Buy the Seattle Fog Beanie Pattern on Ravelry.com for $2.00 US
Buy the Seattle Fog Beanie Pattern on Etsy.com for $2.20 US

At the very end of last August, Ramon and two other friends took a quick trip up to Seattle for the weekend. With glorious weather we had an absolutely amazing time exploring the city, eating  delightful food, and Nicole and I even found a quaint little yarn store near the Fish Market. We ate up the oh-so-rare sunshine, and even had to slather on the sunscreen. However, on our final day there we finally experienced the famous drizzle, and saw the Seattle Fog.

I felt quite differently about this fog that the fog I was raised with in Santa Cruz, California. The fog in Seattle, while still dense seemed less dreary somehow. Honestly, I think that it was all my perception, and stemmed from my overall experience of the warm people there. Everyone talks about how Seattle has an amazing coffee culture, and I would have to agree, though not every cup we found met our super high standards. We were quite surprised. I came to the conclusion that the coffee culture isn’t as much about the perfect cup, but about taking time out of your day just for yourself. Be it for Facebook, the paper, or meeting up with friends, Seattle seems to have a happy, warm community.

This I have made this beanie as a tribute to the wonderful city, and the friendly people of Seattle. In a warm gray, with super soft yarn, using just one hank of Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino in Dusk, #418, this hat has supple cables that remind me of fish tails. In the brim is a twisted-rib stitch, giving a braided effect, further emphasizing the unity and friendliness of the community. I just can’t wait to go back.

Information & Specifications

Sizing

• Child (Adult) Adult Large

Finished Measurements

• 17″ (21″) 24″
• [43 cm ( 53 cm) 16 cm]

Yarn

• Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino (60% baby suri, 40% merino, 100g, 164 yds / 150 m):  1 (1) 2 skien #418 Dusk

Needles

• Size US 5 [3.75 mm] Circular 16″
• Size US 7 [4.5 mm]:
  - Circular 16″
  - 7″ or 9” DPNs

Gauge

• With size US 5  [3.75 mm] needles in Twisted 1×1 Rib Stitch:
  - 26 sts and 26 rows = 4”x4”

Notions

• 1 Stitch Marker.Size
• E-4 Crochet Hook to
  pull remaining Sts to Inside of Hat.
  The size isn’t crucial.
• Tapestry Needle, to weave in ends.

Buy the Seattle Fog Beanie Pattern on Ravelry.com for $2.00 US
Buy the Seattle Fog Beanie Pattern on Etsy.com for $2.20 US

©2012 Project-Hallway.com. All Rights Reserved.
Please respect copyright law and Do Not Reproduce in any form.
Duplication & distribution of this pattern in any form without express permission of the author is a violation of copyright law: You may not make multiple copies of this pattern, reformat it for commercial use or resale, or sell items made from this pattern. If you are interested in making, then selling this item, contact me and I will provide my guidelines for doing so. Your respect for copyright law allows me to keep bringing you new and interesting designs. Write with feedback or errata at: projecthallway AT gmail.com.

I have long been interested in knitting a little creature. This one was a great little guy to start with. The pattern was free, though the author sells many more adorable little animal patterns. This one specifically was the Fuzzy Mitten Lamb by Barbara Prime.

With articulate instructions I had this little lamb completed in just a few hours time. He’s pretty small, about 7″ tall, but makes a perfect little snuggle buddy, as Ramon has discovered, and since said discovery, refuses to put the little lamb down.

Notes for the Little Lamb:

• I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Silver and Pepper. I decided to use yarn from my stash, as I had a fair amount left over from my Lexington Sweater. 
• Size 5 US needles, as that is the gauge and stitch sized I like from the aforementioned project.
• I bought 3/8″ buttons for the eyes, and used pink embroidery floss for the face
• I shorted the ears by 5 rows, as I felt that they were a little too floppy for my personal taste as written.
• My lamb is a little longer and leaner than the author’s as our gauges were slightly different. I think that they are both cute.

For pattern-checking sake, as well as yarn-stash reduction for 2012, I decided to polish off some of my remaining Little Joey Kangaroo Hoodie materials, and make one more. As a buddy for my little lamb, I followed my pattern directly, and made a Little Roo in the 6 month size, and the whole thing took 2 good days of knitting.

