Saturday, November 28, 2020

It Started With a Tail

My lil' one is either a dog or has a destructive streak in her.  As you know, for her birthday, I had made her a bunny with a cool rainbow tail.  Well, apparently, like any curious little girl, she wanted to see if the "fluffy" part was really fluffy and started to pull yarn out.

Her mother was not pleased.

To make matters worse, she tried to eat the yarn (she's a mouther - everything goes into that girl's mouth! 😱😳😒).  So, I was tasked to make another tail.

I had some pink netting that I was using to store yarn in (and A LOT of it).  Thinking that it may make a cute bunny tail (& possibly something she couldn't tear apart and eat), I created this:


Then I looked at the rest of my "stash" of neeting and thought, "Hmmmm ... 🤔  What if I could make more "balls"?" So I proceeded to spend the next 2 hrs making this:


Then, I thought, "Oh! Wouldn't it be cute if she could roll them around like snowballs ..." 🤔  So, then I found this pattern and started making "snowballs" instead.

Using my Denise 4mm (US6) needles and my mystery Cream yarn, I pretty much followed the pattern but needed to expand it after Row 12 where I continued in pattern until there were 30 sts (KFB, K8); then continued on with the pattern for 8 rows, except instead of K2TOG, I SSK instead. Then for the decreasing rows, I started at SSK, K6, I skipped all the K rows.

Then, I thought, "Well, we live somewhere where there's no snow. Wouldn't it be more fun if she had coloured "snowballs"?  So, I dug through my stash and I ended up making these:

A Red Sparkly one: I followed the pattern I used for the Cream one except: I also K every other row as I decreased; as it was a little tight, did 2 rows of K when I reached the SSK, K2 portion before doing the final decreases and binding off.

A Mint one: I followed the same pattern as the Red Sparkly one except: I used my Denise US8 needles; P everything instead of K; only went up to PFB, P6 before I started to decrease; skipped the P row after SSP, P3 before binding off.

A Piggy Pink one: I followed the same pattern as the Mint one except: I skipped the 2 P rows after PFB, P6; started to decrease until I got to SSP,  P4; then skipped to SSP, P2; SSP and bound off.

A Gecko Green one: I followed the same pattern as the Red Sparkly one except: I only went up to KFB, K7 before decreasing (in pattern) and binding off.

A Sunshine Yellow one: I followed the same pattern as the Piggy Pink one except: I skipped the P rows on the decreasing round after SSP, P4 before binding off.

A Brown one: I followed the same pattern as the Gecko Geen one except: I used my Denise US9 needles; went up to KFB, K5; K 2 rows then started decreasing

A Sky Blue one: I followed the same pattern as the Sunshine Yellow one except: I purled up to PFB, P5; skipped the P row and immediately started decreasing; then bound off.

Viola!  Now, she has a bunch of (not so) "snowballs" to play with (and hopefully, not break anything in the house!😉😁).  I hope she enjoys them!🤞😍

Here's what it looks like:

 

So ... you must be wondering ... well, what about the actual tail that started all of this?  What does it look like now?  Well, that was an adventure in and of itself!  First, I drew out a picture of how big the original pom pom was so I could get an idea of what it would look like:


Then I proceeded to knit what I graphed out.  However, it was a miniscule tail!  It was only slightly bigger than Bunny's eyes! 🤦. So, I ripped it out and multiplied three (3) times; it came out better but I could quite shape it to a round tail ...😒🤦. Hubs was watching me work on this and said: "Why don't you just make it like the snowballs?". Eureka! 🎉🤦 Why didn't I think of that?!  So, I proceeded to make a rainbow (snowball) tail and here's how it went:

  • Cast on with the Pink; K6; KFB.
  • Switching to the Red, KFB, K1; K 1 row; KFB, K2.
  • Switching to the Orange, K 1 row; KFB, K3; K 1 row.
  • Switching to the Yellow, KFB, K4; K 1 row; KFB, K5.
  • Switching to the Lime Green, K 1 row; K2TOG, K5; K 1 row.
  • Switching to the Green, K 1 row; K2TOG, K4; K 1 row.
  • Switching to the Blue, K2TOG, K3; K 1 row; K2TOG, K2.
  • Switching to the Light Blue, K 1 row; K2TOG, K1; K 1 row.
  • Switching to the Purple, K2TOG; K 1 row, K2TOG; Bind off.

Here's the new tail and what it looks like on Bunny:
Top View
Side View
Other Side View

On Bunny

Let's see if my destructive girl can rip out this tail! 😉

Giving Thanks (2020)

I have much to be thankful for in general but particularly more so this year in what we've been calling the Year of the Pandemic.  As of this writing, more than 272K people have died and nearly 13.6M have been infected in the US alone.  While (for the most part) my family and I have not been directly affected by the pandemic and we have been able to remain safe and healthy, I know that many others out there have not been so lucky.

