A collection of shawls

Last summer my obsession was socks, this time around it is shawls/shawlettes. It started off when I fell in love with the 'Joyeux Shawlette' from Phydeaux Designs. My wonderful parents got me the kit for Christmas and I knit it up in no time. I absolutely love it, the design is great, the yarn is fantastic, the end result is perfect!



My next project was the Holden Shawlette (a free ravelry download!). I used Ella Rae Lace Merino yarn that was originally intended for a pair of socks, but I did not like the way the first sock came out, so I frogged it and made it into this shawl instead. I'm so glad I did, it turned out beautifully (the picture does not do it justice).



My latest shawl is a pattern from the book 'Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Small Indulgences' called Bison Shawlette. I used some unknown yarn from my stash and it turned out great! I would definitely recommend this book for everyone's library, it has great patterns that can be used for those lone beautiful skeins of yarn that you don't know what to do with!



I will be putting up some new listings in my Etsy shop soon. I hope to have some pictures to share with you by the weekend. Make sure to keep visiting!

Happy Knitting!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

My mom asked for this great giraffe stuffed toy when she looked though my 'Itty-Bitty Toys' book. He is absolutely adorable and I got him ready just in time to send him to my mom for Mother's Day. He looks adorable from the front, but then from the back he is even better!



There are a lot of pieces to put together and I got pretty frustrated at times, but I would just put it to the side and start again when I was feeling a bit calmer. He was definitely worth it in the end, and I hope my mom enjoys him just as much as I did.

I love you mom!

I've been on a sort of a blogging hiatus for a bit (well, more then just a bit...) I was finishing up with school and taking a break, but now I have decided that I would like to keep up a more regular blogging schedule.





For my first post back I wanted to start by sharing some pictures of the beginning of an afghan that I am working on. The pattern is from the 'Knitting Today' magazine. In each issue they give the instructions for 4 squares, until you have all 20 patterns that will make up the finished blanket. I have finished the first 4 sets of squares and I am anxiously waiting the next issue (out next week) to finish up this beautiful blanket.
I used the recommended yarn, Full o' Sheep from the Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller collection. The colours are Little Lamb, Aquamarine, Passionfruit and Black Sheep. I am in love with this yarn, the colours are so rich and bright!






I have been having a great time making this project. Usually with a big piece I have a hard time motivating myself to finish it, but with this one, there is enough time between each batch that my attention is re-captured every time I get the new magazine.

I would definitely recommend this afghan pattern to everyone, and it is especially great for beginners who want to learn new techniques (I've done lace, cables, different colours and slipped stitches so far!). It has even made me more confident in my knitting. If you are interested in starting this blanket, you can get the first 4 squares (the lace) on their website here.

Happy Knitting!

Mr Pitt Socks by Ravelry User Kaitlyn Wong

I knitted up a pair of these socks for my boyfriend for Valentine's Day (I haven't gotten around to taking a picture of them yet...) and they are fantastic, he absolutely loves them. But the PDF copy of the pattern that is linked on the ravelry page is no longer working. Good thing I printed myself out a copy. But I have noticed in the comments that not everyone was so lucky. So I'm going to type out word for word the pattern I have printed.
NOTE: This is not my creation, the ravelry pattern page can be found here. This pattern is the property of Kaitlyn Wong, this pattern is NOT my creation. I really liked the pattern and I don't like the idea of someone not being able to make them because they do not have the pattern.
So here it goes:

Mr Pitt Socks
by: Kaitlyn Falk Wong
www.greatwhitewong.com/sassystitchess
On an episode of my father's favorite show, Seinfeld, Elaine spends an exorbitant amount of time searching for the perfect socks for her picky boss, Mr Pitt. My father has deemed these simple socks the solution to "Mr Pitt's paradox". They are sized to fit a typical adult man.
Materials:
3 skeins Koigu KPPPM (colorway 2340)
Needles:
size 1 circular, 32" for magic loop
Gauge:
24st/4 in.

