Chunky Blue Cable Cardigan!

I finally put buttons on this sweater I knit months ago in only 3 days! It was really hard to find big enough buttons, especially ones that I actually liked.

One fun tip I got today from the woman working at 3 Kittens Yarn Shop in Mendota Heights, MN (where I found the buttons) was to tie on the button and tie knots rather than the usual way of attaching buttons. This also saves you from more ends to weave in! I like the look personally!

Also, since I normally don't knit chunky things, I asked about weaving in ends, and the best way to hide them. She said that she splits the yarn making up the stitches with the needle, therefore making the woven-in end almost invisible on the outside.

The pattern is from the book Twinkle's Big City Knits, called "Best Friend Sweater." I did find it initially online though for free on www.canadianliving.com --> Chunky Cable Sweater

Knitting Tutorials

Knit.1 (the knitting magazine for "hip 18-35 knitters") has some really great knitting workshops on their website that I'd like to draw attention to. I am always looking for little tips and tricks to expand my knitting knowledge, and I highly recommend this: Knit.1 Knitting Workshops

I especially thought the ruffle tape looked like a cool thing to knit with.

Early Morning

Well, I am up bright and early this morning to go to my State Fair orientation.... training for working the information booth. This year we are getting computers so maybe that will cut down on people who get annoyed if you don't know really obscure things.

So it's my goal to finish the Silver Belle Sweater from the Vogue Knitting Fall 2007 magazine before school starts. Even though I am a fast knitter, it may be somewhat unrealistic, but why not. I've made a quite a bit more progress on the sleeve and could probably finish my first sleeve in a few days.

I made a dumb mistake on the bottom part. I read the cable chart backwards for about an inch. Hm. Oh well, not too noticeable. No way I was going back though, since just an inch took about 5 hours because there were well over 400 stitches in a row.

Mittens!

Mittens are definitely my favorite thing to knit. There are just so many beautiful patterns out there. They are also small, but can still challenging projects. I am absolutely in love with Latvian mittens personally.

So, one tip that I have for jazzing up a pair of traditional looking mittens and turning them into a hipper looking accessory is to use non-traditional colors on a traditional color pattern. I think this creates a very playful effect (i.e. purple and green norwegian mitts!).

Visor Beanie Pattern

Well I finished the hat commission! I think it turned out nicely being the first visor I have ever made and all. Here is the pattern!:

Visor Beanie Pattern
­­­This pattern is done in 1×1 ribbing. It’s up to you what kind of color pattern you use. I personally chose to do a rainbow-striped one.

Materials:

• D.K. weight yarn
• US #5 16" circular needles
• 5 US #5 double-pointed needles
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Plastic canvas
• Sewing pins
• Embroidery and/or sewing needle
• Button thread in matching color (to stitch visor in place)

Gauge: 6 sts/in

Calculate Stitches:
For a women’s size, I cast on 126 stitches.If you wish to make a size other than the standard women’s, measure around the thickest part of the head above the ears, then subtract 1” and multiply by gauge (6)

Directions:
Cast on calculated amount of stitches using tubular cast-on

Work in 1×1 ribbing for 5 inches. (This is the point that you will fold the edge up to creating the cuff after the hat is knit. Here is where you can switch colors if you want the body to be a different color from the cuff.)

Continue in 1×1 ribbing for 4.5 inches (this is for the women’s size, judge to the best of your ability if you think it should be lengthened or shortened)

Now increase or decrease to make number of stitches a multiple of 8 and split number of stitches into 8 even sections and place markers to begin decreases, switch to dp needles when necessary

K2tog before every maker every other row and cont. for 2 inches

Begin K2tog before every marker every row

Bind off when 8 stitches remain

Finishing:
Weave in ends

Using of the plastic canvas, cut 1 visor using the visor template

Fold up the hat so that the edge meets 5 inches in (2.5 inches in length when folded)

Carefully (don’t snag the hat!) tuck in the visor, stretching the ribbing out across (make sure that the edge still lines up at the 5 inches mark above the visor too)

When satisfied, put sewing pins in to hold it in place

Stitch the visor in securely with the button thread. (Personally, I would sew through the yarn, splitting it to make it extra secure.)

Tacking down the rest of the ribbing is optional

Teeth and Hats

Today is going on the 5th day of suffering through having my wisdom teeth pulled. The pain isn't too terrible anymore, but I guess now it's just the boredom that is getting to me. Probably why I decided to start this blog!

Well anyway, I think I will complete the hat that I am doing for a commission today. The girl lost a hat that apparently meant a lot to her. It was a rainbow striped beanie, but now she also wants a visor added onto the recreation. I really hope the visor part goes well! I have it figured out in my head how to do such a thing after look at countless images, but I guess the hard part is making sure I cut out the correct shape for it.

I will post my the pattern I made for it later. It's really pretty simple.