Our adorable little Christmas tree finally came down yesterday. Sadly, it is time to say goodbye to the holiday’s and 2011, but I am very excited about moving into 2012, as I know that there are my exciting first and huge milestones in my future. I will also add that I really regret not posting more in 2011, but I feel like some large obstacles got in my way, which I will work to overcome 2012, and I look forward to posting a lot more in the upcoming spring.

To play a little catch-up, I have finally been able to get to some knitting, and I decided that a few fun, little projects were in order. After seeing the pattern for the Big Herringbone Cowl by Purl Soho over a year ago, and deciding I needed to have one then, I made a quick trip to San Francisco to buy some new yarn—like I needed more—to get me excited and get me knitting. This project took just under a week, and was a really, really great one. I would totally do it again.

I have never worked with needles so large, and it was fun to watch the work go so quickly. I’d tried this pattern once before, but the wrong yarn and impatience lead to disappointment, and eventual frogging. This second time around, I was much, much happier.

I was hoping to get this done before our annual ski trip, and while I succeeded in doing so, the ski trip did not happen due to lack of snow. As it has been “cold” for California over the past few days, I’ve worn it out every day since I finished it, though the warmth of the wool suppresses the need for a jacket.

Many other folks completed this pattern with two skeins of Malabrigo Merino Worsted. When I selected yarn I went with this, but choose Natural for the color. I felt that with such a complex and beautiful stitch pattern, I wanted yarn that wouldn’t overpower the natural texture. I am very, very happy with my choice, and it looks much prettier knit than it does in the hank, or wound into a ball. It would have been so pretty in the snow, and I am bummed that I couldn’t take pictures of it out with the white dusted pine-trees.

My Notes:

I have recently purchased some new pants, which are, frighteningly, the most expensive jeans I have ever owned, and even though they are petites, at $200 a pair they don’t want to short you—pun intended. Thus I have a need to hem them three inches shorter. In addition, in the hemming pile, two pairs of Ramon’s pants, 2 pairs of yoga/indoor pants belonging to me, 3 pairs of my sisters jeans, you can see this is a long list.

As previously mentioned, this scares me.

I don’t really want to cut off the excess fabric while I hem these pants. What if I make them too short even for my little pony legs. Or what if I grow. Well, given that I am almost 30, I do understand that the only way that I am going to be growing is outward, not upward, unless you look at growing upward figuratively, which is probably also just as unlikely at this point. Still the fear persists, and I know that I’m not alone.

When my sister approached me with hemming her pants, while she is much less a seamstress, and much more a lawyer, found a technique of hemming jeans to keep the original hem stitching, and having an invisible seem in which the excess fabric is folded back, and kept, or cut off if too bulky. I know that I am not the originator of this technique, but it is fabulous and worth sharing.

Tutorial: How to Hem Jeans and Keep the Original Hem Top-Stitching

Before beginning, Pre-Wash your Jeans and you should also check the label to check the fabric content and care instructions.

1. Put on pants, and have a friend or helper pin the fabric with the inside folding towards the outside, making right sides together.

2. Using a ruler, Measure the distance from the edge of the fabric to the fold. If you have used multiple pins, find the average, then re-pin the pants, and try them back on. Make sure that the fold of the fabric hits the place where you want it it.

3. Take the distance and divide it by 2. Write down this number. Remove the pins.

4. Take the number you have written down, and fold the pants over by this new depth (should be half of your original measurement) with Right sides together.

5. Beginning with the seam on the inside of the leg of the pant, either sewing by hand, or using a sewing machine, stitch right next to the existing rolled hemline, remembering to remove the pins as you go.

6. BEFORE PROCEEDING, try pants on in front of a mirror. Remember that when you look down, it will change the shape of your pants, so try to stand-up straight when analyzing. If the new hem length is not where you like it, use a seem ripper and remove the stitching that you just created, adjust as necessary, and re-stitch.

Now is the time to make corrections!

7. Press hem with excess fabric folded up the leg of the pant.

8. Repeat for other leg.

9. Tack the fold up, using a sewing needle and thread. I used a quick whip-stitch to do this, and it is not visible on the oustide of the pant leg.

If there is a lot of excess fabric, you may want to cut it using fabric shears, or use a serger/overlock machine to cut and finish off the raw edge (See Step #11).

10. Press the hem again.

Optional

If you have access to a serger or an overlock machine you may choose to cut off the excess fabric, and finish the edge. However, BE SURE TO TRY PANTS ON AND PRESS BEFORE CUTTING ANY EXCESS FABRIC. I hate making mistakes, and once you do this, you can’t change it back. My mother always says, “We regret more things we didn’t do, than things we did.” So just try them on again, it’ll only take a minute.

