Promises To Keep

I've been in the Nora's Yarn Club from Holiday Yarns.  For the most recent installment, we were asked what color we would like.  I asked if I could have a yarn that reminds Nora of snowy woods.

This yarn came on a Wednesday when it snowed and there was snow on all the trees.  It couldn't have picked a better day to come. 

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the yarn was the line from a Robert Frost poem. 

"For I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."

I decided that I wanted to do a shawlette from the lower border in, using shortrows to shape it so it would wrap well.  What I ended up doing was a simple rope cable combined with a wee bit of lace. 

I was worried that I would run out of yarn, so I ended up making the shawl a lot longer and narrower than I had originally intended. 

Pattern is now available on Ravelry as a free download.

The Shawl with No Name

Is named Musings.

It is the November 2011 Mythology Lace Club pattern from Holiday Yarns.

Prototype shawlette knitted in the Aphrodite colorway, which is more green than the finished shawlette suggests.  Actual Muses colorway is blue.  A picture of the full shawl in the Muses colorway can be seen in the KAL thread (ravelry).

This is the 11th shawl I completed this year. 

Mother says I need a manniquin. 

Days 6 & 7

I've been working on 4 oz of superwash BFL from Spincerely Yours in the Delft colorway.  I'm planning to N ply this for socks.

I finished the wave socks with the February Sock Yarn Cinema.  Now I need to write up the pattern.

The Sun Also Rises

Pattern:  Sun in Glory, June 2011 Greek Mythology Lace Club from Holiday Yarns

Prototype knit with:
                       Yarn: Milk & Honey Colorway from the McMullin Fiber Company
                       Beads: Silver lined Orange

Available to the public:  Early 2012

                      

Mother thinks it would also be pretty in pale blue or gray as a moon shawl.

This is for Mortal

In Greek mythology, the Persephone myth was the explanation for the changing of the seasons.  Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and the wife of Hades.  The common version is that she is kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld.  While in the underworld, she eats a few (number varies) of pomegranate seeds.  Because Demeter is so busy mourning and searching for her lost daughter, she is neglecting her regular duties and nothing is growing.  Zeus has to finally step in and makes Hades let Persephone go before all the people die.  Because Persephone ate some of the food of the underworld, she must spend some time each year there.  While she is with Hades, Demeter mourns, creating fall and winter.  Upon Persephone's return, Demeter rejoices and the world is fruitful again, with the coming of spring and summer.


For NaNoWriMo, Mortal wrote a novel about the Persephone myth.  She told the story from the viewpoint that Persephone and Hades were in love with each other and not only did Persephone go with Hades of her own free will, but she would have STAYED in the underworld if Demeter had not cursed the earth so nothing would grow until Persephone was returned to her.

Mortal is a good writer, and I really enjoyed her take on it.  I hope she gets it published.  I'm not going to go into details, you'll just have to read it yourself. 

Then I got an idea in my head about a Hades & Persephone shawl.  After all, it is chilly in the underworld.  The original idea was for more of a shawlette, but somewhere along the way it became just a Persephone shawl.  I may still do the original idea though.

Seasons of Persephone is a circular (or half circle) shawl that starts with a ploughed ground for spring, then summer's wildflowers, autumn leaves and then the snowflakes of winter.  It's finished off with a pomegranate border.  The arrangement of the seasons in the version is based on Mortal's version of the myth.

I did my prototype as the half circle version and did nupps for both summer and for the border -- I was checking yardage. 

I had about 5 stitches per inch (unblocked) with 6 repeats of the winter chart (but only 2 1/2 repeats of the fall chart due to math issues), with a final yardage of 790, wingspan ~ 6 feet.  Mortal did a version with beads, gauge of 7 stitches per inch (unblocked), 7 1/2 repeats of winter chart, correct repeats for fall chart, final yardage of about 600, wingspan ~ 5 feet. 

This shawl is the April 2011 pattern for the Greek Mythology Lace club offered by Holiday Yarns.  It will be available to the public around August/September of 2011.

