Bavarian Twisted Stitch Socks

These are the first socks I have attempted using the two-circular needle method.  It is also the first time I have tried working with a twisted stitch pattern.  After a little experimentation, I think I figured it out.  I really liked working off Cat Bordhi's chart.  The pattern was pretty complicated (for me, at least), but it had enough variety to hold my interest.  Even at that, the socks rested on the needles for months at a time.  The twisted stitch pattern is highly visible and detailed, but not bulky.  I will definitely try another pattern like this again.

The yarn I chose was a little too fuzzy to show really great stitch definition.  They are really comfortable, though.  If I make them again, I would chose a yarn without a fuzzy finish.

Details:

Pattern:  Bavarian Twisted Stitch Sock from Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles book by Cat Bordhi

Size:  Women's Medium

Needles:  size 2 circular needles, 2 sets

Yarn:  Knit Picks Essential Solid (75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon)

Color:  Navy

Yardage:  Less than 50g per sock.  Estimate 75g or 400 yds for the pair.

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Wavy Red Socks

I have had the yarn for these socks since the 2006 Maryland Sheep and Wool festival.  I love this yarn and wanted to hone my sock making skills before using it.  After making a few successful plain pairs of socks, I felt ready to undertake something worthy of the yarn.  When I bought it, I thought the variegation was beautiful and was drawn to it like candy.  Unfortunately, when I actually started to plan my project, I realized that the color changes would mask any intricate pattern.  I wanted to do something pretty, but not plain.  I found this pattern on Ravelry - a variation on feather and fan.  It is simple enough to show off the color variation, but complex enough to make an appealing pattern. 

The pattern was pretty simple to execute.  One out of four rounds was a pattern round, everything else was stockinette.  The pattern rounds took a while to do, but I was rewarded with 3 rows of fast and simple every time I got one done.  I ignored the pattern's toe instructions, preferring to do the toe from the Knitter's Handy Book of Pattern.  I really like the "Eye of Partridge" stitch heels, though.  They fit very well and I am very pleased with the results.

Details:

Yarn:  Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino
Color:  Foxy Lady
Needles:  Size 1 DPNs
Pattern:  Giles Wavy Socks

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Ponytail Hats

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I wear my hair in ponytails a lot.  This can be problematic when I need to cover my head.  Sometimes a baseball cap just isn't warm enough. 

After joining the Ravelry website, I spend HOURS and hours poring over free knitting patterns I never knew existed.  I bumbled across this one from MagKnits and knew I had to make it. 

It is a very simple hat pattern, with a small twist.  The back is open from slightly below the crown to allow your ponytail to slip through.  The band is extended about 2 inches to allow for a button closure at the base.  The design allows you to wear your ponytail high or low.

I made two versions.  I intended the first one, made with cotton yarn, to be something I could wear indoors if it is really cold on the boat.  It is very soft and warm and comes down way over my ears.  The second one is made with a beautiful yarn I had in my stash.  Bunny Print is a wool/alpaca/acrylic blend.  I only had enough for a small hat, so I cut the button band down by half.  This means that the hat does not cover my ears.  Still, it fits well, and I could still wear it with a headband if it was really cold.  I love the hat and would definitely make it again.  It took just a few hours to complete each one.

Here are the details:

Pattern:  Hannah from MagKnits

Size:  one size


Cotton Version

Needles:  size 10 dpns for crown, size 10 straights for rest

Yarn: Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton

Color:  098/undyed

Yardage:  1skein

Extras:  Two 1 inch buttons


Multicolor Version:

Needles:  size 9 dpns for crown, size 9 straights for rest

Yarn: Tahki Bunny Print

Color:  018 (Magenta, Green, Purple variegated)

Yardage:  1 50g ball

Extras:  One 1 inch button

Tags: Hat, Ponytail

It's A Girl! Cardigan and Hat

I really wanted to make this sweater earlier this fall and didn't because it "wouldn't be appropriate for a boy baby."  Well, a few months passed and as it turns out, the baby in question decided to be a girl.  I set the more generic sweater aside and brought out the lace pattern.  It was pretty easy to do, and very fast due to the size.  I was a little confused about whether or not I should continue the lace pattern all the way up the sleeve, making an incomplete repeat, or just do stockinette for the topmost portion.  I decided on stockinette, but I have no good reason why.  I like it a lot, and would make it again.  If I made it again, I would choose a superwash wool yarn to get better stitch definition on the lace pattern.

Details:

Yarn:  Plymouth Encore D.K.  75% Acrylic 25% Wool

Quantity:  2 50g balls (1 1/2 for cardigan, 1/2 for hat)

Color:  240 (lot 31331)  "Natural" (kind of an oatmeal heather)  

Cardigan Pattern:  Peter Gregory 7156, Round Neck Cardigan with lace panels

Size:  To fit chest size 14 ins

Needles:  Size 3 and Size 6 Addi Turbo circulars

Hat Pattern:  Basic Hat Pattern by Ann Budd in the knitter's handy book of patterns

Size:  Preemie-6 months, 5 sts per inch

Needles:  Size 3 and Size 6 DPNs

Care:  Machine wash and dry 80%F

Extras:  7 x 1/2" beige plastic buttons

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