11. On Machine, starting an inch or two before the inside side-seam of the pant leg, begin sewing, cutting down into the excess folded fabric only. Do this until the new stitch line is under the foot of your serger, but not the the cutting blade. I leave about 1/4″ of an inch between the stitch line and the blade.

12. Work around entire pant leg, removing excess fabric. Stitch over stitching you have just made for about 1/2″ to secure.

13. Fold the overlocked edge up, into the pant. You may still want to tack this new edge (see step 9).

14. Press the hem again.

Unfortunately, this is going to be one of my shortest blog posts to date as I am leaving for Los Angeles in about 20 minutes…

At long last (My mom will be so happy!) I have finished my leather version of the snake print dress from the Spring 2008 Alexander McQueen runway, a collection in memory of the wonderful Isabella Blow.

After purchasing the leather back in February, I have let my worry get the better of me for the better part of a year. Finally, I got over it, as I wanted to wear this dress to the wedding I am headed out to this weekend. Deadlines. I like deadlines.

With the super low back, undergarments are a tad hard to wear. So Trina helped me in developing a lining that does all of the supporting and lifting necessary. Heavily boned, tight and rigid, I have found that plain ol’ cotton IS actually good for something. Of course, it was only after I finished sewing it did I realize that instead of wanting a white lining, I wanted a pink one. Due to my Fabric Science class, the dyeing process went swimmingly this time. Then I broke the Zipper.

I decided to head into the sewing lab on Monday morning to take advantage of the big tables and self healing cutting mattes. Not that I can’t do this stuff at home, I just decided that a bigger table, bigger weights, and more room would lead to fewer frustrations. I barely, BARELY, had enough in my three hides to get all of the pattern pieces up with the snake print embossing all matching on the pieces and going the same direction.

Sewing was so … simple! Just don’t make any mistakes, right?

Taking my knitting practice in mind, one mistake became a “design element” and one would be hard pressed to find it. Oh, so many sewing puns in this post … so many I could make … no time … must refrain.

I made the shoulder pads last night on one of my dress-forms while watching Project:Runway, and finally finished this goodie up, and just in the nick of time. Finished sewing in the lining and the cap sleeves this morning. In total panic/get-ready-to-go mode, I took 2 (literally, just the two you see) pictures of both the front and the back, as I really, really wanted to share this before leaving for Hollywood, Hollywood (ref. homeless dude in Pretty Woman, I know you know the one). Also exciting to put my Spring 2008 Alexander McQueen Brass Square Toe pumps to good use, too

Such a great, great project. More to come, I promise.

The next morning I saw the outpooring of greif and support from others. Everything from the NYTimes picture of the half eaten apples and garlands outside of his Palo Alto home, to the iPads held in the air with candles. I realized that i wasn’t alone. Heard many times by all, his Stanford 2005 commencement speech really hit me … hard.

Image © Peter DaSilva for The New York Times
At Mr. Jobs’s home in Palo Alto, Calif., supporters left bitten apples, candles and flowers. Tributes were also left online and at Apple stores around the world.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

…

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

I don’t know if it is just because he just passed away, or because I feel like these words really apply to my life Right Now, but, even though there is darkness, sadness behind his words, I find his message very, very inspiring.

Either way, it has gotten me to think about some of the things that I like to do for myself, like power-napping, an activity I have missed for a while. This reminds me of a story.

Every time i am in San Francisco, and it is sunny, on the rarity that that happens, there is this place I like to stop by. It is out by Baker Beach—I think it’s baker beach, it’s probably not baker beach, I can never keep them straight. There is this little community of beach rentals. So funny because you walk up to it, and the walkways are all of those little seventies style tiny rocks, cemented into big slabs. California beach grass growing out the sides. But the cabin’s themselves are quite different, amazing really.

I only know about the first unit, the one on the corner. See, the amazing thing is, the door is always unlocked. I wonder if they know. For years it has been this way. I knock. I look around. I knock again. If someone answers, I explain that I’m a friend of so-and-so, and I think I got the wrong cottage.

