Monday, December 12, 2011

Double Chunky Cowl Recipe


The Double Chunky Cowl... it knits up in no time and is so warm and cozy! Perfect for outside in the cold, or snuggling down inside, under a blanket.
I call this a recipe more then a pattern, because you can make your own out of any wool, on any needles, to any size! 
The Double Chunky Cowl features a double moss stitch pattern knit with two strands of contrasting chunky wool. It's knit flat, and knit up in only a couple hours! Nothing to it at all :) 


You can find it on Ravelry


Like I said, you can do this with any materials you want (as long as you get the gauge), but I'll let you in on what I used! 



  • US 19 15mm straight needles 
  • I had some Bernat Chunky wool laying around in balls left over from a few other projects. I have no idea how many grams I used to make this, but if I were to guess, about 50 to 75 (I think) of EACH colour! This pattern is double stranded, which used TWO strands of yarn, one from each colour! 
  • GAUGE: 2 inches (height) by 2 inches (width) = 5 by 4 stitches in double moss stitch 
  • The final measurements will be 12 inches wide, 25 inches long 

CAST ON 25 sts

Row 1: K1, P1 repeat to end of row 
Row 2: Knit as appears (knit where you have knits, purl where you have purls)
Row 3: Purl where you have knits, knit where you have purls 
Row 4: Knit as appears (knit where you have knits, purl where you have purls)

Continue in this pattern (knitting as appears for two rows, then switching for the next two) until the cowl reaches 25 inches or desired length. Cast on, and sew edges together. 

And that's it! Easy, painless, and easily changed to suit your wool and needles.


Have fun! 


(Here's a close up of the pattern, and how the cowl looks flat)




***November 5th Update***
I have a new Facebook page which you should totally join! Keep up with new pattern releases and follow my adventures in knitting :)








Thursday, November 24, 2011

Jour de Neige Scarf


It's a snow day today! And what better to do on a snow day then stay home, get bundled up, and knit a scarf? 

This is a lovely unisex pattern that I made to knit my Father a scarf for Christmas. It features lovely opposing horseshoe cables, with a timid moss stitch trim and fringes on the end. So, open your blinds, watch the snow fall, and knit away :) 


Jour be Neige Scarf 
US 8 5 mm straight needles 
measuring tape 
darning needle 
scissors
cable needle

I used Bernat Wool Blend Natural Blends yarn. You will need aproximately 200 grams of wool, depending on the length of your scarf and fringe. You can use any medium weight yarn or needles needed to obtain gauge. 

Gauge: 2'' (height) x 1.5'' (width) = 12 stitches over the 12 stitches in horseshoe cable pattern

P= Purl 
K= Knit 
C6F= slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold to front of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit the three stitches off the cable needle.
C6B= slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold to back of work, knit 3 stitches, then knit the three stitches off the cable needle.

CAST ON 33 sts. 
Round 1: P1, K1, P1, K12, P1, K1, P1, K12, P1, K1, P1 
Round 2: P1, K2, P12, K3, P12, K2, P1
Round 3: same as Round 1
Round 4: same as Round 2 
Round 5: same as Round 1 
Round 6: same as Round 2 
Round 7: P1, K1, P1, C6F, C6B, P1, K1, P1, C6B, C6F, P1, K1, P1
Round 8: Same as Round 2 

Repeat this pattern until scarf measures about 67 inches or to desired length. Finished by knitting Round 1-3, then binding off on Round 4. You may want to block your scarf, as it may roll a small bit. Then, it's time for your fringe (this step in optional.)


Cut three pieces of yarn about 14''. This will make fringe about 6.5'' long. If you want you fringe shorter or longer, this is up to you. 


Fold your yarn in half. 


Find a hole between stitches a few rows up from your cast on edge. This is where you'll insert your fringe. 


Take the loop end of your fringe and insert it into the hole you found between your stitches. Make sure you insert it from the right side. Make sure the ends of your fringe stay even, so one end of the yarn isn't much longer then the other.


