Hemlock Ring Blanket

Hemlock Ring Blanket

Pattern: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/08/hemlock-ring-blanket.html

Needles: US #10 Susan Bates DPN’s, #10 US -32″ Knit Pick Circulars, #10 US – 47″ Addi Turbo Circulars

Yarn: 2 Skeins Cascade Eco, color 8087

What an incredibly easy pattern with such amazing results. I had originally planned on making this blanket as a donation towards a school auction but instead decided to give it to my Dad for his birthday. I have beat my deadline which is an amazing feat in itself, unfortunately due to blocking, it will arrive late. I am tempted to knit another one for the house because it is just that beautiful.

Sneak Peek

Currently blocking.  I’m extremely pleased by the way it turned out.  BTW, wool is smelly when wet, like really really smelly.  Gross.

Pathetic attempt

I have had many requests for specific written instructions on my modified Cobblestone, so here goes.  *I have NEVER written a pattern so if it’s not all “professional” looking….*

Yarn: 5 Skeins Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in color 59.

Needles:  #4 US Knit Pick Option 24″ Circulars

Gauge: 5.5 stitches per inch

Body

Cast on 176 stitches.  Place marker.  Join in round.

Moss stitch pattern.

1: *K1, P1  repeat between *

2:  *P1, K1 repeat between *

Repeats 1 and 2 until work measures 2″ from cast on edge.

Next Round:  k1, p1 over 15 stitches.  Place marker. Knit 73.  Place marker.  K1, p1 over 15 stitches.  Place marker.  Knit 73.   Continuing to follow in pattern, knit until work measures 4″ from cast on edge.

Decrease rounds:  k1, p1 over 15 stitches , slip marker, k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before next marker, k2tog tbl(or whatever method you prefer to make a left slant decrease.) Knit 1, Slip marker.  k1, p1 over 15 stitches.  Slip marker.  Knit 1.  K2tog, knit to three stitches before eor(end of round) marker, k2tog tbl(or whatever method you prefer to make a left slant decrease.  (172 stitches)

Decrease every 6th row 3 more times.  (160 stitches)

Continuing in pattern, Knit until work measures 19″ from cast on edge.

*Note:  I did NOT make any waist/ribcage increases.  The great thing about this pattern is that it incorporates short rows which you’d have to utilize for the bust.*

Sleeves (Make 2)

I knit my sleeves flat because I’m not a fan of the look of my stitches with the other methods.  You can utilize any method most comfortable for you.

Cast on 52 stitches.  In moss stitch, knit until cuff measures 1.5″.  Knit until sleeve measures 11.5″.

Increase round:  Knit 2.  Make one.  Knit to 2 stitches before  end of row, make one.

Increase every 6th row, 3 times.  Knit until sleeve measures 19″ from cast on edge.

Yoke (Done all in moss pattern)

Follow the original instructions, only allow for sleeve, and body increases/decreases you may have done.

Moss stitch is incredibly difficult to decrease with and still keep the pattern looking as it should.  So when you’re doing the yoke decreases you need to keep in account the stitch below and match accordingly.  With this method you may have to accommodate  for the following stitch, meaning you may have two decreases in a row.  The yoke part of my sweater was all hit or miss and essentially I ripped, redid, ripped, redid, before finding a decrease pattern that I liked.

I also skipped all the short rows, and did not follow the yoke completely.  I ended up doing three rounds of decreases, and my yoke measures 6″.

Good luck.  Hopefully it’s understandable, I did the best I could considering I didn’t write anything down and it’s been several weeks since I finished it.  Be kind.  😉

Four minutes

New year, new adventures, new opportunities.

I’m excited.  I start a new job on Wednesday.  As much as I would have loved to stay at HCW, the commute wasn’t cooperating so when a friend of mine offered me a job at her fiber arts/yarn shop I said yes.  My commute will literally be four minutes… if that.  Not only that I’ll be in charge of all the knitting related aspects of the store, which includes but isn’t limited to… buying yarn.  No seriously, I have the task of stocking the store with yarn goodness!  Of course as I start the process I realize it isn’t as easy as it sounds.  I’m somewhat of a yarn “purist” and thinking outside my comfort level is proving to be a tad difficult.  I know what appeals to me and feel I have very good taste in yarn textures, colors and fibers, but it’s all hit or miss when it comes to picking yarns that will appeal to others.

Any favorites?

Oh totally off topic… I went ice skating this weekend.

Tripped.  Fell.  Knees first.  OUCH!

*Who else is a NFL widow tonight?  If the Packers don’t win I will never hear the end of it.  Of course if they do win I’ll never hear the end of it.  Anyone else not give a flip about football?  Brett who?  Eli who?  Tackle, end zones, flags… what?*

You don’t look a day over

I have a big birthday coming up. Believe it or not I turn 30 in eight days. So because this is such a huge “milestone” or so I’m led to believe, I decided to treat myself to “practical” yet “useful” and “beautiful” birthday presents, all knitting related (of course.)

First up. My knitting bag. It is an Amy Butler Sweet Life bag, Sanibel in Forest.

Oh sure… its dimensions are bigger than my chest, but… it’s incredibly utilitarian and beautiful to boot! I could not resist.

Much to the chagrin of my children I have been using them as my swift while I hand wound skeins of yarn, and all without paying them. I wonder if I’m breaking any international child labor laws? After five years of this abuse, I finally broke down and bought myself a ball winder and swift! I celebrated this amazing event by winding three skeins of yarn last night… at home…. OMG! How absolutely thrilling.

Please excuse the background mess. We had just finished dinner.

Cobblestone For Her

Cobblestone

Because I liked this sweater so much I decided to knit a version for myself.

Yarn: 5 skeins Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool in color 59.

Needles: US #4 – 24″ Knit Pick Options Circulars, US #5 – 16″ Inox Express Circulars

Gauge: 4.25 stitches per inch on smaller needles

Modifications: Where to begin? There were many modifications, mainly the substitution of moss stitch instead of garter. I feel that moss stitch looks more feminine… whether that’s true or not…. I also added waist shaping and omitted all the short rows in the yoke. While I love the look of the moss stitch, it was very difficult to make the decreases look good. As it is, you can see where I decreased but it doesn’t look terrible, it actually gives the yoke a more interesting look and almost looks as if it was purposeful. The sleeves were knit flat and seamed. I love this sweater and it is my first long sleeved garment.

Unfortunately the pictures do not capture the color or beauty of this sweater all that well.