Winter's Lavendar Lace Scarf

Winter's Lavendar Lace Scarf
(Heather Coady @ Nesta's Glenn Knitting September 06, 2009)



Materials:

4 balls of Lavendar (Colour 508) Lana Grossa New Cotton Lino (50 grams approx. 100 m per ball)
5.5 mm circular needles
Darning Needle

Dimensions: Approx 10 inches wide, by whatever desired length you choose, my finished scarf was approx 64 inches long (be sure to adjust your yardage if you modify the length)

Pattern: (This scarf is worked in 2 seperate pieces, and then sewn together in the middle)

Cast on 49 stitches and purl one row. Work the following lace pattern until you have almost used up 2 balls of yarn (you will need to have 2 rows of stockinette stitch and one cast off row left over)

Row #1 - K3, (yo, k2, sl 1, k1, psso, k2tog, k2, yo, k1) rep to last st, k1
Row #2 - purl
Row #3 - k2, (yo, k2, sl 1, k1, psso, k2tog, k2, yo, k1) rep to last 2 sts, k2
Row #4 - purl

End with a 4th row pattern repeat, knit 1 row, purl 1 more row, then bind off all 49 stitches. (Make 2 pieces the same)

Finishing:

With darning needle, use mattress stitch, and sew the two pieces together. Because this yarn is so drapey, and luxurious, there is no reason to block, unless you prefer to. I choose this yarn, because frankly, I could do with blocking, well most of the time anyway. Tuck in all the ends. Wear it and feel like a diva.

The Harmony Guide Cables and Arans Experiment!

I know, everyone is about to shrug their shoulders and say, oh this is soooo "Julie and Julia" and yes that probably starting me thinking about this new creative experiment that I'm about to undertake...But...This is my plan.

It started with a little visit to amazon.ca, where looking for relationship self help books, I found myself browsing the knitting section, after all, what better self help, than a cup of coffee, a pile of yarn, and an idea. I found myself subconsciously entering my credit card number, and 2 days later the books were waiting for me at the post office. I never gave it more thought than that. I ran to the post office on my lunch break, swooped them up, but them in the backseat of my car, and then the next day...oh the next day, I read every word in my newly acquired "Mason Dixon Knitting", why had I not bought this book earlier? I wondered. I started a log cabin blanket that night, and am still working away at the pile of scraps in the laundry basket in the middle of my living room.

Then yesterday happened, a crap day of work, which was only preceded by a crap week of work, my brain screaming "run to the nest of wool, you'll be happy there..." I sat on the bench during coffee break contemplating quitting my job, packing my car, and moving to Utah (which I might say I've never been, and not quite so sure I'd fit in there) then the idea happened. So I raced home in hopes of starting my big idea, met my angry husband, fought a little, got pissed off, and found myself doing nothing, text messaging my brother, and friend Holly, and then with a new sense of peaceful creativity, I begin step one of the plan.

The BIG Idea!!!

I slowly flipped through each page of the "The Harmony Guides: Cables and Arans" it's limey green cover enticing me the whole way. I have one year, there are 250 stitches, all in their cable and aran gloriness, I flipped each page and selected at least 175. These 175 stitches are my new best friends. I have one year to complete 175 knitting projects based around these stitches. From what I can figure this may be an impossible goal, however, I'm willing to give it my best shot.

To simplify things, I'm only going to use worsted weight yarn, the reason being I have an abundance, and if at some point I want to attach things to one another, I can easily do it. I'm also only going to use 5.5mm needles, again, so I can keep it simple. So that's the plan. What I'm going to make isn't clear, where the project goes, isn't clear, but it will be a hoot to find out!

So with my book, needles, and a cable hook, I'm off to try and create something...

Taylor's Slouchy Toque EDIT!!

Thanks Liz for bringing this to my attention...I made a big oops!

Row #5 should read as follows: (The pattern will be edited everywhere, but in case I miss somewhere, this is the official Row #5)

k2tog, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo) rep to the last 2 sts, sl 1, k1, psso

Again, thanks Liz...having someone elses eyes on something is invaluable...

Heather

Taylor's Slouchy Summer Toque

TAYLOR'S SLOUCHY SUMMER TOQUE

(Heather Coady-Nesta's Glenn Knitting-April 28, 2009)

Stuff:

1 ball of Georga 100% Wool (Charcoal)

1 set of circular 4.5 mm needles

1 darning needle

and a couple of hours knitting time...honestly, you can knit this watching a couple hours of t.v.

