Posted on August 20, 2008 in Knitting & Crafting
I found one odd skein of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky on sale at the LYS, and instead of using it to make one project, I wanted to maximize my project possibilities by getting two neckwarmers from one skein.
Quick, easy, and good excuse to use a cool wood toggle button. I cast on 17 sts. since my yarn less than super bulky. I knit for 22″ and then blocked it severely because it curls quite a bit.
Not So Cashmere Neckwarmer, started August 17th 2008, finished August 18th, 2008 
Pattern: Cashmere Neckwarmer by Kim K.
Size: 5″ (13cm) x 25″ (64cm) blocked
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky 100g 131 yards/120 m #115 – less than 1 skein
Needles: 7.0mm
Tools/Notions: 2″ wood toggle button
Cost of Project: $6 yarn + $2 button = $8
Would I knit it again? Yes, but I’d slip the knit stitches and/or find another to make it so it wouldn’t be that curly. I also would love to use it in the intended bulky cashmere.
This is quite the popular neckwarmer pattern, and I can see it why. The chunky yarn makes it go by fast, and the feather and fan stitch is very attractive. Definitely a good stashbuster and gift knit. I am going to give this one to a friend.
Luxe Neckwarmer, started August 18th 2008, finished August 19th 2008
Pattern: Luxe Neck Warmer by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark from Knit 2 Together
Made for: Nathalie
Size: 4.75″ (12 cm) height
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky 100g 131 yards/120 m #115 – less than 1 skein
Needles: US9/5.5mm
Cost of Project: $6
Would I knit it again? Yep.
Posted on July 16, 2008 in Knitting & Crafting
A simple yet enjoyable project with gorgeous result. My second Noro project, but my first time with Kureyon. I love this scarf; I am definitely a fan of Noro. It is yet to be blocked, and I am someone who is not bothered by really course or textured yarn. Though, I may block it eventually when it actually gets cold so it can soften up, but it is already quite long and really wide even when I restarted on a 4.0mm with 35 sts cast on.
Noro Striped Scarf, started May 27th 2008, finished July 14th 2008
Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf as popularised by Jared Flood.
Size: 6″ x 76″ (6 feet 4 inches) unblocked
This was a very enjoyable knit, as I knit slowly while watching films or when on break of other more advanced projects. I really enjoy making easy and enjoyable scarves even after having learned so much. The colour variations of the yarn makes this scarf even more unique and fun than most. This will definitely be my new go-to winter scarf.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon (100% wool 50g 110yds) – 2 skeins #156, 1 skein #147, and 1 skein #159
Needles: #6/4.0mm
Cost of Project: $28 for yarn (the most expensive project that I have undertaken yet I think)
Would I knit it again? Yes! Next time, I would make it skinnier, and one could probably make one skinny scarf (casting on less than 25 sts) with two skeins of Noro.
Posted on February 29, 2008 in Knitting & Crafting
My first Noro experience! It was on clearance and a steal at $6 a skein. It was scratchy, but I soaked it in Eucalan bath for blocking and I’m not one that is averse to textured fabric.
The pattern is quick, reversible, and easy to memorise. I highly recommend it for any colourful yarn you may have to use. Two skeins of Noro yielded less than 50″ scarf, but I was able to block about 20″ out of it.
Drop Stitch Scarf, started February 23rd, 2008, finished February 24th, 2008
Pattern: Drop Stitch Scarf by Christine of Frazzled Knits
Size: 67″ x 7″ blocked.
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden (45% silk 45% kid mohair 10% Lambswool) 50g 100m in #233 (discontinued) – 2 skeins
Needles: #8/5mm bamboo straights
Cost of Project: $12 for yarn.
Would I knit it again? Yes.
Posted on January 20, 2008 in Knitting & Crafting
Tudora, started December 30th 2007, finished January 17th 2008.
Pattern: Tudora by Cheryl Marling from Knitty, Winter 2007.
Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% Highland Peruvian Wool – 100g/220yds) – Cranberry – less than one skein
Needles: US6/4.0mm 16″ circs
Modifications: One row button hole
Tools: Cable needle, button
Lessons Learned: One row button hole
Cost: $2 button + $8 yarn (not really since it was less than one skein and I’m going make another hat out of the leftovers).
Would I knit it again? Yes.
Pattern Notes and Comments: Love this yarn, and the historical theme of this piece. I want a toggle button, but the store I went to had an iffy selection of those so I went with this nice silver button. This is a very quick knit; it took me awhile because I ran out of yarn. Guess now I’ll have to make another hat. I also put off buying the button for weeks. A cable needle was used most of the time, and sometimes, I did it without. With large cables, I’m not as good than without a cn. I can not wait to wear this when it gets a bit warmer. It’s more of an autumn/spring piece since this would be too flimsy for Canadian winters. It’s -14ºC today without wind today. It’ll smashing in the Fall though.
