Tag: yarn

Yarn Selections From Harrisville Designs For Two Sweaters

More yarn has been added to my stash. I do have patterns in mind for it, but of course buying is quicker than knitting.

After I finished knitting the latest Warm Up sweater, I knew I wanted to have another. The Warm Up is an easy pattern and is perfect for worsted weight yarn. I have a particular affinity for yarn that comes from a place I love.

Peace Fleece yarn now comes pre-washed and it is squishy and soft. I used three colors to knit my Warm Up #2. The red tones were something new for me. Usually I stick to more earthy and neutral colors.

I saw this yarn in person when I visited Harrisville Designs during a trip back to New Hampshire. I knew I wanted to knit more sweaters using it.

Peace Fleece wool yarn tag
Peace Fleece yarn label
Daylights wool yarn label by Harrisville Designs.
Daylights yarn label
Peace Fleece worsted in black Siberian Midnight color
Siberian Midnight colorway

Harrisville Designs is a yarn company located in an old mill in Harrisville, New Hampshire. I lived near enough to shop there, but at the time I knew nothing about this place. I wasn’t much of a knitter back then. I couldn’t wait to stop in when I was back in the area for a visit. But I need to buy the yarn online so I don’t get to see the colors in person.

Read MORe about Peace Fleece yarn here.

I don’t remember what happened, but as soon as I saw the Siberian Midnight colorway, I wanted it. The yarn is black with white specks throughout. I believed it would knit up into a pretty pullover.

Of course the yarn, in the Siberian Midnight colorway, was hard to find. It seemed to be sold out everywhere. Then I found it for sale at Firefly Fibers and bought enough for a new sweater project. They also had some Daylights yarn for sale, and I bought enough of that for a different sweater. I chose the colorway Chirp. I’m thinking I will try to knit a cable sweater with the lighter color.

Peace Fleece and Daylights yarn
Peace Fleece – worsted and Daylights -DK

I now have two new sweater patterns in my queue. I just need to find a cable pattern I think I can handle.

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Excited About Knitting Birthday61 Pattern Using a New Yarn

I have the yarn and will soon begin knitting the Birthday61 sweater pattern by Ankestrick. The yarn from Loop has arrived and it very nice. First time using this brand and ordering from this online shop.

I should not be starting a new knitting project. I’ve been in a bit of a knitting funk lately. This has caused me to jump from one project to another without finishing any of them! That is a bad habit to get into.

This new sweater pattern is by a designer I am familiar with – Ankestrick. She wrote the pattern for the Rebel Cardigan, which I have knit and successfully finished. The Birthday61 sweater is a textured pullover. It is knit in all one color using a fingering weight yarn. The pattern is the half-fisherman’s rib. Needle size is very small, between 0-1.5US size, depending on gauge.

Buying Yarn

The designer knit her sweater using Biches & Bûches cashmere and lambswool yarn. I bet it’s gorgeous. The yarn is quite expensive and hard to find in the US. So, I looked at the Biches & Bûches lambswool – no cashmere. It is the same weight and costs less. Also, it is easier to find.

Ravelry has a feature where a yarn page links to shops that sell the yarn. I use it a lot. It does not list every place the yarn is sold, but enough to give me an idea of pricing.

If others have an opinion on the yarn, they can leave comments.

To see what types of yarn have already been used for a project, go to the Birthday61 projects page and click the “yarn ideas” link at the top. When I do that for Birthday61, I see that Biches & Bûches La Petite Lambswool has been used for six of these sweaters already. I ended up ordering seven skeins from Loop Yarn. They offer free shipping for orders over $95. I chose color Beige.

I’ve read that Biches & Bûches is changing their skeins from hanks (that have to be wound) to skeins that don’t. When ordering, it seems you could get either type. On the Loop site they showed hanks on the ordering page. Here is what I got … & YAY – no winding required! I’m so happy.

beige yarn skeins from Loop yarn

The Birthday61 Pattern – Buy the pattern here at Ravelry

I’ve already been knitting a sample of the Birthday61 sweater pattern. Mainly, I wanted to see if I could do it. Check out my page here. I’m not convinced that I will not mess this up. A light colored yarn is going to show all the goofs, but it will also be easier to see the stitches as I knit.

The Swatch on Needle Size 1 US (2.25mm)

Initially I had hoped that my sample piece would serve as a swatch, but the new Biches & Bûches yarn is thinner than the Rauma. I needed to knit a swatch. Swatch stitch amounts (for a 4×4 size – before and after blocking) are given but I wasn’t sure how to knit the swatch in the half-fisherman’s rib.

