PoMo Golightly

Ishbel

Ishbel
Originally uploaded by PoMo Golightly

Gigi was kind enough to agree to model my latest lace shawl: Ishbel from Whimsical Little Knits. I wanted to make something special for a good friend's 40th birthday, and I think I chose just the right pattern.  I blocked it today, and yet again, the magic of blocking wowed me.

I've been spinning about an hour a day for Tour de Fleece, and spinning on my bike a lot, too.  The rain has finally gone away, and CT has had amazing, warm, breezy days.  The tomatoes are starting to bear fruit, and flowers are blooming all over the meadow.

This weekend will be filled with parties, knitting, reading, and spinning of both kinds.  How about you?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Free pattern: Two Babies, Two Skeins, Two Hats

As soon as I knew I was going to Albuquerque to see my good friend Dana's twins, I decided to make hats just like them: similar, but not the same.  There are close to a zillion baby hats out there, but I used my own know how about hats and came up with this sweet little take on two hats for two babies. 

Two Babies, Two Skeins, Two Hats

fits 3-6 mos. olds, but easily adjustable

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Babybamboo two skeins in contrasting colors.
Needles: size 7 dpns or short circulars (I used 12" circs until the crown decreases, when I switched to dpns) or needle size needed for 5 sts/inch.

Cast on 80 stitches in main color and join, being careful not to twist. Mark beginning of round.  Knit for three inches.  Join contrast color at the start of a round (you may like to use the jogless jog method), and knit for one inch.  At the start of the next round, drop the contrast color and return to the main color.  You'll begin decreases as follows:

Row 1:* K2tog, knit 8* 
Row 2 and every even row thereafter: Knit
Row 3: *K2tog, knit 7*
Row 5: *K2tog, knit 6*
Row 7: *K2tog, knit 5*
Row 9: *K2tog, knit 4*
Row 11: *K2tog, knit 3*
Row 13: *K2tog, knit 2*
Row 15: *K2tog, knit 2*
Row 17: *K2tog, knit 1*
Row 19:  *K2tog*

Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, which you'll thread through the live stitches.  Weave in the tails.

Make a second hat in the opposite colorways, and see how cute your favorite twins look...or give your singleton a contrasting hat wardrobe!

After knitting a few scarves and socks, I spent the first year or so of my knitting life making chemo caps.  I learned the simple formula that allowed me to make these baby hats through trial and error: find the recipient's head measurement, multiply that by your sts/inch, cast on, knit for a while, and decrease.  I always start my decreases at 10% of my cast on stitches.

Please send me a picture if you make the TB,TS,TH hats!

Puff Daddy

Puff Daddy

I finished the first of many Puff Daddies at SnB last Tuesday, and Sarah graciously agreed to model it while Spring shot a picture. I went a little crazy on the big pompom, but I like the extra width of this version. My Christmas knitting is this close to being completed...a few Puffs, a few Bijouterie, and I can call it a day. I do need to start wrapping gifts, though.

I want to thank everyone for their good wishes for Maddie. I would do so individually, but Typepad is making responding to comments a bit tricksy today. In any case, Maddie came home this afternoon. She was thrilled to see Tilly, meh about Coco, and over the moon for Neal. She has to wear a cone to keep her from messing with her sutures, but we got the go ahead to keep it off her if she's good about not obsessing. Right now she's next to me on the sofa, sound asleep, sans collar. The house feels right again with her in it.

Maybe now I can turn on some holiday music and really feel the grace and joy of the season. What do you do to ensure you don't forget the real meaning of the holidays?

Socktoberfest

Lolly hosts the most fun projects, in part because they are well-thought-out, and in part because they are low pressure.  My Socktoberfest fun this year included participating in the Halloween Sock Kit Swap (as the creator of the original KSKS, I find it hard to resist a kit swap).  When Kirsten announced her TTL Mystery Sock pattern as her contribution to Socktober festivities, I figured, why not?  This amazing yarn was included in my kit from Jenna (Rav link), and I cast on right away on Thursday evening.  I've really enjoyed having a sock on the needles, and there's some excitement as I attempt to catch up (Clue 2 was issued on Wednesday).  I'm doing one sock at a time, but I don't think I'll suffer from SSS with this pattern and bright autumnal yarn!

Lady of the Lake...at Last

The sun came out, so we were finally able to get in a shoot for the Lady of the Lake.  This was truly an easy knit; I just got distracted by other things over the course of the year.  Now, though, she's done and ready for Rhinebeck.  I used an antique pin from my great-grandmother as a closure, but I might look for something more lightweight.

Visit my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.  Now I turn my attention to another lady--February Lady!

Finally!

No pictures, but trust me: I finished my Lady of the Lake sweater.  I cast off just after last night's debate, and I've spent the afternoon weaving in ends.  Done!  Gigi the dress form is wearing her until I can figure out where to block.

I've figured out my next weaving project.  I'm going to make myself a delicate open-weave shawl.  I have a few sewing projects to clear from my work desk, and I'd like to warp the loom this weekend so the weaving can begin.

It's knitting night at Creative Fibers, but Neal's not feeling well, and I promised him "feel good" soup--veggie broth with loads of veggies and some pasta.  I don't want to leave him while he's down.  Unless, of course, he wants to be alone to nurse his sniffles.

