The Year of the Sock

Yup 2011 was full of socks.  Given that the first half of the year found my knitting mojo often waning (and sometimes non-existent), socks were the perfect project: small, portable and sometimes non-committal.  Amongst the socks are a few items that might look unfamiliar (a vest, a blanket and a baby outfit).  They were the last projects for BlogBernat (sadly that partnership has ended but it was time for me to move on anyways).

The Finished Items of 2011

On the plus side, I learned some new techniques (hurray for toe-ups!) and published my first pattern.  And I'm still plugging away at my cardi, so I'm hoping to get another pattern published in the not-too-distant future.


And to be fair, I did work on some bigger projects that didn't quite make it to the finishing line: lots of "almost done".

The Works in Progress of 2011

Let's hope they get finished in the new year.  Maybe 2012 can be the year of FOs?  Let's hope it'll be better than 2011.  It's already off to a better start.


Cheers :)

Organic Design

So in "designing" my own version of Bountiful Bohus, I've had to rip out more than once.  Pictured below is my fourth cast-on (not too frustrating since each time I only got as far as just past the collar). In refining the increases and stitch counts, I'm hoping for a good fit. 

Burgeoning Bohus

As for the colourwork, I'm reworking that too.  After swatching the original pattern, I decided to modify (not too keen on the purls).  Using knitter's graph paper (googling will net quite a few free sites), I pulled out my pencil crayons and coloured.  And if the colours didn't "feel right", I changed things whilst knitting.  Guess the pattern is more organic than planned. But it looks awfully purty. ;) 


So far, so good.

Sofa Cushions

The thing about a nice comfy sofa is that it gets used. A lot.  Even if its a well-built sofa (custom-made by my second cousin in his furniture shop back in TO), with frequent use the fabric eventually begins to wear.  A sofa cover can hide the wear-and-tear, but then it too becomes worn (personally I'd like to blame the kids for all the wear-and-tear).

Then the light bulb goes on.  The one in my head (hey, it happens every now and then).  While looking through my pattern booklets, I came across this design for a chair cushion.


Chair Cushion That Inspired My Light Bulb Moment

 Now the pattern is for a 16x16" chair cushion, but it could work for a sofa.  My sofa cushions are 21x21" and thicker, but if I adjust the number of stitches it can work.  I'll just make the band that connects top to bottom thicker and leave the back open (maybe use a couple of simple ties so that the cover stays on the cushion).

Then I started hooking.  I'm using some lovely Briggs and Little Heritage in blue heather (which had been gifted to me  at Christmas and I had hoped would become a lovely cardigan, but alas this woolly goodness was meant for greater things).

The Start of a Sofa Cushion Cover

If knitters and crocheters can "yarn bomb" trees, lamp posts, statues and bridges, then surely I can make a sofa cushion cover. 

Here's hoping ;)

Goals and Plans: What? Me? A Designer?

Over the past few months, I've had a few ideas percolating in my brain.  I never thought about design (after all, I'm not looking to re-invent the wheel).  But a few things have intrigued me and spurred on a design possibility.

First, wool intrigues me.  Not so much wool itself; rather wool's insulating properties, particularly in the application of mittens.  Imagine getting your mitts wet and still being able to stay warm?  How cool is that!  As a teacher,  I know only too well the consequences of wet mitts and frigid temperatures.

Another interest has been the thrum mitten.  The idea of fluffy warmth surrounding one's hands on a blustery February morn is quite appealing.  However, thrum mitts do look rather bulky and I wasn't sure if I was up to the challenge of constructing such an article (although a few of the gals at knit night have made them).

Stash to the rescue!  In my bin, I found 100% wool in my Briggs and Little along with extra skeins of bulky, soft Bernat Roving.  What if I combined the two to create a cushion-like fabric without all the bulk of a thrum?  With needles in hand I cast-on, taking copious notes, ripping out as needed and re-knitting.  Where did it all lead?

Introducing my lovely Faux-Thrum Mittens (link to free pattern page on this blog). 

It doesn't look like a thrum mitten; however, the diagonal pattern creates a layer of roving floats inside to cushion and thicken the fabric.  Now Bernat Roving is only 20% wool, but Briggs and Little makes 100% wool roving and Patons Roving is 100% wool (both of which are available locally so I may have to experiment).

Inside the Mitten

Writing a pattern is a little intimidating--and even a little daunting--but its done.  Please check it out.  Hopefully I can churn out another pair of mittens and maybe coax a friend to test knit it.