Rainy days

when you don't have to be anywhere are good for knitting.

Horrible for picture taking, but good for knitting.

I finished the socks with no name yesturday. 

I haven't decided if I'm going to write up the pattern or not. 

I got to the border on Persephone and I should get it finished today.  I have 3 1/2 border repeats left.  Then I have to do math to figure out yardage.  Dang.

Persephone

The Hades and Persephone shawl has become just a Persephone shawl.  Full circle or half circle, knitter's choice.

It's gone for test knitting and tech editing.  Of course, tonight I found an error. 

Mortal flat out told me she was going to test it.  She's going to bead :)
A hint.

Fiber Update

My hat for the Mad Hatter Swap is done!  S requested ears, and I think that I fulfilled that request.  My mother kindly modeled it for me.  She is now annoyed because I never made her a hat with ears.  She has never asked for one.  She says that she didn't know that was an option.  She tried to keep this one. 

I went to the Souper Bowl sale at the Yarn Garden with Mortal.  She got a sweater and a shawl.  I got a shawl and a pair of socks.  

I borrowed a mannequin to get a better pic of the medallion shawl.  Mortal came up with a better name.  It will be called "Girl's Best Friend", since diamonds are a girl's best friend.  I like that song. 

I have 2 1/3 clues done on the mystery shawl.  Clues 4 & 5 are out. 

I started an Annis using STR.  I orginally started with Noro lace, but I didn't like the fabric.

I won a box from the FIX drawing.

Honeycomb Lace Scarf

Christmas Knitting!

Pink one went to the co-leader of the Brownie troop, Mardi Gras one is going to my mother -- when I get a quilt.

Pattern (and charts) as pdf is available on Ravelry.

HONEYCOMB LACE SCARF


This pattern can be worked with any weight of yarn to whatever size is desired.

Yarn: Pink Scarf used 200 yards of fingering weight. Mardi Gras scarf used 150 yards of sport/dk weight.

Gauge: Somewhat irrelevant. Pink scarf had 5 stitches to the inch. Mardi Gras Scarf had 4.

Needle: Pink Scarf used US 7. Mardi Gras Scarf used US size 10.5.

Use a needle size that will get you a loose fabric.

Cast on a multiple of four stitches. 24 stitches were used in the pink scarf, 20 stitches in the Mardi Gras scarf. This is the only math required!

Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 4 rows.

Decide if the scarf will be stockinette or garter and continue with the appropriate lace pattern.

Stockinette Honeycomb Lace: (shown in Pink Scarf)

Written:

Row 1: K2, (K2tog, YO, YO, K2togtbl) repeat to last two stitches, K2

Rows 2 and 4: K2, purl to last two stitches, K2. For the double YO’s, purl the second YO through the back loop.

Row 3: K2, (YO, K2togtbl, K2tog, YO), repeat to last two stitches, K2

Garter Honeycomb Lace: (shown in Mardi Gras Scarf)

Written:

Row 1: K2, (K2tog, YO, YO, K2togtbl) repeat to last two stitches, K2

Rows 2 and 4: Knit across. For the double YO’s, knit the second YO through the back loop.

Row 3: K2, (YO, K2togtbl, K2tog, YO), repeat to last two stitches, K2


Continue in the lace pattern until the yarn is running out or the scarf has reached the desired length, ending with row 2 or 4. Unless, like me, you get sick of it and want to stop sooner 

Work 4 rows of garter stitch.

Bind off.

Block if desired.

© 2010 by rosegil


This pattern is for your personal use. Please do not use this pattern for mass production. If you have any questions, please contact me via Ravelry.

Lined Thrummed Hat

My father has always maintained that he is never warm and will never be warm.  In an effort to help him be not as cold, I made a thrummed hat for him for Christmas.  The hat is lined so that the thrums do not agravate people or cause bad hair days with the static.

