Month: November 2018

It’s done and the bride-to-be likes it. She really likes it.

This was a project from the heart. I was thrilled to be asked to make a wrap and then I, of course, worried about it from beginning to end. I’m really good at that. It’s good to go with your strengths.

I designed a smaller project, the Three Cable Reversible Scarf, as a prototype to make sure my daughter liked it. I got the OK on that and cast on triple the scarf plus a few more stitches between the sets of cables, for a large blanket style wrap.

I think doubled over like this it should be warm enough for a couple of outdoor photos for a January wedding. Brrrr.

Lyn, my sister and owner of Shelridge Yarns, contributed her Classic Worsted W4 wool (colour Fog) which she had dyed. It shows the cables really well and was a delight to knit with.

Now that my one big project is finished I have cast on two fingering weight pullovers for myself and 3 hats. One of these sweaters is to be my lace tunic for the wedding.

I got so excited to start something new I was at the Great Divide before I knew it. I’m giving myself enough time to knit it and see how it turns out. Again knitting without a formal plan, with my fingers crossed the whole time (tricky but I’m getting pretty good at it). Maybe I need a knitting meditation program!

Thanks for reading,

Deb

Cabin Fever Patterns on ravelry

 

 

 

I readily admit that I become obsessed. When I run across something really interesting, all else falls away. I bought a book. That’s often how it starts. I don’t buy many books any more so I did think about it several times before pressing the pay button. I am so happy with it. Have you heard of it?  Something New to Learn About Helical Knitting.

Helical knitting is also called Stacked Stripes, Spiral Stripes, Jogless One Round Stripes. It’s all about one round stripes that have no jog where you change colours between rounds.

I have had my way with this technique before. I’ve written a Spiral Stripes blog and a couple of patterns. The Stash Buster Striped Hat uses 4 colours and is great for odd bits of yarn you have left in your stash. Also Stash Buster Socks which was an obsession for quite a while (6 pairs of socks later).

I love it when someone dives into a topic, as Jen Arnall-Culliford has with this book, and gives you tips and tricks that make a technique work really well.

As you can see in the photos above, where you change colours gives you a tightness. There is no jog in the stripe and the tightness does go away when worn but Jen has a terrific trick for avoiding it all together.

 

Basic 1×1 Helical Stripes video  As you slip the last 3 stitches before changing colours, you move further and further away from the beginning of round marker. In fact for my hat I just took the beginning of round marker out and forgot about it. The tightness is eliminated and it’s really easy to do. Gotta love a trick like that.

If you, like I do, have many, many little odd balls of various yarns in your stash you could join me and knit a bunch of hats to keep your loved ones warm. Winter is here, at least where I live. There will be more hats.

Stay Tuned,

Deb

Cabin Fever patterns on ravelry

Are you busy knitting gifts? Are you gearing up for the big day in December? It’s not long now. In knitting terms, it’s almost here. Six weeks away. Yikes, what can I knit in time and how many can I make? Do you have some suggestions?

Here are a few of my favourite Cabin Fever patterns that we have made over the years that are quick and interesting to make.

Swirl Infinity Scarf and Hat  This hat is fun to knit and you can stash dive for any yarn from worsted weight to chunky weight and get started right away.

Last Minute Mittlets  Chunky weight quickies. Mittlets always seem to be a hit.

 

Adult Flap Cap  Another chunky weight quick knit. Great for tweens, teens and adults on your list.

The Fern Kerchief  Stash dive for any yarn from sports weight to heavy worsted and knit a small kerchief with a lovely lace border.

There are lots more small projects in our Cabin Fever ravelry store.

Last year I knit socks but this year that’s not going to happen since I’m still working on the Wedding Wrap.

WRAP UPDATE: I kept wondering how big it was going to be once it was blocked so …

I dumped it in the sink even though it was still on the needles. Rolled it in a towel and stomped on it a bit. Laid it out on the spare bed. It’s big but not quite long enough. Just a little big more.

Thanks for reading. Do you have some quick gift suggestions? I’m sure we could all do with a couple more ideas.

Deb

FOLLOW ME for more knitting adventures.

 

As I reach the final stretch of my wrap I find myself starting to panic. What if it’s not as wonderful as I had hoped? What if all I can see are the small imperfections (that make it handmade of course but … you know how this goes). This is the problem with finishing, once it’s done all the judgements begin and the finish line is looming. I have a tendency to slow right down to avoid finishing. I’m pretty indulgent about how my knitting turns out when the knitting is for myself. I encourage knitters to do the same, perfection is a killer. It’s when it’s for someone else that I get stuck. The solution? Start something else?

I am patting myself on the back for sewing all the ends in. I’m up to 7 x 100g balls which means 14 ends. Yes, 12 are sewn in. Yay. I used this video to help me: Weave in Ends in Garter Stitch

To distract myself from being too perfectionist, I knit a hat.

I had several really good reasons, really I did.

1.  I am running a couple of Top Down Hat classes starting in a couple of weeks (Purl3 in Orillia Nov. 14 & 21 ; Twist Yarn in Midland Nov. 22 & 29, Dec. 6) . I had to do some samples, right? I didn’t have to make a hat in fingering weight wool which takes a lot longer, but I did have to make a hat. Now I need to do a couple more with different crowns because that’s the idea for the class. More hat knitting is needed.
2. This gives me a small project to carry around. I was at a loss without a project in my purse. The wrap is really big now and hardly fits in my knitting tote bag.
3. I have to use up my stash because it’s not fitting in the closet anymore. So I must use up all the yarn that is starting to leak out. Have to.

Is that enough rationalizing?

Thanks for reading,

Deb

Cabin Fever pattern on ravelry