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September 23, 2006
All Knitting, All the Time
Okay. Time for a knitting post, because I need help deciding what the hell to make out of some yarn as a gift for a Spain host.
But first, since blankets take ages, I've moved on to hats for babies. I did the blankets before because I really don't like following a pattern, and hats are similar -- you can pretty much figure it out as you go. I started with a watermelon hat because I liked the one over at Yarn Harlot. Then, because I had loads of lovely Arabella merino wool in fun colors, I did a little striped hat, too. Both turned out fine, size-wise (I tried them on a baby at the baby shower just to be sure, since I was worried), although one's inexplicably smaller. I think I'd make both a little longer, so they cover the ears, the next time around. I finished them and blocked them just in time for the shower -- here they are in the car, on the way to Delaware (wish I'd gotten better photos! Have to get some of them on the baby when he arrives...):
Unfortunately, I didn't include anything in these photos to show size well. Here they are on a very small whoozit, though:
I think they're pretty cute, but I'm not sure if they're really useful without earflaps or a string to tie the thing around the baby's neck. Next time, I'll have to figure out how to incorporate that.
Next up, I've started in on Yarn Harlot's Snowdrop Shawl. Sadly, the pattern is kicking my ass. Every other row, I realize I did something wrong four rows back, so I have to do intensive, stressful, complex surgery to fix it. I think I prefer rectangular shawls to triangular ones -- I hope the recipient of this 1) likes it and 2) doesn't mind the triangle business. I wanted to make something really nice and pretty for said recipient -- I'm not sure the end product will quite match what I wanted to do, but it should be fine.
Finally, I have two more 20-somethings to knit something for. I want to use this lovely Manos de Uruguay variegated red yarn from Rhinebeck last year, but I'm having trouble coming up with the right pattern to show off the color. I also need to make something wearable. I was thinking of a skinny scarf, so I started out with a double-stranded garter stitch, with some variety thrown in. I don't really like it, and don't think I have enough yarn to do two. So I switched so a single strand, and that looks better, but now it's less scarf-like, so I think the shape might need to be different. Maybe a clapotis-like triangular corner and more width would work? Knitting readers -- thoughts?
Posted by csageday at September 23, 2006 04:37 PM
Comments
Knitting content! What, is it fall? Just kidding.
What to make for Spanish hosts... washcloths? Hand towels? A long, lacy table runner? I'm picturing skinny linen knit on big fat needles - maybe just stockinette with some random yarnovers for variety?
The baby hats are perfect. My favorite to make is the Amelia Earhart hat from this pattern:
http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt07.htm
I know you already stipulated you don't like knitting from patterns, BUT once you've worked through this once (or worked through just over the halfway mark), it totally makes sense, is all just math, and is convertable to other sizes by using different yarn weight and needle size, or by altering the numbers of rows. The real key for me is that I dig the look, and for babies/kids, it's so easy and perfect to add a piece of i-cord or braid for the old tying-under-the-chin action.
I think the scarf sample looks very scarf-y. But since you asked...
One of my favorite scarf stitches is
Row 1: knit
Row 2: K1, *YO, K2tog* end K2
Row 3: knit
Row 4: K2, *YO, K2tog* end K1
You get one garter ridge, then a row of eyelets, another garter ridge, then an offset row of eyelets, etc.
And I'm having a hard time finding a picture of that on the web (though it's where I found it to begin with), but here's a similar one:
http://midnightpurls.blogspot.com/2006/08/free-pattern-diagonal-lace-scarf.html
And with either of those diagonal lace patterns, it's really easy to just start with only a few stitches, increase at the beginning of every "right side" row 'til you get your width, straight up 'til you're almost done, then decrease at the beginning of every "right side" row until you're back down to almost nothing again.
Posted by: Amber at September 26, 2006 01:11 PM
Love the hat pattern, will have to try it for the next hatmaking spree.
Re: your favorite pattern -- it's also one of mine, thanks to you. See that purple lacy thing in the background of my last picture? That, my dear, is your pattern, which you kindly gave to Yarnivore customers like me in the form of a free handout next to the scarf sampler that you made with some of Rose's yarn. It's a great pattern, so thank you. I tried it with the red yarn, though (that's why I had it out), and it didn't quite work. It looked kind of like an alien costume (lots of holes for tentacles).
I quite like that diagonal pattern...might need to give it a try. Thanks very much for the knitterly advice.
Posted by: Cindy at September 26, 2006 06:37 PM
HA!!!
Ok, yeah. I can't belive that's that pattern in the red, though - the yOs and the k2togs? I've done it in heavier yarn like that and it came out differently...
Hmpf.
Ha. Thanks for pointing that out. I forget about that scarf work because I don't have that sample scarf or any of that lucious purple yarn anymore. I'm glad that someone does!
Posted by: Amber at September 27, 2006 03:53 PM