One of my favorite patterns is the Double Trouble Hat. Is that boasty since it is one of my patterns? Here's why. It is a fast and fun knit and has the bonus feature of using up sock yarn! Yup, that's right another great use for sock yarn that does not require knitting socks on 1's or 2's. The yarn is doubled to make DK and the pattern is knit on size US 6 needles.
I am lucky to have so many friends with such great babies and kids. I love being a part of their lives and getting to watch them grow up and become the people they are going to be. This is one of my favorite baby gifts to knit and I am flattered to say that many have asked for updated sizing as their heads have grown. Of course I want to make sure those little heads are warm and stylish, so I do my best to keep up with production.
I thought it would be fun to put together a little photomontage of all the wee ones in their most recent round of DTs. The middle bottom picture is of Jill’s niece in her Double Trouble hat printed on the back of an M&M candy. Jill, who is a friend and co-worker at Knot Another Hat, was so sweet to save me this M&M!
I decided about a month ago to knit this fantastic design from Debbie O'Neil in Knitscene, Fall 2009 called the Heather Hoodie Vest after a customer brought it to my attention (thank you Marie). I also decided to use a yarn that I had stashed a while ago with my friend Julia. Lady Julia (as I like to call her) and I had an online yarn accident together and saved on shipping by each ordering a bag of Cascade Yarns 109 LE Bulky. Julia used hers up a while ago and mine has been looking at me longingly from the yarn bookshelf.
I finished the back. I finished the fronts. I did the ole 3 needle bind-off at the shoulders, sewed up the side seams and read the instructions for picking up sts at the sleeve and that's when it hit me. The ribbing at the bottom of the back piece was absolutely wrong...*&(@)?!
The ribbing is supposed to be a 3 x 2 (as in knit 3, purl 2), but mine was a 2 x 3 (as in knit 2, purl 3). I looked at the vest, then I looked at the pattern and then it dawned on me that I had not followed the instructions to work the setup row on the wrong side on the back, but did pay attention on the fronts. So, I had 3 x 2 on the fronts and 2 x 3 on the back. I still had to finish the sleeves which would be 3 x 2 and the ribbing for the button bands and around the hood would also be 3 x 2. Are you catching the theme here? One of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong...
The wheels started turning immediately in a panic and the options started running through my brain.
1. Undo the 3 needle bind-off and the sewing and rip the entire back out. NOT AN OPTION.
2. Take scissors to the back and put the sts back on the needle and work the ribbing back down the vest in the correct sequence. ICK.
3. Adapt a cool technique from one of my very favorite books. WE HAVE A WINNER.
The book is "The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques" by Margaret Radcliffe and it is truly one of the most magnificent books that I own. It really is essential. I love picking it up and looking at all the pictures and I love learning about new techniques while dreaming up new knits to make.
The technique that I thought I could use to fix my problem is for working vertical stripes of color to make a knit piece look like plaid. Basically, Ms. Radcliffe shows how to ladder knit stitches up a purl column of stitches with a crochet hook in order to introduce a new color stripe. This technique was the perfect solution to my problem. I had a whole extra purl column that I did not need and lots of extra yarn to ladder up and create "knit" stitches out of unwanted purls.
Here is how it works:
Here is my plain swatch of 3 x 2 ribbing.
Here is the other side of my plain swatch, which is 2 x 3 ribbing. This is the side I will be "fixing".
You will need a crochet hook that is the same mm size as the knitting needle used on your project. With the right side facing you and at the bottom of the purl column that will become knits, put your crochet hook through the front of the fabric to the back of the fabric. Hold your yarn (I am using a contrasting color to make it easier to see) in a loop and use your crochet hook to pull that loop up to the top of the fabric.
Now for the second st, go into the next purl bump and put your crochet
hook back down into the fabric again and hook the yarn from under the
fabric.
Bring the loop up through the fabric. Then bring the 2nd loop through the first loop.
Here is a picture with more sts chained up.
