Charade

I've never made a plain vanilla pair of stockinette socks. But this is my second time knitting the next closest thing. The "Charade" pattern is so simple it's almost like knitting stockinette.

It's a 4 stitch pattern every other round. Couldn't be easier to remember.

It gives a nice ribbed effect, without all the purling, and a wee slipped stitch mixes up the yarn a bit. I heart it so.

Pattern: Charade by Sandra Park

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet

Needle: 2.5mm

Don't go breakin' my heart

I finally finished these socks, which I feel like I've been knitting for ages. I guess that's what becomes of distraction knitting all those cowls and Christmas hats.

But aren't they beauties? The yarn is Malabrigo sock in the Stonechat colourway. This is my second time using this yarn. It is so very thin. I think that contributes to my feeling like it takes forever to knit an inch. I felt like that the first time too. But I must say it's worth it. The socks are really light and thin and yet still very cushy.Cristi's pattern was great to knit too. The repeat is pretty simple and easy to memorise. The pattern stitches are easy to 'read' too. I like the pattern in this colourway. I think I'd also like to knit it in a crazier multicolour too - the slipped and garter stitches really mix up the colours.And here's where my heart broke in two. I got a wee hole on each side, as you can see below. I'm not feeling too bad about that though - I just started another pattern by a much more accomplished knitter than me, and the photos show holes in her sock too.Nice stripes.......Pattern: Breaking Hearts by Cristi Brockway

Yarn: Malabrigo sock in Stonechat

Needle: 2.5mm

January Hat

I really liked the idea behind the Yarn Harlot's "self-imposed sock club" of 2010. But there's no way I'm going to commit myself to 12 pairs of socks. My recent knitting of hats though. Now there's a set of small projects I could commit to. Ooh, and stashbusting!

I'm not about to choose 12 patterns and 12 yarns to go with them. I'll admit to having issues with commitment (and procrastination and, and, and...). But, I have started to scout out hat patterns to put on my Ravelry 'favourite' list. At the beginning of each month, I'll see what I fancy making that month and choose a yarn to go with. The aim is to use stash only. Although I know of one hat pattern I will definitely be buying yarn for.

So, here's my January hat. Molly by Erin Ruth.
It's supposed to be a slouchy hat. The hats I knit this year will be Christmas 2011 gifts and I really don't know anyone who likes those type of hats. At least not that I've noticed them wearing slouchy hats. So I knit just over half the recommended repeats before I started the decreases.

Speaking of the decreases. Look how the cables get smaller. Love 'em.
The yarn is Rowan's RYC Silk Wool DK in a chocolatey colour called Nut Brown. It was nice and smooth and has produced a pretty sturdy fabric. I think the waffley/cable pattern will wear well.
Now, to decide the next hat. Suggestions anyone?

Can't. Stop. Patricia.

I have to admit that I'm a knitting fool for this pattern. After I finished the first one, I immediately cast on a second. My mom deserves a wee gift every now and then right? And I have the yarn in stash. So, here's a shot of her new navy blue cowl. That should warm her up in the long, cold, dark English winter.Oh, and what's this next one? Por moi? Well, I was sick of the dangly scarf, so what else was a girl to do?! Another raid on the stash and 24 hours later, my neck's as warm as anyone else's.Another excuse. I needed something to go with this hat I knit at the beginning of December. I needed a super quick knit one Saturday afternoon. I was going to my first ever (American) football game, here in Charlotte. Virginia Tech vs, erm, who cares? Anyway, it was cold. This pattern did the job - a mere two hours total.Not a perfect yarn match, but don't they look good together?
Cowl: Patricia, by Debbi Stone

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran

Hat: Really Warm Hat by Melissa LaBarre

Yarn: Knitglobal Chunkywool

:0)

Terrific Tote

Two posts in two days. I've really got a lot to show, right?! This is the Terrific Tote. The pattern is part of Kollage Yarn's "Feed Your Creativity" program - a monthly set of classes designed to encourage the expansion of your knitting skills.

my sock yarn stash does NOT runneth over :0(

This is a market bag knit with their "Corntastic" yarn, made from, you guessed it, 100% corn. A bag for the vegan in all of us. Like most of the plant-based yarns, I found it to be quite splitty. I really had to watch while I was knitting to make sure I didn't split a strand (I know, disaster, right!). That said, it was velvety in my fingers as I was knitting it, so it was a pleasure to work with. These first 2 photos show the colour best. It's kind of a seafoam green/blue.I made only one modification to the pattern. Instead of casting off all stitches at the top except the 10 bag handle stitches on one side, I also left 10 stitches live on the opposite side. This made grafting the handle onto that side SO much easier than grafting into picked up stitches.

The pattern will make a great class for a newish knitter wanting to try out cables, simple lace stitches, picking up sts and grafting (kitchener). The cable can easily be worked without a cable needle - bonus!!! I memorized the pattern after only a couple of repeats and found it to be pretty intuitive. Altogether, a neat little project.

nice bottom!

Instant Patification

Look what I knocked up in less than 24 hours.......Wow, I really am freckly and gap-toothed! Oy!
That's better. Get the glass head out.

The pattern is called "Patricia" and its by the wonderful knitting Goddess, Debbi Stone, alias Cockeyed of Blue Moon Fiber Arts fame.

OK, there are many things I love about this project. It's publication, just at the time I was looking for a gift to make for my friend Hubbs' upcoming ski trip. Super easy, bulky cables. Quick. Stashbuster.

I was thrilled to find that the gauge would work with my beloved Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran - the stash runneth over and it has marinated so long. And......
...if Hubbs gets a chilly head, she can wear it as a huge headband.

Thanks to Debbi for sharing this pattern for free on Ravelry. It was a pleasure to make :0)

Happy, happy snow day }:0)

Hi! We're having a happy, snowy, Boxing Day here at chez disco. The snow started last night, so technically, South Carolina had its first 'white Christmas' since, like, the last ice-age. The boys are loving it, esp. the smallest. Here are the handsome fellas with their new hats, completed in the nick of time for Christmas giving.Matthew models the monkey hat, of which I have made many. Teddy models the man hat, of which I intend to make many more. Let me tell you, these boys have BIG noggins. I had to remake Matt's and add a good couple of inches. His head is at least as big as mine. He's 5, people, FIVE!!!

Aaaw, and see his gappy smile? He lost his first tooth earlier in the week. HUGE excitement for him, officially a big boy!

Our beautiful snowy home, before we used all the snow for snowballs/snowmen.
No, this next picture isn't my report of Britain's current foul weather. It's our community's very own fake British Pub, with genuine imported telephone booth. See, there has to be at least an inch of snow on the ground. Be still my beating heart.
And across the street, the Christmas tree in the park. Looking very Christmasy, I must say.And an artsy shot of berries on a bush. The snow looks like candy floss.We had a fabulous Christmas yesterday. Both boys said it was their best Christmas ever (I'd have to agree with them). I'd like to think that was because we had a very quiet one, staying home all day, playing, eating and enjoying each other's company. In reality it may have been all the Lego and wii games Santa brought. And then snow!!!

I hope that everyone has had as wonderful a holiday as we have here. Wrap up warm!

xo Disco ox