Free Pattern Friday: FauxPurl Cowl

 A simple no-purl cowl worked in rounds. The faux-purls are created using short row techniques, but with working in full rounds after wrapping and turning. Cowls pictured use the random method as described below.

 

 

 

Materials:

2-5 oz of Worsted or Aran weight yarn (bulky yarn may be substituted at a looser gauge) Small cowl can be made with about 2 oz of worsted wieght yarn

Size US 8 / 5 mm circular needles (16" needles, longer DPNs or 40" or longer for magic looping) two stitchmarkers

Gauge:

9 stitches / 2 inches in garter stitch knit flat
10 rows / 2 inches in stockinette

Size: Small, Large; 20" (40") circumference

Options:

For a larger cowl cast on more stitches, For a cowl worked in bulky weight yarn you may wish to cast on fewer stitches and work at a looser gauge.

Abbreviations:

CO - cast on
K - knit
BO - bind off
pm - place marker

w&t - wrap and turn

Note: do not pick up wraps on rounds following the w&t, they will be hidden nicely in the purl bumps of the following row.

Youtube Video on Wrap & Turn

CO 90 (180) sts.

Join for working in the round being careful not to twist your cast on row.

1. K1, pm, k to last st, pm, k1, w&t. (Note: You will now have two stitchmarkers, placed twos titches apart, one just after the first stitch of the round, one just before the last stitch of the round. The begining of the round is right in the middle of the two markers.)

2. k1, sm, k to marker, sm, k1, w&t.

Repeat round 2 until piece measures 1" from cast on edge.

3. K around, slipping markers as you go.

Planned Method: Work round 3 five times total.

or
Random Method: Using a random number generator, pick a number beteween 0 and 9, and work round 3 that many times.

4. Turning Round: k1, sm, k to marker, sm, k1, w&t.

Using either the planned method or the random method, work rounds 3-4 until cowl measures 1" from desired width.

5. k1, sm, k to marker, sm, k1, w&t.

Work round 5 for 1"

Bind off loosely.

 

A little knitting....

Holiday knitting!

Are you ready? Christmas will be here in two weeks!

I just got a little holiday knitting finished over the weekend, a Magnolia Crescent Shawl (not going to say for who just in case she's reading this later) and this lovely beaded bracelet/necklace (Ribband by Laura Nelkin). Both were pretty quick knits, about 12 or so hours for the shawl, and about 3 for Ribband, so they've great for gift giving (but I think I'm a little too attached to the sparkly beads to actually give that one away)

Fingerless Mittens for the whole family, and a pattern giveaway!

I've been playing with a new design, so I knit four pairs of fingerless mitts last week. It's really interesting how the exact same yarn can look so different when it's knit up into different sizes. But now the problem is, I'm a little bit stuck on the name... So, post your name ideas in the comment section below. I'll pick a name for the pattern on (or near) December 15th, and whoever's name idea I use will recieve their choice of one of my PDF patterns.

 

So much yarn, not enough time...

Have you seen the Color Affection shawl? Well it seems I got bit by the bug as well, and after a little over a week of constant knitting...

... here is my version, knit with Merino/Nylon sock from Mosic Moon, in the colorway "The End of Time", from her Dr. Who inspired yarn colors, with two coordinating trim colors.

I still need to convince my DH to take some modeling pics, but this thing is huge, and since it's so much wider than the usual shawl shape, it can be a bit tricky to find a comfortable way to wear it.

Now don't let the garter stitch fool you into thinking this is a easy project, it's nearly 3 skeins worth of sock yarn involved, not to mention figuring out how to manage 3 different balls of yarn simultaneously (because you don't want to weave in that many ends if you don't have too). Oh, and there's also the challenge of keeping that top edge nice and loose while carrying those extra strands of yarn up the side.

 

 

Now, what should I knit next....

Hot off the needles...

Large Shorties on Cestari, dyed by True2Ewe in colorway "Corkie". Available on Hyenacart from LMSnS.

Hot off the needles...

Some Cabled shorties!

Knit with Mosaic Moon "Tesoro" on Cestari

Dalekanium Socks!

