Previously Finished Projects 1: Mom's Hat

There are a few projects I finished last year before I started this blog that I just never got around to writing about. I figure after Christmas when the pressure is off as far as finishing gifts on a deadline is a good time to do it.

I knitted my mom this hat that will go with the scarf I'm making her now. The brim of the hat is a beaded rib stitch. It occurs to me as I write this that this hat is not the box stitch that I seem to have thought it was when I started the scarf. So I guess they won't match that well after all, but they're the same yarn which is close enough, I guess.

I can't remember any details like what size needles I used or how many stitches it is. I can guess that it's between US 7 and US 10, and between 80 and 90 stitches, but that's as close as I can get.

So concludes "Previously Finished Projects 1," stay tuned for further installments.

Happy knitting!

Boyfriend's Finished Scarf

I finally finished boyfriend's scarf. It took me forever and I was knitting like a crazy woman, but it's finally done. I wanted to have it done on the 24th so that I could give it to him at his family's Christmas, but I missed that by three days. It's cool, though. He'll get it just the same, only now he won't get it until the 30th because I'm home for Christmas.

The finished scarf. It's about six and a half feet long when it's rolled out.

All in all the scarf didn't give me much trouble. After all, it was just knit. I did have to remind myself how to bind off, but I looked it up and refreshed my memory. However, I did make a mistake while I was binding off. For whatever reason, I lost my mind for a second and cut the yarn as if it was just an end I was going to weave in. Yeah, it wasn't, and I ended up cutting it at about half the length I needed, so I had to tie the ends back together.

A close up on the pattern of the scarf.

I'm still unsure whether or not I want to tie fringe onto the ends. I guess I can wait until I give it to boyfriend and ask him whether or not he'd like it.

It took me a year, but I finally finished this scarf, and I could not be happier. Is it the most refined project even I've ever done? No. Are there a few spots that look a little messy? Sure. But will boyfriend love it just the same? Absolutely.

Happy knitting!

Trouble with Dad's Scarf

I finally made it to the store to pick up more yarn to work on my dad's scarf. I was pleased beyond belief when I got there and saw brown variegated yarn that looked just like the yarn I had. I was less pleased when I looked around a little more and saw another similar brown variegated yarn. Which one was it? Was it even one of those at all?

I picked one and hoped for the best. I also picked up three more things of yarn that looked fun. I got them home and excitedly pulled out my dad's scarf only to have my heart broken.

The yarns aren't the same. At all. I guess I could actually bring my knitting and go check the other one to see if that matches, but I'm afraid it won't either. Or, like, been a normal person and bought enough yarn when I knew they had it or at least kept the thing that told me what specific color it was.

So now I'm looking at either waiting longer and taking another trip back to shop for yarn or ripping the whole stupid thing apart and starting the scarf all over. I may have gotten the whole of the body done in an afternoon, but the end but took me awhile, and I really don't want to rip out all of my hard work only to do it all again.

Knitting in the Round

I decided that I wanted to give knitting in the round a go to make a hat that I wouldn't have to sew a seam into because I hate that part and it looks a little sloppy in my opinion. So I checked out the method that seemed easiest to me: knitting in the round with one circular needle. Okay, cool. I can totally do that. Knit normally, only the needles are really only one needle.

That's all fine until I got my stitches cast onto the US 11 (8mm) circular needles I have only to realize the thing was 29'. Much too long for a hat. Okay, so I checked the other three sets of circular needles I have. All 29' or more. I got them from my grandma and she used them to make blankets. To my knowledge she never did make a hat.

So once again I am discouraged by knitting in the round, and I've given up on it again until further notice.

Finished Step-Dad's Hat

I finally finished this hat. Once I got to decreasing, it was pretty quick work. Knitting two together on those tiny needles was a pain though. Not so much actually doing it, but trying to purl the stitch that was from those two knitted together. It was ridiculously tight and irritating. But I finally finished it.

This is what it looks like with the headband turned down. Kind of silly, but just for some reference. You can kind of see the change from where it goes from all knit stitch to stockinette stitch. Not super well, I guess because the yarn is so dark, but I promise it does.

Then, of course, there's the hat the way it's meant to be with the headband turned up.

I think it looks good. I am glad I used the smaller needles now that I'm finished, but for the hours and hours I spent working on it, I wasn't that glad. I wish the light were better or the yarn weren't so dark or both so you could see this hat better, but this is the best I can get. Maybe this Christmas I can get everyone to model their gifts.

