Central Park Hoodie Progress - Part 2

Knitting, frogging, and knitting again after you read the pattern, and finally get the decreases down. Here is the left and right front pieces of my hoodie. I am about halfway through the armhole openings. Next is the neck, and then off to the sleeves. I can see a dim light barely shining at the end of the tunnel.

Here is the finished back, on stitch holders

The Never-Ending Stash

So, I must admit....I went a little knitting crazy today. My first stop was Border's on Broadway, where I went to purchase Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. So, why did I leave with 2 magazines, and another book? Actually, I read an excerpt of Knitting Under the Influence, and got upset when it was over. So, of course I HAD to buy it. Here is my reasoning for my purchases....I had a 25% 0ff coupon.

Now the yarn, I have no excuse for. I don't even know where it will fit in my closet. On second thought, in order to justify this again.....all of these yarns already have projects. Come on, I shop with a purpose.

The pink yarn is Cascade Magnum #9424, and I plan to make the tunic designed by Twinkle, as seen on page 81 of Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006 magazine. Also, because I am an avid shopper at Knit New York, I have managed to rack up over $200 in purchases over the course of the year, and received a discount on the yarn.

The green yarn (Manos Del Uruguay Spring) and blue/green variegated yarn (Manos Del Uruguay Caribe) will be used to make a Haramaki. It is the rage in Japan, and it is basically a corset for your belly, that is supposed to keep your core warm, and promote circulation and healing. Personally, I think they would just all look cute with a button down shirt and some jeans. I went to the website of the Japanese man that has copywrighted his own designs. Too bad I can't read a lick of Japanese. Or else he would have had me sold. However, being the resourceful knitter that I am, I will design my own pattern, and make it fit perfect!!! Well, I can at least try. More updates on that later. I bought these yarns at The Point, when they had their anniversary sale. Thanks, Berhan for helping me pick it out!!! (I hope I spelled your name right)

The sock yarn is there for me to practice using the book. I want to try the two circular needle technique.

So, now I am waiting on my Knitpicks shipment, because the yarn shop did not have size 17 needles that I needed for the "Magnum" tunic (40 inch and 20 inch). Let me clarify...Knitpicks's smallest option cable size is 24", but the pattern is knit back and forth for the sleeves on that needle, so having 4 extra inches really isn't going to hurt. I have looked at about 5 different internet shops, and decided that Knitpicks is the best for Jumbo needles. I ordered the Options cables, and needle points separate. I do not have the whole kit, but I only needed the 17. I have also found it to be very affordable, considering some needles cost $25.00 alone, especially at the jumbo size.

So, I made a promise to a really good friend whose name shall remain anonymous, that I would not buy any more yarn until I had projects finished. Well, I want to keep my promise, but the willpower level is at zero when the two words Yarn and discount go together. Sorry. However, I will be hanging out with her tomorrow, and I know I am never going to hear the end of it. Hopefully she won't yell at me too much in front of her sister. :-/

Another thing that happened to me recently, was that I got to experience a presentation given by the Yarn Harlot at FIT. It was amazing. She joked about acquiring yarn in secret, and justifying your purchases. And here I am hiding my yarn (although it is in a see-through bag)from my mom who thinks I am bonkers for trying to find space in my closet for everything(cedar balls are my new buddies). Hey, If I were to buy a Ralph Lauren handknit sweater, it would be 4-5 times the amount I spent on the yarn. So, there you go!!!

All the non-knitters out there... you don't even know the type of jovial insanity you are missing out on. Write me....I am a certified instructor... we can meet for coffee... let me show you a piece of my world.

Ariel's Cable Hat

This hat was made especially for my cousin's 1-year old daughter Ariel.

I made it using Lion Brand's WoolEase, and size 8 needles. The hat has a circumference of 18 inches, so I casted on 72 stitches, and worked from there. I used a 6-stitch cable that crosses to the left (needle held in front) with 3 purl stitches between each cable section.

