The Yarniad

Caeles: A Bit of Backstory

2012-05-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

The idea for Caeles started, as many of my knits do, when I saw something pretty at Anthropologie. The item in question, I believe, was a slouchy jersey tank top with a knitted collar. I say "I believe" because I don't have a photo of it and, as many of my knits go, once the design seed is planted by the pretty thing at Anthropologie, it starts to take on a life of its own. Because after thinking it might be fun to try and knit a collar onto a tank top, I started thinking about how a similar collar would look on a knitted something, what shape that something would have, how it would fit, and suddenly I had a new summer top.

Here's my original sketch (this is kind of embarrassing -- my sketches and handwriting are awful):

Unlike the Anthro tank top, I wanted my top to be fitted through the waist and flare at the hips, which I thought would be nicely executed with body darts. Because my sketches are so much better in yarn, I didn't think about adding little sleeves until the prototype was finished.

I thought the collar had a little bit of a retro-modern, Judy Jetson-ish vibe and that the top could use one more dose of that quality. (By the way, that's where the name 'caeles' came from. It's Latin for 'heavenly' or 'celestial' and comes from the word for 'sky' -- I picked it to reflect the original space-y feel of those sleeves and collar.)

The prototype (modeled above with completely the wrong undergarment -- my apologies) was knit in Tess' Designer Yarns Linguini (the same yarn I used for Aurelia), which had been staring at me from my stash basket for quite some time. I like the drapiness of the silk in this top, but I really like how the Valley Yarns Goshen gives it more structure, especially the collar and sleeves.

The finished version is a couple of inches larger than the prototype and you can see how it looks with a little bit of ease on me, above. I didn't change anything in the final version, aside from making the sleeve caps just a smidgen longer.

Ah, a much better fit. I love how the Twist styling team paired Caeles with this pretty printed skirt. I've been wearing my prototype with jeans and a blazer or white pants (last summer), but really want this outfit now. (Maybe another trip to Anthropologie is in the cards? Can I count it as a business expense if I end up getting another design idea?)

If you're thinking about casting on, WEBS is having a Caeles Knitalong over on their blog! You can read more about it here and pick up a copy of the pattern here. And even better, you can get Goshen on sale for $2.97 a skein (!!) right now here.

Res Completa: Doodie

2012-04-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Stephanie and I met on Craigslist in 2004 when we were both looking for a roommate and/or apartment at the same time, and had both independently rejected every disgusting studio in our price range, as well as every person/group looking to fill a room (I don't believe everyone in San Francisco is a huge weirdo, but that year every single one seemed to have a spare room in their apartment). It was fate, really -- I found her ad immediately after she posted it and, though we were both a little wary, we met at a coffee shop blind-date style and instantaneously bonded over her really cool purse and the fact that we had almost identical, meticulously organized binders with all the other Craigslist ads we had both rejected. Fast forward to 8 years later and we're still good friends, both now married to the guys we were dating when we first met, I've got a baby, and she'll have one, too, this July. (Not sure why I thought you needed all that backstory, but I've had a lot of coffee this morning and am feeling chatty.)

Any knitting outside the secret-for-publication variety has really taken a back seat lately, but I forced myself to make time for a little something for her baby shower last weekend. I've enjoyed (immensely) both making and using everything I've made for Daniel from Wee Woolly Toppers, so to Wee Woolly Toppers I went once again.

Pattern: Doodie, from Wee Woolly Toppers
Yarn: Tess' Designer Yarns Fine Cashmere, almost exactly half a skein (~123 yards)
Needles: US 4 (3.5mm) circs

Doodie is a slouchy, rasta-style hat for baby and is quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. The bobble at the end just kills me. The yarn made me really happy for the entirety of the knitting, too, and it'll be so nice and soft for Steph's little guy's noggin.

I made the size Medium (for a 16" head, I believe), so it's a bit small as shown on my little model, who is not only a year old now (?!) but also has a giant (still bald) head.

In case you were wondering, those are indeed Christmas pajamas Daniel is wearing, and, indeed, it is the middle of April. Hey, they're really good quality pj's and they still fit him, ok? I would have changed him for the photoshoot, but the lucky combination of his good mood, the morning's decent light, and the fact that he was distracted enough by the vaporizer water tank (fully cooled) to not want to rip off the hat every five seconds probably wasn't going to happen again and I had to strike while the iron was hot.

