knitwhore

Projects!

2008-01-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

It is not that I've not been knitting, it's that I've been too lazy to bother posting anything...so here we are:

This is a diagonal rib stitch scarf, which looks a lot more exciting than it probably is. Here's the stitch detail:

The pattern looks complicated, but it's a basic repeating 8 row pattern which is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. This is Sugar n' Cream 4-ply cotton yarn in navy -- I like to work with cotton yarn the most, even though it can get a bit bulky. If I were to make this scarf again, I'd probably use a finer yarn, because it's a quite thick pattern once it's done.

Pattern:

CO a multiple of 4 stitches (this is 32)
Row 1: *k2, p2; rep from *
Row 2: Rep Row 1
Row 3: k1, *p2, k2; rep from *, end p2, k1
Row 4: p1, *k2, p2; rep from *, end k2, p1
Row 5: *p2, k2; rep from *
Row 6: Rep Row 5
Row 7: Rep Row 4
Row 8: Rep Row 3

It looks a bit complicated, yeah, but the thing is after a few sets, you can tell what row you need to do next by the way it looks. It's a pretty logical pattern, so it's easy to see where you're going.

Next: Electronic cozies

I actually lost my iPod cozy, so the one on the left is a variation of that pattern to replace it. This is v2.0, so it holds together a bit better. This is Sugar n Cream 4 ply, as well (you'll recall sale yarn). The second is for my digicorder, which turns itself on in my purse all the time and wears the battery down. Consequently, I made a cozy for it, but it kept slipping out and turning itself on anyway, so I had to rethink the whole thing. So here are the patterns:

iPod Cozy:

I used size 4 needles (slightly small for the yarn -- it calls for 4.5). Gauge: 1"=7 stitches vertically, and 5 stitches horizontally with a 1x1 rib stitch.

CO 12 stitches
row 1-56: 1X1 rib stitch (k1p1), except slip over the final stitch

This next part is to accommodate the jack in the corner of the nano. I simplified the pattern a bit from the last one, because it's really not necessary to make it as complicated as I did:

row 1 (57): cast off three stitches at the beginning of the row, complete as normal.
row 2 (58): CO 3 stitches at the end of the row.

See? Much easier. The next bit is a bit more complicated.

row 1-4 (59-63): *k1 p1 (repeat)
row 5 (64): *k1 p1, repeat 3X. Cast off stitches, finish row. There should be 6 stitches on either side of the cast off stitches. This is your button hole.
row 6 (65): *k1p1, repeat 3X. CO 2 stitches, finish row as normal.
row 7-15 (66-74): rib-stitch
row 75: Cast off.

Sew the sides up with contrasting yarn (or matching, if you like -- I just like the way it looks). Sew button on.

As you can see, I braided the tail so that you can wrap it around the iPod -- I like having this as well as the button because it's more expedient to unwrap for when you're using your iPod. The button is more for when it's just bouncing around in your purse, because it's a lot more secure and you don't need to worry about it coming out so much.

The digicorder cozy is operating on basically the same principle, except the dimensions are marginally different because of the size, and I didn't bother with the tail because you're either using your digicorder or you're not -- you tend not to just leave it on in your purse...

Finally: we're still knitting scarves for the cold, so here's another in that vein:

This is your basic mistake rib pattern. Word to the wise: The last time I made this scarf, it was a fairly stiff 2-ply wool and I doubled up the yarn so it lay quite flat. This wool is a softer 1-ply, so the ribs made it accordion a lot more than I had expected, and it ended up being narrower than I would've wanted. It's still a nice scarf, but unless you're dealing with a quite stiff wool, cast on a bit more than you think is necessary.

Coming up:

I have some bags that need felting, and I'm also working on a rust-coloured rice-stitch scarf for the cold and homeless, so I should have pictures of those up in the next couple of weeks.

And I just won't quit with the pink things ...

2007-07-11T12:01:00.000-06:00

So, this is my latest, in a horrible picture in which it looks like I have no legs from the knees down. The truth of the matter is that I had to kneel because the mirror isn't high enough for me to stand and take this picture.
And this is my latest in pieces before assembly:
And this is the sad truth that my latest looks better on my bed than on me. But that might be because of the beautiful quilt that my Aunt made .

