Owlets Everywhere

they're dooone!

Well, almost. I still need to add some button eyes but I officially have two owlet sweaters knitted, blocked and wearable. Now I just need some babies to fill them!
I had originally planned to just knit a sweater for my little one due early next year but they are just so stinking adorable, I couldn't resist knitting one for my little 1 year old niece.
They were such fun, fast little projects. Of course there are still little slip-ups here and there but let's hope no one can see them but me!

 

Yarn Used: Misti Alpaca Tonos Worsted (on closeout here)
Three hanks was enough for both sweaters (knitted in 6 and 12 month sizes) with enough left over for another small project (maybe ear warmers).

Pattern: Owlet by Kate Davies (available for purchase here)

TT Cowl

The TT cowl is a slightly adapted version of this lovely pattern generously offered for free on revelry by Marilyn Phillippi. I used the same yarn that was used in the Vicki Fingerless Gloves.

My cowl is slightly less wide with  fewer buttons than the original. Also, I confess that it could clearly use some steam blocking but it's such a cozy little knit! Here is an important lesson learned: Use stitch-makers! Can you get by without them?....sure, but seriously, why did I give myself the heartburn of stitches dropped in mysterious locations? Lesson learned. Stitch markers are now my best friend.

As we head into fall, I just can't get enough of these transitional knits! How does the season affect your knitting habits?

Michael Scarf

My Christmas knitting exploits are well on their way and among them is the Michael scarf.
 

Materials:

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky, 6 skeins (750 yards)

shown in color 7206 Light Gray

1 set US #11 Needles (As you can see, I used a magic loop and just knit back and forth on it)

Cabling needle

Cast on 40 stitches using your preferred cast on method (I prefer the long tail method).
To create the ripping K2, P2 for 16 rows.

After 16 rows (or once you have the ribbing to the desired length finishing at an even row), begin pattern as shown below:

Round 1   [fs]: P1, K6, P1, K4, P1, K7, P1, K7, P1, K4, P1, K6, P1
Round 2   [bs]: K1, P6, K1, P4, K1, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K1, P4, K1, P6, K1
Round 3   [fs]: P1, C6F, P6, K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5, P6, C6B, P1
Round 4   [bs]: K1, P6, K6, P4, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P4, K6, P6, K1
Round 5   [fs]: P1, K6, P1, K4, P1, K3, P1, K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, P1, K3, P1, K4, P1, K6, P1
Round 6   [bs]: K1, P6, K1, K1, P4, K1, P2, K1, P1, K1, P5, K1, P1, K1, P2, K1, P4, K1, P6, K1
Round 7   [fs]: P1, K6, P6, K1, P1, K1 P1, K7, P1, K1, P1, K1, P6, K6, P1
Round 8   [bs]: K1, P6, K6, P2, K1, P1, K1, P5, K1, P1, K1, P2, K6, P6, K1
Round 9   [fs]: P1, C6F, P1, K4, P1, K3, P1, K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, P1, K3, P1, K4, P1, C6B, P1
Round 10 [bs]: K1, P6, K1, P4, K1, P4, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P4, K1, P4, K1, P6, K1
Round 11 [fs]: P1, K6, P6, K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K5, P6, K6, P1
Round 12 [bs]: K1, P6, K6, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K6, P6, K1 

Repeat rounds 1-12 until scarf is the desired length. K2, P2 for 16 rows (or an equivalent number of rows to what you did in the beginning) and cast off loosely.

Be sure to block the scarf or it will not lie flat.

Vicki Fingerless Gloves

I recently rediscovered this pattern I came up with a couple of years ago for fingler-less gloves. It looks like I got 90% complete but forgot to write up knitting off the three fingers and the knitting of the thumb. I hate to post an incomplete pattern but I also hate to see this lovely option go to waste. If anyone is daring enough to give this pattern a shot and complete the missing parts, I would love to see it!

Materials:

blue sky alpaca silk, 1 skein (146 yards)

shown in color 138 

1 set US #2 (2.72mm) DPNs

Stitch Markers

Tapestry needle

Cabling needle

Size:

Ladies' small/medium

Pattern:

Left Glove

Cast on 54 stitches, divided between 3 needles

*KTB1, P1, repeat from * around.

Repeat for 11 more rows

Add one stitch and and begin the lase panel as follows:

Round 1: K6, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, (K2tog, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, S1, K1, PSSO,) P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 2: K6, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, K7, P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 3: K6, P2, C4B, P2, K2, P2, (  K2tog, YO, K3, YO, S1,  K1, PSSO,) P2, K2, P2, C4F, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 4: as rnd 2

Round 5: K6, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, (K1, YO, S1, K1, PSSO, K1, K2tog, YO, K1,) P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 6: as rnd 2

Round 7: K6, P2, C4B, P2, K2, P2, (K2, YO, S1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K2), P2, K2, P2, C4F, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 8: as rnd 2

Repeat Rounds 1-8 and begin thumb gusset adding 1 stitch on each side of the thumb gusset (starting at the first stitch and 3rd from the end leaving two stitches in the middle of the gasset). Continue to add stitches on the 1st and 4th row of pattern util gusset consists of 14 stitches. Knit through to round 8 stopping at the thumb gusset marker. Slip 14 gusset sts to stich holder or length of waste yarn. Cast on 2 stitches, work to end of rnd (55 sts)

Without individual fingers: Repeat Rounds 1-8 twice more and work 6 rounds of KBT1, P1 ribbing. Bind off loosely. 

