Dec/Jan FO update

Picture heavy post! These are the latest projects off my needles; some were secret holiday presents and others are the result of knitting up holiday gift yarn.

Puzzle Stripe Mitts

Circle Scarf with cables

Scallops Hat

Another infinity scarf in super happy rainbow colors

More to come soon....

On the needles: cabled cotton

Yarn: Araucania Patagonia 100% cotton in color 206, a blend of purple, pink, and sort-of-orange. I got these two skeins (105 yd each) during my knitting group's latest yarn exchange, and I'm so glad I did! The colors are gorgeous and I'm enjoying working with this bulky cotton. It knits up fast, that's for sure.
Needles: US 8 dpns
Pattern: improvised and still in abbreviated notes form; a (free) full version will be coming soon after I knit up a few more samples in wool to test it out.

On the needles, plus Gus

Today I get to grade papers and do some class prep - busy day ahead! Here's wishing you (and me) some time for crafting and relaxing.

More stripes

My latest work in progress is a pair of short, striped armwarmers, with sock yarn leftovers in black and a crazy, variegated, circus combination of pink, blue, purple, and orange.

 


What are you working on?

Etsy Monday: Perknitious News

It's been a long time since I've put together an Etsy Monday post, but this seems like a good reason to start up again. Next week, I'll be sharing some recent favorites from other shops.

In mid-summer, creative inspiration for new shop items and designs hit hard, and the Perknitious shop is now restocked with brand new items, including some great stripey mitts and cabled armwarmers as well as a few pairs of cozy socks, perfect for wearing with boots or a cute pair of mary janes this fall.

Neutral Lace handknit socks

Princess handknit stripey mitts

Heathered Purple cabled armwarmers

Most importantly, I'm extremely excited to be making a major change that will allow me to give back, and I'm hoping to kick off strong by starting in the busiest knitting-sales season of the year that begins in September.

From now on, I'll be donating 20% of all sales to MSF/Doctors without Borders.  This international humanitarian organization does so much good bringing medical care to under-served areas, especially during times of crisis caused by natural disaster, political oppression, or economic depression.  You can read more about their inspiring work by clicking the button below to go to the MSF site.

I hope you'll stop by the shop to take a look at the new additions, and keep your eyes open for new items being added over the course of the next week as I get photos taken and item descriptions composed.  

On and off the needles, plus a pattern!

You got a peek at some of my knitting in yesterday's treat photo, but I'm back to tell you more about what's currently on and off my knitting needles. It's been a slow few weeks for knitting projects (or maybe it just feels like time is moving very very slowly, so any knitting time I get doesn't stand out in my mind!). I finished a circle scarf requested by my friend Andrea, in Knit Picks Andean Silk, colorway Whisker.

The paired ribbed and cabled fabrics look nice together when the loop is doubled around the neck, and Andrea actually wore part of it up around her ears like a hood - another cute look I hadn't even thought of. This project used 4 skeins of yarn, and it's just about the right length. When spring break hits in just one more week, I'll be writing up this pattern (probably with a larger 6 skein variation, too) to submit to the Knit Picks Independent Designers Program hopefully for future publication - cross your fingers for me!

I've also been working on a second commission, a cowl and armwarmers set in off-white acrylic for a woman at my school.  I bound off the second armwarmer last night and just have to weave in the ends so I can deliver these warm goodies to her before winter is over. We've been having sunny weather the last few days, but I know more snow is just around the corner in March...

The pattern for these armwarmers, in case you're interested in making your own, is as follows:

Using your favorite worsted weight yarn, CO 40 sts and distribute evenly on 4 dpns for working in the round
Work 10 rounds in k1, p1 ribbing
Switch to stockinette stitch and work 8 rounds
P all sts for 1 round
[Work four rounds in stockinette and one in all purl sts]
Repeat the part in brackets until the armwarmers are approximately 2.5 inches shorter than final desired length
Work 8 rounds in stockinette
Work 10 rounds in k1, p1 ribbing
BO all sts and weave in ends.

That's it. Super simple but cute and warm :)

There's one more project on my needles right now, but it is so awesome that it deserves its own post. Look out for that later this week! What's on your needles right now?

Design inspiration: The Young Victoria

I just rewatched The Young Victoria and thoroughly enjoyed it the second time.  I was so struck by all the costuming in this period piece: the details in the gold embroidery, the spare military cut of the men's clothing in contrast to the fullness and drape of the women's sleeves and dresses, all the lace, and the great jewel tones paired with rich neutrals. Also, stripes, stripes, stripes! 