As always, I messed up. So this is the pattern I followed at the Berroco website. The major difference is that I began the main body after a RS rather than a WS because I'm a dolt when it comes to even the simplest patterns. i.e. the ribbing is k3 p1 k1 p1 rather than p3 k1 p1 k1. I don't think it looks TOO bad though. I didn't realise it until I was halfway up the back, and I gambled that it wouldn't make the thing hideous so I didn't take it apart. The principles that govern my knitting: laziness and improvisation. But I like it and will probably wear it all winter.

In which I make the living room stink of lanolin ...

2007-04-18T14:13:00.000-06:00

Hi all. This is a vest that I miscalculated the measurements to, and so belongs to Cait. More of Nana's stash: fuscia, coral and pink-and-white-mixed were used for the pattern (a VERY simplified fair-isle-type design). I used the Patons' Back to Basics book again, this time misreading a child's size 10 vest and knitting it with the wrong needles ... I think you all know what kind of slap-dash knitter I am. BUT, the design might be interesting to ... someone? Maybe? I am, in fact, incredibly proud of this vest. :o)

C=coral
F=fuscia
P=Pink and white

The thinner stripes:
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
PCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPCPC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Thicker Stripes:
PPPP
CCCC
CFCF
FPFP
CFCF
CCCC
PPPP

2007-03-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Right, airport delays translates into lots of knitting, and so we have:

ooh! Texture. I actually started it as a mistake-rib, but completely forgot how one actually does a mistake rib, so it's actually:

row 1: *K2, P2 (repeat)
row 2: *K1, P1 (repeat)

This one is 32 stitches across -- you can CO as many stitches as you like, except it's easier if it's a multiple of 4, because then you can just start with knitting on ever row.

2007-02-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

Right, so my computer was out of commission for a while which translated into me knitting a great deal. I had three scarves going at once. This is the only one I've finished thus far, and really, the least exciting, I'm afraid. It's a pretty straightforward twin-rib (pattern in sidebar somewhere -- slightly modified: row 1: k4 p4; row 2: k1p1). The yarn is incredibly thick and a bit textured, which made the pattern look rather different than it has with other flatter yarns.

detail (ooOOooh!)

My New Sweater

2007-02-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

This sweater is made with real wool that I inherited from my Nana. My daddy told me when he first saw it that it reminded him of his mum (my Nana) without me even telling him where I got the wool. That made me feel special because she's the one that taught me how to knit. This is me in the sweater:
The pattern I based it one is one of the free patterns from the Berroco website, here. I of course did not follow the pattern because I'm like that. I continued the collar up (k1p1) so that it would curl over like that (my mum blocked the collar for me because she's an angel), I used finer wool, and I made the sleeves longer and the body shorter to match my monkey arms and because I didn't want a woolly dress. I also overestimated my size (i.e. it's not form-fitting). Really the only thing that resembles the original is the raglan sleeve setting.

Disaster

2006-12-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the disaster siwash:

It doesn't look disastrous in the pictures. It has the worst shape ever--bad tension, I think.

I will be back soon

2006-10-11T10:35:00.000-06:00

I plan to resurface soon, I have many pictures of projects--in particular, a siwash gone particularly awry :(
This was my first knitting failure.
pictures to follow later.

Nana's Legacy

2006-06-07T21:00:00.000-06:00

So ... recently, I finished up a sweater that my Nana started in ... probably 1985. She passed away last year and Caitlin and I inherited much of what was left of her stash.

Her stash was enormous.

So I finished this giant red drop-shoulder as a turtleneck ... because we all need giant red drop-shoulder turtlenecks. Pictures at a later date.

Aw, hell. I'll give you a picture now. Just not of the sweater.

Bounder and ...

Mungo! Upper-class twits extraordinaire! Special Guest Star Jemima Puddleduck.

2006-05-04T23:08:00.000-06:00

Where's Brennan?

I've landed!

2006-05-01T07:41:00.000-06:00

I'm quite waxy and ecstatic to be here today, as a knit whore.