I ended up knitting a flat piece (using size US1 / 2.25mm needle) following directions for this on page 2. The wrong side is knit and the right side is done in the kbl, purl. I left 3 border stitches on each side of each row. I began and ended the swatch with 4 knit rows.

Before I got the swatch finished I could tell it would end up being too tall / long.

sweater swatch beige

My gauge is really off on rounds. Width / stitch number in 4 inches is very close, but I should have 8 more rows. What this means to me is that my sweater will end up very long. I’ll have to watch the length as I knit.

This swatch should be 64 rounds that equal 4 inches. If I knit 64 rounds I get something like 6 inches. Knitters also say that this type of stitch stretches downward with washing.

I began to wonder if I knit the swatch incorrectly. So I asked on the Ankestrick designs forum at Ravelry (this is the place to ask pattern questions). I got a quick reply and found I had knit it correctly. So maybe I need a smaller needle. I ripped out this swatch and began again with the smaller needle.

swatch for Birthday61 sweater front
Front
Back

However, my swatch with size 0 needles did not change much. My plan is to cast on with size 0 and switch to size 1 for the sweater. I am hoping that the cast on edge will look okay.

More info to come as I begin this project.

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Fall Knitting Projects to Inspire Your Creativity

I can only imagine the cool, crisp Fall air swirling about my head and filling my lungs. I miss New England always, but especially at this time of year. Knitting season has arrived, and I know my fellow knitters are excited. I am excited also to see all the new patterns.

Before I get too far along, I want to give credit to the creator of the cute kitten in an orange scarf image at the top of my post. I just love it! The image was created by GrumpyBeere and there are more like it at the free image sharing site, Pixabay.

Prospective Projects On My Fall Knitting List

I’ve been a bit down on knitting lately, and it has nothing to do with the summer season. In Florida, it’s either hot or less hot, so I’m pretty much always knitting during non-sweater weather.

My last few finished knitting projects have not thrilled me. I’m currently knitting a big, over-sized sweater (it’s really big) that has lost my interest. The recently finished Rebel Cardigan is very nice, and I do look forward to being able to wear it.

For the sake of having something to do while I watch TV, I’m doing some colorwork on a tube scarf. I’m making the designs up as I go, which is fun.

rebel cardigan shoulder
Rebel Cardigan
Tube colorwork scarf
Fun colorwork tube scarf.

Little Projects to Consider

Mittens can be fun to knit but they need to be gifts in my case, because no one wears mittens where I live. Fingerless mitts, or fingerless gloves, are more likely to be on hands here. I would wear them early in the day, before the temps creep up. I’ve already knit some of these patterns, and others look interesting.

Mittens and Fingerless Mitts

If you know how to finish off mittens – any mitts pattern could become mittens.

  • Fair Isle Mitts – FREE colorwork pattern, using Fingering weight yarn. I have knit these – see my page (and photo below)- and love them.
  • Hiedra Mitts – Solid color, using DK weight yarn. These are in my Ravelry favorites, and would make a nice gift.
  • Bee Creative Mittens – or fingerless mitts done in colorwork. Who doesn’t love bees? As a gardener, I am drawn to this pattern.
  • Simple Fingerless Mitts – FREE pattern! Has some optional colorwork for a beginner, which could be skipped. Very simple knitting project.

Mitts I’ve Knit

Fair Isle Mitts colorwork pattern
Fair Isle Favorites
Oulu mitts
Oulu mitts
Oulu Mitts
Fingerless mitts Stellar Parallax pattern
Stellar Parallax Mitts
colorwork little flowers fingerless mitts knitting project
Fun made up pattern – with lots of mistakes!

Just a word of advice here about knitting with wool. Mittens and mitts should be knit in wool, IMO, because of the warmth factor. Choose a good wool too – like Jamieson, Shetland, or Rauma come to mind. These brands have nice, consistent yarn, basically without knots. The wool creates a lovely project.

Shawlettes

A simple little “shawlette” works perfectly for keeping a neck warm. Knit it in warm wool, and keep it handy for the southern winter season. A small shawl will work up quickly and may use only one skein of yarn.

  • Interisland Shawl – this one is on my needles, but has been neglected. It begins with the lace edging and I’m not a big lace knitter. I do plan to finish it!
knitting lace
Lace edging of Interisland Shawl.

