Tuesday Night Cowl

Check out the Tuesday Night Cowl we just finished with Misti Alpaca Chunky! It looks and feels so good (I knew it would) that I think these might be my gift project this Holiday. Misti Alpaca Chunky is a totally a petting yarn and I know the cowl will be very well received. 

We used 2 skeins of super-soft Misti Alpaca Chunky (total $33.94) and 6.5mm needles (but I think you can go up to a 7mm).  The pattern is free, via Ravelry, and we used the instructions for the thickest yarn. I think it would also look sensational as a long cowl, knitted twice the length and then wrapped around the neck. 

Tips

• Use a Chained Cast On (alias: crochet cast-on) for your Provisional Cast on - it undoes so easily it's like a zipper! 
• The texture is created with some very simple cable stitches, a real no-brainer, just use a big cable hook (the kind that looks like a fishing hook works best).
• It is knit side to side, and then joined at the end. You can either go the easy way and finish with a 3 needle bind off, or take the high road and graft using kitchener stitch. 

If Baby Alpaca isn't in the budget this season try using 6mm needles and any of the following yarns:

• 1 skein of Cascade Eco +  (total $19.97)
• 2 skeins Berroco Vintage Chunky (total $15.94)
• 2 Skeins Berroco Comfort Chunky (total $13.94)

If you want to go even bigger, try 8mm needles and 2 skeins of Berroco Peruvia Quick (total $21.94) or Malabrigo Chunky (total $35.94).

You can always find us at Knitomatic.com!

More Sweater-Along Deliberations

OK, I have a few more things for my sweater-along cooking.  In general, I'm looking to make a boat-neck made in the round from the top down, ideally with set-in sleeves.  Not that that exists, it might have to be slapped together from a few models. 

Option 3

Wulfenite, from Norah Gaughan Vol. 7, in  Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Ultra Alpaca Light (colour Oceanic Mix)

I really like this sweater, but I don't know if I'm feeling collared right now. Also, I'll have to order the yarn (although, currently it's leaning towards that anyway). 

Oceanic Mix 6285 & 4285

Option 4

Coney Sweater, from Modern Top-Down Knitting, in  Berroco Ultra Alpaca  (colour Oceanic).

I'm not in the mood for a v-neck, but otherwise this pattern is great. It's a top-down knit knit the round, and has really cool sleeves that puff at the bottom.  Maybe I'll use it as a skeleton and adjust the neckline. Although, if the neckline goes, the cuffs will need to be adjusted too.

Inspiration

Delphine, from  Verena Fall 2010, in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine (colour Oceanic)

I just really like the collar on this one, but I think the middle will be too bulky on me. 

Under Consideration ....

Elemental Pullover, from Knitting 24/7, in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (colour Peat Mix)

I can also use a turtle neck to go with jeans for the long, cold winter. This one is knitted in the round, but from the bottom up. To make sure my sweaters are long enough, I use a provisional cast on, so I can go back at the end and lengthen it if needed. 

 

Peat Mix 4277

For Later ....

Ephemera Cardigan, FREE from Berroco.com, in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine

This is more of a spring sweater for me, I'm considering making it in either pea soup or turquoise. 

 

Pea Soup Mix 1275 and Turquoise Mix 1294

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com.

Finished Object: Burberry Cowl

Et Voila - I finished my Burberry Cowl, and it looks and feels great! Me happy. :-) To recap the details, I used one skien of Cascade Eco Duo in colour 1705 (natural/beige). It was really, really easy - not a bad way to learn cables, actually.

I used the pattern for the Aran size yarn (the pattern graciously accommodates 3 weights of yarn - worsted, aran and chunky) , but my row tension was a lot looser than theirs, so I only worked 4 pattern repeats and then worked a few extra rows in stocking stitch to get it to the right length. I opted for a grafted finish, but if you aren't you can also use a 3 needle bind off, which is really very easy. The yarn is fuzzy and very forgiving, so if you do opt to graft, it doesn't have to be the world's best graft. 

After working it, I think this pattern would also look great in the Malabrigo worsted or chunky (the semi-solid colours), The Dream in Color Classy or Groovy, or even the Cascade 128 or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. 

Oh yeah, once again, I'll reiterate - the Cascade Eco Duo is divine!

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

In Progress: Burberry Cowl

Check out our "Tuesday Night" Cowl in progress.  I call it my Burberry Cowl because the design is based on  cabled snood/cowl by Burberry Prorsum. The pattern is a freebie and is working up very nicely and extremely easily. It's just straight stocking stitch for 24 rows, except for 2 cable rows, and you only make 2 cables on these rows. does that make any sense? Probably not. It's simple, definitely good for novices and subway knitters. 

The author was even nice enough to write it for 3 different gauges of yarn: worsted, aran and chunky.  I'm working the aran version with Cascade Eco Duo, which by the way, feels like knitting with babies. The colour change in this shade is very subtle, even more subtle than in the photo (I had to play around with it because the yarn photographs very soft). 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Finished Object: Star Crossed Eco Beret

This is a good picture, but the focus is very soft. By the way, my head is a Small and the hat is a Medium.

This is a better picture of the hat, but not a good picture (no chin). 

This is the hat flat. I enhanced the picture a bit so you can see the cables - they are not actually that distinct to the human eye - at least in this yarn. 

This was a very satisfying finished object - I'm very happy. It is the Star Crossed Beret (free pattern on Ravelry) made with 1 skein of Cascade Eco Duo.  First things first - the yarn is like knitting with BABIES!  You know how cute & soft & squishy & cuddly babies are? Well that's what this yarn feels like. and wearing it feels like cuddling with a baby. 

Next, the pattern is pretty simple. I went down a needle size (5mm & 7mm) because the yarn they used has more loft to it. One part of the pattern instruction was vague, and I interpreted as follows:

• 1 x 1 rib for 1 inch
• worked R1 to 12
• increase round
• worked R2-12
• worked R1-6
• worked decreases

The finished size feels like about a Medium/22". If you have a really big head you can work R1 to 12 one more time after increase round.

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Cascade Eco Duo Slouchy Hat

Tah-dah! All done! (Liane is very good at that). Above I'm modelling our newly finished store sample 9sorry to subject you to the zittle on my chin, I do not yet  know how to paint that out), a Slouchy Hat/Beret using Cascade Eco Duo.  Interestingly, it stripes up a little! I expect the colourways with less contrast also stripe up less noticeably. Another interesting thing, it is really, really comfortable to wear.  Like, not just soft, or smooshy, of lascivious, but comfortable. After I was done taking the pictures I didn't want to take it off - and it's 30 degrees Celsius today (for you Americans that means Hot).  Maybe Liane really enjoyed knitting with the yarn and all that happy energy was knitted into the hat?  Either way i'm going to have to make one for myself this fall. 

Another thing, it wasn't too hot. Things made with 100% alpaca tend to be very warm, which is great for those very cold Canadian days, but gets a little sweaty otherwise. The blend in this yarn is very smart, because the 30% merino wool makes just the right difference. 

A small caveat - we made some minor modifications on the pattern. We omitted the texture pattern around the crown (top of head), and omitted the button flap. Easy peasy. We also went down a needle size to 4.5 & 5.5mm.  And that's about the size of where you put your eyes!

Sockhead Alert!

Check out Matt's (from manspun yarns) Sockhead Hat! he is using Misti Baby Alpaca Handpainted Sock Yarn in the colour 'bird of paradise' (I'm waiting for more of it to come in, it's back-ordered).  You can follow his progress on Ravelry, and the free pattern is HERE.