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The Multi-year Totoro Mittens
So I started these Norwegian Totoro Mittens (ravelry link)… uhhh… a long time ago. I actually am not sure when I started them, because of course I didn’t log them in my Ravelry Notebook. My Ravelry notebook that’s gone largely neglected the last few years. Of course I didn’t. But I do know that they’ve been on the needles a long time. Long enough to have stray strands of fur from my cat Genghis still knitted into them.* And Genghis has been pushing up daisies for several years now, soooo… there’s that. But it’s time to be done with them. I’ve dragged them back out, and I want them OFF…
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It Was the Shawl That Wouldn’t End…
So I made a Boneyard Shawl (ravelry link). I went with the YO options to create a perforated edge and middle, and I LOVE the way it turned out, but oh, em, gee did I get bored with this pattern fast. It’s a super easy knit, but the bigger it gets, the more tedious the knitting was for me. It’s super mindless, which is GREAT if you’re someone who can like, knit without looking at your stitches? But I still can’t really do that. I’m in awe of people who can read while they knit, or even watch something on TV that’s visual heavy, because I can basically only do…
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Six Last Minute Knitted (and Crocheted) Gift Patterns
It’s that time of year again! Gift giving season! I figured that this would be a perfect time to post a compilation of a few of my favorite, tried and tested fast knitting patterns – you know, in case anyone needs to procure a thoughtful, hand-knit gift in the span of a mere afternoon. All photos are taken from the Ravelry Pattern page, and link back to the original source. 1) Fern Lace Cowl by Jami Brynildson – I’ve made several of these over the years – it’s a quick knit that’s interesting enough to keep you entertained without being too brainpower intensive, allowing you to easily pump this project…
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WIP Wednesday
I’ve been really really lax when it comes to knitting lately. I think I ended up with a grand total of 4 FOs (Finished Objects) last year? Maybe? But I got my mojo back last week and I’m finally making some progress on some of the stuff I’ve been working on. First, my Undertow Shawlette (Ravelry Link), which has been in progress since this was a KAL pattern by my LYS (which has sadly now closed) in May of 2013. I’ve been super slow with progress on this, not because I don’t like the pattern (it’s pretty easy actually), but because the yarn is not really my favorite – I’m…
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Quick WIP Check In: Liesel
Just a quick check in on my current WIP: My Liesel Scarf in Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica 110 – Stellar. I’m almost done with the first of my two skeins, and the scarf is only about a foot and a half long (it’s shown with my 6 inch sewing gage for scale). I’m still worried that both skeins are not going to make a scarf long enough for my preferences – even once blocked, and despite being more than the yardage called for in the pattern. But I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Progress has admittedly been slow now that the weather has warmed,…
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On the Needles…
On the needles at the moment is a Liesel scarf (ravelry link) using some of that lovely yarn I broke all my spending rules for a few weeks back. This will be the third time I’ve attempted this scarf – I love the pattern soooo much, but as of yet have never been able to successfully complete it. The first attempt was a number of years ago and I think my lace skills were just not yet up to the task. I don’t follow written lace instruction well – it’s very hard on my eyes – and I hadn’t learned to read charts yet. So after many many mistakes, it…
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Chunky Scarf Love
One of my close friends came and stayed with us over New Years and introduced me to the concept of arm knitting. As a bit of an ADD knitter who has spent multiple months working on a single scarf because of other distractions, the idea of being able to finish a functional, wearable, and cute scarf in about half an hour seemed too good to be true. I had to try it. So we made a trip to JoAnn’s to grab some super chunky yarn (Lion Brand Hometown USA in Aspen Tweed). However, in true “me” style, as soon as I got home I decided to do something entirely different…
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I’m In Love With The Katniss Cowl
I’m a big Hunger Games fan. So when Catching Fire came out I pretty stoked with the press photos, but not for the usual crazy fan reasons. The real reason was this cowl. Ohhhhh, this cowl. I’m not even entirely sure you can call it a cowl, it’s more like a hybrid between a cape, a shawl, a cloak, and a cowl. But whatever it is, it’s gorgeous. The original garment is, sadly, hand-woven specifically for the movie by designer Maria Dora and so obviously isn’t available as a pattern. Luckily, the knit/crochet community also fell as in love with this piece as I did, and since the press photos…