But, no one answers, typical. Beautiful day, and there is no one here. I crack the door open, look for any signs of guests. I see the kitchen to my right—or left, I have never been able to tell the difference, what is that called, not dyslexia, something else? Nothing. No fruit, no wine glasses. I step in, look around more. It’s safe. I throw a tea kettle on the old gas stove. Wander around the little living room, admiring the ocean. Looking at the sunbathing San Francisco babes, their skin glistening in the sun with Coopertone, and I hear the teakettle begin to whistle. I pick up an old, worn white mug, thin ceramic painted with blue and silver stripes. This mug is as old and whimsical as this place feels. I head downstairs.

The bedroom has the same beautiful view of the ocean. The tiles in the tiny bay window, deep cerulean and white, in heavy contrast to the dark wood of the big built in armories. The wood work is everywhere. The moldings, the windows, the door frame. Someone spent some serious time on this. The quilt white and puffy, to inviting to resist. This room always reminds me of Santorini, but somehow Scandinavian. This is the kind of place that will remind you what you love in life, to slow down, have a cup that tea. I doze.

In the middle of my nap, I heard the door creak open, and remembered why I shouldn’t come here. I was just outside a minute ago, I just saw the maid, she smiled, she waved! Alas it wasn’t just one, or two, it was, four maybe? As far as I could tell. This has never happened before. In all of the years, would have thought for sure that this would have happened at least once, but no. Well, there was that one other time, that was a close call too, but different.

I throw my iPhone and things back into my handbag, resting on the carved bench in that cute little bay window. Madly trying to put my socks on, I feel like my feet are covered in sand, and I am laboring much to hard in my panic. Shoes, sweater, sunglasses. I grab my things, and reach for the back-door that leads out to the little garden. In doing so, I remember that I’d wanted an iPhone picture of the room this time, before I left, but it’s too late. That may be a footstep coming down that skinny staircase. Bed still unmade, window ajar, I slip out the door, also unlocked, and quietly close it behind me. I look up to the deck straight above, and see, in-fact that there are at least four. Grapes in hand, someone from the kitchen is asking about opening a chardonnay. Not much of a fan, I do admit it is a good day for it. Past the grass, I climb out of the little garden, back to the funny 70′s walkways.

Walking back to my little blue Bimmer, reflecting the ocean, resiliently blue, I realize that I don’t even know where the office to this joint is. It’d be really nice to make a reservation for once. Bring Ramon here.

While this story isn’t true, it was just a dream I had last night, it does tell me 2 things.

1. The multi-vitamins I take give me crazy dreams when I take them just before bed, instead of in the morning, and
2. I have been thinking that I need to take more time for myself, and run around less, and this is what really needs to happen.

I had a mini-meldown on monday, I just feel so overwhelmed with projects and I feel like I have no time in which to do them. I am also feeling a lot like no one takes me very seriously. Since I am “not-working,” everyone assumes I do nothing, or that what I am doing can wait.

Back in July I spent a week at my mom’s knitting my second Flynnie, and doing a lot of project organization and management. I created a huge status list of where everything is, and in the end, I was feeling really good about it. This morning I have gone back, after not looking at it for about a month or two, and updated everything in the list. I think I need to stop and realize that I have done a lot more than I think I have.

I did finally spend some time sewing this week. Actually, so much so that I really haven’t gotten anything done. I finished the lining for my leather snake-print dress, with boning and all. Now, after finishing it, I think I’d like to dye it. Mmm. Well, it is all 100% cotton, so this shouldn’t be an issue. So, let’s put that on the list for today.

I have gotten very, very behind in my couture sewing class. I think when we started with quilting I couldn’t see the correlation between this and couture. After a slight re-adjustment in attitude, if I look at it as improving my hand sewing skills, then it’s worth the effort, eh? Mmm, quilting? Really? So, I have been doing a lot of sewing for these little samples this week as well.

I have two sweaters that I am almost “done” with. My sister’s birthday sweater, which I will be submitting to Knitty.com (crosses fingers again), needs one cuff finished, and the edging. The other sweater, shown below, is half through the first, sleeve, still waiting on the second. I also have a scarf like insert that I need to knit, which I won’t get to today, but the rest of it I can.

What else to add to the list? I have an essay I need to finish. I have written, and re-written, it just needs final tweaks, and then what else? Ugh, Laundry. No wonder I am feeling overwhelmed. Ok, here is my list for the day, officially.

