Category: Accessories

Bulky, Cozy, Quick Winter Brunch Shawl!

This shawl FLEW off the needles! I don’t knit with a ton of bulky yarn, but this Malabrigo Mecha really spoke to me. There are some seriously awesome colours. I knit this one up in just a few days, and it is so soft and cozy. Too bad I didn’t have it done last weekend when I was actually waiting outside in the freezing cold for brunch! I’m really happy with how the photos turned out, too.

The blurb: Looking for a quick project to keep you warm this winter? This super cozy shawl works up so quickly in bulky yarn, you’ll hardly believe it! Winter Brunch is a simple top- down elongated triangle with increases worked at the edges every row for a nice shape that’ll sit around your shoulders over or under your coat. The lattice edging is easy to knit with fun large lace holes. I recommend working the simple two stitch cable crosses without a cable needle – it’s a great way to learn.

The shawl begins at the back neck in stockinette, with increases at the edges every row (and the center every RS row). The directions for the lattice edging are given in both chart and row-by-row form. It’s a perfect new project for a snowy weekend!

Queue, fave, and buy on Ravelry!

February 1, 2015
FO: Loads of Garter Stitch

Finished object: hat and booties!

I think they are pretty cute!

Patterns: Cutest Booties by Stephanie; hat pattern is my own – it was surprising to me that I couldn’t find a good garter stitch hat pattern for babies!
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 ply – very soft and nice, but splitty. Good for making the pompoms though, it fluffs up really nicely.

Speaking of pompoms, I could swear I bought a set of the Clover pompom makers ages ago but I guess that was just in my head! I used cardboard to make the hat pompom and a fork to make the small ones. I sewed through them with thread and a sharp needle so hopefully they’ll hold together for a good long time.

Now that the hat and booties are done, I can get back to this shoulder warmer. I’m knitting the sleeves in the round, so the new version of the pattern will have options for both flat (seamed) or circular (seamless). It’s going fast and the Malabrigo Rios is so lovely to knit with!

January 20, 2015
Faux-chet Cowls!

Squeezing in one last pattern for this year – presenting Faux-chet Cowls! They might look like double crochet, but they are knit!

Six patterns in one, like my Cross Stitch Cowls! Two lengths (single and double loop), three gauges (fingering, worsted, chunky). The cowls begin with a provisional cast on, are knit flat, and then joined with a three needle bind off. The faux-crochet stitch, adapted from Lynne Barr’s Reversible Knitting, is totally addictive! I include lots of photos to help you through this interesting stitch. Once you’ve got a few repeats down, it’s very easy to memorize.

Attached I-cord along the edges provides a nice tidy finish. The light colour one is the single loop, worked in Tosh Chunky in Modern Fair Isle. It’s quite a dense yarn, but it’s also nicely squishy and definitely warm! Two skeins is enough for the single loop, but if you have a little more or less yardage you can easily change the length.

The double loop version is worked in two of my favourite colours, mustard and grey! I used one of my all-time favourite yarns for this one, Handmaiden Cashmere 4-ply – two skeins of grey and one of the mustard. It’s oh-so-soft, a dream to work with.

This cowl is a great way to use up different colours, with striping or colourblocking. The chunky weight is especially quick, perfect for those pesky last-minute gifts!

All this for just $5 Canadian. What will you make your Faux-chet cowls with?

Queue, fave, and buy on Ravelry!

December 17, 2014