Quilted Wave Hat Pattern

I made up this little hat to use some DK single ply merino. its super soft & comfortable. I guess this would fit an average women's head of about 20-22". This is a quick project for a sudden chill or a last minute gift!!

Quilted Wave Hat

yarn: 45g (approx 110 yards) Lone Merino DK (240 yds/100g). This is a single ply.

needle: 5.0mm in whatever style you prefer.
gauge: roughly 8 sts by 11 rows in 2" stockinette.

Quilted Wave Chart:

knit under: insert right needle from front to back under the float you created 2 rounds earlier by keeping your yarn in front & knit as usual. You may need to bring your right needle back out so that the float is not caught wrapped around the needle. Basically, you are 'tacking' up that float.

sl 1 wyif: slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in front.

NOTE: If two colors are desired, then knit the rows of "sl 1 wyif" in the contrast color.

Pattern:

Cast on 84 & join in round. Might be best to use a stretchy cast on.
garter stitch in round for total of 8 rounds by repeating next 2 rows 4 times.
r1: purl
r2: knit

Begin lattice stitch chart around.
Repeat until total length front cast on is 5.5", ending right before an 'under' row.
Crown decreases:
r1: ssk, k to next knit under stitch, hook the float back as usual, but also ssk the next stitch without tacking the float behind that stitch. (70)
r2: knit around.
r3: k1, sl 3 sts wyif, *k2tog, sl 3 sts wyif* around, k1. (57)
r4: knit around.
r5: *ssk, knit 1 under, k2tog, k1, k1under, k1* around. (43)
r6: knit around.
r7: k1, *k2tog, k2* around, k2tog. (32)
r8: knit around.
r9: *k2tog, k 1* around, k2tog. (21)
r10: knit around.
r11: *k 1, k2tog* around. (14)
r12: k2tog around. (7)

Cut yarn & thread through. Pull tight to close & weave in ends.

Wet dog & Pickled eggs in the microwave??

Dyeing some yarn has been at the top of my list for a loooong time (with some spinning) & i have the acid dyes... but i don't have a reserved crock pot or dish.. so i haven't gotten around to it. keep thinking about that kool-aid group... & i know all about the easter egg dye, food dyes, etc. well, this time i said "don't dump that egg dye, cause i WILL do it this year"! so i saved it for my birthday project. (earth day)

i have some Knit Picks Bare sock.. but that's a lot of yardage for the idea playing in my head & then a Rav search on my stash reminded me of some worsted wool in white, only 51 grams. my idea was a rainbow with the colors, obviously because they are all there made up & ready, but because my kid has been obsessed with rainbows for a time now. which i didn't always pay much attention to before, but now with his help i see how happy they are.. & so i now collect rainbow yarn. my thought is to make him a hat, perhaps Turn a Square by Jared Flood, but not sure how much to do of each color to make a rainbow repeat in the hat.. not ending up with only red through yellow or something.. ?? well, in the end of thinking of mini skeins & ends & finally just thought to try it by dyeing each 5 grams & if it doesn't work then cut it or find a new project.

there are probably easier ways to do it.. like sock blank-style, but until i find an affordable knitting machine... this was the quickest. i wound mini hanks & weighed them on my scale & tied each to keep it separate. soak in vinegar-water 1 hour.

dunked each section in small cups filled with rainbow colors until i knew it had time to soak. took the yarn hanklettes out & put on plastic wrap, dunked the next repeat (i didn't have enough yarn for the last purple). & put those in the same color piles. added a smidgen of extra dye over the piles, wrapped up & microwaved for 4 minutes. let stand a few, i meant 5 min, but i think i got distracted & it was more like 10? microwaved another 4, checked the dye water puddle underneath… clear!!! my only.. ugh!.. was when moving the plastic wrapped yarn back into the dish... the green got into the yellow a little. next time i'll have the plastic wrap in the dish, no moving.

i did this late & it was steaming hot.. so i left it to cool. came back in the am & rinsed it, squeezed the water out, hanked it & left to dry in the bathroom. AWESOME easy! ;) during the microwave process is when my spouse came home & pondered me using the microwave first... cause i don't microwave food.. i know, i'm one of those, so it holds the snacks out of sight from the vultures. then he asked.. what is that smell? pickled eggs?.. wet dog? why yes. late night snack of steamed wet dog & pickled eggs.. ...

i used PAAS dye.. there is both Red 3 & 40 in it.. not sure which in which colors so a i know the red may fade. i hope not.. but super great project to try out, or with kids.

yeah, so i'm hooked... need more!!