Bring the loose end and put it through the loop. Pull tight and then... 


You have a fringe! I always start with the edges and work my way in :) 


This way, I know how much room. On this scarf, there's room for 9 fringes on this scarf :) 



Your ends may bit a little uneven. Just trim off the very end bits. It's okay if there are lots of uneven bits in your fringe. 


And there you go! Scarf is done :D 

Enjoy your jour be neige scarf! 


***November 5th Update***
I have a new Facebook page which you should totally join! Keep up with new pattern releases and follow my adventures in knitting :)





Thursday, October 20, 2011

Sock!


I knit a sock this week c: 
Another will come shortly, I'm sure. 
I'm starting to think I shouldn't start so many projects all at one time... I'm currently knitting:
3.Alaska Ankle Socks (seen above)
4. A bit of a random cowl 
5. A hat for a friend (which I've yet to really start. Very little motivation at this point)

And then last night I bought wool for a scarf I've been DYING to knit. And it's just perfect.
So... 
yeah. 

Monday, October 17, 2011

sneak peek c:

So... I thought with the leftovers I had from my Isadore cowl, I might design another cowl. Why not, right? I have the wool to use, and I certainly have the time (even though midterms are this week so I really should be studying). Here's a sneak peek of what I'm working on c: 



Check back to get this pattern for free or visit me on ravelry!

Black Sheep Sweater

I've been working on this sweater for ever. 
And this is all I have... 

So I started it in May, 2011. I've put it down for a good chunk of that time, but every now and then, I think why not just knit a bit of that damned sweater. 
It's not that it's hard, it's just boring. 
So boring. 

But... I kinda can't wait at all for it to be finished! 
And if it doesn't fit... I swear... 


You can get this pattern for free of Ravelry! What could be better? 
Here's the link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hundred-of-sheep
(p.s. - I didn't write this pattern, just knitting it. so check it out and support the lovely designer who gave us this gem for free!)





Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Isadore Cowl

Isadore is a beautiful, versatile cowl that can be worn long, wrapped twice, or wrapped three times.




Finished length: 29 inches
Gauge: 1 1/4 in = 8 rows in pattern
150 grams of main colour
50 grams of contrast colour

US10 6 mm 29" circular needle
I used Bernat Aplaca Natural Blends, but you can use any bulky wool :)

This pattern is made up on a series of purl ridges seperated by knit rows. It's very easy to remember :)



Cast on 200 sts using main colour.
Place marker and join in the round, careful not to twist.

Rows 1-3: Purl all stitches
Rows 4-5: Knit all stitches
Rows 6-8: Purl all stitches
Rows 9-10: Knit all stitches
Rows 11-13: Purl all stitches
Rows 14-15: Knit all stitches
Rows 16-18: Purl all stitches
Rows 19-20: Knit all stitches
Rows 21-23: Purl all stitches
Rows 24-25: Knit all stitches
Rows 26-28: Purl all stitches
Row 29: Knit all stitches
      *change to contrast colour
Row 30: Knit all stitches
Rows 31-33: Purl all stitches
Rows 34-35: Knit all stitches
Rows 36-37: Purl all stitches

Bind off purl wise.
And you're done :)

                                                                                       Enjoy!


 
***November 5th Update***
I have a new Facebook page which you should totally join! Keep up with new pattern releases and follow my adventures in knitting :)

Monday, October 3, 2011

Well. It's been a while. 


I've decided I'm not really one for a blog. While I write in a journal (almost) every night, I can't really get into the world of blogging. With that said, I'm basically starting this blog over as a place to post knitting patterns that I've designed. 
I think, maybe, it'll get more use this way. 
I've just gotta start designing and knitting! 
But I've got one on the way, about half done, for a lovely cowl. 
So... yeah. 
Stay tuned! 

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Fabric Owl Necklace

I've kinda wanted to do something like this for such a long time.
 
I kinda have a thing for owls.
A big thing.

