Laundry, Cleaning and Knitting

The Basketweave Noro is almost done. The second sleeve needs the side moss stitch and to be stitched on, and the bottom needs a pick up and rib for about an inch to finish the whole thing... looks nice!

So as it is almost done, here is the first sketch for the Cash Island Noro yarn that I also snagged at the Knitter's Fair....

It will be a capped sleeve vest, with buttons up to a full turtle neck, but should also be a wide shawl collar if only buttoned partially or left open. Just in the early planning stages now, and I need a swatch to get the gauge and size right. I think a few cables will run up the sides of the front pieces and maybe over the whole back. Not sure yet.

We have tickets for the Buffalo Bills game today. The New Orleans Saints are coming to town, and I don't remember them ever being here, so this should be fun to see. I did see the Saints play the Bills once, but it was in New Orleans many years ago (before Catrina) and we did Bourbon Street and ate Blackened Catfish (mmmm) just like real tourists! That was the first place I had Jello Shots! I have since mastered the making of said shots, one of the only things I enjoy "cooking".

Go Bills!

Noro Silk Garden Basketweave Sweater

I have been busy this week weaving the basket for the pieces of this pattern...

I love the way the colours surprise me in every row of diagonal blocks. This is the first pattern of this type that I have tried, and it is tricky. You need to actually pay attention to the side of the work you are on, and to the direction you are going (you need to keep turning the piece and it's easy to lose track!).

Lots more to do, so no other projects on the go. I have plans for a new hat for the cold golf weather coming up (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino), and for another Noro project, a vest I think... my own pattern. I also have some sewing projects lined up. As fall hits and winter threatens, my thoughts go to warm and wooly things... I was wearing a scarf on the golfcourse this morning, since the day started at 6C (45F)... but it quickly reached a nice 18C(70F) and the layers were pealed off every 4 holes until I was in short sleeves! Good thing my golf bag has lots of pockets.

Cashmerino Hoody Scarf and Mittens

Cashmerino Hoody Scarf and Mittens.

I wanted to make a cabled scarf and mitts to match, but decided a small hood on the scarf may be a nice way to warm the ears without a hat (and without messing the hair too much). This is an easy pattern if you have cable experience and four needle round knitting experience. It will be a good challenge for new cablers, but could be a good first cable project.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (or any DK that fits the gauge.) 6 balls - I used a burgundy colour.

Needles: 4mm (US 6) straight for scarf, and double points for mittens. Cable needle and stitch holder.

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows in stocking stitch on 4mm.
Cable left: (worked on 6 stitches) with cable needle pick up first 3 stitches and hold in front of work, with regular needles, knit next three stitches, then knit the stiches from the cable needle- you have a twist to the left.

Cable right: with cable needle pick up first 3 sts and hold to BACK of work. knit the next three stitches, then knit the stitches from the cable needle - you have a twist to the right.

Scarf: Cast on 36 stitches. Row one: establish pattern: K5, P1, K6, P1, [k2, p2, k2, p2, k2]*this is the 10 stitch double moss stitch*, P1, K6, P1, K5

Row 2: (wrong side) K6, P6, K1, [p2, k2, p2, k2, p2] K1, P6, K6

Row 3: K5, P1, K6, P1, [p2, k2, p2, k2, p2] P1, K6, P1, K5

Row 4: K6. P6, K1 [k2, p2, k2, p2, k2] K1, P6, K6

Row 5: (cable row) K5, P1, cable left, P1 [k2, p2, k2, p2, k2] P1, cable right, P1, K5

Row 6: same as row 2

Row 7: same as row 3

Row 8: same as row 4.

Repeat these 8 rows until you have the length of scarf you prefer. Mine is 8 feet long.

Bind off all stitches.

Hood (optional). Find the center of the scarf (about four feet) and mark it. Measure 9 inches to each side and mark that. On the 18 inches section with right side facing you, Pick up 70 stitches (about one every 2 rows of the garter edging), Work out from there with 6 stitches of garter stitch at each edge, and the middle in double moss stitch. Place a marker at the center of the moss stitch. Work even in established pattern for 2 inches, then start shaping: decrease one stitch on EACH side on CENTER TWO STITCHES (keep carrying the marker). Do the decrease on every right side row until the cast off row. At the same time, when you have worked 4 inches from the start, cast off 6 stitches at the start of the next 4 rows (outside edges). Last row: [K2 together] repeat across the whole hood. Cast off all remaining stitches. Sew up back of head seam.

