Galinhos Spring Cowl

Last month Liane completed a really nice spring cowl, Galinhos, with Berroco Origami. It turned out beautifully, and the yarn crocheted as well as it knits (we knitted Kiama with it a couple years ago). The pattern is super easy peasy, great mindless crocheting and beginner-friendly. The yarn is unfortunately discontinued, so pick it up while supplies last. 

Galinhos in Origami
Modifications: none
Pattern: Berroco Booklet 305 Origami
Yarn: Berroco Origami, 3 skeins, colour 4356
Hook: 5mm

You can find us at Knitomatic.com

GAP-Tastic Success!

Tah-Dah!  Our GAP-Tastic Cowl (pattern FREE via Ravelry) was a fantastic success!  We made it with 3 skeins of Malabrigo Chunky (colour Intenso) and 8mm-36" circular needles. 

Because we took the needle size down a bit to accommodate the yarn, we cast on an extra 10 stitches (total cast on 141 sts).  I think it would be absolutely sumptuous made with Misti Alpaca Chunky (3 skeins, 8mm needles)

If you don't want to shell out for the fancy yarn, you could also make this cowl using any of the following:

• 3 skeins of Berroco Peruvia Quick ($32.91) & 9mm-29" circular needles
• 3 skeins of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky ($29.91) & 8mm-29" circular needles
• 4 skeins of Berroco Vintage Chunky ($31.88) & 6.5mm to 7mm-29" circular needles (cast on 151 sts)

For a narrower, shorter cowl, you can get away with using 2 skeins and casting on 111 sts. 

You can find us at Knitomatic.com!

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!

Big Red Cabled Cowl

Above, a finished object for the store. A sample of the Loose Cabled Cowl pattern, made with 2 skeins of Malabrigo Rasta and 15mm-24" circular needles. It was super fast & easy (once I sorted out the needle situation), and the Rasta feels super sumptuous! You know when people refer to things as "yummy scrummy" - that's how it feels.

The weave is loose, so it drapes really nicely (as well as merino will ever drape), and the aesthetic is nice & casual. It'll probably only cover your shoulders like the pic above if you are very small (the mannequin's shoulder only measure 15.5"/40cm - I am a medium, have small shoulders, and my shoulders measure 18" from side to side). 

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

New Free Pattern: Easy Loose Cable Cowl

Easy Loose Cabled Cowl

This pattern is a simple, straightforward, easy project great for new knitters (great way to learn cables). It knits up fast on thick yarn and BIG needles (12mm).  It's easy, is a satisfying quickie, and looks impressive to non-knitters (hint: it's very giftable). 

It is made with one skein of Brown Sheep Company Burly Spun (not bad at $20.97 per skein),  but it would also make an excellent excuse to buy a couple of skeins of Malabrigo Rasta (especially in their luminescent semi-solid colours). 

Read more about it on Ravelry

Download for FREE at http://www.knitomatic.com

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

Boboli Mobius Cowl

While I was sick last week I was stuck at home inhabiting the sofa, and I dug into my UFO box and pulled out something simple - a Mobius Cowl I'd started last winter using a yarn we no longer carry, Berroco Boboli. 

I originally made it for myself, but I think it was always destined for an old friend in Chicago who buys me german loose fruit teas on her forays to the alps. 

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

Project Round-Up!

I finished my Ombre Cowl! Love it, it's light, airy, and pretty. I'm soooooo into both ombres (colour gradations) and kid mohair (mohair but thin and not particularly itchy) right now. 

Over the weekend I started another prismy wrap. I'm going to keep at it until I get it right! I don't think I'll have to die trying, this one is looking great. I'm using Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Angel (holding the mohair double). This type of project makes especially good use of the more muted (dowdy) Noro colourways.

BTW, the Prism wrap is the greatest mindless knitting. Simple and effective. And it certainly moves along much faster when you use worsted weight yarn!

I finished the last prismy wrap, but am unsatisfied with my colour choices. The yarn choice worked well, the Berroco Remix can play either a lead or supporting role. 

Finally, we're working on a new project for the store, a little hoodie pattern called Arshile knit with Berroco Remix.  We've decreased our needle size, but it doesn't have anything to do with the pattern, Liane's tension on straight metal needles (they are her very favourite) is a bit looser than the suggested tension.  So far so good, I think it'll make a really cute year-round kid sweater.  

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

Ombre for Spring

Just a quick update! I've been busy, and most of the stuff I've been working on has been in bits and bobs, but here's one you might be interested in. It's an Ombre Cowl (free pattern on ravelry), made with 3 different shades of Debbie Bliss Angel kid mohair. But you see more than 3 colours in the picture above?  That is correct, the cowl is knit holding 2 strands of yarn together at the same time, and the fluffiness of the mohair blends the strands masterfully. 


Stripe 1: dark grey & dark gery
Stripe 2: dark grey & light grey
Stripe 3: light grey & light grey
Stripe 4: light grey & blue
Stripe 5: blue & blue


The cowl is light and airy and I think it will be lurvly on chilly, rainy spring days. I think I can finish it tonight, just in time for the thunder storm tomorrow morning! 