I have recent pictures of FOs and I'll be having D take one of my current WIP, so fear not, pictures are on their way.

Thanks for having me, dudes!
---
Chelle

Latest knitting projects . . .

2006-04-27T22:44:00.000-06:00

Here are some things i have been working on.
a hat--unsure whether to add a brim. what say ye blog-surfers?

Sorry for the blurriness and frightening expression:

Also, the half-finished and infamous Belle epoque:

and a stitch close-up:

I am also currently working on my first pair of socks, finisheing the half-finished quilt, and there is a batch of siwash (SP?)wool ready to hit the needles. I know I know, but my creativity flourishes better with variety. Also startiong new projects is a great way to procrastinate from studying for finals.

2006-04-17T13:16:00.000-06:00

I have been having knitter's block for a while now--I have a quarter-finished scarf. I would post it, but it's depressing. When exams are over, I shall be back--I have visions of knitting a summer hat out of the discount cotton wool I got at Lewiscraft.

Half finished quilt

2006-03-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hi this is a quilt-in-progress. It has been in progress since July haha. I just kind of lost momentum on this project somewhere along the way, but I am revisiting it now.
I was going to do two more panels this size--possibly a third if thats not big enough. No more letters or anything, just mostly green and navy with a few more of those multicolored ones stuck in. The pictures really just don't do the colours any justice but what can I do eh?

. . . and a random picture of my dog who often resembles a sheep. Sometimes when I brush her, I get a pile of fuzz as big as she is. I have often wondered if I could spin it and make a sweater. But then I remember what kinds of things she likes to roll in outside and my enthusiasm is lost.

Hello, yes I am still here

2006-03-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't checked this blog since last Thursday.
I am very ill, which is the reason that I have not been posting. I have sither mono or strep, apprently. Consequently, I have been knitting a bit--when I even have the energy to do THAT. I will post a little perhaps later tonight or tomorrow. Perhaps.

nano cozy

2006-03-02T23:25:00.000-07:00

This one I made a while ago, but I've gotten enough comments on it I thought I should put it up so people can see how it's made. It's mostly straightforward, but there's a couple of tricks in it, too.

I used medium weight acrylic yarn and size 4 needles (slightly small for the yarn). Gauge: 1"=7 stitches vertically, and 5 stitches horizontally with a 1x1 rib stitch. Does anyone actually pay attention to gauge? Well, other than Sarra, that is. Anyhow, with this pattern it's better to be more snug than loose, as the rib stitch will stretch over the nano, so if you have really loose tension (mine's average to snug), you might want to take it down to 10 stitches across, and only cast off three at the important point.

CO 12 stitches
row 1-56: 1X1 rib stitch (k1p1), except slip over the final stitch

This part is to accommodate the jack in the corner of the nano. You may be tempted to knit on either side of the hole you are creating, but this is folly. It's a lot harder to get the iPod out that way--my prototype looked like that, and it was silly.

row 1 (57): cast off the first stitch, rib stitch to the end of the row, slip last stitch over
row 2 (58): rib stitch, cast off final stitch
row 3 (59): repeat row 1 (57)
row 4 (60): repeat row 2 (58); you should have 8 stitches across at this point.
row 5 (61): Cast on one stitch, rib stitch to end of row, slip last stitch over
row 6 (62): rib stitch to end of row, cast on one stitch at end
row 7 (63): repeat row 5 (61)
row 8 (64): repeat row 6 (62); you should have 12 stitch again

At this point, you can do one of two things: just do 18 rows of rib stitch, or make a pattern. The pattern is up to you entirely, of course, but this is what I did:

row 1 (65): p1k1, p8, k1, slip stitch
row 2 (66): k1p1, k8, p1, slip stitch
row 3 (67): repeat row 1 (65)
row 4 (68): repeat row 2 (66)
row 5 (69): repeat row 1 (65)
row 6 (70): repeat row 2 (66)
row 7 (71): p1k1, p3, k2, p3, k1 slip stitch
row 8 (72): k1p1, k3, p2, k3, p1 slip stitch
row 9 (73): p1k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1k1 slip stitch
row 10 (74): k1p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1p1 slip stitch
row 11 (75): repeat row 7 (71)
row 12 (76): repeat row 8 (72)
row 13 (77): repeat row 1 (65)
row 14 (78): repeat row 2 (66)
row 15 (79): repeat row 1 (65)
row 16 (80): rib stitch, slip last stitch
row 17 (81): repeat row 17 (81)
row 18 (82): repeat row 17 (81)

cast off, leaving a long tail
(the pattern is a small, raised cross)