Lined Thrummed Hat  (pdf available on Ravelry)

Materials: 220 yards worsted weight yarn – I used almost 1 skein of Cascade 220 Superwash

1 ¼ to 1 ½ ounces roving – I used 2 ½ pigtails from Greenwood Fiberworks

Needles: DPN’s and 16” circular – US size 8 or size needed to obtain gauge. I recommend using 5 dpn’s – this will make increasing and decreasing easier.

Gauge: 4 ½ stitches and 6 rows = 1 inch



Instructions:

Using DPN’s cast on 8 stitches, join, being careful not to twist.

Increase rounds:

Round 1: Knit 1 front & back (kf&b) around ( 16 stitches)

Round 2 and all even rounds: knit around

Round 3: (k1, make 1 (m1), k1) x 8 (24 stitches)

Make 1 by inserting the left needle from front to back under the strand between the last stitch and the next stitch and place it on the left needle. Knit it through the back loop. 

Round 5: (k2, m1, k1) x 8 (32 stitches)

Round 7: (k3, m1, k1) x 8 (40 stitches)

Round 9: (k4, m1, k1) x 8 (48 stitches)

Round 11: (k5, m1, k1) x 8 (56 stitches)

Round 13: (k6, m1, k1) x 8 (64 stitches)

Round 15: (k7, m1, k1) x 8 (72 stitches)

Round 17: (k8, m1, k1) x 8 (80 stitches)

Round 19: (k19, m1, k1) x 4 (84 stitches)

Switch to the 16” circular, placing a marker at the beginning of the round.

Knit every row (plain stockinette) until piece measures 6 ½ inches from last increase.

Purl 1 round (this will be the turning round)

Knit 1 round plain.

Increase round: (k6, kf&b) x 12 (96 stitches)

Knit 1 round plain.

Begin Thrum pattern.

Round 1: (k3, place thrum) repeat to end of round

Rounds 2, 3, & 4: knit

Round 5: (k1, place thrum, k2) repeat to end of round

Rounds 6, 7, & 8: knit

Continue in thrum pattern until 9 thrummed rounds have been completed (you’ll end on round 1 of the pattern).

Knit 1 round plain.


Begin decrease rounds, switching to dpn’s when necessary:

Round 1: (knit 2 together through the back loop (k2togtbl), k10) x 8 (88 stitches)

Round 2 and all even rounds: knit plain

Round 3: (k2togtbl, k2, place thrum, k3, place thrum, k2) x 8 (80 stitches)

Round 5: (k2togtbl, k8) x 8) (72 stitches)

Round 7: (k2togtbl, k2, place thrum, k3, place thrum) x 8 (64 stitches)

Round 9: (k2togtbl, k6) x 8 (56 stitches)

Round 11: (k2togtbl, k2, place thrum, k2) x 8 (48 stitches)

Round 13: (k2togtbl, k4) x 8 (40 stitches)

Round 15: (k2togtbl, k2, place thrum) x 8 (32 stitches)

Round 17: (k2togtbl, k2) x 8 (24 stitches)

Round 19: (k2togtbl, place thrum) x 8 (16 stitches)

Round 21: k2togtbl x 8 (8 stitches)

Thread tail through remaining 8 stitches and pull tight, leaving tail on the outside. Check that your cast on tail is on the knit side of the hat.

Fold hat at purl round, putting lining up into hat and matching the cast on point with the bind off point.

Using a tapestry needle and bind off tail, sew the top of the hat to the top of the lining. Tie end of bind off tail to cast on tail, weave in ends.

If desired, tack the lining to the outside closer to the turning round.


Thrums:

Thrums are thin pieces of roving (unspun wool) about 2 -3 inches long and about the width of a pencil. They provide extra warmth and insulation.

To place thrums, fold a thrum in half and loop around needle in place of working yarn. In the next round, knit thrum, pulling ends down if needed.

© 2010 by rosegil

This pattern is for your personal use. Please do not use it for mass production. If you have any questions, please contact me via Ravelry.

Stacked Rib Socks

Gauge:  8 stitches to the inch in stockinette

Needles:  2.25 mm, US 1

Yarn:  50% superwash merino, 50% tencel, 380 yards of fingering weight.  Sample socks used aprox 320 yards.