By the way,  Debbie Bliss Angel is currently on Sale 20% Off at Knit-O-Matic!

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

Holiday Knitting Parade

I was going to try and get a picture of everyone in their holiday gifts this year but .... yeah, that didn't happen. They weren't going to be good pics anyway since the gift opening took place at night or at day break. 


My family celebrates both Channukah and Christmas, but I don't have it in me to make everyone two gifts. Everyone gets one handknit on the holiday of the religion they were born into. The exception I'm willing to make is my niece Lucy, who is presently very, very cute, and technically was also born into two faiths.  But mostly because she's cute and I luuuuuuv her. :-)


So lets start the parade .....

Irving

Let's lead with the best, shall we?  This is Irving, a cabled hat pattern by Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed, made for my new beau.  Meeting someone new right before the holidays is a tricky thing. You don't really know them well, you want to show them you are into them, but you can't overdo the gift or they'll feel pressured. It's a balancing act, and I've gotta say, I'm really glad I'm a knitter because it makes choosing a gift much easier. I went straight to BT, I knew he would have a man hat with some masculine but knitterly detail.  

I used Abuelita Merino Worsted and it turned out smashingly!  I made a few mods, especially since my yarn was thinner than the pattern, so if you want to do the same check my project notes on Ravelry. 

The hat fit, it was well received, and I have been updated that it is being well used (the new beau hails from outside of TO, where they get snow and weather and stuff). 

Cabled Neckwarmer

I am not pleased with how this pic came out, but I was very satisfied how this Cabled Neckwarmer did. I made it for my dad (the man who wants hand knits, but never wears them). It was a great gift knit, super fast and easy! I especially recommend for a last minute/running out of time gig. I used the Abuelita Mysterious Blend Chunky (why do they call it that?! It's no mystery, it is 95% Merino and 5% Silk) and it knit up beautifully!  BTW, the Mysterious softens up substantially after winding and loosening up with handling/knitting.  Anyway, dad seemed to like it, I have no idea if he'll ever use it, but mom can. 

Cabled Neckwarmer

I actually was really pleased with this one, it's a Cabled Neckwarmer for my sister-in-law, Katie. Katie is a casual, athletic dresser, and has a small, active child. I thought a close fitting neckwarmer would be the kind of think that would come in really handy this winter. The yarn is Abuelita Thick & Thin, held double and LURV it!  It is sooooooo soft!  I made up the pattern on the fly, I'll publish it for you soon. I think the gift was well received. I don't know if it is being used - you send them off into the world and hope for the best. 

Pussy Cat Ballaclava 2.0

I made this for Lucy, it was a follow-up to the first version that was too big. I've already blogged about the ongoing saga of the ill fitting pussy cat hats, read it here. Suffice it to say, this one came out WAY too small. I didn't even give it to her. BTW, loved this colour and really enjoyed knitting the Cascade 220 Superwash Sport, especially the heathered for some reason.

Pussy Cat Ballaclava 2.1

This is the third incarnation, which I did give to Lucy, and which still did not fit properly. It was well received, regardless.  I'm taking a short break from these, but I'll get back to version 3.0, possibly in red. 

Brother Hat

This one was simple pattern, it's called A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend, but I made it for my brother (as per my sister-in-law's suggestion). I used Malbrigo Rios, which was lovely, in the colour Paris Night, which was also lovely. My brother is a little colour blind, he has a hard time distinguishing blues from purples, so I figured a bluey-greyey-purpley colour would be perfect for him - it can be anything he wants it to be. Plus it's dark and neutral enough a colour to be ok for men. It was well received, it fits (most important part), and he uses it when walking the dog. 

Bulky Mobius Cowl

I made this Bulky Mobius Cowl for my mom. I hate the way it looks in the picture and off in general, but it looks amazing on! It is made with a combination of a yarn I bought in Italy in 1995 that she frogged from a garment I made for her ages ago, held with dark blue mohair (she put in a request for something scarfy with the mystery yarn). I made the cowl to perk up a winter coat she bought last year that is the dullest shade of navy blue I've ever seen. It was extremely well received, which was not surprising because my mom always wears my hand knits. 

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

New FREE Boboli Cowl Patterns

Brand spankin' new from us, 2 patterns for simple, easy, elegant cowls using Berroco Boboli, a new yarn for Fall 2011. The yarn is beautiful, prismatic, and does most of the work for you. The rest of the pattern is in the beginner skill spectrum. It's also a non-thinker, a great project for those times when brain no work good. And of course, both patterns are Free!

This sweet little thing is the Boboli Cowl Worsted Version. It's a beautiful weight for fall, moving into  winter, and early spring. It's a straightforward knit and made with 2 skeins of Boboli and 4.5mm circular needles. The yarn knits quickly, and you'll be done before you know it! I made this version second and had no idea I would love it's delicate drape so much!

