A Knitter In Queens

A Gift For A Friend

About a year ago, I decided to cast on Habitat from Jared Flood.  I purchased the pattern and yarn from Purl.  I used the yarn called for in the pattern, BrooklynTweed Shelter in Nest.  I started the hat in mid February.  I completed about 10 to 15 rows of the cable pattern, put it down for about 8 months, until a few weeks ago.  The hat was a Christmas gift for my friend D.  He's been asking me for something handknit for awhile.  So, I settled on Habitat.  This was going to be my first BrooklynTweed pattern, but the Tweed Baby Blanket somehow snuck in and interrupted things.  

As the holiday drew near, I decided to pick it back up and finish it in time for Christmas.  Once I started working on the hat, I was able to complete it pretty quickly.  The directions were very clear, the cable charts were easy to read.  I love the way the cables turned.  I've definitely become a cable lover as a result.  I ended up using every last yard of yarn.  While knitting the last row, I thought I wouldn't have enough to pull it through the last group of stitches.  Thankfully, I did.  If I make this hat again, I think I may go up a needle size and purchase two skeins instead one.

Once complete, I sewed some elastic thread through the ribbing.  I've noticed from other samples that the ribbing can become stretched out.  Hopefully, the ribbing will stay nice and taut.

 

Here are a few pictures from the hat in progress and some of it completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pattern:       Habitat by Jared Flood (rav link)

Yarn:           BrooklynTweed's Shelter

                   shade: Nest

Needles:      16" Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needles US9 & US10

Started:       February 23, 2011

Finished:     December 22, 2011

 

Happy Knitting! ♥ 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Since I last blogged, I finished the Tweed Baby Blanket by Jared Flood.  I apologize to those of you who checked back in the last 4 months expecting to see the finished product.  I managed to finish it during the final week of my summer vacation.  If I hadn't finished it, I don't think I ever would have.  I enjoyed working on the blanket.  The middle garter stitch panel was great for TV knitting and the feather and fan border was easy to memorize.  I used Knitpicks City Tweed DK, the original yarn called for in the pattern before it was changed to Shelter.  When the knitting was complete, I soaked the blanket in woolwash then pinned it out on the blocking board.  I ended up using two blocking boards.  Once dry, the blanket was a nice big size.  Unfortunately, I was so quick to photograph and gift it that I didn't take any final measurements.

Here are a few pictures of it:

 

 

 

 

Pattern:     Tweed Baby Blanket by Jared Flood

Yarn:          KnitPicks City Tweed DK (sh. Tahitian Pearl & Orca)

Needles:     Addi Circular Knitting Needles US 10
                  7" Clover Double Pointed Knitting Needles US 9

Started:      June 29, 2011

Finished:     September 2, 2011

 

Over the past few weeks, I've seemed to get into the groove with my knitting.  I've started new projects and finished old ones, which I hope to share with you in the coming weeks. I wish you all the best for the new year.  

Happy Knitting!  ♥ 

Where Did The Time Go?

This past weekend I was asking myself that exact question while looking through all the back-to-school circulars.  It's been two months since my last post in May.  Well, June was a complete blur.  The month of June was filled with report cards, awards/honor ceremonies and me trying to pack up my classroom. My last day of school was June 28th.  Since then, my summer vacation has been filled with late mornings, a lot of Maury Povich (a weekness of mine) and trips visiting family. It was only until this weekend that I realized I only had 4 weeks  left of my vacation. I've been trying not to think about school and students.  Unfortunately, with all the back to school sales going on in all the stores, it's turing out to be more difficult than I thought.(I broke down and went into Target. Fortunately, I scored a bundle of composition notebooks for $0.40 a piece. YAY!!!)

So, besides all the things that have been occupying my time, I've managed to start and work on a new project.  Back in April, I mentioned that I would be starting Jared Flood's Tweed Baby Blanket as a gift for my epectant coworker. My choice of the pattern wasn't definite.  I knew I wanted to knit a blanket.  Two other patterns in the running were the Baby Chalice Blanket (rav link) and the Pine Forest Baby Blanket (rav link).  In the end the Tweed Blanket won. In the last week of June I decided to finally cast on and get to work on the blanket.  I chose the same yarn and shades from the original release of the pattern, KnitPicks City Tweed DK.  To be honest, last month the blanket lingered in the knitting basket and I took my time with it. 

In the last week of July, my coworker  had her baby boy which has kind of kicked my but in to high gear to finish the blanket.  At this point, I've finished the center square and have cast on the lace edging.  I've completed the first three rows and have 22 to go.  It's coming along nicely. I love how soft the yarn is.  I will hopefully be finished with it by this weekend or next.