This is why I would like to take a moment to reflect on why I can (very) thankful this year:

  • Thankful that everyone I know have been safe and healthy (as of right now).🍀🤞
  • Thankful to have a job.
  • Thankful to be able to work from home.🎉
  • Thankful that Hubs and my family members also were able to continue working and that most of them could also work from home. 🎉
  • Thankful for a destructive, inquisitive, (and often stubborn beyond comprehension) niece who is growing like a weed and is learning new things daily. 🤦😍
  • Thankful for technology which allows me to work from home and be able to keep in touch with my family. 🤗😍
  • And last (but not least), Thankful to have all this extra time to knit! 🎉🙌☺️
A cornucopia of Yarn

I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a wonderful (if "different") Happy Holiday Season! 🦃❄️🎄🎅⛄🎊🎍

Thursday, November 26, 2020

お弁当袋 (Bento Bag)

It was time to start on a new bag for myself.  I had purchased some rafia "yarn" quite sometime ago after being inspired by a summer trip to Japan (& purchasing a rafia bag up there).  While my purchased bag was perfectly fine, of course, in my typical sense, I knew I could make a better one that could hold more stuff and be ... B-I-G-G-E-R!  The only problem was that I just never found a pattern or another bag that inspired me to make one until now.  When I saw this pattern, I knew I could make it work with all the other bags that I had made (aka, no need for a liner!) and perhaps I could even figure out how to make it work with all of my amazing Furoshiki bags! 

So, off I went to my stitchionaries to see which flat pattern I would make with it (Did you really expect me to simply make a garter stitch bag?!).  At first, I was contemplating about using the simple and effective seed stitch pattern but I thought that perhaps that was too complacent of me (that is my typical go to stitch pattern for something dense (enough) and flat) so, the search was on!  I ended up using this stitch pattern found in my Vogue Stitchionary Vol. 1: Sugar Cubes.  I ended up casting on 65 sts for a 49.5 cm wide square (1 st for the edge on either side plus the 8+1 sts pattern for a total of 7 repeats of the pattern) and did 36 repeats of the pattern (12 repeats per square) until the material was 123 cm long.  I actually had to purchase four (4) more balls of yarn as my original two (2) balls was only enough to make up 12 repeats (essentially 1/3 of the bag).  Fortunately for me, the yarn shop in which I originally purchased it from still kept it in stock so, I was able to get it relatively quickly. 😉👍

Then I followed the instructions on how to sew up the bento bag.

As for the handle, instead of attaching it to the bag, I'm using my furoshiki handles so that I can use it as a messenger style bag.
 
Here's what it looks like:
Front
Side
Back
I had wanted a "bigger" bag and I certainly got one! 😉😁🙌 🎉   Now the true test will be me actually using it in real life to see how it really holds up. 

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Custom Knit Phillips Dreamwear Headgear

My poor hubby ... he needs to use a CPAP and the headband that comes with his machine sucks.  So, I thought I could help by making him a knitted one (afterall, all knitted things are a-m-a-z-i-ng! :P).  Using my Denise US 6 needles, 3" cords and doubling up my mystery cream yarn, here's what I did:
  • Casted on 4 sts
  • K 24 rows
  • Increase 2 sts for a total of 6 sts
  • K 11 rows
  • Split: 3 sts ea for upper band & lower band; put 3 sts on separate cable
  • KFB to increase 1 st for a total of 4 sts
  • K 9 rows
  • Increase 1 st for a total of 5 sts
  • K 29 rows
  • Decrease 1 st for a total of 4 st
  • K 9 rows
  • Increase 2 sts for a total of 6 sts
  • K 11 rows
  • Decrease 2 sts for a total of 4 sts
  • K 24 rows
  • Bind off
  • Pick up the 3 sts and k 50 rows
  • Connect to the other side of the band by using the 3 needle bind off method
Here's what it looks like:
 
It fit ok but it could be a little longer & a little more wider so, I tried again; here's version 2:
Using my Denise US 10.5 needles and 5" cables, I quadrupled my mystery cream yarn, 
  • Used the provisional cast on that I use for socks and casted on 12 sts
  • K/P for 5 rows (stockinette st)
  • Decrease 1 sts for 2 rows for a total of 10 sts
  • K 2 rows
  • Decrease 1 st for 2 rows for a total of 8 sts
  • K 2 rows
  • Decrease 1 st for 2 rows for a total of 6 sts
  • K 2 rows
  • Decrease 1 st for 2 rows for a total of 4 sts
  • Decrease 1 st for 2 rows for a total of 2 sts
  • K 10 rows
  • Decrease 1 sts for total 1st then crochet 29 sts
  • Repeat for other side.
Here's what it looks like:
For now, Hubs like this one better than the first one but, I think I could improve on it ... 🤔

