This is 2 ball scarf. (Total 100 gm).
4 row repeat.
*Knit 3 rows, Purl 1 row*.
This scarf was knit with increases on ONE side only until 1ball (50 gm) was used up. Then, decrease in same manner.
This would be a pleasant scarf if knit in a tradition scarf shape. For a Gentleman, maybe?
I picked the 4×4 rib, but after 6” of knitting, although I liked how the stripe was developing, I wasn’t happy with it.
Back to the swatches. Which would you pick?
Me, I’m still thinking about it, but leaning toward slip stitch.
The yarn is acrylic 70%/30% wool. Bernat Sheep(ish) Stripes, Vickie Howell. 
Cascade Yarns has published a free pattern for a knitted mask.
NOT Suitable for full Covid protection use.
I knit it using a cotton from my stash. It has 98.3% cotton and 1.7% elastic. Circulo Yarns, Obsession. I have no idea of its Country of origin. 3.75 mm needle.
The Pattern: There must be a better pattern to download from the Cascade Yarns.
I can’t find and supply the link.
Caution: Fabric or knitted masks should be laundered between wearings.
Handknitting is meditative for me. During these self isolating times. Our Canadian Prime Minister says, stay home! And, so we did.
The scarf is called Eden, pattern from the Lace Yarn Studio book.
I purchased this book awhile ago and thought that I would knit one of the scarves. I love the book and definitely recommend it, even if no intention of knitting the other projects. There is a nice range of 1 skein, 2 skein, 3 skein etc projects from which to choose.
My project, somewhat successful.
The red mohair and particular sock yarn was garish to my eye. I abandoned it for now. I need to wait for our stores to reopen to buy a better colour combination. I moved on, and then used the same ball of sock yarn with a white mohair yarn. The weight of the white mohair was different ( thicker) and needed a needle size adjustment. The finished scarf was then joined, end to end for a double circular scarf. I tested it out on our 5 C weather. It was warm!
The garment worked out well. The yoke was handknit, then hung up on the knitting machine. I short rowed a section on the back, just below the curved yoke section, so that the back neckline was higher.
I used a Studio Chunky 9mm knitting machine for the body and sleeves. The calculations for the yoke were done using Knitwares Sweater Design software. The cuff and neckline edging was knit by hand.
I’m pleased with the result and am now working on a similar technique using a mohair yarn.
Good morning,
It looks like we are social distancing for awhile. Soap and water, soap and water, soap and water is becoming our meditation.
Knitting wise, I have decided to work a top down circular yoke sweater. That should keep me busy for awhile. I hadn’t made one since a couple of decades ago. I couldn’t find a suitable pattern that I liked, so I decided to make my own. I calculated the numbers by pencil and then went to my Knitting software and low and behold is was the same within a couple of stitches.
The software that I use is called Knitwares Sweater Design and is now available free but a bit awkward to install. It has been abandoned by the owners. If of interest, Google the name for more info about it. The demo version is a full working version, but does not allow “saving”.
I have finished handknitting the scarf. My interior light was so poor that I photoed outside for a truer colour. This was the yarn that I had been complaining about. After a soak, air dry and a shot of steam, it has some nice features. The colour changes are very nicely positioned. The “hand” has a lovely silky feel to the touch. and it drapes beautifully.
My sheep buddy is waiting for Spring. It is much to cold for foliage in my area of Canada.
My tip for day, is don’t give up on a yarn. The best is yet to come.
Thinking about designing your own items? So many choices.
I approach it in 2 different ways. My choices are….. Do I use a particular YARN? ……Or do I approach it from the desired ITEM? Is it a need, a want, or a challenge?
YARN
All Yarns are not the same. The variety that we can access, is mindboggling. Origins from all over the globe. They are thick and they are thin, they are synthetically made or natural animal or plant. We can combine them to make them thicker. We can ply the colours for a new shade. We can make them suitable for use on the knitting machine, i.e. rewinding Handknitting yarn into cakes.
Read the ball bands on the handknitting yarns. The clues are there. What did the spinning mill designers feel was most suitable for that particular yarn. Of course, we be experimental and use it differently in our designs with stunning results.
STITCH
Next, I think of a suitable stitch. Will it be a nice weight for my item? Will it complement the yarn. Is the colour suitable? Do I want a pumpkin orange felted purse? The answer might be, yes. Do I want a pumpkin orange hat? Maybe no. Do I want to add another colour to the mix. Black or blue trim, or none at all. Some fairisle as an accent trim or the body of the item?
Do I want to follow someone else’s pattern design? Is the yarn readily available in my Stash? Can I substitute? Is my knitting machine suitable for the technique?
ITEM
Is the item within my skill set, or is this project suitable to improve my skill?
Is it suitable for my chosen yarn? The Drape, the body, the eventual care and maintenance? Think, baby blankets.
TESTING
The dreaded swatch. So necessary, if you want your project to be successful. There is
no point in spending $$$ for yarn and no satisfactory result. Although, all is not lost, it can be unravelled and repurposed. The testing may bring out wonderful attributes or turn out to be, an unsuitable use of the yarn.
ENJOY the journey. We never know where the road will take us.
Mary Anne Cutler,
Yet Another Canadian Artisan, 2020
I’m killing time being creative. Cooking is not my forte.
My By guess and By golly, Beet Salad.
Cooked beets, Feta cheese, onion, green olives, Italian herbs, and Kraft Balsamic salad dressing. Mix it all together.
I’ve been knitting with this lovely dyed yarn. The colouring is beautiful. The feel is wonderful. As I was knitting, quite far into the project, is that this yarn has some spinning issues. It was not evenly spun. I believe this to be a spinning mill issue.The yarn has thick and thin spots that is now showing up in the finished item. I don’t believe this to be intentional, due to the randomness of the locations.
There was no way to tell when looking and handling the ball. It was not sold as a 2nd grade.
Oh well, Sometimes we are very pleased and other times disappointed…….I’m glad it’s not a sweater!
Mary Anne Cutler,
Yet Another Canadian Artisan, 2020