Patternum Novum: Caeles

2012-04-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

Have you guys seen the new Spring/Summer issue of Twist Collective yet? I'm beyond thrilled to have had a design included in the beautifully-styled "Bloom" story

Caeles is a springy, summery tank knit in Valley Yarns Goshen from the top down all in one piece. (Well, you start out knitting the back only, but it soon becomes an in-the-round'er.) It's a simple piece that is meant to be fitted around the bust, but flare out around the hips, and uses lots of short rows to shape the collar and sleeve caps:

Caeles is written for 8 sizes ranging from a 29 ¾ -57 ¾" bust -- you can find out more information here and see the rest of the issue here. As usual, there are beautiful knits and gorgeous photography galore -- the "Rain Date" story was almost too pretty to handle -- go check it out!

Lomography, Part II

2012-04-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Still alive (and knitting) over here......more craft-related content later, but for now I thought I'd share some more of my Lomography photos. Most of these were taken around Christmastime, but I just had them developed (that's one of the fun things about real film -- if you wait awhile to develop it, you forget what you shot then get a fun surprise when you get them back).

Just above the roofdeck...
Rainbow...

A walk around our neighborhood...

Playing with the little guy...

A walk in Turlock...
Sun glowing through the trees...

Patternum Novum: Pontos Cardigan

2012-03-09T09:50:00.002-08:00

Last late summer, while staying at a family friend's house on a chilly Central Californian beach, I was finally knitting a design I'd had floating around in my head for at least a year. I had seen Tess' Grand Manan at the last Stitches I'd been to, and had an idea for something cozy, but cool. It'd be knit in some sort of textured lace pattern - textured to give visual interest, and lacey to lighten up the bulky, wooly, mohairy yarn, which was going to be warm enough no matter how many yarnovers I used. And the result was the Pontos Cardigan.

$6 via Ravelry (no account needed)

(more info on Ravelry here)

Finished measurements
Bust: 33.75 (37.75, 40.25, 44.25, 49.75, 55, 59)”/ 85.5 (96, 102, 112.5, 126.5, 139.5, 150) cm
Length from collar to hem: 29.75 30, 30.5, 31, 31.25, 32.25, 32.75)”/ 75.5 (76, 77.5, 78.5, 79.5, 82, 83) cm
Sample shown in size S with 2.5”/6 cm of ease.

Yarn & Needles
Tess’ Designer Yarns Grand Manan (55% Mohair, 45% Merino; 325 yds/297 m per 227 g);
2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) or 610 (680, 725, 795, 895, 990, 1065) yards/ 560 (620, 665, 725, 820, 905, 975)
US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle for ribbing
US 10 (6.0mm) circular needle for body and sleeves

Gauge
12 sts & 19 rows = 4"/10cm in Star Rib Mesh pattern on US 10 (6.0mm) needles
14 sts & 20 rows = 4"/10cm in Stockinette St on US 10 (6.0mm) needles

Errata
3/19/12: Page 2, Create St st Base for Pockets, Sizes XS, L, XL, & 3XL, Row 3 - pattern repeat after second marker is slipped should be [k1, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo]. Corrected in Rev. 2 of the pattern.

Pontos is Greek for "sea", and I've given this name to my new cardi both because it reminds me of that week on the seashore where I knit it and because the stitch pattern, Star Rib Mesh, somehow reminds me of the ocean - starfish, a fisherman's net, things like that.

It's knit from the bottom up all in one piece (those are faux seams you see on the sides) and has patch pockets picked up from a Stockinette base when you're done with the sweater, so there are only two small sides to seam for each, and a raglan yoke.

There is no side shaping, which makes this a super easy knit (and fast on big needles!). The only area where you really need to pay attention (after you've gotten the hang of the stitch pattern, which is also quite simple) is the raglan yoke decreases, for which I've provided a chart to help you maintain the lacey pattern.

This cardigan is super easy to wear, too, and is a great transitional-weather piece. Throw it on with some jeans and a scarf and you're good to go. I love it belted, too, and I can't usually rock the belted-outerwear thing.

I hope you like it, too!

Stitches West V

2012-03-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

We've been to FIVE Stitches Wests now? This is crazy to me. Anyway, last Saturday, my knitting gals and I headed down to the Santa Clara Convention Center for our annual knitter-spotting and yarn-buying spree (Ok, that was just me. And sort of Sophy, too.). As usual, I headed in with all sorts of plans for the photos I'd take, but ended up getting all distracted and over-stimulated and only taking a few.

