Design Week Day 3

Today we reveal what yarn we have chosen for our design. I'm going to go a little farther with this post since I'm hijacking StitchinSandy's internet connection and I'm going to have to rely on posting from my phone for the rest of the week.

  I myself have gone with one that is a standby for me, Knit Picks Shadow Lace although any lace yarn will do for this project.  Knit Picks is reliable and comparatively inexpensive, and I purchase their yarn on a regular basis. The color I am using is Snorkel, and it's something that I purchased some time ago. I bought several skeins when they discontinued this color, and am still using it up.  Feel free to use whatever color you choose.

I have already swatched the lace pattern I want to use earlier, and so I have cast on. Still, I'm skeptical of that I've cast on enough stitches.  I'm going to do a 2x2 ribbed brim, and then go into the lace.

I'm knitting the brim with US 1.5 needles, then going into the body of the hat with US 4.

I guess we'll see how this works out.  There are certainly no guarantees that what I am envisioning will actually work out, and the thing I'm most concerned about is my stitch count. I think the design itself will work out, but I wouldn't be surprised if I have to rip out and add some more stitches.

Design Week - Days 1 and 2

Due to some technical difficulties of the computer variety, I was unable to post yesterday about the design I have in the works, so today you get a two-for-one deal. The idea I have in mind is for something I can use to keep my long hair under control, and am envisioning some type of cross between a snood and a slouchy hat. For those who don't know, a snood is something that has been used for hundreds of years to cover a woman's hair. You can see them at Renaissance Festivals and other historical reenactments, primarily, and they are also used by women who want to cover their hair for modesty purposes. I am planning on making something that is light and lacy, with shaping sort of like a slouchy hat that won't be too warm for spring weather, but has enough substance in it that I can tuck my hair up in it and keep it off my neck and from flying around in my face. The snoody hat will be designed in the round, with some ribbing around the brim to help hold it, although I may want to stitch some hair clips in to hold it in place more securely. I'm thinking about lace weight yarn, and already have a stitch pattern in mind. It is a pretty, flowery open lace that should let air flow through, and maybe let the hair peek out a bit. It isn't difficult, and anybody who can handle a knitting in the round should be able to handle this project. The next thing I need to do is choose my yarn, probably a lace weight, and do some swatching. Hopefully I'll be able to give you some pictures tomorrow.

Socks, or, I've Done it to Myself

I am sitting here at 7am fighting with my sock that I've designed. Why are you fighting with it, you ask? Because I have foolishly designed a sock that only wants to be knitted in magic loop or two circular needles, and since I couldn't find another size 2 circ,  I had to use magic loop.

At the risk of becoming the newest knitting pariah, I will admit that I have no love for two at a time magic loop socks. I hate the first few rounds starting them, I hate untangling the yarn, I feel like I just spend the whole time rearranging stitches.  Magic loop is not my friend. Give me old school top down dpn socks any day and I am a happy camper.

These socks just want to be knitted in magic loop, there's no way around it. The stitch pattern I came up with likes to jog stitches around right where the dpns meet, and in spite of me changing the arrangement around, it was just to much of a hassle. Anyway,  let's face it. Magic loop is in. If they were just toe up I'd be all set. At least I have a furry knitting buddy for moral support.

By the way,  the pattern is called Fountain of Love. Ironic, huh?