Summer knits, as I have come to find, should be quick, easy, and mind-numbing. As much as I try to coordinate my yarns with the seasons, I find that so-called summer yarns (the cottons, the hemps, the linens) do not tempt me as much as their woolen cousins. This is the primary reason why the Cherry Cardigan and the linen Perfect Fit Skirt have slowed down to a snail’s crawl, because quite frankly, I just love knitting with wool. As the temperature rises to the 70s and 80s, it is easier for me to turn to miniature wool projects, like socks and hats.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks, in Interweave Knits Winter 2005

Materials: Sz 1 DPNs, 2 skeins of Koigu KPM 1205

Notes: No modifications to the pattern. I love this shade of yellow almost-solid Koigu, and the pattern is easy to execute. I’m not too crazy about the star-toe, although I admit it was exciting to try something new. The socks are a little loose on my sz 7 feet, but I think it’d make a pair of comfy house socks this winter. Koigu on your feet is luxury. This FO brings a bounce in my steps!

Pattern: Felicity (PDF Pattern Link) by  Wanett Clyde

Materials: Leftover Cascade 220 wool in shade 7814 from my Biker jacket, Sz 8 DPNs

Notes: Truth be told, I did not follow this pattern at all. I loved its simplicity, and just CO 84 sts and increased to 100 sts at random and knit straight for 5.5 inches. At the time of knitting, I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted the slouchy look that the original pattern provided, so I just did a CCD decrease (slip 2 as if to knit, k1, psso) in every round until I bound off the hat. I still like the FO, but I think I’m going to make a real Felicity hat in the future. This shortened and heavily modified version produces horns. Ha ha. This is what I get for butchering a perfectly executed pattern.

Next we have a striped beanie made from one of my secret favorite yarn. Secret in the sense that I love it, I hoard it, and yet, I haven’t made an entire sweater out of it. Learning my lesson from Felicity Shortie above, this time I wanted:

• Non-curling edges (and yet, no garter, and no knit hems)
• Stripes
• A little texture
• Easy memorizable pattern
• Not slouchy, and yet not constrict-your-circulation-tight hat

We shall discuss this Stripey Tweedy hat recipe in the next post. Until then, happy summer knitting.

Alright, I’m a little late for a new year post, but better late than never right, guys? Let’s start with the end of year knits. First here, we have a pair of Lapland Mittens from Folk Mittens.

Project: Mittens from Lapland (Folk Mittens)

Materials: Leftover Baruffa Maratona (uber light pink and burgundy), and Knitpicks Merino Style (Pink), Sz 2 dpns

Notes: No mods to the pattern, and this was my first DPN project. I saw these short 6″ balene DPNs at the LYS and decided right then and there that I need to expand my horizons and move beyond the magic loop. Love the DPNs, surprisingly, and went out to purchase more sizes in the 5-6″ length for future mittens and socks. These mittens were a little tight on me, but they did keep my hands warm enough for my Mardi Gras trip to New Orleans two weeks ago. (Yes I saw breasts, and no they were not all pretty).

And because I didn’t want my friend to lose me in the madness on Bourbon St, I brought along my newly knitted Moss Stitch Beret in super bright yellow. It is Big Bird on Sesame St yellow. Little do I know that Bourbon St attendees would show me up with even brighter costumes that obscured my yellow noggin. 

Project: Ken’s Moss Stitch Beret

Materials: Cascade 220 (used less than a skein), Sz 3 for the knitted hem, and Sz 7 for the rest of the beret

Notes: I loved the provisional cast-on knitted hem. Look! Lovely. The beret turned out a little slouchier than Ken’s, which is fine by me because I like my hats a little oversized. I may or may not have screwed up the decreases, but in the end my stitch count ended up just fine. Live and learn.

So what is with the cold weather and wanting to live in your blanket? I’ve had 6 skeins of pure merino from Uruguay burning a hole in my stash the last two years and couldn’t figure out what to do with them. Sure, a sweater would be nice, but this yarn pills too damn much. And then I found the perfect pattern.

Project: Pimlico Shrug from Knit2Together (Size S)

Materials: 5 skeins of 216 yd/skein pure merino wool from Uruguay, Sz 7 and 8 needles

Notes: Instead of 34″ of lace knitting, I shaved off some length and ended it at 27″. Since I CO provisionally, I just continued ribbing and joined the knitting in the round. No other mods to the pattern, and it is a dream to knit with this yarn. 

We’ve seen some cold nights here in California, and I’ve loved every moment of it. Why? Because I now have an oversized blankie to keep me warm. It’s soft like buttah, and the perfect piece of clothing to keep me cozy while I knit. 

So there we have it. And lest you think I’m taking a break.. you’d be wrong. Project on the needles right now… tadah!

It’s French, it’s pretty, and it’s….. one giant headache. Google translator to the rescue! 

The right side…

The inside…

Pattern:

Komi Hat by Charlene Schurch

Materials:

Harrisville New England Shetland (loden blue, cream white and cocoa brown), Sz 0 and 1 needles

Notes:

This is my second Komi hat. The first one walked out of my apartment with a friend who was supposed to take an action shot of the hat on her snowboarding trip to Mammoth. Days turned into months, and now that summer is finally giving way to autumn, what better way than to knit an improved version. My first Komi was a little too long and too loose, so I cast on 180 sts using Sz 0 needles and skipped the increases for the adult hat. When it came time to switch to the patterning, I just switched the needle size to Sz 1. The first round of pattern begins at the Child Size section for me. Eh voila! Much better fit.

I have finally cast on for Demi, and have finished both the front and back, and one sleeve. I love the texture, the bobbles (3-st bobble) and the color. Can’t wait to finish this one.

Sometimes you see a pattern and you think of how cool it will be after you tweak it a little, and you get cranking. And then instead of the recommended yarn, you sub it with something else that caught your eye. And then you block it and await for the final moment - the moment you stare back at yourself in the mirror.Dude that’s not how I envisioned it.
Oh well. At least the yarn was nice to play with.
Pattern: Mobius Hat
Materials: 1 skein of Cascade Sierra (80% pima cotton 20% merino wool 191 yds), sz 7 needles
And the leftovers are good for a set of 4 coasters. David the Gnome approves.

Edit to add: Front View

The possibilities are endless…. preparation for future projects
Harrisville Shetland (900 yard/cone): White, Loden Blue, Cocoa
Harrisville Shetland: Washed and wound into cute yarn cakes
Komi Cap blocking…
Words later…