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Too Many Skeins

I am an avid follower of r/nosleep, which is a subreddit for original horror stories. One of my favorite authors, /u/iia, wrote the series Runner, which you can find here: https://unsettlingstories.com/index/ It's graphic and bloody and disgusting and glorious. I was cleaning up my craft room the other day and discovered I had some yarn that would make a lovely scarf! It's the same color and kind as: https://www.etsy.com/listing/210387956/tahki-stacy-charles-shale-3-pumpkin-gold?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_d-craft_supplies_and_tools-fiber_and_textile_art_supplies-yarn_and_roving&utm_custom1=606f097f-c654-4610-be92-b5efbc258b88&gclid=CjwKEAiAg5_CBRDo4o6e4o3NtG0SJAB-IatYYpQmxuPPXSZElip_DgmtCENKKMssg21_fkLD6uoZNxoC1h3w_wcB I will replace that link with a picture of actual yarn when I remember to take such a picture. One of my hanging shelves broke last night, thus yarn EVERYWHERE...and of course this happened when I was just ...

Mindless....unknown. Is it a Cape? Sweater? Poncho? Shawl? Wrap? It's a Mystery!

I have all kinds of socks and hats and scarves knit for Christmas-even a tree skirt! But I wanted to make a sweater. Between my classes and work, I don't have the time to design a sweater before the finger itch becomes unbearable. SO I started....something. It can be adapted into a sweater, or a cape, or a poncho, or...any number of things. I'll edit this post as I create it. I grabbed some worsted weight yarn that I've had stashed for years and a size 7 needle. Any gauge works, don't you dare knit a gauge swatch! You will get your gauge from the knitted back of the Mystery Object. To begin the back of the Mindless Mystery.... Cable cast on 9 stitches. Every Row: Slip 1, knit 2, yarn over, knit one, yarn over, knit one After that start, either knit the rest of the row or purl up to the last stitch, then knit that stitch. I'm starting out in Stockinette Stitch, but don't feel bound to one or the other. Switch in the middle of a row if you get bored, give...

Scarf

Silly Papa's Warm Christmas Scarf Mother asked me to make my father a scarf for Christmas. He's always relied on his Santa Claus-esque beard to keep him warm and then complains to her that he's cold. Of course, I needed to design something. It needed to be simple, masculine, but complicated enough that he could tell his coworkers with pride, "My daughter made that! Isn't she clever?" So, for the Silly Papa! A Scarf! Needles: US 10 (can choose different size, depending on how dense you want the cable to be) Yarn: Aran weight, from a JoAnn's grab bag, about 100 grams. Gauge: Who cares? It's a scarf! Size: Around 12" wide, and as long as you like. Additional Tools: Cable Needle, Tapestry Needle NOTE: DO NOT SLIP THE FIRST STITCH!! If you slip the first stitch of the row, it makes the edge cable look wonkey. Key: k- knit p- purl 6RC- 6 Right Cross: Slip 3 stitches to cable needle, hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle 6LC- 6 Left ...

Vogue Knitting LIVE!!!

Hello to all the people who find this after a WONDERFUL weekend at Vogue Knitting LIVE in Minneapolis! I took 2 classes and learned some fantastic things I will use in my designs. Also, I had enough interest in my designs that I'm going to publish more of them! I'm also going to publish my Summer of Weddings Shawl sooner rather than later, although the pattern won't be completely written. There was so much disappointment when I told people that it wasn't published yet. Look for 2 hats, an earwarmer/headband, and a scarf sometime in the next week! Unless my Macroeconomic homework overwhelms me. I am trying to be a good student, a good employee, a good girlfriend, a good designer, and a good person all at the same time. I hope it works!

Hat Beginnings, New and Unusual (I think)

I rarely will work off a pattern that isn't mine. Even working off my own pattern, I rarely write it down first. Deep breath. I figured out a really cool crown for a hat!! I think my way of increasing is original. I think. I certainly came up with it! Then again, I may not be the first to do so. This is top-down. Please notice, this can be done with 7 stitches to start if you want to make a dome-shaped crown. It just so happens the pattern I'm designing works better with a circular crown. Using disappearing loop cast on, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.  Rnd 1: K all Rnd 2: kfb all Rnd 3: K all Rnd 4: k1, kfb, rep 8 times Rnd 5: k1, p1, k1, rep 8 times Now here comes the basic rule: What you're doing is a seed stitch between knit ribs. ALWAYS knit the first stitch, then do seed stitch to the end of the increase section, kfb on increase rounds, and keep going until you have the desired number of stitchs. I will illustrate. Rnd 6: k2, kfb, ...

Oops

So I declared on Reddit that I figured out how to do a 9 stitch braided cable without dropping stitches off the needle. And I did! So I sat down to keep doing the thing and eventually come up with a tutorial and post it here the same day, I even told readers how to navigate to this blog. Readers...I have failed you. I tried and tried to replicate what I did that worked and...it didn't. I am so sorry. I retract all bragging rights. I feel shame.

Lace Tablecloth Beginnings

Huh, I have to crop it before I put the photo in here. Who knew? (Using mobile app to type this) My sister, as previously stated, is getting married in August 2016. Now, I don't know that I will get this done in time for the wedding, but since it's for my mother, that hardly matters. Also, it might be a doily. Or a centerpiece. The size is not yet set. However, the beginning is! I'm using Aunt Lydia's cotton #10 and size 0 (2 mm) needles. Starting out I am using 5 double points, but am ordering one that has a 60" cord for magic loop to final dimensions.  Cast On 8 stitches on one dpn using disappearing loop cast on. I'm going to post a video of how I do it, which is adapted from something else, if I can figure out how to do the thing.  Snug the stitches so they are even, but make sure you can still get a needle in to knit. Cotton is not stretchy. Using a second dpn, k4 in such a way as to join the stitches in the round. Using a third, k4.  ...