By far the highlight of the trip was getting to meet some very cool and very inspirational knitters. I actually took a photo of Romi last year, but didn't officially meet her because I was too shy (darn those introvert genes of mine), but this year I actually went and said hi. She is extremely awesome. We chatted a bit about motherhood and geekiness and took a picture of each other taking pictures of each other...my favorite (her version here).

And because I had treated myself to a latte before the show (thought I'd go all out since I was missing a baby-feeding anyway) and was literally vibrating from the extra caffeine, I had to take another picture, this time with two hands. Sheesh.

We also stopped by Ysolda's booth, tried on her beautiful samples (I'm in Laika, which I now MUST MAKE AND WEAR IMMEDIATELY), talked to her about her designs, and took a photo in her photobooth.

Ysolda is super sweet and even more adorable in person than on the internet. I wish I had told her that Arisaig was what got me started on sweater-knitting five years ago, but I forgot. (The caffeine made me a little conversationally spastic, too.)

I love spotting my designs out in the wild. Here's a particularly beautiful Citron on the convention floor, made in Miss Babs sock yarn.

After spending quite some time petting yarn and chatting with the ladies in the Tess' booth, eating some lunch, and making some purchases, we decided to call it a day. But not before getting our obligatory (and inexplicable) yarn-hat photo. Love the heavenly quality of this one.

Good times, had by all.

Yarn U

2012-02-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Now that I'm finally getting enlightened in terms of iPhone/iPad knitting apps, I have yet another one to add to my "How did I not know this existed?" list.

Do you guys use Yarndex at all? I do, all the time, and surprisingly often from my mobile phone. So for quite awhile, I've been wishing there were some sort of yarn database to access in app form. Lo and behold - there is! Introducing: Yarn U.

Yarn U is not quite as comprehensive as Yarndex, but it is a really nice guide that is searchable and filterable by almost any factor you can think of including yarn weight, hand dyed-ness, washability, crochet-recommended, etc.

And you can display results in an alphabetized list or grouped by manufacturer.

There are really pretty photos (including yarn skeined up as well as knitted or crocheted, which is nice), user comments, and yarn descriptions with a great deal of personality and humor.

Many of the yarns also include links to free patterns (adherence to copyright doesn't allow for the patterns to be accessible directly through the app) custom selected for the yarn in question, too.

(Oh look!)

You may also notice the map in the screen shots above -- another nifty feature is the ability to see where you can purchase the yarn you're reviewing. I unfortunately couldn't get the app to find me anything closer than Reno, NV (about 3.5 hours away), but I'm sure this will improve as more shops are added to the database.

And though there are a whole lot of yarns included already, there were still some I looked for and couldn't find (e.g. anything Madelinetosh). But again, I'm sure there will be more as time goes on. It's got to take time to build something like this.

So. Yarn U. A pretty darn nifty app that will only get better!

Knitting for your iPhone

2012-02-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

In the past couple of years, I've been completely out of the loop in terms of knitting apps. I downloaded Stitch Minder as soon as I got my iPhone back in 2008, but, for some reason, stopped there. And I feel like I've been missing out on something....probably because I have. So I apologize if you already know all about the apps I'm going to talk about in the next couple of posts, and if you don't, well, you should really check them out! There's some really cool stuff out there.

So today, let's talk about JKnit Pro. (Note that this is partially self-serving because my patterns are offered for sale on its sister site KnitPoint.com -- but I really do think it's awesome.)

JKnit Pro (there's an iPad version, too, as well as a free version to give you a taste) is a really neat app that will keep track of your knitting pattern instructions for you -- each time you complete a row, you advance through the pattern and it will tell you what's coming up next. And you can either enter the pattern instructions yourself (using the web portal or the app itself) or, since the release of their latest version, you can purchase patterns pre-loaded in the JKnit format. You get the pdf and the instructions ready to go. Let's take a look:

Here are my projects...
Let's make a Gemma! In the JKnit format, the pattern is broken up into its various pieces...

We'll start with the collar....and here we are on Row 11. You can see how the specific row instructions are matched with the specific row. And because it keeps track of increases and decreases, it will also tell you how many stitches you should have at any given time. And see the little "PDF" button mid-way down? If you ever want to refer directly to the pattern, you can toggle back and forth between this screen and the pattern pdf.

