Posted in colorwork, knitting

Another F.O. Friday

Well, it started out as a bad knitting week. The hat that I cast on the prior week was progressing. But it seemed to be pretty small for an adult hat. After I knit a few inches of the 1 x 1 ribbing, I took a quick measurement. My measurement suggested that it was indeed too small. So I started again, but knit the next larger size. In the bigger size, the ribbing took forever to knit. I rejoiced when I got to the crown. The colorwork was quite fun and I worked quickly to the bind off.

Immediately after I took it off the needle I knew I was in trouble. It was so big! There’s no way that this hat would stay put on my head. Even after washing and drying (I tossed it in a warm dryer to try to shrink it a little,) it was huge.

There ensued a few days of low spirits. (The news cycle, of course, made me feel even worse.) Eventually I stopped moping and tried to solve my problem. My first thought was to cut off the ribbing, pick up the stitches, knitting several together, and work down to the edge. But then I decided to fold the brim in half, folding to the inside and whip stitch it in place. That’s a little better. What if I added a hat band with less stretch in a slightly smaller diameter………..

I found a coordinating color yarn in my stash and cut six lengths. These were crocheted into a chain about 21 inches long. Stretching the chain slightly, I sewed it around the upper part of the ribbing, where a hat band is generally located.

Bingo! Problem solved.

And I have enough variegated yarn left to knit a pair of gloves.

Posted in knitting

Here I go again: Cast on Monday

I am in need of easy knitting – especially for evening TV watching. Here is my latest cast-on.

The multi-color yarn was purchased at the Madison Northside Farmer’s Market. It is made from Tunis wool, spun and hand-dyed by the lady who raises the sheep. The light green is a Cloud-born fingering weight. (Former Craftsy yarn line.)

I chose a pattern called Rose Window

Screen Shot

This pattern is available for free on Ravelry.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rose-window-2

This looks like a fun, quick and easy knit. Maybe sooner or later the weather will cool down enough to justify the wearing of a wool hat.

Posted in knitting

First Friday, Finished Object

If my feet look relaxed in the photo, it’s because these socks were a delight to knit.

The long sections of leg and foot never got boring. How could they, with the ever-changing panorama of colors unfolding. The yarn was excellent – no splitting, no knots. This is one of the yarns I purchased at North Wind shop in Spooner, WI.

It was the ball on the left, Berroco Sox – a nice blend of wool and nylon.

I chose to knit a 3 by 1 rib pattern again. This time I continued with the rib after I finished the heel shaping. It circles the foot, which makes the socks hug it nicely. For the shaping, I used Hermione’s Everyday Sock pattern, available on Ravelry.

Posted in knitting, painting, quilting

Private Trunk Show for Family

Fellow blogger friends, please bear with me for posting something that is meant for a narrower audience.

I’ve decided to gift many of the fiber objects that I have made over the past two years to family members. To that end, I am publishing this virtual trunk show.

Here goes: Dear family, you have been so good to each other and to me this year. I want to offer you my fiber pieces as a thank you. The images below are organized by category. I have several knitted accessories, some watercolor sketches and a few art quilts. Let me know which ones you like. I will be bringing these objects home on Thanksgiving. That week-end, I will have a real trunk show, so that you can see and hold the objects before making your final choices.

To see images close up, click on each.

Art Quilts

Knitted shawls, scarves, hats and other

Water color sketches

You may call with any questions or email me, at my aol address.

Posted in knitting

Cast on Monday Again

Yes, I am still working on the pair of socks that I started last Monday, using the rainbow colored Berroco yarn. It’ another cold and rainy day – really, the beginning of a cold and wet week here in Oklahoma.

But I am starting another project, just to keep things interesting. My daughter has requested a pair of gauntlets. You know the thing I’m talking about – to keep your arms and wrists warm. I chose this pattern, from the book “60 Quick Luxury Knits” featuring Cascade yarns. I like the fresh graphic quality of the colorwork. For the main color I have chosen a spicy pumpkin superwash merino from Knitpicks, size DK. Now I must dive through my left-over bits of yarn to come up with eight contrasting colors.

Despite a large number of odds and ends available, I don’t have enough selection in the range of values I need. I’m short on light colors. Oh why didn’t I choose a pattern that uses a sock weight! That I have plenty of.

Does this mean a trip to the LYS? I’ll let you know later.