Happy Knitting! ♥

Which Came First?

I can't believe May is almost over.  Last week, my students finished the last of their state tests.  Three days of english/language arts and two days of math.  These last two months have been intense and overwhelming.  Thank goodness all the testing is over.  My students are severely burned out.

As part of my relaxation and recooperation, last weekend I took a trip to Maryland Sheep & Wool.  The weather was absolutely beautiful.  Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was perfect.  I ended up making a few purchases.  I purchased a few skeins of Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift from Yarns International, some yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery and some Cascade 220.  Only another five months til New York Sheep and Wool.

Since my last post, I've been doing some knitting.  I ended up casting on two new projects, one of which I finished.  During spring break I organized most of my stash.  While organizing, I came across some wool that I ordered from Elann a couple of years ago.  The yarn was purchased for Which Came First?.  I first saw the pattern in CRAFT magazine and immediately fell in love.  Ever since then, I've been a fan of Anna Hrachovec and her patterns on Mochimochi Land.  A couple of months ago, I met Mrs. Hrachovec at a book signing and trunk show at Brooklyn General for her book Knitting Mochimochi.  While at the book signing, she had all the toys from the book on display.  I ended up purchasing the book and yarn for Grouchy Couch.  I never finished him and he's still sitting in my project bag. 

Fast forward to two weeks ago, I decided to cast on Which Came First?.  I used size 8 double pointed needles.  Each piecewas very easy to knit.  Some of the techniques worked in the piece include basic increases and decreases, i-cord and mattress stitch seaming.  If you're new to toy knitting, this would be a great first toy.  I ended up hand felting the chick, which isn't very evident.  Up close it looks lightly felted but you can still see some stitch definition.  Although I'm not proud of my felting skills with this project, I am happy with my seaming.  Mattress stitch is the preferred seam in the pattern.  It's very neat.  Support is given for it on Mochimochi Land along with a host of other articles on stitches and techniques used in Mochimochi toys.  For the crack in the egg I used a small amount of DMC floss in black (sh. 310).  For the eyes, I used 9mm safety eyes.

In the end, I love the way this little chick turned out.  The pattern was clear and the mattress stitch tutorial on Anna's site made the process easy. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pattern: Which Came First? by Anna Hrachovec

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Wool (sh. Daffodil, Pumpkin, Natural)

Additional Materials: 9mm Safety Eyes (Black), DMC Floss (black), Polyfil Stuffing

Needles: 8" Crystal Palace Double Pointed Knitting Needles US 8

Started: May 1, 2011

Finished: May 14, 2011

            

Happy Knitting! ♥

How Could I Forget?

Last week I realized that I hadn't blogged about a knit I finished last year, the Button Up Cowl.  I started this in April 2010.  I finished it in August 2010.  I fell in love with the cowl when I saw Jillian's (rav link).  To refresh your memory, I used Madeline Tosh Sock in Oxblood.  The original called for Blue Sky's Royal Alpaca.  The Tosh Sock turned out to be a great substitution.  But I guess any fingering weight would work well.  I enjoyed the pattern but the little cables were a bit fiddly.  I should have learned how to knit cable without a cable needle.  The project would have gone a lot faster.  I did learn how to knit a one-row buttonhole courtesy of youtube.  I ended up purchasing buttons from Websduring my trip in August.  I had a lot of fun with it.  I'd knit this again.

Pattern: Button Up Cowl by Kristen Rengren

Yarn: Madeline Tosh Sock (sh. Oxblood)

Needles: 24" Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needle US 3

Started: April 30, 2010

Finished: August 1, 2010

Happy Knitting! ♥

Mitered Crosses Blanket (Block #1)

 

In my last post, I mentioned how I started a block from Kay Gardiner's new Mitered Crosses Blanket (rav link).  It took me about two weeks to finish.  To tell you the truth, this block wouldn't have taken so long if I had not neglected it.  I went two needle sizes above the US 6 needles documented in the pattern.  I'm a tight knitter.  I decided to go with the yarn used in the pattern, Noro's Silk Garden.  Annie and Company helped me with that decision during the massive sale on Noro they had at the end of last month.  It's been awhile since I've knit with Silk Garden.  The last time I used it was for a doll sweater back in 2007.  It's a shame that it isn't machine washable.  I've seen a few versions of the blocks in machine washable yarn.  The one that I really like is Kathy's block.  She used Lion Brand's Amazing and Fisherman's Wool.  Unfortunately, the Fisherman's Wool is not machine washable.  Another one that I like is knitnow's block (rav link).  The block is knit using LB's Amazing and LB's Wool-Ease in wheat.  Right now, this project is going to be put on hold.  I'm getting ready to cast on the Tweed Baby Blanket in Knit Pick's City Tweed DK and the Annabel Babe Cardigan in Quince and Co.'s Chickadee. Since, I'm off for the next week and a half for Spring Break, I hope to really make a dent in my knitting.  I'm not making any promises.