Mittens. Right Mitt: With double point needles, cast on 36 and join. Work in a k2, p2 ribbing for 3 inches, increase 4 stitches on the last row.

Establish pattern: P1, K6 ,P1, [k2,p2, k2, p2, k2] P1, K6, P1, *place a marker*, K14.Working in the round, start the pattern as for the scarf, with the K6 sections becoming 8row cables and the 10 stitch [brackets] becoming the double moss stitch.

At the same time when the Pattern Part is one inch along, start thumb. In the stitch after the marker, increase one stitch before and after this stitch. Work one row even, then increase one stitch after the marker, knit 3, increase one more stitch and work rest of row. Work one row even. Next row, increase one stitch after the marker, knit 5, increase one more, finish row. Continue to work one row even, and one row with increases, until you have 13 thumb increases done. Next row, place those 13 thumb stitches on a holder and pull in front of work. Cast on one stitch, and continue around the mitten on 40 stitches again as you started, keep working the cable moss pattern on the back of the hand. Work like this until one inch short of desired length or about 6 inches of pattern above the ribbing.

Decrease row: decrease one stitch at each side of the cables (4 decreased each row) for four rows. Knit 2 together across the last row, and without casting off, break yarn and thread through all remaining stitches, pull tight and sew to secure.

Thumb: Pick up the 13 stitches from holder, and put on two of the double points. With the third, pick up 5 more stitches across the top of the thumb hole and join in a circle. Knit every row for 3 inches, then k2 together around, and break yarn, threading it through remaining stitches. Gather and secure to close the thumb.

Left Mitten: Make ribbing the same as right, start the pattern part the same, but place the marker BEFORE the P1 to the right of the first cable. Work the thumb on the stitch to the right of that marker, and continue in the same way as the right mitten.

Knitter's Fair Today!

Most of my knitting group are off on a road trip to the Kitchener- Waterloo Knitter's Fair. It is the largest Knitting Only Craft fair I have been to, with over 70 vendors in one place. I hope to come home with inspiration, new ideas and lots of new stash!

I apologize for the delay with the scarf and mitten pattern, they are completed, but I have been so busy I have not had the hour it takes to type up and print the pattern with photos... Sunday should finally allow me that time... so see you tomorrow!

Later....

here are the Noro yarns I was forced to buy (they were on sale... you would have done the same thing too.) Notice the cool buttons on top. They are moose antler from Newfoundland!

the yarns are my fav' Silk Garden, 10 balls, and Cashmere Island, 5 skeins.

The other thing is the Noro 26.... wow. I had to own this... check out the other photos here. They are all so new and cool.

Long Weekend Summary

Coming soon from Elann is one of my favourite cotton yarns, on sale in a whole bag deal (10 balls for under $20!).... released on September 29.

This yarn, Esprit, has been used by me to make my fave pullover, the pattern is posted here.

I also used it to make my total ripoff Julius Sweater... pattern NOT posted, but if you can draw on knitting graph paper, you too can rip off a design... :)

The yarn is cotton, but has a stretch to it (lycra) and it really holds its shape, without sagging or stretching the way most cottons do.

This long weekend Monday caps off a week of endless golf and golf watching.... I played 5 new courses as their "guest" while our course hosted the Canadian Tour Pro's Championship. I also came to watch the pro's make amazing shots on my course. We played today, post tournament, with the course left in the condition for the professionals.... fast greens, really long rough, and all the flowers and scoreboards and everything (except the roar of the crowds). It played very tough today, but tomorrow we will be back to the gentle giant we know and love... yay!

Here are some shots of the players on the course...



Back to normal on the course, at work, and more time to knit... Lots more warm weather still, I hope, but we do have to deal with Fall and Winter, so time to start knitting warm things.

Road Trip Knitting...

We had a quick 2 day road trip to Collingwood, and played two great Private Courses... OslerBrook and Georgian Bay. The drive is about 3 hours each way, so on the way UP, I finished the first mitten of the cable set, and on the way back did about 10 more inches of the Wrap....

The views from the golf course, looking down at Georgian Bay were amazing... and I really enjoyed both courses. Look at this photo... what's not to like?

The first day was a bit chilly, but with my Noro Blossom sweater I was very comfortable... You can see my Wood Hoods in the background, (black top and red socks). Notice my new T1 Tilley hat. The new lightweight fabric breathes and dries quickly, but is good in the wind and rain (and I look really cool too.)