Fiber Fool

What can I say? I’m a hat girl :-) Good thing hats look good on me (at according Charla)! This week I kicked out another two hats in the evenings. Above is a no-swatch, any gauge, any size fair isle hat taking a bath in grapefruit scented Eucalan. That was the first hat I completed this week.

Pattern: My Own Fair Isle Workshop Pattern
Yarn: Crystal Palace Créme (60/40 wool/silk, 124 yds/50 gm), 2009 Royal Blue & 2015 Henna
Needles: US8 DPNs and 16″ Circular
Size: ~20.25 to fit my 22.5″ head
Notes: Next time I’d opt for just a tad less depth. Probably as little as 1/2 inch shorter. Since it was knit top down I could have done that, but my anal side wanted a certain about of blue on the bottom and so the edges didn’t curl there is a minimum of ribbing to put at the bottom as well.

The second hat I knit last is yet another Ganomy, but this time with several mods. I want to knit a few different gauges so I’m certain my formulas for knitting it at any size and any gauge hold. I also wanted some examples of modifications that the students can see in person and handle and even try on if desired.

Pattern: Ganomy Hat
Designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann
Source: Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac
Yarn: Bulky Handspun - Frosted Pumpkin Patch (75 yds/3 oz of wool/alpaca blend)
Needles: US11 DPNs and 16″ Circ
Size: ~20″
Notes: I opted for a seed stitch edge rather than garter this time. I inverted the ssk and k2tog over the ears for a softer, less bulky line. I also increased the decrease rate on the top for a more snug fit and to use less yarn as I was nearing the end. But I really like the silhouette of the more form fitting top. I think I shall play around with that some more in the future.

I have to say I’m loving knitting hats and mittens right now! It makes me feel so productive :-) It has also been stimulating ideas and thoughts. Then there is the added bonus of it giving me something to blog about - twice in one week! Woot!

I’ve already completed 4 finished objects already this year (two of which I can’t share, sorry). This weekend was Elizabeth Zimmermann and British mystery and drama weekend in my house. I had some class samples I needed to get knit up soon so they could be on display at Nanytutu’s. So I knit a pair of Mitered Mittens and a Ganomy hat, both of which are from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac. Without surprise, both projects were quick knits that produced great results.

While knitting up these samples DH and I watched the 1985 version of Bleak House, the first half of Tess of the d’Urbervilles (from Masterpiece Theater a couple weeks ago), and many, many episodes of Midsomer Murders. One has to love the ability to check out DVDs from the public library! Though I have to say I am finding the way the hold system works quite confusing. I had stuff on hold that was currently checked in and several of them were check out anyway instead of going to the hold shelf for me to pick up.

Pattern: Mittered Mittens
Designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann
Needles: Set of 5 US8 DPNs (bamboo - Clover I think)
Yarn: Brown Sheep’s Lanaloft Worsted (the newish mohair-free equivalent to Lamb’s Pride Worsted),
LL91W Herbal Garden, 100% Wool, 160 yds / 100 gm
Modifications: I made a longer and snugger cuff as well as added a thumb gusset.
Notes: The addition of the gusset and the longer cuff had me cutting it really close to get a pair out of one skein, but I made it with ~2 yards left when all was said and done. Phew! I found the yarn great to work with. It was quite consistent in thickness and very soft. It made me think of a more consistent Manos del Uraguay (or perhaps Malabrigo, though I haven’t worked with that yet). Dumb luck allowed me to get the striping that shows off the clever construction so well, but it makes for a fun pair of mittens that I’m sure will be quite warm. While the singles yarn may not be the most durable, it is quite lofty providing lots of insulating air in the fabric of the mittens.

Pattern: Ganomy Hat
Designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann
Needles: 16″ Circular and Set of 4 US9 DPNs
Yarn: Tahki Donegal Tweed Homespun, 853, 100% Wool, 183 yds / 100 gm
Modifications: I had a gauge of 4.5 sts/in rather than the called for 4 sts/in so I CO 88 sts, then increased to 92 after the garter stitch and worked most of the rest as written. I also decided to opt for the tassel (not shown at left) on the tip rather than the called for pom pom. In general I find tassels to hold up to handling and wear a bit better and since this will be on display at a yarn shop where it will be fondles and handled a lot I felt that was a better option.
Notes: This yarn was also nice to work with. It isn’t near as soft as the Lanaloft though. It did, however, soften measurably after the wash in SOAK. I still don’t think I’d want to use it for say a cowl or scarf, but I don’t think it will bother as a hat. Your mileage may vary though.