Hubs also wanted something more cushiony for his headgear.  So, again using my Denise US 6 needles and doubling the mystery cream yarn, I:
  • Cast on 12 sts and join in the round
  • K 20 rows (in the round)
  • Seed st 5 rows (back & forth for a "flat" piece)
  • K 20 rows (in the round) again
  • Bind off
Here's what it looks like:

 Here's what the (newer) pieces look like in use:
 
Also while working in this, I wanted to make it with 100% silk eventually and found that Lang Mulberry Silk and Berroco Mantra were two (2) brands that made 100% silk yarn.  So, I'm waiting for hubby's green light to pick up one (1) ball of Berroco Mantra to give it a try. 😉🤞🎉🙌☺️

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

The Altheda Sweater

It was time to start another sweater project as this would be My Year of Sweaters!  As I was perusing through The Art of the Circular Yokes book that I had borrowed from my local library, I found this pattern: Altheda and instantly fell in love with it.😍  I've always wanted a sweater like this and now I get to make it with my Aarlan Alapac & Silk Yarn  (the perfect yarn I was saving for something like this)!🙌 🎉  And, I knew that I would also be able to use my new knitting ring as well! 😁

I read the pattern, took out my new knitting ring and proceeded to make my sweater.  At first, I wasn't sure if I was doing it right as the neckline look really small (but, I was able to put it over my head so ... 🙌 - thank goodness for top-down knitting!🎉).  Then I proceeded to follow the chart.  It was a bit of a learning curve for me as it was the first time I've ever had to do stranded knitting in which I wasn't just knitting alternating colour rows in the round; instead, I had to figure out how to knit an actual pattern in the round!  But, once I got the hang of reading the pattern and determining what I needed to do (thank goodness for pictures!); got the hang of how to use my knitting ring and how to weave the strands back and forth to "lock" them in, it wasn't too bad:
I finally finished the yoke!

But, it was time to figure out how to make short rows for the "back" of the sweater.  Admittedly, I was stumped so, I put my sweater project to the side for a bit until I was ready to wrap my mind around what needs to be done.  After a small hiatus, I finally got up the courage to try the short rows again; I re-read the instructions and just went for it.  Here's how it turned out:

It worked!🙌  Now, time to finish the body! 😍🎉

Following the instructions for the body of the pattern, I ended up knitting 89 rows for the main body itself and 24 rows for the bottom edge in which I altered to mix in both the light grey and dark grey yarn.  I followed the pattern but alternated the colours to give it a checkered look.  Then I knitted 1 row with the dark grey yarn before using Jenny's Stretchy Bind Off to finish the body.

Then for the sleeves, I knitted 9 rows before starting the decreases as instructed in the pattern; I decreased for a total of 7 times. Then for the cuffs, I did it the same way as the hem of the sweater and knitted 20 rows before binding off.
 
Here's my finished sweater! 🎉😍🙌:

I think the biggest thing I learned with this sweater was the short row shaping.  Granted that it took me quite sometime to wrap my brain around that concept but I'm glad it finally clicked! 

Next up: finishing a sweater I had completed (a while ago) only to completely rip it out to give it a reformation (so it would actually fit me). 🤦🤞🙅🍀

Mecha Mecha (aka Tabi Monogatari v28)

Time for yet another pair of mid-calf socks for my hubby. I've been reading Snoozecow's blog and she inspired me to try something different with my socks.  Using my leftover Zombie Apocalypse, Hemingway, and Root Vegetable sock yarns and my 4" & 3" Chiaogoo interchangeables US 0 needles, here's what I did: Follow the instructions I used for v23.

