Tag: casting on

Posted in colorwork, knitting

C.O.M. * Stashbusting Mania

Posted on by Laura Kate

Okay my friends, I have been concentrating on knitting projects that use up stash yarn for just about seven months now. I have knit two-color cowls, socks and mittens; three color scarves; and four-color shawls. Yet, based on the looks of my yarn closet, I still am not making a big dent in the wool. Soooo much remains. Argh! 

At this point, I am dropping my careful technique of pulling full skeins of compatible colors, weighting the volume of yarn then selecting a pattern that will make use of the mass. Now it’s just grab anything and cast on, then think about what it will become. Hence my current cast-on using these pitiful pieces of yarn.

There’s not much to work with and the weather is getting colder. The obvious answer is fingerless gloves. I happen to have a quick and easy pattern sourced from Klamath Basin Wool Works. It’s called Off-the-grid mitts.

Wool stories

As I recall, these are available as a free download from the site.

Here’s my start, using size 3 double point needles.

Off the grid is an appropriate name for this pattern. It is a playful reference to the grid-like texture which results from the mosaic stitch. (Slip one and knit one for two rows, then knit two rows of the main color.) In the end, you will have something to warm your hands if you live off the grid.

This knit should go fast, satisfying my manic need to keep knitting. Then, in a cooler frame of mind, I can return to a more methodic way of using up my left-overs.

* C. O. M. = cast on Monday.

Posted in knitting

Cast on Monday – Back to my studio

Posted on by Laura Kate

Since I returned from the cruise to Alaska, It’s been pretty hard for me to keep up my posts. First of all, we both came down with Covid. Recovery took 5 plus days. And then I found myself dissatisfied with my past work. It’s been a hard few weeks.

I thought an easy cast-on would help ease me back into things. So I chose a two-color cowl that will use up some stash yarn.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spinal-twist

Spinal Twist, by Rebecca Marsh, starts with a crocheted provisional cast-on.

I have chosen some very soft single twist yarns. Labels have been lost, but it feels like there is some portion of alpaca.

Knit in the round, on large needles, with thick yarn. This could be finished in a week. By then, maybe my creativity will be unblocked and body fully healed.

Posted in colorwork, knitting

Cast-on Monday – Summer Style

Posted on by Laura Kate

I’m a bit restless with knitting the Vogue sweater. I am about halfway finished with the sleeves and the back. There are long stretches of stockinette stitch yet to do. So to break things up a bit, I’ve cast on a new project using Berroco Remix yarn.

I picked up three skeins of this yarn while in Madison during March. Made from 100% recycled fibers, it is a blend of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and linen.

While perusing Ravelry, I spotted this pattern by Anna Schei which will be perfect for my intended use.

Ravelry: Polkastripe pattern by Trekkentar Deg

This vest will be for my granddaughter. She is not quite three and very interested in dressing herself. The sprightly mosaic stitch pattern reminds me of her crazy-happy personality.

One small concern: The pattern is written in Norwegian. Fortunately, the color chart transcends language limitations and it is all I really needed from the original pattern. I will be adapting it to include a button-up front. My little one needs to practice her buttoning skills.

And here is my swatch.

This stitch is pretty fun to work and to admire!

Okay, back to my needles.

Posted in knitting

Cast on Monday

Posted on by Laura Kate

It’s a particularly cold and dark Monday morning. There is a light rain falling. I guess the rain is just enough to make roads slick. In the distance I hear the sirens of emergency vehicles racing to the scene of an accident.

No matter. There is coffee brewing and wool to keep me warm and occupied for the day. This yarn is a Berroco sock yarn called, appropriately, Berroco Sox, color number 14100. I am casting on this pair to gift to someone who loves me. The stitch pattern is the same 3 by 1 rib that I used for my husband’s cashmere socks. Which, by the way, he finally wore for the first time yesterday.

I hope your Monday sees you warm and content, making something you enjoy.

Posted in knitting

Cast On Monday

Posted on by Laura Kate
Yarn is Plymouth Encore

Good morning. The sticklers among you will point out that today is Tuesday. But yesterday I didn’t have time to write this post, due to a shopping trip to Tulsa.

My original idea was to make up my own design. It was to be a loose wrap-like cardigan, knitted from the top down, incorporating both cables and lace. I had a few false starts that didn’t please me. So I searched Ravelry for something similar and came up with this delightful pattern by Michelle Porter.

It has all the features I require and I can begin knitting immediately.

The lace pattern has no name, and it isn’t charted. But I am finding the row by row instructions pretty easily to follow.

The color number is 686. While it looks brown, in sunlight it is a heather merlot.

Increases are made by yarn-overs. I love the round motif that progresses into a twining cable. The original pattern has only two pattern repeats. I am considering modifying the back to take the cables all the way down to the waist.

Michelle’s pattern can be found here:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/finial-cardigan-ep60