New Project, New Geometry

Triangles! I wanted a specific type of triangle, a tall, isosceles triangle, to be precise.
I couldn't find a pattern or a How to video, so I made one up. Here it is.

(These will be shrunk)

For these particular triangles (the finished project will be shared when it's done) I've used Safirgarn, which is DK, and size 10mm needles. (I've actually got one 10mm and 9mm... whoops!)


CO 2st

All rows begin with a S1. All M1 stitches are Knit into the front and the back, Kfb.

Row:
1:  M1, K1
2:  S1p, K2
3:  S1p, M1, K1
4  S1p, K1, PM, K2
5: (attach a marker to indicate that this is the front of the work) Work a Make Row.

A Make Row consists of, slip the first stitch purlwise, knit up to one stitch before the marker, then work a M1 either before the marker or after the marker.

The stitches before the marker and after the marker are where the increase happens.

You can determine whether to increase before or after the marker simply by counting how many stitches there are on either side. If the stitches are even, work a M1 before the marker. If there is an odd number of stitches, then work a M1 on whichever side needs an extra stitch.

Alternate a Make Row with a knit row until you have 16 stitches, or the desired amount of stitches. This can be any amount, as long as there is an equal number of stitches either side of the marker.

Cast off.

I will post the half triangle instructions at another time... it's been a long day!

Felting Fiasco (and How to Avoid It)

Below is a block of un-shrunk knitting (pre-shrunk cinjures up images of something else!)

All well and good.

This is what it should have looked like.

This is what it actually looks like!

Close up of good shrinkage.

Close up of bad shrinkage.

The problem was the green yarn is a superwash yarn, not of the same family as the other yarns used.

How did this happen?!

Here's how. Below is a photo of the superwash Rubin and the pure wool Safirgarn. The Safirgarn still has the label on, so it's easy to tell them apart.

Now look. Take the label off and they're twins!

This definitely isn't a new problem, and my solution most probably isn't unique, but here it is.

When you remove the lable from yarn, roll it up and tuck it into the belly of the ball!

Blue Cortina Hat pattern

All my patterns are written for people with a decent knowledge of knitting.
For this pattern, you need to be familiar with kint and purl stitches and what they look like on the needle.





Yarn: any super bulky (I used this) approximately 80-100metres/grammes
Needles: 9mm for casting on, 6mm circular & DPNs

With the 9mm needles, cast on 56 stitches.
Switch to 6mm needles, join work and work in K2, P2 rib stitch until work measures 9-10cm

M2, and just work moss stitch by working K2, P2.

Continue until work measures 26-28 cms.


For the crown. Place a marker. Make sure the next two stitches are to being Knit stitches (Purl stitches on the needle, if you know what I mean)
R1: *K2tog, P2tog and repeat from *to marker
R2: For the next row/round, K1, P1
R3: K2tog into the back of the stitches. repeat to marker. (You may have a single/odd stitch left. That's OK. Just transfer it to the other side of the marker and continue)
R4: Repeat R3 once more.

You should have just a few stitches left. Cut the yra, thread it onto a needle, slip the stitches onto the tapestry needle and pull tight. Weave in all ends, and you're done!

Felted Pillow

I've started another one of these... Felted Block Pillow

I went to find the pattern and the link's dead, so I'll make my own pattern for it at some point! :-)

Dear John Hat pattern

I just watched Dear John with Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, during which time, I knitting this hat.
Super Bulky yarn and thick gauge needles means this grows so fast, it's done before you know it!

Yarn: 
Naturgarn by Gjestal, or any Super Bulky (5-6 wpi) weight yarn.

Needles: 
10mm needles.
9mm, 80cms long circular needles or DPNs. 
(optional, 9mm, 60cm long circular needles.)
6mm, 80cm long circular needles or DPNs.


Instructions: 

Using any 10mm needles, cast on 52 stitches. 
Using a larger gauge needle to cast on gives a more comfortable fit.

Switch to 6mm needles and join work. Here you can use the double pointed needles or the Magic Loop method with longer circular needles . Try not to stretch the work out if using shorter circular needles.

K2, P2 until work measures 7cms.

Switch to 9mm or 10 mm needles and knit until work measures 23cm-24cm.
Place marker to shape crown.
Row/Round 1: K2, K2tog to marker.
Row/Round 2: Knit the next row/round.
Row/Round 3: K1, K2tog to marker.
Row/Round 4: Knit the next row/round.
Row/Round 5: K2tog to marker.
Row/Round 6: K2tog to marker.
Cut yarn, thread onto a tapestry needle and thread through the stitches, while removing the needles.
Pull tight and weave in ends.

The hat shown is worn with the reverse stocking stitch on the outside, but I actually neatened up the threads on the inside to make it reversible.

56 Double Hat pattern

This may need editing later, so if you find any mistakes or typos, please let me know.  :)

Pattern is for a single colour hat. For colour changes, work the first row of the new yarn in knit only.
(As demonstrated here.)

Using size 9mm needles and any super bulky yarn, cast on 56 stitches.

Join work to knit in the round (I used the magic loop method throughout... demo here).

K2, P2 until work measures 8 inches/20cms, or longer/shorter depending on how you want the hat. The finshed hat will be 1.5 inches/3cm longer than whatever your work measures before you start the decrease.

Place marker.

Knit all knit stitches together and purl all purl stitches together. 28 stitches remain.

K1, P1 to marker.

In my work, this resulted in the first stitch in the next round being a purl stitch, so I purled two together to the marker. If your first stitch after the marker is knit, knit two together all the way around to the marker. 14 stitches remain.

P2tog to marker. 7 stitches remain. Cut yarn and finish hat by threading the cut yarn onto a tapestry needle, pick up the stitches while removing the needles and pull tight to close the loop. sew in ends. How to end a hat demonstration here.

56 Double Hat

Here's a hat I've been meaning to knit for ages.

I made it from leftover bits of super bulky and I really like the way it's turned out... apart from the stripes, which don't suit me, unfortunately.

I'm going to publish a proper pattern later, but it's basically a double rib over 56 stitches... hence the name.