Le Starfish

In between working on a few deadline projects, I've been stealing away a few minutes at a time to work on a new beret for my awesome new bright pink coat I got for Christmas. I had a hard time choosing between Le Slouch and a Trinity stitch beret, but ended up settling with Le Slouch.

I decided to use a thinner yarn to make it a bit smaller and the sizing seems to be just about right, but the decreases for the crown are really bugging me. I decided to change them up a bit from the pattern because I felt they were looking a little funky and I made the decreases true right/left leaning. Not a good idea in gold yarn or a texture pattern for that matter. It looks more like Le Starfish instead of a cool Le Slouch.

Went back to Ravelry and checked out some other versions using the correct decreases and they look fine. Now I just need to rip back and see what I can do. If it's still no good I think a second Gretel is in my immediate future.

Somerset Cardigan

I gave a little sneak peak of this design back in October, but it's finally finished!

Somerset Cardigan
by Melissa Wehrle

A textured shawl collar cardigan reminiscent of days gone by without sacrificing a modern fit. A simple knit/purl texture stitch adds interest to the body and cap sleeves. The deep ribbed shawl collar is worked separately and attached to the body. Leather buttons add a final vintage touch, but for a more modern look try glass, metal or wood.

Difficulty
Intermediate

Materials
-Black Pearl DK Cashmere: 100% Cashmere; 2oz/200yd skein; 5 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8) skeins Chai Tea
-1 pair US 5 (3.75mm) straight needles
-1 pair US 4 (3.5mm) straight needles
-1 Stitch holder
-Tapestry needle
-4 x 11/16" buttons

Sizes
Finished Bust: 30 (32, 36, 40, 44, 49, 53)"/76 (81.5, 91.5, 101.5, 112, 124.5, 134.5)cm
Length: 19.5 (20, 20.5, 21, 21.5, 22.5, 23.5)"/49.5, 51, 52, 53.5, 54.5, 57, 59.5)cm

Shown modeled with 1" negative ease.

Gauges
24 sts/32 rows = 4"/10cm in Texture stitch with US size 5 needles
30 sts/36 rows = 4"/10cm in 1x1 rib, slightly stretched with US size 4 needles

A kit for the Somerset Cardigan is available at One Planet Yarn and Fiber (pattern is included).

or purchase the pattern by clicking the button below


$6.00

Small Distraction

For Christmas, I had decided at the last minute to make my Stepmom a pair of fetching mitts from some leftover Lanas Puras Melosa from my Urban Wrap. So I started the 1st mitt before traveling home to NJ on Dec 22nd. When I got home, I realized I had misplaced 2 of the needles. Argh! Luckily I had some Denise #5's that I made due with and finished the 1st one.

Then I ran out of yarn.

Ok, so obvious this project was just not meant to be finished by Christmas. So I gifted the one and promised the other would be on it's way soon. And here it is:

And this was how much yarn was left. I just made it!

Details:
Fetching by Cheryl Niamath -- Knitty Summer 06
Yarn: Leftover Lanas Puras Melosa in Passion
Needles: Size 6 dpn

Fast, easy project with great results. If only everything would have cooperated as well as the knitting!

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a very nice holiday season and hopefully some time to relax. I certainly enjoyed my time off after the craziness at work and hope I'm well rested to jump right back in tomorrow.

And since it is New Years, it's time to take a look back at the previous year and see how and what I've done since last year.

Published Designs:

- Wallis Cardigan -- Interweave Summer 08
- Gigi -- Knitty Summer 08
- Guinevere -- neoknits
- Urban Wrap -- neoknits
- Buttercup -- Popknits Fall 08
- Tatami re-issued -- neoknits
- Plus 1 project for the next SnB book coming out next Fall
- Plus 1 project for Interweave Knits Spring 09

So that's 7 sweaters knit for publishing with the first one being knit at the tail end of 2007. Not bad, but didn't quite keep up with the 12 from '07.

However, I did have a much better year on the selfish knitting front:

- 3 sweaters
- 1 shawl
- 2 stockings (ok they were gifts, but still impressive I had time to knit 2)
- 2 berets
- Plus a few projects I got to start, but are wips

What do I hope that 2009 will bring? Well, I hope it brings lots of creativity and discipline in time management. There are a few places I'd love to work harder on getting published in and I hope to keep building up the neoknits design portfolio. I'm also working on something super, super, super exciting for Fall right now, but can't tell you yet! Sorry! But this super exciting something might mean things will be a little quiet around here til the end of February or beginning of March. Let's just say I relaxed a little more over the holidays than I should have.