1. Shoulder Pads
2. Dye Lining
3. Buy Cork-board (it’s for knitting, believe me),
4. Buy Knitting Washing Tub
5. Block Knitting Swatches
6. Finish Jenny’s Sweater Sleeve
7. Finish Jenny’s Sweater Edging
8. Finish Tuareg Sleeves (Blue Sweater, pictured above)
9. Finish Essay
10. Go to post office

I think this is too much. What were Steve and that dream telling me again? Maybe I should do the knitting outside, at Starbucks, since it is not raining today … Maybe I need to move some things to tomorrow’s list.

Going back to Steve Jobs, and his Stanford speech,  I am very happy that I have been able to get back to sewing this week. I have some ideas about what has kept me away, but I think it is time for me to shed my fears and tears (sorry for the horrible rhyming). He’s right, you know. He’s absolutely right. And, in taking more time for myself, I shouldn’t be so panic. I should be enjoying this work that I do. I am so lucky to have this time, to have these skills, and to have the opportunity to learn more.

And on that note, one more thing  that I’d like to say to Steve. You will be missed, thank you for changing the world.

Flynnie Sweater, with a well-deserved captive audience: Top Down, In-The-Round, Wide-Weave Raglan Sweater

Buy the Flynnie Wide-Weave Sweater Pattern on Ravelry.com for $6.00 US

Buy this Flynnie Wide-Weave Sweater Pattern on Etsy.com for $6.20 US

I absolutely love knitting sweaters from the top-down, in the round. Being able to try them on at any point, and make adjustments without having to rip out an entire sleeve, or sweater back makes the sweater building process so much more enjoyable.

Utilizing this piece primarily as a tunic I find it is a wonderful addition to my wardrobe, especially on those cold days. With the super chunky yarn, and large needles this is a quick, and fashionable knit.

A few years back I made a version of this sweater and completed it from the bottom up, in panels. After finishing it I realized that knitting top-down, and in the round would provide a very clean, polished, and more sophisticated sweater.  Super snugly, and delightfully colored this sweater always brightens my mood, and I hope that it does the same for you, too!

Endlessly customizable, I have written a few notes throughout the pattern to help with adjustments and fitting. It’s a good idea to write down what you changed, so you can better review if it is working for you, or match your sleeves.

I welcome any and all feedback. Please feel free to email me at projecthallway AT gmail.com with thoughts or errata.

To anyone who purchases this sweater, I hope you enjoy making this it as much as I have.

Information & Specifications

Sizing

• Size    XXS (XS, S, M, L) XL
• Bust Measurment
  - 28″  (30″,  32″, 36″, 38″) 42″
  - 71 cm (76 cm,  81 cm, 91 cm, 96 cm) 106 cm

Yarn

• Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande (100% Baby Alpaca,  110 yd [100 m]/100 g): #69 Watermellon or #6010 Coral,  8 (8, 8, 9, 11) 12 hanks

Or

• Misti Alpaca Chunky 2 Ply (100% Baby Alpaca,  109 yd [99.6 m]/100 g): #RJ5764 Pink Paradise, 8 (8, 8, 9, 11) 12 hanks

Or

• Blue Sky Alpacas Techno 2 Ply (100% 68% Baby Alpaca / 10% Extra Fine Merino / 22% Silk,  120 yd [109 m]/50 g): #1981 Pink Posh, 8 (8, 8, 9, 11) 12 hanks

Needles

•  Size US 15 [10 mm]
  - Circular 29” and/or 36”
  - 7” or 9” DPNs

•  Size US 101/2  [6.5 mm] Circular 24”

•  Size US 8 [6.5 mm]:
  - Circular 29” or 32”
  - 7” or 9” DPNs

Gauge
Gauges listed equal 4×4” [10 x 10 cm].

• With size US 15 Needles in Sts St:
  - 10 Sts and 12 rows

Notions

• Stitch Markers.
• Tapestry Needle.

********

The Original Flynnie Sweater: Top Down, In-The-Round, Wide-Weave Raglan Sweater

********

©2011 Julie Grantz. All Rights Reserved.
Please respect copyright law and Do Not Reproduce in any form. Duplication & distribution of this pattern in any form without express permission of the author is a violation of copyright law: You may not make multiple copies of this pattern, reformat it for commercial use or resale, or sell items made from this pattern. Your respect for copyright law allows me to keep bringing you new and interesting designs. Write with feedback or errata at: projecthallway AT gmail.com.

