Twist and slouch #4 - Finished

Well number 4 done and dusted.

Nice pattern and I quite like the 'twist'. Very easy to make and a good introduction to a provisional cast on if you have never done it. The twist is created by picking up the provisional cast on stitches and knitting the rows straight until the desired length is achieved. You then just tie them in a knot, nice, simple and effective.

The yarn used was 'donated' to the knit a book project so I will be posting the hat to America and I just hope Michelle likes what I made her yarn into.

Like all the hats made so far it's on the snug side so if you have a big head either add extra stitches when casting on or use a different needle size.

Now I have to cast on a shrug for my mum and I'm hoping to get a shawl made for myself for holidays, well a girl can dream!

Twist and Slouch #4 - does anyone else miss purl?

Main body of hat complete. Tomorrow I will unravel the provisional cast off and finish the 'twist' off, I hope my yarn donor likes it!

I have been finding recently that I miss purling.  When I learnt to knit nearly all patterns were created on straight needles. You had none of this seamless stuff and circular needles were only rarely used.  Now so many patterns are created with circulars I find I'm purling less and less.

Don't get me wrong, seamless knitting has bonuses. I HATE sewing up so obviously not having to do that is a major tick in the box.  But I do find that now when I have inches of stocking stitch (like in this hat) my heart sinks a wee bit as it just a bit boring, purling used to jazz it up now it's just knit, knit, knit. Does anyone else feel like this?

Anywho ... Moan over (for now) latest pick attached. Back to work tomorrow so might not get the t finished tomorrow but will try.

Twist and Slouch #4

No messing around here, straight into pattern #4 today.

This pattern requires a provisional cast on. My preferred method is to crochet a chain and then knit into the loops. I find when it's time to undo and pick up stitches it comes undone quickly and easily.

Apart from a inch of rib when you first cast on this whole hat is in plain knit so hopefully will be another quick one.

This hat is a little bit different to the previous hats as this is the first pattern I'm making using donated yarn.  The idea is if you have some sock yarn/4 ply lying around and your not sure what do with it then you send it to me with a return address. I then decide what to knit it into and return your finished item.  You won't know what your getting until it gets returned (or unless you recognise your yarn on my blog!), a nice wee twist.

Until next time

Desiree's hat - finished

KWell well, how quick was that?

Seriously a nice knit, quick easy and if you don't have kids annoying you every two minutes and easy decrease at the end for shaping. I did have to swap to DPNs after a few decreases but magic loop could be used if preferred.

You might have guessed from my last comment I cocked up the decrease. I've absolutely no idea how but I had 5 extra stitches at the end, 15 instead of 5. I decided to just live with it and cast off and hey presto it works so the luck of the gods is with me.

I would make this again, it is a simple but effective pattern and another goodie for beginners wanting a go at a simple pattern.

So of to twist and slouch ...

The hat has been kindly modelled by my wee man, just incase your wondering it's not his size!

Desiree's Hat #3

So it's been a while, what have I been up to?

I've been making a circular lace christening shawl for my Aunty and some stuff for my daughters summer fair, flannels, hair bands, dinosaurs ... All projects are on my Ravelry page 'Claire-Louise'.

So before I start my mum's 3 ply bolero I'm going to try and sneak in a couple more projects from my knit a book extravaganda.

So pattern #3 is cast on, rib is done and pattern has started.  Simple pattern but I like the effect. I have, however, found some of the hat patterns in the book on the small size. With this in mind I'm trying this one out with DK instead of 4 ply and I cast on using 3.5mm and changed to 4mm for the main pattern. So far so good.

The other problem I'm finding is my smallest circular needles are just (and we are talking just, stitches stretched a bit for first couple of rows) big enough. According to the pattern a 16" needle is recommended which is what I'm using.  Does anyone else find it a tight squeeze?

Well I'm off to try and get the first set of pattern complete and I'm hoping to knock this out pretty quick as its just a basic knit/purl combo for the effective stripes.

Until next time, happy knitting x

Get Knotty #2 - Done and Dusted

So pattern #2 done only 99 left!

I really wasn't keen on this pattern in the book but made the large size and quite like it, now it's finished, as it's slouchy and not as 'stiff' as the knit looks in the book.

This was so quick to make and there was no sewing, you use a 3 needle bind off, which is always a bonus in my book.

If I made it again I would make the knot tabs longer as it was tight to get the knot made and have some tab dangling.

A great knit for beginners or a mindless knit for advanced knitters as its just stocking stitch throughout with no increases or shaping until you hit the tabs.

Got to make a friends birthday present now but looking forward to making the next project.

Watch this space .....

Get knotty! #2

Oh my lord!

This is such a quick knit. I cast on around 14.00 today and have zoomed. Very easy pattern, all SS, so you don't have to think about it or check patterns, nice change after my previous few projects.

How am I feeling about the 'knot'? Still think I'll look like a complete numpty but have made the large size so it will fit nicely over my pony tail and not be too tight. The large size has fit nicely onto my smallest circular needle so I haven't had to magic loop.

If it continues to knit as quick, expect a finished result soon

Moss Landing Hat #1 -finished

Yeah! Finished it last night but have not blocked it yet. Modelled reluctantly by hubster!

If anyone fancies a lacy hat it's a lovely wee hat to knit. A bit on the snug side but it would be easy enough to add more stitches on the cast on to make it a bit larger. It didn't quite take a skein so easily could have done this and still used the one ball.

I followed the written instructions, i'm an old fashioned girl at heart and they were fine but note there is an errata for the chart instructions, I found it on the pattern page on Ravelry. The pattern is easy enough and a novice lace knitter would be able to give it a go, I think!

All in all a great start to my project, 'knit a book'. Number #2 pattern in the book is the knot hat which is .... Errr .... Interesting. I'm dying to cast on but need to do a baby blanket might alternate projects depending on how I get on. Right, that's all (for now) folks, I'm off to cast on.

The saga will continue ....

Moss Landing Hat #1 - magic loop mastered

So I have chucked (not literally, obviously!) the DPNs. Got a quick overview last week of the magic loop technique and am using this for my hat and loving how easy it actually is. Transferred my work in progress onto the circular needle and haven't looked back. Plus I now have the added bonus of my stitches staying in the needles, hands up everyone who has lost a DPN mid row?

Not got as much knitting done this week. My mum and dad surprised us with a visit, flying in from Spain on the QT, for my son James' 1st birthday. The actual birthday was on Sunday so had a wee gathering to organise and then {drum roll} I returned to work this week. The maternity leave is over and I've been so tired, I'm just not used to this work malarkey. I only work 3 days a week, Tuesday-Thursday so hoping to get the hat finished this weekend. The end is nigh

To be continued .......