Three Little Purls

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Mitered Mittens by ELizabeth Zimmermann
Source | Knitter’s Almanac (best knitting book ever, only $8, too)
Yarn | A wobbly handspun single spun from 4oz of SW Merino from Black Ethel Cash’s etsy store
Needle | Either an Addi Turbo in  US4 (3.5mm) or an US 2.5 (3.0mm), I’m unsure
Spun | September 2008
Cast-On | February 2009
Finished | December 3, 2009

Knit over 56 stitches with a 5 row garter stitch cuff. Incorporated a thumb gusset and a 18 stitch thumb. I love them.

There is a hazard to setting a project aside for too long. My notes tell me I’ve been using a size US4 (3.5mm) needle to knit them, but the needle attached to the mittens was a US2.5 (3.0mm), so I think I made a change/mistake somewhere. The second mitten is a bit smaller than the first. I thought it was an inconsistency in my spinning, but maybe it wasn’t…

Mitten 1. 40g
Mitten 2. 34g hmmm…

Leftover 40g I could make a third mitten. Perhaps I should…

Lemme tell you, times are busy here at Three Little Purls. Aside from impatiently tap-tappin my foot while waiting for the FedEx man to bring me a mountain of undyed yarn, I have had two new mamas and baby boys to knit for.

First, I knit for my new nephew, Hudson.

(on Ravelry)

Patterns | Vest: Owl Baby Vest by Jodi Haraldson, Hat: No pattern, just a vanilla hat over 80 sts.
Yarn | Rowan Felted Tweed, color #146, Herb. 1.25 balls
Needle | AddiTurbo US4 (3.5 mm) and US5 (3.75 mm)
Started | November 9, 2009
Finished | November 14, 2009

I barely finished this in time. In fact, I was late to the shower because I was finishing the knitting and blocking of this little set. Photographing was a fleeting moment as I hurriedly wrapped this up and ran out the door.

My only Owl Vest pattern modification was to slip in a couple decreases at the bottom of the V for that the collar didn’t pouf out.

I hope it fits.

…

Next, I knit for Mr. Liam and his mama Lindsay. I remember Lindsay’s first day of kindergarden. Naturally, this makes me feel like a very old 30 year-old.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Top Down Raglan Baby Sweater by Carole Barenys
Yarn |  Pigeonroof Studios handspun yarn. 335 yards of sportweight merino/seacell in Dovecote
Needle | AddiTurbo US3 (3.25 mm) and US5 (3.75 mm)
Started | November 14, 2009
Finished | November 20, 2009

This pattern is my absolute favorite plain-Jane (or Jack) baby sweater pattern. There is nothing fancy, just a top-down raglan knit in one piece. Couple that with a special skein of yarn, and you have a great little sweater that I think most parents-to-be would love. This time around, I used some handspun in Dovecote that was spun by the amazing fellow dyer Krista of Pigeonroof Studios.

Since I am in the business of dyeing handdyed yarns and I spend a silly amount of brainpower daydreaming about what I would like to make with it all, I find that it is easier to resist the siren’s call to buy other yarn. Sure, I have been known fall for a tempting skein (or two) here and there, but I have been able to exercise a fair amount to self-control. I do have a weak spot, though, for the colorful rovings and lively handspuns that come out of Krista’s dye studio. The colors just make me happy.

This handspun was actually reclaimed from a unworn sweater I knit for my youngest. The sweater (a Baby Surprise Jacket) never fit right and so, after a short period of time, it was carefully frogged and lovingly placed back into the yarn cabinet to wait for the right project. That project turned out to be Liam’s Sweater.

Again, I hope it fits.

(on Ravelry)

Yarns | Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solid in Espresso, Rust, Olive and Pea Green; Loops & Threads Impeccable Solids in Aqua; 1 skein of each
Hook | US H 5.0 mm
Supplies | 18″x18″ pillow form, muslin fabric, metal snaps and 3 buttons
Started and Finished | November 7, 2009

This was a silly project that turned out great! Don’t you love it when that happens?

