Dona knits

Never Ending Scarf

2012-03-13T13:48:00.002+01:00

I miss my sock needles...

Selbu Modern I & II

2012-03-06T13:33:00.001+01:00

While waiting for the yarn I ordered, I was knitting a first beret. The yarn had still not arrived that the second beret was finished.... The yarn arrived in my mail box while the second beret was being blocked! Perfect timing isn't?

Pattern: Selbu Modern by Kate Gagnon Osborn

Yarn: Beret I: Rowan Felted Tweed DK in Melody (142-discontinued, what a shame!) & Grey Mist (164).

Beret II: Rowan Felted Tweed DK in Avocado (161) & Grey Mist (164)

Needles: Addi Turbo Circulars, 2.75 mm & 3.5 mm in 40cm, and 3.5 mm in 80 cm (to end with Magic Loop)

About the Pattern: I wanted to knit this pattern for a very long time, actually since I began to knit (more than 4 years ago). It's the very first time I feel confident enough to knit something in colorwork that requires exact gauge (my first try was a pouch). They were fast and fun knits, and I love love love my new berets!

Mods (not really but still): Twisted 1x1 rib for both hats, and no contrasting border for beret II as I wasn't sure I would have enough yarn. (I had enough....)

About the Yarn: For the pink and grey beret, the colors I chose are not very contrasted, but this choice was made on purpose: first, my uneven tension is less visible, second, these colors match my reversible cashmere scarf.

Felted Tweed is divine to knit and wear. After blocking, the hat became light and drapy. For the first beret, I used 0.75 ball for the main color, and only half of a ball for the contrasting color, which was enough to knit a second Selbu with the leftover yarn from my Raindance Pullover. I'm so happy with this yarn/pattern combo that I want to knit it in all available colors!

About Stranded Knitting: For both berets, I followed Melissa Leapman's advices in "Mastering Color Knitting". I chose to use the "one strand in each hand" technique, with the contrasting color in my left hand. At first, I tried Fridrica's technique for an even tension and also tried to use a knitting thimble after reading Kate Davis' post, but those techniques didn't work for me. However, I'll keep them preciously in my mind for future stranded adventures. For Number 1, I weaved in my floats every 3-4 stitches, and this was probably a mistake, because: 1) it slows me down a lot and 2) I'm pretty sure my uneven tension and stitches are due to this. Number 2 came out much faster as I followed Knitting in Color, (this post and this one) advices and did not weave in my floats. I can see a little improvement in my tension, and the wrong side is also neater:

I have half a ball of yarn left.... I'm planning to knit a third Selbu. See? It's endless! :D

EDIT: I bought another ball of Felted Tweed (I think I'm an addict)

How about you dear Reader? What is your favorite stranding technique? Any tip to share?

Mars/March: Baby Boy Socks

2012-03-04T22:57:00.000+01:00

A quick gift for tiny lovely feet....

Yarn: Regia Design Line by Erika Knight, 13 grams total. Machine washable for a busy mother.

Needles: Addi Turbo Circulars, 2.5 mm & 3.75mm, 80 cm

Size: I guess it will fit a newborn baby boy.

Recipe: If you are familiar with sock construction, you'll complete this quick little project in a few hours. The yarn does all the job. The stripes almost matches and this was a happy surprise!

If you are not familiar with sock knitting, you'll probably prefer following a proper baby sock pattern. There are plenty on Ravelry, all so lovely that it may be difficult to choose.

CO 34 on 3.75mm needles.

Switch to 2.5mm needles & join in the round.

Garter stitch for 6 rows, beginning with a P round and ending with a K round.

K14 rounds.

Heel Flap: Worked over 17 stitches.

Row1: *Sl1, K1*, Sl1.

Row2: P

Repeat Row 1 & 2 for a total of 8 times.

Heel Turn:

Row 1: Sl1, K9, ssk, K1

Row 2: Sl1, P5, P2tog, P1

Repeat row 1 & 2 until all stitches are worked into shaping, until 11st remain.

K one row.

Gusset:

Pick up 9 sts, K instep, pick up 9 sts.

Work gusset decreases (alternating one decrease row and one plain row) as usual until 34 sts total remain.

