Anya Scarf and Fair Trade Goodies

I finished my first every project for my (someday) future mother-in-law (in other words, the Boy's Mum), the Anya Scarf.

I didn't get enough pictures of it, but it is quite lovely.

Pattern: Anya by Zari Zamen
Yarn: Fyberspates 100% lace silk in Ocean. Lovely, lovely yarn.
Needles: Size 4 (3.5mm) Knit Picks Options.
Mods: Did three repeats instead of five. I was running out of time and I really liked the length it ended at.


Also picked up this gorgeous bag in York today, at Fair Trade shop, Shared Earth.
It is completely gorgeous, and completely beats my old (tiny tiny plastic) handbag when it comes to room. It's fairly traded, handmade by women in India who receive fair wages from the purchase. Made from printed silk body, goatskin leather upper, handle, and lower. And enough room to carry knitting (and my wallet and glasses at the same time! Woo!)
Cost: £35. Totally worth it.

Flutter Sleeve Cardigan (IK Spring 2008)

Yup, another FO! This week has been very productive for me (haven't gotten much other work done, but y'know how it goes...)

Flutter Sleeve Cardigan

Source: Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
Yarn: Colourmart UK, 100% Silk DK-weight in Peppermint. Took 1.25 cones (a surprisingly small amount, about 800 yards)

I had a hard time getting a decent shot of the front on me. This is the closest it gets, I suppose.

Needles: Sizes 7, 5, and 3 Bamboo (Clover and Addis, I think)
Size: 40"

Blocking.

FO: VK Cape Collar Jacket

The Cape Collar Jacket

Pattern: Cape Collar Jacket from Winter 2007/2008 Vogue Knitting. Massive pattern modifications due to the pattern being...well...extremely stupid.

Yarn: Harris Tweed and Knitwear DK(ish) wool. Took a while to get here (er, after it was shipped off to the US...sort of my fault. They were very gracious though and sent me the second order at no added cost. Very sweet! It wasn't too rough to work with, being 100% wool, and washed up very soft.

Needles: Knit Picks Options, size 4 for the seed st and size 8 for the cables.

Time taken: Exactly two months.

Verdict: Love it. Hated the seed stitch, hated the pattern, love the sweater.

The Boyfriend Sweater: Cobblestone

I made my first men's sweater. For my boyfriend.

The curse says he's supposed to break up with me, but I'm not sure he's up for that, because, well, he loves it.



I don't think he can anyway, because I didn't knit the entire sweater. He knitted one stitch. Take that, Boyfriend Sweater Curse.



My reward? He bought me a dress-maker's dummy.

That's Sara, in the plastic bag. She's fine, now.

Conclusion: Best boyfriend in the world.

Sweater stats:
Pattern: Cobblestone by Jared Flood, from IK Fall 2007
Yarn: New Lanark Aran, 100% Organic Wool, in Gritstone, 6.5 skeins (love this stuff...very rustic)
Size: 39.5", with mods since the yarn was aran, not worsted. Worked less stitches in the round, made the body and the sleeves longer since the Boy is 6'1", worked less rows in the collar since he likes it more open.
Needles: KP Options US 8 (5.0mm)
Total time from CO to end of blocking: 19 days

Late Winter FOlurries

Having been completely sucked in to the time black-hole of Ravelry, I've been sorely neglecting my blog. I haven't stopped knitting, just stopped posting. I have, however, gotten a few things done (and started a lot more) since I last posted.

Picture parade!

Beadless Odessa for Roomie
.7 balls Cascade 220, Lavender (though it really is more pink)

Claudia for boyfriend, in Rowan Pure Wool Aran, one skein

Under Water scarf for Boyfriend,
in 2 skeins Rowan Cocoon (which both my boyfriend and I have decided is the loveliest yarn ever)

The Ice Queen, for my Mum, on my head.
Now for the ever-expanding Works in Progress...

Making my boyfriend and myself matching Cobblestones. I'm making mine a bit sexed-up: in DK-weight (for a less-bulky fit), with dramatic decreases for a fitted waist, thinner sleeves, and an open collar.

