Podcast

Hello all! As you may or may not know I am a huge fan of knitting podcasts. I listen to them all day, every day. So as a result, I have decided to make a No Idle Hands Podcast. You can find me on iTunes as No Idle Hands and the show notes will be posted here. Hope you enjoy it as I know I enjoyed making the first episode.
In other news, I am working on what I'm calling the Cheerful Rainbow Popsicle Socks using a vanilla toe up sock recipe. They're made from Knit Picks Felici in the Rainbow colorway. I have the first sock done and I'm finished with the provisional cast on for the second one.

I'm still working on the Swallowtail Shawl and that's really all I've been working on for the last couple days. I did have some major yarn acquisition yesterday. Jo Anne's was having a sock yarn clearance and I bought about 10 balls of sock yarn for like $22. Yay!!
Well that's all I have, take care everyone!!

Another Update

Hello all!
First I'd like to thank you for the kind comments on my patterns. Not too much thought went into those but they all turned out quite nicely. Please add me on Ravelry if you haven't already, my user name is MissKatPegasus. So let's get down to what I've been knitting.

For mother's day I made my mom the Holden Shawlette (yes I made another Holden Shawlette). And yet again it turned out beautifully.

I finished that while I was on the most stressful vacation in the world.

First it started with this:

And it ended in having almost everything on my brakes replace to the tune of about $650. Being stranded in Tennessee with no brakes was not the best feeling in the world but I made it back to our fair city in one piece thankfully.

This is what I saw while I was adventuring Tennessee:

The Chatanooga Art Museum. It was closed but it was still beautiful from the outside.

This horse is made out of metal even though it looks like drift wood. Pretty neat, huh?

I think this boat is a restaurant. It was really cool to watch.

I have one other FO I'll be sharing with you today. I'm proud to announce that I have successfully knit my first pair of socks!! I used the Lisa's Basic Toe Up Socks pattern and I could not be happier with them. They are knit in Paton's Kroy Socks in the Sailor Stripes colorway. The best part is it only took about a week to make them. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm actually considering joining the 52 pair plunge next year.

One WIP I've been slowly working on is the Twist caridigan, which I have affectionately renamed the Pretzel Sweater. I'm making it out of Knit Picks WOTA in the Indigo Heaher colorway. Here's a small bit of what the yarn and pattern looks like.

I'll do just a quick update on the wedding (this will not be anything close to a wedding blog so don't get your hopes up). We're less than 4 months away from the big day. I've finished the first of four shawls that I'm knitting for the wedding. The first shawl is the Seascape Stole. I knit it in Knit Picks Gloss in the Fiesta colorway. I don't think I'll be posting pictures of the shawls until after the wedding when I do a recap just because I want there to be some kind of semi-suprise factor sort of like what the wedding dress looks like.

Well tootles for now and TTFN!! 

The Gabby Headband Pattern

Who is Gabby and why does she get a headband? Well, she is a good friend who happened to have a birthday last week and I needed to whip something up for her real quick. So she also gets a knitting pattern named after her. Unfortunately, I forgot to give it to her (I might just keep it, it's so cute!)

Materials:
2 Size 7 US Double Pointed Needled
1 skein (you won't even scratch the surface because this uses so little yarn) Lion Brand Amazing in the Mauna Loa Colorway

Gauge:
Let's skip that, shall we?

Abbreviations: CO- Cast On, K- Knit, K2tog- Knit two stitches together, M1- Make One, P- Purl, Sts- Stitches, YO- Yarn Over



Ready? Ok!


This headband uses the application of I Cord. Actually it was the first time I ever used I Cord. Don't know how to make an I Cord? This is good practice.


CO 3 stitches (make sure you're using double points or this won't work)
Slide the stitches to the other end of the double point so the yarn is coming from the wrong end. 
Knit these stitches. You'll be making a mini tube of knitting.
Continue until you have 8 inches of I Cord.