My favorite part is how it keeps track of increases and decreases. No more making hash marks on a piece of paper...

Another really nifty feature is this highlight bar that you can add when you're in the PDF view. This is particularly helpful for charts (check out the app page in iTunes to see it put to better use), but you can also use it to keep track of where you are on the page.

I encourage you to check it out! And, if you're into it, you can get several Yarniad patterns (both for sale and free) pre-loaded in the JKnit format on KnitPoint here.

Daniel's Nursery

2012-02-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

Sooooo, a post I've been meaning to put together for, well, let's just say awhile (given that Daniel was born over 10 months ago and his room was ready a couple of weeks before that) is about Daniel's nursery. The only thing knitted about it is his Solar System mobile, but thanks to my mom and others, we did end up with quite a few other handmade crafty items. So I thought I'd give you a little tour.

Let's start with the neat side...

The geniuses who built our place made the fantastic choice of creating a closet that is too narrow to fit a standard-sized coat hanger. (And it's not like it was built before there were modern coat hangers. It was built in 2003.) So with anything useful hanging in the closet, the doors would get pushed outward and be hard to open and close, something that has irritated both Neill and me since we moved in. So our first order of business was taking off those doors and replacing them with curtains. The fabric is Zoom! from Spoonflower and, oh, do I love it. It has rockets, stars, a pretty blue, and lime green (love). It's good for a baby (I think) without being too baby-baby. Now get this. After putting in the order for 7 yards, I got an email from Spoonflower saying that after about 6, the printer would go on the fritz and stop printing the blue color. Would it be ok if they printed it in two pieces and send me all the extra? Um, ok!! So we ended up with several extra yards, which was later put to good use.

A couple other items of note -- the space collage hanging by the door from my uber-talented art-teacher friend, the "May the Force Be With You" pillow from my in-laws (so awesome), and my very first quilt hanging on the back of the glider, which I have an in-progress blog post on dating back to February of last year.

Now, I know we're not supposed to use bumpers anymore, but that Zoom! fabric was just too tempting. Many thanks to my mom for designing and whipping it up in about a day.

A note on the artwork behind the crib: instead of purchasing prints, I ordered a lightly used copy of Eric Carle's Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (sort of in keeping with the space theme), ripped out the pages, and framed them with materials from Cheap Pete's in San Francisco. I think the whole set of 6 cost about $30 when all was said and done. This was a very easy DIY!

Ok, back to the bumper. The green lining is the fabric from the curtains...

...which are AMAZEBALLS and which were also courtesy my mom.

Now on to the messy side...

This room was our office before Big D came along, and that prior incarnation has unfortunately lingered for awhile in the form of the filing drawers, printer, boxes of toner, tax records (so appropriate for a nursery), etc. etc. Our ugly storage thingy in the corner has also lingered, but Neill and my mom had the great idea to put a "cozy" on it. This was made by a woman in my home town who sews custom quilts, bedding, and baby things. She incorporated the Eric Carle artwork and matched the blue of the Zoom! fabric perfectly. I feel bad that this is Daniel's view from his crib...

...but he doesn't seem to mind too much!

Felted Sweater Stocking Sale - Last Day

2012-02-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm sure that knitting Christmas stockings is the furthest thing from anyone's mind right now, but I wanted to send out a little reminder that I'm currently running a special on my Felted Sweater Stocking pattern. Actually, the promotion was supposed to end yesterday, but I completely forgot, so I'm extending it another day. So, until I change it when I wake up on Friday, you can still get the pattern for the discounted price of 2 buckeroos.

Felted Sweater Stocking - $2 via Ravelry (no account needed)

Swatches

2012-01-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

In my time as a knitter, I have compiled quite the collection of swatches. Part of it is that I just can't get myself to throw away anything that I could ever use for a craft-related purpose. Another part is that saving swatches helps me remember how certain stitch patterns look in certain yarns with certain needles. And yet another is that looking at them is like going back in time -- feeling a swatch brings back so many memories of the time when I was knitting it. Sometimes I can even remember what I was watching or listening to at the time.

I've arrived at the point where my swatches can barely be contained by the box I've assigned to hold them and I'm wondering what to do. Sew them together into a blanket? Put them in a folder and make a little history book? Have any of you ever done anything interesting with your old swatches?

