Sunday, December 30, 2007

FO Madness!

I traveled to Tokyo to visit Rapt With Fiber and we went a little nuts with the yarn buying and knitting.

First, we did a knit-along and made the Buttony cardigan.




Then, I finished a scarf made with some of the alpaca I recycled from a thrift store sweater. [*The pattern is Bryher. Check it out on Ravelry.]

I whipped out a Tudora for my momma for xmas.


And I made a luscious mobius scarf with some Noro Kureyon I bought that I LOVE SO MUCH. This is the greatest project and I wear it like crazy. It almost makes up for the scarf that was stolen.*



I'll post pics from Tokyo when I've sorted through them all.

*(My favorite scarf was stolen a few weeks ago. Not only did I knit the thing, but it's an original design, too. Someone isn't too bright.)

A Note About Original Patterns

I'm starting to publish my original patterns for free on this blog. They will be cross-listed on Ravelry as well, for those of you similarly addicted.

I welcome comments, suggestions, errata that you've caught, etc.

I'm maintaining my anonymity as much as possible in blog-land, so I'm still signing patterns KRGP.

Use the patterns, love them, share your FOs and I'll put them here.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

MR. FATTY RIBBED HAT

[Updated 1-1-08]

I first made this hat upon request from my writing partner, Todd. He spent two years in South America and discovered the joys of alpaca fabrics. Although he isn't a knitter, when I mentioned I worked with llama and alpaca yarns, he begged for a hat to replace the one he'd washed and felted by accident.

The hat needed to be warm, simple and, well, masculine.

Here's the finished product modeled by my husband:


Another version modeled by moi (made of Moda Dea Silk-n-Wool held triple-stranded):



I came up with a simple pattern that uses size 15 needles so it knits in a flash.

Needles: Two sets of size 15 circulars for double-circular method or size 15 dpns (do they even exist?). For instructions on double-circular method for knitting small things in the round--the only way to go i.m.h.o., check out this video on knittinghelp.com.

Yarn: One skein only of Berocco Ultra Alpaca held triple-stranded OR one skein of Cascade Pastaza held double-stranded. Cascade 220 will work as well, held triple-stranded.

Cast on 48 stitches.

Join to work in round. Place marker to mark beginning of round.

Rows 1-4: Work in k2, p2 rib.

Rows 5-8: Switch to wide rib pattern - k4, p4. **If you want a larger hat, here's where you should add more rows.**

Row 9: Decrease as follows - K4, p2, p2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Rows 10-12: K4, p3, repeat to end of row.

Row 13: Decrease - K4, p1, p2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Rows 14-16: K4, p2, repeat to end of row.

Row 17: Decrease - K4, p2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Rows 18-20: K4, p1, repeat to end of row.

Row 21: Decrease - K3, K2tog, repeat to end of row. (24 total sts)

Row 22-24: Knit.

Row 25: Decrease - K2, K2tog, repeat to end of row. (18 total sts)

Row 26: Decrease - K1, K2tog, repeat to end of row. (12 total sts)

Row 27: Decrease (last one!) - K2tog, repeat to end of row. (6 total sts)

Bind off by threading tapestry needle with yarn through remaining six sts and pull tight. Weave in ends. (See top view pictures below.)

Top View #1:


Top View #2:


p.s. Pattern is on Ravelry, now.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

BRYHER Cable Scarf - The Original

[Update June 30, 2008]

This pattern has been significantly revised and rewritten as a .pdf. You can download the .pdf here for free.

I've reintroduced this pattern with a newer blog post and another FO, here.


I've made this scarf a few times now and it's so simple and fun I thought I'd share the pattern. It's a great Christmas present and because of the larger needles takes very little time to knit. It's also a great pattern to learn the cabling-without-cable needles technique.


Yarn: a heavy worsted or Aran weight yarn, or, a worsted held together with a strand of mohair.

Here's an example with Paton's Worsted Merino in Olive Green with Artful Yarns Portrait variegated mohair.


Needle: Size 10 1/2.

Cast on 20 stitches.

Rows 1-4: Knit in K1, P1 rib.

Row 5: (First cable row) K1, P1, Slip four stitches onto cable needle and hold to back of work, K1, P1, K1, P1, then K1, P1, K1, P1 stitches from cable needle, then K1, P1 to end.

Rows 6-8: Knit in K1, P1 rib.

Row 9: (Second cable row) K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, Slip four stitches onto cable needle and hold to front of work, K1, P1, K1, P1, then K1, P1, K1, P1 stitches from cable needle, then K1, P1 to end.

Rows 10-12: Knit in K1, P1 rib.

Repeat rows 5-12 until desired length is reached.

Cast off.

(This pattern is now in Ravelry, too!)

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Dr. Fibersmarts in Japan

Sorry for the blogging hiatus. I have come to Japan to visit my friend Raptwithfiber and I have buried myself in yarn. I might have to buy another suitcase to carry it home in. Do I have to declare yarn? The answer is probably yes.

I have found heaven and it is called Yuzawaya.

Holy sh*t I have never seen anything like that before. I bought a 10 pack of Noro Kureyon 188 for 6800 yen, about 63 dollars or so. I like that math. I also bought a 10-pack of some Filatura mohair stuff and a 10-pack of a Japanese alpaca blend. They have this big sale bin where yarn 10-packs are all half-off. The Filatura di Crosa was $3.50, the alpaca $2.75 a skein. Since they were giving it away, I was forced to accept.

The Japanese Puppy alpaca blend was also purchased by R.W.F. and we're doing a knit-along this week to OhMyStars's Buttony sweater. We bought buttons at the second most awesome place on earth, Okadaya, a craft store in the Shinjuku neighborhood. Wherein more yarn was also purchased--Noro, Filatura ZarOne, etc. etc.

Check Ravelry for our mods of Buttony.

Pictures later.