Angelarae Knits

A New Year Of Knitting and Griping

Hello again!  So glad to be back to blogging...finally.  I have visited some of your blogs over the last few weeks, but really took a break from it all over the holidays because I figured I deserved it and, also, I have the attention span of a gnat and, what with the holidays and all, I can't possibly 'do it all', much less try to.  And I am all about doing less here lately, as a way of making a small contribution toward 'taking care of myself', a totally new and unfamiliar concept to me.  To me, 'taking care of myself' simply meant that I would buy myself that bag of Lindor Truffles (dark chocolate) and hide them in my underwear drawer so that I could have them all to myself.  Apparently, taking care of oneself is slightly more involved than that.  The things you really like to eat must be forsaken and replaced by lots of veggies, whole grains, and water....lots and lots of water.  Which is okay.  I have no problem with the water and veggie thing.  I grew up always having a garden, and so I love eating vegetables. But, I hate to give up my sweet tea.  Us southern girls really love us some sweet tea.  I have gone so far as to switch to half-n-half tea (half sweet and half unsweet) to cut down on the sugar intake, (they hate me at drive through's) but I have never given it up altogether.  Let me tell ya'll...that unsweet stuff just doesn't do it for me. 
Anyhoo, I have been knitting.  I have two works in progress to share.
The first is a vest I am working on for my husband's birthday.  He turned 49 last week and the vest is something he asked for some time back.  Here it is so far.

I have finished the left panel and this is the back.  The yarn is Wool-Ease Worsted in color 'Mushroom.'  I plan on adding some leather covered  buttons.  The pattern for this lovely thing is at Lionbrand.com.  It's called the 'Unisex Vest.'

I have to show you the picture instead of linking to the pattern because things aren't working very well chez Lionbrand right now.  Sorry.

It was the only men's vest pattern I could find that wasn't a pull over. Go figure.  First, I knit the Medium size, then I used worsted when the pattern calls for sport weight Wool-Ease.  (Couldn't find it at Michael's or A.C. Moore, so used worsted instead)  Also, I went up a needle size, using size 5 and size 7 instead of using size 4 and 5.  It should just fit.  So far, so good, anyway. 

This is the other project.  It is a Baby Surprise Jacket from this book.

(Sorry for the inclusion of Zoe's butt in this picture...she wouldn't move, but isn't the psychedelic quilt cool?  Thank you, Target.)

The book was a birthday gift from my Mom.  She ordered it from Knit Picks.  They have fast, reliable service:)

Here's the BSJ, in progress...

I am knitting this with Paton's Classic Wool in a denim and cream.  I like these colors and you can't beat the price, really.  It was on sale for 30% off at A.C. Moore, which made it $3.00 and some change, per skein.   

Guess

Look-y here.  Guess what this is.

No, really...guess. 

Can you tell?

Yet?

I'll give you a hint.  It's knit in the round and is something I shouldn't, in any possible realm of the universe, be knitting.

So....guess.

Design Progress

Pictured here, you can see my final graph for the color pattern on my very first design...a ski hat.  (click on pic to enlarge)  I used my Stitch and Bitch Knitter's Design Journal.  I am assuming that this is knitter's graph paper.   The design to the right is my experimentation and the one to the left is the 'scale' design, meaning, I tried to be as exact as is possible for me, leaving a one stitch cushion around each motif (snowflake, line, zig-zag)  and trying to graph out a repeatable pattern.    I also used dots for the snowflake so It would be easier to count stitches when I actually knit this patterned hat.

For inspiration, I looked at Sandy's Hat several times, Googled ski hat images (saw some interesting hats and designs that way) and searched through a few available free knitting charts.  This is what I came up with.   

I think the only thing I have left to do now is calculate the gauge and number of stitches to cast-on.  I believe I will be using a size 7 needle, the smaller of the two recommended needle sizes for this yarn, because I am thinking that the smaller gauge is better for color knitting.  I read that somewhere.   I am certainly open to any suggestions anyone may have.   On to swatching, and think I'll read a refresher on stranded knitting for good measure. 

The Design Process

What I want is simple...a wool ski hat, something in two colors, similar to this.   The hat is very nicely done.  I especially like the finishing for the top.  Alas, no pattern.  Hmmm.

I have suitable yarn, needles, etc., but no pattern, so I am thinking of designing my own. 
Not such an easy undertaking, as it turns out.   

I know a few basics about the hat I would like to knit.    I want it to be 100% wool in a nice worsted weight yarn, hence the Cascade 220. 

Next, I want it to be two colors, with traditional snowflake motif. 

I also know the basic shape I want the hat to be. 

   

Perfect shape, wrong motif.

Much closer to what I want, but wrong shape. 

Very nice. No pattern. Wrong shape.

Looks like I have my work cut out for me.  I am thinking that what I need to do is knit the basic shape hat that I want, incorporating the snowflake motif that I found.  I also would like to add a diamond pattern or stripes.   

With this yarn, I will need to cast on 96 stitches in a size 8 16" circular needle. 
I will knit in a K2 P2 Rib for 3 inches, knit 2 rows plain, and then begin a diamond motif.

Should be okay...at least, I think it will.  We learn by doing, right.  I'll post lessons learned as well:)

Ang

New Work In Progress

...like I need another one, but who's counting, right?  Besides, this is so lovely.  It's the Irish Hiking Scarf from "Hello Yarns."  I knit it last night as I was watching the AFC Championship Game: Colts vs. Patriots.  The Colts won.  Football is the ideal knitting activity (knit while you watch)  If you miss anything, there are always instant replays.  I am using Plymouth "Encore Chunky."  I am almost out of this yarn and am considering ripping the hat and using the yarn for the scarf.  (I am not all that happy with the hat)  I am loving this pattern because, after the initial couple of rows, you can knit the knits and purl the purls through most of it.  You just have to be careful to count the rows and cable on the 8th.  Also, it's very pretty.   Encore is one of my favorite yarns.  There are a wide variety of colors and it's very nice to work with. (Click on the thumgnail to enlarge so you can see how nice the fiber is).

Mohair: Part Deux

Here is progress so far on the Seafoam Shawl.    I haven't really had very much problem working with this yarn.  It has been delightful, really.  This is largely due to the simplicity of the pattern;  yo, k1, k across, yo, k1- every other row.  In other words, I've rarely had to tink back, only once or twice.  When I did, the yarn tended to hang on to itself and not pull away easily.  I can see why knitting lace or a really large project could be problematic.   I was wondering about the possibility of adding a knit(or crochet) border/edging all the way around.   Any suggestions?  Also, the pattern does not mention blocking at all for this piece.  What do you think?  Yes? Not Necessary?

 

I took this picture in an effort to show the openwork at the edge of the shawl.

 

Rowan Kidsilk Haze: Color: Trance

Denise Size 9 Circular Needle