Peppermint Candy Cowl

2012-01-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

The Peppermint Candy Cowl is something I whipped up in about a night and a half to go with my mom's brand new running jacket. It uses just 1 skein of Malabrigo Chunky (plus about 32 yards of the same for the contrast color), US 13 needles, and a couple of episodes of your favorite podcast or tv program, and you're done! The stitch pattern is called "Swedish Weave", is from Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and involves flipping your contrast yarn from front to back while you're knitting to create those little woven pops of color.

The semi-solid nature of the pink Malabrigo made things interesting -- I got varying shades of pink in each little piece that popped up. I think it would be really neat to try this out with a heavily variegated yarn on a solid background.

This was such an fun and quick little knit that I've written up the pattern, which you can find below.

(Oh, and I have this odd habit of associating Malabrigo with various kinds of food...this particular combo reminded me of the peppermint taffy my family always gets at Christmastime, which is just as squishy and yummy as the yarn.)

Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky (100% Merino wool, 104 yards/95 meters per 100 grams/3.53 ounces) - 1 skein in Natural (MC) and 32 yards/29 meters of Cactus Flower (CC)
Needles: US 13 (9mm) circular needle
Gauge: 10 sts per 4"/10cm
Finished size: 24"/61cm circumference at bottom, 21.25"/54cm circumference at top; 10.5"/27cm high

Abbreviations:
BO - bind off
CC - contrast color
CO - cast on
EOR - end of round
k - knit
k2tog - knit 2 sts together
MC - main color
p - purl
RS - right side
st(s) - stitch(es)

Pattern:
Note: This cowl is knit with the RS facing, then turned inside out once you're done.

With MC, CO 61 sts and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts, and placing EOR marker.
K 1 round.
P 1 round.
Repeat last 2 rounds 2 more times.

Next, get out your CC and begin Swedish Weave. This stitch pattern does not actually require knitting with the CC; rather, you will flip it from front to back as you knit with the MC, thus weaving it through the knit fabric. To start, place your CC yarn in between the last st of the last round and the first st of the next round, with the yarn end on the inside of your knitting.

Round 1: *With CC in front, k1 with MC; move CC to back, k1 with MC, then move CC to front again. Rep from * to last st, k1 with MC with CC in front, move CC to back.

Round 2 is worked the same way, but offset by 1 st from the previous row so the weaving is staggered: *With CC in back, k1 with MC; move CC to front, k1 with MC, then move CC to back again. Rep from * to last st, k1 with MC with CC in back, move CC to front.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6.75"/17cm from your cast on edge, ending with Round 2.

Next round, decrease: Work first 11 sts in Swedish Weave as before, k2tog with CC in back, k2tog with CC in front, work 31 sts in Swedish Weave, k2tog with CC in front, k2tog with CC in back, work last 11 sts in Swedish Weave - 57 sts.

Work 3 rounds in Swedish Weave, beginning and ending with Round 2.

Next round, decrease again: Work first 11 sts in Swedish Weave, k2tog with CC in back, k2tog with CC in front, work 27 sts in Swedish Weave, k2tog with CC in front, k2tog with CC in back, work last 11 sts in Swedish Weave - 53 sts.

Beginning with Round 2, work in Swedish Weave until piece measures 9"/23cm from cast on edge.

P 1 round.
K 1 round.
Rep last 2 rounds 1 time.
P 1 round.

BO all sts knitwise.

Weave in all ends, turn cowl inside out, and enjoy!

Alternately, if you like the look of the right side...

...feel free to wear that way!

Suzy's Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom

2012-01-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to let you know about an interview I did over at Suzy's Arsty-Craftsy Sitcom on Tuesday. If you find yourself lacking reading material and for whatever reason don't happen to be knitting, you can take a look here. (And find out my really embarrassing celebrity crush.)

Well, hello there!

2012-01-16T17:00:00.000-08:00

Ack, has it really been a month? I know I haven't been the best blogger over the past year, but I was really trying to be better. I've even had things to say and posts mostly composed in my head and pictures uploaded to the computer. But then that thing happened where I waited too long and felt like my re-entry post had to be something really, really epic to make up for the serious lack of posting, and then for each day that went by I felt the post had to be that much more amazing...that's a lot of pressure for something that's supposed to be an informal knitting blog. So here I am again, and unfortunately this post is not going to be amazing. There won't even be pictures of knitting in it. But I had to start somewhere, and that somewhere will be a little recap of what's been going on since the 18th of December.

