Hobbesoween

All done!



I ended up having a lot of trouble with the pattern. It calls for essentially knitting short rows in order to pull off intarsia in the round, but it just never worked right, and left a lot of holes and weird stringy looking places. Instead, I decided to just duplicate stitch the stripes and tummy on. There were some issues with the muzzle, too, mostly that there's no indication in the pattern which side of it goes up, so I spent a while pinning and repinning trying to get it right. Protip: it's the smaller side.

That said, it still came out looking pretty good, so I can't complain too much. Yay for excellent Halloween costumes!

A little shameless self-promotion...

We're gearing up for Halloween over here. I've been working on a stuffed Hobbes to go along with my nephew's Calvin costume.



He's a lot more finished than it shows in this picture, thankfully. I've been having some trouble with the pattern, but it's very nearly all stitched up, and hopefully I'll have him all put together in time to ship out to NC for Halloween.

In other Halloweeny news, I wrote a short story that has been published in a horror anthology that just came out for Kindle, called A Light In The Dark. You can find it here. Please buy it so I can feel like a semi-successful writer person.

The Dangers of Improvisation and Acrylic Yarn

I finished up the yoga bag over the weekend.



It turned out pretty good! Definitely a quick knit, and almost deceptively so: I disbelieved the pattern when it told me to only knit it to 24" tall, since my mat was much wider, and almost kept knitting past the point. I didn't even consider the fact that it would stretch out once the mat was inside. Fortunately, I tried it out once it was getting close to the 24 inch mark.



It's not stretched in the picture (you try holding up a stretchy, lacy, DPN-y mess and get a good picture of it. Not easy!), but it only needed a few more rows knit at this point. So if you take a crack at it, that's a good thing to keep in mind.

I started $5 in Paris the same night I finished the yoga bag, and it's been interesting.



As you can see, this is proving to be a fast project, too. I've actually knit several more inches since I took the photo, and am well into the hip increases at this point.

The pattern is very basic, which ostensibly means there's lots of room for improvisation with it. Unfortunately, for me, that's turned out to mean a lot of trying to figure out what's going on, and flying by the seat of my pants, mostly so far as adjusting the shaping. I think the pattern calls for all the waist and hip shaping at the actual sides, but since I had to add extra rows of increases in the front for my chest, I just extended them from the front raglan lines. By the time I was done with those increases, it was time to start the waist decreases, so all of the shaping stitches have fallen in line with the front raglan as well. It's not necessarily an issue, and I kinda like the idea of princess-style shaping, but it remains to be seen how having all the shaping towards the front will affect the fit in the back. On a future knit, I'll probably split the shaping so that they line up with both the front and back raglan lines.

The other issue is, well, entirely my fault. Since the pattern is designed to be knit with acrylic, I decided to just pull some stash yarn. The blue is leftover Lion Brand Pound of Love, and for a plain-Jane acrylic, is rather delightfully soft and squishy. The white, on the other hand, is some anonymous junk that has long since lost its label, and is probably *gasp* a Super Saver. It is scratchy and gross and I am kicking myself so hard for not giving it a run through the wash before I started knitting. But, there's nothing to be done about it at this point. I can only hope once it's all knit up and washed it'll be less horrid.

Ommmm

I finished up my latest S.W.A.P. scarf this evening. Here's what I've made for S.W.A.P. so far.



The slip stitch hat is from this pattern, and the scarf is adapted from it as well. It's a gorgeous pattern, especially in the kitchen cotton ombres, although it takes a while to knit up. The pink and blue scarf is a simple lengthwise garter scarf.

Now that I've wrapped up the latest scarf, I'm starting Om Nama Shiyava Yoga Mat Bag, which has a really fantastic lace pattern in it that, to quote the author, resembles Downward Facing Dog. I'm using Bernat Baby Sport Ombre (ommmmbre *ba dum ching!*) in Rain Drops, aka pretty much my favorite yarn ever.



I didn't want to use anything with too much color, but the little pops are just enough, I think. Hopefully it'll be a quick knit so I can take it to yoga class soon.

A handful of updates!

Apologies for not having anything new to post lately, things have been a bit hectic!

- I got engaged back in May, so planning/reading blogs/pinning has been taking up a lot of my time lately. I'm planning to DIY quite a few things, and I'll post more about those once I've got things hammered out.