********

Buy the Flynnie Wide-Weave Sweater Pattern on Ravelry.com for $6.00 US

Buy this Flynnie Wide-Weave Sweater Pattern on Etsy.com for $6.20 US

There are only so many of these events, on the west coast. OK, well, there are only so many of these events, period. I’d heard about Vogue Knitting Live in Los Angeles when I was at Stitches West in February. So, even despite the fact that my broke ass couldn’t really afford to go (Thank you for helping, Ramon), I really felt that I should go. Unlike Stitches, this time I signed up for a class, and two lectures. Stitches offers classes, but, as far as I can tell, no lectures.

After Ramon’s Fire Drill Friday of Racing, and getting up just after midnight, I hopped on a plane the next AM at the good ol’ hour of 6:45 to make it down to La La land in time for my first lecture at 10 am. Hosted at the Hyatt Century Plaza—as far as I could tell in Beverly Hills—with parking priced at $24–$27 a day, I decided walking a mile from a residential neighborhood was the way to go. I mean, that’s yarn money! Pooped, but with Starbucks in hand I met Shannon Okey, giving a lecture for Aspiring Designers. The more benificial of the two lectures, I pulled some useful tips which I am already mulling over, or even—OMG—acting on! I also met some folks in the same boat whom I later talked with on the Market Place floor. More great insight.

I then met, and I consider this to be one of the top highlights of the trip, Wendy Bernhard, designer of the Ingenue—Audrey Hepburn—sweater. Signing her new book, Custom Knits 2, to be released this week. I bought a copy, had a lovely chat, and began to realize that how ever many hundreds of dollars were spent going down there and renting a car were worth it. I showed her my blog, my Audrey Picture—which I was actually super worried she might find offensive as I am implying the design is directly inspired by something, but I am not trying to be offensive, I just love, love, love it—and feel like I made a great little connection. Wendy recommended a pattern in the new book which she thinks will be especially to my liking as I adore the Ingenue so much, and even better yet, she signed my book “Happy Designing.” Yes, indeed

The following day I had a class in Andean Knitting by Mary Jane Mucklestone, author of 200 Fair Isle Motifs. I was skeptical of taking a class, because usually when I learn a new technique, it only takes a few minutes to understand what’s going on and why. I was SHOCKED. Three hours, and I learned an ENTIRELY NEW WAY TO KNIT, which I will actually be able to implement on the sweater pattern from Custom Knits 2 that Wendy recommended.

Little Peruvian men, sitting for long hours, yarn tensioned over their shoulders, around their necks, purling around and around, working with the wrong side facing … have you ever heard of such a thing? The madness!

The new technique actually works very, very well. Surprisingly well. Easier than knitting well! Yup, you heard me, the purling is easier than knitting in this technique. The hat below, Mary Jane acquired on one of her trips to Peru. That is hand knit. I can’t even count the stitches per inch! and the picture below that? Knitting needles they use to adjust the stitches and tension.

OK, now I am going on too long, but just a few more things. In addition to the Custom Knits 2 book signing, there were a few others. At the Vogue Knitting booth, Deborah Newton was signing her new book Finishing School; A Master Class for Knitters, and the co-authors of Vintage Modern Knits, using beautiful yarns from the Fibre Company, one of my favs, were also there.  Both books great additions to my library, I’ve already finished a few chapters in the Finishing School book. Useful. Very Useful.

All in all I was surprised by the lectures and the class, though not by Market Place. After Stitches West seeing the Vogue Knitting live Market Place, which was less than 1/4 the size, left me wanting more. I did find some great things, including 8″ size US 5 circular needles from Addi. I didn’t know such things existed! I scored some great yarn deals on Sunday, as folks were packing up, not wanting to take heaps of yarn home. And, due to the smaller size of the Market Place, I was actually able to remember where some of the gems that I found were located, so I could actually find them again, after thinking about fibers and quantities, and buy them. One of my favorites was Baah! Bling. Handpainted by a gal in Longbeach, super vibrant colors, with metallics, and a very soft hand. I couldn’t come up with a project for this beautiful yarn, but wanted remember it for future use.

Super friendly vendors, great teachers, insightful book signings, and a lot of yarn, I imagine I’ll be back next year. Thanks Vogue Knitting Live!

All that being said …  I am still feeling sleep deprived. I need a knitcation.

