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.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, the red Cascade Tweed is the recommended yarn for Stephanie Japel’s Forecast. I’ve been working on it for a while now, and have spared you the in-progress shots of the bobbles on this cardigan. Trust me - it looked like ugly tumors. There was no question that it needed a good blocking. But boy does this yarn bleed…. And look at the stain on my Denise needles! But the results are worth it. I just have to remind myself not to wear any white shirts underneath. Or maybe wash it with vinegar next time.. Chinese New Year is around the corner, and even though my family is split over 3 countries, sometimes it’s nice to conjur a little bit of celebration. I’m glad I found this yarn in red, because RED is the color of prosperity. I hope this new year ahead brings good things. Pattern: Forecast
Materials: Cascade Tweed (less than 4 and a half ball at 220 yds/ 100g), US Sz 5 and 7 needles
Gauge: 16 sts and 32 rows to 4″ in garter stitch on US 7 needles
Notes: Ah.. changes. The smallest size in the pattern was for a 32.5″ chest, and the next larger one a 36.5″. Now I fall somewhere in between, and there was no schematic in the pattern, so I calculated for a 33.5″ measurement. The armpit at the yoke looked pretty short, and I was worried for a while that it wouldn’t fit, but I figured the yarn is sproingy enough to accomodate. This is basically the top-down raglan with interesting details. You are more than allowed to try it on as you go along. Now for the bobbles, initially I knit the 5-sts bobble stated in the pattern, but didn’t quite like it. They just stuck out too much for me. I want textural interest, but something a little less protruding - in the end I changed it to a 3-sts bobble. Here’s a picture of my bobbles… One additional change was the sleeves. In the original pattern, the bobble/cable feature extended to almost wrist length. Aside from the fact that I was a bit tired of knitting bobbles, I didn’t want my lower arms to look, um, so billowy. I decided to stop the bobbles at elbow length, and knit the rest to my wrist with Sz 7 needles. I made the sleeves 20″ long, which is still a bit short in reality, but knowing that I would dunk the sweater in water during blocking assured me that the arms would grow in length - and I was right. It came out to 23″ - perfect for me. Oh and the yarn, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I expected it to be a bit rough, it being tweed and all, but on the contrary, it’s springy, not itchy and shows the pattern quite well.
And here’s another gratuitous shot. Just because. I think it means I like it.

Earlier this month, while surfing through the knit-blogs, I came across Katie’s site and we did a little yarn exchange - my leftover Rowan Plaid for her leftover Felted Tweed. The picture below details the three amazing balls of Felted Tweed that she sent me. (Now what can I do with a ball of Crush and a ball of Melody? Suggestions?)
I’ve always wanted to knit Bloom from Rowan 36, and I can’t make a sweater with three different colors now, can I? (Well actually I could but let’s just pretend I can’t). So then I scoured for Felted Tweed sale and hit the mother load. 5 balls of Felted Tweed in Whisper at just the right price - $6.00 per ball baby! Now I have more felted tweed than what’s needed to make Bloom, but who cares. It’s lovely lovely yarn, I tell you.
And then, as fortune would have it, I was just looking at Forecast from Knitty and happened to stop by my LYS to chance upon 7 balls of the exact yarn called for at $4.00/ball. With the amount of yarn I have at my disposal, maybe I can make a Demi from Rowan Vintage Style too, if I so choose.
Okay.. enough yarn porn. I did have a small FO during the break. Another DNA scarf. It so happens that BF would like a cream-colored scarf, and since he adores the DNA pattern, I made another one in Rowan Cashsoft DK. This yarn is delish - 57% extra fine merino, 33% microfiber and 10% of cashmere. At 142yds/50g, I used 3 balls. And get this, it’s MACHINE WASHABLE. Heck, the label says you can even IRON it too. Way to go, Rowan. It’s going to be part of a goody package that I’m sending off to him…. I just gotta finish up a pair of socks before I assemble the package.
Happy New Year All!

I’ve been slacking on Phildar Stripey….the endless stockinette is boring me to death..argh.. I am so not in the mood for big projects recently, so I’ve resorted to making scarves. Here is Leaf Cravat by Teva Durham, using sz 5 needles and a sport weight Baruffa Aerobic Yarn.
Let me tell ya, this sucker is LONG. I just kept knitting and knitting, and before you know it, it’s 10 ft long! Ha ha.. Good thing it’s uber-skinny, so I can just wrap and wrap and wrap. I’m also working on another scarf for my mom, but no pictures yet.
So remembered how I tried to steer my sister away from black, gray and white? She still wants gray. I’ve managed to talk her into adding another color, and guess what she wanted? Dark Olive Green. *shakes head* I give up. Here’s her cabled armwarmer, using sz 7 circs and Cascade 220 yarn.
Since I’m in the mood for scarves and little pick-me-ups lately, I’ve signed on to Stitch Ya Neck Out. Check it out, we’ve got some awesome knitters in the swap. I’ve never knit for another fellow knitter before, so I’m a little nervous about having my knitting scrutinized. What if my swap pal thinks I am a horrible knitter? What if she thinks her scarf looks like crap? yea, self-doubts can be nerve-wrecking. Hopefully it will work out. The kick-off is early August. Go sign up like I did (at 3am in the freakin’ morning when I was semi-delusional).
Supposed to be meeting Joy and Andrea in the afternoon. A little anxious, but a little excited nonetheless.