MUSICIAN MITTS

size 11s, chunky yarn

CO 15 and work 5 rows in k1 p1

Next row; k2, inc 1 – 20 sts

work 12 rows of stockinette

switch to size 10, and work 3 rows in k1p1 rib

bind off

sew together 3 rows from the top and 5 and a half from the bottom

Thrummed Hearts Hat

I love the thicker, nubbier texture created by simply slipping a stitch.

 

Thrummed Hearts Hat

(tentative pattern)

Notes;

-The numbers in the pattern do not stand for row numbers.

-This pattern is for the look of the cranberry-colored hat, with the main color making up most of the hat.

- The first time you switch to yarn B at step 3, simply tie it to yarn A. But make sure, when switching colors after this, that you twist the two skeins of yarn in a way sort of like intarsia, so there are no gaps. Ask me if you don’t understand, I know this is vague!

-Let me know if there is anything amiss! This pattern hasn’t been tested thoroughly yet.

 Materials;

-two skeins worsted weight yarns, in colors A and B, about 100 yards each

-size 5 circulars

-size 10 circulars and dpns

 Pattern;

1.)With 5s, CO 80 sts in A yarn and join into round, placing a marker. Work 11 rounds in k1p1 rib.

2.) Switch to size 10’s and work this round; k8, k2tog around. (It will be tight at first. You will now have 72 stitches.)

3.) Switch to yarn B, work next round; K1, slip 1, around.

4.) With A, knit two rounds,

5.) With B, work next round; slip 1, K1, around.

6.) With A, knit two rounds.

7.) Repeat steps 3-6 once more.

8.) Repeat step 3. Knit one round in A. Then, work next round; k2tog, k14, k2tog, k2tog, k14, k2tog, k2tog, k14, k2tog, k2tog, k14, k2tog.

9.) Repeat step 5. Then work one round in A. k2tog twice, k8, k2tog 4 times, k8, k2tog 4 times, k8, k2tog 4 times, k2tog twice.

10.) Repeat step 3. Then work one round in A. Then, k2tog twice, k4, k2tog 4 times, k4, k2tog 4 times, k4, k2tog 4 times, k4, k2tog twice.

11.) Repeat step 5.

12.) K2tog until you have 8 left. Thread together last stitches.

13.) Enjoy!

Miss Austen’s Modern Shawlette

I’ve always loved Jane Austen. I know it’s cliche, but I also don’t care. I’ve been inspired by the beautiful clothing the women of her time wore.

It’s a shawl, but not quite.

It can be elegant.

Or urban.

But always fun.

In cool, natural cotton, I know I will wear this a lot.

In reality, I am a very practical, lazy, and time-crunched knitter. Because of this, the (dare I call it?) “pattern” can be summed up in about 2 sentences;

You will need about 250 yards worsted weight cotton yarn and size 11 straight needles. Cast on 120 stitches, and knitting every row, decrease 1 stitch at each end every row until you run out of stitches.

You could knit this in your sleep, and yet feel completely accomplished afterwards. Not to mention cozy!

Enjoy

Postcards from Beirut

I basically love this band.

April 10 at the Electric Factory was pure hedonistic bliss. I felt like I really did escape to Beirut, or some far away place I’ve never been so that I could still imagine it was paradise.

Thanks to michael alan goldberg’s photo on flickr! His photography is phenomenal.

Why You Shouldn’t Major in Music

If there is anything I have learned in college, it is this;

The music education major is a monster that attacks by surprise. At first, it seems like a manageable beast, encouraged by friends and family who fawn over your (often mediocre) musical abilities. And then, once it’s sure you’ve swallowed the bait, it devours your very soul. All your time, gone. All your energy, depleted. You spend your days locked in a claustrophobic practice room, studying scores, going to recitals, your nights up trying to understand music theory. Your life is completely enslaved to music. You must surrender to it, or face the humiliation of switching to a much easier, but less profound major. Business. Communciation. Basically, anything else.

I don’t even have time to be writing, but I wanted to explain the great lapses of time in-between posts. (Even though I am really the only one who reads this insignificant blog.) I guess I needed to explain this to myself. Yes, self, you are working hard. Maybe one day you will earn a low-paying public teaching job with good health insurance and summers off. Keep that in mind as you pass out on your piano night after night.

It’s worth it.

Until next time, I will be here;

In the month I will be done and knitting again.

Mrs. Darcy’s Cardigan

I’m so thrilled.



I was drinking coffee, as always.

I used recycled buttons from an old sweater. They are kindof beat up, but it goes with the theme, in a way.

The only adjustment I made to the pattern is that I knit it in a single huge skein of Bernat Super Saver Solids, which changed the gauge to make it longer. I also added a few rows of garter and stockinette to the bottom.

Ultimately whole sweater cost me $3.50 and fits perfectly. I am going to wear it all the time, I can tell.

Any comments  appreciated!

secretly

I wish more than anything else I could go here.

Edmund the Owl

Edmund’s body is worked in the round on double-pointed needles, His eyes, wings, ears, and beak are made separately and stitched on later.

Materials
120 yards of worsted weight yarn, brown in color, (I just used some scrap yarn, lion wool possibly)
size 8 double-pointed needles
size 8 straight needles
fiberfill
tapestry needle
sewing needle
stitch marker
felt (cream colored and black colored)
Thread (cream colored and black colored)
Small amount of contrasting color (for scarf, optional)

Body

Using double-pointed needles, CO 6 sts. Place marker and join into the round.
Increase each stitch of first round (12 sts)
Knit 1 round.
Repeat first 2 rounds (24 sts)
(Knit 1, Increase 1) around (36 sts)
Knit 1 round.
Repeat previous 2 rows (54 sts)

Knit until piece measures 6 ½ inches long. (You can make him shorter or taller as you wish)
Now would be a good time to firmly stuff the bottom of Edmund with fiberfill. Take your time and make sure Edmund is stuffed to perfection. He should be a vertical oval shape. Stuff to the top, near your knitting needles. Remember you can add more fiberfill to stuff the top as you knit it.