1. Christmas
Well, Christmas was insane. We had a wonderful time with my family, but my the way we do things was exhausting with a baby. See, both of my parents are from the same area where I grew up and most of both families are still there, too, so we spend both Christmas Eve and Christmas day with both sides. I just counted -- we had no fewer than eight separate events, in two towns a half hour apart, over the two days. How Daniel napped at all is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved seeing so much family and introducing them to the little guy. But it was a lot.

But Daniel was a trooper and looked pretty cute doing it.

Hide the keys.

Why yes, we did get almost-matching jammies from Santa. Neill got some too, which I am not allowed to share on the internet. But oh how I wish I could.

Daniel loves any and all modes of transportation.

2. Secret Publication Knitting
Through it all, and also adding to the radio silence, I had two publication pieces to knit and write patterns for by the beginning of January. And then after sending off the second one, I was so bummed to see it go that I had to knit myself another one. That's a whole month's worth of knitting that I'm not allowed to show anyone.

3. New Website!
You may notice that The Yarniad has undergone a complete makeover. My amazing, fantastic, dear friend, Brenda, has been doing the design work and I am in love. The site is allllmost done, and it makes me so happy every time I look at it. I've been doing a lot of digital organizing, too, so there is now a dedicated patterns page, projects page, FAQ area, etc. This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile and it's been really fun carrying it out.

4. New Logo!
Do you see my new Yarniad logo?! Brenda did that, too. The cirle-y bit is an abstract yarn ball that also echoes the ceiling of the Pantheon...I think it looks like an atomic symbol, too, which pays homage to my sciencey day job. I love Brenda!

5. Flickr Group
What else? Ah! In all the website-excitement, I also created a Flickr group where you can add photos of things you've knit from Yarniad patterns. The images feed right to the sidebar here. Come join and show off your work!

6. Citron Licenses and Pattern Copies
After being contacted several times by folks who either would like to sell finished Citrons, include copies of the pattern in yarn kits, etc., I am now offering a home business license ($30 for unlimited, all-you-can-knit access) as well as a wholesale pdf of the pattern ($2 a pop). I hope to put both up on the site for instant-downloadability soon, but for now, please e-mail if you're interested!

7. Colds and Various Ickiness
Since it got "cold", either Daniel or I has been sick at least every other week. Neill somewhat less frequently. I thought breastfeeding was supposed to give him an unstoppable immune system! I guess the only thing unstoppable is the petri dish that is his daycare classroom.

8. Downton Abbey
It's amazing, right?

9. Etc.
I've said this several times, but I will be getting back into a (more) regular blogging groove and getting this post up was half the battle. Thanks for stopping by -- I appreciate everyone who has ever read a single post here more than I'll ever be able to say. I hope you're having a great 2012 so far, and hope to see you again here very soon!

Patternum Novum: Felted Sweater Stocking

2011-12-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

After posting about Daniel's Christmas Stocking last week, a few of you asked if I was going to write it up as a pattern. Your wish is my command! Here it is -- the Felted Sweater Stocking. As a Christmas gift to knitblogland, I've priced this pattern quite low (good until the end of January), but don't let the low price fool you. $2 still gets you photos, charts and written directions for the cables, and a fully tech edited pattern.

I know Christmas is only a week away, but it's still possible to whip one of these up in time to hang on your mantle!

$2 (from now through January 31) via Ravelry (no account needed)

Finished measurements
Before Felting:
Width: 9”/23cm
Length to bottom of heel: 21.75”/55cm
Length from bottom of heel to tip of toe: 13”/33cm

After Felting:
Width: 6.75”/17cm
Length to bottom of heel: 19”/48cm
Length from bottom of heel to tip of toe: 10”/25.5cm

Materials
390 yards of an aran to bulky weight 100% wool
Shown in Fingerlakes Woolen Mill 3-Ply Soft Wool (100% Wool, 210yds/113g)
US 10 (6.0 mm) needles preferred for working a small-ish circumference in the round (e.g. 16”, long enough to do Magic Loop, or dpns)
Cable needle
2 stitch markers

Technical editing by Chris Church.

Patterna Nova: Double Knit Three - Dots, Spots & Arrows

2011-12-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

As alluded to last week, I've put together a little trio of cowl patterns, all double knit, all reversible, and all using less than 200 yards each of two different colored yarns. Introducing, the Double Knit Three:

Dots...

Spots...

and Arrows.

