Lokken Kerchief {A Triangle Addiction Begins}

Now that I have opened up my knitting world to triangular things, it seems I cannot get enough of them.  The Way From Brighton was tons of fun, I couldn't hardly put this one down, and I already have 2 more triangle shaped thingies started.

 This pattern was from the Knitscene Accessories 2012 issue, Lokken by Megi Burcl.  There were several things I love in that issue (and every issue!), and this was one of them.  At first, I didn't know if I could find a suitable substitute yarn, because the original with just two colors was so dang cute.  Then I stumbled upon this Knitpicks yarn on clearance, and decided to give it a shot.  It is not quite the same effect, but I love it just the same.

The great things I'm finding about knitting shawls/wraps/kerchiefs (triangle thingies!):

-They don't take so long that you lose interest

-They can contain interesting details (like FRINGE!!!)

-They are still somewhat portable (more than a sweater, to a certain point)

-And, they have a pretty high impact.  It's satisfying to wear it out for the first time, and you usually get comments, because they can be so unique.  They also pull together a simple outfit more, I think.

So, one of my favorite details on this project?

THE FRINGE!!!  I did color blocked on the side with the blocks, and crazy mixed up color fringe on the side with the long stripes.  I think it works better than color blocking both sides since I used a multi-color yarn.

So, that's all for now.  I'm off to knit and Ravelry stalk more triangles!

Also, here are the Ravelry details if interested!

Slouchy Hat {The Amstel Hat}

I love a good hat, and I love a good magazine.  When the Fall 2012 Issue of Interweave Knits came out, I knew immediately I would want to make the Amstel Hat.  I could have gotten creative and even changed the color, but I liked how it looked in the magazine so well that I did not stray.  It's made from a different yarn, but I found a colorway pretty close to the same one used.

It is about the perfect amount of slouch for me, and I really enjoyed knitting top-down for a change.  Every hat I've made before this one has been bottom-up.  It's also the first time I've knit from a chart, and I found it to be very addictive.  I finished this thing in 5 days because every time I sat down to work on it, I kept saying "just one more row" to see how the pattern was coming along.  

The only thing I don't love is how the shaping ended up, since the increases were paired to accommodate the chart.  It makes it kind of have 4 points on top, even after I blocked it over a plate.  Oh well, I still love it, and I did this miraculous elastic bind off to keep it from being too tight at the band edge.  This has become my go-to method to avoid a tight bind off edge.  Here is a closer picture showing the chart detail:

Love it!  Subtle, but beautiful details :)

Here is the Ravelry page!

A {Grey} Brownstone

Quite some time ago, my husband asked me when I was ever going to get around to making him a sweater.  When I stumbled onto Jared Flood's Brownstone Sweater pattern, I knew it would be a perfect pick.  It had enough details to be interesting, but was not so crazy that Matt wouldn't wear it, or that I would give up making a man-sized sweater.  

I finally got around to starting the project while he was gone for the summer doing his internship.  This allowed me to work on it in secret (for a Christmas gift), and it provided a great way to keep myself busy while I was missing him.  He was out of town from the end of May to the beginning of August, and I had finished the sleeves, and half of the body at that point.  I decided to keep it a secret, and I would knit at my parent's house here and there, or while he was at class.  It was down to the wire, but I finished it the week before Christmas and had it blocked and wrapped just in time.

Somehow, I managed to keep it a surprise, and I think he really likes it.  We finally got around to snapping some photos and he went all J.Crew on me ;)

Overall, it was a great pattern, and really the only thing I changed was that I did one button instead of two, and I did a single crochet chain for the loop closure instead of what the pattern recommends.  I'm just happy that after all that knitting the thing fits!

You can see my ravelry project page here.

A Handmade Yarn Swift From My Sweetie

I hinted at a handmade gift that needed to be shown off, that I received from my husband.  We have been trying to do handmade gifts for each other, and as many people on our list for the last couple of years.  This year we got close (all but one!).  Matt does woodworking, so at my request, he made me a yarn swift.  I'm pretty sure it was made with love, but also with the desire to not have to help me wind yarn balls anymore ;)

I love how it turned out, and it works really well.  The base is made from Walnut, and the arms are from Maple.  Matt looked up some plans online, and then winged it from there.  The pieces are basically scraps leftover from the cutting boards he was making for gifts, so we got by making it pretty cheap.  I think in the $20-$30 range.  The pegs are just pieces of dowels, that can be replaced if they get stained from the dyes in the yarn.