Bigger Projects: Namely Sweaters

  • Fallow – Yoke colorwork with deer / woodland design. This one is at the top of my sweater knitting list because it is so cute.
  • Schneeflocken – lots of pretty colorwork on this pullover.
  • Shake a Tail Feather – Colorwork pullover
  • Low Tide – a new pattern by Rachel Illsley is absolutely stunning! It’s on my list, but I’m not sure I can handle all the lace knitting.

That’s about it for my list, and it changes all the time! There is a new yarn (new to me) that I’d love to try. It can be machine washed on a delicate cycle. This would be a game changer for gift giving. Schachenmayr Regia Premium Merino Yak (link goest to the Ravelry yarn page) is the name of the yarn, and it is not cheap. People don’t like it for knitting socks apparently because it pills. But, I read a review by a test knitter who uses it often and recommends it. I plan to buy it at some point and see for myself.

What do you have on your knitting roster for this Fall and coming year?

cat and yarn image

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Travel Knitting Project Ideas

Pattern ideas for take along knitting projects, including hats, socks and more.

Knitting can become an addiction. Avid knitters will agree that the repetitive movements are soothing and relaxing. And what better place to pass the time by knitting than during travel?

I have not had a car for almost three years. My son drives me around when I need to get to the store. My Subaru was traded in so we could get a big truck to pull our camper. The truck is huge, and I don’t drive it. So I am always the one in the passenger seat, and often I take along a small knitting project.

Hats are perfect for travel knitting. My knitting journey began by knitting hats and they are still one of my favorite things to knit.

bright orange yarn knitting slouchy watchcap
Ribbed Watchcap by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

This ribbed beanie takes a long time to knit! It is a 1×1 rib all the way up to the decreases and top, using a size 1 needle. I have knit two hats from this pattern and love wearing them during Florida winter months. This slow and steady project is worth the time spent. Both of my hats were mostly knit while riding.

orange hat knitting
Slouchy hat knitting is done

Keep it Simple

I like to keep it simple when knitting while riding. If I am making a hat, I like to have the cast on completed. That way I can do the knits, or knits and purls, while traveling. Of course you can knit any way you choose, but we are usually pulling the camper and the road is a bit bumpy because I am riding in a truck. Simple stitches are best for me. Choose what you can handle.

Any type of knitting that is round and round, without any guidance needed, is my preferred way to travel knit. If I had something more complicated – like a chart or colorwork – to follow, I’d use Knit Companion on my iPad.

The Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague

I recently jumped on board the Musselburgh knitting bandwagon and knit this unique hat. My goal was to use up some stash yarn. This pattern begins with a tough cast on – it is knit from the center / top out. Get that over with and then it becomes a great take-along project. See my notes on knitting the Musselburgh on this page.

Musselburgh Hat knitting project
Musselburgh
knitting Musselburgh hat
Unique construction

Plan For Mistake Fixing – Bring the Tools

For a short trip to the grocery store a simple project with yarn, stuffed into a small bag, is fine. But for a longer trip, be sure to have the tools that may be needed to cut, mark, and fix mistakes.

A crochet hook is one thing a knitter should always have close by. If a stitch is dropped, the crochet hook (how to fix a dropped stitch video link) is needed for this fix. I’ve gone on short trips and dropped a stitch and had to wait until I got home to use my crochet hook.

Also take a project bag, all needles needed, scissors, stitch markers, measuring tape, the pattern, and enough yarn!

Socks Projects

I’m not much of a sock knitter, but I have made a few pair. Socks are the perfect take-along item because they are small.

A link to my review page (and pattern links) is at the bottom of each photo here.

hand knit socks in aqua blue variegated yarn
Shell Cottage socks
Perfect Newborn socks pattern knitting
Perfect Newborn socks
Wild Angelica socks pattern stranded colorwork floral design
Wild Angelica socks

Make Your Own Pattern

Sometimes it’s nice to take some yarn and wing it. Make some new dishcloths, or begin a simple scarf. Just cast on and knit. It’s a good way to use up stash yarn. (Hint: choose the right type of yarn for the project, cotton for dishcloths, etc.)

Key West Kotton yarn and Anzula "For Better or Worsted"

Caution – Avoid the Sun!

One thing I have to be careful of where I live is to keep the knitting out of the sun. My little take along project must be kept in a bag, and especially if I am away from the vehicle for a while.

sun, sunshine

The sun can fade and damage the yarn. The Florida sun is very strong, but I don’t think any project should be sitting in a sunny car. I think it’s risky. So be sure the garment is packed away in case the sun shifts.

More Pattern Ideas For Take-along Knitting

Do you have any suggestions for good patterns to knit while traveling?

See what I’ve been up to…

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