Now, you've got a long thing-a-mee. Fold the ribbed area in half so that the raised cross pattern is on the outside. I secured the sides by binding it with a contrasting yarn. It can also be crocheted, if you are so inclined.

To fasten the flap, I braided the tail with a long piece of the same contrasting yarn. Of course, you can use velcro or put a button on, but I found the long braid is actually the most practical, because it holds it shut but doesn't force it. In addition, you don't have to worry about the velcro getting at the screen.

**this is specifically for a nano--the fastenings as well as the size would have the be different on a full-size iPod, as it would be for a shuffle (you'll have to get at Sadie for one of those)

so my sister can be john purtwee...

2006-03-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

This is one of two ruffled cuffs I'm making for my sister--that's my wrist, so it looks a bit small on me, but Swambo's in bed and I didn't want to disturb her. This pattern is based on a Knitty Pattern with a few alterations. The top ruffle is the same as the "bottom bell edging" except instead of leaving it, I did row 10 14 times instead of twice. After that, I reversed the decrease (added two stitches in the same places one decreased) for two rows. Then, I cast off and turned it inside out. It works right side out, as well, but I like the look of the reversed side better. The ruffle flares a bit more.

I'm going to try the same pattern and a much bigger ruffle (twice the size) at a later date. These ones are nice under jackets, but they're not Doctor Who enough for Swambo yet, I don't think. I might also try to put patterns in the ruffles (eylet stitch, crocus bud, etc) so that they will look more lacy.

sale yarn!

2006-03-02T23:07:00.000-07:00

My mother mocked me mercilessly for spending $15 on this yarn, given that we have so much wool at home--I tried to explain to her, the operative word is *wool.* Wool doesn't work for all knitting projects--surprisingly, it works for relatively few, given how scratchy it is (difficult to wear close to the skin) and how easily it often wears out (mittens and socks are out because of the wear and tear). This is all 100% cotton--cotton's my favourite kind of yarn to work with. It's not scratchy like wool, but it's a natural fibre and consequently *wears* like a natural fibre. The navy is for my sister's arm cuffs--they'll be like mine, except I'm putting yellow anchors on the fore-arms in the yellow so that it will be all sailor-like. At least, that's the plan. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the burgundy yet. It was just such a pretty colour that I wanted to get some--and it was only $1.60 a ball (2.5 oz.) so I thought I ought to. I think I might make some short cuffs for myself out of them, trim it with the navy if there's some left over. But then again, I might not need another pair of cuffs. Possibly one of those delicate long thin scarves with lots of decorative stitches. Haven't decided yet.

!!!

2006-02-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

The Lewiscraft in Market Mall is going out of business--30% off all wool!

I bring you . . .

2006-02-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

A BEANIE!

Actually, my mum says it's a cloche. (that's a 1920s term for, um, beanie). My sister says that tough looking girls with facial piercings are always wearing these sorts of hats at the bus mall. I say fie! It's very warm without being very bulky, doesn't wreak much hat head, and is all around most exciting.

This is a pattern of my own invention--proving just how snazzy I am. It's a bit more complicated than many of the patterns on this site (those all being scarfs of one variety or another thus far) It uses the same diagonal eyelet stitch that I used in this scarf. The wool is Bernat Solo Nouveau ("the yarn that stands alone") in...reddish. The colour number is 57705, and it's a bulky yarn, so bear that in mind should you want to make it and are using a different wool. Hell if I know the gauge--but if you're like me, you'll be able to eyeball the size for yourself without too much difficulty. These measurements are based on my head, so bear in mind that I am partly of Scottish extraction, and consequently my head is of gargantuan proportion. Sigh...