Grey Sash/ Belt

I recently picked up some more yarn, and came home all excited with no idea what to do with any of it. All but one I at least had ideas of for whom I was going to use them, but I couldn't think of who would really like the last one. It's a really gorgeous grey, and the feel is just great. After I stared at it for a while, boyfriend asked if I wouldn't knit him a sash/ belt that he could wear for this LARP thing he does. . . . Yeah, I won't explain it. But I said of course and that he won't get it for Christmas. I'd like to have it done for March or April or whenever their season starts, but we'll see.

When I asked him what he wanted it to be, he communicated that he wanted it to be about two inches wide and that he wanted me to use the smallest needles I have. Well, the smallest needles I have are US 0 (2mm). I've never used anything smaller than US 6 (4mm), so I thought this would be a great learning experience on something that doesn't have to be beautiful. However, I have to admit I had had a few adult beverages at that point, and I just couldn't do the 0s. I also skipped over the US 1 (2.25mm) because that also seems quite ambitious. However, I don't have US 2 (2.75mm), so I settles on US 3 (3.25mm).

So far so good I'd say. There's not much to it yet, and it's nothing remarkable. I'm not even sure if it will work the way boyfriend wants it to. But he seems to have a plan for it that involves gold tassels that he swears up and down he'll put on himself.

I also recently discovered Ravelry. I feel like I came to it pretty late in the game, so once I get it caught up a little, I'll link to it.

Happy knitting and happy holidays.

Dad's Scarf

Last year I was able to finish my dad's hat before I went back up to school. However, I wasn't able to get his scarf done. This year, I've put in a lot of effort on his scarf. The only problem? I ran out of yarn and I haven't made it to get more yet, partially because I'm afraid that the same yarn won't be there. I'm going to run into the same problem with my sister's scarf if I ever pick that up again as well as my mother's scarf. I forgot to plan for this last year. I should have known when I was barely able to finish my grandmother's scarf which I made pretty thin and shorter than I wold have liked. But I didn't think about it. So now I'm out of this brown variegated yarn with Christmas only a week away.

I am, however, pretty please with how my dad's scarf is looking. Apart from the I-can't-continue-it thing.

I was, I guess, lucky enough to be able to get all of this done a few weeks ago. Boyfriend had strep again-he gets it every year-so I took him to the medi-center so he could get it taken care of before it turned into scarlet fever. That really happened once. While he was doing that, I was sitting in the waiting room knitting away. I finished up all of this scarf I could that day, and now I'm super bummed that I can't do anymore. I suppose that's my own fault since I can't manage to get to the store, but I'm still annoyed regardless.

Box-Stitch Scarf

Last year I began my mom's second gift to match her hat. It was originally a shawl using my biggest needles. I was quickly discouraged from this project because the big needles are a pain to work with. When I picked it up again this year, I ripped the whole thing apart and looked at some of the patterns I had bookmarked earlier to work with and found this box-stitch. I decided to do a similar thing as I had with my dad's scarf which is to pattern the ends and just knit the middle. I may put some silly tassel-y guys on the end, but I'll see what the finished project looks like first.

When I started yesterday, all I had managed up to that point was three rows of boxes at the end. This is what the finished end looks like now.

It is five by five boxes which I think gives it a nice symmetry. Then I moved into the body of the scarf which is garter stitch, and I just knitted away at until I had this:

It's over a foot and a half now which I think will put me about a quarter of the way there. I think I'm going to aim for six feet like with boyfriend's scarf. Then again, because this scarf is thinner, I might be able to get away with shorter. I guess I'll see as it comes along.

UPDATE: I linked the pattern to this page up near the top. However, I should note that instead of doing knit two, purl two, etc. I did knit four, purl four, etc. to make the boxes more apparent.

Step-Dad's Hat

Once again, I sort of let this go for a, well, a year. But it's come a long way. Pretty close to done, in fact. Just about another inch before I start decreasing, and once I start decreasing it'll be done in no time. I'm really regretting the US 7 needles because they're so small, and it's taking so long. I spent the better part of an afternoon on this hat a week or two ago which would usually mean I had finished it. Nope. I made some progress, sure, but not nearly as much as I usually do. Now I know to calm down and stop trying to start all my projects at once because some of them end up on little needles that take forever.