I wanted a cute and no fuss (and cheap) cushion for my desk chair, so I turned to my craft cabinet and dug out all the supplies I needed, less the acrylic yarn. (I’d never used an all acrylic before, so naturally I didn’t have any leftovers to use. Not a circumstance of yarn snobbery, mind you, but a result of discovering knitting because of a desire to knit woolen diaper covers.) A quick trip to Michaels for Vanna’s Choice in such wonderful 1970’s colors such as Rust and Pea Green gave me everything I needed to create this comfy and poufy beauty.

The first order of business was to cover the naked pillowforn with some unbleached muslin. My amazing sewing machine, The Invincible Ms. Elna, (who, like me, is also a product of the 1970’s), and I quickly created a simple removable sham with snaps and ties. After that it was Susan Bates the Crochet Hook, Vanna, my iPod, with a audio copy of The Jungle, and I working together to crank out two cushion-sized granny squares. The time just flew by.

I’m pretty impressed with Vanna’s Choice yarn. There was zero acrylic-squeak while working with it. It’s really soft and not splitty at all. Sure, it’s not an artisan yarn or as nice as big-box craft store woolen yarns (Patons Classic, I’m talking about you) and, yes, its made from gross petrochemical soup that melts and is full of ick, but the price was right for something I’m going to sit on in my pajamas. Would I want to knit or wear or gift a garment made from it? No way. Would I buy it again? Not likely. I like wools so much more.

Before I knew it, I had a finished cushion complete with a removable exterior, lots of swankiness, and plans for three more kid-sized cushions.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | All Shawl by Doris Chan
Yarn | Noro Kureyon Sock, 164
Hook | US J 6.0 mm
Started | October 2009
Finished | November 4, 2009

Ah, crochet, I have misjudged you. You are so much more than acrylic afghans and thread doilies.

I fell in love with the All Shawl pattern after seeing Raveler bearsaunty’s Noro Sock Shawl. I remembered that I had a spare skein of Kureyon Sock, so I rummaged through my stash untill I found it, and started my shawl right away.  I’m glad the crocheting moved along quickly, since I didn’t particularly like working with the yarn. The Kureyon Sock was very rough and twisty, plus there was a knot that completely interrupted the color sequence. (Occasional knots do not bother me at all, but I do mind color changes.) Blocking didn’t do much to make soften the yarn, but of course it made a huge difference in the appearance of the finished shawl. I was under the assumption that crochet didn’t change much with blocking, but I was wrong. The awkward little shawl transformed into something wonderfully airy and crisp. Although the yarn is a little more vivid than I was expecting, I really like the finished project. I think it will be perfect to wear with a fitted black tee and jeans.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Short-Sleeved Cardi with Ribbing
Source | Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel
Yarn | Rowan Chunky Print
Needle | Addi Turbo US10 (6.0 mm)
Started | November 13, 2008
Finished | October 16, 2009

Where to begin? This project was a mess from the beginning. After reviewing a pile of pattern errata and swatching, I cast on for the 34″ size. It soon became apparent that the sweater had a very shallow raglan. I should have frogged the project, but instead I knit the raglan deeper and cast on extra stitches under each underarm. Now I could actually fit my arms into the piece, but my adjustments made the body circumference bigger. I inserted enough decreases to bring me back to the pattern size, but I obviously should have added more. Many more. There’s enough room in the top part of the body for two of me. I pressed ahead and knit the body longer, which is a decision that I am glad I made. Then I added the buttonbands, and divided up the remainder of the yarn for each sleeve. I worked each sleeve until I ran out of yarn and TaDa! the big, unflattering blob is finished.

This side angle picture doesn’t look too bad, but then if I move you can really see the all the spare room. After a few minutes, the entire ribbed portion rides up and the two garter ridge bands stick out like the rings of Saturn. Lovely!

