Megan Knits Stuff (and Things)

Pretty pink socks

2008-12-08T22:30:00.002Z

Yay, I finished my socks a couple of months ago.

I love this yarn, it's so soft. I'm knitting another pair now as a Christmas present. Hopefully it won't take me so long to knit these ones!

One down, one to go

2008-03-29T18:38:00.003Z

It's been a pretty quiet knitting month as I've been very busy planning for my move and starting a new job. I have, however managed to finish one of my lacy bedsocks:

I love this sock, it's so comfortable and warm and yet the holes along the top prevent your feet from getting over-warm. When I've finished both I can see they'll be perfect for wandering around the flat on a Sunday morning and keeping my toes toasty in the winter. When I've added the ribbon along the top I think that they'll also be smart enough to wear outside as well.

I did get a little confused when starting on the foot as the main pattern needs to be split so that you start a few stitches in. This isn't explained in the pattern, but is easy enough to work out just by thinking through how many stitches you will end up with for different sections of the pattern. I made the foot a little shorter than it says so that it fit my foot snugly and actually managed to complete the sock with just one ball of yarn. I may even end up with a spare ball left over, which would be nice.

Lacy Bedsocks

2008-02-22T11:36:00.003Z

These socks from Jennie Atkinson's Beads, Buttons and Lace are my current knitting project. I had to rip them out some 3 repeats into the pattern after making a pretty huge mistake, but I am now making tolerable progress.
I am using the same Rowan cashcotton as in the pattern which is generally a joy to knit with, only occasionally squeaking when I pull too tightly between needles. The yarn gives a lovely soft finish and I have spent quite a while just stroking the socks, they feel so good.

The pattern is pretty easy once you get used to what you are doing, I made a small mistake in missing a yarn over at the end of one row, but as this fell between needles, I was able to recover and it's now barely noticeable.

It takes a few repeats for the pattern to establish itself, but I think it's really pretty. Jut hope it doesn't go too rib-like as the long less-holey pass-over lines do tend to stand out a bit. Overall, though I would say it's very comfortable, relaxing knitting on the pattern section, I'll let you know how I get on with the heels later. After all, these are the first socks I have ever knitted.

Cable and Rib Beanie

2008-02-10T21:58:00.000Z

I have decided to change the name of this one from beret to beanie as the cables made it a lot smaller than predicted. I do love it, though.

It was a very quick knit and pretty easy overall, I have posted the pattern below in case you'd like to try it for yourself.

1 50g ball Rowan felted tweed (Cocoa), or any other DK weight yarn.

US size 5 DPNs (or could use circular needle, then switch to DPNs for decreases), set of 5 (use all). Please note that it is only just big enough for me and I have a very small head. For a regular size you would want a larger needle size and to add 16 extra stitches evenly, one extra purl between each rib and cable.

cable needle

CO 96 stitches, 24 stitches per needle

Ribbing:
Work 1" in K1, P1 ribbing for band at bottom

Increase Row:

*K1, P1, m1P, P2, m1P, K2, M1, K2, M1, P2, M1P, P2, M1* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (144 stitches, 36 per needle)

This row is the hardest of the pattern, to simplify you may want to just K2, M1 all around.

Pattern:

Rows1-4: *K1, P5, K6, P5, K1* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether
Row5 : *K1, P5, C6B, P5, K1* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether

Continue in pattern until hat measures 3" or so from cast on edge. For a larger size knit at least 4".