Cuff:
Cast on 80 stitches and divide for magic loop or circular knitting
All Rounds: K2, P2 to end
Continue for 2 inches

Leg:
All Rounds: K3, P1 to end
Continue until sock measures 9 inches

Heel Flap:
Round 1: continue in pattern over first half (40) of stitches, (*sl1 purlwise, K1*) to end over remaining 40 stitches.
Turn work to knit flat.
Row 2: Purl 40 stitches
Row 3: (*sl1, K1*) to end
Repeat Row 2 & 3 until flap measures 2.5 inches

Turn Heel:
Row 1: sl1 purlwise, K20, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2: sl1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: sl1, knit within 1 st of the gap, ssk, K1, turn.
Row 4: sl1, purl to within one st of the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts are worked. End on WS

Gusset:
Sl1 purlwise, knit across heel and pick up and knit each of the 16 slipped stitches along the side of the heel flap. Work 40 sts in 3x1 ribbing, as established for the instep (top of sock), pick up and knit the 16 slipped stitches on the other side of the heel flap. NOTE: If you feel that one or two more or less stitches should be picked up along the flap, that is fine, you can decrease them out later. Now you have all your heel and gusset stitches on one side of your magic loop and your instep stitches (40) on the other. Your round now begins in the middle of the heel - you may find it helpful to mark this.
Round 1: Knit across the gusset stitches to last three stitches and K2tog, K1, knit across instep stitches in pattern, (K1, ssk), K to end of round.
Round 2: K to end of gusset, knit across instep stitches in pattern, K to end of round
Repeat rounds 1 & 2 until there are 40 stitches on the gusset side. You will also still have 40 stitches on you instep side - back to the original 80 stitches!

Foot:
Round 1 and all following rounds: K3, P1 across 40 stitches and K remaining 40 stitches (bottom of foot).
Repeat until foot measures 2 inches less then desired length.

Toe:
Round 1: K17, K2tog, K1 (bottom of foot), (K1, ssk) at the beginning of instep, work to 3 sts from end of instep (K2tog, K1), (K1, ssk) and knit to end of round
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Repeat until there are 20 stitches left on the needle and then repeat only the decrease round until 16 stitches remain. Kitchener stitch those 16 stitches and weave in your ends - you're done

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So that is the pattern re-written from the original that I have printed out. If you have any problems, or comment please contact me.

Sqwishy Infinity Scarf / Cowl

Since infinity scarfs are all the rage right now, I figured it was time that I made one. I made the Stockholm scarf for my sister for Christmas, but I found that there was a lot of stitches and it took a lot of knitting to complete. So this pattern was my compromise: a sqwishy scarf that will keep you plenty warm, but with not a lot of stitches.
It is knit in one long piece and then sewn together. I used Loops and Threads' Charisma yarn. It is amazingly soft and great to work with.
The blue scarf was knit in the electric blue yarn, it is 60 in. long and 9.5 in. wide. I used 4 balls of yarn to complete this one.
The white scarf was knit with white yarn, it is 50 in. long and 8 in. wide. Only 3 balls of yarn were needed.

Using 2 strands of yarn held together and size 15 needles (10.0mm) CO 17 stitches (for the smaller one) or 19 sts (for the larger one). Leave a long tail so that you can use it at the end when you are sewing the ends together. You can cast on any uneven number of sts, I started one with 21 sts, but I thought it was too big so I went down to 19 sts.

Row 1:*K1,P1* repeat until the end of the row.

Repeat row 1 until you just have enough yarn left to bind off. Sew the ends together (I left a twist in the scarf so that it would not be as bulky when you put it on) and weave in all the ends.

And there you go! A beautiful infinity scarf that will keep you warm and fashionable this winter!

