2011: Year in Review

I completed quite a few projects this year, and it's very hard for me to pick my favorite!  I think it might be the matching set that I made for the kids for Christmas.  I love the yarn, enjoyed the knitting, and love the fit of the finished garments.

 

Here is a quick collage of some of my favorite projects of 2011.

Happy New Year!

A Neon Set

Just got this off the needles and wanted to share - a hat with matching pop-top mittens.  This is yarn that we dyed a few months ago that I finally figured out what to knit with it.  I'm hoping these bright colors will keep them from getting lost!

This was a super easy hat.  I cast on 96 stitches on size 5 needles.  I knit about 1 1/2"-2" for the 2x2 ribbed brim, then switched to size 7 needles.  I knit in stockinette stitch until I was just over 7" past the cast-on edge, then used a kitchener stitch to close the top.  I tied off the "ears" with scrap yarn.  This fits my 2-year-old, my 4-year-old, and me (although I do have a freakishly small head for an adult).

The mittens are the Pop Top Mittens that I purchased on Ravelry (also available on Knit Picks).  It was very easy to follow and knit up quickly, also on size 5 and 7 needles.

Completed Projects

I have finished a few projects that I'm really proud of, so of course I had to snap dozens of photos!  First is a Ridinghood Sweater for my daughter that has been in the works for months.  First I ran out of yarn, then I set it aside because I was tired of knitting endlessly in the round for the full skirt!  I am very happy with the finished project and I'm glad I picked it up and finally completed it.  This was knit with Knitpicks Swish Worsted, a superwash yarn.  Amounts used are listed on the project page.

Next, I completed a set for my children for Christmas.  The vest is an Explorer Vest and the sweater is the long-sleeved sweater from the Charlotte Collection.  They are knit with Cascade 220 Superwash Paints.  This is my second Explorer Vest, and I am so impressed with this pattern - it is written for multiple sizes and yarn weights, and the seamless design beginning with a provisional crochet cast-on is very unique.  The Charlotte pattern is a bit tricky, but this was my second one and it went much more smoothly this time (although there was still a bit of frogging to get it just right!).  The back (photos on the project page) features an increasing rib design, and I love the look as well as the fit.

Next up on my needles are overalls for my daughter and my first pair of adult-size socks - wish me luck!

T-shirt Yarn

I've been wanting to make t-shirt yarn for a long time, ever since seeing it for sale on Etsy and thinking it was so neat and thick.  Of course, I wear tons of tees and couldn't part with any of mine (and all of my husbands were sent to Goodwill a few months ago).  Finally, I went into my parents attic, opened one of my 200 bins of stuff (that they have been asking me to go through and clean out for the last ten years...) and found the perfect t-shirt to make yarn!  A size XL bright yellow t-shirt from my college orientation at Towson University ten (!!) years ago.  Of course, when I came downstairs with it my dad asked why I never gave HIM the t-shirt, to which I replied, "you would not wear a bright yellow t-shirt."  and he said "I might have if you'd given it to me when  you got it."  Point taken.  Sorry dad, the t-shirt has now been cut up into lovely yellow yarn!

I followed an awesome tutorial that I pinned a while ago.  This one has lots of pictures and was easy for me to follow, so check out Polka Dot Pineapple for the instructions.  It was super easy and didn't take too much time (and would have gone much faster if I had real scissors and not my small scissors from my knitting bag).

I knit up a swatch on my size 13 needles.  It was a little difficult to work with, so I think it would be best to use larger needles - I might pick some up this week.  I'm not sure what to make with it yet, but it knit up into a very thick piece - maybe a trivet or a potholder?  We'll see!  The yellow is a bit more vibrant in person.

 

 I still had the rest of the t-shirt from the sleeves up, so I decided to make this very cute t-shirt flower that I keep seeing around Pinterest.  You can see the tutorial on Emily's Little World.  Mine doesn't look nearly as good as hers, but I did get to break out my hot glue gun for the first time which was a great adventure (and I only burned myself once!)