Using size 6 (Cdn) double pointed needles, cast on 70 stitches. Transfer the stitches to four needles in equal numbers, and knit one row in the round.

Begin pattern:
round 1: *yo k2t; repeat from asterisk
round 2: knit
round 3 k1 *yo k2t repeat from asterisk, k1
round 4 knit

repeat these four rows 5 times, then finish off with row 1 and 2, for a total of 22 rows.

Decrease:
*k8 k2t, repeat until there are 30 stitches left
*k4 k2t, repeat until there are 9 stitches left.

Cut the yarn with a long tail, thread through the remaining 9 stitches with a tapestry needle, pull tight and secure on the inside.

And ... When I say Doctor, Y'all say Who!

2006-02-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

Here is my Tom Baker Doctor Who Scarf. I didn't follow the BBC official pattern, because though I love the Doctor, I had a bunch of scraps and ends, and I had some colours I wanted to use particularly. However, he had more than one scarf (look at the pics on the internet, they're a wide variety of colours), and I did research it (The stripes go wide, narrow, narrowest, narrow, wide, etc.), so I think it's entirely valid. One measurement I did find though, is that it's twice his height plus three feet. Now, he's 6'4" or some damn thing, and I'm not, so mine's twice my height plus a foot. But it's really a simple scarf, and I'm almost embarassed posting it. Almost. My love of the Doctor far outweighs my sadly lacking knitting skills for importance in my life.

A Bee Sweater

2006-02-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

Or a "B" sweater. Originally, I set out to make a Weasley sweater, but like everything I do, the pattern was discarded early in the game and I made up what I was going to do as I went along. I knew it was going to be that blue colour from the beginning, but it was going to originally be my first attempt at cabling (which I still haven't figured out ... if there were a picture by picture step by step set of instructions, I could do it). Then it was going to have a skull on it. Then it was going to be like one of those scandinavian sweaters with the pattern around the neck. I like what it did turn out to be, though. Kind of a "Let's go rowing!" or a nineteenth-century team sweater. Everytime I wear it, someone is amused by it.

The pattern I did use was the Paton Back-to-basics book, which has the basics for set in, drop and raglan sleeves, cardigan fronts, vests, and v-neck, turtleneck or crew-neck. It's really a quite brilliant book. You piece together what you want from all of the different sets of instructions and add whatever you want. My kind of pattern. Even sewing, I don't think I've ever followed a pattern exactly. This is why I'm not a scientist.

2006-02-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

I misspelled plethora. I apologize.
Here is the first actual sweater that I ever made.

. . . one for colour . . .

. . . and one to see how it sits on the body. I apologize for this appalingly bad photo--I just couldn't get it to work--, and for the dirty mirror . . .

FINALLY!!

2006-02-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

. . . Ladies and gentlemen! I, Sarra the Hutt, tragically unlearned in the ways of technology, have finally learned how to use the digital camera!!The next thing will be learning how to put a link on my blog to find this one.
Here is a plethera of pictures of my knitting from the past year.

#1 Poncho-ey goodness:
My first Fair Isle project, knitted in two rectangular panels and sewed together. It took me several tries, I assure you.

. . . and closer up

2006-02-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

I taught a boy to knit today.
That makes two.
I am slowly converting the masses bwahahahahah!!!

No actually, I am trying to destroy the gender constructs that surround knitting.
haha good luck to me

more cuffy goodness

2006-02-21T01:54:00.000-07:00

Both done now--imperfect, certainly: they're too big at the top and keep coming down as a result. (therefore: no pattern yet) I'm making a pattern with buttons on the side now for Rabies. Cufflets more than cuffs, really. I have high hopes for them. I'll post pattern and pics when they are successful

cuff the cait!

2006-02-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

I had an ambition to make fingerless gloves--this is the first attempt. My decreasing around the forearm was less than stellar, so once I finish this pair I'm going to do some experimentation--the pattern isn't good enough to post yet, but once I get it sorted, rest assured it'll be up here.

do-over

2006-02-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

All right, so I did and undid Professor McDougall's scarf about 5 times. I abandoned the garter stitch and decided on this horizontal scarf. The pattern is pretty simple:

Cast 120 stitches on to size 10 (15 American) needles.
Knit 3 rows.
Row 1: k1 *yo k2t repeat pattern, k1
Row 2: k2 *yo k2t repeat pattern, k2
Repeat until scarf is desired width--I did 12 to make a thin, delicate scarf.
Knit 3 rows and cast off.