$5.50 for the collection of three via Ravelry (no account needed)

or purchase them individually for $1.99 on the Knit Picks website: Dots, Spots, Arrows

Finished measurements
Circumference: 22.25”/ 56.5 cm
Dots & Arrows Height: 8.5”/ 21.5 cm
Spots Height: 7.5”/ 19 cm

Yarn requirements
(MC) 175 yds/160 m of DK or light worsted weight wool
(CC) 150 yds/140 m of DK or light worsted weight wool

Shown in
Dots: (MC) Knit Picks Capra (85% Cashmere, 15% Merino, 123 yds/112 m per 50g), 2 balls in Black; (CC) Knit Picks Swish DK Bare (100% Merino, 246 yds/224 m per 100g), 1 hank
Spots: (MC) Knit Picks Swish DK (100% Merino, 123 yds/112 m per 50g), 2 balls in Eggplant; Knit Picks Capra, 2 balls in Fairy Tale
Arrows: (MC) Knit Picks Swish DK, 2 balls in Dove Heather; Knit Picks Capra, 2 balls in Honey

Gauge
18 sts & 25 rows = 4"/10 cm in Double Knit Stockinette st
21 sts & 26 rows = 4”/10 cm in Stockinette st
on US 5 (3.75mm) circular needles

Errata
2/11/12: The key for all three charts was mistaken; the explanation of the pink-colored square should be "k with CC, p with MC." This has been corrected in version 2 of the pattern.

The Double Knit Three is a trio of cowls done up in fun prints that add a splash to any ensemble: polka dots for whimsical flair, leopard print for when you’re feeling spicy, and a Southwestern-inspired geometrical pattern for more refined days. Because they are worked in the Double Knitting technique, they are reversible, thus doubling your Double Knit fun.

The pdf includes a brief introduction to the Double Knitting technique and patterns for all three cowls, with written directions and full colorwork charts. Each cowl uses 170 yards of a main color and 150 yards of contrast, so they work up pretty quickly and are a great way to use up extra yarn you have around. And it's not too late to add one of them to your holiday gift knitting list!

Six cowls in three. You can't go wrong with that!

Res Originalis: Daniel's Sorta Felted Christmas Stocking

2011-12-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

Before Daniel was born, I had all sorts of ideas about the things I wanted to make for him. Included in the Christmas category was a stocking -- intricate colorwork, fingering weight wool, a sight to behold. Well, I never got around to it, and now that the little guy is here and trying to crawl, we're mere weeks away from Christmas, and I have deadline knitting to work on, I unfortunately had to scrap those plans and go for something a bit quicker. So I got out the size 10 needles, some bulky wool and got to work.

Browsing through the December issue of Martha Stewart Living, I came across a pattern for some stockings cut from thrifted sweaters then felted. As a knitter, the idea of simply cutting up a sweater and sewing it together just didn't fly, but I loved the look of the stockings. So that's what I tried to recreate here.

It has a short row heel and all, but it definitely is more the style of a two-dimensional Christmas stocking rather than something one would wear on ones foot (note the sideways toe).

It's got Aran diamonds and bobbles and cables twisting both ways, and it looks exactly the same on the other side. It's felted -- sort of. I did it by hand and wanted the soft and subtly-felted look of something that had accidentally gone through the washer, so it's really not as felted as it could be. It's also HUGE. The stocking I grew up with, made by a second cousin when I was 1, is likewise ginormous and I always felt like Santa was more generous with me than with my little brother and his comparatively dinky stocking. (It's probably more likely that Santa wrapped my stocking stuffers in extra bulky material to take up more space, but little me doesn't need to know that.) I still love my big stocking and wanted to give Daniel something I could fill to the brim with little toys and candy and socks and (hopefully) oranges instead of onions and he can feel like Santa left more for him than his Uncle Alec.

Because that's what Christmas is about -- getting more presents than other people.

Coming Soon...

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

Presto...

Chango...

Res Completa: Buzzbee

2011-12-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

After Melynda's sweet post about her baby's knits, I thought I'd revisit one of the little things I made for Daniel before he was born. I don't think I ever posted this one outside of Ravelry, but here is Buzzbee (from Wee Woolly Toppers) the first time I tried it on him:

I remember thinking when I took this picture that he would be teeny forever and there was no way he'd ever grow into this hat. Or, if he did, it was ages away. Yet somehow, in the past 8 months, this happened:

Also, somehow, as an 8 month old, our little rascal is much harder to photograph. LONG gone are the days of propping him up in a chair or posing him while he sleeps. After a series of unsuccessful attempts, I caught the above funny smile midway into a roll to the floor...