Here is a picture with the same color yarn. It is hard to tell that a mistake was made.
Here is a picture of the whole column completed. Not a bad fix.
And here is my very happy new vest!
Madeline and I running through the woods.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Margaret Radcliffe!
Pattern: Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009 #27 Fair Isle Collar Jacket Yarn: Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Chunky 4 sks #03 cobalt Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Aran 3 sks #15 charcoal and 1 each of #11 moss, #21 magenta, #19 midnight, #7 natural Needles: US 10 1/2 (6.5 mm) 32" & 16" circular and US 8 (5.0 mm) 24" circular
My own #3
Pattern: Knit Simple Magazine, Holiday 2009, #3 Cabled Shrug Yarn: Cascade Venezia Worsted 2 sks #174 Mulberry Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) & US 4 (3.5 mm)
I used a worsted weight yarn for my shrug and held it single instead of double and it only took 2 sks. I had the hardest time trying to find something to go with this dress. It was so hard to find the right color. I love this yarn and the color is just perfect!
A pile of beautiful yarn awaits me. I have decided to knit another #27 in the light blue that I could not leave the shop without, but I think I may modify it a bit in a bit. Submissions are calling and new designs are brewing in my head. Back to work.
I have been working on 2 new patterns for my pattern line in the middle of working on tax return extension deadlines. I have emerged with my brain in tact, I think!
The first new pattern, Rainy Day Socks must be accompanied by a confession of sorts. I do not love to knit socks. Wait, what was that? I repeat I do not love to knit socks. With that said, I love to wear hand knit socks and I don't mind terribly knitting them in sport weight, hence the creation of the Rainy Day Socks. I really like the weight of these socks here in the Northwest, when it starts to rain and I need my feet to be happy and cozy.
I also love these socks, because they take just 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and I can abuse them in the washing machine and have abused them in the dryer without a disaster! This is good news, because I have "accidentally" felted several pairs of mancake's socks that his mother made for him. She is an amazing sock knitter and can just whip socks up in no time and I help her by creating more demand by felting them soon after they are finished! Luckily, the socks do not go to waste, because apparently, felted mancake socks fit me perfectly! I do not felt mancake's sock on purpose. I repeat I do not felt mancake's socks on purpose.
Pattern: Rainy Day Socks Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2 skeins Small Shown in #204 Aquamarine (MC) & #503 Pea (CC) Large Shown in #9 Med Grey (MC) & #19 Moss (CC) Needles: US 3 (3.25mm)
Now for a special surprise, my friend Sarah and I own a Knitting Events Company together, called purlaway and this weekend we are hosting a workshop with Terri Shea, the Author of Selbuvotter. We will be learning all about how to knit the most beautiful mittens from her book. I am really looking forward to this as we have been planning it for over a year.
Several months ago, I decided that I should create a special mitten in our purlaway colors (green, orange and brown) to give to the participants of the event in our swag bags. We always have a gift bag for everyone that attends full of knitting goodies and I thought a mitten pattern would be fun. Of course, in classic form, I did not start the pattern several months ago when I had the idea. Nope, I decided to wait and start working on it during a very stressful tax deadline! MMMMM, math, I love math! Thank goodness for great tech editing and gracious test knitters!
The mittens are done, the patterns printed and I can take a deep breath and enjoy the weekend.
Well, I'm a Cover Girl! I never thought in a million years that I would be on the cover of a magazine, but here I am! Well, it's not exactly me, but it is my design.
What a thrill for me when the magazine contacted me and told me that they had picked my design for the cover of their holiday issue. I am still pinching myself.
Now, of course I am knitting my own Cabled Shrug to wear with this crazy cute dress I bought for a wedding this summer. Here is a sneak peak with the dress for which the yarn and color were chosen. The yarn is Cascade Venezia Worsted and it is amazing. I love the way it feels in my hands and I love the little bit of silky shimmer it has for the shrug.
More details and pictures to follow when it is all done.
And lastly, what's this? A collar? What collar? Did someone make a decision?
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