got sock yarn?

Chelle has written some great instructions on how to make a one skein clapotis from a 100g skein of sock yarn!

recent projects

So here is how my Crochet Market Bag in Super 10 Cotton worked out! it looks pretty good, but I have not yet tested it on vegetables. In the picture it is comfortably holding 13 skeins of Brown Sheep Co. Lamb's Pride Bulky, so i think it qualifies as big. I'm working on a redux in grey with a smaller hook and different stitch.

I've been working on my next sock doll but I've taken a break before I dress her and giver her a face. Creativity runs in cycles. It's knitted in Regia 4ply design line Kaffe Fassett Landscape Celebration 4355

Liane and I have been working on a top down cropped sweater in Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. We've been holding 2 strands together, so it's going along pretty quickly. I have taken out the bottom seam to lengthen it, because while it looks right on the mannequin it's actually short on me. We made a small but it is proving to be very stretchy and fits me. I think i can block it even bigger if it warrants it.

new member of the knit-o-matic family

Please meet Belle! Belle is the long awaited buddy for Pluto. They aren't in love yet, but the feathers aren't flying either and i have high hopes for their future. I am trying to avoid any egg laying activity, i don't want any baby bird action around here.

this is one of my first pictures of Belle. She's a little stunned here, still in shock from all the changes in her surroundings. i got her from a foster family who had several large parrots and she had all kinds of anxiety in her life. She was picking out her feathers there, but they are growing back now.

This is Belle's second photo shoot. I learned pretty quickly that you should not test your pristine new light box with a little yellow crap-factory. There isn't an actual correlation between Belle's 'expression' in this picture and her personality, but she is shaping up to be an interesting little critter with a fiery spirit.

Friday's Freebies

Interweave has a sock booklet for free , definitely worth downloading and storing for future use, especially since it has one of the only sock patterns out there for super bulky yarn, Comfy Socks from Knitscene fall/winter 2005.

Martha's Yarn Show

Martha Stewart Hosted a Yarn Show last Monday, but if you missed it you can watch it online.

among the good projects was a dog sweater for her pooches Sharkey and Francesca



and a crochet or knit market bag

Free Pattern Giveaway from Louet

Enter the promotion code of “LNA0808” and receive a single pattern download at no charge from Louet . My choices would be ....

Over the Knee Cable Lace Socks

Taylor Baby Sweater & Skirt

New Free Store Pattern: Easy Mobius Capelet

Easy Mobius Capelet Pattern by Haley Waxberg

Download FREE pattern HERE

The pattern is very simple, fast, and satisfying for time when you just need to produce something FAST. It is knit in the round using a really long circular needle and a nifty little cast on just for mobius knitting. To learn this easy new skill you can watch Cat Bohrdi's great Intro to Mobius Knitting tutorial on you tube. Cat's instructions are clear and easy to follow and you'll be an expert in no time! The yarn we've used is handpainted. It is soft and has a slight sheen because of it's silk content. Please note that silk has a tendency to grow with wear, so if you want your cowl bigger I suggest you block it bigger and if you want it smaller either subtract some sts from the cast on or reduce your needle size.  That said, the look is big, loose and casual and it's easy to go with the flow of this garment. If you want to make the cowl wider without using more yarn work exclusively in the knit stitch: the cowl won't be reversible but ribbing sucks up yarn.

Size
S(M, L)
To fit 32-34 (36-38, 40-42) inch bust
To fit average North American dress size 4-6(8-10, 12-14)
Sample was made in size large and pinned at the back to fit out size small mannequin

Materials
4 skeins Manos Silk Blend, colour 3119, Adobe (50g, 135m/150yds; 30% silk, 70% extra fine merino wool)
8mm/36" (longer is good) circular needles
1 Stitch Marker

Gauge
holding 2 strands together, in knit 4 rows, purl 4 rows rib
12 sts & 20 r = 4"/10cm

Techniques
Intro to Mobius Knitting tutorial by Cat Bohrdi on you tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4

Copyright © 2008 Knit-O-Matic, all rights reserved. No pattern of other material may be reproduced or distributed - mechanically, electronically, or by other means, including photocopying - without written permission of Knit-O-Matic. Pattern is for personal use only and not to be used to create items for commercial sale. Author Haley Waxberg. For pattern corrections see our website at www.knitomatic.com.

freebies

i'm just working away at work stuff, workey-work-work.  but i came across this free pretty cardigan pattern, Elise , from Debbie Bliss's book Winter Essentials. the idea of making a big sweater doesn't really appeal to me right now, but hey, i'm sharing.

here is also a cabled hat from Rowan's Winter Gifts, which is also not so inspiring right now.

stitches in time

the new issue of knitty.com is online today and the pattern "Babez in da Hood " is funny and totally worth reading. the pictures aint mine so i can't post one, but really it doesn't matter if the object appeals to you, the text by Franklin Habit is totally worth your minutes. It's a modern adaptation on a victorian pattern. i'm going to go back and read the rest of the articles in the series "Stitches in Time".

free knitting needle holder pattern

nifty knitting needle holder from Berroco

looks like the yarn is a chunky weight, so you could make it in an feltable worsted to chunky weight yarn. i have a fancy lantern moon silk case like this at the store but maybe i should make one a-la needles?

Debbie Bliss Magazine

FYI:

if you missed out on Debbie Bliss Magazine Fall 2008 the patterns are now available online for download through Vogue Knitting (but they aren't free).

new free patterns & projects

i made a FREE mobius cowl pattern with Manos Silk Blend





and i made a FREE longer mobius cowl pattern with Manos Silk Blend

 
of course, they were both created in pursuit of a mobius capelet pattern. i suppose that will be next. they are quick & satisfying projects, but you know me, my attention span is limited. funny thing, as i was weaving in the ends of the longer version i browsed the latest fall 2009 fashion shows in Milan, and what should be the main accessory at Missoni , but long mobius cowls!

anyway, i've been up to a few other things too, but i'll have to update you later because i have no pictures and i spent all afternoon fighitng with my computer trying to get the patterns up on the website!

Manpusn contest

Manpusn contest :

submit your ideas for the manliest use of manspun yarns and win a skein of manspun!