Hats for Donation

2011-01-02 19.09.26.jpg
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Over the holidays I've not picked up my knitting once, but I did crank out some crochet hats with the red-heart-like acrylic that my mom brought from her old yarn stash. Now I just need to find a place to donate them.

Here's the pattern on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonita-hat
And non-Ravelry: http://talesofthehook.blogspot.com/2010/10/hat-patterns.html

Double Pom Pom Hat

Double Pom Pom Hat
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

I broke out the hook for this one, a quick little project for a friend/coworker to use in her infant photography sessions. Ravelry project here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AmyJ/double-pom-pom-hat

Just keep knitting... knitting... knitting...

Yes, I'm still around. Just not feeling like I have a lot to say, and busily knitting along.

Here's my latest finished project: a Multnomah shawl in Wollemeise. YUM.

Cypress Cardigan

Cypress Cardigan
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Not a great picture at all, but I couldn't wait to wear this sweater. Soft and cushy and just the right amount of warmth. I actually love the 3/4 length sleeves, after being skeptical about them. They don't get in my way while typing.

Pattern: #77 Vine Lace Top Down Cardigan by SweaterBabe
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Cypress.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AmyJ/77-vine-lace-top-down-cardigan

Ridinghood for Loretta's 8yo in Mirasol Chirapa

Ridinghood for Loretta's 8yo in Mirasol Chirapa
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

I'm very proud of this one! Nice pattern, though I made fair number of modifications for a thinner yarn, larger size, less full skirt, longer arms, etc.

Listing tomorrow - Wednesday, May 20th

A quick note to you that I am going to be listing a few things on the Inspired Congo on Hyenacart tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20th. The location is http://hyenacart.com/inspired.

Charity Hat #3 for 2009 - Nubby Brim Cloche

Nubby Brim Cloche
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

This is one that I crocheted. The body is worked in HDC, alternating between working in the back loop only and the front loop only. The "eyelet" row where the chain is threaded through is worked in DC. And the brim is worked in SC.

Both the pattern for the hat and the pattern for the butterfly embellishment are free on the interwebs, at the following locations:
Nubby Brim Cloche (ravelry link): http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nubby-brim-cloche
Butterfly Embellishment: http://www.kaleidesigns.com/crochet/patterns/archive/frid001.html

This was made with a USK 10 1/2 (6.50mm) size hook, two strands of Bernat Aspen Soft held together. I long ago lost the ball bands, so I do not know the exact colorway names, but they are pretty true burgandy and hunter green.

Charity Hat #2 for 2009 - finished

Charity hat 2
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

This is the second charity hat that I finished. No pattern, all stockinette. Size US8 (5.00mm) needles on 36grams of TLC Amore yarn - in vanilla and rose.

For the horizontal stripes, I switched colors every two rows, carrying the opposite color up the inside of the hat, catching it under the working yarn as I went to make it hidden. The vertical stripes are my first time trying stranded colorwork. I held the rose in my left hand and worked it continental-style, which is my normal style of knitting. I held the vanilla in my right hand and worked it english-style, which was new to me, and did feel pretty awkward. I consulted my coworker Carolyn, who knits english, to see how she holds and tensions her yarn to try to find something that felt comfortable.

Progress on socks for Loretta

IMG00033.jpg
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

The yarn that Loretta provided to me is super-squishy! I am really enjoying knitting with it. It is knitting up at a sport-weight type gauge.

Now... to kitchener the toe and then cast on sock #2.

Charity Hat #2 for 2009

IMG00031.jpg
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

A few coworkers and I have put together a fundraiser as part of our company's greater drive to raise money for the Relay for Life. We are knitting and crocheting hats to donate to the local cancer center, asking a donation of $10 for each hat.

We have a group of 10 crafters, two of which are just learning, lined up to knit and crochet these hats.

The world would be a better place if we were all fiber-enthusiasts.

New Web site

My new Web site is up and running now, thanks to Cynthia of Webwurkz. I have free knitting patterns for immediate download, and paid knitting patterns all hooked up for paypal payment and immediate download.

Prajna Mama

Let me know if you have any questions or comments, as they are always appreciated!

Designing socks for Loretta

IMG00030.jpg
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Loretta sent me some yarn, which is knitting up at a sport weight gauge, to make socks for her as my end of our trade. She made diapers for Eliana for me. GORGEOUS diapers.

