Feather and Fan Wrap

The Wrap that almost wasnt....

So, we decided to do a secret Santa at the office this year and I pulled a person that is always cold and loves purple.  Normally with the craziness of life (especially going into the holidays), I would've picked something quick that I wouldn't stress about finishing, but I ended up going on a last minute international trip. 

I came up with the great idea of stranding 2 shades of Venezia Worsted using a feather and fan pattern, thinking I would have at least 18-20 hours of knitting between the flight there and back.  That worked great on the way there.  On the return trip (in which everything that possibly could go wrong, went wrong) my knitting was confiscated on the flight because knitting needles were not allowed on that airline on international flights.  Obviously the stewardess was not a knitter and didn't have any knitter friends or she would've known that I stay much calmer while knitting.  I was able to get the project back as I left the plane to find out I would not be making my connection.

I did not finish this project in time for the secret Santa at the office (instead I stranded Baby Alpaca Chunky, Lana d'Oro, and Kid Seta Noir in a quick cowl that was also quite warm).  The good news is her birthday is tomorrow and I finished it last night.  The other good news is I have the pattern.  It is pretty easy to modify - add or subtract multiples of 18 stitches to make it wider or narrower.  2 skeins and only casting on 20 stitches would make a lovely scarf.

Feather & Fan Wrap

Designed by Shannon Dunbabin

Contrasting colors in a luscious merino/silk blend makes a beautiful yet warm wrap (that can also work as a lap blanket).  The pattern can easily be converted into a scarf by only casting on 20 stitches and using 1 skein per color.

Materials

-        4 skeins Venezia Worsted (70% Merino Wool/30% Mulberry Silk  – 218 yds/100 g) (2 per color – shown in 156 & 107)
-        Size US 10.5 needle (used a 30” circular)

Abbreviations

-        K – Knit
-        K2Tog – Knit 2 Together
-        YO – Yarn Over

 Cast on 56 stitches.

 
Pattern (odd rows are right side):
Row 1:  Knit
Row 2:  Purl
Row 3:  K1, *[K2tog] 3 times, [YO, K1] 6 times, [K2tog] 3 times, repeat from *, end K1.
Row 4:  Knit.

Knit until almost desired length.  For last time through pattern, do rows 1-3 and bind off.  Weave in ends, block if desired.

On the Needles - Cloud

Fair Isle Cowl


So, I had lots of time in a car last week as I traveled around Eastern Pennsylvania with our rep Erlinda (whom has become quite a good knitter) and I had 2 balls of Cloud with me.  I hadn't found the time to be able to play with this lovely yarn very much besides a swatch up to last week.  It is a squishy blend of 70% merino wool and 30% baby alpaca in a crocheted tubular construction.  The yarn has an amazing amount of bounce and energy as does its undyed sibling - Eco Cloud.

So here is the result...


And here is the pattern:

Fair Isle Cowl

Designed by Shannon Dunbabin

A sqishy-soft, warm cowl.

Size:  Approximately 21” circumference and 8.75” long

Gauge:   4 ½ stitches = 1” on US 10

Materials:

Cloud –( 70% Merino Wool /30% Baby Alpaca; 164 yds/100 g) – 1 skein each of 2 contrasting colors (shown in MC 2122 and CC 2123)

US 10 – 16” -20” circular needle

1 stitch marker

Abbreviations:

K – Knit

P – Purl

K2P2 – Knit 2, Purl 2

MC – Main Color

CC – Contrasting Color

With MC, cast on 100 stitches.  Join to in round (be careful not to twist); Place marker.

[K2, P2] for 1” (6 rounds)

K 1 round

  PATTERN A

Work Pattern A (3 rows by 4 stitches)

K 2 rounds of MC

  PATTERN B

Work Pattern B (7 rows by 4 stitches)

K 2 rounds of MC

 PATTERN C

Work Pattern C (9 rows by 10 stitches)

K 2 rounds of MC

Work Pattern B

K 2 rounds of MC

Work Pattern A

K 1 round of MC

[K2, P2] for 1” (6 rows)

Bind off loosely.

Weave in ends.

And yes - that is one of my son's stuffed animals I used... 

Eco Duo Cowl - Designed by Jilldeal (Free Pattern)

So, yesterday that Cascade Sheep made it over to Milford, PA and found a yarn shop - Jilldeal, Inc and a lovely cowl.  The cowl was designed by Jilldeal to match the Eco Duo Slouch Hat designed by Betty Balcomb.  The cowl only requires 1-2 skeins (depending on the length) of Eco Duo (70% undyed Baby Alpaca/30% undyed Merino Wool - 197 yds/100 g)


Of course, the Cascade Sheep thinks it needs to have this cowl made.....

