Monday, February 25, 2008

Fair Isle Fun



I have been working on a little fair Isle hat.
I did the sweater many years ago, and thought it was charming. This was one of Dale of Norway's most popular patterns ever. The book went out of print. They just republished it in a collection of "all time best sellers" And they changed the colorway. (I am not as fond of the turquoise. But you be the judge.) I thought I would work up a hat for the shop.
I used the Yarn Guide for the first time. I liked it, but it did mess with my tension a little bit. Because there is plastic over your finger you can't just gauge by feel how tight your yarn is. It was an interesting exercise.


It is every bit at charming as I remember the sweater. Dear.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Finished booties


These lovely booties are knit from a free pattern on line. Saartje Knits shared her pattern.
Mine are made from Rabbit Ridge hand died yarn. I was pleased with how the multicolored yarn knit up in this pattern.






And here are her beautiful originals.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Knitted Icons


A clever little book came out recently: Knitted Icons
It just tickles me.
First you knit a basic "stick man" form, and then, they have oh so cleverly given options to dress or decorate the dolls to resemble Icons.


I am working on the doll form right now.

I did make some changes. The pattern calls for wool cotton. that would involve knitting on TINY needles. So I moved up a little to Cascade 220. I'm basically doing the same number of stitches the pattern calls for, so my Icon will be bigger.
More importantly, the pattern calls for you to knit about 64 different pieces and sew them together. I don't mind seaming, but there is a limit to what I will do. So I have done several pieces together, and done them in the round on double points. (for instance the head and body were supposed to be "front & back" and then joined together, and then stuffed, and THEN joined to each other. That is about 8 seams too many right off the bat!)
We are all having fun thinking of icons of our own.
Who would YOU like to see?