Her Cobblestone in progress, based on Cobblestone by Jared Flood in IK Fall 2007

His Cobblestone in Progress, with mods since the yarn is aran weight, not worsted, and the fabric works up better with 5.0mm needles.

The Shedir from Hell. This thing will never end.

Detail of the Cape-Collar cardigan from Winter 07/08 VK, which I love and can't wait to finish/wear. It's unfortunately on hold right now, since His Cobblestone is requiring my size 8 needles.

Poet's Pullover Pattern

This is a design based somewhat on an Anthropologie sweater from a few years ago. I finally got around to making it. The pattern sizes (besides the 40" size) are approximate, as they haven't been test-driven. If you have any errata or suggestions, please let me know in the comments section. Better pictures coming soon.

Poet's Pullover

A cozy deep v-neck, knit in the round to the bust, with a ribbed collar and ¾ length poet sleeves.

DIFFICULTY

Intermediate

Requires knowledge of knit/purl, knitting in round, decreasing and increasing, seaming.

KNITTED MEASUREMENTS

Finished Size: For 34 (36, 40, 44) bust. Pullover shown is for a 40" bust.

Arm: Sleeves are loose-fitting.

MATERIALS

NOTE: For this sweater, I used a worsted weight yarn, Alpaca Soft (an alpaca, wool, cotton, and I'm guessing probably acrylic mix) I bought in Peru in a soft heathered gray. It doesn't seem to be available in any other country. Any DK/light worsted weight yarn that works up to gauge would be a suitable replacement. Estimated yardage is just that: estimated. I'd recommend buying extra just in case. Sorry for the inconvenience.

• 10 balls 1 ¾ oz./50 gr. EM S.A.C. Alpaca Soft (wool, alpaca, cotton, acrylic), (approx. 131yds per ball, though exact yardage is not stated on label) in heathered gray
• Size 9 (5mm) circular needles 24"/61cm length OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GUAGE
• Size 7 (4.5mm) circular needles, 24"/80cm length OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• Size 5 (3.5mm) circular needles, 32"/80cm length OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
• Stich holders or smooth scrap yarn.

GAUGE

22 sts and 24 rows to 4"/10cm in 2x2 rib (slightly relaxed) with size 7 needles.

18 sts and 22 rows to 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch with size 9 needles.

BODY

With size 7 needles, cast on 204 (216, 228, 240) sts, place marker and join to beg, being careful not to twist sts on needle. Work in 2x2 rib for 5 (6, 6, 7)". If waist shaping is desired, change to smaller needles. Cont in 2x2 rib for 4" more. Piece measures 9 (10, 10, 11)" from beginning.

Bust:

Rnd 1: For 34", 36", and 40" only: (K2, p2tog) around. 153 (162, 171) sts remain.

For 44": *(k2, p2tog) twice, k2, p2* rep. between **s around. 200 sts remain.

Begin to separate for bust:

Note: The bust is now worked straight, turning the work after every row.

Change to largest needles.

Row 2: BO 20, (20, 24, 24) sts, knit to end. Turn work. Row 3 (WS): Purl. Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: Rep row 3. Row 6: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Continue in this manner, dec 2 sts in this way every forth row three times more, then every sixth row once. 123 (132, 137, 166) sts remain. Work in stockinette st for 5 rows.

Divide for armholes: K1, ssk, k15, (16, 17 , 20), BO 10, k65 (72, 77, 98), BO 10, k15 (16, 17, 20), k2tog, k1. Keeping the last 17, (18, 19, 22) sts on the needles, move all other sts to stitch holder or scrap yarn. Stitches on needles will now be worked as Left Front.

Left Front:

Row 1: Purl. Row 2 (RS): BO 3 sts, k to end. Row 3: Purl. Row 4: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Row 5: Rep row 4. Row 6: k1, ssk, k to end.

Work even in stockinette until armhole measure 7 1/2". BO 8 at beginning of next WS row and 5 sts at beginning of WS row after that. Bind off.

Right Front:

Join yarn. Work as for Left Front, reversing shaping.

Back:

Row 1 (WS): Join yarn, BO 3 sts, purl to end. Row 2: BO 3 sts, knit to end. Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Repeat rows 3-4 once more.Work in stockinette st until armholes measure 7 ½".
Shape for shoulders, binding off 8 sts at beginning of next two rows, then 5 sts at beginning of next two rows. Bind off.

COLLAR

With WS facing and smallest needles, pick up and knit 59 (63, 65, 67) sts from point A to point B, 35 (39, 45 51) sts from point B to point C, and (59, 63, 65, 67) sts from point C to point D.

Work in k1, p1 rib until edges of collar meet at point F (approx. 2"). Bind off.

SLEEVES

With smallest needles, cast on 44 (46, 50, 54) sts. Work in 1x1 rib for 6 rows.

Row 7 (WS): Knit across. Change to largest needles. Row 8: Knit, inc 10 sts evenly across. Row 9: Purl. Rep Rows 8-9 twice more. Work even in stockinette until sleeve measures 10 (11, 11, 12)" from beginning. Shape Cap: BO 5 sts at beg of next two rows, 3 sts at beg of next two rows. Dec 1 st each side of every other row four times. 40 (42, 46, 50) sts remain. Work even until sleeve measures 14 1/2 (15, 15 ½, 16)" from beginning. Change to smallest needles. Next row: K5 (6, 6, 5) sts, (k2tog, k3) 6 (6, 7, 8) times, k5 (6, 5, 5). Next row: Purl. Next row: K5 (6, 6, 6), (k2tog, k1) 8 (8, 9, 10) times, k5 (6, 6, 6). Next row: Purl. Next row: K6, k2tog to last 6 sts, k6. Bind off.

FINISHING

Block pieces. Sew shoulder seams. Set in sleeves. Sew ends of collar ribbing to front gap, so the two sides meet at point F. Weave in loose ends. Wear while contemplating, dreaming, and considering the patterns of light and shadow across your bedroom floor.

Schematics currently only show measurements for 40" size.

Pattern ©2007 Wonk's Works. Pattern may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission of the author. Sweaters made from this pattern may be sold, as long as 10% of the profits are donated to a charity of your choice.

Questions or comments? Leave a comment.

Angora Hat

I started this hat ages ago and never got the motivation to finish it...until it got absolutely freezing. Since I end up taking long walks in the cold with my adorable boyfriend, I thought I would probably need something warm, yet still adorable, to go along with me and keep me warm...you know, besides the boyfriend.

So I present, the Hat:

Pattern: Lace-Edged Woman's Hat from headhuggers.org
Yarn: About half a skein of Fleece Artist's Peter Rabbit in a colour I think no longer exists, though I think it's the rough equivalent of today's Polar Sea
Needles: Size 6 Clover bamboo DPNs
Verdict: Love it. After a washing, it seems not to be so threatening (shedding-wise) anymore. It's bound to keep my large head warm on chilly English nights.

Henry in Progress

I was thinking about scarves, thinking about how I might want to make one cool, neutral, and clean-cut. If not for someone else, than at least for me.

Then I found Henry, and it's been true love ever since.

The Whole Enchilada

I am using two strands of Knit Picks Shadow held together, in colours Jewels and Vineyard. It makes a rather pretty purple/navy dappled effect.

According to the pattern, I'm 1/7 of the way done. But if I want to have it done for my friend-boy by Christmas, I think repeating the pattern four times instead of seven will be sufficient.

Requisite blurry close-up

Hedgerow Coat, Fall 2007

I finished this about a month ago, the day before I left for England, but I just now got pictures of it...

Materials: Wool of the Andes in "Iron Ore," about 18 50g skeins. I haven't done the ribbed edging yet, because I'm slightly afraid I'll run out of yarn, but maybe I will when I'm feeling particularly industrious.

I used a needle size bigger than in the pattern to get gauge.

Overall, I love it. It's perfect for the chilly fall here in England, and it's quite cozy.


I'm holding it closed with an earring clasp right now, of all things, until I feel like coughing up enough money to buy a belt to cinch it in with.

Fair Winners!

So I entered my things in the fair, and...

Yes, that does say "Best of Knit" :)


Vest from Fitted Knits: First place

My jacket also won a second place ribbon, but I wanted to wear it before I got my camera back from the repair shop, so it's no longer wearing its ribbon.

I'm pretty happy.