Increase Rows:
Don't move the stitches to the end of the needle, we're going to knit like normal people now.
Row 1: K1, M1, K2 (4)
Row 2: K4 (4)
Row 3: K1, M1, K1, M1, K2 (6)
Row 4: K2, P2, K2 (6)
Row 5: K2, M1, K3, K2 (8)
Row 6: K2, P4, K2 (8)
Row 7: K2, M1, K4, M1, K2 (10)
Row 8: K2, P6, K2 (10)


Pattern Rows (For argues sake we'll say there's a right and wrong side. The right side will have the knit stitches in the center but you can wear it any way). 


RS: K2, P2, K2, P2, K2 (10)
WS: K4, P2, K4 (10)


Repeat these rows until piece measures 16" not including the I Cord. End with a right side row.


Decrease Rows:
Row 1: K4, K2tog, K4 (9)
Row 2: K2, P5, K2 (9)
Row 3, K1, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K1 (7)
Row 4: K2, P3, K2 (7)
Row 5: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1 (5)
Row 6: K Across (5)
Row 7, K1, K2tog, K1 (4)
Row 8: K1, K2tog, K1 (3)


Now make 8 more inches of I Cord and bind off. Weave in ends and enjoy :)


Take care everyone!

Garter Ridge Shawl Pattern

Another pattern, you say? For you? Anytime!
I call this the Garter Ridge Shawl Pattern and it is very similar to the Stockinette Shawl Pattern other than the garter ridges at the bottom of the shawl. As you can see, I don't wear my shawls the traditional way, I prefer to wear them with the point in the front. This seems to be the fashion now a days and I quite like it. Well, on with the show!

Materials:
Size 6 US 16" Circular Needles
2 skeins of Lion Brand Amazing in the Glacier Bay Colorway
Stitch Markers

Gauge:
Let's skip that, shall we?

Abbreviations: CO- Cast On, K- Knit, P- Purl, Sts- Stitches, YO- Yarn Over

Ready? Are you sure? Ok, GO!

CO 3 Sts and K 6 rows. Do not turn the last row. Pick up 3 stitches on the edge garter ridges then pick up 3 stitches on the CO edge.

Row 1: K3, P3, K3

Row 2: K3, place marker, YO, K1, YO, place marker, K1 (center stitch), YO, K1, YO, place marker, K3

Row 3 and all wrong side rows: K3, slip marker, P to marker, slip marker, P to next marker, K3

Row 4 and all right side rows: K3, slip marker, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K3.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 (pattern rows) 41 times.

Ridges:

(WS) K across.

(RS): Repeat row 4

(WS): K across

Repeat this section one more time.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 twice.

Repeat Ridge Rows.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 twice.

Repeat Ridge Rows.

Bind off with a stretchy bind off. 

Block according to yarn manufacturer's label.

Enjoy!

Take care everyone!

Stockinette Shawl Pattern

As promised, here's a free pattern. I call it the Stockinette Shawl. It's not exactly an original idea, but I felt like it's not written down (that I can find, if you have a pattern written out, please let me know so I can credit you. I didn't find this pattern anywhere online, it came from my brain, which is a very scary place.) and would be a nice, easy project for beginners. It's so easy and a great way to show slow repeating self striping yarn.

'

Materials: Size 6 US 16" Circular Needles
2 skeins of Lion Brand Amazing in the Mauna Loa colorway
Stitch Markers

Gauge: Not important.

Abbreviations: CO- Cast On, K- Knit, P- Purl, Sts- Stitches, YO- Yarn Over

Ready....Set....GO!

CO 3 Sts and K 6 rows. Do not turn the last row. Pick up 3 stitches on the edge garter ridges then pick up 3 stitches on the CO edge.

Row 1: K3, P3, K3
Row 2: K3, place marker, YO, K1, YO, place marker, K1 (center stitch), YO, K1, YO, place marker, K3
Row 3 and all wrong side rows: K3, slip marker, P to marker, slip marker, P to next marker, K3
Row 4 and all right side rows: K3, slip marker, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K1, YO, K to marker, YO, slip marker, K3.

Continue Rows 3 and 4 until you only have enough yarn to bind off. End with Row 3. I did a bind off by knitting through the back loop, which made for a stretchier edging. This shawl has an intentional curl to it even after blocking. If you don't want a curl, do 3-5 rows of garter stitch edging and it will lay flat.