Size:  Women's medium

Rib Pattern:  Rounds 1 thru 8 - (K2, P2), repeat to end of instep/round.

Rounds 9 thru 16 - (P2, K2), repeat to end of instep/round

Directions:  Using Turkish or Figure 8 cast on, cast on 32 stitches, 16 on each needle.  Knit 1 round plain.  Place marker indicating start of round.  The first 16 stitches are the instep stitches, the second 16 are the sole stitches.

Round 1:  (K1, Right leaning increase, knit 14, left leaning increase, K1), repeat for sole stitches.

Round 2:  Knit

Round 3:  Instep:  K1, Right leaning increase, knit to 1 stitch before end of instep, left leaning increase, K1.

                Sole:  K1, Right leaning increase, knit to 1 stitch before end of sole, left leaning increase, K1.

Directions for increasing can be found on Knitty, here.

Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until there are 60 stitches total, 30 instep and 30 sole.  To make socks larger, continue repeating rounds 2 & 3 until desired size is reached. 

Work 8 rounds plain.

Begin Rib Pattern on Instep stitches only. 

Continue in pattern until sock is approximately  1 1/2 inches short of desired length (a little past the ankle bone when tried on.)

If you wish to add extra ease stitches for the heel, add them to the sole stitches.

Work across instep stitches in pattern, then work short row heel on Sole stitches only. 

Row 1:  Knit 29 (or until 1 sole stitch remains), wrap the last stich and turn.  (Bring the yarn to the front between the stitch just worked and the next stitch, slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle, turn work around).

Row 2:  Slip first stitch as if to purl, purl 28 (or until 1 sole stitch remains unworked), wrap the last stitch and turn. (Move the yarn to the back betwen the stitch just worked and the next stitch, slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle, turn work around).

Row 3:  Slip first stitch, Knit to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, wrap as in row 1 and turn.

Row 4:  Slip first stitch, Purl to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, wrap as in row 2 and turn.

Repeat rows 3 & 4 until 10 stitches remain unwrapped. 

Next Row:  Slip first stitch, Knit to first wrapped stitch, knit that stitch, wrap next stitch as in row 1 and turn.

Next Row:  Slip first stitch, purl to first wrapped stitch, purl that stitch, wrap next stitch as in row 2 and turn.

Repeat these last two rows until only 1 double wrapped stitch stitch remains. 

Repeat Knit row only. 

I do not knit my wraps as I like the effect, so the directions do not include this step.

Resume knitting in the round. 

Work in pattern across 30 stitches.  Begin pattern on next 30 stitches on round 1 or 9 of rib pattern.

If extra ease stitches were added, decrease them away in the first 2 to 3 rounds.

Continue working in pattern until sock is desired length, ending with round 8 or 16. 

Work a Yarn Over bind off as follows:

Knit first stitch, (YO, K1, pass first stitch and YO over the last stitch worked), repeat until no stitches remain.

Weave in ends.

Copyright 2010 by rosegil.  Please use this pattern for your personal use and not for mass production.

Yarn used was handspun fiber from Fiber Optic in colorway "Honeysuckle Rose", 2 plies.

Pattern for a simple hat

I made a hat under duress the other week. It turned out well. The colors (purple and orange) were not me. Anyhoo, here is the pattern.

I used a 16" size six circular needle with worsted weight yarn (Caron simply soft if you care)

Cast on 120 stitches.
K2, P2 in the round until desired length. (I went with length of my hand plus the width of my hand)

Decreasing for the top:
Round 1: K2, p2tog around
Rounds 2 & 3: K2, p1
Round 4: K2tog, p1
Round 5: K1, p1
Round 6: (k1, p1, k1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, ssk) repeat
Round 7: (k1, pa, k1, k2tog, k1, p1, k2tog)
Round 8: k2tog @ remaining purl stitches. Knit remainder.

Finishing:
Knit as a 6 point star till 12 stitches remain.