Pattern:

Cast on 85 stitches, purl 1 row, then work 7 rows of K1, P1 rib

Increase row: Increase a total of 42 stitches evenly across the row (total 127 stitches on needle)Begin lace row repeat as follows: (Multiple of 6 stitches + 1)

1. K1, (yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, k1) rep to the end
2. Purl
3. K2, yo, (k3, yo) rep to last 2 stitches, k2
4. purl
5. k2tog, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo) rep to the last 2 sts, sl 1, k1, psso (EDITED JUNE 03-2009)
6. purl
7. k1, (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1) rep to the end
8. purl
9. k2, yo, (k3, yo) rep to last 2 stitches, k2
10. purl
11. k1, (k2tog, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1) rep to the end
12. purl

Repeat these 12 rows a total of 3 times, then row 1-6 once.

Decrease Rows: (K2tog) rep to the end, purl 1 row, rep until there are approx. 4 stitches remaining, cut yarn long enough to sew the side seam, thread darning needle, and slide the 4 sts, pull tight, sew side seam, tuck in ends, and voila...Taylor can wear her toque out in the garden.

Monday Ramblings

Oh the joy of coming home to a quiet house, and my little wool nest...

It's so nice when the cool autumn air is blowing violently, almost snow, but not quite, you can snuggle in next to the woodstove, a cat on the arm of the chair, and the newest project your mind conjured up on your lunch break. To hell with the laundry, ignore the phone, forget about cleaning the bathroom, your husband is out for the night, and we've got 5 solid hours until you have to go to bed to get up for work tomorrow.

I've been thinking alot about Christmas, it's almost Hallowe'en, and of course the never ending list of people to knit for is growing. Last year I only successfully knit 3 sweaters, a couple of pairs of mittens, a few blankies for the kids, and a toque or two. This year I hope to increase my productivity level. Of course only working 37 hours a week, opposed to 60 should help my creative flow.

Does anyone have any idea about men's sweaters, I'm bored of the same old, same old crew neck fast pullover, in six colours, cuz there is 6 guys to knit for. Frankly, I think my poor husband, and brother are sort of tired of the same Christmas jumper. Any thoughts? Any links?

Well, it's time to go back to knitting.
Cheers
Heather

Picot Edged Green and Cream Baby Blanket

Main Colour (MC)
Alternate Colour (AC)

With MC and 5.0 mm needles, cast on 112 stitches.

Edging:

Row #1 --> Purl

Row #2--> Knit

Row #3--> Purl

Row #4--> K2, (yo, k2tog) repeat to last 2 sts, K2

Row #5--> Purl

Row #6--> Knit

Row #7--> Purl

With RS facing you, fold work so that the cast on edge is behind the stitches on the needle. As you slid the needle through the first stitch, as if to knit, slid the same needle through the first cast on stitch. This creates a hem, continue in this manner until the entire row is complete.

Purl one row. Change to AC, and work 2 rows st st., continue alternating colours until the piece measures approx. 35 inches. Then work the reverse of the first hemmed edge as follows:

(Green-MC) Row #1--> Purl

Row#2--> Knit

Row#3-->Purl

Row#4--> K2, (yo, K2tog) repeat to the last 2 sts, K2

Row#5--> Purl

Row#6--> Knit

Row#7--> Purl

With RS facing you, fold hem in half, knit first stitch as if to knit, pick up ridge on the first row of green (along the back side), do this one more time, cast off 1st st, continue in this manner until the entire hem is completed.

Finishing: Tuck in all ends, block so everything lays flat, wrap it in a bow, and give to someone with a new baby...

Leafy Green Blanket (Free Pattern, it's A Knit Along)

It seems appropriate that the first project I shared be the one that inspired the blog. A work mate is about to become a Grandmother to not 1 but 2 grandbabies. So with the due date quickly approaching, I thought I'd better get my needles clicking.

This blankie is a snap to make, soft, full of simple texture, and better yet, it can be complete in just a few evenings watching t.v.

Leafy Green Blanket (October 07-2008)

(Approx. 28x36 inches)

Materials: 5.0 mm round needles (I always use round needles, I have a collection of pets who like to steal needles, I can't lose them this way)

Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (450 gram ball, you won't need this much, but I couldn't get this colour in smaller balls)

Directions: (Gauge isn't super important for this project)

Cast on 108 stitches. Purl the first row, then work 2 rows in stocking stitch. Begin row repeats as follows.

1. K4, (P2, K2) rep to the last 4 sts., K4
2. P4, (P2, K2) rep to the last 4 sts., P4
3. Knit all sts.
4. Purl all sts.
5. K4, (K2, P2) rep to the last 4 sts., K4
6. P4, (K2, P2) rep to the last 4 sts., P4
7. Knit all sts.
8. Purl all sts.

Continue in row repeats until piece measures about 35 inches, work 3 rows of stocking stitch, and then cast off. Tuck in ends, and your done.

(Photo to be posted later today or later this week)