Socks in progress: Feather and Puzzle

This sock is knit in Madelinetosh Feather, in the Mala colorway; a 4ply fingering (80% merino, 10% nylon, 10% alpaca). I long-tail cast on 64 stitches with 2.25 mm dpns, cuff k1, p1 ribbed, leg and top-of- foot pattern: R1: k3, p1. R2: knit:

©dedolha

This is a first of a pair of socks (HO = half object) for my eldest son. It is a simple ribbed sock, knit with Regia Puzzle Color yarn. I cast on 72 stitches with a long-tail cast on, knit the cuff with k2, p2. The leg/foot pattern is Row 1: k3, p1. Row 2: knit. I just love the pooling pattern this yarn makes:

©dedolha

Knitted Christmas Ornaments

I love to make knitted Christmas ornaments, and tried three new ones this year, The first pattern(free)  was Fancy Balls by Tin Can Knits.  I made one in a worsted weight using one of the patterns:

and a couple  in fingering weight:

I also made Advent Garland 18, Gingerbread Man, a free pattern by Frankie Brown. Knit in Koigu premium merino:

I kept one for myself and gave the others away (which was hard as they were all so cute):

I also made the Christmas tree by Baiba Dzelme. I made three with Madelinetosh's merino light in Mineral and Fig colorways). I sewed on some sequins:

I decorated one with some glittery miniature tree lights and gold string:

Hats and Mitts

I knit some accessories for my three guys in November/December. For my husband, I made the Botanic hat by Stephen West: I made it with Malabrigo Worsted (grey) and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (dark grey). The hat is ribbed and reversible:

My 16 year-old son got a Botanic Hat as well, in Malabrigo Rios in the Teal colorway and the darker grey is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran:

         

My 19 year-old son got the Graham hat by Jennifer Adams (free pattern), knit in Berroco Blackstone Tweed Chunky, in grey:

©dedolha

I made my husband a pair of mitts, Maize by Tin Can Knits (free pattern), in Berroco Blackstone Tweed Chunky.  I knit this chunky weight yarn in two needle sizes down to make them warm and dense:

©dedolha

And, so as not to leave myself out, I made some Toasty mitts by Leslie Friend (free pattern) in Illimani Yarn Silky Baby Llama in light grey:

©spdolha

First time using baby llama yarn and it is so soft and luxurious. It was an impulse buy as was discounted for my LYS closing sale.

Goodbye Make One Yarn Studio....

©farm4.static.flickr.com

Did you know?... Make One Yarn Studio was originally co-owned by the designer, Amy Swenson (http://www.ravelry.com/people/indigirl). 

Knitted Gifts

I chose to knit for one family this year, my husband's sister and her daughter, son, and granddaughter. I made the Acorn the Baby Elf by Rachel Borello Carroll in Malabrigo Rios in the Ravelry Red colorway, as well as a matching hat for my 10 month-old grandniece:

©dedolha

©dedolha

©dedolha

I made two pairs of Welted Fingerless Mitts by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas; one pair in a Berroco Vintage:

©dedolha

 The second pair was knit in Misti Alpaca Best of Worsted, in the Cochineal colorway: 

©dedolha

For my nephew, I made the Ridge mitts by Jennifer Beever in Berroco Blackstone Tweed in the Pitch colorway:

©dedolha

Making Waves, Lipstick, and Aspen Island

In November, I finished a cardigan I had started in 2011: Making Waves Cardigan by Mary Annarella. My version was knit with Misti Alpaca Tonos Carnaval in the Rosemary Garden colorway. Love the top-down design and the ruched details. This was the first time I had attached eye hooks and it took a couple of hours. I love the tonal green of this yarn; however, the alpaca hairs were particularly bothersome knitting up this garment:

©spdolha

©spdolha

I also knit Joji Locatelli's Lipstick.  It was a very enjoyable, quick knit and has flattering details with the lace sleeves, seaming, shoulder ribbing, and henley collar.  I re-used some aran alpaca/merino yarn as I loved it's warmth: Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL in navy.

©spdolha

I modified the design, as I had seen some other Ravelery knitters do, to be a pullover. The design has a shorter front/longer back, which I originally knit to pattern. However, I have since gone back and made the front longer (will add a pic later). Most knitters knit it with more ease, but after fitting the shoulders and upper chest, mine ended up as a more fitted version.

A third sweater I worked on this month was a test knit for Allison Loeliger, the Aspen Island Sweater.  I made mine with bamboo yarn, Debbie Bliss Prima, in red. It was knit top-down and the lace front panel was enjoyable to knit. I love the light weight of bamboo and it was smoother than knitting with cotton, however it has stretched a bit in length:

©spdolha

©spdolha

Works in Progress: Criollo and Caffe Macchiato

I've started the Criollo cardigan in the Madelinetosh 80/10/10 fingering, Hearth colorway:

©dedolha

Here's the designer's, Justyna Lorkowska:

© Justyna Lorkowska

It's a top-down, contiguous design with beautiful lace edging. I like this yarn base even more than Madelinetosh's tosh merino light.

Also working on some socks, Caffe Macchiato by Marian Holdan, in Blue Dog Fibers fingering:

©dedolha

I've learned a new type of heel with this pattern, the Fish Kiss Lips heel designed by Sox Therapist Designs. 

October 2013: Hearth and Amiga

Happy Hallow’een!

We don't get many trick or treaters, but that doesn't stop me from purchasing and consuming many mini chocolate bars (Wunderbar and Aero are my favs). I also love orange-colored yarn, so decided to do a mini montage for the holiday:

©dedolha

Yarns pictured:
Spud and Chloe fine sock:  Clementine

Tosh Merino Light : Terra, Caravan

Tosh Sock:  Grapefruit

Hedgehog Fibres:  Copper Penny, Rusty Nail, and Villain

Knit Picks Stroll Tonal:  Foliage

A Hundred Ravens Iachos:  Monkeys and Mangoes

I'm collecting mini skeins to make the BeeKeeper's Quilt blanket (design by tiny owl knits), but I won't be including orange or yellow minis in the blanket, so the plan is to make mini pumpkins or something with these ones.


I've also started an orange sweater, Criollo by Justyna Lorkowska, using Madelinetosh mcn fingering in the Hearth colorway. Here's the skeins:

©dedolha

I also finally took pictures of my Amiga cardigan, by Mags Kandis, knit in Malabrigo Arroyo, Reflecting Pool. I knit this in July, and got the clasp for it in September from TixTrinkets, an Etsy shop.

©dedolha

©dedolha

Thursday, October 18, 2013

Finished the hat for my son's friend. Love it. Had to take a few tries at it as I wanted it to be loose and slouchy.

The pattern is Cocoon by La Maison Rililie and is a free pattern on Ravelry. I knit it in Malabrigo Rios, which is a worsted weight, in the color Teal Feather.

Now, back to working on my pullover: Arbor, knit in Old Maiden Aunt's silky alpaca dk from Scotland in the Midnight colorway...

July 29, 2013

Some photos of my back garden from July 29, 2013:

Tuesday, October 16, 2013

Today I received a Mitten Kit as a prize from a Ravelry KAL (knit-a-long) in the Yarniacs Podcast group. It is the Mock Colorwork Fleckle Mitts by Estella Hains; the yarn is A Hundred Ravens Iachos.



The project I knit for the KAL was the Peacock Eyes cardigan by Justyna Lorkowska, knit in Shibui Sock, Peony colorway.

In the mail today I also received my order of three skeins of Madelinetosh mcn fingering in the Hearth colorway:

It reminds me of the cotoneaster that is turning colors here: