Changes

It's time for a change.

Do you ever get that way?  Like you just really need some changes in life?

I definitely do.  So, I've decided to switch up the blog.  I have had this blog since November 2007 - wow, that seems like so long!  I originally started this to share all of my crochet projects.  Then I found knitting in 2009 and things changed. While I still love to crochet, I really really love to knit.  When I do get free time for crafts I usually run towards the knitting projects, although, free time is very rare around here.

I think it time to make some changes. Time for a new blog! So if any of you are still reading this blog, since the post are few and far between, please feel free to join me over at my new blogging home : The Biased Boulder.
It will be a mix of my knitting (and other crafty projects) and some of my personal adventures as well. I hope you'll come join me!

thebiasedboulder.blogspot.com

I'll keep this blog up but will no longer be posting here.   Please update your blog readers and bookmarks to our new home. See you there!

Traveling Woman Shawl (para mi madre)

One of my goals for 2011 was to hand knit something for my mom and my sister.  My sister received her hand knit item for her birthday, a thermis cowl.  For my mom, I knit her a shawl... something to keep her warm in church meetings. 

I had called her several times asking "What colors do you like to wear?"  I originally planned on something gray, you know... easy to match with outfits, but in the end decided on a green.  Malabrigo Rios, in Aguas to be exact.  It is no surprise that I'm a huge fan of Malabrigo, so it was only fitting that I used it to make something for my mom - since I'm a huge fan of her too!

After looking through tons of pattern choices, I finally decided on the Traveling Woman Shawl, by Liz Abinant.  I know it looks a little intimidating with all those purl rows, but this pattern was wonderful.  It was my first time working a lace pattern, so I did have to go to the LYS to get some help on how to read it.  Once they explained it to me, I was off to the races.  I guess I was just a little over-excited to be making this because within three days, I was out of yarn and waiting for a new skein to arrive.  Thank goodness I had ordered it from Mr. Yarn, and they still had a skein in the same dyelot available.  

I think it turned out lovely!  I really debated if I should give it away or keep it for myself ;-)  I decided my mom would probably love it more than I ever could, so I wrapped it up for her Christmas.

When I called on Christmas morning to see if she had opened it, my niece (she's almost 5!) told me "Mamaw really likes her cape."  Too cute!~

Raverly Page
Pattern - Traveling Woman Shawl, by Liz Abinant.
Date started - 11/20/11
Date Finished - 12/7/11
Made For - Mi Madre
Yarn - Malabrigo Rios in Aguas
Needles - US 10, 40" circulars - Addi Turbos
Pre-Blocked Size- 52" wingspan by 14" tall
Finished Size - 80" wingspan by 24" tall

Beauchamp Cowl - Malabrigo Style

This is actually a FO of 2011, but I'm just getting around to posting about it. There are still a few FO's of 2011 that I have yet to show. Hopefully, this will start to slow down now that the Holidays are over.

First off, this was my first time working with Malabrigo Silky Merino and I'm hooked. This yarn is a delight (although, how could it not be since it is Malabrigo) to work with and is very soft, and well, silky. Love it! There will definitely be more projects in Silky Merino in my future, for sure!

I originally cast on for this cowl back in August 2011, but then my hubs and I purchased our first home (YAY!) and life was pure chaos for a few months.  Of course, I was too excited to start this project that I didn't take the time to do a swatch.  I cast on for the DK weight version.  When I got about 10 rows into the pattern, I realized it would be way too small and wouldn't fit over my head. I was working at the gauge necessary for the fingering weight version. So I frogged it. UGH! Lesson learned. 

I re-cast on for the fingering weight version with a 132 sts.  I also changed the order of the colors, which I'm glad I did. I really like the teal feather color and wanted the cowl to have more of it. After that, I was off in a flash.  Such a great pattern and fun to see it emerge. I really like fair isle knitting, it helps to keep things interesting.

After finishing it, I did a quick blocking on it, but I don't know if I would do this next time (*if I used Silky Merino again) because it looked pretty good when it was finished and didn't really need a blocking. It did grow quite a bit upon blocking (about 22" around), which is nice because it gives it a little more drape than the pre-block item had, but not so good at the same time if you want the cowl to stand up.

We've had a extremely warm winter this year (I think I've only worn my coat probably 5 times this season) so unfortunately I haven't gotten much use out of this cowl, yet.  The few times that I have worn it, I've been extremely happy with it. It is extremely warm and so soft... and incredibly cute, too!   

Raverly Page
Date Started - 8/9/11
Date Finished - 12/3/11
Yarn - Malabrigo Silky Merino in Natural, Spring Water, and Teal Feather
Needles - US 6, 16" circulars
Pattern - Beauchamp Cowl by Laura Chau
Mods - Used the fingering weight version of the pattern for this cowl, although Malabrigo Silky Merino is more of a DK weight yarn.

Malabrigo Fingerless Mittens

Wow, these mitts I finished a long, long time ago. I don't know why I never posted about them, I guess I just got busy and never took any pictures. Now they are loved and very well worn.  They are starting to pill terribly and could use some love with the lint shaver.

I finished these back in February of this year just in time for our vacation to New York.  I knew it would be cold so I whipped up these mitts to keep my hands warm. 

Raverly Project Page
Pattern - Potluck Wool Mittenettes by Midnight Knitter (free)
Date Started - Feb. 19, 2011
Date Finished - Feb 20, 2011
Yarn - Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Tuscan Sky (lot 0232)
Needles - US 7, DPN's
Modifications - Knit 12 rounds of K1P1 ribbing, k7 rounds before starting increase for thumb gussett, worked increases up to 7 sts,  work 8 rounds before ribbing, worked K1P1 ribbing for 12 rounds, sewen in BO, picked up 5 sts around thumb and worked for 9 rounds.

Age of Brass & Steam Kerchief

I'm not sure why this project took me so long to finish, (okay, it might have something to do with all the purling involved in this pattern - but that's just a guess) because it has quickly become my new favorite scarf.  I wear it everywhere now, even though the weather has been in the 70's, I can't help but wear it.  I cast on for this scarf on 8/22/10 and finally finished it a year later (9/9/11), but hey, at least I finished.

This yarn was amazing to work with. Very soft and squishy and drapes very nicely.  I opted to change up the pattern and use a fingering weight yarn instead.  As a result, I ended up using size 4 needles and I did two extra repeats before completing the final section.

Raverly Project Page
Pattern - Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief by Orange Flower
Needles - Size 4, circulars
Yarn - Knit One, Crochet Too - Crock-o-Dye.  Color - Garnet (289)
Finished Size - 18" x 51"
Date Started - 8/22/10
Date Finished - 9/9/11
Modifications - Fingering weight yarn, size 4 needles, added two extra repeats before final section.

Knitted Bracelet - Turk's Head Knot

The other day on Pinterest, I saw this adorable knitted bracelet. Cute, right?  Well, when I clicked on the link, it took me to site that demonstrates how to tie knots (link here), which was pretty awesome... but I was looking for the knitter who made this beautiful bracelet.

I really, really liked it and decided it wouldn't be that hard to make one of my own.

So I did!  and.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

 I'm mostly a earrings -pins-maybe a necklace-once in a while - type of girl.  This bracelet has changed all that. I have practically worn it everyday since finishing it and every morning I want to coordinate my outfits to match it.  

Raverly Project Page
Yarn - Malabrigo Rios in Arco Iris
Needles - US 8
Hours - Made on my lunch break (so less than an hour)

Calorimetry Ear Warmer

One of my good friends has a birthday in November, and so I thought she needed a little something special to keep her warm during the cold season (ugh... Utah weather).  As a side note, I really love living on the east coast where it is warm and pleasant through the winter months.  I really don't miss the snow.  But I do enjoy making knits for all my family and friends to keep them warm while they are burrowed in the snow.

I remember her saying once that she wanted a headband/ear warmer for the winter to keep her warm without squishing her hair.  She has beautiful hair and it would be a shame to cover it all up under a hat. And what better way to keep your ears toasty warm then in Malabrigo! 

I decided on a simple ribbed ear warmer (found free here).  It really is a simple pattern, and the end results are lovely. It could easily be dressed up with a knitted flower, or pin, a ribbon.... really anything, or just worn plain (that's how I like it, so that's what I did).

The button was nothing special, just something that I had on hand and matched.  I do like that the increases create additional holes so that if it is not tight enough there are different options of where to button it. 

After reading a few notes on other projects on Raverly, I made a few modifications to the pattern. Here they are:  Cast on 92 sts, 11 repeats of row 5, 13 repeats of row 7.

Overall, I really liked the finished project and hope that she does as well.  I might even make one for myself. 

Raverly Project Page
Pattern - Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf 
Yarn - Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Tuscan Sky
Needles - US 8
Finished Size - 23"

Pink Thermis Cowl

Last year, I made a Thermis Cowl, and it really is one of my favorites.  Since my sister has a birthday in the cold of winter, I decided to make one for her.

This pattern is particularly wonderful since it creates a nice thick, fabric that makes it extra warm, but also has some buttons to open up if you get too hot. 

The best part about this cowl, the yarn was hand dyed by me!  Yep!  And not with Easter egg tablets either, this time I went all crazy scientist in the kitchen and used acid dyes.

I think it turned out wonderful, and really love the subtle color changes - which I worked really hard to create.  Overall, it was a wonderful learning experience and it was so much fun to knit with yarn that I created.   

Raverly Page
Pattern - Thermis Cowl by Kris Knits 
Needles - US size 6
Yarn - Superwash Merino Wool - hand dyed by me!
Date Started - July 2011
Date Finished - August 9, 2011

Ballband Dishcloths ...in BULK Apparently

Well, I think I finally have a new favorite dishcloth pattern.  Don't worry, I still love the grandmother's favorite dishcloth pattern, but recently I have been obsessed with the Ballband Dishcloth.

 This picture shows ten of the finished dishcloths, but there are a few missing that were gifted before I could take pictures of them.

We just purchased our first home, and so I'm excited to use all new dishcloths in our new kitchen.  I love the bright colors of these and think it might even make the chore of dish washing a happy experience.

My favorite is the top dishcloth, that was made with leftover scraps. 

I used the slightly smaller version pattern for this. (Instructions found here.) I have made this pattern before (see here), and decided I didn’t want them as large as the original pattern, and not quite as small as the “slightly smaller version”.  So I did an in-between size and added 6 sts to the cast on for a total of 43 sts. Turned out perfect size! Love them, obviously, I can’t seem to stop making them.

And since I just can't help myself, I've also managed to make a few grandmother's favorite dishcloths to add to the pile.

Raverly Page
Pattern - Ballband Dishcloth
Modifications -Cast on 43 sts
Yarn - Various colors of Lily Cotton Sugar n' Creme
Needles - Size 7 US straights

Oh Boy, Baby Booties!

 Are these not the cutest things ever!?  I think they look like little baby uggs.

 These were made for a cousin who was having her fist baby, a little boy.  They live in Utah, where winters are cold, so I'm hoping these will help to keep the little ones' feet super warm.

This was my first attempt at a baby shoe, and overall it went pretty well.  I learned a few new tricks on this pattern.  I followed some modifications by a fellow knitter (link found below), so that each bootie was knit in a single piece and then grafted - which is the new technique I learned.  Finally learned to do the Kitchener Stitch.  I was a little nervous at first, but thanks to the many videos on YouTube, it was so easy.

Overall, I am super pleased with these.  Super cute, really easy to construct, and super fast. 

Raverly Link
Yarn - Knitpicks Swish DK - Green Apple
Needles - US 4
Pattern - Oh Baby, Baby Booties, by Judy Nemish
Mods- Followed modifications by Babylee
Hours - 2.5 hours per bootie