- Don't think that means I haven't been knitting! I've been taking a break from working on projects for myself to knit up a few things for Scarves with a Purpose, a charity group that collects scarves and other items from knitters and crocheters around the country to distribute to the homeless and needy. I'm nearly finished with one, and I'll post a few pictures of what I've made afterwards.

- I know I'd mentioned working on $5 in Paris next, but I've also recently gotten back into yoga, and am desperately in need of a mat tote, so there'll be a quick detour to knit up one of those first.

- Not strictly speaking related to my current projects, but if you're interested in homesteading, canning, urban farming, and the like, my sister Joni has recently started a blog about such things. Visit The Not Quite Homestead and check her out!

Cestino

I sat my butt down and just spent the day hashing out the pattern. It's intended to be a produce basket, but could conceivably be applied to other uses, and will comfortably hold about 5 pounds per basket. It's knit lengthwise, using short rows to achieve shaping. I've included options for two different sized baskets, as well as two different depths of basket, and you can combine them in whichever way you choose. Gauge is a loose suggestion, as long as you are within a couple of rows either way, the baskets should stretch to accommodate.

Cestino

Size:
A (B)

Finished Measurements:
Approx. 9 in. depth (approx. 7 in. depth)

Materials:
- Lily Sugar'n Cream [100% Cotton; 150 yds/138 m per 85g skein]; color white, 1 ball per basket
- Fishing line [optional]
- Metal craft hoops - 10" diameter for larger basket, 8" diameter for smaller basket
- Approx. 3 ft of chandelier chain [available in the lighting section of home improvement stores]

Gauge:
Approx. 14 sts and 18 rows per 4 inch in yo, k2tog st, on size 10.5 needles.

Pattern Notes:
- If the baskets are to be used to hold produce, I strongly recommend using a kitchen cotton yarn to allow the produce to breathe and to allow the baskets to be washed if needed. Otherwise, use whatever yarn you'd like!
- The baskets should stretch out slightly when filled. If you do not want it to stretch, you can hold fishing line along with the yarn while knitting to help hold the shape.
- I recommend not wrapping the stitches when you turn for the short rows in order to get a smoother look at the bottom of the basket.

- CO 30 (24)

First row [RS]: - k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 5 st, k to end
Second row and all WS rows: - p
Third row: - k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 5 st, k next 4 sts, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 5 st, k next 3 sts, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 5 st, k next 2 sts, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 5 st, k next st, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 7 st, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 9 st, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 11 st, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 13 st, turn
- k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 15 st, turn

For 10" diameter basket, repeat 6 times. For 8" diameter basket, repeat 5 times.

BO. Seam up together cast on and bound off edges.

Attach basket to hoops by threading yarn through top row of eyelets and wrapping around hoop. Attach 3 6-inch lengths of chandelier chain evenly spaced to top basket, joining together at top. If adding another basket, attach with 3 additional 8-inch lengths between baskets.

I finished blocking Hanna, and it really made a difference.



The seed stitch now lays flat, and the fabric has a much nicer texture to it. It's still ridiculously large, but I'm thinking that just doubling it over into itself lengthwise when I wear it will take care of that. Unfortunately, it's basically summer here in Georgia, so I won't be able to wear it again for a few months.

Up next, I'm thinking $5 in Paris, and also hopefully wrapping up the pattern for Cestino.

All done!

I finished blocking the mini-dress yesterday.



I'm really happy with how it turned out, so much so that I'm pretty sure I'll make another (probably in a solid color) in the future. I think the only adjustments I'd make is to make it a bit longer so that I could wear it as a dress.

Meanwhile, I just set my Hanna cowl to block. Hopefully that straightens out the issues with the edging. Woo, blocking!

I finished the back of my mini-dress last night. I guess I can be a really fast knitter when I have hours a day to spend on it.

I ran up against some issues when I reached the sleeve decreases. For size M, the first decrease row calls to decrease the color B stripes from four stitches to three, but then it's stated that from every row onward, they should only be one stitch, total, and then all other decreases should be made in the MC section.

I didn't particularly like the jag in the colors, so I adjusted the decreases so that the color B stripe gradually tapered down to one stitch, like so:

1st decrease row: K2, SKP (in color B), k to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k to end.
Next row: P
Repeat last two rows two times. At this point, only one stitch should remain in color B.
4th decrease row: K3, SKP (in MC), k to last 5 stitches, k2tog, k to end.
Next row: P
Repeat last two rows three times.

