It Matches My Blog

Thanks for all the comments on the last entry. I’m feeling an energy crisis (holdover from the flu) which is making thinking of something to blog a bit overwhelming. But I got yarn in the mail, so I don’t have to think all that much.

But first, another Ravelympics project is done:

That’s Felicity in Dream in Color Classy in Deep Sea Flower. Very squishy and very blue (blue hands and needles). It’s a good thing I love this color because I have both a shawl and a sweater’s worth of DIC in this colorway.

And I have started another cowl. I should mention as well that this cowl is currently slated for FKS. So keep an eye out if you want a squishy rainbow colored cowl.

And then there’s the yarn. As most of you know, I can’t handle knitting with thin yarn. Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock is thin.

But it matches my blog! Named for Franklin’s blog, it matches my flower motif which I have used for ages now. That color combination is about my favorite in the world. I am thinking maybe a cowl or something.

At the moment I am watching the men’s gymnastics (USA is looking good) and I have a doctor’s appointment in an hour. Ick.

Happy… what day is it anyway?

 

Losing Will to Blog…

This Monday is dreary. I have a very bizarre allergy/cold thing going on. I am frustrated with my lack of ability to do what normal people do on Monday mornings. And my blogging is really suffering. Between Ravelry and Flickr, I’m not entirely sure why I blog. I’m sort of tired by the way the interaction goes (very one sided), I’m tired of pontificating (although I don’t expect that to last long) and I feel like at best, things have been mediocre. And as a writer I am beginning to notice a rather strong correlation between blogging and the lack of writing. This probably has nothing to do with blogging itself. Rather that I am really creative in finding ways to circumvent being creative altogether. Is it just the time of year? Any other bloggers out there feeling the doldrums? Or is it just me?

Hrm. How about some knitting?

The Purl Beret is no more. I forgot how much I hate knitting sock yarn hats on tiny needles. They don’t seem to work for me.

The Tundra Cowl is done. Again, I’ll do a post-Olympics project post but in the meantime you can find all the info on Ravelry.

Rose Wine is going well.

And the yellow socks are going well.

Other than that, I got nothing. Hope y’all have a better Monday than I am currently having.

 

Ground Flower Hat

This is basically the Fountain Hat but without all the huge needles. Called ground flower because the decreases reminded me of the way the fireworks of the same name spin into elongated petal shapes.

Ground Flower Hat

• Yarn: 2 skeins Knit Picks Palette
• Needles: US 5 and US 7 circs.
• Gauge: 4.5 sts/in on largest needles (anywhere around this gauge will work)

With yarn held doubled, cast on 88 stitches on US 5 needles. Join for working in the round. Work in 1×1 ribbing (*k1, p1*) until hat measures 1.5″ from cast on edge. Switch to larger needles and work one increase row as follows: *k2, m1*, repeat to end. Work in stockinette stitch (knitting every round) until hat measures 6″ from increase row. Work decreases as follows:

• *k2, k2tog* for one row
• knit 4 rows plain
• *k2, k2tog* until 10 stitches remain

Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in ends. Wear with even more aplomb.

 

Square Circle Hat

I have a big head and a lot of hair. This hat came about by needing a hat that actually covered my head as opposed to sit on top of it. I also knit this with fingering weight yarn held double. I especially like the color play possible when using two different colors of yarn. However worsted weight yarn would work just as well.

Sqcirc Hat:

• Yarn: 2 skeins of Knit Picks Gloss (blue) or Palette (orange/yellow) or about 200 yards of worsted weight yarn
• Needles: US 5 and US 6 circular needles, US 6 DPNs
• Gauge: 4.25 sts/in on largest needles
• Notes: yarn held doubled throughout. The blue hat features a tubular cast on found here.

Cast on 88 (96 if you have a big head like me) stitches on US 5 needles. Join for working in the round. Work in 1×1 ribbing (*k1, p1*) until hat measures 1.5″ from cast on edge. Switch to larger needles. Work in stockinette stitch (knitting every round) until hat measures 10″ from cast on.

Now here’s where the square comes in.

Divide the stitches across four needles, 22 (24) stitches on each needle.

A

B C

D

Graft (or three needle bind off) A to D. Knit for an additional 0-3″ on needle B then graft B to C.

Note: The blue hat has no additional knitting. The orange hat has two inches of additional knitting on B before grafting. It really is just a matter of taste.

Weave in ends and wear.

 

All Palette, All The Time. Oh, And A Basket Of Memories Too.

I don’t quite know why I ever bought 30 balls of fingering weight yarn in all the colors of the rainbow. But I did. And I am currently on a real kick to use it up. It’s lovely stuff but I want it out of my stash already. I don’t know what I was thinking.

• Name: Slouchy Spring Hat
• Pattern: my own
• Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Sky and Mint
• Needles: Denise’s US 5 and 6
• Notes: This was supposed to be a Square Circle hat but I decided against it and made a slouchy one instead. Very springy, I must say.

Between that and the Sqcirc Hat Prototype 1, that’s 4 balls down. (Not including remnants which I may burn on a bonfire and dance around, laughing maniacally.)

Six more are currently at work in a Dolores Park Cowl (there’s three of these in Palette in my near future):

In Pool, Blue, Lilac, Purple, Wood and Bark.

I actually quite like the way this looks only I think I might try five or even four strands in the next one, this one would stand up to an Arctic blast quite easily.

I picked up this little basket at a Moroccan place over the weekend. I have no idea if it’s authentically Moroccan or just a nifty little basket. It feels wonderful in the hand and looks to be handmade.

I picked it up (much to Mr F’s wondering) and brought it home. It currently doesn’t have a place yet, but I did realize why I was drawn to it.