Starting decreases:

keeping pattern correct (choose K6 or C6B as appropriate)

next two rows: *K1, P5, (K6 or C6B), P5, K1* repeat

next row (decrease): *K2tog, P4, (K6 or C6B), P4, SKP* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (128 stitches, 32 per needle)

next two rows: *K1, P4, (K6 or C6B), P4, K1* repeat

next row (decrease): *K2tog, P3, (K6 or C6B), P3, SKP* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (112 stitches, 28 per needle)

next two rows: *K1, P3, (K6 or C6B), P3, SKP* repeat

next row (decrease): *K1, P3, (SKP, K2, K2tog or, sorry if this is cable row, cable C4B including decreases), P3, K1* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (96 stitches, 24 per needle)

next two rows: *K1, P3, (K4 or C4B), P3, K1* repeat

next row (decrease): *K2tog, P2, (K4 or C4B), P2, SKP* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (80 stitches, 20 per needle)

next two rows: *K1, P2, (K4 or C4B), P2, K1* repeat

next row (decrease): *K2tog, P1, (K4 or C4B), P1, SKP* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (64 stitches, 16 per needle)

next two rows: *K1, P1, (K4 or C4B), P1, K1* repeat

next row (decrease): *K1, P1, (SKP, K2tog or cable C2B including decreases), P1, K1* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (48 stitches, 12 per needle)

next two rows: *K1, P1, (K2 or C2B), P1, K1* repeat

next row (decrease): *K2tog, K2, SKP* repeat twice per needle, 8 times altogether (32 stitches, 8 per needle)

End of pattern, work finishing decrease rows all in knit stitch

next row: knit

next row: *K2tog, K2* repeat twice per needle (24 stitches, 6 per needle)

next row: knit

next row: K2tog (12 stitches, 3 per needle)

transfer stitches onto 3 needles, 4 per needle

next row: K2tog (6 stitches)

next row: K2tog (3 stitches)

Finish off with an i-cord tied in a knot, or cast off for a flat finish. Alternatively, add a pompom.

Socks and hats

2008-02-04T14:59:00.000Z

I received the beautiful book Beads, Buttons and Lace by Jennie Atkinson for Christmas and had been poring over the lovely designs for about a month until the wool arrived to make the Lacy Bed Socks last week.

I decided to stick exactly to the pattern and so bought 3 balls of Rowan's RYC Cashcotton in Rose which must be some of the softest yarn I have ever touched - it's so nice and will make lovely socks. As you can see, the colour is a little lighter and less orange-y than in the picture, but it is a very nice shade of pink and will match my new skirt very well. I'm trying to decide what colour I should get for the ribbon, whether to go for a similar pink shade, a much darker pink or go for a complete contrast with something like brown. At the moment I'm leaning towards brown as I think that will make the socks more wearable with non-pink clothes. Pink and brown make for quite a smart pair.

Speaking of pink and brown, I noticed this colour goes very nicely with the Cocoa felted tweed of my new hat which is now nearing completion

This one is turning out far less beret-like than I had originally envisaged even on my tiny head, but I really like the cable and rib pattern which is just what I had in my head. I even saw someone wearing a similar design the other day and can't wait for it to be finished and on my head instead of the needles. As the pattern is of my own devising, I'll probably post it up here when I'm done and have checked that it does give a good outcome.

Started a new hat

2008-01-31T18:44:00.000Z

I am very excited about my latest project as for the first time I have written my own pattern and so it'll be all my own. Here's my progress so far

It's not enough to see what it'll be like yet, but I'm hoping for a beret-like style with cables and ribs, I just hope that what I have in my head can translate properly into knitting. I'm basing it a little on the pattern on Lydia McNeil's blog, for a tweedy tam, but changing the top part into eight cabled sections with gradual decreases.

I'm finding that 4 double points are a little more unwieldy than 3, but I think I'll find it easier once I'm a little further into the pattern. Anyway, must go, about to start increasing.

Finished my Gauntlets!

2008-01-29T18:10:00.001Z

and here's a rather myspace-y photo of me modelling my new gloves. It was a pretty long weekend's knitting (I'm a slow knitter) but I'm so pleased with the results and have been wearing them almost all the time since then.

The pattern was pretty straightforward, although I was amused when the pattern for the right gauntlet gave me a left one - maybe the writer knits inside out. I love the braids, watching how straightforward stocking stitch turns into these interwoven cables.

I'm now planning a matching cable hat, just watch this space.