Obviously, this only applies to size M, but I don't think it'd be too hard to adjust for the bigger sizes if needed. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I've got block the pieces and finish off the collar and sleeves, so hopefully by the end of the week I'll have it all done. Huzzah!

My mini-dress is coming along very quickly.



I'm almost finished with the bust increases on the front, and about to start the armholes. As you can probably tell, I decided to go with the colorblocking at the waist after all. I really like these colors together.

I also realized this is essentially my first go-round with intarsia, which I've never had much success with before. Fortunately, I'm having no problems thus far. The pattern is incredibly easy. With any luck, I may have this finished by next week. Huzzah!

Free time for more knitting

I've recently found myself among the ranks of the unemployed. While that has so far found me spending A LOT of time cleaning the house like mad, I'm slowly getting around to spending more time knitting.

As such, I finally finished the Hanna Cowl.



Just like I thought, it's HUGE. I also realized just before I finished the bind off that I'd missed three rows out of each of the last two pattern repeats, so it should be even larger. It also doesn't seem to have the same soft hand as the cowl in the pattern picture, which was part of what drew me to the pattern in the first place. I do still need to block it, but, obviously, there's only so much that will do to help.

My feelings may change once I've blocked it and worn it a time or two (although now that it's March, that may have to wait until next winter), but if I were to redo it, I'm pretty sure I'd make it two-thirds to half the width it calls for, and probably substitute ribbing for the seed stitch.

Now, onto the next thing: Caddy Melville Ledbetter's Mini Dress from Knits That Fit (a.k.a. the entire reason I wanted the book in the first place). I'm making it out of Cascade Ecological Wool and Eco+, in mustard yellow, delft blue, and cream.

So far the only changes I've made are to change the first three rows to 1x1 ribbing rather than garter stitch, but I'm toying with the idea of leaving the white band at the stomach out as well. We'll see how I feel when I get a little closer to it.

I'm only a few rows in, so no pictures yet, but hopefully soon!

Halfway through Hanna

I got through one and a half pattern repeats on Hanna, decided four repeats would probably come closer to the results I wanted than three, and went from there. I finished the second repeat last night. Lets take a look, shall we?



Yeah, that's pretty huge. If it wasn't knitting up so fast I'd probably go ahead, rip it out, and restart it at about half the size, but I'm curious how the finished product will turn out, and I have a rather long movie waiting for me from Netflix, so I guess I'll take my chances.

Wrapping up those last UFOs...

I'd started the Hanna Cowl earlier last year, but miscounted the number of stitches and had to frog and start over. I'm giving it another go now.



I'm using Patons Classic Wool in Aran, Currant, New Denim, and Royal Purple, and cast on 240 stitches rather than 268 - I may regret this, I didn't want it to be quite as huge as it looked like it was going to be when I was frogging, but this still may be a lot bigger than I want. I'm debating if I want to do the full 4 chart repeats, but I'll definitely be doing at least 3. A lot of people who knit this on Ravelry have commented on the seed stitch curling up, and I'm seeing some of that already, but I'm hoping that blocking will help straighten it out in the end.

Playing catch up

I made a deal with myself recently to cut back on my video games and focus on trying to get some UFOs knocked out (it's really amazing how much of your time Lego Batman can suck up). With my sewing machine out of commission until I can get it to Sears for some repairs, that means it's been a week now of just focusing on my abandoned knitting projects.

In that time, I've managed to more or less finish one: a smaller, baby blanket sized version of a kitchen cotton stashbuster blanket I knit a few years ago. My sister had liked it quite a bit, so I decided to make a mini version of it for her baby on the way.



The irony of it is, despite having spawned from a stashbuster, I had to buy SO MANY balls of yarn to finish it...

Right now, I'm wrapping up work on Ellie. It had been sitting since I moved over a year and a half ago, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a lot less work to be done on it than I'd remembered.



I'm working a short sleeved variation of the pattern, so I really just have a couple more rows of work on the body to get it to the length I want, and then a few rows to shore up the sleeves, and I'm done. Huzzah!