So, I am designing a pair of cabled socks for her in this yarn. Here's a picture, 8 rows into the pattern... two mini cables on the right and left and two larger cables in the middle.

Longies for Wendy's Ian

IMG00029.jpg
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Wendy/eternalw on DSD and I bartered. She sewed diapers for Eliana and I knit these longies for her (now newborn) Ian from yarn she provided.

Longies for TraceyKY

IMG00028.jpg
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

A relatively bad picture of some gorgeous longies. Knit from the Miss Priss Diaper Pants pattern by my friend Wendy, just in an XL. In Malabrigo Worsted in the Alpine Pearl colorway, which is gorgeous dark greys, lighter greys and purples.

Tracey and I traded... she made Fattycakes pocket diapers for me and I knit these longies for her.

FOs: Winter Hats for the girls

I've been on a hat roll. Nice and quick and usually easy. And especially enjoyable when you use mmmmmmmmmmalabrigo!!

Pattern: Sunflower Tam by Norah Gaughan in Knitting Nature
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in lettuce and blue surf (she requested blue stripes after she saw her sister's blue hat)






Pattern: Yellow Bells Jester Hat by Cosette Cornelius-Bates in Knit One, Embellish Too: Hats Mittens and Scarves with a Twist
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in blue surf
Such a nice easy hat. No increasing or decreasing. Just a tiny bit of k1,p1 rib and the rest is stockinette in the round. Three needle bind off for the top. I found the directions a little unclear on the bind off, but was able to find a method of getting the yarn from/to the right places that worked for me.

PATTERN: Star Struck Wristwarmers

If you're on Ravelry, you can see the project and purchase/download from here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-struck-wristwarmers

If not, here's the link to purchase without a Ravelry account needed: http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/prajna-mama/7793

Yarn weight: DK / 8 ply (11 wpi)
Gauge: 5.75 stitches = 1 inch in star stitch
Needle size: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Yardage: 100 - 150 yards

This pattern is available for $3.00.

This gender-neutral pattern was written to highlight the special characteristics of a good handspun yarn, but can certainly be knit in a luscious commercial yarn with outstanding results.

This can be mostly knit on an 8 to 12 inch circular (all but the thumb), depending on the size you are making. Otherwise, it can be knit on DPNs, two circulars, or magic looped on a long circular.

I do recommend pointy needles to make the k3togs easier on your hands, especially if you knit tightly.


Many thanks to Rebecca and Kerry for their excellent test knitting/technical review.

WIP Parade

I think I have a bad, bad case of startitis. Sigh.

RPM Socks in Noro Kureyon Sock, colorway S164 from The Loopy Ewe.


Ice My Heart socks (my pattern) in Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Cotton, colorway Carib Blue from The Stitching Post in Centerville, Ohio.


No-pattern longies in multiple yarn odds and ends... aka FrankenLongies


And no progress, but still waiting are:
Francie - sock #2 needs cast on
Plain Ribbed sock - sock #2 needs cast on

52 Pair Plunge II - some FOs and some WIPs

Finished sock #1 of Francie and sock #1 in a simple ribbing in Austermann Step. Need to knit the mates for those.


FO #1 - Crystal Palace Maizy in Sky Blue.



FO #2 - unknown wool

Here's the most recently finished pair, in an unknown worsted weight wool that was gifted to me. Basic sock, CO 24 on size 4US. K2, P2 for 12 rounds. Knit 12 rows in the heel flap. After heel turn and picked up stitches, decreased back to 24 sts, continuing k2,p2 pattern on instep. Worked even until it looked long enough, then decreased for toe down to 8 sts total. Grafted toe.

How exciting!!

I am guesting on the Inspired congo on Hyenacart during June. Some of my knits are listed for sale.

http://hyenacart.com/inspired

Come check out what the Inspired ladies and I have created this month!

52 Pair Plunge II - Sock 0.5 "Francie"

Sock #1 of 2 of first pair finished!!

In Crystal Palace Maizy (corn/elastic nylon) in "sky blue". The yarn was a bit splitty, but not too bad with this pattern. Pattern is Francie.

Here's a link to my project on Ravelry.

I am kind of "meh" about the broken ribbing on the leg. It just doesn't seem to "GO" with the rest of the sock. I don't mean to sound ungrateful for the hard work of the designer, I can just never leave well enough alone. If I were to do this sock again, I would modify the leg to have the same type of V pattern that you see on the foot.