This was my first attempt to make a cabled hat, and I am very happy with the end result. Ariel, I hope you love it. Mommy, don't worry... Wool ease is Machine Washable, so she can play in it as much as she wants. We all know how messy kids can be.

(Picture of Ariel wearing the hat coming soon)

Central Park Hoodie Progress

So, you must be wondering what's going on with that Central Park Hoodie??? Well, Making 4 hats in between the time I started the hoodie has set ma back a bit, but now that I have cleared those tasks off of my list, I can focus on finishing my sweater. Here is the play by play.

I am using Cascade 220 yarn in this beatiful teal color because I found it to be softer than the Donegal tweed that the pattern originally called for, there were more skeins of this particular color at my yarn shop (Knit-A-Way of Brooklyn), the price was cheaper than the Donegal Tweed, and the owner special ordered the remaining skeins that I needed. When you are working with a budget, you are always mindful of cutting costs. And having a really nice yarn shop owner is also a plus..(Cita, you Rock ....uh did I spell your name right... well for those of you in blog land, her name is pronounced Cee-Tah!!!) There have been no modifications made to the pattern, and I am doing the 36 inch pattern size, since I wear a small. I actually want it to fit close, and true to size.

Here is my swatch. I think the row gauge may be off by two more rows, but since the pattern requests knitting to a certain length, I don't think it will be a problem.

This is the lower ribbed portion of the back of the sweater. Knitted using size 6 needles - 26 rows - 4 inches

I then changed to size 8 needles to knit the rest of the back, and begin the cables, which I must say, for my first attempt, are coming out quite nice. Week #1

This is about 60 rows of cables. A few more rows, and I start the arm shaping. This picture shows the true color of the yarn, with natural light. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this color. Week #2

Week #3- More to come. I have to catch a ten hour flight before the week is over, so I am sure that I will be bringing back a lot more pictures from my trip. Hey, I may even finish the whole sweater. Stay tuned.

Hat for CancerCare's Knit-Out

On December 2nd, CancerCare held it's 4th Annual Knit-out, and encouraged knitters to use their creativity in creating a special hat for a patient. They asked me to take a kit home, and complete a second hat, and I graciously accepted, because I was so excited about the idea. Time progressed, and it is now February. So, I made this motif just in time for Valentine's Day. The hat has been shipped to their headquarters, and I hope that the person who recieves it will enjoy wearing it as much as I enjoyed making it.

This hat was made using 2 skeins of Filatura Di Crosa's "Primo" yarn, which is 100% Merino wool, and is machine washable. The needle size is 9, with a gauge of 4 stitches per inch. I started with a 16 inch circular, then used bamboo double pointed needles to close the top. There is a Fair Isle section in the middle of this hat. It is wise to ease up on the yarn's tension during this portion, so the yarn does not get bunched up. It has been said that doing Fair Isle in the round is impossible. Well, I just did it, so there you go. I like to break the "rules".

The design of this hat was created by yours truly. Here it is.

MC = Red CC =White.

Using MC, cast on 76 Stitches using the longtail cast on.

K2 P2* for 8 rounds

Continue using MC, and knit 2 more rounds

Using CC, knit 10 rounds even

Using MC, knit 2 rounds even

Using CC, knit 2 rounds even

Begin pattern.

Pattern Ruond 1 -K3 (CC), K1(MC)*

Pattern Round 2 -Knit the whole round using CC

Pattern Round 3 - K1(CC), (K1(MC), K3(CC))* - Repeat * until the end of the round

Pattern Round 4 - Knit the whole round using CC

Pattern Round 5 - K3 (CC), K1(MC)*

Using CC, Knit 2 rounds

Using MC, Knit 2 rounds

Using CC, Knit 10 rounds

Begin Decreasing

1. Using MC, K17, K2tog*. (This will decrease this round by 4 stitches, making it easier to decrease the top of the hat symetrically)
2. Knit the next round even. (72 sts)
3. K6, K2tog *
4. Knit whole round (63 sts)
5. K5, K2tog*
6. Knit whole round (54 sts)
7. K4, K2tog*
8. Knit whole round (45 sts)
9. K3, K2tog*
10. Knit whole round (36 sts)
11. K2, K2tog*
12. Knit whole round (27 sts)
13. K1, K2tog*
14. Knit whole round (18 sts)
15. K2tog* (9 sts)
16. K2 tog (4 times)

5 stitches remain. Break yarn, and draw through loops.