I have a couple more projects to go after that, and I've told myself I'm not allowed to start anything new until I've gotten all of these off the needles. I've got a few baby projects I want to get started on, so it's impetus to wrap these other ones up, once and for all.

Would you like some fruit?

Two years ago, Jerod asked me if I could knit him a hanging fruit basket for the kitchen, since he'd had no luck finding one in stores. I assured him it'd be super easy, and I'd have it knocked out in no time.

Cut to today, and the thing is finally finished and mounted in the kitchen:



I'm pretty pleased with it. Clearly it holds up well to five pounds of clementines, although it's a bit saggier than I'd expected. Any I make in the future will have some fishing line knit in to help keep the shape of the baskets.

A pattern will be forthcoming, but I naturally have managed to lose the pattern notes in the two years since I actually finished the knitting portion of this, so it will have to wait until I have a minute to recreate them.

Update: The pattern is now available here!

Some reparations...

Since I've been a slacker posting here, I was thinking I'd just finally post the Chubby Checker pattern for free. So here you go!



Chubby Checker
Difficulty - Intermediate

SIZE
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 75 inches
Width: approx. 7 inches

MATERIALS
[MC] Lion Wool [100% wool; 158 yd per 85 g skein]; color: Dark Teal; 2 skeins
[CC] Patons Classic Wool Merino [100% wool; 223 yd per 100 g skein]; color: Heather; 2 skeins
1 set US 8/5.0 mm straight needles

Notions required: cable needle; yarn needle

GAUGE
18 sts/16 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN

Pattern notes
C2FMC – slip next 2 MC st to cable needle and hold to front of work. K 2 st in CC. K 2 MC st from cable needle.
C2FCC – slip next 2 CC st to cable needle and hold to front of work. K 2 st in MC. K 2 CC st from cable needle.

Directions
Starting with MC, CO 2 st. Switch to CC and CO 2 st. Alternate 2 st each of MC and CC across until you have 32 st.
Row 1 (WS): P 2 in CC, P2 in MC.
Row 2: C2FMC across.
Row 3: P 2 in MC, P2 in CC.
Row 4: C2FCC across.
Repeat rows 1-4 75 times. BO.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.
Block to measurements.

The Dreaded Percy

Perhaps you don't hang out in the same shadowy corners of the interwebs that I do. Perhaps you have not yet encountered the phenomenon that is Princess Tomato and the Salad Kingdom, and it's breakout star, Percy the Persimmon.

If not, you may feel compelled to keep surfing, and I can't say I blame you. This is probably not the pattern for you. Go on your merry way, and we will never speak of this again. However, if you do lurk the same corners of the tubes, or maybe just have a soft spot for obscure D-list 8-bit characters and anthropomorphic vegetable matter, then come on in, the water's fine.



Percy the Persimmon

Materials:
Patons Classic Wool (100% Wool)
[MC] New Denim, 1 skein
[CC1] Aran, 1 skein
[CC2] Currant, 1 skein

US size 3/3.25 mm dpn, set of 5
Polyfil stuffing
Black thread
Green felt
Two 1/4 inch buttons

Gauge: 30 st over 4 inches in stockinette st

Notes: I found it easiest to start stuffing each part as it was completed. The legs were stuffed after the first few rounds of the body were knit, then started stuffing the body when I got to the color change. He should feel firm but kinda squishy, like an overripe fruit (BA-DUM CHING!)

Many thanks to my Festivus giftee, Garrison, for getting the gauge I'd neglected to measure before sending Percy off to him.

Directions:

Leg (Make 2):
In CC2, CO 6 st. Div between 3 needles
*Rounds 1 & 2: K
Round 3: K1, K1F&B across
Rounds 4-9: Repeat from * twice
Round 10: K. Switch to MC.
Rounds 11-31: K
BO

Body:
Pick up st from BO ends of legs as follows:
1st needle: PU 5 sts from ea leg
2nd needle: PU 9 st from 2nd leg after 1st needle
3rd needle: PU last 5 st from 2nd leg after 2nd needle, PU 5 st from 1st leg
4th needle: PU last 9 st from 1st leg after 3rd needle
*Note* All BO sts from both legs should be picked up. The 5 st picked up from the 1st leg on the 3rd needle should be the next sts on that leg after the 5 picked up on the 1st needle. Basically you're making a crotch. Try not to think about that too hard.