The other night Ramon and I were sitting outside enjoying this beautiful Indian Summer we’re having in Northern California. We have been working on perfecting our Cuban Corn recipe, inspired from our NYC trip back in May. At 7:30 in the evening, with our steak and Cuban Corn hot off the grill, it was still about 80° outside. Enjoying our wine, conversation it really was the perfect evening. I even got some knitting in. Later in the evening I tried to use the corn silk from the Cuban corn to embroider with for my couture sewing class, which was the only part of the evening that wasn’t perfect. Do note though, it can be done.

However, the next morning as I was driving to meet up with Trina for coffee and time in the park, I realized that it is actually Autumn now. It really snuck up on me, but the mild breeze and the crispness in the air, a few leaves changing colors can mean only one thing. Mid-observation, I had an idea, I thought that now, with fall fast approaching, that I should share my pattern for my favorite scarf.

Originally inspired by my hair icon’s Graphic fashion sense, Gwen Stefani, this scarf that has great knit texture, but is super simple to make. And, It is no big shocker that I love stripes, either.

Some of the other knitting patterns I have written:

I use a machine washable blend for this—2 complete hanks of Berroco Vintage, 1 in white, and 1 in black—but one could really use any worsted weight yarn, and make it any length or width that they wanted. This fun, simple knitting project is a great way to add a little texture without having to do anything complicated. Great for a beginner, but fun for any knitting skill level.

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In celebration of our forthcoming Autumn, and without further adieu, the Gwennie Striped Scarf!

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Specifications

Finished Measurements
8″ wide x 62″ long
[40 cm  wide by 158 cm long ]

Yarn

• Color A: Berroco Vintage (50% Acrylic/40% Wool/10% Nylon, 100g, 214 yds / 198 m): 1 hank in #5145 Cast Iron (Black)
• Color A: Berroco Vintage (50% Acrylic/40% Wool/10% Nylon, 100g, 214 yds / 198 m): 1 hank in #5101 Mochi (White)

Needles

• Size US 7 [4.5 mm]

Gauge

With size US 7  [4.5 mm] needles in Scarf Texture Pattern

• 22 sts and 32 rows = 4”x4” [10 x 10 cm)

Notions

• Tapestry Needle, to sew in ends.

Abbreviations

Scarf Texture Pattern is worked in K2 P2 Rib Stitch on RS, and all K sts on WS.

• St / Sts: Stich or Stitches
• CO: Cast On
• K: Knit St, if followed by a number, K that many sts before proceeding to next instruction.
• P: Purl St, if followed by a number, P that many sts before proceeding to next instruction.
• Sl 1: Slip 1 Knitwise, With Yarn in Back. Wrap the yarn around the front of the stitch (clockwise), to the back. This creates a selvedge/clean edge.
• BO: Bind Off

Instructions

With Color A (black), CO 42 Sts ( Multiple of 4 + 2)

Stripe
On RS: SL 1, K1, Work in P2, K2 Rib Stitch ending with K2.
On WS: Sl 1, K across.
Repeat Prevous 2 rows, 6 more times (Total of 14 rows)

With Color B (white), Work 1 stripe, Continuing to carry color A up the side of the work by twisting the yarns.

Work Scarf until you have 29 stripes, alternating colors each 14 rows, ending with a stripe in Color A.

BO All sts. Block Scarf to lay flat.

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Wow, wasn’t that easy?

And … I LOVE it. I somehow convinced Ramon to help me take a photo like the inspiration, and I must give him kudos on his photography skills and patience

Audrey Hepburn Sweater, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Using hardy any yarn (approximately 980 yards) I flew through this project. And, as I used Northhampton in Fawn, from Webs, this entire project cost lest than $20. I must admit that I like the yarn a lot more now that it is made. I thought that it would irritate my skin with itchiness more, but it doesn’t! I have fairly sensitive skin, though, apparently less sensitive than I thought.

Modifications:

• As previously mentioned, I knit the Cast On Edge into the end of the collar to avoid sewing it once the sweater was completed.
• I kept it with the ease as specified in the pattern, but my gauge was a little short in rows. I added one extra waist decrease and on the flip-side, one extra waist increase, as well.
• I added one extra pattern repeat on the sleeve as hem

I love this project, and I would love to do it again. I actually worked my way through almost the entire body in one afternoon, and I am really enjoying my new continental knitting style skills. The sleeves took about 2 hours a piece. This sweater is an amazing addition to my wardrobe, and I have a feeling it is going to get a lot of use.