Per Jilldeal, "This Cowl can be made in 2 lengths.... the original 33" finished....but can be made smaller is desirous of being closer to the neck with little drape.  So smaller or large, you decide....."


Abbreviations:
YO - Yarn Over
K2Tog - Knit 2 Together
SSK - Slip, Slip, Knit

Cast on 100 (130) stitches on a US 10 - 16" circular needle.


Rows 1 - 3:  Purl
Rows 4-10:  Knit
Row 11:  Purl
Row 12:  Knit
Row 13: [YO, K2Tog] - repeat to end of row
Row 14:  Knit
Row Purl


Work Rows 1 - 5
Work Rows 4 - 15
Work Rows 4 - 10
Work Rows 1 - 3


Turn to wrong side and bind off with the wrong side facing.


To put tab on, pick up 29 stitches along the join line and work the following:
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 - [Slip 1, Purl] - repeat to end of row
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 - Slip 1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches - K2Tog, Knit 1

On the Needles - Pacific Chunky Multi

Quick Lacy Slouch

I've become a very big fan of fun projects that I can do and be able to pick it up and put it down (and not loose my place and have rip a good part of it out).  We got in a new yarn - Pacific Chunky - it is super soft, has lots of color choices (34 solids and 8 multis), and knits up quickly.  I picked this color because it was the one multi that was self indulgence when I put it together.

So here is the pattern:

Quick Lacy Slouch

Designed by Shannon Dunbabin

 
A simple lace pattern works up quickly into a fun, soft hat.

Materials

-        1 skein Pacific Chunky Multi (60% Acrylic/40% Superwash Merino Wool – 120 yds/100 g) – shown in 609

-        Size US 10 (6.0 mm) 16” circular needle

-        Size US 10 (6.0 mm) double point needles

Abbreviations

-        K – Knit

-        K2Tog – Knit 2 Together

-        YO – Yarn Over

-        K2P2 – Knit 2, Purl 2

Cast on 72 stitches with the 16” circular needle.  Join to knit in the round – be careful not to twist stitches.  Place marker at the beginning of the round.

Work K2P2 (2 x 2 ribbing) for 8 rounds.

Begin pattern:

-        Row 1 - [K2Tog, YO] – repeat until end of round

-        Row 2 – K entire round

Repeat until hat measure about 7” from cast on edge

Start decreases:

-        Row 1 – [K2Tog, YO] – repeat until end of round

-        Row 2 – [K7, K2Tog] – repeat until end of round (8 times – 64 stitches remain)

-        Row 3 – [K2Tog, YO] 3 times, K2Tog – repeat until end of round (8 times -  56 stitches remain)

-        Row 4 – [K5, K2Tog] – repeat until end of round  (8 times – 48 stitches remain)

-        Row 5 – [K2Tog, YO] 2 times, K2Tog – repeat until end of round (8 times – 40 stitches remain)

-        Row 6 – [K3, K2Tog] – repeat until end of round (8 times – 32 stitches remain)

-        Row 7 – [K2Tog, YO], K2Tog – repeat until end of round (8 times – 24 stitches remain)

-        Row 8 – [K1, K2Tog] – repeat until end of round (8 times – 16 stitches remain)

-        Row 9 – K2Tog – repeat until end of round – 8 stitches remain

Cut yarn – thread through remaining 8 stitches (using tapestry needle).  Weave in ends.

Office Knit-Along Progress



Betsy is ready to add her thumb!

Bonnie has made great progress after having to rip everything out.  We helped her get started on her thumb earlier this week.







I actually got some knitting in last weekend!  I am doing a slip stitch everytime I change colors and left the thumb open at the end.





Stacy had to rip hers out and start again - I look forward to seeing her progress next week!

Ann has been working on some projects for the office and has not gotten much knitting in.... hopefully soon!

Knit Along Progress - Shannon

So I got some time to knit and am quite pleased with the progress. I assured Rob that the one finger completed is actually for the index finger... One change I did was to slip every other stitch when I changed to a new color to get a more jagged line.

Knit-Along Progress - Stacy & Bonnie

Stacy's progress

Stacy and Bonnie both got some knitting in this weekend.  Both are fairly new knitters - Stacy has been knitting for a little more than a year and Bonnie just started this year.  They are both doing a great job!  Bonnie had to make a few starts and the biggest challenge thus far was joining in the round without twisting it.

Bonnie's progress