 

Happy Knitting!  ♥

HELLO

Hello? Is anyone out there?  I can't believe I've gone 6 months without a post.  For those of you that hung around and checked back every now and then, thanks.  Over the past couple of weeks, I've gotten e-mails and a few friends have asked if I planned on updating the blog any time soon.  This past Saturday night, during Earth Hour, I decided to write a post.  I picked up my pen and notebook and started to write by candlelight.  I anticipated my return to blogging to happen much, much, MUCH sooner.  But what can I say, S**T happens.

Since my last post a lot has happened.  I moved, school started back, I got into a car accident (which was not my fault), and my computer crashed twice.  All of this, coupled with work severely hindered my return to knitting and the upkeep of the blog.  Between the two crashes, I went a total of 3-4 weeks without my computer.  During my computer crisis, my technician was able to back up my hard drive before it crashed a second time.  In the end, my computer ended up getting a system restore and I wound up having to wipe my hard drive clean.  I ended up investing in a portable hard drive.  If you haven't backed up your hard drive, I strongly recommend doing so.  It's a scary feeling when you're faced with the possibility of losing all of your files. 

As of right now, I have 4 projects on the needles.  The first project is Veronik Avery's Wallpaper Mittens.  I started these back in January of 2010.  I'm using Reynolds Soft Sea Wool. 

Wallpaper Mittens(In-Progress)

 

The second project is a Shetland Triangle I started about a week and a half after my last post in August.  This was supposed to be a Christmas gift for someone.  It's now turning into a birthday gift.  I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't turn back into a Christmas present again.  I've completed about 7 repeats.  I'm looking to knit about 12-14. I want the shawl to be large.  I'm using Madeline Tosh Sock, which has become my new favorite yarn.

Shetland Triangle (In-Progress)

Next, while on a trip in to the city, I stopped by Purl.  I picked up two skeins of Shelter, which later became a Habitat in progress.  

Habitat (In-Progress)

Last but not least, last Friday I came across Kay Gardiner's new Mitered Crosses Blanket (rav link).  So, last Saturday while on a trip to Annie and Company I noticed they were having a 20% off sale on all Noro yarns.  For every skein purchased, they donated $1 to The Red Cross for the disaster in Japan.  I ended up making an impulse buy on a few skeins of Noro Silk Garden and couldn't resist casting on a block.  You can see what a completed block looks like here.  Once I complete the block, the rest of this blanket will probably be put on hold.  I have some baby knits that I want to get started on. I've been eyeing Jared Flood's Tweed Blanket.  I noticed recently he updated the pattern with his Shelter yarn.  I will be using Knit Picks City Tweed DK, since the yarn has already been bought and is sitting in my stash.  Well, I'll stop here for now.  I promise to be back with an update soon.  Thanks for reading.

Happy Knitting! ♥ 

My Vacation With Smith

Last week, I was on vacation  in West Dover, Vermont.  I arrived on the 6th and left on the 13th.  I had gone with my Mother and Godmother.  It was a girl's week.  We stayed at The Grand Summit Resort Hotel at Mt. Snow in West Dover.  The area was so quiet and calm, which was very refreshing.  I loved the mountain air.  So crisp.  I think the 10° to 15° temperature difference  from NYC had something to do with it.  While there we shopped, went to the spa, got a chance to view the meteor shower Wednesday night and relax.

Grand Summit Resort & Hotel at Mount Snow

Besides everything we took part in, I did manage to do some knitting.  While in Vermont, I started two new projects.  The first project I'm not able to give a lot of detail since the recipient frequents the blog.  I can say that I'm using some Tosh Sock in Tart and that it is a shawl. 

