Early morning knitting

Brioche Progress Shot, originally uploaded by knittingand.

No, this is not my knitting, I was searching for brioche stitch pattern photos on Flickr and this one caught my eye.

Yesterday I finished that seed stitch striped cowl I have been working on for the past two weeks. Photos to be posted later as this shitty gray day leaves much to be desired in the way of lighting.

This morning I stupidly tried to teach myself how to knit brioche, which is a way of double-sided knitting. You end up with a very stretchy-squishy piece of knitting that looks good on both sides. It looks especially interesting when you knit with two or three colors, where you can make vertical stripes or an interesting alternating color pattern. Needless to say, as with much new techniques I had to do a lot of trial and error. I was late to work but now I'm super inspired to try out these new stitches! Stupid work.

My next project will consist of different brioche stitches - I might need to slap myself a few times to get my head on straight but stay tuned!

Here is a great resource for learning brioche.

Progress

I NEED MORE YARN!!

Layer cake

I had been working on this layered necklace all week and finally finished it yesterday. I used bamboo-silk and pima cotton-silk yarns.

As it's made with scrap yarn, it is truly one of a kind and I probably won't be working on another one until I finish another project.

Layered necklaces are gaining popularity and I wanted to experiment with different styles.

Available here at my Etsy shop!

If you're balking at price, please stop to think about how long it took me to do this - it's handknit, after all!

A squirrel, a hamster

I have a problem. This is one yarn shipment I received this week, and I still have enough yarn for two other projects, only one of which is started, and only 1/3 finished at that! These will all be made into thinner, warm weather cowls of different stitches - I found a couple of great resources online and am learning a lot of new stitch patterns!

Vogue Knitting's Stitchionary
Knitting Fool's Stitch Library

This is a stitch pattern called "Op Art" from Vogue Knitting that I'm making into a long cowl with a provisional cast-on. It looks really complicated but it's a great pattern because you know exactly where you are at any point in time - you just have to count back from the start. This way, if I lose track, I don't have to freak out and start over.

This is called "Shell Lace" and is also a fairly easy lace pattern. It's pretty much finished - I blocked it last weekend and only need to stitch the ends together and weave in loose threads from where I joined skeins.

Stay tuned!

My kingdom for a hat!

Knitting 3 hats at the same time - I ain't lyin, originally uploaded by lazysundae.

So my long awaited shipment from Knit Picks came in this weekend and I got to work on a few orders.

Roxy wanted a neutral colored extra large beret/slouch hat, Christine wanted a gray hat that wouldn't smush her brains out with horizontal ribbing and Angel wanted this hat from UO in red, part of their mass-produced EEK (Eugenia Kim) line. Since UO is famous for ripping everyone else's designs off, I'm doing the same, free of charge. EAT THAT!

I'm just kind of winging it, using basic stitches and decreases as inspiration. I'm hoping these hats fit!

Stay tuned for some warm weather designs, comin up next.

Oooh!

I was perusing the Purl Bee for new patterns and came across this book they posted, Reversible Knitting: 50 Brand-New, Groundbreaking Stitch Patterns by Lynne Barr. What caught my eye was this sweater by Wenlan Chia:





What the hell! Why does my first sweater ever have to be this complicated thing? It looks like it's knit with cotton, which I hate because cotton sweaters like this are super bulky and heavy. And I would probably use different colors.

Anyway, planning to cop this book soon.

First pattern post

Ok this was a bit crazy to write because I did it without looking at the mittens - I'd already gifted them to the recipient. So I was doing this from memory and there might be a few glitches. But here goes:

The Diana Mittens (Horse shoe cables with inside pockets for handwarmers!)
Horse shoe cable mittens with inside pocket (for your handwarmer!)

Yarn: 1 skein Cascade 128 Superwash
Needles: 1 set US9 DPNS, 6"
Notions: darning needle, stitch marker, stitch holder
Optional: Cable needle (you can also use a spare DPN)

Notes: This is a bulky yarn suitable for US10 needles but I wanted them to be knit tighter so I used the US9.
You can probably use any not-too-bulky weight yarn - I used up the entire skein of Cascade 128 on this project with about 2 feet left over to die a ribbon on the gift bag. This yarn's very forgiving and holds the cables well, and it is machine washable which is a plus. Comes in a lot of wonderful colors, both neutral and bright.

Using 3 DPNS, CO 36 sts and join in the round. Mark the beginning of the round with your stitch marker - if you don't have one, tie some scrap yarn into a loop. There should be 12 sts on each needle.

Rows 1,2,3,4, and 6: *K1P1* repeat to end of 1stneedle, K12 to end of 2nd needle, *K1P1* repeat to end of 3rd needle
Row 5: work your horse shoe cable. Sl 3 sts to cable needle (CN) and hold in back. K3, K3 from CN. Next, sl 3 to CN, hold in front. K3, K3 from CN.

Repeat this two more times.

Rows 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12: Knit all the way around.
Row 11: work your horse shoe cable again. Sl 3 sts to cable needle (CN) and hold in back. K3, K3 from CN. Next, sl 3 to CN, hold in front. K3, K3 from CN.

Row 13: Knit all the way around.

Row 14: You'll start to work your right hand thumb gusset. K27, M1, K1, M1, K to end of round.
Row 15: K all the way around.
Row 16: K27, M1, K3, M1, K to end of round.
Row 17: K12. Work horse shoe cable - sl 3 sts to cable needle (CN) and hold in back. K3, K3 from CN. Next, sl 3 to CN, hold in front. K3, K3 from CN. K 12.
Row 18: K27, M1, K5, M1, K to end of round.
Row 19: K all the way around.
Row 20: K27, M1, K7, M1, K to end of round.
Row 21: K all the way around.
Row 22: K27, sl 9 sts onto a stitch holder (if you don't have one, thread scrap yarn onto your darning needle and thread them onto the yarn, and tie the scrap yarn in a knot). M1, continue knitting all the way around.
Row 23: K all the way around.
Row 24: K12, make horse shoe cable, K 12.
Row 25: K all the way around.

Rows 26, 27, 28, 29, and 31: K all the way around
Row 30: K 12, make horse shoe cable, K 12.
Repeat until the mitten reaches your little finger, or until desired length.

To shape top:
K3, K2tog all the way around.
K all the way around.
K2 K2tog all the way around.
K all the way around. Make sure there are 8 sts on your 2nd needle (the one you've been cableknitting on) and that sts are more or less divided evenly on your 1st an 3rd needles.
K2tog to end of first needle. K a smaller horseshoe cable on 2nd needle - sl 2 on CN, hold in back. K2, K2 from CN. Sl 2 on CN, hold in front. K2, K2 from CN. K2tog to end of round.
K all the way around.
K 2tog all the way around.

Cut your yarn and leave about an 8 inch tail. Thread through darning needle and sew through remaining sts, then pull tight. Turn the mitten inside out, make sure the top is still pulled tight, and then weave in ends on the inside.

Now make your thumb. Turn the mitten right side out again.
Pick up the 9 slipped sts onto your DPN and cut the scrap yarn out.
Pick up 5 sts and divide the 14 total sts onto 3 DPNS.
K 9 rounds.
To shape top -
K1, K2tog to end of round.
K2tog to end of round.
Cut yarn and thread through a darning needle. Draw the yarn through the remaining sts, turn the mitten inside out, and weave in ends.

WAIT YOU'RE NOT DONE YET!!

To make the left hand mitten, follow directions until row 13.
Row 14: K6, M1, K1, M1, K to end of round.
Row 15: K all the way around.
Row 16: K6, M1, K3, M1, K to end round.
Row 17: K to end of first needle. Work horseshoe cable on 2nd needle - sl 3 sts to CN and hold in back. K3, K3 from CN. Next, sl 3 to CN, hold in front. K3, K3 from CN. K to end of round.
Row 18: K6, M1, K5, M1, K to end of round.
Row 19: K to all the way around.
Row 20: K6, M1, K7, M1, K to end of round.
Row 21: K all the way around.
Row 22: K6, sl 9 sts onto stitch holder/scrap yarn. M1, K to end of round.
Row 23: K all the way around.
Row 24: K12, make horse shoe cable, K 12.
Row 25: K all the way around.

Follow all the directions as described above.

Optional inside pockets:
CO 12 sts onto US10.5
Knit in stockinette stitch until desired length (about 3 inches)
Turn the mittens inside out and pin to the palm side.
Using needle and thread, stitch the pocket to the mitten.

Et voila :)
If you decide to use this pattern, please let me know and link back. And send photos!

Blog bump

So I've been on Ravelry for the past two days looking for hat and toy patterns. I've made a couple of hats and am looking to expand my skills and I came across these patterns by Nikol Lohr, on a Japanese/Manga/Anime site of all places. Katamari Damacy's Prince & Queen earmuffs!

Being that the internet is a super superhighway, I Googled "Nikol Lohr" hoping to find more fun patterns by her and came across her blog, The Thrifty Knitter. Photos of yarn, projects in process, food, farm life & fiber workshops - it's very visual and informative. Apparently she actually lives on a farm and spins her own yarn and also teaches at an annual yarn school in Kansas City. Check it out!