I have to say that knitting up these samples has me even more excited to teach the EZ’s Mighty Miters class. There is so much room for so many modifications as well as translating the patterns or different sizes and gauges. It’s too bad I won’t have enough time to knit all the different permutations that are floating around in my head. But, there are more patterns for me to get written and knit up and other class samples that need knit up as well. Anyway, these should be at the shop this week so if you are in the area look around for them at Nanytutu’s!

I am thinking that dedicating the weekends to mostly knitting rather than computer work is a great way to still have what feels like a weekend, even though I’m really working 7 days a week. Plus, knitting is more social than pattern writing or doing the books so if something comes up I can still make forward progress while being social.

Also, thank you to Matara for being my model. You did great and the hat looks fantastic on you!

I’m excited to announce some fun classes for early 2009. In addition to teaching at My Sister Knits in Fort Collins, I will now also be teaching at Nanytutu’s in Wellington, CO.

Some of the classes on the schedule:

• Archimedes 3-in-1 Hat - learn top-down, no-swatch techniques for hat and beret knitting, including a variety of techniques for starting and finishing a top-down hat.
• February Lady Sweater - for those who don’t want to spend hours reading through forums on Ravelry to help choose the right size and modification, sign up for the class and I’ll help you make the decisions right for your body.
• Triple-T Socks - for those with second sock syndrome, learn to knit two socks on two circs from the toe-up.
• EZ’s Miters - explore different methods of increasing and decreasing to create miters, then choose your favorites to make Elizabeth Zimmermann’s mitered mittens and ganomy hat from Knitter’s Almanac.
• Colorwork Hat Workshop - wanting to learn more about two-handed colorwork knitting? Learn the tips and tricks of fair isle knitting while working up a hat in this all-day workshop.

Get more detailed descriptions and the schedule on the Fiber Arts Classes page. Also, for those who use Google Calendar or other calendar or scheduling software you can view the teaching schedule in HTML (and add relevant events to your own Google Calendar), XML, or iCal formats.

Pattern: Mitered Diamond Bag (Rav)
Designer: Kristi Schueler
Source: Interweave Felt 2008 (on newsstands September 9th)
Yarn: 7 colors of Manos del Uraguay
Needles: US 11
Made For: Class Sample

A couple weeks ago I knit a second Mitered Diamond Bag (no, I haven’t shown it) because I needed a class sample before I’ll have the original returned to me. I used some scraps and some full skeins of Manos del Uraguay that Amanda destashed and two additional colors I bought to tie the bag together. There are 7 or 8 colors (I don’t recall) in this version. With all these colors I’ve called it my Technicolor Dream Bag, LOL!

The original bag will be in the special issue of IK Felt 2008. It uses Cascade 220 and uses 4 colors for the body and black for the handles.

The Manos version shown in this post resulted in a thicker bag which held the creases more sharply than the original Cascade 200 version in the magazine. But I love them both. For me, these fun shaped bags are all about the unique shape and the colors. They make a statement.

That doesn’t mean the bag needs to be knit from a riot of colors like I have done. In fact, I’ll be knitting a third one before the holidays in shades of tan, gray, and brown for my mom. A neutral one will still make a statement. Or throw in a rich brown or a black with the colors to tone things down a tad. The bag is a blank canvas just waiting for your own signature color combination.

It can be a great project to use up scraps as each section takes only ~1/2 ounce of worsted weight feltable wool yarn. Even if the colors of your scraps seem too scattered and unconnected they can often be pulled together with the purchase of only one or two additional colors making it an economical project.

I’ll be teaching two class sessions of this bag over the next few months. For each, the first class will include some discussion of color theory and guidance on choosing and/or placing your colors on the bag. I do request that if you can take a weekday class that you please sign up for that session and leave the Saturday session open for those who cannot take a weekday class. Enrollment is open now, just stop in at My Sister Knits or call (970) 407-1461 and reserve your place with a credit card.

Today I’m away from the computer all day for some fun. I don’t think it could have come at a better time. This heat has me vying for the Ms. Crankypants 2008 crown.

The above picture is something that has been occupying the few moments I can stand having a large woolly object sitting in my lap for the past couple weeks. It should have taken me less than a week to knit, but the size and our heat slowed me down. It wasn’t so bad though. Pacing my work on that freed me to get a few more designs in process.

I still can’t tell you what that photo above is. It’s a second of a design that will be hitting newsstands in early September. So, I’m hopeful the web page about it and that will be up soon so I can share more with you.

I can give you a hint - I’m teaching two class sessions on it in the upcoming months. I knit it a second time because I need a class sample and can’t be sure to get my original item back in time. I think the class will be lots of fun and I hope to help everyone be brave in their color choices (though that isn’t required, I’ll be making a third before too long in a palette of neutral colors for my mom). Either way, in the class you’ll learn more than just new knitting techniques. You’ll learn some fundamentals of color theory as well!