 

Well, it's not perfect, but I like it.  I think the pop of yellow will be great pinned onto a gray, black, or navy sweater or scarf, so I just need to get a pin for the back of this.  It was easy and took about an hour to make; I definitely think I'll be making some to put on headbands or hairbows as Christmas gifts this year.  I still have my template (that I free-handed with my less-than-mediocre artistic skills) and with better scissors, I think I can get these done pretty quickly.

I hope you get your hands on some old tees and make some t-shirt yarn or fun fabric flowers!  I'm sure I'll be back in the attic soon scrounging for more clothes to cut up. 

Where are you?

I realize it has now been MONTHS since I posted.  That's an eternity in blog-world, but it's flown by in "real" life!  I have been busy knitting a little bit in that time when I'm not busy with the rest of my life (school, work, kids - oh my!)

So rather than go on and on as to what I've been doing, I figured I would just show you what I've been doing, because let's face it - everything is better with pictures, right?

 First up - a hat and longies set for a little boy due in November.  Knit with super soft bulky gaia and sure to keep him warm all winter!

 For the same newborn due in November, a football sleep sack - so funny, so adorable.  I cannot wait to see the baby in this set!

 

An Explorer vest for my little explorer, knit with superwash yarn dyed by The Yarn Gnome. 

Modeled by my 4-year-old (although I had to knit him the 2-year size and make it extra long for my skinny boy!)

Finally, a simple halter for my daughter.  I wanted to really show off this beautiful Popsicle colorway by Love Ewe Yarns and this was the perfect pattern.  

 

Modeled by my 2-year-old daughter - a perfect fit!

Completed Projects

 Newborn Knotty Hats - the hat on the left has been modified, the details are available on Ravelry.  These were created as a photography prop for Lauren Honza Photography.

 This is a test-knit of the All in Onesie pattern, polo-style - so adorable!  This was knit with The Yarn Gnome O'Hai on Kona Superwash.

 The buttons were custom-matched by Tessa Ann from a picture of the yarn - I think she did an amazing job with the colors!

 

I think this may be one of my favorite colorways - it's so bright and vibrant for a summer top!  This yarn is Love Ewe Yarns Popsicle Dark custom colorway on Licorice Twist.  The pattern is the Transitional Tunic - the extra eyelets around the ribbing allow you to convert it to a skirt.

 

 This beautiful fan pattern really required my full-attention (I had to frog a couple times because I missed a decrease) but I love the look now that it's finished. 

The back of the dress is corseted - lovely!

Newborn Knotty Hat

I just finished knitting this hat and thought I would type up the pattern quickly.  Sorry for any typos, it's pretty late at night!

Supplies
-2 oz worsted weight yarn
-US size 7 12” circular needle
-US size 7 DPNs
-Darning Needle

Pattern
Cast on 60 stitches using long-tail CO.

Place marker and join work in the round.

Row 1 - Knit
Row 2 - Purl
Row 3 - Knit
Row 4 - Purl
Row 5 - Knit
Row 6 - Purl

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch (knit all rows) until work measures 5” from CO edge.

Decreases:
Row 1 - K8, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 2 - K7, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 3 - K6, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 4 - K5, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 5 - K4, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 6 - K3, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 7 - K2, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 8 - K1, K2tog* repeat for entire row
Row 9 - K2tog* repeat for entire row (6 stitches remaining)

Place all 6 stitches onto one needle and work an i-cord for 2.5” (be careful to work first stitch tightly and let the hat hang from the needles to avoid a “ladder” in your cord). Break yarn, leaving a 6” tail. Thread tail onto a darning needle, slip it through all 6 stitches, pulling tightly to close the gap at the end of the i-cord. Weave in all ends. Tie the i-cord into a knot.

You may CO any multiple of 10 stitches, just continue to decrease until you have 4-6 stitches on the needles to work in an i-cord.

Enjoy your hat!