K30 rounds total from heel before toe decreases, or more desired foot lenght.

Toe Decreases:

Work toe decreases (alternating one decrease row and one plain row) as usual until 18 sts total remain.

Graft.

It's never too early to appreciate hand knit socks!

Swatching....

2012-03-01T14:50:00.000+01:00

One of my new resolution for this year was to knit more Holst Garn.

I had some plum 100% Uld Supersoft left from my Drew Drops Shawl, and I was able to knit 9 swatches from it.

To differenciate each swatch, I included yarn overs and purl bumps. Yarn overs are for millimeters, and purl stitches are for a quarter of a millimeter.

For a swatch knitted with 4.5mm needles, I yarn over 4 times and purl twice.

I read about this trick in a knitting book, but can't remember which one. I think it's pretty brilliant. Have you heard about it?

Of course my swatches were measured before and after blocking:

And it appears that this yarn grows in width but shrinks in height after blocking....Odd.

No need to swatch anymore with this yarn! (as long as I stick to stockinette stich though...)

Tedious Teddy

2012-02-18T02:01:00.000+01:00

This little guy is so small.... You can't imagine how much time it took to complete. I'm not even sure I like him. Oh well, he is here now, so I guess he deserves some love and care. ;)

Pattern: Bill & Ben Twin Bears by Craftbits.

Yarn: Fonty, Super Tweed, left over from my Not So Pink Sweater, and a few yards of Hoslt Garn 100% Uld (plum), left over from my Drew Drops Shawl.

Needles: Addi Turbo Circulars, 3.5 mm, 80 cm for Magic Loop.

About the Pattern: Pfeww….This one took a long time to complete! Assembly was not easy. More instructions would be a plus. Making the face was the most difficult. My teddy doesn’t look very nice. :(

My teddy is supposed to have a twin, but I think I won't be able to knit another one. Luckily, I don't have enough yarn left!

Mods: Worked in the round to avoid maximum seaming. There was still a lot to do after knitting was completed. The neck was ugly, so I knitted a scarf to hide it. CO 5, worked in garter stitch, slipping all first stitches knitwise.

This was a good experience though, and makes me admire more (if possible) Fuzzy Mitten's gorgeous toys collection. Knitting beautiful toys requires a real savoir-faire!

Février/February: Valentine Socks

2012-02-14T10:36:00.000+01:00

These socks figure a leaf pattern but depending on how you look at them, you'll some tiny hearts. That's why, they are Valentine Socks!

Pattern: Polly Jean by MJ Kim.

Yarn: Cascade Heritage, Lipstick Pink (5647) 0.71 skein.

Needles: Addi Turbo Circulars, 2.75mm, 80cm.

About the Pattern: The pattern calls for 2.5mm needles (I got gauge) but after knitting a few pattern repeats, it was obviously too small. Apart from this false start, the pattern is very nice to knit. I really enjoyed each stitch, particularly when just before starting the toe decreases, I realized that I had missed 2 stitches at the ankle of one sock and had brought the mistake all along.... :( It wasn't very noticeable, but I deciced to frog back until the heel flap and reknit.

Even with this unfortunate experience, the whole project took only 5 days to complete. Those are my fastest socks ever! Just be sure to look closely at the chart (there are unusual symbols for very usual techniques). I particularly love the twisted stitches and baby cables pannel all along the leg to the toe as it makes a very neat result. I will probably knit this pattern again! These ones were offered to my mum because she loves lacy socks more than me.

Mods: 6 full repeats of pattern before working the heel. 12 1/2 repeats total before working toe decreases.

I loved the original heel, but the final result was looser than my usual heel flap, so I modified it, keeping the idea of the lovely baby cables:

All slipped stitches are slipped knitwise with yarn in back.

[ ] shows the cable stitches.

R1: sl1, K, sl1, [P1, LT, P1], * sl1, K * until 8 before end, sl1, [P1, RT, P1], sl1, K, sl1.

R2: P3, [K1, P2, K1], P until 7 before end, [K1, P2, K1], P3.

R3: sl1, K, sl1, [P1, K2, P1], * sl1, K * until 8 before end, sl1 [P1, K2, P1], sl1, K, sl1.