Tigger was intrigued:

 

Here's a closeup where you can see the finish, and how lovely it looks with some yarn on it!  I really love that he made me something I will use all the time!  If I can get some photographs of his sweater, you'll get to see what I made him next!

 

On Playing Catch-Up (and some new socks)

So after a year long hiatus, I'm back.  Not that I will guarantee I'm going to be posting every little thing, but I am ready to share some more and get caught up with this space.  I intend to share some of the things I made from the end of 2012, and through the holiday season.  Sewing has somewhat taken the backseat to knitting lately.  Something about the cooler weather, I guess.  I just finished a pair of socks for my Dad, that were intended for a Christmas gift, but ended up being a little late.  Luckily, he didn't mind, and put them right on to go do cattle chores in the snow!  (I know, scary that they might get yucky, but I am from the school of thought that handmade items are to be used, so this thrilled me)  

The socks are just a basic pattern from a Patons Sock pattern book that I picked up at a chain store.  It is the first sock pattern that had enough pictures and explanations for me to make a pair without struggling or giving up, and the husband was the lucky recipient of that first pair Christmas 2011.  (He has since moved on to bigger and better gifts such as sweaters...more on that later)  I have since become really fond of making socks in a way I never imagined.  They are the perfect portable project, and they have just enough boring stuff, just enough action to keep me hooked.  They are also great for when you are working on another more involved project (husband's sweater), and you need a break.

 The color is just a boring oatmeal color, but I'm breaking him in slowly with the handmade socks ;)

Can't start off with too many crazy colors!  The yarn is also a nice wool/alpaca/nylon blend so they are really soft, and should wear nicely.  Here is the Ravelry page.  (Psst...Feel free to add me on Ravelry!)

Time to head back to the couch by the fire, and keep on knitting! :)

Days 9 & 10

Again...horrible photo, but it proves I'm wearing handmade. And it was too cold and rainy yesterday to go outside for a pic.
Shirt- old navy
Cowl- by me
Skirt- by me
Leggings- walmart
Boots- report




Today...
Dress- by me
Necklace- by me
Tights- vs
Shoes- Minnetonka moccasins

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 8

I look tired! Ha...oh well. Today the photo is for the sake of documentation only, because the outfits nothing special. Plus I'm giving the husband a day off from photographer duty in hopes that he will help me the rest of the month :)
T-shirt- by me
Cardigan-vs
Cowl- by me
Headband-by me

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 5

My first "cheat" day...just wearing a hat that I knit with almost the same outfit as yesterday. Watching the hubby work on the flowerbeds...too cold for me!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Self-Stitched September.....Finally!

Yes, I did take on a challenge for the month of September.

No, I haven't posted since the first weekend of said month.

Yes, it is mid-October.

Okay, so lesson learned....don't sign up for an extra challenge when you just moved, started P90x, teach 12 credit hours, and try to take 9 hours of grad work. Duh. But I sort of made it. Here are the highlights of Self-Stitched September:

Dress: Sewn by me (Burda style Anda)
Fringy Boots: Victoria's Secret
Earrings: Made by me, leather feathers
Box in the background: Side effect of moving, please ignore
I called this look Hippie Chic :)


Dress: Sewn by Me (Modified Built by Wendy dress)
Leggings: Wal-Mart, bad decision, fell down all day
Shoes: Burlap TOMS


Slippers: Knit by me, French Press Felted Slippers
Wore these everyday...so I did actually wear something me-made each day!
Probably the best thing I have ever made/knit. My toe poked out of the side the other day, so it's looking like a new pair is going to have to get stitched soon, because it's getting chilly!


Dress: Tank-top re-fashion + elastic gathered skirt
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shoes: Corduroy TOMS


Dress: DKNY
Leggings: American Apparel
Earrings: Me-made leather feathers
Cuff: Made by me, Refashioned tie w/ button

The Close-up/stupid face:

Headband: Self-stitched
Top: Made by Etsy shop Replicca
Jeans: Big Star Trousers
Shoes: TOMS Wedges in Navy Stripe

So, not a complete failure. I did figure out that I don't have nearly enough garments in my wardrobe for the cooler months, so I'm looking into fixing that. I think I have a plan, too. That will have to wait for another post, though!