I have a whole bunch of new designs bouncing around in my head right now, and one finished object that was definitely inspired by this movie. These are striped armwarmers with Knit Picks Palette in Silver and my own handspun singles.  I love the silver sparkle!

What's been inspiring you lately?

Etsy Monday: Shop update :)

I finally managed to catch a bit of sun and capture photos of new items for the shop! Nicole and I had fun with our mini photo-shoot yesterday, taking a few pictures in front of my new poster (it's currently attached to the wall with push pins and binder clips, waiting until I get the right frame).  We also recruited some of Heidi Kenney's adorable plushes to help set the right mood.

Bloom Headband Earwarmers

this was my favorite photo of the day!

Spring Stripe Mitts

and a particularly goofy one!

Nicole also did a massive (and I mean seriously HUGE) set of updates in her shop FantastiCrafts!  Her owl stitch markers have been super popular lately - they're selling out as fast as she can stock them. I'm not surprised, because they are truly adorable.

I'm working on more armwarmers right now, since spring is my favorite season for wearing them. I hope by knitting them I can magically convince the weather to start changing and being just a tiny bit warmer...

I have lots of fun updates from this weekend to share with you (thrifted finds and a Project ReStyle makeover), plus a nearly finished sweater waiting to be modeled.  I hope you had a good weekend, too!

Stripes, stripes, stripes!

I love knitting quick projects and using up leftovers.  The perfect solution?  Stripey knits.  

I think that stripes are my (not-so) secret knitting obsession!  

Looking at the projects currently on my needles, it's just all stripes, all the time...

Slightly slouchy beanie in two shades of acrylic yarn that make me think of lemons and limes...

Stripey mitts for the shop in springtime purple and gold (pansies, anyone?) and green and gray...

FO: Asphalt Armwarmers

At long last, I bound off the last stitch on these giveaway armwarmers, destined to wind their way to the waiting arms (oh dear, terrible pun) of Carmen. She has been so patient with my slower-than-expected knitting!

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Asphalt Heather, a few yards less than 1 skein (I ordered two, uncertain whether I would try a different cable pattern that might eat up more yarn, but the simple horseshoe looked best in the dark colorway).
Needles: US 3 dpns

Pattern: my own basic recipe for long armwarmers with a thumb gusset and a cabled panel. The hardest part of this design is figuring out where to place the thumb gussets so that the cables can line up down the back of the arm and hand. One also needs to remember to knit one mitt with a thumb on the left and the other with its thumb on the right.

Verdict: I enjoyed making these, especially knowing ahead of time that someone had chosen the color and was looking forward to wearing them! They're going in the mail this afternoon or tomorrow morning :)

In other news, I kept forgetting to take pictures of a sweet gift that my friend S. brought when she visited a few weeks ago. Bamboo blend yarn in great colors! A fancy knitting book with the kinds of stitch patterns I love best! I can't wait to get designing for a few new pairs of socks and simple shawls.

P.S. I didn't get time for spinning yesterday, but hopefully this weekend I'll have a chance to make some more of my pink singles from the They Told Me Sew fiber I showed you earlier.

Fall treats

Thank you for your kind words in the comments! Life is back to normal, including a busy schedule on campus, though I've had the chance to surround myself with a few fall treats in the last two days.

I've been working at light speed on this pair of armwarmers for my giveaway winner. They will probably be done tonight and ready for shipping tomorrow! Every time I work this pattern, I rediscover my love for the simple lines and the sweet touch the cables bring to a very straightforward accessory. All the pairs in my shop recently sold out - will armwarmers be really fashionable this year? I hope so! I guess I will have to get yarn to make some more pairs, or come up with a new design. Any suggestions?
 

Every morning I've been enjoying my coffee with one of two flavored-creamer options: white chocolate mocha or southern butter pecan. Both are delicious and perfect for crisp fall mornings.

Yesterday afternoon, while walking home from campus, I picked a few small flowers for myself. These little guys only bloomed in the last two weeks along the edge of the sidewalk, after all the brighter, more fragile blossoms of tall plants started to wither. Now they're on my windowsill adding a touch of fall to the room.

I've already mentioned rotating in a different set of blankets for fall, and here's the result. In spring and summer, I have a green and white duvet cover on the bed, which counteracts the bright pink curtains and makes the room quite cheerful. Now, it's back to plum, brown, and pink, creating a much more fall- and winter-ready space. Gus agrees.

I think Wednesdays will include some time devoted to spinning this quarter, so I should have photos of my progress to show you tomorrow. Until then, happy knitting!