I dream of legwarmers

2008-01-28T12:32:00.000Z

I was watching an anime series, Bokura Ga Ita, the other day when I noticed one of the characters wearing these cute legwarmers, check it out:

and here:I thought to myself, how cool are those! I know they're very popular in Japan, especially with schoolgirls who wear very short skirts all year round as their school uniform, but I don't believe I've ever seen anyone wear them in this country. I'll freely admit that I like Japanese stuff in general, but these struck me as being so cute my next thought immediately was 'how easy would they be to knit'.

They just seem to be a tube of stocking stitch, slightly larger circumference than the leg to get that baggy look with some ribbing top and bottom to hold them in place. I'm thinking of knitting them in a nice cashmere blend to get that lovely soft fluffy feel, need to start shopping around for yarn now.

However, with wool for three different projects arriving any day now, I really need to stop adding to my to knit list. I think these'll be on the back burner for a while.

Purple Cable Gauntlets

2008-01-26T10:48:00.000Z

Following in the cable theme, this is my current project - a pair of purple braided gantlets, or fingerless gloves.I've never really seen the point of fingerless gloves before, but now that I commute to work and our office can be really cold at times, a pair of gloves which you don't need to take off in order to type, read or even knit is pretty appealing.
I really wanted a cable pattern, wishing to try out cable knitting and finally found this one for symmetrical braided gauntlets for free!
I substituted the yarn with a ball of Rowan's kid classic in Victoria to match my hat and the scarf I have in progress. I was a bit worried at first that the yarn would knit up too small, but it seems to give reasonable stretch and has a lovely soft, fluffy feel. These are going to be some very warm gloves.
After a couple of evenings work (I had to start over several times before I got the hang of knitting on the double points) I have just started to increase for the thumb and hope that the gloves will be nearly finished this weekend. The pattern doesn't seem to entirely match the picture, I think I'm going to end up with an extra braid overall, but that's not too much of a problem. I love how the braid pattern is coming out in the Kid classic yarn, very subtle but pretty.

Christmas Tree Decorations

2008-01-26T10:18:00.000Z

Our Christmas tree this year was covered in little decorations I had crocheted, finding little free patterns all over the internet. I taught myself to crochet because it's much easier to find these little crocheted decorations than knitted ones. My favourite is this little snowman, taken from the little holiday ornaments on the Patons site. He was very easy (and cheap) to crochet in some scraps of acrylic wool and only took me just over a day.

Our tree was also covered in a range of various little decorations, most notably a little angel , snowflakes and a log basket filled with cinnamon sticks.

I also made a couple of crochet decoration presents, a cute reindeer head for my mum and this pretty little angel for my grandma. The angel's wings turned out a little longer on one side than the other, not sure if that was a problem with my counting or the pattern, however I don't think my grandma noticed.

I found all of these decoration patterns at the Christmas decoration section of Crochet Pattern Central, a good source of free crochet pattern links.

Christmas Stocking

2008-01-26T09:46:00.000Z

I went a bit Christmas decorations crazy last year, having a whole flat of my own to decorate for the first time, I made a lot of little knitted and crochet decorations the biggest project of which was my Christmas stocking.I found this pattern in the free patterns on the Patons site and knitted it in a cheap acrylic wool. I couldn't find a good gold-like colour for the contrast diamonds so they aren't very noticeable here, although they show up much better to the naked eye. The top seemed to be much longer than it should and due to time restrictions I decided to only knit it half the length it should be and stretch it out a little, I still think it looks pretty nice. I couldn't find any little bells for the edging but may be able to find some to add for next year. Am also planning to knit a second stocking in green next year so that I have a pair for either side of the fireplace.

Cable Crazy

2008-01-25T11:55:00.000Z

After seeing the Highland Stocking pattern in Rowan's Magazine no. 42, I decided I just have to knit them. While I am saving up for both the magazine and the yarn (7 balls of kid classic isn't exactly a cheap knit) I have gone a bit cable crazy, searching for cabled glove and hat patterns which would match.

