Freeform Sea Scarf

Completed

Finito

Finished

All Done

Färdiga

Fini

Completo

It's FINALLY finished. whew. I guess having a 4-day weekend helped my attitude. We accomplished so much, Dad, Sister and I on Thursday & Friday. So, I dug in on Saturday and thought to myself, "I am SICK & TIRED of looking at the yarn, the scarf, the project - all of it, in my basket." Time to be done already! (so I can start something else of course).  Great project for watching football play-offs with Dad.

a work in progress, long long progress....

The idea (originally) back in August, was a freeform shawl, length-wise, with about 10 different but complementary yarns.  THAT was tedious. Frogged. Then I had all those different yarns, some quite expensive (for my budget) so it evolved, about October, into a scarf with only 7 different yarns, some garter stitch, some seed stitch. I CO 29, knit mostly garter, but 2 of the yarns I used seed stitch, for variety......and the different weights of yarn gives it a wavy, oceany quality I hadn't planned for but like.   Still tedious, tedious, tedious and that's why it sat in my basket for 3 months.   It measures 5"x72" which includes the fringe.  So far, all library o-workers like it and Sir William Osler kindly modeled.

Here is the scarf, in progress... and of you care to look on Ravelry, you'll see the complete list & amounts of yarns used for the Seafoam Scarf:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/azdiana53/seafoam-scarf

 

Just a few of the yarns...

 

I love the fringe.

Kindly modeled by Sir William

Double-Wrapped

Natural Cabled Beret

Looks better on the model than any human head.

I like it, and enjoyed working of cables again & glad it's done...  but will certainly never use or wear.  And I think it would be better, more slouchiness, with DK yarn or something softer. NOT slouchy enough to suit me. And for sure, should have used 5 or 6 needles for the ribbing.  Live & learn. sigh.

Aslan Trends Ecolana

Pretty yarn.  my first beret, a cabled beret no less!  What a fearless girl.  What am going to do with another wool hat? I don't wear wool, don't wear hats & I live in Arizona. A gift!
The free pattern can be found at RAVELRY or FREE PATTERN LINK (thank you Ashley Hasse) is here:  http://kalamaridemocracy.blogspot.com/2007/09/fo-and-pattern-cabled-beret.html

I used:
Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm and US 8 / 5.0 mm
2 skeins = 352.0 yards (321.9m)
Colorway:  2 desert sand
Color family:   Natural/Undyed

Here's my start, so far finding the pattern a breeze and following it as written. And the yarn is lovely to work with.  I'm a fool for any color in the natural, ecru, camel or oatmeal shades - goes with everything or for anyone.  Almost (almost) makes me wish I lived in a colder climate, so I might wear it. Nah.  I LOVE Arizona! 

I wish I's used smaller needles for the ribbing - maybe 5 or 6 in stead of the 7's I used.. but it's still ok.

It's looking ok, so far.  Been so busy, and everything this past month. This has just sat there, in the basket.  I'm sure I'll feel like knitting this weekend & get this one finished.

I'm nutty about cables. They're so cool.

Cabled Oatmeal Hat

I finished my Cabled Oatmeal Hat... and I learned a lot, terrific beginner's cable project: provisional cast-on, Kitchener graft, improved my picking up stitches technique, cables, and more practice with DPN's.  This a big deal for me- actually looks like a knitted garment that a 'real' knitter would make!  A 1920's cloche-hat feel to it. This is the 2nd cabled hat from the knitting class I just finished.  Definetely think the 2nd hat an improvement over my first!  I have a third hat on the needles, a cabled beret & will post pics of that next time.

The yarn I used:

Rowan Felted Tweed Aran

2 skeins = 190.0 yards (173.7m)
Colorway: 720 pebble
Needle: 8/5.0mm
The (free) pattern is from Knitty:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTcoronet.html

I take the DPN Challenge

A small & easy hat project, practicing double-pointed needle knitting skills. Really. Other people knit with these things, so can I. From the top of the hat this time, without a glass of wine. Three tries and off I knit.

Doesn't look so difficult!

Oh sure. Only a couple of un-ravels.

Seriously, I amend an easy pattern. Loved the red yarn with nubby color bits. It's wool & acrylic, not anything I'll be wearing in this climate. Not a chemo hat either.

Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds
Weight: Bulky / 12 ply (7 wpi)
Yardage: 123 yards (112 meters)
Unit weight: 85 grams (3.00 ounces)
Gauge: 15.0 = 4 inches
Needle size: US 10 / 6.0 mm
Fibers: 75% Wool, 25% Acrylic
Machine wash? yes
3oz / 85 g Length: 123 yd / 113 m

Pattern to follow!

Arizona Shawl

I love it !

I love how it turned out, debated about adding fringe. Though I tried, just to be sure and then found it didn't need the added length. The neutral color over black is great, perfect shawl weight for Arizona too.

It has a drapy-ness that I guess is only from linen/rayon combo, but a lovely weight for Arizona, hence the name. Beautiful friend & co-worker Kit models in the library. Finished size is 14"x80".

This is the yarn used:

Berroco Linen Jeans
Weight: Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi)
Yardage: 80 yards (73 meters) - I used 8 skeins
Unit weight: 50 grams (1.76 ounces)
Gauge: 19.0 = 4 inches
Needle size: US 9 / 5.5 mm
Fibers: 70% Rayon, 30% Linen
Texture: linen tape Color: Natural

The pattern is One Row Lace Scarf, courtesy of Turvid : http://turvid.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-pattern-one-row-lace-scarf.html

I cast-on 64 stitches; any multiple of 4 will work and about 4 rows of garter at either end. I think of it as my Closer Shawl - I watched seasons 1, 2 & 3 of The Closer this summer, while knitting this shawl. I can't see Kyra wearing this :).

Fooling About with Chemo Hats

My favorite so far: crocheted with a picot edge trim, really really fast & easy. I tried the Caron Simply Soft Eco for the first time - and liked it better than would have thought. Not a fan of acrylic, but some cottons aren't stretchy/soft enough for a bare scalp.
I used (my) adjusted version of this pattern, courtesy of Head Huggers: http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/cpatt12.htm

US H (5.0 mm) hook, and added a row of SC before & after the 'holes'.
Lastly, added the picot edge for a feminine touch.
Stretchy, roomy, light & airy & not too clingy.
About about half the skein made 1 hat, fitting a medium-sized head.
I like the natural color too. Especially in Arizona summer heat.
My friend CC with ACS kindly donated the head to model/work with, as I practice & learn!
The Phyllis Cap


Then I tried a knit hat, used the pattern below. Having never used DP needles, well, um, I was glad for a little elastic in the cotton!
I ball of Cascade Yarns Fixation Spray Dyed/Effects
Size US 8 needles (5.0 mm)
Here's the pattern I followed (mostly), courtesy of chiknitterguy. I didn't make it deep enough, so it's a sz small for sure.
http://chiknitterguy.blogspot.com/2009/06/todds-no-purl-hat-needles-and-yarn.html

Brim rolled up or down.

I also tried The Inside Out Chemo Cap

Made this with cotton & baby acrylic, didn't really care for it when I finished. Here is the knit pattern, courtesy of Head Huggers:

http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt20.htm

Here's the crochet Phyllis Cap, made with Lion Cotton

And another crochet version, with Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends in natural.
Soft & cushy, but a tad too hot for this climate.

And a couple more.

One of those Ballband Dishcloths

Well, I made one of these & a matching scrubby, will gift it to someone. I found the pattern tedious & way too fancy for a dishcloth. Might make a nice pillow. I single-crocheted the sides, they looked awful. Maybe a choice of different colors would have helped? I doubt it. All in all it didn't blow my skirt up.

Mickey Does the Dishes

Mickey Mouse dishcloth, scrubby & kitchen towel-- gift for co-worker, obviously a Disney maniac!

Mouse Ears Dishcloth Pattern here:
http://knitted-kitty-creations.com/

Windmill Dishcloth

Lovely blue & natural cotton, in windmill dishcloth pattern - another from Sew-Funky. See pattern link below. I added a matching crochet scrubby as a gift.

Pattern link here:

http://sew-funky.blogspot.com/2008/05/windmill-dishcloth.html

Simple Crochet Scrubby Pattern

The scrubby pattern is very simple, great use of leftover yarn. I used about 1/4 ball of kitchen cotton and G or H hook:

Simple Crochet Scrubby

Chain 2.

Row1: 6sc into the 2nd ch, do not join.

Row2: Turn & 2sc into each of the 6 sts.

Row3: Turn & 2sc into each of the 12 sts.

Row4: Turn & repeat, till it's the size you want.

(6 rows made an approx 4" Scrubbie)

Weave in the loose ends & you're done!

Nice gift with a matching dishcloth.