When I was a kid there were always Mexican crafts about the house. Little baskets, woven rugs, big thick ponchos hanging in the closet, toys, clothing, you name it. My dad kept his keys in half an abalone shell. I like the idea of having a little basket by the door for keys and pocket-emptying. There is an informality that I find I really miss. And a certain homeyness that is found in the organic, handmade and traditional.

 

Desk, Hat, Clouds and A Little Spring Giveaway

That about covers it except to say that for some reason WordPress is eating comment notifications again.

Also, since it’s tax season back home and it’s got me stressed out and I don’t even have to worry about it, how about a little giveaway?

That’s a skein of Spritely Goods Fey Sock Yarn in Spring is Here. Fitting, no?

Email pfeknitsAT gmail.com by April 15th and a winner will be picked at random.

And now more studying needs doing. After that I’m going to reward myself by playing Sims 2.

Happy Thursday!

 

WIP Wednesday

Another Wednesday but the same old projects.

Phyllo Yoked Pullover in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. Nearly done with the body.

Rainbow Socks: Red. Ruby socks in Mama Blue Sea Merino. Halfway on sock 1.

Fiddling Around Hat No. 2 in Knit Picks Palette in Sky and Mint.

And I do have a picture of my desk for today but my camera battery is currently charging.

As you can see I am trying out a new photo background. While it seems to look more professional, I admit a preferrence for my old gold background. The nice thing about the new background is that it allows to me to shoot somewhere other than a windowsill.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Have a good one!

 

An Experimental Hat

Many moons ago I bought one of those Knit Picks Palette samplers. 30 balls of fingering weight wool.

The idea was to have yarn that I could just play with. Fiddle around, mess up and otherwise get creative with. After frogging the Endpaper Mitts I cast on with the frogged yarn to sort out the Square Circle Hat Pattern to be written up. Alas, I just can’t seem to get the pattern sorted out in a way I like. I mean, it’s a hat. It’s a very nice hat. I love the way the colors blend and play in the hat. But it’s just not quite how I knit the first one. So I’ve designated the sampler for hat experiments or whatever sort of vague crazy idea pops into my head.

I’ve put the first prototype up in my Etsy shop, as another experiment. But don’t be alarmed, there will still be Free Knitted Stuff. I have a pair of Koigu socks slated for the FKS page in the nearish future. I’ll just knit and tweak and fiddle. It’s quite a relaxing prospect. Fiddling. There should be more fiddling in life.

And I wanted to share this absolutely gorgeous necklace I got last week from Wyrding Studios. It’s the White Rabbit neckline from the Wonderland/Mad As A Hatter Collection. I want a Flamingo one too.

And now I think I’ll make a cup of tea and get back to the slog. Have a good day!

 

Pictures Galore!

I got some odd compulsion to take a whole heap o’ photographs today, partly to catch up on all those photo based groups I’ve let slide. So steady yourself, here we go.

Project Spectrum:

I am really excited that this year’s theme is the elements. Unfortunately, I’m not really a fire girl. Air and water, no problem. Fire and earth I have never really resonated with. All the more reason to find myself among fire for the next two months. Today it’s just colors. I hope to find elemental inspiration over the next few weeks.

ABC-Along:

A is for…

Apples

Always

B is for…

Bodhisattva

Blue Necklace

C is for…

Car

Crafty

Phoe Designs: Pendant Setting:

I got these two gorgeous pendants here and here, respectively. And I thought they needed settings that really suited them… and me. So I made my own.

This one came with it’s own necklace which neither suited me nor fit me. I love the big chunky Swarovski crystals and the blue of the stone.

This one needed something very simple and understated to show off the pendant.

Yarn For Swap:

Lots of Fleece Artist Basic Merino Sock. I’m interested in STR Lightweight, Koigu and similarly weighted yarns (too thin and I can’t knit with it). You can also find these listed on my Ravelry stash trade page.

In Cosmic Dawn

In Rainforest

In Rainforest (this was being knit into socks but has been frogged)

If interested, please email me at pfeknitsAT gmail.com. Thanks!

A Finished Object:

• Name: Fountain Hat (by me)
• For: M’s sister
• Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Indigo
• Needles: US 6, 8 and 15. Thank the gods for Denises!

*whew*

Give yourself a cookie if you made it through all that. Two if you actually read it all.

 

Mondays Are Always Vexing

It’s a universal truth that Mondays just have something about them that vexes mere mortals. I find them not fun at all. Which I don’t really understand as I dislike weekends most of the time as well. I’m just a grump no matter when, I suppose.

But these squares are anything but grumpy.

I still maintain that this is going to be a wild blanket.

I also have my Super Bowl project. Well, what’s done of it. Since the game didn’t kick off until 11pm we didn’t make it past halftime.

Another Fountain Hat in Malabrigo. So lovely and squishy. I quite like the color too although I was unsure of it in skein form.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, I am chuffed to bits with the result, as is Mr F. Now we’re really wishing we’d been able to stay up late enough to see the end of the game. Oh well, there’s always next year. (We have been saying that for five years now and have only made it through the entire game once. Well, I made it through. Mr F fell asleep.)

Thanks to everyone for the compliments on the haircut. Cutting my own hair has always been sort of a desperation measure, I’d hack away at anything that was growing out funky. It’s only recently that I’ve done it on a regular basis. This is after one too many absolutely awful salon haircuts where I was charged extra for having hard to cut hair. At £60 ($120) a pop I expect good results. Not having to go back three times to get the haircut fixed. I’d rather not be charged a penny to mess up my own darn hair was how it all started. But it turns out that I’m not too bad at it. Plus, I have wavy hair which is forgiving. Hooray for being a visual learner. All those years in salon chairs taught me enough about layering and cutting that I don’t expect to ever need to go back to a proper salon. Which is good.

And now for something completely different.

Happy Monday.