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Snails and Slugs by Anna Hrachovec
Yarn | Body - Mama Blue Knitting Goods, Simple Merino Sock in Brassiere
Yarn | Shell - Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 Colortweed in color 1002
Needle | Knit Picks classic circs size US1.5 (2.5mm)
Started/Finished | November 1, 2009

I love making these. This particular leftover yarn specimen has matte black seed beads for eyes and a tiny twisted cord with knots on the ends for the head tentacles. Technically this is incorrect since snails have their eyes at the end of the tentacles. Next month’s snail will have its peepers in the right place.

Two tiny toys for two of my little nieces.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Bunny Nuggets by Rebecca Danger
Yarn | scraps of Little Turtle Knits 3-ply farm yarn in an unknown handdyed fuchsia color
Needle | Knit Picks classic circs size US4 (3.5mm)
Started/Finished | October 24, 2009

Modifications: I wasn’t terribly keen on knitting six stitches on the round for each ear and then having to sew them on, so instead I picked up four stitches from the top of the head and worked a 4-stitch icord. Much faster. Also after a few failed pompoms, I opted for a button tail. I like it better anyway.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Snails and Slugs by Anna Hrachovec
Yarn | Body - Mama Blue Knitting Goods, Simple Merino Sock in Cabbage
Yarn | Shell - Knittin’ Pretty Handspun Superwash in It Takes Two
Needle | Knit Picks classic circs size US1.5 (2.5mm)
Started/Finished | October 24, 2009

Oh, this was so fun to make! I named this particular specimen Ms. October, and I plan to take the time to make a Mr. November and so on. A snail a month sounds like a plan to me.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Kim’s Hats
Source | Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn | Handspun Corriedale 2-ply that I spun and dyed awhile back
Needle | Addi Turbo US8 (5.0mm)
Started/Finished | One lazy evening in October 2009

Just a little something to do while I watched a couple of shows on Hulu. I rarely watch regular tv anymore.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Stay-On Baby Bootees
Source | Knitting For Baby
Yarn | Mama Blue Knitting Goods, Simple Merino Sock, Little Rarities remnant
Needle | Brittany Birch DPN US 3 (3.25 mm)
Started | October 1, 2009
Finished | October 16, 2009

Hooray! I have a new nephew! Little Hudson made his debut in the safety, privacy and comfort of his family’s home this past Thursday night. I couldn’t be happier for his mama and daddy. They chose not to find out the sex of the baby during the pregnancy, so I took a gamble with my masculine choice of yarn.

These little bootees have been my go-to baby bootee for several years now. They are quick, cute and really do stay on wee feet. The pattern comes from Malanie Falick’s Knitting For Baby. This book is one of the first knitting books I ever bought and one that I still use all the time. Some of the patterns are somewhat outdated now, but there are still some real gems in there. I’m looking forward to knitting a modified version of the Nordic Cardigan sometime soon.

(on Ravelry)

Pattern | Boheme by Allegra Wermuth
Size | 6 months
Yarn | Debbie Bliss, Rialto, Red color 12, 2 balls
Needle | Addi Turbo US 5 (3.75 mm)
Started | August 2009
Finished | September 2009

I’m a quite embarrassed with how poorly documented and photographed this little project is. This Boheme was knit as a shower gift for a friend who has since given birth to a very sweet and very wee Miss Ava.

My sparse notes reveal that I chose to knit a 4-stitch garter edge along the front to prevent curling and I omitted the picot at the bottom with 3 rows of garter ridges there instead. I like the way this Boheme turned out, but I’m not convinced the yarn is going to hold up through very many washings. Rialto is fantastically soft, but I found it quite splitty and it did not hold up well to a minimal amount of frogging. The yarn grew crazy HUGE when I blocked it. Because of that, I did not pin it out as I had planned, but rather I laid it flat to dry and it did slowly crept back into shape about a size larger than what I had knit. I’d call it more of a 9 month size than the 6 month size I knit.

If I was to knit this again, I would move the buttonholes closer to the edge and use a different increase for the raglan. I would definitely use a different yarn. I’d photograph it better, too.