just a reminder to add thatpattiblog, that's where all the good stuff is going these days...

so i removed anyone that i don't really keep up with and doesn't comment on my journal. if you think i've removed you by accident (totally possible, i kept getting interrupted and it was a LONG list), or you really really want me to keep you on, let me know.

or if i didn't remove you and you want me to, i can do that, too. unless i really like you, then you're stuck. :D

at the risk of appearing flaky (ha!), i have decided to put things over at littlewingcreat on hold and start a new blog at www.thatpatti.com

rss feed: thatpattiblog

i'm going to keep my LJ, and will continue to post more personal, day-to-day stuff here. the new journal will be a public place for photography, knitting, and more thoughtful, topic-centered posting.

this also means that i'll be making some pretty extensive changes to my friends list here. i'll be deleting anyone that i don't really know or don't read on a regular basis. i originally added a LOT of people when i went FO who wanted to keep reading, but i simply don't have time to keep up with all of you, so i generally read on a filter.

this way i can keep my LJ as a more regulated spot for those i feel closer to, and the new blog will be open to the general public. :)

well, a bunch of people have made my pattern (seen in my icon) and everyone has such nice things to say about it! it actually has a 5/5 stars rating on ravelry, which makes me totally giddy.

this girl even dedicates a blog post to the one she made.

perhaps i have a future in knitwear design. ;)

this weekend i started a knitalong with KnittingRose, KnittingSam, and happy2beso. we're all knitting the same sweater which is pretty fun!

i am modifying mine to be a bit longer than the pattern calls for, because cropped cardigans are not a good look for me. ;)

the yarn is an insanely soft cotton blend (KP shine worsted for those in the know). i'm having to knit quite loosely to get gauge, which is stressing me out a little, but i'm hoping the fabric firms and fluffs a bit after washing. the softness and drape seem to suit the pattern well, though.

back of the sweater:

so, once i finished the body and hood of the sweater, i decided that i really liked how it looked as a vest. plus, i was really over it and dreading doing the sleeves, so that was an added incentive to finish it up.

not loving these pictures, but that's what happens when i don't get to take them. ;)







all in all, this was a great project. i don't LOVE the yarn (kraemer tatamy tweed) - it feels a little more acrylic-y than i had hoped. i haven't washed it yet, so we'll see if that improves my feeling about it.

in any case, this is the first garment i've made for myself that i know i'll wear, and that's pretty exciting. and i'm starting my next sweater today!

my CPH has a hood, and for the first time since i cast on there's no needle in the sweater.

i'm casting on for a new sweater this weekend, so i'd love to finish the button band and the sleeves this week. that might be a bit of a stretch, but i'm gonna try.

i tell you what...if i finish this sweater - and i actually like it - i think i will feel more accomplished than i ever have in my life.

i will post a picture soon.

* * *

it occured to me today that the cowls i've been making would be really great for toddlers & kids. especially since it's not really safe for the little ones to wear scarves. the cowls can't really be tightened into a choking hazard the way scarves can... we went to the park today and i kept thinking i wish i had something warm for tate's neck. duh!

so, as soon as i finish seaming together the body of this darn sweater i'm going to make one.

if i love it, i might make some more to bust through some of my stash yarn and sell them!

hey, y'all - whirledpeas is spreading the peas by collecting knit caps for the troops.

i knit one this weekend. here it is being modeled by (and always reluctant to be photographed) fisher.



if you've got a bit of time on your hands, think about making one, too!

(i used the moda-dea washable wool from jo-ann. it's $8 at joann, but more reasonable if you use a weekly coupon. i am kind of a yarn snob, but this stuff is one of my very favorite superwash wools. it's SO SOFT!!!)

Published this on ravelry this morning (the cowl seen in my icon). Extra points for those who can figure out the name. :) For you non-ravelers out there:



PATTERN

CO 39 stitches.