*Round 1: K
Round 2: K to last st. M1, K1.
Round 3: 1st needle: K1, M1, k to last st, M1, K1. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needles. 4th needle: K1, M1, k to end.
Rounds 4-9: Repeat from *
Rounds 10-26: K. Switch to CC1
Rounds 27-34: K.
Round 35: K to last 2 sts, SKP
Round 36: 1st needle: K2Tog, K to last 2 sts on needles, SKP. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needles. 4th needle: K2Tog, K to end
Rounds 37 & 38: K
Rounds 39-41: Rep last 3 rounds
Round 42: Rep round 36
Round 44-49: Rep last 2 rounds 3 times
Round 50: K - 21 sts remain on needles. Switch to CC2
Round 51: K
Round 52: K to last st, M1, K1
Round 53: 1st needle: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needle. 4th needle: K1, M1, K to end
Rounds 54-55: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1 on all needles
Round 56: Rep round 52
Round 57: Rep round 53
Rounds 58-59: Rep last 2 rounds
Rounds 60-63: K
Round 64: K to last 2 sts, SKP
Round 65: 1st needle: K2Tog, K to last 2 sts on needle, SKP. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needle. 4th needle: K2Tog to end
Round 66: K
Round 67-69: Rep last 3 rounds
Rounds 70-79: Rep rounds 64 & 65 5 times.
Cut yarn, leaving about a 4 in tail. Finish stuffing doll. Using tapestry needle, draw tail through live stitches to draw top closed.

Arms:
On one side of doll, about 1 in below neck line and centered between decreases, PU 16 sts in a circle, 4 on each needle.
K 8 rounds in CC1. Switch to CC2. K 7 rounds.
Next round: K2Tog at beginning of each needle.
Repeat last round until 4 sts remain. Cut yarn, and stuff arm. Using tapestry needle, draw tail through live stitches to draw top closed.
Repeat all steps on other side of doll for 2nd arm.

Finishing:
Duplicate st overall straps in MC as pictured.
Using thread, embroider mouth onto face and attach buttons for eyes as pictured.
Cut leaf pattern out of felt. Sew to top of head.

Leaf pattern
Should measure about 2 inches on each side.












Now, marvel in horror at what your hands have made flesh. Or, you know, cuddle him. Whatever floats your boat.

Post-Con costume showing off

Not a whole lot to this post, just showing off the finished products.

Supergirl:






With George Perez!

Miss Scarlett:


And I didn't manage to get a picture of my Ramona Flowers costume, but here's a picture of a set of random Ramonas, because Ramona was this year's Jack Sparrow/Storm Trooper/Jayne/Captain Hammer, so I think you get the gist:


Hooray! Now to start planning for next year!

Well that's just Super.

When I started doing con costuming, there was one thing I knew for sure: There was no way in hell I would ever end up doing a Supergirl costume.

At first glance, Supergirl was everything I disliked about Superman. Truth, justice, and the American Way, Mom, apple pie, and boy scouts, and any other opinions bedamned. Then she morphed into a teenage trollop with the unfortunate habit of fighting the Good Guys whenever they suggested she take a little responsibility along with those massive powers, or, alternatively, randomly turning evil with a little provocation.

But in the end, just as All-Star Superman had done for Supes, Wednesday Comics showed me that there could potentially be more to poor, maligned Kara Zor-El than short skirts and a bad party girl attitude. And that something more, specifically? Weapons grade quantities of cute. It certainly wasn't hurt by being written by the current Powergirl team, but as a take on the character I had never seen before, it really changed my mind about her.

This is all a long story to explain why this happened tonight:


This is closer to the DC Animated Universe version, but considering my limited funds this year, it was the easiest way to do it.

Naturally, a Super Pet will be making an appearance:


So that concludes our lesson in "never say never", because there's always some unbearable cute out there to trip you up!

It's been a minute since I updated, so I guess it's a good thing that I'm working on a new pattern.


It's a hanging fruit basket for the kitchen, and it's almost done. It's a pretty simple pattern, just short rows and yarn overs in kitchen cotton, but I think it looks pretty fabu.

I'm in the process of getting it attached to the hoops at the moment, and then I've got to get the actual chain to hang it from the ceiling with, but it was altogether a super quick project.

I'll post some better pictures once it's finished, which I promise will not be 3 months this time.