This is how far this hat has come since last year.

The coloring's pretty bad because it's already dark out so I can't get any good light. I guess this is more just to show how far I've come since last year when I only had the headband done. I'm hoping to get to decreasing today, though. We'll see.

Winter Again Means Knitting Again

I recognize that I kind of let this go after not too long last year. I went back to school and well . . . But I've been doing work on my knitting projects again this year. The one that's come the farthest is boyfriend's scarf. Last year it was only one flag, but now I'm onto the fourth flag.

It's come a long way, and I'm really pleased with how it's looking. I'm glad I went with the gauge I did and the number of stitches and all that I did. I think I'm going to have it be seven flags long when it's finished. That should be good and long and cuddly for a scarf. I'd like to have it done for this Christmas, but we'll see. It's not the only project I have after all.

Navy Hat

Oops. Forgot to post yesterday. I was just so busy sitting.

Anyway, this is the start of the hat I promised Jeff for this past Christmas . . . and started two days ago. He'll live. It's nothing fancy. US 7 (4.5m) needles. 110 stitches. (I have trouble with gauge. Anyone who wants to explain it to me, feel free.) The headband it just 18 rows of knit stitch. I'm just starting the 10 or so rows of stockinette stitch with the wrong side out (so it'll be the right side showing if the headband rolls up too far) and then five or so inches of stockinette stitch before I start decreasing at the top. No big deal.

This past winter, I got back into knitting in a big way. I started knitting obsessively to stop from going crazy during the last couple weeks of the semester. However, I overcommitted myself a little bit. With most everyone else, I at least got him/ her his/her hat/headband. My grandma got lucky and got both her hat and scarf. My dad got a little less lucky, but still received his has hat before I went back to school. Jeffy was not so lucky. As I mentioned, I'm just starting his hat and forget about a scarf. But it's happening. And the sooner I get this done, the sooner I can start of my dog's puppy sweater because it's going to use this same yarn.

Lace Scarf

This is the scarf I'm making for my sister. I like this pattern a ton, and it's a lot easier than the one I'm making for my dad, but it's still pretty tricky. I'm using US 10 needles (6mm) for this. 19 stitches and the pattern repeats every 12 rows. I had to learn (or rather relearn what my grandma taught me years ago) how to knit two together (k2tog) and slip slip knit (ssk) for this pattern. That's how you get the neat lacy pattern. That was certainly interesting, and I had to restart more than once while I was figuring it out.

I made a headband first, (which can be seen on the right there under finished projects) with the same yarn and the same pattern, and it turned out really well, and I'm pleased with the way this scarf is looking. I like the variegated yarn a lot, but it's not very good for seeing these patterns I want to knit. Almost ironically, I'm using solid colored yarn for a lot of the pieces I'm not doing patterns in.

PS. I found this pattern on a knitting blog, but I can't remember for the life of me which one. If anyone out there recognizes this and knows which blog I'm talking about, I'd love to link to it. I don't feel comfortable giving the pattern myself because I didn't create it, but I'd love to share it.

Happy knitting!

Elongated Chevron Scarf

I'm knitting this scarf for my dad. I made him a matching hat for this past Christmas, but I didn't get the scarf done (or really started), and I already missed his birthday, too. I'd like to have all of these scarves done for next Christmas. I'm using US 9 needles (5.5mm). The is worked on multiples of 18 plus 1, and I'm working with 36 plus 1. And I promise to take a better picture of this soon. You can kind of see the pattern, though.

If you happened to notice the picture of this scarf yesterday, you'll notice that it's a little different today. And not in an I've-completed-more-of-it way, but in an I-ripped-the-whole-stupid-thing-apart-(not that that was very much really)-and-started-over-again-only-now-it's-twice-as-wide way. This was the scarf yesterday:

and at the top is it today. I decided that it was too thin (only about three inches) for a man, so I made it wider. I'm not super excited because this pattern is a huge pain in the ass, but it looks really cool. I'm torn whether or not to do the whole scarf in the chevrons or just do the chevrons as the ends. Again, they look so cool. But they're so hard. And it's not like this is even the best yarn to see this pattern in. Poor choice on my part when I made the hat, but the hat is made and on my dad's head, so the scarf has to match, and here I am.