Block according to yarn manufacturer's label.

This pattern is so simple, I really don't care what you do with it but please don't go commercial with it.

Enjoy! I hope you liked this pattern. Look for more in the future.

Lots of news..

Hello everyone! First and foremost:

I'm engaged! Wedding date is Nov 5th, we are so excited. You can see hidden pictures of my fiance in the Men's Glove pattern that was on a previous entry. Also, his shoe is in the above photo. I have 3 patterns that I designed and will be posting here throughout the week. Here's a preview:

Garter Ridge Shawl:

The Gabby Headband:

Stockinette Shawl:

I've been knitting ALOT in the last few weeks. I've also not been in the best of health, which is the reason I haven't been blogging lately. I'm better now so you should expect regular blogs from me now. I have lots of pictures to share with you.

Firstly, I finished the Wurm Hat. This pattern is very easy and nice to knit. It was the first time I ever did a knitted hem and I really like the way it looks. I knit it from Knit Picks Imagination in the Frog Prince colorway. Again, I love Knit Picks Imagination, though it does look a bit hairy from the alpaca fiber content.

Next I knit 2 The Age of Brass and Steam kerchiefs. The first one I knit from Noro Kureyon. I really don't like this yarn. It had a lot of knots in it and it wasn't the softest yarn (it actually rubbed a raw spot on my finger). I love the colors though. I'm going to try the Silk Garden to see if it's easier on my hands because I really do love the colors.

The second on I made from Shunklies Superwash Merino sock yarn in a blue green variation. Colors are nice are bright and the yarn is super soft. I'd recommend looking into this yarn. I was really impressed with the communication and the packaging that she sent. She sent a cute little stitch marker and a hand written thank you note. It made me feel like a valued customer. 

Next I have pictures of my Holden Shawlette. Again, this pattern is awesome and fun to knit. I was having one more row syndrome knitting this whole shawl and I think it came out perfect. I knit it in Knit Picks Imagination in the Looking Glass Colorway.

I'm actually knitting another Holden right now in Knit Picks Stroll Sport in the Aloha colorway. It looks a bit like camouflage but I still like it. Most of the items I knit are going to be gifts with the exception of the Wurm and the Holden Shawlette. They are too perfect to give away. 

Now I need to think about wedding knitting. I'm still trying to find the perfect shawl to knit for myself and as a gift I'm planning on knitting shawls from my 2 beautiful bridesmaids. So the last few weeks have been overwhelming and exciting. If anyone has any suggestions on patterns I'd really appreciate it. I've been thinking that the Seascape Shawl from Knitty would be the closest to what I'm looking for. A nice lacy stole would be perfect. If you can't tell I've been a little kerchief crazy lately, they're fun to knit and a relatively quick project. I'm actually gearing up to knit my first sweater. I'm ordered the yarn and pattern for the Twist Cardigan from Chic Knits. I can't wait!

Cheers!

Liz

#5 and The Debacle

Oh dear....Oh man....I have a story for you.

This is Cait Sith

And this is Leo.

.

Awwww. Aren't they cute? Don't you want to just hug them and pinch their tiny little cheeks?

No!

I want to pull their tails!

And kick them.

Let me explain.

This is my first lace project.

Notice something missing?
Like a ball of yarn.
The little shits tore my lace from the ball and got my lace stuck on the needles because they stretched out the cord and the lace was stuck on the cable. AUGH AUGH AUGH!! So I threw the whole mess out, needles and all. I'm buying nice needles next time where that won't happen.
Ok I'm done.

I finished the Holden Shawlette yesterday and I haven't had enough time to get pictures yet, so those are to come. I must thank Shelly from KNOTS for telling I wrap my purls wrong. It's been a struggle to remember to do it correctly but I'm making an effort. Next on my needles is a hat for my friend Jake, who is active in the Gay Straight Lesbian Alliance. You'll see what I mean when I get pictures of the hat. I've already knit it once and it would have fit, well, maybe a 10 year old so I ripped the whole thing out.

Well frustrating week all in all but it's life. Hope you guys had a better week than I did.
Take care and TTFN!
Liz