...after which he scooted right over to the filing cabinet we still have in his room (leftover from the room's previous life as an office), opened the bottom drawer, and started sorting my tax records.

And after which I had to put the camera down because he went after the fan behind him (a current favorite seems to be attempting to chew on electrical wires).

Anyhoo, this is a great little hat and I like how it turned out in the Swish DK. Nice and warm and squishy, and still washable after Daniel has made an afternoon snack of the chin ties. Now that the weather has cooled down, we're using Buzzbee on a daily basis during our walks. Here we are in action:

All Grown Up

2011-12-02T11:21:00.001-08:00

It gives me immense pleasure to tell you that I have purchased the domain "theyarniad.com". Feeds should have been automatically updated, so I don't think you need to do anything if you're already subscribed. And I don't know why, but I feel like removing the ".blogspot" part just made this blog a little more grown up. It feels so official!

Thanks for letting me geek out.

World AIDS Day

2011-12-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

In honor of World AIDS Day today, Steven A. is holding a pretty awesome contest/giveaway in order to raise money for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, where every $40 donated allows someone to take a free, anonymous, safe HIV test. All you have to do is make a donation some time today and shoot an email over to Steven to be entered to win one of twenty-five prizes (including a set of patterns and some pretty yarn from The Yarniad). There's some amazing yarny goodness in there...so what are you waiting for? GO CHECK IT OUT!

Lomography, Part I

2011-11-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

After shooting primarily with a digital camera for several years, and especially after having one in my telephone at the ready for the past three, it feels kind of strange to be capturing photographs on real film again. The strategy is completely different. You have no idea what the finished photos will look like until you've finished the roll and get the film back a week and a half later (do 1-hour photo places even exist anymore?) so each image feels special and precious. At the same time, Lomographers* are urged to shoot anything and everything, any time, anywhere. The unpredictable nature of the cameras makes it silly to try to arrange a perfect shot; most of the time, the best images are the most unexpected.

The Diana was originally marketed as a cheapie plastic novelty camera to be used as door prizes, in giveaways, etc. But its imperfections can make for some really interesting photographs. I'm not quite there yet -- still figuring out how to best use the different settings (it's a little plastic camera, but has four focus points, two aperture settings, and two shutter speeds) -- and half of my first roll was underexposed, but it's sure fun trying!

Below some of my favorites from that first roll (film is redscale), shot in Folly Beach, SC around my birthday.

*Lomography is photography using cameras produced or inspired by LOMO, an optics manufacturer in Saint Petersburg.

Nine Rubies...a little late (as usual)

2011-11-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, it has been a week and a half since the Nine Rubies event, but I just wanted to say a quick thanks to the ladies (and a few dudes, too) who came to knit, chat, try on samples, and hang out the night of the 4th. And a HUGE thanks to Saloni, Sudha, and Christina of Nine Rubies for hosting such a fun event. It was a fantastic evening and so great to meet so many awesome people! A few photos to document the night...

Me, Blue Daisy, and Carrie of Irish Girlie Knits (the other Designer of the night -- if you happen not to have checked out her designs before, go do so posthaste! I got online and bought Summer Wind right when I got home.)

A very sweet knitter whose name I've unfortunately forgotten (Helena?) with Second Citron.

Susan (hi, Susan!) and Peponi.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a certain someone was being very dramatic for his father during dinnertime...then wouldn't go to bed until I got home. Ah, well...a mama's got to get out every once in awhile!

Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Color

2011-11-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

I am quite excited to say that I'll be designing a project for the Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Color club this year along with some really fabulous designers. If you haven't yet checked out Tanis Fiber Arts, go, go right now!

Gorgeous, right? If you're interested in signing up for the 2012 Year in Color club, you can find out more here.

Nine Rubies Event

2011-11-04T10:17:00.001-07:00

First of all, Daniel would like to thank you for all the sweet comments about his costume. He was very flattered.

Secondly, if you're in the Bay Area with nothin' to do tonight, please come on over to the Nine Rubies Local Designers' Night at 5pm. Hang out, pet some yarn, and munch on free sweets! Nine Rubies is located at...

28 E. 3rd Ave., #100
San Mateo, CA 94401

Hope to see you there, and even if not, have a great weekend!