Little Wit Knits – Unplugged

I decided for Christmas this year to make my nieces the elephant and bunny from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. While perusing Knitters Mercantile one day I happened upon some Rowan Pure Wool DK in splendid colors for the animals. I started to knit them up while I was handing out candy for Trick or Treat. They knit up quickly and make me smile. I did give them eyes before Christmas, I kind of dragged my feet a little bit. The elephant went to my niece, Sophia. She seemed to really enjoy it on Christmas Day.

L'elephant sans eyes.

Description: L’éléphant
Pattern: Lovable Toys by Marion Edmonds from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn used: 1.75 skeins of Rowan Pure Wool DK Colorway 002 (100% Superwash Wool ) 50 g / 136 yds and .14 skeins of Rowan Pure Wool DK Colorway 024 (100% Superwash Wool ) 50 g / 136 yds
Care Instructions: Machine wash gentle
Needle Size: US 6 (4.0 mm)
Modifications: No mods
Finished Size: One size
Date Started: 11/12/2008
Date Completed: 11/21/2008
Notes: These guys are super cute and I highly recommend making them. There are no eyes in the pictures but there were eyes when it appeared under the tree.

Elephant and Bunny hanging out by the fireplace.

I wasn’t able to find out Grandma Kathryn’s foot size so I decided instead to make her a shawl. Grandma usually drapes sweaters around her shoulders when she gets cold and I figured a little shawl would be less bulky. She was quite happy to receive it and even wore it home to keep her ears warm. I am sure I will see it around the apartment when we go to visit her next time.

Me modeling Grandma's shawl before it was wrapped up.

Description: Kathryn’s Shawl
Pattern: Lace Poncho by Susan Sternlieb from Interweave Knits Fall 2005
Yarn used: 3.58 skeins of Crystal Palace Merino 5 Colorway 2302 (100% superwash Merino) 50 g / 110 yds
Care Instructions: Machine or hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
Needle Size: US 8 (5.0 mm)
Modifications: I only cast on 49 sts and I didn’t join this together to create a poncho as the pattern calls for.
Finished Size: You know I forgot to measure it. It’s probably about 12″ wide or so and about 60″ long
Date Started: 12/01/2008
Date Completed: 12/07/2008
Notes: None.

Shawl blocking on another chair from TDS. Love them!

2nd photo of me modeling Grandma's shawl

Well there are babies in my life now. Albeit they are other people’s babies, but babies I can knit for nonetheless. As we all know babies can pull off some of fashions silliest items a lot more smoothly than grown ups. As I was cruising Ravelry a couple of weeks ago I found this adorable pumpkin hat that I figured would be smashing on my niece for Halloween. In a fit of pouting aimed at my Master’s project I decided to cast on something quick and easy Tuesday night. It knit up amazingly quickly (go figure, eh?) and now I present you with adorably cute pumpkin headgear:

Pete modeling Sophia’s hat. It doesn’t quite fit him right. Hopefully it fits her better

Description: Pumpkin Headgear for Sophia
Pattern: Pumpkin Hat by Susan Esser
Yarn used: .43 skeins of Bernat Softee Chunky Colorway Burnt Orange (100% acrylic ) 100g / 164 yds
Care Instructions: Machine washable
Needle Size: US 10 (6mm)
Modifications: I knit on a US 10 just because the fabric looked better than on a US 9
Finished Size: about 17″
Date Started: 9/30/2008
Date Completed: 10/1/2008
Notes: If I were to make it again I think I would plan out the leaf layout better from the beginning but I swear once she puts it on she’ll be too damned cute for it to matter.

Sophia’s Hat – leaf detail

Sophia’s Hat – side view

I partook in the Ravelympics this year and my main project was this Celtic Cable Scarf. I was bound to finish it so that it would be done for Christmas. The scarf and I got off to a rocky start the first time I tried to knit it back in March of 2008. The Ravelmypics was just the kick in the pants I needed to get going on this scarf and get it done. I changed the needle size this time around and it stopped hurting my hands so much and the cables were a lot easier to execute. I am quite happy with the outcome and I am hoping the recipient is as well!

Description: Celtic Cable Scarf
Pattern: Celtic Cable Scarf by Vanessa Lewis
Yarn used: 2.52 skeins of Dark Horse Yarns Rhapsody 516.6 yds total. Colorway 54 Royal Blue (100% merino ) 100g / 205yds.
Care Instructions: Hand wash
Needle Size: US 8 (5.0mm) – I originally started this on a US 6 (4.0mm) as the pattern recommended but the cables were very much flattened out.
Modifications: No mods. Just knit it forever until it was long enough.
Finished Size: It is somewhere in the range of 73+ inches. I know that when I held it next to the boy last night it dropped down to the floor and folded a little. Still can’t find my tape measure…it’s neon green, have you seen it?
Date Started: 8/8/2008 cast on at 8am EST in accordance with the start of the Olympics
Date Completed: 8/19/2008 finished weaving in ends at approximately 23:45 EST
Notes: The cables worked out really well. I am hoping the recipient is a big fan!

What’s this? An FO? Get ready, there will be a few of these coming up (and some backdated for the month of June).

Description: Socks for me
Pattern: Marigold Socks by Pamela Wynne
Yarn used: .62 skeins of Austermann Step Colorway 05 (Wool, Nylon) 100g / 460 yds This yarn is treated with Jojoba aloe. Should keep the socks soft through 40 washes.
Care Instructions: Machine Wash
Needle Size: US 1 (2.25mm)
Modifications: None.
Finished Size: Women’s Medium
Date Started: 7/5/2008
Date Completed: 8/5/2008
Notes: These socks were a test of faith that they wouldn’t look terrible once done. The toe started out seeming huge, but I knit away figuring if they were too big I could give them to someone. Then the first 3 inches just looked hideous to me but I figured I could give them to someone. Then there was a week with 3 knit nights, 10 hrs in the car and lots of free time on Saturday and Sunday. The socks quickly took shape and stopped being ugly and now, they are done!

Oh and I made these socks match, only had to cut the yarn one place in each sock to make the color repeats line up. Too cool.

It’s official, I do not like provisional cast on short row toes. I will stick with my crazy Cat Bordhi eastern style cast on for toe up socks, henceforth.

Pictures!

Cat Bordhi’s Magic Cast On – YouTube Video