Row 1: sl1,k2, [yo, sl1-k1-psso, k1] until 3 sts remain, k3

Row 2: sl1, k2, p until 3 sts remain, k3

Row 3: sl1, k3, [yo, sl1-k1-psso, k1] until 2 sts remain, k2

Row 4: Same as row 2

Row 5: sl1, k4, [yo, sl1-k1-psso, k1] until 1 st remains, k1

Row 6: Same as row 2

Repeat Rows 1-6 until length measures approx. 19 inches (or desired circumference).

FINISHING

This cowl is bound off and seamed at the same time in a similar fashion to a 3 needle bind-off, saving a step and creating a very finished look.
I find this to be more easily accomplished with a crochet hook, but can be done without one.

Turn cowl wrong side out, lining up the cast-on edge with the live stitches still on the needle - cast on edge in front.
Slip your right needle through the first stitch of the cast-on edge, then through the first live stitch on the needle and knit through both.
Repeat this once more, the pass the first knit stitch over the second, as in a regular bind-off. Continue in this fashion until all live stitches have been bound off.

Weave in ends.

Enjoy! :)

so i finished the replacement cowl. i LOVE it.



i also love the picture that i took of me wearing it. i look so much better than i do in real life. and so, it's my NEW new icon. :D

* * *

i'm gonna write up the pattern along with a tutorial on the cool way i seamed up the back. i think i might have actually invented a new technique. i've never heard of it anyway.

but i'm too tired for that now. i'm doing early bed tonight.

i finally bought some malabrigo, and now i'm mitting a luscious new cowl. the stitch patttern is so beautiful and the yarn is just gorgeous and so freakin' soft.



* * *

i had a really good time hanging out with some knitting friends last night. i discovered a while back that one of the women who works at the yarn shop - barb - actually lives on my street! and as i get to know her i realize that we are VERY much alike and get on super well.

rose, did you get your stuff done?

earlier this week i found what might actually be the cutest knitting pattern ever. it's called the moc-a-soc and as soon as i saw it i had to make it. (be sure to click the link. the desinger sells the booties she makes on her etsy site and they are beyond cute).

i didn't have the right weight of yarn, so i used some heavier stuff. instead of a newborn-sized bootie, i ended up with a tate-sized one. which was a good thing!



omg, SO CUTE. now i need to make another one...

also, yes - my downstairs carpet is just that ugly.

* * *

also, keep an eye open for some fun new icons. i was long overdue...

needed a scarf-type thing. fell in love with rowan cocoon.

and the quickie cowl was born:

a little something i whipped up this week for maggie_maybe's impending arrival.

this is knit with rowan calmer - which i have knit with in the past and LOVE, but i'm realizing that it's stretchiness makes it difficult to keep a uniform tension.

by the way, maggie - it's machine washable, though i'd probably let it air dry flat!







pattern by happy2beso - slightly modified for gender neutral-ness. :)

i was so excited that i'd gotten to the point in my sweater that i could start shaping the armholes...

so i did the first 4 rows of binding off and then suddenly remembered that i was adapting the pattern to knit the body all in one piece, meaning that i'd just bound off on the two front sides of the cardigan.

oops.

i guess it could have been worse...

i'm so excited about this sweater!



( +2 )

so, i made christmasy dishcloths for fisher's preschool teachers, and used them to wrap up a bottle of holiday-scented dishsoap (i was going to make my own, but ended up dividing up a bottle of winter forest soap from williams-sonoma, because i'm cheap)

also, i made gift tags by making a stamp out of some rubbery stuff i had laying around, and some poster paint. cute, no?





then, i made this purse for our homemade-item white elephant gift exchange for our annual girl's night last night. i LOVE how it turned out - will definitely have to make more. i'd really like to start selling some of my knitting, but at the same time i hardly have enough time to knit all the things i want to make for myself!



closeup of button:

so today i took fisher to the yarn store to pick out some yarn for a new hat and mittens. i was in the mood to knit something big & chunky and he picked out this this kermit-colored yarn. it's...bright. i tried to convince him to get grey, but he wasn't going for it.

at least i was able to direct him away from his first choice....pink. heh.

aaaanyway, it knit up super quick and it's really cute.

( there's only one problem )