With individual fingers: Repeat rounds 1-8  1-1/2 more times stopping on round 4: 8 stitches after the Pattern (K6, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, K7, P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K8). 

Pinky: Slip all stitches except the last 14 stitches you just knitted onto a stitch holder or length of waste yarn.
Add two stitches, K three rounds and then work 3 rounds of KBT1, P1 ribbing. Bind of Loosely

Remaining fingers: Transfer remaining stitches back onto three needles. Pick up and knit 3 stitches between pinky and ring finger. knit to end of round. Work modified rows 5-8 as shown below (basically you don't have the final cable or pearls because they are on the pinky)

Round 5: K6, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, (K1, YO, S1, K1, PSSO, K1, K2tog, YO, K1,) P2, K2, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 6: K6, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, K7, P2, K2, P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 7: K6, P2, C4B, P2, K2, P2, (K2, YO, S1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K2, P2, K2,) P2, K to end of rnd.

Round 8: as rnd 6

...Here is where the pattern dropped off... Now it's up to you to fill in the blanks!

Brittany Scarf

Do you remember the scarf/hood I talked about knitting for my sister last year for Christmas? Of course you don't, it was LAST YEAR! Since I'm bringing it up you might think that maybe I am finally going to post come completed pictures of it...sadly no, I was so burnt out by the time I completed the scarf I didn't bother taking any, but I did run across some "in progress" photos that I that I should share. And hopefully I will catch my sister wearing it this Christmas and I can snap a few completed shots.

 Did I mention that this scarf has POCKETS? That's why you see the pattern on both the front and back of the scarf. I knitted on one side for a bit and then switched sides (my front became my back and my back became my front) so I could fold over the end and stitch up the sides to make a pocket.

Yarn Used: Malabrigo Rios Yarn    NS:6-8
Color: ARCOIRIS Arco Iris
Skeins Used: 5
Note: Dye lots vary GREATLY to the point of looking like a different color blend so it's better to get too much yarn and return some than have to little and have to buy one skein from a different dye lot.

I have not included the hood pattern but here is the scarf pattern with and without pockets:

Abbriviations:

RC-P = Slip 1 to back, K4 then P1 from Cable needle

LC-P = Slip 4 to front, P1 then K4 from Cable needle

Moss =                 Even Rows: K1 P1 across the row

                Odd Rows: Knit the purls and purl the knits

(If you started with K1 on the front side, you will start with K1 on the back side as well)
Stockinette: K on front side, P on back side

Pattern:

Cast on 40 stitches
Moss for 6 rows

A. 5 moss, P4, K1, P7, K6, P7, K1, P4, 5 moss
B. 5 moss, K4, P1, K7,P6, K7, P1, K4, 5 moss

1.   5 moss, P4, K1, P6, RC-P, LC-P, P6, K1, P4, 5 moss
2.   5 moss, K4, P1, K6, P3, K2, P3, K6, P1, K4, 5 moss
3.   5 moss, P4, K1, P5, RC-P, P2, LC-P, P5, K1, P4, 5 moss
4.   5 moss, K4, P1, K5, P3, K4, P3, K5, P1, K4, 5 moss
5.   5 moss, P4, K1, P4, RC-P, P4, LC-P, P4, K1, P4, 5 moss
6.   5 moss, K4, P1, K4, P3, K6, P3, K5, P1, K4, 5 moss
7.   5 moss, P4, K1, P3, RC-P, P6, LC-P, P3, K1, P4, 5 moss
8.   5 moss, K4, P1, K3, P3, K8, P3, K3, P1, K4, 5 moss
9.   5 moss, P4, K1, P3, LC-P, P6, RC-P, P3, K1, P4, 5 moss
10. 5 moss, K4, P1, K4, P3, K6, P3, K4, P1, K4, 5 moss
11. 5 moss, P4, K1, P4, LC-P, P4, RC-P, P4, K1, P4, 5 moss
12. 5 moss, K4, P1, K5, P3, K4, P3, K5, P1, K4, 5 moss
13. 5 moss, P4, K1, P5, LC-P, P2, RC-P, P5, K1, P4, 5 moss
14. 5 moss, K4, P1, K6, P3, K2, P3, K6, P1, K4, 5 moss
15. 5 moss, P4, K1, P6, LC-P, RC-P, P6, K1, P4, 5 moss
16. 5 moss, K4, P1, K7, P6, K7, P1, K4, 5 moss

Without Pockets:
Repeat rows 1-16 until you reach desired length. Moss 6 rows and cast off. 

With Pockets.
Repeat rows 1-16 two times. Then knit a reverse stockinette stitch for 4 rows. Then knit a regular stockinette stitch until you can fold your stockinette panel over and have it reach the moss stitches you did to start your scarf (about 7"). Now your going to flip sides, your front will become your back and your back will become your front. All this means is that you knit an odd number of rows on your stockinette stitch (so you end with a K row). Then you begin the pattern again from just after the moss rows. Repeat rows 1-16 until the scarf is the length that you want. (include the unfolded pocket in your length assessment because you still have to knit the back of the second pocket).
Once you are happy with the scarf length, flip sides again and begin a stockinette stitch. You will be beginning on the back side of the stitch (i.e. you will start with your P row). Knit until the length of the stockinette matches the stockinette stitch on the other end of the scarf. Knit 4 rows in reverse stockinette stitches and knit rows 1-16 three times, Knit rows A & B, moss 6 rows and cast off.
Fold over each pocket at the reverse stockinette stitches and stitch the sides with an extra length of yarn.