The second project started was Smith by Ysolda Teague.  A few weeks ago I picked up a copy of her book, Whimsical Little Knits 2 from Brooklyn General.  I finished this project in three days.  I love it.  He came out so cute.  I used the yarn that was called for in the pattern.  On my way up to Vermont, I stopped by Webs and purchased some Rowan Scottish Tweed DK that was on closeout.  It's such a shame that this yarn was discontinued.  This was my first pattern that I've knit from Ysolda Teague.  The pattern was very clear and easy to follow.  In a lot of ways the construction and attachment of the spikes reminded me of the Flore Hat by Knitwhits I made a few years ago. I had to go up a few needle sizes.  I used US 5 needles for the body and US 9 needles for the spikes.  I had a lot of fun making both of these projects.  There was a lot of yarn left over from both balls, so I think I may be able to knit another Smith from them.  I also ended up making the Wee Mushroom that was in the picture.  The pattern is also included in the book.  It took me about 2 hours to make. The only change that I made to the pattern was that I knit an additional increase row for the cap.

Just Started

 

Almost Done

Finished

Pattern: Smith from Whimsical Little Knits 2 by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Rowan Scottish Tweed DK (sh. 25 Oatmeal & sh. 19 Peat)

Needles: 8" Crystal Palace Double Pointed Knitting Needles US 5 (Body) & US 9 (Spikes)

Started: August 10, 2010

Finished: August 12, 2010

Pattern: Wee Mushrooms from Whimsical Little Knits 2 by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Rowan Scottish Tweek DK (sh. 25 Oatmeal & sh. 24 Porridge)

Needles: 8" Crystal Palace Double Pointed Knitting Needles US 5

Started: August 16, 2010

Finished: August 16, 2010

Happy Knitting! ♥

Heart-Patch Pants

Since my vacation started I've been knitting up a storm.  I love having all the free time.  I decided to cast on a last minute baby gift for an expectant friend.  She's due in September.  So, I decided to cast on the Heart-Patch Pants from Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig.  The pattern gives you two options for sizing, 0 - 6 months and 6 - 12 months.  I decided to knit the 6 - 12 month size.  My mom always says, "too big is a fit" (especially when it comes to babies).  I used the yarn called for in the pattern, Manos Cotton Stria. Such a nice yarn.  I just heard that it's being discontinued.  The pattern says that you only need two skeins for the pants, but I ended up dipping in to a third skein.  I used about 3 yards of it though, so there wasn't that much used.  I think it may have been the result of my gauge being so funky and having to increase 3 needle sizes.  I had to use a size 9 needle.  I am such a tight knitter.  I ended up using a size 8 needle for the heart patches.  

 

Pattern: Heart-Patch Pants from Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig (rav)

Yarn: Manos Cotton Stria (sh. 213 - Pistachio sh. 217 - Red) 

Needles: 16" Addi Circular Knitting Needles US 9

             Clover Double Pointed Knitting Needles US 8 

Other Materials: Braided 1/2" wide elastic

Started: July 22, 2010

Finished: July 25, 2010

The construction of the pants were easy.  You knit two flat pieces.  When it reaches a certain length, you leave it on a stitch holder.  When both pieces are the same size, I joined them in the round and decreased as I knit up.  I mattress stitched the inside of the legs closed.  Last, I sewed in a piece of elastic in the waist.  I didn't think knitting up a pair of pants would be that easy.  I really like the way they turned out.  So simple and the heart-patches make the pants ten times cuter.  This is the second project that I've knit from Closely Knit.  The first was the Bird's Nest Pincushion.  Overall, I'm happy with the way they turned out.  Too cute!

Happy Knitting! ♥

A New Project

For the last two weeks I've been obsessed with Anna Hrachovec's new book, Knitting Mochimochi.  Every few minutes I find myself flipping through it.  A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Anna at Brooklyn General for the release party for her new book.  While there, I was able to see all of the toys from her new book.  For a long time, I've had a crush on her line of knitted toys.  Last year I even bought yarn and dug out some needles to begin.  I was all ready, but never started it.

Lately, I've found myself repeatedly flipping through pages 71 to 75 of Anna's book.  The pages contain the pattern for Grouchy Couch.  When I saw him at Brooklyn General, I knew I wanted to knit him up. 

 

Knitting Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec (Book Cover)

I'm in the middle of the colorwork section of the base.  I had a little trouble starting the base.  It took me about 2 to 3 tries to get the provisional cast-on right.  The first time I was a little overeager and didn't read the pattern and used a cable cast-on.  The second time I casted on, my stitches were all twisted and wonky. (Is that even a word? Hope you understand.)  After a half hour of watching You Tube videos on provisional cast-ons, I did it.  Yay!!!

 

The Base of Mr. Grouchy Couch

Besides, Grouchy Couch, I've been working on my Button Up Cowl.  I finished the cable pattern and am now working on a whole lot of ribbing.  It's kind of mindless, which is a plus.  Mindless TV knitting is always a plus for me. Hopefully, the next post you see here will be about it being finished.

Happy Knitting! ♥