Spring WIP Challenge!

the stash down group is doing a WIP challenge from 01 April to 31 May.. & i love starting new things, so i really have to join this one. although i'm up for any challenge lately. considering there is a holiday in there plus some nice weather i know i also have to be realistic about how many i could really finish..... so, i decided on my Flyaway Cardi, Black Olga Shawl & Celestial Cowl. all of these i had marked at around 60% finished. this would give me 2 weeks each to work on them & extra 2 weeks for non-knitting, nice weather days.

i already worked on my flyaway cardi & my celestial cowl before the pics, in fact, i actually finished my cowl. it went so much faster than i thought it would. i think its because, except the rare occasion, i have only let myself work on these projects. if it wasn't for the challenge, i would never have this kind of will-power. new projects are calling to mee......

at least 2 can be considered spring/summer projects. the cowl will just be a jump ahead for this winter, which is good because i always wait until i'm freezing before i start. the cowl is my 1st & i'm not too sure about it, maybe it was just this pattern/yarn combo since it doesn't seem to have the greatest stitch definition. i think they would be good for kids though! i'm so excited to have 1/3 done! not to mention, this will also get me ahead on my 12 in 2014 stash project as well. i tell myself start nothing new until these 3 are done.

Olga Shawl in black. don't look close, it has been in a plastic bag yet is still covered in lint & fuzz.. :( maybe black isn't so good....

celestial cowl all done already!! 

my flyaway cardi is in lace-weight. i have already worked on some of this by attaching the sleeves. only yoke to go. went much faster than i thought for this part. good news!!

SWAP info!

I was thinking it would be nice to do more swaps this year.... & i love it when my partners have a huge master idea list. so i'll throw one out there as well!! I am not a picky person either! :p

most of all i like unique, local things from different areas. i don't get to travel much anymore myself, so this is nice! anything from local recipes, honey, syrups, treats, trinkets or post cards.

food treats: pretty open really. of chocolate things, i prefer dark chocolate. even mixed with nuts or toffee. i aim to try for organic or non-GMO as much as possible, but i do enjoy 'regular' food quite frequently. i dislike most white chocolate & black licorice. there are no known allergies in my household.

beverages: i drink both coffee & tea on a regular basis!! i have a keurig coffee maker (k-cups) & have the option for using my own coffee & have a grinder, so i can use anything. i also drink both bagged & loose leaf tea!

smells: i enjoy "clean linen" type, ocean & citrus scents the most that i can think of right now. i'm not usually partial to vanilla scents unless it is the vanilla extract i am dumping into a cookie dough ;)

yarns: i shop Knit Picks frequently, but am open to all brands/types. i love all of it & haven't met a Stroll i didn't like. or any brand tonal type or tweed! i love bare yarn, not only because i do like the neutral colour, but also the possibilities!! i can use from lace weight to bulky weight, not a problem! i only have a problem trying to figure out what to do with some novelty yarns. I have a KP wishlist on Rav profile also.

colours: big fan of GREY!! silver in all things, dark grey/charcoal. i am also a fan of all neutrals/naturals & blues, including teals. but i do love a nice pink, especially paired with a grey. only colours i'm not always thrilled about on their own is orange & yellow or neon.

yarn crafting: i have a drop spindle i still haven't used but really want to. i still want to get into dying.. (looking for re-purposing a pan or crock pot?). i hope to put sweaters & mitts behind me this year & try socks yet again (the heel thing). want to do my swedish weaving (huck weaving) towels & maybe a blanket this year. i make stitch markers, trying to get 'cleaner' with it. oh & i 'knook', which is knitting with a crochet hook... haven't ever mastered knitting with needles. patterns in ravelry under queue "wishlist" or fav "wishlist". i also like to sew.

recipes: always interested in yummy new recipes. secondary would be that they also be frugal, low-carb or healthy inspired... but emphasis on the yummy priority. :)

other: i love Scandinavian-inspired things, nautical themed, flowers-carnations, lilies & roses, books-Fire & Ice series by George R.R. Martin & The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, TV-Doctor Who, Family Guy, The Good Wife, Call the Midwife, Merlin, Downtown Abbey & i have Sherlock queued, World of Warcraft, Hello Kitty themed, Charlie Brown, Calvin & Hobbes, country & classical music. i should add i like "seasonal" things... i'm all about making food, wearing themed socks, window clings, decorations, etc.. for all holidays! my fav are valentine's day, st. patrick's day, easter, earth day, 4th of july & halloween!!

household: no smoking, 2 indoor cats, outdoor chickens. yarn stored in plastic bins. husband is a home brewer, 1 boy toddler into transformers, trains, angry birds, etc., 1 girl toddler into dolls, my little pony, barbie & hello kitty (where does she get that?!).

