I finished up the End of May hat on Monday night. This project was so much fun and I'm officially addicted to stranded knitting. I've got lots of yarn left over, so I will be making the matching mittens to go along with the hat.
Here's the details:
Pattern: End of May Hat by Zig Zag Stitch
Yarn: Berocco Ultra Alpaca
Needles: US4
Size: Large (next time I will do the smaller size and use size 3 needles)
Notes: I guess I had some gauge issues with this hat, because it turned out a tad too big for my head (width and lengthwise). I remedied the situation by tossing it in the dryer for 10 minutes. The hat fits much better now and doesn't cover my eyes when I pull it down all the way.
Rav link: craftr's End of May
I've been trolling Ravelry for fun colorwork patterns now that I can officially add colorwork as one of my knitting skills. I discovered SpillyJane Knits through a Ravelry ad last year and now I'm ready to take the plunge to make up some of her cute mitten patterns. My favorites are the Swedish Fish Mittens and the Carrots and Beets Mittens.
Before I stock up on fingering weight yarn and tiny needles, I plan to make the Chevron Love Mittens with this Farmer's Market Kit that I bought last winter. It hurts me a little to wind up these cute little hanks of yarn into balls, but I've got to bite the bullet, right?
I also finished this scarf made out of the handspun that I bought last Saturday. I based it loosely on the Noro Striped Scarf pattern.
Here's the Details:
Yarn: Handspun by hands + notions (130 yards of wool locks, silk and alpaca)
Takhi Sedona in off white (2 skeins held doubled)
Needles: Size 10.5
Pattern: Cast on 17 stitches. K1p1 alternating between 2 rows of natural yarn and 2 rows of handspun yarn, slipping the first stitch of each row.
Size: 5 inches by 84 inches
Notes: The Sedona yarn was really great to work with. It's a nubby thick worsted and really soft. I'd definitely use it again. Now, I think I'm a little hooked on handspun yarn. I will be desperately trying to keep myself from picking up another hobby. Wish me luck!
Rav link: craftr's Handspun Scarf
• • •
We had a very productive day at our house! We cleaned it from top to bottom (including the fridge!) and we put up all of our Christmas decorations.
Bring on the hot chocolate and Christmas tunes on repeat for the next month!
That is a great looking scarf, I should really learn to knit, i need a portable craft!I also love your living room, it looks so warm and cozy...but it appears all of your hard work has tuckered poor Jon out! I love it.
Posted by: erica | 27 November 2009 at 08:32 PM
LOVE! I just bought the sweedish fish pattern, and I think I, too, discovered it through a Rav advertisement. I love the chevrons too. You're on a roll!
Posted by: Mandy | 27 November 2009 at 08:46 PM
Wow, your apt does look super clean, and very modern!
Cheers,
Christine :)
Posted by: christine | 27 November 2009 at 09:35 PM
Gorgeous hat and scarf - you're going to be so warm this winter! The tree looks great, all ready for presents. Are you listening to the radio station that plays just Christmas songs now? I keep forgetting!
Posted by: Allie | 27 November 2009 at 11:33 PM
I love the stitched looking edge on your hat. I also love the juxtaposition of your Christmas tree against that large birch tree painting. Your living room is fabulous looking!
Posted by: Anne | 28 November 2009 at 07:09 AM
i love your scarf and hat!! looks really warmy. that chevron mittens pattern looks fantastic, you are really great kniting!! your place is so cool! very clean and modern! have a great weekend!
Posted by: RosaMaría | 28 November 2009 at 09:06 AM
The hat and scarf are fabulous! I would like to eventually try using more than one color in knitting - but am a little afraid of it right now.
Your living room looks great! You are definitely ready for the holidays. Your stuffing recipe looks so good, too. We're having another Thanksgiving dinner today - I'm considering making your stuffing!
Posted by: MichelleB | 28 November 2009 at 12:11 PM
the hat looks fantastic! and i looooove the scarf.
that mitten kit is so beautiful, i understand your pain in not wanting to disturb the sweet little skeins.
and hooray for properly-timed christmas trees!! :)
we'll be putting ours up when we get home tomorrow.
Posted by: melissa | 28 November 2009 at 03:10 PM
Cool hat, love the design. Can't wait to see the mittens you make, I love the swedish fish ones too! We put our tree up today, but only after rearranging two rooms in our house. We were in the mood to try something new. I'm so beat now! Your room looks so modern, is that a mural on the wall or a large painting on a canvas? Very cool.
Posted by: Stephanie | 28 November 2009 at 09:42 PM
wow, wow, double wow! you are on a productive streak! love the hat! love the scarf! love the potential mittens! is that on ravelry! And christmas already. My hubby won't let me decorate for at least 2 weeks yet.
Posted by: darlene | 28 November 2009 at 11:37 PM
Great great hat. I love the way the colors go together.
Posted by: Rima Aranha | 29 November 2009 at 03:06 AM
Color work always scares me but I do want to learn! I'm so inspired with all your finished projects *and* your holiday decorations up!
Posted by: jessica | 29 November 2009 at 11:25 AM
Wow, guess I need to get the Halloween decorations down...
I LOVE the aspen (or is it Birch?) painting behind the tree. Did you do it?
Added your blog link.
Posted by: sew katie did | 29 November 2009 at 11:30 PM
Gorgeous hat! I love that deep shade of purple. I am in awe of your knitting skills.
I just finished a scarf for my daughter with alternating colors. The directions say to tie the ends (cut) and weave the ends into the scarf. Well, my ends kept on popping out. How do I keep them hidden in the scarf?
Posted by: Claudia | 30 November 2009 at 01:17 PM
Your house looks awesome!
The hat is beautiful. Your handspun scarf is truly unique with the handspun in it. Great knitting! I got that mitten also.
Posted by: Oiyi | 30 November 2009 at 07:00 PM
Well aren't you just the master knitter? If you need some advice on mittens, look up Jan at Be*mused. She has knitted many gorgeous and complicated looking ones!
I look forward to the day when we can again put the Christmas tree on the floor :)
Posted by: Cascade Lily | 30 November 2009 at 09:36 PM
I am continually in awe of your knitting skills. It's something I need to improve at.
Posted by: Jessica Christensen | 01 December 2009 at 09:06 AM
Nice job on the hat....Can't wait to see the mittens. I must really get my house decorated and fridge cleaned too!
Posted by: Jodi | 01 December 2009 at 05:17 PM
loved seeing sneak peeks of your VERY clean house! wanna come and help me clean and decorate?? :)
Posted by: amandajean | 02 December 2009 at 09:21 AM
love your knits! they're beautiful and very impressive! i am also totally drooling over that mitten pattern you picked out- can't wait to see you work your magic!
Posted by: CMV | 03 December 2009 at 07:30 PM
The hat looks great. I really like the chevron mitten pattern. I might have to send that pattern to a favorite knitter of mine and see if she will make them for me -- I'm a crocheter, so .... I love yarn as much as I love fabric. Previous to blogging, I really just knew about Red Heart acrylic yarn. Now that I've used artsy new blends, I'm never going back!
Posted by: Michele C | 05 December 2009 at 09:03 AM
will you look at that adorable bag of yarn? i want to get my hands on it!
Posted by: montague | 08 December 2009 at 02:41 PM
Love it all! Fantastic job as always!
Posted by: cami | 10 December 2009 at 04:05 PM
Your hat is wonderful, and I think I need to do some colorwork. I LOVE those mittens.
Posted by: Lynn | 18 December 2009 at 03:59 PM