Weave in loose ends.

Sparkly Hat

So, yes I am still obsessed with hats. I made what I call the "Sparkly Hat" from Berroco Mirror FX and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I bought both yarns at Knit New York. I must truly say that I love that knitting store. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and they have a wonderful selection to choose from. This is actually derived from a pattern I bought from them a few months ago, so I must give credit where credit is due. But, being totally unorganized with my knitting patterns (New Year's Resolution to change that is slowly going into effect) I lost it, and had to create my own.

I casted on 96 stitches to make a hat that is approximately 22 inches in circumference. I used a size 7 needle for the ribbing, just to make it snug (I hate when the wind blows into my ears). K2 P2 ribbed for approximately 1 inch, then continued in the stockinette stitch using size 8 needles. This is all done in the round on double pointed needles (just my preference... I hate seaming hats).

Now, here is the part that boggles everyone who comments on the hat. They actually think that I sewed each and every sequin..... Hello!!!! I live in New York. We are too fast paced to do things like that, even if we are the "Fashion Capital of the World". The sequins are strung along the Berroco Mirror FX yarn, and I hold both yarns together as I knit. How easy is that, huh? Glamour without pain and bags under the eyes. My own personal thing is not to overkill the garment with sparkles. You want it to look more like snowflakes, and less like the New Year's Eve ball. So, I only knit the two yarns together every other round.

During the shaping, my decrease rounds are knit in the Cashmerino yarn by itself, and the knit even rows have the Mirror FX yarn joined in.
I used a basic hat pattern, and started my decreasing with K10, K2tog after 6 inches. The next round is knit even, and the round after that is K9, K2tog. I keep following in that pattern until there are 8 stitches left on the needle. I thread the remaining yarn through the stitches twice, and weave in the ends.

Simple Glamour. Enjoy!!!

Moda Dea Hat and Scarf

I have created this hat and scarf set using Moda Dea's Cache' in Siren. This is 75% Wool, 22% Acrylic, and 3% Polyester. The hat uses 2 skeins, and the scarf uses approximately 5 skeins.

The hat pattern is simple.

Head measurement = 22 inches
Using 3 size 10.5 double pointed needles, cast on 68 stitches.

K2,P2 rib for 1 1/2 inches (Using 4th double pointed needle)

Knit even until hat measures 7 inches

Decreasing

• Round 1 - (decrease 4 stitches evenly) - K15, K2tog *
• Round 2 - Knit even (64 stitches)
• Round 3 - K6, k2tog*
• Round 4 - Knit even (56 stitches)
• Round 5 - K5, K2tog*
• Round 6 - Knit even (48 stitches)
• Round 7 - K4, K2tog*
• Round 8 - Knit even (40 stitches)
• Round 9 - K3, K2tog*
• Round 10 - Knit even (32 stitches)
• Round 11 - K2, K2tog*
• Round 12 - Knit even (24 stitches)
• Round 13 - K1, K2tog* (16 stitches)
• Round 14 - K2tog* (8 stitches)

Thread the end of the yarn through the remaining stitches.

Scarf

Cast on 34 Stitches on size 10.5 Needles.

Right side - K2,P2*

Wrong Side - P2, K2*

Continue until scarf measures 60 inches.

These are two easy patterns for beginners, and the use of a variegated yarn makes it fun and easy to add a pop of color to your wardrobe.