And here's what it looks like. I've just finished blocking it and I'll fringe it when it dries. (note the exciting quilt in the background that my aunt made)

This is a ball of wool that I got at Lewiscraft--they were having a sale on remnants, so I got this ball for two bucks. I'm not sure what to do with it yet, because it can't be a particularly big project. I contemplate making something for myself, but I have no idea what it would be.

photo-ish goodness

2006-02-13T00:22:00.000-07:00

Projects, past and present:

This is a commissioned scarf that I finished before Xmas and haven't gotten around to giving to its owner--it's double seed stitch (that is: row 1 and 2: k2 p2; row 3 and 4: p2 k2) on size 5 needles. The yarn is acrylic, 26 stitches across, about 5 1/2 feet long. The texture doesn't come through amazingly well on this, but it's actually a lovely scarf, if I do say so myself.

This is the beginning of what I like to term "Caitlin's lazy ass scarf." The wool is alpaca/wool/acrylic blend, doubled and on size 10 needles (that's Canadian sizing--a 15 American), 23 stitches across with garter stitch. There's two rows of eyelet stitch 12 rows into it--just a border detail to add interest. The needles I'm using are too big for the wool normally, but the result is a very loose, soft scarf, which I find is the aim with wool blended yarns, as they lean towards scratchy as a general rule. This one is for Dr. McDougall, who wrote yet another of my reference letters. After this, only one to go! I have ambitions to do a horizontal scarf (that is, cast on a hundred stitches and knit 15 rows) in a diagonal eyelet with doubled or tripled wool. That would be a fast scarf--I'll keep you posted.

I'm here too.

2006-02-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

Though I am in no way the calibre of knitter that the other contributors are, I am joining knitwhore because I want to. It's fun. I do like knitting. Maybe you all will get to see my greatest projects to date: my Doctor Who Scarf (because I'm just that cool) and my Weasley Sweater (otherwise known as my Barry Otter sweater because it's got a "B" on the front.) If you're really good.

-- V. Bee

Me too!!

2006-02-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I am joining the knitwhore blog now too!! Only I am technologically challenged, and therefore I have not yet figured out how to use my mother's digital camera.

But when I DO, hoo boy!!

for all my knitting sweethearts:

2006-02-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

The Free Pattern Webring

2006-02-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

The brown scarf? c'est fini! I already gave it to Dr. Thorpe, though, so no piccies--I'm on to a mohair diagonal eyelet stitch scarf,which I keep buggering up, but I think only I know that, so it's all good. I've never worked with mohair before--it gets tangled up far too easily for my liking, and I'm doubling the strand, which is rarely a happy situation when it comes to tangles, anyhow.

I'll get some pics up when a) it gets long enough to be worth photographing, and b) I find my camera.

2006-01-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

This damn mistake rib scarf is never going to end, I think . . . I have one doubled ball of wool left to finish it, I think--I have more yarn than that, but I'm just so *sick* of it.

more pics

2006-01-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

The red scarf, finished:

The brown scarf--one for texture:

one for colour:

And Brennan, when you get back from Belgium, I'm teaching you how to knit.

the soul of wit--no, the soul of doing things quickly

2006-01-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

I finished the lovely red scarf--will post pics when I have the inclination. I'm awfully tired right now.

I've bounced back to the "thank you Prof" project. I'm knitting a mistake rib** scarf out of Paton's Bracken Tweed Double knitting yarn (holy crap, how can you tell that I have the tag this time?). It's 60% wool/40% acrylic, so it's softer than the 100% wool, and wears more easily, as well. It's a mottled light brown colour. Very Professor Thorpe, I think.

I've doubled it up for--not brevity. What's the word that I associate with brevity in my mind but isn't really related to it in an obvious way? Yeah, like you're going to know that--alacrity! There we go. I love the word alacrity. Very Jane Austen. Professor Thorpe is a 19th century specialist. I'm sure he'd like that I'm using such appropriate words.

