Fichu

The Yarner April 10, 2015
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The Triangle Fields test is progressing nicely, but since there’s nothing I can do until my testers have finished knitting, I’ve been playing around with a new crochet pattern. I still have to work out some of the math, where I fudged it on the protoype while I changed my mind about how things should look and what stitch to use next. And then, of course, I’ll have to write out the pattern and *sigh* chart the whole thing. But just to give you a little sneak preview – tada:

Fichu on blocking pins

The prototype on blocking pins. The yarn is Art by Ana, one of her House Sock party cakes. Lovely gradients, definitely worth checking out.

 

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Testers needed

The Yarner March 13, 2015
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So far fibre Friday are a success. I managed to write up the pattern for my latest brain child, Triangle Field, which comes in two versions (see below). I didn’t blog last week, but did finish the second prototype. \o/

So, now I need testers for both versions.

The slightly longer version takes 1 skein of Shirley Brian Yarns:
Triangle Field (long)

The slightly shorter version takes 1 skein (about 400 yds) of fingering weight:
Triangle Field (short)

Deadline: April 15th
(I knit each of these in 4 or 5 evenings, so they don’t take long.)

If you’d like to test knit either of these, please mail your email address to buntart(at)babyl(dot)ca
so I can send you the pattern and a short (1 page) survey.

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Making time

The Yarner February 27, 2015
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The second half of 2014 has been extremely busy, jobwise, which is good, but didn’t leave me a lot of time for yarny goodness, and I’ve sadly neglected the blog as well.

2015 promises to continue in the same vein, and since, according to an old adage, the only way to have more time for what one wants to do is to make time, I’m resolved to carve out a day for my fibre obsession here and there. I’ll try to keep Fibre Fridays. This might not always happen, or, when it does, I might not have time to blog about it, but something is better than nothing, right?

Today I managed a Fibre Friday. I’ve bought a couple of skeins of Shirley Brian’s lovely gradient yarn a while ago and have been working on a new knitting design for these slightly larger skeins. Today I finished the protottype. It’s a one-skein, asymmetric triangle shawlette with pattern stripes running the width of it, just like the plow or plant rows in a field, thus the pattern name ‘Triangle Field‘.

I’m really happy with it. The Shirley Brian yarn is juuust a tad finicky to knit, because the plies are not twisted, but it has a beautiful drape, and I can’t wait to see it blocked.

Now I have to write down the pattern, and then I want to work up a second prototype for the more standard 400 yd fingering skeins. After that, I’ll be looking for testers.

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The Gradient patterns are up!

The Yarner September 1, 2014
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I know, it’s been a super long time coming, but I finally got my butt in gear, went through all my tester feedback, and finished writing up the pattern. They are available as a pattern download on ravelry, either separately, or, with a bit of savings, all three together as a booklet. Click the image to go to the page:

Gradient booklet

I also finally finished my world cup Folded Lace Tank, second edition:

top

It was so worth re-knitting. It fits perfectly now, and I just adore the drape of this yarn (Estelle Cadenza, for those who are dying to know).

Didn’t feel much like heavy yarn knitting in the heat, so August’s charity knit had to be a small one:

hat

The pattern is the Top-Down Timothy Cap by Splindarella. The beginning is a tad fiddly, but once at the straight down part, it’s an easy 3-4 rib, I love the top down construction, because with the donated skeins (usually without ball bands), I never know how much yardage I’m getting. Already thinking about making another one.

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Lots of gardening, not much knitting

The Yarner August 2, 2014
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Remember when I said I’d knit more Dudesters? This time I even had enough yarn to finish the whole scarf. So, July’s charity knit is The Dudester Scarf:

scarf

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It’s the FIFA World Cup, baby

The Yarner July 1, 2014
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So, I had my world cup project, Bristol Ivy’s stunning Folded Lace Tank, carefully picked out weeks ago, yarn and needles at the ready, and I was totally on track to finish in time, when I ran out of yarn an inch before the shoulder seam (bottom-up construction). When I took it off the needles I saw why–it was a tent. No clue what happened there. my swatch was good. Must have changed tension right after cast-on. Anyway, nothing for it, but to frog the whole thing and start over two sizes smaller. So, no world cup project.

June’s charity knit is a one-skein reversible cowl that uses The Dudester Scarf pattern. Except, with only one skein, it’s became a cowl instead.

cowl

I really love this pattern, striking and easily memorizable. I see lots more of these in my future.

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Work is keeping me super busy

The Yarner May 31, 2014
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I just took on an unplanned project with a tight deadline and have hardly any time to knit at all.

The charity knit for May is a reversible two-colour scarf:

scarf

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Spontaneous yarn buys

The Yarner May 2, 2014
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There was a sale. Of Baby Ull. Not my fault at all. I still would have felt guilty to add it to my stash. So I made something with it right away. Since it was a left-over sale, it consisted mostly of single skeins, which meant some sort of colour work. I chose stripes, and out came this shrug:

shrug

It turned out every bit as wonderful as I’d hoped, though I confess, I wasn’t in love with darning in all those ends.

Then there was the day I forgot to take my knitting to knitnite. I know. And, believe me, I’ve heard every comment on my cerebral faculties there is. In short, I had to buy a skein of yarn and borrow some needles to keep me busy, or in this case, a crochet hook. I’ve made a Shanti scarf before and love it. It’s a wonderful one skein project, and the Lang Ella yarn just screamed Shanti.

scarf

April’s charity knit is a scrappy lengthwise scarf, perfect for using those half-skeins one typically finds in donation bins.

scarf

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Thoughts of Spring

The Yarner April 2, 2014
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There’s a whiff of spring in the air and my niece’s upcoming 3rd birthday. So I knit her a little summery, cottony ladybug dress:

She looks adorable in it. The pattern is Little sister’s dress. Available for free on Ravelry.

The March charity knit was a reversible cowl:

But my biggest accomplishment was to finally conquer the Swain Sweater (Tunisian chrochet):

:

That was a pattern with some challenges, so I’m doubly happy with how it turned out. It’s hella warm and very comfy.

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February update

The Yarner February 28, 2014
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This month’s charity knit was a cute baby blanket. I liked the pattern so much that I want to do it again.

I finished a test knit of fantastically elegant gloves by who else but Dagmar Mora. There’s also a long version. Even more elegant. Check them out. They found a wonderful new home with a good friend and ride-granter extraordinaire, who also models them in the picture:

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