Warmish Release

It's been a long time since I published a pattern on Ravelry. I have lots of lovely ideas, just can't seem to find the time to work things out properly and make sure I write a good pattern. About a month ago I finally settled in and got one of my ideas down on paper. Warmish is now available for sale.

It's a beret-shaped hat that sits loosely around the ears and a simple dimple-texture pattern. It doesn't get that cold in Portland in the winter, so I don't like hats that are very tight against my ears and forehead. This is fitted enough to not fall off in a gust of wind, but not snug. However, for those who do prefer a snug brim, I've included instructions for using a smaller needle size on the brim to give a tighter fit. 

I knit my sample with one ball of Rowan Lima Colour in the creatively named colorway 711. I love the way the fiber blend (84% alpaca, 8% wool, 8% nylon) allowed for a lot of relaxation in blocking and really let the beret shape come out. 

To achieve the beret shape, blocking is absolutely necessary. The circular decreases happen quickly and the finished hat will look a little "lumpy" until it is blocked. I used a 12" dinner plate and got just the right amount of slouch. Some of my test knitters commented that the hat looked small when it came off the needles but after they blocked it, it grew to the right size. 

I always love to hear feedback (and constructive criticism) about my patterns. If you happen to knit this one you can leave me a message here or on Ravelry and I'll get back to you right away.

Pink Ops

Several years ago, I made myself an OpArt blanket from Melissa Dominguez's pattern in the Fall 2008 Knitty. You may remember I blogged about it here. At the time, I thought I Thatprobably would never make another one, since it's really A LOT of garter stitch, and gets pretty unwieldy at the outer edge.

Back in December, I was showing off my Ravelry catalog of finished projects to Bob (I know, I know, I am super cool) and he LOVED my OpArt. He asked if it would be hard to make a second one. Gotta love non-knitters--even garter stitch impresses them!

Of course I knit a second one. We went to the yarn store to pick colors, and I was a bit surprised when Bob picked the exact same pink and cream color combination I had used originally. I mean, it's an awesome combination, but a bit unexpected for Bob. On my original blanket I used cheap One Pound yarn by Caron. For Bob's blanket he sprung for something a little nicer to work with--Berroco Vintage in colorways Watermelon and Buttercream.     

That's the blanket in action (and in really poor lighting.) I followed the pattern as written and knit through the stripe that is 10 garter ridges wide (half-way between the small and large sizes.) Because the pattern calls for DK weight and I was using worsted, I upped my needle size to a US 9. I also used a I-cord bind off rather than a normal bind off to give more stretch and a more polished edge. 

I knit on this a lot while I was studying for the Washington bar exam so the garter stitch wasn't as painful as the first time around (or maybe the pain was just so far outweighed by bar exam pain that it seemed small in comparison.) Still, the last few stripes were a real slog. I may be jinxing myself, but I really hope this is my last OpArt. Great finished product, but not very exciting on the needles.

Monster!

Long long time ago (winter 2012) I joined Stacey Trock's (who designed under the name FreshStitches) kit club. Ever other month for 3 months she mailed out a kit for a cute stuffed crochet toy. I had good intentions, but almost two years later two of the three kits are still tucked away unopened.

The last kit mailed out was for Amigurumi Roosevelt the Monster and it came with a ball of yarn that changed colors slowly. This cute little guy was enough to make me pick up a hook and get to work.

The color changing yarn was very pretty, but it actually changed a little too slowly for this little guy. I knit the ears, eyes, and just started the first leg before the first color change, and the second color took me all the way through the rest of the project. I didn't even get to the third or fourth colors. 

I grew up in the 90s so this guy always makes me think of the cartoon Aaahh! Real Monsters, doesn't he remind you a little bit of Krumm? 

I sprayed him with catnip spray so he's a favorite around her. That photo was taken when he was brand new, but he's got a lovely halo of cat hair always, no matter how many times I take him out on the balcony and shake him out.