I'm not too far into the scarf, but it looks very nice. I was a bit worried about the mistake rib initially, but the longer it gets the more I like it.

**Mistake Rib: CO a multiple of 4 minus one (i.e., 9x4=36, so you would cast on 35 stitches)
row 1: *k2 p2, repeat; k3 at end
Repeat this pattern till the scarf is a desired length.

sigh

2006-01-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is the red scarf I spake of--it just doesn't want to translate to the medium of digital photography...

This is the best pic I got for colour, though it doesn't show the pattern too well.

...and this one's blurry. Sigh...anyhow, it's knitting up ridiculously fast because the wool is so thick. I'm half done already.

**Twin Rib:
CO a multiple of 6
row 1: *k3 p3 repeat
row 2: *k1 p1 repeat
repeat these two rows until scarf is desire length.

scarf 2

2006-01-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

Here's Prof. Findlay's scarf finished--again, the colour's a bit off. It may seem a bit short, but I've found that wool scarves are so heavy that they stretch like you wouldn't believe. I made my friend a scarf out of the same wool, and now it's almost twice as long as it was.

pictures!

2006-01-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Some needy families are going to have some damn nice scarves--I've never even worked with mohair before!

the least of my brothers

2006-01-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

No pics today--when I get to a USB port with my camera, I'll post the finished scarf. I opted against tassles, however, Brennan. I apologize. It just didn't seem to need them. btw, I love how into my knitting you're getting.

My lovely aunt brought over a bunch of wool and yarn for my "clothe the naked" project. Swambo and I think that once we have a critical mass of matching scarf and mitten sets, we're going to give them to Catholic Family Services downtown--it's a non-profit NGO which helps families get on their feet, be they refugees or simply in need of some assistance. We figure they'll go to the right place, then.

Right now I'm working on a Twin Rib scarf for the project, taking a brief hiatus from the "thank you profs" project. My yarn is thick one-ply red wool. It's 100% wool, so it's a bit scratchy, but it's knit loosely so it's not too bad. I'm not used to one ply, so I had a couple incidents where I pulled the yarn apart, but I've mostly gotten it sorted out now. It's working really well--very chunky and bright. Pics soon, I promise!

scarf 2

2006-01-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

Scarf two! This one's for Professor Findlay, who wrote a letter of recommendation for my SSHRCC application--it's probably more straightforward than the last one, even: 26 stitches across, k1p1 in the bulk of the scarf--it's quite a bit longer now (this is two ounces to the ball pure wool--quite chunky, more rust, less orange coloured in real life--I'd give you more info, but there isn't any. My dear departed Nana ordered this stuff from Scotland on a whim).

There is detailing at the end: 4 rows of k1p1, one row of eyelet, three rows of k1p1, one row of eyelet, repeat. It's not an obvious pattern, but it's this sort of detailing which makes a plain scarf look a bit cooler:

I am contemplating fringes currently. I've not made up my mind yet.

scarf 1, part 2

2006-01-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

This is the finished project. I decided to go knitstar on the fringes, which means I put them in one at a time instead of in bunches--less bulky, more exciting--more work, too. The scarf isn't as long as I would have liked (only about 4 1/2 feet), but I ran out of yarn, and Prof. Liu isn't that tall, anyhow.

scarf 1

2006-01-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

What's this? Her umpteenth blog? Well, yes...I wanted to share my attempts at crafting with the world.

I'm making scarves for all the kind professors who wrote me reference letters for my Master's--this is the one I am working on currently for Professor Liu:

It's 31 stitches across on 5 1/2 mm needles, so it's quite wide. The edge is 30 rows of seed stitch**, alternating between silver and burgundy every two rows to give it this mottled effect:

The bulk of the scarf is a simple garter stitch (i.e., straight knit until your fingers fall off). I'd tell you the size of the wool, but I'm actually making it from yarn that I had left over from another project, so I don't know anymore.

**Seed Stitch: CO an odd number of stitches.
row 1: *k1 p1 last stitch: knit
Repeat ad nauseum