Work again R2 ; R3 ; R2.

Repeat the same process * R1, R2, R3, R2, R3, R2 * for 32 rows or until desired lenght.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Not So Pink Sweater

2012-02-10T13:54:00.004+01:00

With these low temperatures, I needed a warm sweater.... Tweed is my eternal love.... First time V-neck....

Pattern: Pink by Wendy Bernard, from Custom Knits

Yarn: Fonty Super Tweed, (Ardoise 05) a little less than 8 balls. Gift from Barbara at Le Comptoir, Paris.

Needles: Addi Turbo Circulars 5 mm & 4 mm, 80 cm.

About the yarn: This is a lovely french tweed. 95% merino, 5% mohair. It's a little bit itchy (probably because of the mohair. The tweed effect is perfect. red, fuschia pink, blue and yellow.

About the Pattern: I enjoyed knitting this pattern very much. The result is a very simple sweater that has nothing special but I still love it, because it’s so warm, cozy and wearable.

Mods: Made the V neck Kfb shaping at one stitch from edge. Longer body, 4 rows garter stitch edging with Elastic BO. Full lenght sleeves ending with slighlty bell shaped cuff in garter stitch: (if anyone is interested)

With smaller needles:
R1: * P2tog, P *
R2: K
R3: P
R4: K
Elastic BO with larger needles.

Wish you a lovely week-end! Stay warm...

Gentleman's Socks for a Gentleman I & II (double post)

2012-01-29T19:31:00.000+01:00

One of last year's good knitting resolutions was to knit my Christmas gifts earlier this year, to avoid unnecessary last-minute stress.... This year, I only knitted one single gift, and it was ready (blocked and dry) just a few hours before Christmas Eve....I have to rethink the Christmas knitted gift planning.....

Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Socks by Nancy Bush ( from "Knitting Vintage Socks")

Yarn: Fleece Artist, Trail Socks (Grey)

Don't you think my ribbing looks much more better than before?

Size: European 44.5/Men US 10.5

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular, 80 cm, 2.5 mm.

Mods: As I hadn't my copy of "Knitting Vintage Socks" at the moment I began these, I simply casted-on 72 sts, worked 20 rows of ribbing, then alternated 10 rows of P2, K2, with 10 rows of K2, P2. No decreases for the leg, a longer heel flap and that's it!

About the Pattern: This pattern is wonderful to knit! Very easy, but not boring at all even if you knit very big socks. It's also very stretchy and is a perfect gift when you are not sure about the size of the recipient. It's also unisex (I'm planning to knit some for me). It's my new favorite go-to sock pattern! Actually, it's such a nice pattern that I immediately casted-on for another pair.

The followings are my January Socks:

Yarn: Regia Design Line by Erika Knight, (06453)

Size, Needles, Mods: Same as for the first time. Just added one more pattern repeat on the leg part.

About the Yarn: Well, I must admit I'm pretty impressed with Regia sock yarn. It knits up nicely and easily, softens a lot after the first wash (machine washed! yay!). It seems very durable too because Regia Sock Yarns are guaranteed 10 years!!! Now, I'm not a big fan of multi colorways, and this pattern wasn't probably the best choice for this yarn. Fortunately, my Dad doesn't seem to care about that, and is just happy that I knitted something for him. I already bought yarn for the next pairs of socks. It's Regia again, but in solid manly colors. I hope he'll like them!

PS: These socks were casted-on a few days before 2012, but as I finished them in January, I guess it counts as the first 2012 pair of socks.

Washing Machine

2012-01-27T13:12:00.001+01:00

The other day, for the very first time of my knitter's life, I dared to wash my hand knits in the washing machine...
I was very nervous during the process, watching my machine menacingly, but at the end, surprisingly, my knits came out perfectly fine.

Honestly, it changes a life!

Note to self: From today, buy machine washable yarns exclusively if possible, but no superwash yarns (you can't trust them)
Fleece Artist, Lorna's Laces, Holst Garn, Regia..... I love you all!

Before, I used to handwash all my knits (even store bought sweaters) with Eucalan. Now that I know my washing machine is trustworthy, I'll hand wash only very very delicate fibers and/or lace, but let my new assistant do the main work!
And you dear Readers, how do you take care of your handknits? Do you prefer machine washable or superwash yarn and shop accordingly?