KP Wishlist!

Here I am sharing my wishlist to Knit Picks for their Wishlist giveaway!!! Wish me luck!

My Knit Picks Wishlist!!!!

Soaked Grab n' Go Tote

I started a quilt from Connecting Threads Soaked collection... (still wip-waiting for CLEAR open toe for quilting....) & bought some of their cordinating laminate & a layer cake pack to cut into charms. I had a bit extra fabric from the quilt kit, so i cut some 4.5" squares from that & cut some from the 10" pack. i could of just bought a charm pack, i guess, but i planned on about 2-3 of each. i overcut some, so i ended up with 3-4 of some & just 1 of a couple. Anyways, i had recently bought 'Fast & Furious: Family' by G.E. Designs (didn't realize she is from Iceland until i saw the cover!) & LOVED the Grab N' Go Carrying Tote (pg. 22) & had to make it!! It's a quilt as you go book, which i had never done. As i started cutting the material i realized how BIG this bag was!! yikes! But, that's okay, because i plan on leaving the quilt & bag in the trunk for day trips, etc.

At first, it was SO frustrating to work with!!!! it was so bulky & i have a cheapy lightweight Brother..... (i want to buy a new one... but have no idea how to shop the current selection!). i immediately tried all the suggestions for working with laminate....painters tape on the feed? (worthless!), tissue paper (how do you follow your line?? & it popped some of my stitches up too)... when in the end it was best to just increase the stitch length & sew normally & i had no problems. well, the biggest problem was marking my sewing line.... chalk didn't stick, marker wiped off.... desperate for a 'i-want-to-work-on-this-now' approach, i just used a ball-point pen.... i know... it's probably permanent, but it only shows a little if you inspect the bottom. i probably should have felt the edges from the lining side & flipped it over, huh? oh well. Once i was able to cut the extra fabric around, it was so much easier to work with. i'm a newbie in bag making, but i'm quickly going through some patterns. :) every pucker & whatnot was making me crazy. i'm not a perfectionist, but i think i am in my head, so every little thing was eating me!! it finished quickly enough & i love the side seam trick (i think i knew this once before, but forgot...?), but i love how it easily hides the edges!! once i had it together the imperfections aren't a big deal... they are lost on the inside & i'll use a little fray check on part of a side seam that didn't get caught in. I am SO happy with this project, i felt so accomplished all day after finishing it!!! can't wait to make another!! i threw it out in the living room & my toddlers climbed in!! ... it's THAT big! a bonus 'travel bed' for my littlest one!! :)

the modifications i made:
1. the handles, instead of using regular fabric as called for, i used laminate for that too... i figure all those dirty hands or scuffing the floor. now the handles can wipe clean too!!
2. i couldn't find the recommended interface/batting Bosal, so i substituted with Pellon 70. the package (multiple unopened at the store, verified by store clerk) all said width 22"... it was not. more like 19"... so i cut short the dimensions by 2".

(of course, this fabric ALL went on sale 40% off

about a week and a half after i bought it... as usual.)

2013 Resolution Wishes

It's far from the 1st of the year, but not yet February..!! So I've been thinking of what kind of crafty goals I could have for this new year.... as i overestimate myself usually, then i can see what i do not accomplish in December! ;) in no particular order...

1. make a cardi for me.. or anything for MYSELF.... i tend to gift it all away.
2. sell something... anything... a dishcloth, a stitch marker...  whatever, it would feel *nice*.
3. first handspun.. i have roving... i have a drop spindle... ;)
4. first hand dye... i have been wanting to try this for years, easy really, i just need to remember to carve out time for it.
5. stash bust as much as possible... don't make it seem i am buying so much yarn for NO reason... USE IT! (because by then i will find more i HAVE to have).
6. sew more.. i love it, but my craft space is limited that it has hibernated to the basement & i have so many projects in line for it & some wips, particularly decor & pillows for my son's room to be done this year & new curtains & decor for my room, also slated to be done this year!!

i would like to say this will all be a snap & i will accomplish even more than this!! now THAT is positive wishful thinking!