Just got these off the needles and blocked. The pattern is entering the testing phase (Join us on Ravelry if you are interested in testing). I am thrilled with how these came out!

Dalekanium

Pattern directions are written for using magic loop, toe up, with a star toe, mini-gussett, and garter stitch short row heel.

Hot off the needles...

New cabled shorties hot off the needles. I really love how this colorway knit up, absolutely no pooling at all! Now available in the etsy shop.

Hot off the needles...

Two sets of woolies are going in the mail tomorow....

Hot off the needles...

More socks off the needles in the last few days.

For my mom-in-law, "Kiila"
on wool/nylon/silk from Crock-O-Dye in a lovely semi-solid denim color. I love how these socks turned out. I'm tempted to make myself a pair with this pattern, but I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle this particular cable again, by the time I was done with the gusset I was sick of the cable, so I just knit the leg without the cable.

And a basic pair for the hubby from my own pattern, "Toe up custom-fit socks"

Fibery Resolutions?

Do you have any fiber related resolutions for 2012? Here are a few of mine.

1. Keep track of my yardage knit, crocheted, and spun for the year. I've always wondered how much yarn and fiber I go through in a year, and as I don't always remember to update Ravelry with all muy projects, hopefully at least I can keep track of it with a Knitmeter

2. Add at least one photo to my Ravelry Projects for each completed project.

3. I am determined to try some colorwork next year, still haven't picked out a potential pattern yet.

4. Knit a sweater..... maybe.

5. Spin some funky art yarn.

6. Learn some new weaving techiniques, perhaps something with two heddles or a pickup stick.

7. Make time regularly for spinning.

I have a feeling there should be something else on this list, what's on yours for 2012?

Socks, socks, socks...

I finally got the month-long socks off the needles and blocked, they were definately worth it. I love how the slipped stitches break up the pooling on these.

And of course I had to start on another pair (or three) when they were done. At least the next two pairs were for little feet and didn't take so long. (Note: Do not try socks on the needles on your two year old to check the fit halfway through. He won't understand that they aren't finished and will want to wear them anyway, needles and all. Four year olds seem to be a little more understanding, but will still end up asking you every 10 minutes when his new socks will be done.)

The third pair is almost done now too. I started on Killa for my MIL, thankfully we are doing our Christmas a few days late so I should have enough time to finish them.

Why I don't want to knit socks

10 reasons not to knit socks:
1. I rarely even wear socks
2. When I do wear socks it takes me about 30 minutes to find a matching pair, so if I were to knit socks then I'd risk only having half a pair of socks.
3. It is only cold enough here in South Texas to need socks for about 5 days out of the year, every other day it is perfectly comfortable to wear sandals outside (yes even in winter)
4. You have to make a second sock in order for the first to be of any use.
5. Heel shaping (need I say more?)
6. Gauge matters, and if you knit like me and your gauge swatch almost always somehow has a different gauge than your FO, this could be a problem.
7. Teensy tiny little knitting needles, eeek!
8. Teensy tiny little stitches,
9. and about eleventy-billon of those teensy tiny little stitches in a pair of socks
10. I have huge feet (which mean even more of those teensy tiny stitches are needed to make socks to fit my feet.

Well 4 months and 6 finished pairs of socks later, I think I'm hooked. I've even started on my 7th pair already.

10 reasons to knit socks:

1. They are so much more comfy to wear than store-bought ones.
2. Fit - They fit my huge feet better than store-bought socks (If you've ever tried to squish size 11 feet into socks meant for size 6-10, you'd know that it's not comfy at all!)
3. It give me a good excuse reason to need to buy more sock yarn.
4. There may be as many stitches in a pair of socks as in a hand knit sweater, but buying nice yarn for a pair of socks is more affordable than buying nice yarn for a sweater since you only need one 4 oz skein for socks.
5. Sock yarn.
6. Self striping sock yarn. (and feet are probably the one place on your body where horizontal stripes actually look good)
7. You only knit socks for people you love (all that work, and when they are used as intended they will eventually wear out)
8. Portability - It's alot easier to take sock knitting with you than it is to take sweater knitting.
9. Why not?
10. Do you really need a reason to knit?