Wednesday, August 27, 2008

School begins

So school has started again. The last year is a little terrifying, knowing that all too soon I'll be out in the real world working full time.

Homework has begun as well, and add marching band in the mix and there is not a lot of time for knitting. I've put a lot of my projects on hold, especially the ones I'm designing : ( , but right now if I have time for knitting, I want it to be something easy and less stressful then frantically wondering how many decreases to put into the waist shaping (and yes, I do find that stressful and more then a little frantic, though I don't know why I do). So it's the easy little projects that keep me going.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Annoying yarn

So I'm doing my sahara in Royal Bamboo from Plymouth yarns. It's a really nice yarn, a little splitty but a gorgeous yarn. I only have one problem with it.

In 2 of the 3 skeins I've knitted up so far I've gotten halfway through it and voila, a knot in the middle joining 2 strands.

I hate that. Absolutely hate it.

I know why they do it but if it happens again, I will never buy this yarn again. It annoys me enough that I cut off the knot joining the two strands and knit it as two separate skeins which makes more work for me but the finished piece turns out better.

Who in their right mind doesn't get that knitters and crotcheters don't like knots in the middle of their skein?

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Sahara is started!

So I finally started my sahara. I love this pattern. It was the first pattern I ever bought (EVER!!) which of course led to other patterns but this one holds a special place in my heart. I have been waiting for the perfect yarn to complete the pattern and I think I finally have it. I'm doing it in a lovely bamboo yarn that makes me melt. Great pattern, great yarn, I may never leave the apartment!

I do have a conundrum though. I cannot decide how to attach my pentagons for my friend's blanket. Truly, I have a long time (till April 21, 2009) to finish it, but it's something that bothers me every time I look at it. Do I crotchet around each shape then join them and if so what color? So I just use the numerous ends to whipstitch them together? So many questions....

Friday, August 1, 2008

Top down ladder hat



Size
One size fits most adults

Materials
1 set US 6 double pointed needles or size needed to get gauge
1 US 6 16" circular needle
One skein Noro Kureyon or aproximate amount of another worsted weight yarn.

1 stitch marker
Tapestry needle

Gauge
16 sts/28 rows = 4in square in stockinette st

Pattern notes
The ladder pattern is made up of a multiple of 10 sts
Knitted flat:
Row 1(RS)- P1, K8, P1
Row 2(WS)-K1, P8, K1
Row 3 - P10
Row 4 - K1, P8, K1

These 4 rows make up the ladder pattern.

Directions
CO 3 sts onto 1 double-point needle. Distribute them evenly among 3 needles, one stitch per needle.

Rnd 1: Place stitch marker and join in the round by knitting 3 stitches into the first stitch. Do this by knitting into the front, back, then front of the stitch. Knit 3 stitches into each stitch. (3 stitches per needle)

Rnd 2: Knit
Rnd 3: (Kf+b, K1, Kf+b), 3 times (5 st per needle)
Rnd 4: Knit
Rnd 5: (Kf+b, K3, Kf+b), 3 times (7 st per needle)
Rnd 6: Knit
Rnd 7: (Kf+b, K5, Kf+b), 3 times (9 st per needle)
Rnd 8: Knit
Rnd 9: (Kf+b, K7, Kf+b), 3 times (11 st per needle)
Rnd 10: Knit
Rnd 11: (Kf+b, K9, Kf+b), 3 times (13 st per needle.
Rnd 12: Knit
Rnd 13: (Kf+b, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K1), 3 times
Rnd 14: (K4, P1, K8, P1, K1), 3 times
Rnd 15: (K3, Kf+b, P10, Kf+b), 3 times
Rnd 16: (K5, P1, K8, P1, K2), 3 times
Rnd 17: (K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, Kf+b, K1), 3 times
Rnd 18: (K6, P1, K8, P1, K3), 3 times
Rnd 19: (K5, Kf+b, P10, Kf+b, K2), 3 times
Rnd 20: (K7, P1, K8, P1, K4), 3 times
Rnd 21: (K6, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, Kf+b, K3), 3 times
Rnd 22: (K8, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 23: (K7, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times
Rnd 24: (K9, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 25: (K8, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 26: (K10, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 27: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K5, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times
Rnd 28: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K7, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 29: ({K1, P1} 3 times, K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 30: ({K1, P1} 3 times K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 31: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K3, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times
Rnd 32: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K5, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Switch to circular needle when convenient.

Rnd 33: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 34: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 35: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K3, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times
Rnd 36: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K5, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 37: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 38: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 39: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P10, K5), 3 times
Rnd 40: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 41: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 42: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times
Rnd 43: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P10, K5), 3 times
Rnd 44: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Repeat Rounds 41-44, 3 times.
Work in K2, P2 ribbing for about an inch.
BO in pattern. Using the tapestry needle, weave in ends.
Abreviations:
K- knit
P- purl
Kf+b- Knit into the front and back of the same stitch
CO- Cast on
BO- Bind off