Market bags, continued

One more bag for gifting - this time I tried to get clever with color.

Initially I didn't love it. But after some time (and a few high compliments from friends over for dinner) I realized it's not too shabby.

The yarn tails from the dual colored strap were killing me, until I got the idea to put a crochet flower on the seam.

Perfect! Hides the stark transition and gave me a way to inconspicuously weave in the ends.

In another serendipitous moment I realized this will be perfect for M, because this bag was made with leftover yarn from her twin daughters' twinkie jackets:

Hope she likes it!

NaKniSweMo - Day 30: Complete yet Incomplete

Day 30 and miraculously... I finished it!!

Yay! Er...wait a second...

Ok, so it's technically done.

I did finish it...

NaKniSweMo - Day 25

Day 25 - Body is almost done! After this I move on to sleeves and then the collar. I bought 9" circular needles for this last week to try and expedite my knitting - no fussing with dpns.

Terrible dark photograph. No excuse, really.

Can't wait to see the lace open up. This is definitely going to grow quite a bit.

NaKniSweMo - Day 20

I am shredding!
As of right now I have 16 of 17 inches written for the body portion:

Based on a great tip from Julie, I know that this is going to stretch a lot. I kind of want to make it a longer sweater than the pattern dictates (I love hip-skimming tops) but I know this will grow, so I'm not going to go overboard.

Not terrible progress, but there still is quite a bit more to go.

10 days left.

FO: Spiral Cowl

Another gift for Alex - this one for her, however.

for some reason I'm craving fruit stripe gum...

I was originally going to make a Market Bag for her (as it is my new favorite go-to gift item) but she is a bit too classy for that, I think. My mom suggested a scarf or cowl so I settled on the Spiral Cowl by Keri McKiernan.

Being on a deadline, I wanted to stick to a fast knit that would work with yarn I already had. This pattern only needs about 200 yards! Unfortunately, it didn't quite come out as classy as I'd hoped (yarn choice, yarn choice, yarn choice - drat!) but she likes purple so hopefully she'll enjoy it.

More at the Ravelry project page here.

NaKniSweMo - Day 9

So it's day 9 of mustache growing and sweater knitting.

My husband is making some fairly decent progress:

Putting the "joy" in looking skeevy.

As for myself...

(Pardon the chaos in this photo)

Looks impressive enough, right?

SIKE! That's what I did in March. I haven't done a stitch so far this month.

Depressing.

Well, there are still 21 days left in the month... And hey, my mother-in-law is supposed to visit next week so looks like I'll have plenty of opportunity to distract myself with awkward, angry knitting. I'm not giving up hope yet!

FO: Tis the season for babies

Just a quick one to show off a FO - I knit a cardigan for a friend of mine who is also pregnant, and due just a few days after me!
It's her first - she and her wife are SO excited. I just attended the most amazing baby shower in their honor and can't wait to meet their little boy. E is so damn nonchalant during pregnancy too - she is still teaching, coaching field hockey, traveling, and being awesome in general. She's not even planning to stop until the day before her due date. I would wish her luck but I don't think she needs it :P Okokok I wish her luck.

Here's the cardigan I made (they already found out they're having a boy). It's a bit of a cheat - I used a pattern I already know and love. Hey man, low effort knitting is still knitting...and knitting is love, or at least looks like love when I can't explicitly say it :)

Got distracted and added too few stitches for the collar - so instead of a straight-on cardigan it's going to be a funny curvy fit. Oh well.

A close-up of the elephant I added with double stitching:

Now it looks like I meant to use gray!

This was a total stash buster as well - so many half skeins lying around, what else am I supposed to do? Find more info at the Ravelry project page including the free pattern I used.

FO: Plastic Bag Stash-o-matic

Do you have something to stash plastic bags in?It's pretty much a "must" if you have dogs, are a huge reuse/recycle fan, or are Asian. The basic idea is it's something that you can easily stuff a lot of bags in, and pull bags out of, and is put in a convenient place in your home.

