Through the Loops!

A Whimsy - aka Empire

The designing frenzy continues here at TTL.  I have been lucky enough to have some beautiful yarns sent my way.  It's pretty hard to keep my hands off these temping hanks.  When Laura from Schaefer sent me a package that included the decadent Helene (50/50 Merino/Silk) I knew it had to be made into something meant to be worn close to the head, neck or face.  I considered scarves, cowls, berets & shawls, but nothing seemed right.  I finally decided it was time for a little whimsy in the form of a hat and so Empire was born.

Empire is a little bit fun and a little bit fancy.  Swing your head and the tassel makes you want to dance.  The lusturousness of the Helene gives the hat subtle sophisitcation and adds definition to the herringbone stitch pattern.

Thanks to Mai and Julia for volunteering to test knit.  They both look adorable in their Empires.

Empire

Size:  One Size

Finished Measurements:  16”  around at brim and 14.5” long, blocked to slightly open pattern.  The hat will stretch to fit a 21” head.  Adjust gauge to fit a larger head.

Materials

Yarn:  Schaefer Yarns Helene; 50% Merino/ 50% Cultivated Silk; 218 yards per 3.5 oz. skein.  1 Skein.

Needles:  US 7/4.5mm you may use DPN’s or magic looped circulars depending on your preference.
Tapestry Needle
5 Place Markers
A piece of cardboard or small notebook 3.5”x 5.5”

Gauge:  22.5 sts=4”(10cm) in Empire pattern, blocked to slightly open pattern.

Price:  $6.00 US

All the Water

As I've mentioned, for the holidays I made gifts for the kids' wonderful music teachers.  "All the Water" was designed for Joanna, DD#2's piano & vocal teacher.  Joanna  has become a good friend and the entire family admires her songwriting, piano and vocal skills.  We've gone to see Joanna Erdos and the Midnight Show Band perform a number of times at Joe's Pub and the Rockwood Music Hall in NYC.  "All the Water" is named for one of Joanna's songs.

Over the weekend I knit a second pair of "All the Water" mittens, to check the pattern one last time before publication.  I used Dream in Color Classy and the yarn worked out great for the pattern.  It was spot on for gauge.

Thank you to Carrie and Liz for test knitting.

All the Water

Sizes:  S/M[M/L]

Relaxed Finished Measurements: 
6[6.75]” (15[17]cm) at cuff
7[7.75]” (18[20]cm) at palm
Overall length customizable

Needles:  US 7 (4.5mm) or size to obtain gauge.  You may use DPN’s or Circulars whichever is your preference for working in the round.

Gauge:  21 stitches = 4”(10cm) in stockinette

Yarn:  Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino, 60% Baby Suri, 40% Merino, 164 yards/150m per 3.5 oz/100g skein.
1[2] skeins.

Additional Materials: 
Cable needle
Tapestry needle
Scrap yarn
Place Markers

All the Water on Ravelry

Price:  $6.00 US

Breathe Deep

Originally designed as a gift for DD#2's vocal teacher Sarah, "Breathe Deep" is named for the song of the same title in the musical "Hair".  Sarah directed DD#2 and DS in a production of hair last summer.

Worked in soft Malabrigo, the balloon motif on the back of the hands continues the air theme.  The mock cable on the cuffs keep the mittens snug to help ward off icy winds.

The pattern is written for two sizes, but further adaptations may be made by adjusting gauge and starting the thumb gusset either higher or lower on the mittens.

A huge thank you to my test knitters Alice, Dorre and Melissa!

Breathe Deep

Sizes:  S/M [M/L]

Relaxed Finished Measurements: 
7[7.5]” (18[19]cm) at cuff
7[7.75]” (18[19.5]cm) at palm
Overall length 9[10]” (23[25.5]cm)
Length from base of thumb to
fingertips 4.5 [5]” (11.5[12.5]cm)

Needles:  US 7 (4.5mm) or size to obtain gauge.  You may use DPN’s or Circulars whichever is your preference for working in the round.

Gauge:  19 stitches and 32 rounds = 4”(10cm) in stockinette

Yarn:  Malabrigo Worsted, 100%  Merino Wool, 215 yards/196m per 3.5oz/100g ball.  Color:  Azul Lindo

Additional Materials: 
Tapestry needle
Scrap yarn
Place markers

Price $6.00 US

Hoping the Spinning Will Help Me Thaw

 

Ice has glazed the trees since Tuesday.  I can't get the chill out of my bones.  After nearly breaking my neck a number of times on the 1" layer of ice coating the driveway, I finally went out with the fertilizer spreader yesterday and spread salt.  Tomorrow we start all over again with an expected 6-8" snowfall.

When the weather turns frigid, this girl's thoughts turn to spinning.  During some downtime over the holidays I spun three hanks of two ply yarn and knit a few late gifts from my handspun stash.

July Bounty
80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon
Fiber Hand dyed by me
122 Yards

Sea Glass
100% Merino
Fiber Hand dyed by me
301 Yards

Cranberry Bog
80/20 Merino/Silk
Fiber from Cloverleaf Farms
Purchased at MDS&W
380 Yards

A basic garter stitch scarf knit from fiber spun from Crown Mountain Farms Superwash Merino in the She's A Rainbow colorway.  I cast on 300 sts. for this one.  I didn't measure it before I gave it away, but it was longer than I am tall.

Another Thorpe, knit from a hank of Cloverleaf Farms Merino/Silk that I spun last fall.
The recipient loved it.  It seems it is just the thing for a Brooklyn daddy who is a little lacking in the hair department to help combat the blustery NYC winds when he takes his daughter to the park.

January is For Mittens

Happy New Year to all!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. 
To start off 2009 I've got a few new mitten patterns.  January is a good time to cozy  up on the couch and knit things that warm us body and soul.  Today I have the first of the mittens, Furrow. 

Furrow, worked in three colors of Cascade 220, is the perfect opportunity to play with color - one of my favorite things to do.  The simple slipped stitch cuff adds textural interest against the contrast of bold stripes.  With the range of colors available in this yarn, the combinations are endless.

My daughter dubbed these mittens "Furrow" because the stripe pattern reminds her of the neat rows of a freshly plowed field.  When you wear your Furrows on the coldest days, let the stripes remind you that spring will be here soon enough with its promise of bounty and new growth.

Furrow

Finished Measurements:  7.5” (18cm) at cuff, 8” (20cm) at palm.  The overall mitten length and the thumb length are customizable.

Needles:  US 7 (4.5mm) or size to obtain gauge.  You may use DPN’s or Circulars whichever is your preference for working in the round.

Gauge:  22 stitches = 4”(10cm) in Stockinette

Yarn:  Cascade 220, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 220 yards/201m per 3.5oz/100g ball.

Color A (aqua): Color #9427 1 - ball
Color B (brown): Color #9459 -1 ball
Color C (green):  Color #8914 -1 ball

Additional Materials: 
Tapestry needle
Scrap yarn
Place markers

Price $6.00