ShihKnits » felted tweed

Summer

winnie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:56:05 +0000

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.

Ponchette for Spring

winnie — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 06:47:00 +0000

The original pattern called for hemp yarn (DK weight) to knit this ponchette… but since I was trying to use up stash I figured Rowan Felted Tweed would make a lovely substitution as well. A friend of mine has been wanting a little poncho for a while now.. and I finally came across one that I actually like myself. Great use for stash yarn! The ponchette is modeled below by the lovely giftee…

Pattern: Hemp Ponchette
Materials: Less than 2 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed in Melody, Sz 7 needles.
Other than the little easy peasy knitting above, I’ve been working on the Sunrise Circle Jacket. Adding some minor modifications to the sleeves… but that will come in a later post.

Year End Yarn Porn

winnie — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 01:35:00 +0000

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!