K1, k2tog (Knit I, knit two together) around (36 sts)
Knit one round
Repeat previous 2 rounds (24 sts, stuff the top as you need it)
K2tog (knit 2 together) around (12 sts)
Knit one round.
Repeat previous 2 rounds (6 sts)

Cut 5 inches of yarn from the end. Using the tapestry needle, thread it through the remaining 6 stitches, pull tight, and knot.

Wings (make 2)

Using straight needles, cast on 6 sts.
Work 10 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 11 – K2tog, knit until 2 remain, K2tog (4 sts)
Row 12-14 – Purl 1 row, Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row.
Row 15 – K2tog across row (2 sts)
Cut yarn, thread through last two stitches, pull tight and knot.

Ears (make 2)

Using straight needles, CO 4.
Purl 1 row
K2tog, knit rest of row (3 sts)
Purl 1 row
K2tog, knit last stitch.
Cut yarn, thread through last two stitches, pull tight and knot.

Beak

Using straight needles, CO 2 stitches.
Increase stitches across row (4 sts)
Purl 1 row
K1, K2tog, K1 (takes up entire row – 3 stitches.
Purl row.
Cut yarn, thread through last three stitches, pull tight and knot.

Scarf
To make the scarf I think I cast on about 60 stitches and knit 2 rows before binding off. To make a neater-looking scarf, cast on 4 or 5 stitches, and knit until desired length. It’s up to you, make him your own. J

Finishing

Cut out two larger cream colored ovals from the felt, and two small black circles, in proportion to the picture below. Sew them into place using the needle and thread. Using the tapestry needle and yarn, sew on the wings, ears, and beak according to the picture below.

If you have any questions (which I expect, seeing as this was quite a finicky pattern) feel free to ask. Enjoy your cuddly new owl!

Strapping Young Lad Bag

Strapping Young Lad Bag

Materials
2 skeins Paton’s Shetland Chunky Tweed
Size 10.5 straight needles
Tapestry needle
A fat quarter of fabric for lining
2 leather buttons
2 snap closures
sewing needle and brown thread

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Pattern

Body
-Cast on 36 stitches
-Work in seed stitch until piece measures 17.5 inches. (weird number, I know)
-Cast off.

Flap
-Pick up 30 stitches alongside one of the shorter sides of the body (i.e. the row you just cast off) Leave a three-stitch margin on either side, so that the stitches you are picking up are centered (your flap won’t be as wide as the body, obviously.)
-Work in seed stitch until the flap is 4 inches long.
-Knit 2 together, work rest of row in seed stitch until the last 2, and knit 2 together.
-Repeat this last step 3 more times. (22 stitches)
-Cast off, not too tightly.

Strap/Sides
-Cast on 10 stitches.
-Work in seed stitch until the piece measures about 30 inches. (You can make the strap as long or as short as you want.)
-Cast off.

Assembly
Ok, this part is a little ambiguous. I lined the strap with another piece of knitting to make it sturdier. I think I cast on 10 stitches on size 6 needles (for a ridiculously tight gauge) and knit until it measured the length of the actual handle part (not including about 8 inches from each end of the piece that will serve as the sides of the bag). You can also just line it with fabric.

Now fold the body in half, and sew about 7 inches of strap along each open side to serve as the sides of the bag. (If you need more clarification on this, let me know haha.) Sew on the buttons (which are actually purely for decoration), and sew snaps underneath them (which actually serve a purpose). I did this because I wasn’t sure where exactly I wanted to put the buttons on until I was finished. I used metal snaps, but you can use magnetic, Velcro, whatever. I know you are creative. Line the bag and you’re done!

Let me know if you have any questions or comments because I know I’m not the best explainer in the world. Enjoy!

Mr. Verde, the frog

Mr. Verde the Frog

Materials;
- skien lion wool in a green color (any scrap worsted weight would work too)
-size 8 double-pointed needles
-black eye buttons or beads
-black fabric paint
-1 sheet yellow felt
-small amount of fiberfill
-tapestry needle
-sewing needle & matching thread

Body
CO 3 sts and join into round
Increase each stitch around (6 sts)
Knit round
Repeat first round (12 sts)
Knit round
Repeat first round again (24 sts)
Now knit each round (so it forms stockinette) until piece measures 4 inches. Now stuff the body with fiberfill. Continue to stuff the body as you finish knitting it in the next few rounds.
K2tog across round (12 sts)
Knit round
K2tog across round (6 sts)
Knit round
K2tog across round (3 sts)
Cut yarn and thread through remaining sts; tie a knot.

Legs (make four)
Make an i-cord that is about 2 inches long.

Eyes – make two
CO 3 sts
Knit 1 st, increase middle st, and knit last st. (4 sts)
Knit row
Bind off.

Finishing
Cut an oval the size of his belly out of the yellow felt and stitch into place. Cut 4 small feet out of the felt, and stitch to one end of each i-cord. Sew the i-cord legs in place, the knitted eye socket things on the top of his head, and then sew the black eye buttons in them. Finally, paint on a smile with the fabric paint and lay Mr. Verde down to dry. Here’s a visual, because I know this wasn’t a very good explanation;

Enjoy your froggy friend!