Posted on December 26, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting
Danica started December 12th 2007, finished December 25th 2007
Pattern: Danica by Jesse Loesburg – Knitty, Winter 2005
Yarn: Patons SWS in Natural Earth – 80g 110yds 70% Wool 30% Soy – 4 skeins
Needles: #8/5mm straight bamboo
Modifications: Due to yarn change, no changing of yarn between sections. Added fringe from Lady Eleanor Stole in Scarf Style.
Lessons Learned: Entrelac and knitting backwards (purling on the RS)
Cost of Project: $20 for yarn
Would I knit it again? Yes. Not for awhile though. I want to make the LE stole one day.
Pattern Notes and Comments: For a scarf, this took a long time even though I knit backwards. You should definitely learn to knit backwards for entrelac. I enjoyed it for the most part because I was able to memorise the pattern by the end and watching the squares and triangles shape up was neat. I really do want to make the LE stole one day. This is going to my bulky winter scarf for awhile. I did not block it, but I’ll wash it eventually so then it’ll be blocked.
The fringe I made is really ugly which is why there isn’t a photo of it. I wasn’t in the mood to make a fringe; I just wanted to finish the scarf so I didn’t make the effort. It is the nice knotted fringe from the LE stole in Scarf Style. It matches my Fake Isle Hat now though. It’s definitely over 60″, and when I do wash it, I know I could probably stretch it quite a bit.
Posted on October 22, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting
Nomad Hat and Scarf, started October 5th, 2007, finished October 18, 2007
Pattern: Nomad Hat and Scarf by Kate Coyle from Interweave Knits, Fall 2007
Made for: Mom
Yarn: Patons Shetland Chunky Tweed (75% Acrylic 25% Wool 123 yards per 100g) – 3 skeins of Earthy Brown Tweeds
Needles: #9/5.5mm 150cm circs for hat, #10/6mm and 7mm for ear flaps
Modifications: Needle size changes, different cast-on.
Lessons Learned: I didn’t like the tutorials for the Emily Ocker cast-on online, and wished I had looked in EZ’s explaination earlier because it seemed simpler. Anyway, I used this circular cast-on.
Cost of Project: $15 yarn + $6 for needles = $21
Would I knit it again? Bit boring, but it’s good ear flap hat pattern.
Pattern Notes and Comments: My mom has wanted an ear flap hat for awhile now. I was going to do a conventional, tie below the chin sort of ear flap hat when she said she wouldn’t mind the flaps being long. That’s when I remembered that I had just seen this pattern in the Fall IK. I Magic Looped the hat portion of the pattern. I love Magic Loop even though the bamboo circs I used had a cheap cord. The flaps were about 38″ long, and I modified when I switched needles between the 6mm and the 7mm. Each flap took exactly one skein of the Chunky Tweed. I love tweed. This is my third tweed hat in two months. I’m a bit of a yarn snob and this was my first time knitting with acrylic in awhile. My mom wanted it to be brown, and apparently, it was hard for me to find affordable, chunky brown yarn. Besides, I think it’ll be warm enough with the flaps being so long.
Posted on May 5, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting
Clapotis, started February 26th, 2007, finished May 4th, 2007
Pattern: Clapotis from Knitty
Yarn: 100% mercerized cotton DK
Needles: #8/5.0 mm straight bamboo
Cost of Project: $10 for the yarn
Pattern Notes and Comments: One of the most well known of online patterns. I’ve wanted to knit this for awhile, and considered a lot about the yarn. The pattern uses a lot of it. I found a discounted cone of DK cotton at my LYS. See pictures below to see how much yarn it used. I didn’t intend to to use cotton for this, but this was a great deal and the yarn was even variegated! For $10, I didn’t think it would be bad. The pattern was easy, and I knit it slowly as I would often only knit when watching The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. My clapotis turned out pretty big of course, and I think it’ll be nice as a shawl for evenings in the summer. Possibly a good heavy autumn scarf. It’s just plain big though so we’ll see how I’ll wear it come fall.
Would I knit it again? Yes, as mundane as it is, it’s a nice pattern. It’s a good to knit when watching TV or a movie. I want to use a wool mix (wool/silk) it for it next time, and if I don’t have #8 circs by then, I’m definitely buying them for this project next time. I love my bamboo needles though.
Next Projects: I need to learn how to knit a pair of socks. A tea cozy for tea drinking in winter, and possibly winter gloves and scarf. Oh yeah, my weird attraction to wrist warmers even though there isn’t much of a climate for them here.
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