tanti auguri...

let the sweater begin...

my son wants a sweater...a purple cardigan that zips up the front...it must be wool, not too heavy...

and...

one must keep in mind...he is a university student...

so...

let the sweater begin...

the yarn...

classic elite's liberty wool

a lovely superwash

bought at

mendocino yarn shop

the swatch...

a hat, knit on a u.s. size 6 circular

(addi turbo, if you must know)

the design...

still working on that...

my woolen heart...

inspired by the fantastically wooly and wonderful easter island heads by fiber artist katrin laskowski that are currently on display at the fiber art exhibit in mendocino, i just had to get out the felting needles...

a thousand-or-more jabs with those sharp points and my colorful puffs of wool became a heart...

 therapeutic fun...

mistakes...

portals of discovery, james joyce called them...

in knitting, they often lead to delightful designs

a case in point...

think spring, a hat by fellow raveler, gretchen...

inspired by a "mistake" made when knitting my

sea star hat pattern

as she says on her project page:

"I made a mistake on my first sea star which resulted in my additional edging moving vertically instead of diagonally up the hat. This mistake became the inspiration for this hat. It reminded me of a flower stem, so I cast on in green and made my previous mistake on purpose. I thought about tacking down the “leaves,” but decided to let them sway."

she added a flower and...voilà...a new hat!

thank you, gretchen, for agreeing to share your story....

last week...

it was my great pleasure to handle lots of beautiful knitting while installing the fiber arts show, color and light, at the oddfellows hall here in mendocino...

inspiring stuff...

 i am itching to get back to my needles and wool now...

fiber and art...

my project this week?

to install this show...

in this space...

 

a show of color and light and texture...

and wool...lots of wool...

find our more here

big fat red hat...

another crispy-cold day here on the northern coast of california...

definitely hat weather...

what hat? 

this hat!

astonishingly easy to make, it has become my go-to hat this chilly winter...looks great with everything and is wonderfully warm...

it's a redefined classic with a loose, easy fit...

you can make one, too!

big fat red hat

materials:

1-2 skeins berocco ultra alpaca (you can buy it from my lys here)

1 size us13/9mm 16" circular

1 set of us13/9mm double pointed needles (dpn's)

1 tapestry needle

gauge:

2.5 stitches per inch in 2x2 rib

directions:

Using three strands (try three different colors!) of yarn held together, and a size us13/9mm 16" circular needle, cast on 56 stitches.  Join work (don't twist, of course!)

Knit in 2x2 rib (knit two, purl two) around and around until your work measures about 8" (adjust to your liking). 

You will now shape the crown.  There are 14 groups of 2x2 rib.  On the first decrease round, you will eliminate 14 purl stitches (one stitch in each group of 2x2 rib), evenly spaced, thus:

Knit two stitches, purl two together to end of round...42 stitches remain. Change to dpn's.

Knit two rounds.

Next decrease round:  Knit two together, purl one to end of round...28 stitches remain.

Knit two rounds.

Next decrease round:  Knit two together to end of round...14 stitches remain.

Final decrease round:  Knit two together to end of round...break thread, and pull through remaining 7 stitches.  Tack down well on inside.  Wet block if desired (I didn't block mine!), being careful not to stretch the ribs...

et voilà!!!



a hat...

a NEW YEAR?

Non può esser già un nuovo anno...

IO NON HO ANCORA FINITO L'ANNO SCORSO!!