Gettin knitty widdit

Participated in my first arts/crafts fair today, hosted by a company in my office building. It was open only to employees but I made out better than I had thought! The necklaces with pendants ($40/45) were very popular as were the neck cozies ($45-70). And when I say popular I mean I sold about two of each.

I didn't really know how to set up my table until I was at a bookstore and spied craft wrapping paper, and then it just all came together. I made pompom garlands to decorate and then just covered the entire tabletop with the paper. I didn't have any business cards so I took a few photos with my Fuji Instax and wrote my info on mini sticky labels on the back. Tadaaaaa!

I love knitting - it's amazing to see what you can make from a single strand of fiber. The fact that I can do it pretty much anywhere makes it appealing as well. One thing that's funny to me is that people ask me things like "Do you have this in such-and-such color?" especially for the necklaces. All of those pieces are made with scrap yarn, so it totally depends on what I'm using at the time and what colors I have. Plus, it's not like I have a stockpile of supplies. I guess I'll get a feel for what is popular with buyers vs. what I like myself. It's always a learning process.

The pompoms were really fun to make too. Using scrap yarn, remembering what projects I made them for... It's like a trip down crafty memory lane!

My Etsy store is now open - I'm slowly adding to it as I take pictures of my goods. Please visit and pass the word along!

Lazysundae Knits at Etsy!

Warm hands, warm heart

This is what I've been working on this week...

Need more time!

Here are some new knit pieces that I've been working on for an art fair at work. They're pretty easy to make but very time consuming!!!

Pouf! It's like magic

What was supposed to be my summer project ended up being a quickie start-of-fall project:

This is the Puff Daddy knit stool from Pickles of Norway, which is like the Purl Bee in many respects, selling yarn and other supplies and offering free patterns for crocheting, knitting and crafts.

I bought some yarn on sale at WEBS, 9 skeins of royal blue Berkshire Bulky, a 50-50 blend of wool and alpaca. To stuff the pouf, I cut into our old featherbed, removed some of the feathers, then shoved it all into the knit case. It's fairly stretchy but be careful in sewing the bottom shut. I tore my stitching yarn and almost panicked that I'd ripped out some knit stitches.

Now Alex is using it as a gaming chair. Next up, a bed for the cat so she will stop sleeping on the dining chair cushions and shedding her fur all over it. Blech!

67

67, originally uploaded by Montague Street BID.

4

4, originally uploaded by Montague Street BID.

The meter cozies for the Montague BID project have been up for over two weeks now and I have still not been out to see them. They are due to come down June 15th, must make a trip out there! Here are mine!

Whistle while you work

I need to expand my blog searches because most things I've made lately have been from the Purl Bee. Can't help it - their tutorials are great, informative and easy to follow. Below, two things I'm working on. Not pictured are another lace scarf and tote bag. That's right - four projects at the same time. Helps when I get bored with a project to keep working!

My finished Calla Coasters. I used organic cotton yarn from Knit Picks and the Riviera sampler from Connecting Threads, a partner of Knit Picks. I hate having to order but the price is right. From $15 worth of fabric I can make about 60 coasters! The pattern also calls for some crocheted pieces but try as I might, I could not teach myself. Very frustrating for me since I taught myself to knit pretty easily.

I will enlist the help of Heike, Alex's mom, when she comes to visit.

This is another Elisa Nest Tote I am working on. I made it a little wider than the pattern called for and am doing striped I-cord straps instead of a solid color. I think it will look good. To do the striped I-cord, I had to look up instructions on this blog. It's a pain in the ass because you have to wind the inactive color as you go along so with each stitch, you have to remember to do this. But it is worth it, to make the bag look more interesting. For the next one, the entire bag is going to be striped.

I have a lot of yarn stockpiled now that I have to make use of them. I am going to make a matching hat to go with the handwarmers I made earlier. I also need to make a little belt in garter stitch - I bought a great sundress at J. Crew in bright turquoise that I love but it is pretty sacklike and needs some cinching.

Woo! Back to work. I just finished making sangria and put my chicken wings into a Peruvian marinade. Up next, empanada dough and the filling. Read about it tomorrow on The Itis!

Almost forgot - starting Monday May 4, it is POLAROID WEEK 2009! Any instant cam will do. Check out the Flickr group for more information - I am brushing the dust off my Fuji Instax right after this. Stay tuned!

Guerrilla knitting

So I just signed up with the Montague Street Business Improvement District. They are joining forces with Magda Sayeg of Knitta Please to cover all 69 parking meters along Montague Street in Brooklyn with knit cozies.

Pink, blue, green & yellow aren't exactly what I'd call "guerrilla" colors but it will be fun to be a part of this project.

The installation takes place May 13th and will be left up until June 9th. Please come and take a look if you are in the NY area! It's like cozy, removable, KNIT graffiti :)

This is turning into a knitting blog?