New Year Resolutions

2012-01-16T19:35:00.002+01:00

I know it's late, but I needed time to think about it and look back at 2011.

2011, it was:

Personal Sock Club: One pair of adult socks each month. done!
Give a try to steeks. Failed! I'm still not ready to cut into my knitting....
Don't buy black and/or mohair yarn. Failed! Black alpaca (special request I couldn't refuse) and black merino (for my love, so it doesn't count)
Knit my Christmas Gifts earlier. Failed! and I was almost late for the only gift I knitted this year...
Knit only patterns/yarns that makes me happy, because, frankly, life is too short to knit patterns/yarn you don't enjoy. I really enjoyed my knitting time in 2011 so... done!

2 out of 5.... Not very impressive isnt'it? :s
This year, as my knitting time is reduced, I need my good resolutions to be a little easier: ;)

2012:

Personal Sock Club II. Not necessarily adult socks. (Want to join? Fridrica? Anyone else?)
Knit more socks for my father.
Buy more Holst Garn, because frankly, these yarns are amazing!
Knit more sweaters (that fit, if possible)
Begin my Christmas Gift earlier and try to knit more than only one. (ahem)

I'll do my best... Happy knitting year everyone! :)

The Tale of the Lonely Blue Cardigan

2012-01-14T17:59:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time, in a french yarn shop, a knitter met 10 lovely skeins of cotton and linen blend in a romantic greyish blue shade. She imagined the lovely spring cardigan she could knit for herself and adopted them immediately.

Once at home, she swatched, swatched and swatched again, searching for the perfect gauge and drape before choosing a pattern. A simple short-sleeves top caught her eye, and she began to knit. The yoke was knitted in a blink, but the body was not turning as well as she wished. She frogged a lot, reknitted, frogged again, she even did maths, but it was still not what she wanted. In despair, she finally went "freestyle", crossing fingers, hoping it will be fine.

She casted off, blocked lovingly and sewed ten annoying little buttons. She tried on her blue cardi for the first time. It was slightly too small for her, but she wouldn't reckon it. The knitter imagined herself a little less tall, a little more slim, a little less busted.... The cardigan was still hopelessly one size too small, but the knitter could not rip it. She had spent too much time and efforts to knit it. The blue cardigan stayed lonely on a shelf for days and days waiting for it's knitter to take a decision.

One day, the knitter's mum came to visit her from Paris. When she saw the lonely blue cardigan, she exclaimed: "What a beautiful cardigan! I love the color!" She tried it on immediately, and before the knitter could say anything: "Oh thank you! Thank you so much! I love it! The fit is perfect!"

....

The cardigan had found it's owner. The knitter's mum left with her new beloved cardigan, and they lived happily ever after and ~~had many children~~ the lonely knitter went back on Ravelry, looking for a new cardigan to knit, and is still browsing....

Pattern: Classic Silk Short-Sleeves Top by Cecily Glowik MacDonald

Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Cotton Linen, 00052 Bleu Gris

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular 4 mm for the body & 3.75mm for the sleeves.

Buttons: Mother of pearl recycled buttons.

Mods: Omitted the reversed stockinette triangles, and did simple increases instead. Replaced the 1x1 rib buttonband by garter stitch.

About the Pattern: I love C. Glowik MacDonald's style. It's always feminine and classic. I also love the idea that this cardigan can be worn as a pullover as well.

About the Yarn: I usually avoid cotton because it's often heavy and makes uneven stitches, but this one was surprisingly nice to knit and the color is just beautiful.

Modeled by my sweet mum just before Christmas. The weather was incredibly warm and beautiful.

Dear Readers, thank you for all your comments on my last post. (Just discovered that Blogger offers a new function! I can answer to the comments directly under each. I'm not sure you receive a notification e-mail though...) I will probably ~~not~~ (well, the truth is I still don't know!) do a monthly sock club this year, but I'll continue knitting socks of course! (I guess if I want to be ready for January socks, I have to hurry right?) Still haven't taken any knitting good resolutions as well....Is it too late?