I started off by cutting a template out of thin cardboard, and placed it over a piece of fabric, folded in two, to get two identical shapes. I cut around with a little bit of extra room around all sides to sew up. With a bit of purple felt, I made a heart-like shape, with a slightly flat bottom.
First, I sewed the heart shaped face onto the right side of one piece of fabric. Then, putting right sides together, I sewed around, starting at the bottom, and then leaving a small amount of room to be able to turn it right side out.
I then turn it right side out, and sewed up the bottom.

Then, I hot glued a jump ring to the back of the owl head. On top of that, I crisscrossed the two feathers for the wings.
Then, I flipped it over and hot glued a small sliver of orange felt on the front for his beak.

I added a length of braiding rope, and it was done! It took roughly 20 minutes, and it's so cute and light :) I might just have to make some more!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Rag Rug

I'll be the first to admit that I'm obsessed with crafts. Although knitting is primarily my thing, I also love sewing (which I'm hoping to do more of), making jewerly, and just doing some random things, such as this rag rug.

At first, it was just a way to get rid of all of the old clothes that I had grown out of and had dragged all the way out to college with me. Making t-shirt yarn was pretty interesting and now that I have a pile of it, i realised that all of my clothes were bascially all the same colour. I've mastered the perfect braiding technique for such a thing, and it's become a nice mindless craft to do when I'm just sitting around, chilling on my couch.
I kinda thought I was almost done, so I rolled it up to see how much I had left to do, and I have sooooo much more. So much. Double what I've already got done, and then some. And theeeen I've got to sew it all together! Besides all this rug making, I've also got a list down to my knees of things I'm knitting AND midterms at college in two weeks.
I won't be bored for a looooong time.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

art!

I spend all my time at school. I'm in class Monday through Friday, and then I go in over the weekend and continue to work on all of my stuff. It's tiring, for sure.


buuuuuuuuut here's some of the cool stuff that I end up getting out of all of that work. I'll soon have better pictures of my pottery, cause we're working on our year end booklet, and we need to photograph selected artwork to put in it.
I finally started learning lighting techniques at school! We had a model in the studio at school and it was soooo much fun. We get to do it again, too, which is lovely :) Don't think I'll ever pursue photography as a career, but it's an awfully fun hoby.

I'll be a librarian some day. :)

 

Thursday, January 27, 2011

What's in my bag!

So, I've tried to blog before and I failed miserably, so here's attempt number two. I figure there's not better way to start then to blog what's in my bag, because you can learn a shit ton about a person from what they carry around with them all the time. I tend to carry a lot, because you never know when you might need something.
First, I have my lovely new (and huge) Nixon bag, with a handknit owl keychain because I'm completely and totally obsessed with owls.
I have two hand creams, both silicone based. Dry skin is my worst enemy.
Two iPods, my small old Nano for when I'm creating messy art (like ceramics), and my lovely new iPod Touch with it's knit cozy :)
My shit phone sits on top of some panflets, a recepit, and my Bill Rose postcards. He's an amazing Newfoundland artist who came and did a presentation and workshop at my school.
Gum :)
Handmade paper notbook from Nepal, with it's gorgeous woven cover.
iTunes card. Can't live without.
Wreck This Journal. Relativly new, still in the process of being wrecked :)
Moneys!
Two pairs of mittens, my favorite honeycomb pair, and Labrador flag pair (representin'). Sometimes you just need two layers. It gets cold here.
Lip balm. I have a lot of lip to cover.
Film Rebel, and little green ducky that the batteries sit in. Those batteries almost cost more then I paid for that lovely second hand camera.
Keys, complete with two keychains from Cuba, a glow-in-the-dark elephant, broken scratch ticket scratcher, my talking cat, Louis, and, of course, my keys.
Reporter notepad, full of important dates and deadlines.
Bandaids, because I'm carving soapstone in school, and I tend to barberize my hands.
Jump drive. Everyone needs one.
Pile of Sharpies and a pencil.
Wool hat to keep my head warm!

That's all!