I'm thinking at least two repetitions of the pattern, and then maybe switch into stockinette. Then again, maybe not. I guess I'll have to wait and see how much I freaking hate this pattern after two repetitions. Updates to follow. But not tonight.

Happy knitting!

Irish Flag Scarf

This is the beginning of the scarf I'm knitting for Shane. It's going to be a repetition of the Irish flag, you guessed it, in scarf form. He's Irish and requested that I knit him this scarf after being unable to find a similar scarf at Goodwill. We got there too late and someone had already snatched it. Major bummer. So I'm knitting him this one. Hopefully it'll be better than the other one because it will be exactly what he wants, at least as far as length and width. My cat is currently rolling all over it. I guess that means he likes it which must be a compliment.

I'm using US 8 (5mm) needles. 30 rows of 40 stitches per color, all knit stitch. I think it looks pretty nice so far, if I do say so myself. I'm just using Red Heart Super Saver yarn. It's acrylic and so a pain in the ass to block because wet blocking doesn't work, but it's cheap and more or less does the trick. I'm pretty pleased with the green and orange, but for whatever reason the white is pretty coarse, and I'm afraid it will be itchy. Maybe I'm just imagining it; or maybe the green and orange, which are very soft for Red Heart, will make up for it; or maybe it just needs to be washed. I hope it works out, though.

This is going to be the largest thing to date that I've made (and completed). I make a lot of hats. I love knitting hats. I've also done a headband which was very quick. And I have made some scarves before, but this one is wider than any of those, and I have a feeling Shane's going to want it to be incredibly long. Which is fine. As long as he doesn't expect it until next Christmas.

I'm really great about getting obsessed with things. Once it was baking. There was a period when i made cookies for everything. And not just a batch of chocolate chip cookies. We're talking elaborately decorated cookies. For example, in high school, a girl on my cross country team who I'd gotten somewhat close to had her birthday during the season, so I made cookies that spelled out "Happy Birthday E----" and a giant cookie for her proclaiming her new age. Or cooking or crocheting or knitting and sewing. Sometimes I'll hole up in my room for days or weeks at a time and take copious notes and study which has been my obsession for the last several months as I draw terrifyingly close to the end of my undergrad degree. Or I'll dig out some markers and write poetry all over my windows. (That one really weirded my roommate out when I lived in the dorms.) Sometimes I'll sit in front of my computer for days, barely taking time to eat or sleep, and just write forever. I've pumped out more than one short story that way. Or reading. There was a summer some years ago when I read no less than a book a day. Sometimes it's TV shows. I've watched seasons upon seasons of shows for days on end. Sometimes, to my embarrassment, it's FaceBook games. You know. My mother says I have a one track mind. I like to think of it as getting "locked on," to reference Skins.

Tangent aside, I really like the way this is looking. I kind of wish I had gone with stockinette stitch, but I really don't feel like starting over. I've also never worked with multiple colors before. I was surprised with how easy it was to switch colors. There will potentially be an update this evening to show how much progress I made today with this scarf. My goal is to at least to get back into green tonight.

PS. I hope the knitwitch doesn't mind me linking to her how-to's, but she's my favorite YouTube how-to for knitting.

UPDATE: I did get through the orange and back to the green like I hoped. Sorry the color's a little wonky. I had natural light earlier, but now it's dark, so I only have lamplight which makes everything yellow. And I'm using a webcam, so everything looks a little wonky always.

My Knitting Blog

I've been wanting to start a knitting blog for several months now, and I'm glad I finally have. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to write about my projects as well as I wanted to, or that I wouldn't knit enough to warrant a whole blog about it, or that you old pros out there would think I'm silly and terrible at knitting, but I finally got over it and just started writing about it. I just had to keep reminding myself that to write anything means getting over a few self-conscious issues and just doing it.


There are still some glitches I'm working through with this blog. For one, I want a sidebar that can show the projects I'm currently working on, how far into each one I am, maybe pictures of them in their current states, something like that. I also want to get some pictures of my finished projects up here.


Those things aside, I'm excited to get to writing about my projects. I have a ton because I get so excited, and I just want to knit all the thing. Additionally, if i get bored or frustrated or run out of yarn or whatever on one things, I can work on another. Hopefully writing about knitting and you, reader, will keep me accountable for my knitting so I don't fall behind and end up giving apologies instead of finished hats and scarves and things for Christmas.


Happy knitting!