Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The Slightly Slouchy Beanie


SAM_1512_plus_logo_BR
I made this hat as a thank you gift for a friend who loves the outdoors. She hikes, and cycles all the time , does a lot of travelling, and does not wear anything fluffy or frilly – or, as far as I can tell, patterned .I wanted a hat that fit her practical needs, including being light and small to pack, but did not look like something only a bloke would wear.
SAM_1509_plus_logo_BR
 Fortunately for me, she not only said all the right things when I gave it to her, but a few weeks later told me how much she had been wearing it, so either I have been successful with my pattern, or she is very kind and has extremely good manners – or both. Even better, it was relatively quick to knit, and was a good use for some of my large stash of sock yarn. 
I used Heirloom Jigsaw sock yarn and Patonyle sock yarn for the contrast brim. The self patterning Jigsaw yarn  makes a nice non repeating variegated yarn as a beanie.
SAM_1514_plus_logo_BR
I am planning on putting this pattern up for free on Ravelry  - once I have some test knitting done. 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Green Vest

This vest started out as a version of the DK vest from Jo Sharp Knit, issue 10, but unfortunately, I was only a few rows into the garter stitch rib, when I succumbed to the pleas of a customer and sold her my shop copy, after a rush on the magazine caught us all sold out.
SAM_1497_plus_logo_BR
 I quite fancy the garter stitch rib, which is simple to knit, looks pretty, but lacks the recovery of a more standard 2x2 rib. SAM_1499_plus_logo_BR
 At this point, the vest construction started to deviate from my memory of the pattern The vest was looking rather big and boxy, so I added some more of the garter stitch ribbing to the sides in an attempt to add some shaping.
 SAM_1505_plus_logo_BR
In retrospect, I should have added some more ribbing, or used regular 2x2 ribbing, as the vest is still a bit boxy.
SAM_1498_plus_logo_BR
By the time I came to the neck, I had decided on a v neck, rather than the round neck in the pattern, thinking I would like to wear it over a blouse with a stand and collar. I was quite happy with how this turned out. SAM_1507_plus_logo_BR
Unfortunately, finishing the vest caused a little problem. I asked my daughter to model it for the blog, and now she won't give it back. SAM_1500_plus_logo_BR
 Classic Double Knit Wool in shade 002, Pistachio. At least this will give me a chance to do some fitting tweaks on the next one.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Anita Cable Wrap

It has been so cold and frosty here lately. I have been wearing this snuggly wrap nearly every morning, and remembered today that I had somehow forgotten to write a post about it. SAM_1367_plus_logo_BL This wrap is an updated version of my Anita Wrap pattern. I have added a simple cable to the wide rib panels, and used the more budget friendly, but still luscious, Aslan Trends Guanaco, with a little Japanese variegated mohair to enliven the tassels. SAM_1361_plus_logo_BL As Guanaco is 12ply, this knits up relatively quickly. I might need another one in a different colour. SAM_1368_plus_logo_BL