Winter 2010 Yarn Crafting Recap

Please excuse my long blog break. I was busying studying chemistry. I got through the semester with a 3.0, and that took every ounce of gray matter I have left.

I did get to enjoy tiny spurts of knitting, during the weekends (if I wasn't studying). Then, after my last final exam on Dec. 10, I went into maniac knitting mode. In this past month, I started and finished the following...


I knit this cute earflap hat for my daughter, from a beautiful rainbow-striping yarn, Mini Mochi.






She said all she wanted for Christmas was something I made, so I knit a shawl for my Mom out of Louisa Harding's Mariposa yarn. Mom is allergic to wool, and she enjoys a little bling, so I found this wonderful cotton & viscose two-ply yarn. It reminds me of tiger eye gemstone.






I knit a hat for my Dad, in Patons Classic Wool, representing his alma mater.






I knit my fiance another Quickie Knit Hat, out of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. This is his favorite hat. The first time the thermometer dips below 60°F he is never without one. And that's me, wearing Citron, in Malabrigo Lace yarn, that I finished just before Thanksgiving.






I designed a little crochet dog sweater for my nephew's new puppy, in some leftover Red Heart Supersaver. I have GOT to get a photo of little Coco wearing it.






I crocheted some pretty flower brooches for a craft show. There are various yarns shown here, mostly Patons Classic Wool and Berroco Lustra.






I knit a wonderful little design for a Star Ornament.






This is the third knit earflap hat in my daughter's high school colors, in Caron One Pound. I've been experimenting with different designs and this is the final. Pattern will soon follow!






I knit another of my designs for a coworker who wanted to purchase the hat instead of the pattern. It's Patons Classic Wool. The photo shows how I block the hat - on a large glass Pyrex bowl.






I knit another GIR hat for a coworker who saw a photo of the original on my blog and has been asking me to make her one ever since. This one is all Red Heart Supersaver. Next one will be knit in Debbie Stoller's Stitch Nation yarn, because she has all the perfect colors for this hat, and the wool will make it more luxurious.






Finally, this is my UFO I'm carrying over into 2011. It will be a very colorful rectangular shawl in Lion Brand Amazing yarn. It is their answer to Noro, but much more affordable. I can't wait to wear this one!



Classes start again Jan. 18, so if it gets quiet around here after then, please understand.

Cascading Leaves Beret Pattern

Celebrate with with me! After offering several free patterns here on my blog, I just posted my first purchase pattern here on Ravelry today, and already got 2 sales by this evening. Woo hoo!

Ok, here's my shameless self-promotion: If anybody here enjoys knitting lacy berets, and wants to contribute to the education of a future school teacher, then please buy my beret pattern for only $2.




Thank you!
Mei

Thick and Quick Slouchy Beret Pattern

Here's a free beret pattern. The pattern took longer to write than the time it took to knit the beret, in just a few short hours back in February. I just HAD to have a purple hat for brisk mornings! I love quick projects, especially when they're fashionable, functional, use only one ball of yarn, and can be a great gift.

 

As for the rest of my life, all is well with school, work, and family. My daughter is sprouting like a beanstalk - she's just two inches shy of my height! I'm trying to enjoy a little summer break with some swimming and knitting (not at the same time) but I have to refresh myself in Chemistry I & II before I get into both Organic and Analytial this Fall. I made straight A's again, so now I have two Chancellor's List certificates to frame upon my wall, and want to continue the trend.

Knitting Here and There

School, work, and family take priorty over yarn crafting. Still, I do try to carve out few moments here and there for knitting or crochet time. Sometimes I even forsake higher priority tasks to play with yarn. I once worked on a hat instead of studying for a physics test. I made a "C" on the test, but IMHO, the knitting deserved an "A."

I wanted a lacy beret that looked difficult, but was relatively easy to knit. This cascading leaves pattern was just the ticket. Stay tuned for the pattern!


I've been working on a few designs: two berets and one top-down raglan. The berets are cute, but I've only photographed one. The top was cute in theory, but my formula was all wrong, and it looked like a ruffled clown top. It has since been frogged, and I've re-worked the formula with less frequent raglan increases, and a better neckline. When I have more free time, I will design a truly reversible top!

Chunky Cabled Tam

I've always liked the look of berets over beanies for females. They're stylish and chic, and yet still warm and functional. I like how the tam's top leaves room for lots of design elements, from colorwork to stitch patterns.



This pattern is from Knit.1 magazine's Fall/Winter 2008 cover, the Chunky Cabled Tam. What a fun and super quick project! I doubled the yarn and used a tubular CO of 48 sts on 5.0mm needles instead, to increase evenly more easily. 1st rnd (kf&b) 2nd rnd (k1, kf&b).

Post-knitting, I wasn’t too keen with my white color choice. My daughter suggested I dye it a rich color, to make it more stylish, so we used Berry Blue Kool-aid, with a touch of Wilton’s orange & no-taste red, to tone down the brightness.

Off the head, it’s absolutely gorgeous. On the head, it reminds me of a shower cap. I have to adjust it just so, to like a chic beret instead. As funky as it is, I still wear it proudly, and it really keeps my noggin warm!

Needles:
US 8 / 5.0 mm
US 11 / 8.0 mm

Yarn:
Patons Classic Wool Merino
2 skeins in Winter White, dyed with Kool-Aid