We have a bunch of them made by my auntie - sewn sleeves that have elastic at each end, to hold in the bags. Unfortunately we've used them so much that the elastic is shot. Now, anytime you try to grab a bag, a whole bunch dump out all over the floor, and, well, no one likes that.

Ah-ha, knitting to the rescue! Wouldn't it be neat if instead of sewn, closed fabric - our PBS was mesh? Since I've taken to hanging my sunglasses on this it makes perfect sense! A new, improved Stash-o-matic that has dual purpose AND uses some of my leftover yarn! Win-win-win.

Improvised as I went, it's a really easy knit. Basically I made a meshy leg warmer, and then added a strap. 

I may have tried it on and danced a short 80s musical montage. Cannot confirm.

Check out the Ravelry project page here. 

Full notes on their way - I'm going to try another version and then type up the best product. So far I'm thinking I'll definitely switch to a larger gauge for the mesh, and a smaller needle garter stitch for the ends instead of ribbing. 

Loathed but necessary non-update

This week has been less fruitful than most.

Due to some last minute Lasik surgery, I have had to skip a few days of knitting and in turn have fallen a little behind on all my knitting writings. I should be more upset but xanax seems to take care of that. :D

After a few days of sleeping and cross-eyed walking around the house, I'm back up to speed! Lasik is a strange and magical thing that I'm sure has been discussed enough so I won't bother blogging on the subject. Much like I don't know how my TV works, I am completely content to let it be mysterious, magical, appreciated, and unquestioned.

However, I was finally able to wrap up the cable yoke jacket for twinkie #1 - I'll give you a teaser of the piece and the fabric I'm going to use for a liner. Can't wait!

    

Domo Mittens Pattern

Who doesn't love a good anime-inspired knit up?! Here is my completed Domo Mittens pattern for your delight. (You can also download the PDF by clicking right here.)

Domo - Domo

There are two different charts - one for the authentic Domo mouth, and one that unintentionally couches a batman logo between the teeth. Blame it on my son - I definitely seem to have Mr Wayne on the brain. It's not horrible, though, so I've included it with the pattern.


This is a first-go at a pattern, so...be kind! Let me know if you run into any trouble or if I can improve things. Also, feel free to comment or post pictures of any projects you finish using the chart or the full mittens...I love seeing other peoples' works.


Enough rambling. Enjoy!

Domo-Kun Mittens

Materials

Yarn: 1 skein Stitch Nation Alpaca Love (132 yards/85 grams) Espresso Bean; black, white, and pink OR red yarn for accents.
Needles: US 7 double pointed needles

Sizing: One size fits most.

These mittens are knit in the round; Domo’s face is accomplished with duplicate knitting.

Pattern

Cast on 32 stitches; join in the round 
Work in K1, P1 rib for 14 rounds (2.5”)

Round 1: M1, K2, M1, k around - 34 sts.
Round 2: K around
Round 3: M1, k4, M1, k around - 36 sts.
Round 4: K around
Round 5: M1, k6, M1, k around - 38 sts.
Round 6: K around
Round 7: M1, k8, M1, k around - 40 sts.
Round 8: K around

K until mitten measures 5.5" from start

Next Round: Cast on 3 sts, place next 10 sts on holder for thumb, k to end (33 sts)

Fingers 
K around until piece measures 8.5”

Next Round: K1, k2tog, k10, ssk, K3, k2tog, k10, ssk, k1 

Next Round: K1, k2tog, k8, ssk, K3, k2tog, k8, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k6, ssk, K3, k2tog, k6, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, K3, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, K3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, ssk, K3, k2tog, ssk, k1

Cut yarn and seam the ends with Kitchener stitch

Thumb
Knit 10 stitches from the holder
Pick up 5 more stitches from the cast on stitches and joints between, connect in the round

Work in stockinette stitch for 1.5”, then
Next Round: (K2tog) 4 times, K1, (K2tog) 4 times

Cut yarn and seam up using Kitchener stitch

Domo time

Using the accent yarn and the charts below, duplicate stitch Domo-kun’s face onto the palm.

Weave in ends and block.

Charts

Updated Chart

Accidental Batman Surprise Chart

Domo is le tired