There's just something about cables which intrigue me, maybe it's the mathematician in me looking for pretty, mathematically interesting braids to knit. Braids can also look quite Celtic, a look which rather appeals to me at the moment.

I didn't think much of the other patterns in this magazine at first, but some a really growing on me. The alpine shrug and Neaty and Narvic cardigans are most definitely on my to-knit list. The Rannoch dress is also lovely, but I'm not sure I could afford the wool to knit even the sleeveless version. I seem to have so many patterns on my to-knit list at the moment, there's no way I'm going to get even half of them finished before I see some new must-knits when the next magazine comes out.

Holiday Vest

2008-01-25T10:52:00.001Z

I bought the Rowan book Tuscan Retreat a while back, containing a selection of designs based on the Holiday yarn. The yarn has been discontinued for a while and so I was able to buy up some cheaply to knit this Isabella vest
I tried to make the vest a little longer than in the pattern, but couldn't add too much length due to yarn shortages (there's not much leftover yarn in this one). The final length seems OK, it hangs just about level with the top of my belt on a fairly low-waisted pair of jeans, hardly a crop top. The pattern, once established is easy enough, although I had to start over several times before getting the 3rd row with the 'make one's correct. It's a little ambiguous about whether you should m1f or m1b, I decided that m1b is the intended stitch in the pattern and it seems to look correct. The decreases are a little tricky to do keeping the pattern correct, as the number of stitches changes in some rows, but with a little thinking and working out where to make your decreases it's not too bad. This was also my first time picking up stitches, not an easy feat on this pattern as it's hardly stocking stitch! I followed the pattern exactly, even though it seemed to give me too many stitches up the left side of the neck. Blocking helped to reduce the wrinkles, however, and you do need that stretch in the neckline when you wear it, so I am pretty pleased with the final result.

Fleece Artist Poncho

2008-01-25T10:05:00.001Z

Trust me, this poncho looks much better on than it does on the hanger.

I bought the pattern and wool in a Fleece artist kit which I thought was pretty good value for less than £25. The design knitted up very quickly with lots of yarns overs. Unfortunately I finished it just when summer had finished and it became too cold for something with so many holes, but I hope I get to wear it more when it warms up again.

I love the triangular shape of the poncho, created by sewing two rectangles together, short sides along the long edges. It's a little tight in the neck which is a touch itchy, but only because I'm not used to wearing wool. The yarn is a nice blend of kid mohair and silk, thicker than Rowan's Kidsilk haze and feels quite a bit like the Kid classic. The pattern is quite pretty and very easy to knit once you get the hang of all the yarn overs. I hadn't knitted anything lacy before so this was a good pattern to start on.

Flower Hat

2008-01-24T19:48:00.000Z

So this was the first proper thing I knitted, from a pattern.

The pattern comes from the book 'Fun and Funky Knitting' by Emma King which I borrowed from my Mum. I copied the pattern exactly, just substituting the bright pink yarn for a nice dark purple. It is knitted in Rowan 4 ply Soft (Victoria) with trimmings in Rowan Wool cotton, which is used double and nice and soft and stretchy. I found that the hat turned out a little too big for my head and sticks up a little at the top, but then I do have a very small head. I just have to pull it down a bit further than normal, at least it keeps my ears nice and warm.

I like the little flower detail on the side which makes it a little more smart and feminine than your regular beanie.
I'm halfway through knitting the matching scarf from the book, but have run out of wool as I'm making it much longer than the one in the pattern. Unfortunately my favourite internet stockists, Kangaroo, have run out of the particular shade I need, so will have to wait until it comes back in stock. I also have plans to knit the tweedy gloves as well, maybe once I have finished my current gauntlets.

New Year, New Blog

2008-01-24T15:55:00.000Z

Well, a new year seems like a pretty good time to start a new project and here's one I've been thinking about for a while: blogging my knitting works. I've been knitting for a little over a year now and although as yet my knitted collection is somewhat meagre, I have recently been flushed with enthusiasm and anticipate many garments will be knitted over the coming year. How exciting!