Because long after Christmas has passed, and you’re into that long, dreary period of no holidays and slushy weather, odds are if you know a disorganized knitter then you still have at least one gift to look forward to. This, at least, is what I told myself as I cast off, almost 2 months late, Beverly’s scarf.
The pattern is ‘Magrathea‘ by Martina Behm, charmingly named after the planet factory in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It’s an asymmetrical knit, worked sideways for the most part with squishy garter stitch for the body.
I worked 30 repeats of the lace pattern before I couldn’t take it anymore felt I had made it large enough. I kept thinking I should max out the delicious 500 yard skein of Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk, but I’m glad I stopped when I did.
Blocking never fails to amaze. When it came off the needles it was wrinkly and little and I was regretting not going for more repeats. It ended up blocking to an impressive 66″ wide though, and 20″ deep, and a beautiful crescent shape. I went from ‘ugh’ to ‘love’ :)
This is my first pattern from Martina, and I was really pleased with the result. The pattern is well written, and sizing is very flexible. I would definitely make another :)
Ravelry Project Page here:
I’m actually getting a head start on Christmas knitting this year – we’ll see how long this bout of organized enthusiasm lasts.
This is the Fairview Scarf by Tanis, and I’m working in the delicious TFA Red label Cashmere/Silk in the colourway ‘grapefruit’. It’s for a friend, but the only clue I’ll give as to who is this: if you hate pink, and I know it, then it isn’t you ;)
There are those among you (you know who you are) who looked at my photography and read about my experiences on our North Ontario road trip – Lake Superior, Highway 11 and all the rest – and only thought ‘ok… but what did you knit in all that car time?’. Here then, for the fiberphiles is what I worked on.
I knitted Jared Flood’s Guernsey Wrap for Tito. Looks nice, right? Good stitch definition, nice colour. It looks like it should have worked out, but alas, I’m not that happy with it. I’m going to be honest here and admit that I hate the yarn.
I bought it on Manitoulin Island, at a general store that had a corner dedicated to crafts. It’s Patons Decor, 75% acrylic and 25% wool. It’s stiff, and in the way of acrylic, a good solid blocking doesn’t do much for it. However, the yarn I had traveled with I hated even more… it was fuzzy and the stitch definition was terrible and I don’t know what possessed me, so I ended up going with a purchase from an extremely limited selection of which this seemed the least unpleasant. Serve me right.
Tito (what a sport) says he loves it, and it looks pretty darn good on him, it ended up at an impressive 80 x 13.5 inches and it weathered the trip well, having been knitted all over creation with the trucks cup holder serving as my yarn bowl.
I’m currently making him a matched hat (in Sweet Geogia this time) using the pattern ‘Dustland Hat’ by Stephen West. Has anyone else noticed how similar the two are? The geometrical patterns used to give texture are almost identical. I don’t know which came first but it seems like a crazy coincidence.
Clearly I’ve been spoiled by wools and merinos and alpaca silk blends… the return to acrylic was painful! For what it’s worth though I adore the wrap pattern (and the hat pattern) and will certainly make another one. Ravelry Project Page here.
I’ve been craving one of those long, loopy scarves – and I found the perfect solution in a free pattern by Madeline Tosh. The Honey Cowl uses up 2 skeins of DK weight yarn in a completely mindless, easy knit that works up fast!
Again, we’re taking the mirror route of photography here….
This slip stitch patten is unbelievably quick and mindless, a good TTC knit. I’m using 2 skeins of TFA Yellow Label DK weight yarn in ‘Deep Sea‘. Deep sea is my favourite these days….it’s taken over from Mallard ;) I love how this simple stitch pattern compliments the subtly varigated yarn.
The slip stitch pattern is also dense and warm. Both sides look lovely;
I could definitely have kept going – but there was a cold snap in Toronto and I wanted to wear it! I did have more than half my 2nd skein of TFA left over, so I’ll be making matching mittens.
My only pattern mods were that I went straight into the pattern without the stockinette border, and that I added a few inches to the length. The stitch pattern is easily modified to make it shorter or longer.
Did I mention that the pattern is available free on Ravelry? Pattern page here!
I finally got around to writing down the pattern for my Bay of Fundy scarf – a huge, soft, scarf/wrap that I whipped up on vacation while down east this autumn. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of a scarf on 3.5mm needles, the pattern is pretty mindless and easy (which is what made it a great vacation knit) and you’ll be done before you know it. If you choose the pattern can be easily adjusted to other yarns.
The pattern was inspired by the tides at the Bay of Fundy, as illustrated by my cheesy graphic: Go on and laugh, you know you want to.
It was the perfect solution for 2 skeins of TFA Purple label cashmere yarn. I was lucky enough to get my hands on 2 of her one-of-a-kind skeins at the knitters frolic this year but if you’re looking to match what I’ve done there is a colourway called, appropriately enough, Atlanic, which would do the trick nicely.
The scarf was mostly knitted at the Bay of Fundy, of course.
And the results are beautiful, cozy and wearable :)
PDF can be downloaded here.
Ravelry project page is here.
Feel free to email me with any questions. Enjoy!
I finally got around to photographing some of my finished work, and what could make a better shot than getting a lovely (and patient) girlfriend to model my work for me!
Yvette is modelling my Lacy V fingerless gloves and slouch hat in ocean blue merino. She’s holding one of my Wooly Teacups in purple and blue glaze with a crocheted cosy in gorgeous stormy hand-dyed yarn by Tanis Fiber Arts. She’s also wearing a diagonal lace scarf in turquoise lace-weight yarn.
She also helped me show off my Horseshoe Lace fingerless gloves and slouch hat, while holing one of my 4-colour glazed mugs.
And last, Horseshoe cable fingerless gloves in soft grey bamboo.
All of these items, and many more knitted, crocheted and ceramic pieces, as well as one of a kind handmade jewelry and original photography will be available for sale at my Christmas Gift Show this November 24th. More information coming soon!
