Peace Out

peace out 1
Originally uploaded by vampirefan

So, I tried my hand at double knitting and it's so simple! I made a tardis pot holder to try the technique out and it was a breeze.

So now, I'm making a scarf for my bff. I had some multicolored hacho yarn and after much searching, found some beautiful red yarn to make the contrast. The pattern I chose was a peace sign since she loves them. It came out a little more football shaped than round since I didn't want to make a sample from the peace sign chart I made. I really love the thickness.

Leaf Lace Shawl

I started a new shawl a few weeks ago - the Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark. I couldn't keep track of the other one I stared a while back 'cause I wasn't paying attention as closely as I needed to. The Leaf Lace Shawl, on the other hand, is so easy to follow and so well written. I'm using the same yarn, so I frogged the bit I had done.

I found that in order not to mess up, I needed to count every pattern row. Every time I didn't, it turned out I was missing one or two stitches and would have to tink back a row which is so aggravating and would waste more time than just counting. By now though (on my 8th repeat of the pattern) I can pretty much tell if I messed up.

I decided that I want to add beads to the edging and the pattern does show how to add a very minor beading detail to the tips of the edges. I'm thinking I would like to add a few more beads than that but first I needed to figure out what kind of beads I should be using.

Knitty has a great primer for beginners. They explain the 2 basic methods for getting beads onto the yarn. I like the hook method better because it would be my luck that I'd string on the beads I need, only to have the yarn break and beads escaping everywhere! The article also explained how there are beads with bigger centers/holes so I'll need to find some of those. That knitty article also recommends an online store which sells some great beads.

I did find a couple of great tips on getting beads onto the yarn using wire instead. This method is fantastic, especially if I were to end up making another shawl where the beads are all over it (and not just on the ends), so I can carry beads with me without having to worry about trying to fish them out of a small container and dropping them.

So, even though I have about 5 repeats to go, I need to figure out which beads will look good with the dark purple yarn. Maybe a clear crystal bead with silver lining? hmmm...

Pattern Links:

• Leaf Lace Shawl

Mittens

A while back I promised my friend I'd make her Pirate Mittens. I finally started them the other day. I'm done with one mitten and have started the second, although I haven't taken more pictures yet.

When I told my best friend, she thought the mittens were really cool - and then she asked me: "What about MY (her) gloves?" Oops! I'm almost done with them. Really! Well, I've been almost done with them since December... I just need to make the fingers on the second glove. So after these mittens are done, I'll be finishing up her gloves. Then I can continue with my mom's shawl...and maybe start something else.

Pattern Link:

• Pirate Mittens
  

Heartland - first section

Heartland Lace Shawl
Originally uploaded by vampirefan

Here's the first photo!

I learned a new thing. Apparently, when you have a garter stitch edging, the best way to start out a shawl is by making a "tab".

In this case, I had to cast on 2 stitches, then knit 7 rows of garter stitch (that's knitting every row). Then, I turn the piece of knitting on it's side and pick up 3 stitches (one in each purl row) and then 2 in the 2 original stitches - making up a total of 7 stitches.

At first, when I read this explanation, I was a little confused and couldn't visualize it so I made one on some practice yarn and it was simple to understand once I followed the steps.

So far, I've only had to tink back 2 rows when I missed some YOs.

One thing that I realized almost immediately was that I cannot do this and talk or watch tv or whatever. I have to concentrate on the directions so no taking this to knit night or to work on while commuting.

Also, during my research, I noticed that many people talked about "life lines". This is a thin length of string (or someone even recommended dental floss) that you thread through the loops of one of the purl rows. You do this every few rows and can remove the prior one when adding a new one, if you prefer, always making sure to note which row you have lifelined. The purpose of it is to save yourself a ton of aggravation if you have to frog back some rows. Since the lace pattern will have many YOs and SSKs/K2TOG, it's really hard to keep track if you have to frog. With the lifeline, you simply rip back up to the lifeline and thread your needle back in and then start again from there without having to worry about dropped stitches.

I'll probably not work on this again until next week.

Yarn and projects

Jayne Hat

The yarn came in from yarn.com and all of it was lovely! I also hit Loopy Yarns (a LYS) and took advantage of their January 40% 0ff sale and got a bunch of great yarn, including some yarn to be used to make a couple of Jayne hats for the annual Can't Stop the Serenity Charity screening we have started to host. I've already made one so far and I used much less yarn than I thought I would so I think I can make at least 2 more.

My Boring Hat

I've also made a few other things yet still haven't finished T's gloves! I made my sister a blue My Boring Hat, which she loves and I made another Grrr washcloth in red and gave it to another friend. I named it Jubal Early.

Grrr - Jubal Early version

My SIL is knocked up, and coincidentally, I had picked up some cotton yarn in pastel colors, so I've started a simple baby kimono for the baby (pattern found on Ravlery). I have a lot of time to make it, but it's really the easiest to knit while on the train while on my to and from work.

I'm planning on making some pirate mittens for a friend and I have a couple of different yarns to make socks with (although they scare me a bit since the recipes call for size 2US and 3US needles!

I still have a bunch of yarn I really don't know what to do with - yet.