Hats'n'Cowls-R-Us

Every self-respecting woman wears twin sets - at least a hat and a cowl twin set, right?

Here's what I made from some Rowan Felted Tweed (which has been simmering at the bottom of the stash-stew forever), a "Turn a Square" hat by The Genius Himself, Jared Flood (which is by the way the best beanie pattern ever, but I guess all of you knew that already!), combined with the "Thermis" by KrisKnits:





And, just for the heck of it, I quickly made another "Turn a Square" from pink and white obscurity yarns also from the stash, as you might have guessed.





This one's for personal use, but the twin set.... who knows..... for somebody who has been especially nice this year....?? :)

Something brown, something black and something finished

In my lookout for challenging and interesting knitting patterns, combined with the quest for diminishing my yarn stash with a heavy hand, I came across a perfect pattern.

Finished during the weekend, and photographed in the ever-dimming light of November, here's "Wrap Cable Jacket" from latest VK Holiday issue (pattern by Shiri Mor).

It's knit like this: first the back panel, then right + left side are knit separately by picking up stiches from the side of the panel. With a few decreases and some handy tricks, you get the short sleeves and the fron side nicely done.

I liked making it (it's seamless!), and what's even more important, it consumed some big balls of my ancient Debbie Bliss aran yarn which didn't seem to find its calling before this project came along. It's a warm, soft and versatile garment. Say no more!


As an extra bonus, here's my 2nd Koolhaas hat (by Jared Flood / IK Holiday Gifts '07), made with some obscure alpaca yarn, and embellished with a little something I made while attending a virtual classroom where I was supposedly learning how to calculate value added tax......

On ripping, sulking, getting inspired and eating chocolates

Well, those black gloves blogged about a couple of posts back faced the horrible fate of ripping, despite their genious pattern. Somehow my gauge was fine for the fingers, but the palm part turned out way too big, and would've needed some kind of weird magic to look good (or very bloated hands). RRRRipping they went.

And, these days, as said by the dear doctors in the most-fun-and-touching-tv-series-ever ,"M*A*S*H", I'm catching up on my sulking. With this weather it's oh so easy.


But I've also been a wee bit inspired, mind you, so there's hope still. By new Twist Collective patterns, especially this, this and this (in single color, though), and also the new IK does not look too bad... I may get started on something.

If I'm not too busy sulking, that is.


Eating chocolate, on the other hand, is not getting in the way of the sulking. My favourite kind now is with whole hazelnuts - which is funny, because as a child I use to dislike that particular variant fiercely.

Long shadows, cold light

silent, careful steps of winter
I hear them approaching
light is clear and sharp
black and white

Quelle surprise!

The two-fold surprise in this post:

1) I've been sewing again
2) I'm happy with the result


Inspired by the 'Mexican belt' pattern in Hanna Välitalo's book "Silmukoita, siksakkia ja pala suklaakakkua", I put together this - made from two cotton place-mats cut in half and sewn together, satin from my stash for lining, and velvet ribbon for tying up.




More than Mexican influence, this reminds me of Japanese kimonos...




As it's quite wide and sturdy, it feels almost like a corset when wrapped around your waist - good to keep up one's posture.




For some reason, this project was very hard on my neck and shoulders - I already started to make another one, but just couldn't continue. Working over the table, looking down and pinning fabrics together is not something my neck is willing to co-operate with today. Maybe tomorrow.

Point three missing things from this picture

Exhilarated and engouraged by my success in making swell men's gloves (they were well received by the Significant Other, just to let you know - and no, I didn't wait until Christmas to give them...) I decided to venture out to the unknown territories of Gloves Made Top Down.

Meet thumb and little finger, waiting for their turn to be united with their unborn siblings.

This work in progress is "Opera Glove" (by Elli Stubenrauch, DK Winter 08/09)
made with 100% alpaca, coal black.

I guess black is the new grey in this blog :)

The perfect (men's) glove Part I, a.k.a Monsters, Inc.

It's ready (was ready already on Friday, but network was not working), and I'm ready also - to make the 2nd one, that is.

Did I already mention that I really like the folded cuff? Nice'n'thick.


***

My sister went to London and all I got was this strange bag of goodies.

It's filled with bits and pieces cut from knitted garments, some stuffing, and felt for eyes/mouth(s)/ears etc. The outcome will be lovely, I'm sure. My Own Monster!