A New Simple Pattern

A friend from work asked me to knit a simple scarf for her grandson. I couldn't find any appropriate knit patterns for what I had in my mind so I made it up as I went along.
I knew I didn't just want it in garter stitch, but I didn't want it just ribbed either. So I settled on a combination of the two that makes it slightly different then just a rib pattern. I used a pattern that (I find) makes the scarf hold its shape better.



Pattern:
Row 1 (ws): *k1,p1* repeat all the way to the end
Row 2 (rs): knit all sts

Using those 2 simple rows I was able to make this scarf and I am very pleased with the results.

I used Vanna's Choice yarn and I needed one ball of each color (you will probably need a second ball of the MC if you make the scarf bigger then what I did):
MC= 110 Navy
SC= 180 Cranberry
CO 24 sts with MC (you can make it bigger, just make sure it is a multiple of 2)and size 8 needles (5mm):

Repeat rows 1&2 12 times (scarf should measures about 4 inches from beginning),
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 once,
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 three times,
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 five times,

Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 until scarf measures approximately 47 inches from the beginning.

Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 five times,
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 three times,
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1&2 twice,
Switch to SC and repeat rows 1&2 once,
Switching back to MC repeat rows 1&2 12 more times.

Weave in ends and block (I used my steamer to make it nice and flat).

The finished scarf (after blocking) measures 56 inches long and has a width of 4.75 inches. I think it's perfect for a little boy to wear in this cold weather!

That is what the scarf looks like from the WS:

Christmas!

This Christmas I decided that I wanted to knit something special for the members of my family. I asked the people I was unsure of what they wanted, instead of knitting something that they may not want.



My mom got a pair of socks. "Bonsai" is from "Knitted Socks East and West". I highly recommend this book to any sock knitters. It has some lovely patterns in it, they are easy to follow and produce beautiful results. I have made a few pairs from this book and I am in love with them all. These were a bit tight when my mom put them on, so maybe going up a needle size would have been a better fit, but once she got them on, they looked amazing.



My sister asked for a cowl. Not just any cowl; it had to be "chunky and big enough to go around my head twice and I want it in light beige". At least she was specific... I found a great pattern online. Stockholm Scarf fit my sister's description perfectly. It was a great and easy knit, I was able to make it in just over 2 days and she was unbelievably happy with the results and I saw her wearing it every time she went out. Success!



My other sister asked for a pair of socks, a teddy bear and a marshmallow hat. I didn't know if I would be able to finish everything for her, but I managed it. I do not have a picture of the marshmallow hat (I'll try to get her to take a picture of it so I can post it... it's hot pink and looks great on her!). The socks were another pattern from "Knitted Socks East and West", this time I chose "Chouwa". They look amazing, the picture does not do them justice.



She also wanted a teddy bear, but I didn't feel like making another one, so I opted instead to make her a Hippo! The pattern is from "Itty-Bitty Toys", and it came out fantastic.



Next was my dad. He was the hardest person to make for by far! I knew I had to find something unique for him, but at the same time still be cute. Stone the Gargoyle provided me with the perfect solution. He looks absolutely fantastic while still having some charm!



I also knitted a pair of socks for a friend. The Horcrux socks can be found in the Six Sox Knitalong group on Ravelry. Another great easy knit pattern (and super stretchy too, so it will fit all sized feet!).



Another pair of socks for a friend. Again from "Knitted Socks East and West". These ones are called "Ninja". Another super stretchy socks for those of you who don't know the exact foot size of the person you are knitting for.



A pair of socks for my aunt (sorry about the poor picture quality). aFlame is available as a free Ravelry download. A great quick knit that isn't complicated enough to throw you off, but it keeps your interest.

I didn't get a picture of the socks that I knitted for my grandmother. Another free ravelry download; the Norfolk Ramblers pattern is excellent. The cross-stitch is a pattern that my grandmother gave me for Christmas last year and I completed it for her and gave it to her this Christmas. She seemed really pleased with it!



Writing everything down in a post like this makes it look like a lot less work then it actually was. I basically started knitting in June and have been making things on and off since then. I think I'm going to start even earlier next year!!