These are the finished Daisy Stitch Handwarmers I saw on the Purl Bee. They took a little longer because I stopped for a while to work on other projects. Very fun to make and not as hard as it looks! Don't knit it up too tightly or else you'll have problems with the k3tog.

Almost done with this bag, another project from the Purl Bee - I started this about a week ago and now have only one handle left to knit up. Very quick to do and inspiring for more projects of my own design. I thought I would have a problem with the applied I-cord but it is very simple to do. All you need is a pair of double-pointed needles, fast becoming my favorite knitting tool.

It also employs a basic crocheting technique. I've decided I want to learn to crochet as well - I think it's a good skill to have to add embellishment to projects, and there are some things in crochet that you cannot make with knitting. So la di da.

Regulators: Craft up

This is Noro Silk Mountain yarn, a blend of wool, silk and kid mohair. I'm using it to make another neck cowl, which is shaping up nicely and looks a little like rainbow river moss. I'm trying to stockpile for gift giving and/or selling. We'll see how that goes.

Noro is famous for the variegated colors in their yarns, and I really want to try making another lace scarf with it.

Check this site out for beautiful creations made with Noro Yarn. Click on References.

Currently I'm working on about 3 projects. And learning that I knit like I read: different projects at the same time. Variety is the spice of life!

Next up I want to learn to embroider and cableknit. Baby steps.

It's granny time

My KnitPicks order came yesterday and I was excited to start a new project. I started this scarf last night and after about 5 tries I finally got it. This is the Lovely Leaf Lace scarf from the Purl Bee, made with supima cotton-modal yarn instead of cashmere. At $2.50 a ball from KnitPicks, I wanted a cheap yarn for my first try.

I had to invoke the help of the Knit Witch, who helped with stitches I've never done before like "ssk"or "s1, k2tog, psso." It was all Greek to me too until I watched some videos. And now I am obsessed with knitting lace.

I think this yarn weight and needle size is good for a nubbier yarn like cashmere. I want to try it with a bamboo-silk blend next, so I will have to use smaller needles. I am planning to invest in some Denise interchangeable knitting needles - this is the best option I've seen out there. With all the different lengths and sizes I need, it's better to have this little kit instead of a zillion different needles flying around.


Patterns in general are difficult for me to follow because I often forget which row I am on and I don't use a counter. I usually just wing it and hope for the best. Hopefully I can learn to be more disciplined because eventually I want to knit onesies and baby blankies and stuffed knit animals for all my married and soon-to-be married friends. Start breeding already!

Sharing is caring

This past Sunday was the second meet up for the Knitting & Wine group at Bar Olivino in Clinton Hill, hosted by artist Megan Canning. This was my first time - I brought an old project that I've been working on forever. It's not a difficult one but it is slow going because the yarn is so thin and on smaller needles, it takes much longer to finish. I also brought supplies for a new project, a ribbed cowl using Blue Sky Alpaca yarn I purchased at Purl Soho.

There was a good mix of people and skill levels, and it was great to get pointers on technique, yarn stores and general crafty ideas. It got me really excited to start other projects, and afterwards I bought enough yarn to fuel different projects for the next two months or so. I learned about the The Purl Bee from Megan, which is a great source for ideas and free patterns, and they link directly to supplies from their stores. Great little marketing tool as well!

This is the cowl I started that night. I finished it last night and have not decided whether I'm gifting it or keeping it. The first one I made was not so successful, as I couldn't really pull it over my head but this one turned out good. I just made up the pattern on the spot.

Basically, it's bulky yarn on size 15 (24") circular needles. Cast on 48 stitches (you might want to do 49 or 50 if you don't want it that snug around your head). Knit 3 rows then purl 3 rows. Repeat. Finish with one last set of 3 knit rows, then bind off and weave in the ends. Total time is probably about 2 hours. Very quick and easy. This is 50% alpaca and 50% wool, which ensures that it is warm and snuggly.

As the weather gets warmer I'll have to start thinking of warm weather projects to make... or just stockpile for the winter. I would like to try selling some if they turn out well.

A great source for super cheap yarn is Knit Picks, which is usually where I order from if I don't need the yarn right away. They have free shipping with orders $50 and over, which doesn't sound like a lot but last night I bought $58 worth of yarn, which is enough for at least 8 projects. When the weather gets nicer I would like to check out WEBS Yarn in Northampton, MA. My friend Sean told me about this place, which is like a Mecca for knitters and crocheters. They have great fibers and you can go there and learn to spin your own yarn. There's also a butterfly farm nearby, as well as the Berkshire Mountains. Sounds like a fun field trip to me!