1. I started with a Provisional cast on with a total of 50 sts using the Zombie Apocalypse.
2. K 1 straight row on each side, then connected in the round.
3. Row 1: k
3. Started the toes: with 25 sts on each side, splitting it up for 8 sts for big toe, 17 
    sts for remaining toes.
4. Big toe:
  • Row 1:
    • Front: k to the 2nd to the last st, pick up 1 st below, for a total of 9 sts
    • Back: k, pick up a st below, k to the end for a total of 9 sts
  • Row 2: 
    • Front: k, pick up a st, k to the end, for a total of 10 sts
    • Back: k to the last 2 sts, pick up a st below, k for a total of 10 sts
  • Row 3: k
  • Row 4-5 (2 rows): Follow Row 2 until there are 12 sts
  • Row 6-11 (6 rows): k
  • Row 12:
    • Front: k to last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 11 sts
    • Back: SSK, k to the end for a total of 11 sts
  • Row 13:
    • Front: SSK, k to the end for a total of 10 sts
    • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 10 sts
  • Row 14:
    • Front: k to last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 9 sts
    • Back: SSK, k to the end for a total of 9 sts
  • Row 15: k
  • Row 16:
    • Front: SSK, k to the end for a total of 8 sts
    • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 8 sts
  • Row 17: k
  • Row 18:
    • Front: k to last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 7 sts
    • Back: SSK, k to the end for a total of 7 sts
  • Row 19:
    • Front: SSK, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 5 sts
    • Back: SSK, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 5 sts
  • Row 20: same as row 19 continuing to decrease 2 sts, total of 3 sts on each side
  • Bound off using the Kitchener stitch.
    The big toe came out to 5.5 cm (2 in).
5. The rest of the toes:
  • Row 1: k, picking up 4 sts on each side, for a total of 21 sts
  • Row 2: k
    • Row 3:
      • Front: SSK, k to the end for a total of 20 sts
      • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 20 sts
    • Row 4: k
    • Row 5:
      • Front: SSK, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 18 sts
      • Back: SSK, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 18 sts
    • Row 6: 
      • Front: SSK, k to the end for a total of 17 sts
      • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 17 sts
    • Row 7:
      • Front: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 16 sts
      • Back: SSK, k to the end for a total of 16 sts
    • Row 8: 
      • Front: SSK, k to the end for a total of 15 sts
      • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 15 sts
    • Row 9: 
      • Front: SSK, k to the end, for a total of 14 sts
      • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 14 sts
    • Row 10: 
      • Front: SSK, k to the end for a total of 13 sts
      • Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 13 sts
    • Row 11: k
    • Row 12-17: same as Row 10 for 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 & 7 sts
    • Row 18:
      • Front: SSK, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 5 sts
      • Back: ssk, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 5 sts
    • Row 19: k
    • Row 20: same as Row 18 for 3 sts
    • Bound off using the Kitchener stitch.
    The the toe came out to 4.8 cm (1⅝ in)

    6. Then using the Zombie Apocalypse and Hemmiway/Root Vegetables alternatively (making stripes), K 64 rows in the round, maintaining 25 sts on each side as part of the foot portion.  This would be Rows 1-85.
    7. Then for the rest of the foot:
    • Row 86-94 (9 rows): pick up a sts below on each side, maintaining 26 sts on each side; k the remaining 8 rows
    • Row 95: pick up the first st, 9th st, 18th at & last st on each side for a total of 30 sts
    • Row 96-100 (5 rows): k, maintaining 30 sts on each side
    Including the initial 1 row, this came out for a total of 17 cm (6 3/4 in)

    8. With the foot done, I started on the heel portion using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method
    • Row 101-112 (12 rows): Follow the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method until you have 10 twin stitches (sts) knits and purls sts on each side and 10 regular sts
    • This came out to 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in).
    • Row 113: as you "boomerang" back to the regular sts, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, ktog then continue using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method for a total of 27 sts
    • Row 114-128 (15 rows): Continue using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method to turn the heel until you have a total of 27 sts again. 
    • Row 129: 
      • Left side: Since the left side ends on a purl side, k to bring you back to the correct side.
      • Right side: k
    • This came out perfect! :) *yay* :)
    9. With the heel done, I finished off the leg:
    • Row 130: k2tog, k in the round for a total of 29 sts for top side & 28 sts for the back side
    • Row 131-134 (4 rows): k in the round, maintaining a total of 28 &29 sts on each side
    • Row 135: decrease 1 st on the top side for a total of 28 sts on each side
    • Row 136-139 (4 rows): k, maintaining a total of 28 sts on each side
    • Row 140: decrease 1 st on each side for a total of 27 sts on each side 
    • Row 141-209 (49 rows): k, maintaining a total of 27 sts on each side
    • Total length of the leg was 11.5 cm (4.5 in)
    10. With the leg done, it was time to cuff; Hubby said he wanted shorter ribbing this 
          time (*yay* homestretch!):
    • Row 210: add 1 st to each side for a total of 28 sts and continue 1x1 ribbing
    • Row 211-249 (39 rows): complete cuff using 1x1 ribbing (28 sts on each side) for a total of 11.5 cm (4.5 in) of ribbing
    • Bound off using a variation of the Estonian bind off, in which I picked up a stitch from the row below then used the Estonian bind off technique. :) 
    The total length of the leg and cuff was 22 cm (9 in).

    Yay! Another finished pair! 🎉  The blend of sock yarn didn't stripe as strongly (or was even very noticeable!) as I thought it would be! The Root Vegetable yarn blended so well with the Zombie yarn, you couldn't even tell where one yarn started and where the other yarn ended. The Hemingway blended very nicely (but very subtlety) with the Zombie yarn; in some ways, the Zombie yarn actually highlighted the beauty of the Hemingway yarn. 
     
    I'm quite excited about what my next Metcha Metcha sock adventure will take me! 🎉🙌😄