Cabled Cardies

Finally done in time for winter.  But being in California, the alpaca/wool yarn I used is quite a bit too warm.

Pattern: Cosima
Yarn: Berroco Cuzco
Pattern booklet & yarn bought from the WEBS booth at Stitches West 2009. (Yeah, not an immediate knit.)

needles: size 9 for the ribbing on the cardie pieces, size 10.5 for the main body & sleeves, accidentally (and advantageously) used size 8 for the collar ribbing

Mods:
- Ysolda's 2x2 tubular cast on
- larger size sleeves & armholes - since there were a lot of comments that the sleeves were too small (& too short, but length wasn't an issue for me)
- 2x2 tubular bind off for the collar

Lessons learned:
- Chunky alpaca/wool blend makes for a WARM fabric!  However, this would be good when we go to the Sierras in the winter.
- If several Ravelers make lots of comments on adjusting for fit and the pattern writing edited down to the bare essentials, be prepared to make a lot of your own decisions.
- While having broad shoulders & a non-flat chest will mitigate for the reported excessive collar draping/relaxing of the cardigan after wear, my body type and the sweater silhouette are not the most ideal match, at least for me.

I feel like I'm "that mother" that goes a little too far in making her kids doll clothes. So instead of knitting a top down simple cardigan on worsted weight yarn for Monkey1's American Girl doll. I end up knitting a cabled cardigan knit in sport weight yarn in PIECES to be seamed together w/buttons! The easiest part was the crocheted edging w/the buttonholes. I suppose it's easier than knitting a full-sized Monkey1 cabled cardigan, but still. Sometimes I wonder about myself. LOL!

Pattern: Doll Aran by Berroco
Yarn: Rowan Purelife Organic Wool (discontinued) in Berry
needles: size 4 & 6 circulars
hook: size F

No mods.

Buttonhead Hats

Pattern: Buttonhead hat - "super" slouchy size


Monkey2 has a good head shape for hats, unlike me. I'm having a difficult time finding buttons I like with this, so these'll will do 'til I find something better.


yarn: A Verb for Keeping Warm superwash BFL fiber in No. 9 spindle-spun by me! Navajo-plied on the spindle too!


size 6 KP circs
mod: less decreases before the brim to fit my head comfortably


Yarn: Yarn Wench Handpainted Merino Roving spindle-spun by Tapmouse - gifted to me last Christmas, I think.


Happier w/the buttons on this one.


needles: 10.5 mm KP circs
same mod: less decreases before the the brim so it can fit my head comfortably.


And just building up the baby gift stash. Such a cute pattern!
pattern: Berry Baby Hat
yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton in Wisteria & Lime Leaf - orphan skeins bought at a couple different lys, I think
size 8 KP circs
mod: didn't do the smaller needle size for the cast on and initial few rows 'cause I saw no need.

For the birthday twin

Finished in time before he retires by the end of the month. He'll get it next week though as I forgot to bring it in today.


(sorry for the slight blurriness - still working out my relationship w/my new camera)

pattern: Rowan 34 Morris
size: XL
yarn: Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Squirrel Heather
needles: KP nickel-plated circs in size 10 & 10.5
mods: added side pockets

I like the yarn and this classic colorway, but I'll be happy to not see it in a good long while. I was definitely burnt out by the end. Also, not too thrilled with the pockets I threw in on the fly. But then, I should've planned the pockets out better & earlier.

Birthday brother bought the yarn, picked out the pattern and the pattern size, so I hope he's happy with it. I had to fight my own aesthetic with the sizing. He wanted large & roomy, but I kept thinking "OMG, I'm making it too big." Also, it was amusing to watch a Muggle's reaction to the price of decent yarn, especially if we're going for machine-washeable.


And since I had 1 skein leftover, I figured I might as well make him a coordinating hat. The cabling on the Chunky Dean St hat pattern has a similar look to the mini-ones embedded in the big cable pattern of the cardigan.

Chunky Dean Street hat - really quick enjoyable pattern on Ravelry
size 9 & 10 KP circs
pattern size medium - did not make his hat as roomy as the cardie


So now that the big project is done, I'm off to make a few holiday gifts. First up is Monkey1's teacher's hat. She's a big Harry Potter fan and dressed up as a Hogwarts student on Halloween, so I thought that the Hermione hat in sparkly yarn would be fitting for her.

Hermione's Cable & Eyelet Hat
Lion Brand Wool Ease in White/Multi - we like the sparkle
size 7 KP circs
"adult" size

Monkey1 gets to wrap this up as soon as I fix a bad weaving job on the brim when I encountered a knot in the yarn.

Winter Grey

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. It's been busy at Chez Nartian so I haven't had a chance to blog, let alone knit.

I was all set on publishing this post during our gray, rainy winter weather to match my color theme but by the time I got around to working on this post, the sun comes out. Figures. Anyway, I was mentally and "officially" done with my gift knitting by Christmas Eve Eve.


Pattern: A Boy Hat x 2
yarn: Knit Picks Swish in Coast Grey - 1 skein each hat
needle size: US 8

I actually finished 2 of these, washed & let them dry in time to give them to one of my guys at work for his 2 boys before the end of last week. I was in such a rush though that I didn't do the obligatory Nartian hat shot of the hats over my Monkeys' eyes.


Felicity
Patons Classic Wool in Black/Noir
size 7 & 9 KP circs
for: my cousin's daughter to replace Le Slouch which went to Monkey1's teacher

However, this hat did not dry in time for Christmas Eve when we saw my cousin. If we don't get a chance to see them again before winter is over, I'll save this for next Christmas.

The following 2 were actually destress from the holiday knitting and not a last minute attempt to have 2 more spare "just-in-case" gifts. But thinking back on it, it probably wasn't a good idea to put size 15 & 17 needles in my hands, even if they were hollow metal alloy.


Seastorm Scarflette
Rowan Big Wool Tuft color #56
size 17 Boyes needles - I think I bought these when I knit up some Ozark Handspun
still in need of a button

This ball of yarn was from my first & only Patternworks end of the year grab bag buy when I was a newbie knitter. This and the ball of Big Wool below were in a bag marked "Cotton." Yeah, it took me 3 years to figure out what the heck to do with these, especially the Tuft.


knit COWL
Rowan Big Wool in Cloak
size 15 KP circs

Now that I'm all done with my gift knitting, I took a quick break and finished some reading. Younger Sis, who curses me for getting her hooked on that vamp series (hah, I wasn't the one with a really long layover at LAX w/nothing to read 'cept what was at the airport magazine store), paid me back by getting me book 3 (something to do with eclipses ;) ) & 4 (I'm not sure how I think about it yet - I spoiled myself on major plot points) as my Christmas gift. I am sometimes too cheap in buying books and was willing to wait 'til May for the paperback version of book 3, but Younger Sis said no way she was waiting that long to finish the series and bought the last 2 in hardcover.

Okay, off to indulge in some major sock knitting. I still have DH's second sock to do (yes, I'm rationalizing that it is not a holiday gift knit), a Merlot Vine Lace sock I started while waiting for DH during one of his obligatory medical tests when you reach a certain age :p, a Digitessa sock (though that Rav group KAL seems to be rather strict on when you do what portion of your socks, not to mention doing them 2-at-a-time - ugh, I don't think so!), my last Rockin Sock Club sock (Muddy Autumn Rainbow - love!), and a Leyburn sock KAL on the Socks that Rawk Rav group. Pics of that stuff in my next post since I'm not sure I can fit them all into this post.