The dogs are restless, wanting their walk.  An hour ago, the skies were dark and ominous.  Now...bright blue and sunshine.  I'd best get out there before things change again.

Hope you're having a fun Friday afternoon.  What are your plans for the weekend?

Hyacinth Girl

Pillow of Sei Shonagon

I finally finished the sewing on my Pillow of Sei Shonagon from Larissa Brown's Knitalong.  The knitting was fast; making a pillow form and sewing on the backing took longer.  Well, technically, they only took an afternoon, but I procrastinated. 

This was for Blog-free Kim's birthday in early August...I'm keeping up a tradition of giving her half-finished gifts when we celebrate!  I was a bit tricksy earlier in the season and asked her for suggestions for poems that she liked.  She mentioned T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland," and I used the first two and a half stanzas for the text of the pillow. 

This was a satisfying and fun project.  Now I have to persuade myself to give it up!  Ravelry details here.

Marconi Beach Marker: Free Pattern

Last week I forgot to celebrate my three-year blogiversary, so I decided to post a little bookmark pattern as a belated celebration.  If you make one, let me know--I'd love to see it!  I named it after Neal's favorite spot on Cape Cod as books and the end of summer and beaches seem meant for each other.

Here's the pattern if you want a little bookmark of your own.

Supplies needed:
Hairpin lace loom
US 0 crochet hook
Ambrosia yarn (any thin yarn will do; adjust hook size accordingly)

If you haven't tried hairpin lace before, there is an excellent tutorial at Stitch Diva.  Hairpin lace was my first fiber craft.  I made my boyfriend an afghan when I was 14.  He moved on with the blanket, but I was hooked on fiber!

Set the loom's prongs to a 1.5 inch width.  Begin, being careful to keep center of strip aligned properly.  When you have 60 loops on each side, cut the yarn and tie off.   
Next, with working yarn, SC (single crochet) every two loops together.  Repeat on opposite long side.  Leave long tails on each end.

Using those tails, SC 5 on either side of the bottom and top loops.  Weave in ends and block lightly.

Meanwhile create a tassle.  I like the one in Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  Once the bookmark is dry, attach the tassle.  I made a SC chain that I looped through the tassle's chain, but you could also leave a really long tail on the bookmark and use that to wind the head of the tassle, thereby attaching it.

I plan to try this pattern in linen next--tres elegant for a gift.  I may even get into some beading with this!

Please let me know if you have any questions about the pattern.  This is the first time I've written up a pattern to share publicly, and I want to make sure there are no problems!  Enjoy!

Rain, Rain, go away...

I know, I know, it's good for the garden.  I had plans for biking this morning, though, and I won't bike in the rain.  No, I'm not all afraid I'm going to melt.  It's a safety thing, people.

I guess instead of biking, or even weeding (I don't do that in the rain, either, because I fear I might melt), I'll have to tackle something else.  But what? What?  Sure, there is reading to be done, but what I really want to do?

Start on February Lady. 

Sit down for this one: I swatched in my yarn last night.  This morning, in fulfillment of my promise to Laura,  I washed the swatches.  Now I'm all sorts of confused as the gauge changed (aha, that's why the washing!!), and I don't know which way is up in terms of my next move with needles.  In any case, the 8s and 9s are giving me washed fabric that is 4 sts/inch instead of 4.5.  I'm playing dumb here a little, but not entirely.  I'm going to knit up a swatch on 7s next and see what happens.  I'll let you know!

ETA: I swatched on the 7s (which, btw, I did last night and ripped out as I got 5 sts/inch.  Shoulda washed and blocked!), washed, blocked, and perfecto gauge!  Wait until you see how pretty the red, red yarn is on my ebony needles. 

Summer Knitting Goals

Ali is hosting her Summer Knitting Goals Contest.  I've had some knitting ennui of late, and I'm hoping that the setting of goals will bring meaning back to my knitting.  Or something.

Finish:
1.  Lady of the Lake needs sleeves.  I should be able to knit sleeves, don't you think?  If I can just pick up the dang stitches, I'll be practically done.
2.  Tuscany.  I've started her three times, and I think this one is a keeper.  I had intended to give her as a Christmas gift, but I like her too much. 
3.  Grocery tote. 
Start (and complete, for crime in Italy)
1.  February Lady Sweater.  What is not to love about this beauty?   All hail  Pamela, clever stylish chica.
2.  Secret things for people who are now nicknamed Tubby and read the blog.  I, mind you, don't subscribe to this nickname.  But it's hot, and there are two little ones in the oven, and maybe a mama-to-be needs a giggle.
3.  Apollo and Artemis.  A girl needs socks, and these suit me perfectly.  All hail Kirsten, pattern writing queen and elegance embodied (and generous, too!).
4.  Lace.  I'm thinking a red shawl to replace Tuscany, the Goddess knits  mystery shawl, and  a Swallowtail.  You don't need links, right?

The reality, if the past serves as a means to measure, is that I'll maybe get one thing done.  Unless I crank the a/c.  Maybe then I'll have a knitting resurgence and fall in love with every project I touch.  Instead of, you know, knitting an inch and casting it aside, fickle summer knitter that I am.

What are your summer craft goals?