Here's the Boboli Cowl Bulky Version.  It's made on larger, 7mm needles, holding 2 strands together. Besides creating  a faster knit, it's also a thicker fabric, perfect for when the weather starts getting chill and carrying you into real winter.  It also has more body than the worsted version, and the colour takes on a tweedy quality that transcends the yarn's inherent variegation.


By the way, don't forget to follow the instructions and block your cowl in a bath of white vinegar and Eucalan - it softens up beautifully!

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

Herringbone Cowl

I`ve been working on a lighter weight Herringbone Cowl for the spring. It looks gorgeous, love it. I`m using 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted in colour no.9 Polar Morn. By the way, it will not actually look like a capelet, as above, the needles are just shorter than the total circumference of the piece. You can see what it will looks like HERE.

The Malabrigo is working up really fluffy and light on the 12mm needles. If you wanted it denser you could reduce the needle size, but I`m happy to have it light and airy.

The pattern is working well, although it does leave a slight jog. Also, follow the instructions and don`t play around with the placement of your stitch marker, or your jog will wander off (mine did, but I`m not going back to fix it). 

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

New Pattern: Travelling Ribs Cowl

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

Travelling Ribs Cowl

Pattern by Liane Schwarz for Knit-O-Matic

This cowl is a fast and simple way to get acquantied with cables. It is made with super bulky yarn for maximum satisfaction and minimal effort. It makes a quick & easy gift, or keep it for yourself and bask in your friends' envy.

Size

A. Standard: 11” long and 15” wide (or 30” in c ircumference)

B. Longer: 18” long and 15” wide (or 30” in circumference)

C. Looser: 11” long, but will vary in accordance with the number of sts you choose.

D. Very Loose: unfathomable

Materials

• 1(1, 1, 2) skeins Cascade Magnum or Brown Sheep Burly Spun (120m of super bulky yarn)
• 12mm-24” circular needles
• 1 large cable needle
• 1 stitch marker

Gauge

Approx 1.5 to 2 sts = 1 inch

Cost

$5

Download Here

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

New Free Pattern: Spring Mobius Cowl

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

Spring Mobius Cowl

By Haley Waxberg

This is an easy and satisfying project for a simple, spring cowl. It’s really a no-brainer, the yarn’s self-striping colour and soft texture do most of the work. The pattern uses a Mobius Cast On, which is easy to learn.

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!

NOTE: You can not substitute a normal cast on using circular needles to create a mobius – it doesn’t work. By twisting the stitches, you’ll end up with a full twist in your knitting, and you only want a half twist (the mobius).

The yarn used has a very high cotton and silk content, both of which tend to stretch and grow. If you think your cowl is too small, don’t worry, it’ll loosen up.

Size 
Length: 25” 
Width: 8”

Materials 
2 skeins Noro Taiyo, 100g/200m, colour 1 
5mm/36” circular needles 
1 Stitch Marker

Gauge 
15 sts & 30 rows = 4” in K6 P6 ribs

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

Cost

Free

Download HERE

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

Taiyo Mobius Cowl

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

I cheated on my sweater this weekend and made a Mobius Cowl with the Noro Taiyo, and as expected, it is gorgeous! I modified my own pattern to suit the yarn, you can find the details in the Ravelry notes. The yarn knit up beautifully and easily and 2 skeins was the perfect amount. I'm going to give it another try in a different colourway and a different texture. 

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

An Interim Noro Mobius Cowl

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

This is just a boring 'project in progress' posting, sorry for the tease. Yesterday, after another little hourglass re-engineering issue (think i have it resolved now, but this is why you should not bother re-inventing the wheel), I cast on a Mobius Cowl in the Noro Taiyo (colour 1: brown, beige, black & pink).

Holy Cow! I can't believe how fast an nice it is knitting up!  Knitting with Noro is a never-ending story of simplicity and satisfaction. I'm working with 5mm needles but it's still flying, and the yardage has been great. I'm a happy girl. I cast on 186 sts (in the mobius cast on that equals a total of 372 sts), but I'll have to see what that gets me in terms of size.  I thought making it a bit smaller than normal might be a good idea since silk and cotton both have a tendency to grow (especially silk). 

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

The Ultimate Mobius Cowl

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

Amid all the stuff I have to get done, I've snuck in a new cowl, and it's for ME!  

Despite what you might think, I'm always so busy making things for other people or the store that I don't really have much of a collection of nice handmade hats, mitts and scarves to get me though the long Canadian winter. It's driving me crazy, none of my accessories match, or I'm just not in love with them. 

So I'm making a new hat/scarf set, just for me!  Part one, above is a Long Mobius Cowl in Malabrigo Chunky - and I LOVE it!  I used 3 skeins (all worth it!), and alternated K3 rounds, P3 rounds, until I had 16 ridges total.  I used 8mm-36" needles but a bit longer (40" or 47") would have been good also. 

Love the yarn, it is PERFECT!  No shedding issues, soft, and lots of body, so my cowl has bulk without weight, and stands up nicely so I can snuggle into it when the wind kicks in.   Me Likey!

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