A Slew of Sock Hop

Well, so much for getting caught up with my blogging in two weeks!

Back when I ripped my first try at the Pacific Waves Shawl, I found myself with lots of unused Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop yarn. Since I had bought several of the skeins as remnants, and all the one I used were now in tiny little balls ...



... I decided I would look for stash-busting patterns to use up the yarn. My first project was the Turn-a-Square Hat by Jared Flood. By holding two strands of Sock Hop together, I was able to achieve heavy worsted weight, and adjusted for gauge accordingly. I ended up knitting this hat three times with different colorways before I finally called it good. The first attempt may have been the most photogenic while knitting ...



but I didn't like how I looked with white yarn right by my face. I tried a three-color combination, and finally settled on one colorway (San Francisco) where I let the striping in the handspun show off the square shape of the hat. It's much more subtle. My three attempts are the top row of this mosaic of Sock Hop projects:



I then knit a set of Maine Morning Mitts in the same Sock Hop colorway (though a different lot) to match (pictures #6 and #8). I love fingerless mitts, and expect this set will be the first of many. I wanted a cowl that would match the mitts, and couldn't find one on Ravelry that was just right, so I created my own easy-peasy pattern - the Two-One Cowl, pattern available for free download right here (as well as on the sidebar). Pictures are the second row of the mosaic.

I also knit a new little sunglasses case with leftovers - picture #9. Let me tell you, it's a joy to pull it out and use my handknitting on a regular basis! And last, but not least, I started a set of mini sweaters (picture #7) which will decorate my holiday tree this winter, and are a great way to use up tiny bits of yarn.

Xmas Knitting

A series of snowstorms has swept through Seattle during the last two weeks. Since the city isn't well equipped in the ways of plows, and I have a lot of anxiety about driving in the snow (due to a near miss two years ago), I haven't been able to mail Xmas knitting packages yet. However, I have been able to finish a slew of small projects. I'm taking a risk that my family might see this before they get their mail, but I don't think they really read my blog. So, hats for three generations: my father, brother, and nephew.



Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood (pictured right)
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Peat Mix
Needles: US size 6 & 8
On Ravelry

I love how this hat looks, but found the knitting to be a little fiddly, with all of the cable crosses. I was not able to master knitting without a cable needle, and hope to if I knit this again.

Pattern: Turn A Square by Jared Flood (pictured center)
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Peat Mix and Charcoal Mix colorways, held doubled
Needles: US size 10 / 6.0 mm (9 / 5.5 mm for ribbing)
On Ravelry

I really like this pattern, as you'll see. I like knitting doubled; it goes very quickly and makes a warmer hat. The two colors are both dark and that makes the striping very subtle.

Pattern: Pro Bono by Angelina Fagan (pictured left)
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Peat Mix and Charcoal Mix colorways, held doubled
Needles: US size 9 / 5.5 mm
On Ravelry

Another Pro Bono, a simple and quick ribbed hat that can expand with a growing head. I like this pattern but think it's just too long. I'm hoping the hat can be warn with the brim turned up because I really don't feel like ripping out and shortening this hat before I can actually put it in the mail.



Pattern: Darkside Cowl by Sarah Fama
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk in Navy
Needles: US size 7 / 4.5 mm
On Ravelry

I knit a quick cowl for my SIL. This is a nice ribbed pattern which gives the cowl some structure. The yarn is soft, however, just like the Ultra Alpaca, I found it to be sheddy. Is all alpaca yarn like this? Because I'm not too fond of the shedding.



Pattern: Kim's Hats by Kim Hamlin
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa 127 Print in 33 - Dark Grey
Needles: US 6 & 7
on Ravelry

I knit the hat to go with the garter-stitch scarf my partner knit for our friend Chris. The yarn struck me as a bit scratchy and I had a little trouble getting into the project (I wanted to make it warmer but did not have enough yarn), but once I finally got it going, I really like the project. It was really fun to have the splashes of color show up in seemingly random fashion as I knit - and no pooling! This took a little bit over one skein of yarn.

I've been knitting somethings for myself, too, but I'll wait to finish before posting more.

The Blocks are a Hit!

It was love at first sight when I saw this pattern. I was surprised that not many people have knit it - mine is one of only four projects on Ravelry.



Pattern: Stitch-Sampler Baby Blocks
by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas
From Knitting for Baby



I made several modifications. First, I decided to use Cascade 220, which is worsted, not bulky weight, so I used a size 7 needle instead of 9, and cast on 18 stitches instead of 14. The pattern calls for blocks knit in stockinette, seed stitch, stockinette/reverse stockinette rows, k1 p1 ribbing, k2 p2 ribbing, and basket weave. I don't like seed stitch very much and my k1 p1 ribbing looked bad, so I replaced them with double seed stitch and a lattice pattern.

I finished knitting and blocking all 36 squares by the end of November, but stalled out on how to stuff them. The pattern calls for 3 inch foam blocks, which I purchased, but then was worried that they wouldn't be safe for a baby to be chewing on, even through the knitted fabric. After some research and advice, I purchased a batt of Romney wool to stuff the blocks.

This is the first project where I've done the kitchener stitch to seam, and I'm not sure I did it completely right. Stuffing the blocks with the wool resulted in somewhat lumpy by still very cute blocks. The important thing, though, is that they are a hit!


The happy recipient on Christmas morning.

I had originally thought about knitting three sets for three babies in my life. After knitting one set, though, I don't feel the need to make any more. I'm pleased with the results, but one set was enough, thank you.

Holiday Knitting

I managed to get all the holiday knitting done by 3:00 pm on Christmas Eve - if you don't count the two projects I never cast on. The first three were easy, because they were already finished:

1. Chevron Scarf went to my mother
2. Foliage Hat in brown went to my sister-in-law
3. Kochoran Scarf went to my sister

My partner and I tag-teamed gift #4. She knit the blue and I took over when it was time to knit the green.


The Blueberry Hat went to our good friend Chris.

Pattern: Ann Norling Kid's Fruit Cap
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash
Needles: Clover bamboo US size 7
Mods: cast on 96 stitches to make a 22" adult size hat

Mini Mitten Ornaments

So, when my WEBS catalog arrived a few weeks back, I was enchanted by the little knitted mitten ornaments on the cover. I emailed WEBS about the pattern and they were kind enough to email it to me in PDF. A few days later, I noticed they had posted it online (note: opens a PDF file) as well. I guess it's a popular pattern.

And good reason:

I love these super-cute little mittens!

Pattern: Mini Mittens by Leslie Ann Bestor
Yarn: 6 colors of Cascade 220
Needles: US size 5

The patterns calls for yarn in sport, DK, or worsted weight, which would be using needles US size 3 (3.25 mm) to US size 5 (3.75 mm). It's a great way to use up scrap amounts of yarn and I think would be especially lovely in leftover variegated sock yarn.



I made a total of six pairs over the course of four days. Mine are for my tree, but I also proudly hung them at work to festively decorate my space.

Each mitten is knit flat, except there are some short rows in the middle to make the thumb. After the thumb, the yarn is rejoined where you started the thumb to finish the knitting, and then you sew it together. Each mitten took me 30-45 minutes. I got a lot of joy out of knitting these little guys up!