While this was a test knit, the end product was intended for a girl at Michael's work, who was in fact the one who helped Michael get his current job. Michael finally had the opportunity to give her this cowl, and it turns out, she's a knitter too!
Blankets are typically a lot of work because they take up so much time (and yarn). I know some knitters stray away from blankets for this reason, but I like to always have a blanket on the needles. Although for me, the blanket pattern must be an easy and repeatable. This is then the project that I work on when I want to zone out and watch The Wire or read a book. By the way, the book I'm currently reading is Do Your Om Thing by Rebecca Pacheco. I should also mention there is no coincidence that I made this blanket was for the talented author and her fiance for their (now not-so-recent) engagement.
[WIP] Cape Ann Blanket
I debated mentioning the current blanket I'm working on, given that it will also be a gift. This time a wedding gift for two dear friends of mine. I hesitated to write about it in case these friends read my blog, but I can't NOT write about it, since its what I'm spending most of my precious knitting time on. So as a compromise with myself, I am including the following disclaimer...
If you are getting married in May and want your wedding gift to be a surprise, don't read further! On the other hand, I won't be offended if you peek :)
Another thought I had was what if they actually don't read my blog haha? Anyway, this blanket is a modified version of the Cape Ann Stole by Julia Farwell-Clay in her book From Folly Cove, which I got at Fiber Camp. Instead of using the cabled pattern at the ends, I just repeating the cabled pattern throughout the whole blanket, which makes it very simple for me to memorize the pattern. The yarn I'm using is from a bulky blend of 50% merino wool / 25% alpaca / 25% acrylic, which I ordered online from Turkey when I was over in Europe.
The deadline for this Cape Ann Blanket is quickly approaching, but with my goal of at least 65 yards (1 ball) of yarn a day, I think I can make it. Here's to no more additions to the gift pile!!