The pattern request, in particular, flummoxed me. You may have seen linen stitch shorties or longies for sale at Hyenacart, my preferred location for buying handmade goodies.  The stitch pattern, which isn’t all that stretchy and is incredibly dense, is a perfect application for use with cloth diapering, and it breaks up color runs when using hand-dyed yarns.  Linen stitch itself is easy.  A pattern for linen stitch longies, however, was impossible to find.  So I wrote up a recipe.

How stinking cute are these?

At this moment, 7 pairs have so far been knit up by the testers who volunteered.  Comments include that you should use needles that are a couple of sizes larger than you would normally use with the yarn you’ve chosen, and that the row gauge will be a lot smaller than you’d expect.  The pattern eats yarn, so you’ll likely need more than you would expect.  But the gusset works as it should.  The difficulty is how to achieve a seamless graft.  Does anyone know how to do a seamless graft of linen stitch?  I am experimenting, and have been, for weeks, and so far I haven’t accomplished the task.  But I want to make the recipe live, gosh darn it.  Cuteness like this shouldn’t be contained.
If you have v.1, this is the test version of the recipe, which I would have had to email you.  If you have v.2, this is the version with the test knitters comments and no instructions for how to seamlessly graft.  If you have v.3, I’ve been able to figure out how to seamlessly graft up linen stitch, and have updated the pattern accordingly.  V.3 will be accompanied by drumrolls and fanfare.

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And after all the rushing around like a crazy person to get this job done, the fact that I look fantastic in this shot makes me wicked happy.  We won’t talk about the other dozen shots…or those dozen double chins…

After taking into consideration what I liked to knit, and I thought she would like, I bought some yarn (elann’s Superwash Chunky, which is now just about sold out), and CO a true moebius, in a feather-and-fan stitch pattern.  As the pattern took hold, within the first ten rows, it looked so much like a coronet, like a queen would wear.  Perfect for the aunt in question, and also a pattern worth writing.  So I took copius notes (made a huge error in the first FO, which I had to work around by the time I realized it was there).  Then I wrote an real pattern, tested it, and had it tested.  While life got in the way and I haven’t finished my 2nd attempt, (this time in Malabrigo Merino Worsted), the pattern is complete, and the finished result is Queen Moebia. Pictures are, alas, forthcoming. But I’ll get there, I promise.

If you’re at all aware of where I work, you’ll know we had sock yarn available at a sweet, sweet price. I, however, am not interested in knitting socks. I have knit one pair, and it took me more than a year to actually get them both finished. So what did I do on Thursday? I bought sock yarn (6 balls of Regia Color 4-Ply), needles to knit it with (two 24″ 2.5mm Addi Turbo Circs), and I also bought a bunch of other stuff I didn’t really need. I thought to myself, “if I can’t bring myself to knit socks, well then, I will have a great gift for the Holiday Swap at my usual knit night.”

Next thing I know, I’m at Ravelry printing toe-up sock knitting patterns (Lifestyle Socks from K1P1Design1.com), which led me to Judy Gibson’s “You’re Putting Me On” socks, which is the pattern I used the first time I knit socks, only this time it’s been re-written to knit on two circs or using magic loop.  That’s not so bad, right?

Well…I wouldn’t think so either, except that next thing I know I’m casting on for some socks, and I’m getting all into it. 

This is not good, not for the Clapotis I CO in September, or the February lady I CO in September, or the Cushion I need knit for May, or the baby hat I need to finish for May, or for the Cowl Cresting I started in September, or the Queen Moebia I’ve designed and am now testing, or for the longstanding surprise project I’ve had in the works since fall of 2005.

I really hope I get good at knitting socks fast, because I already want to be done.  (Yes, go ahead and roll your eyes at me, I know you want to.)

I polled the men on my husband’s side of the family, and learned several things.  First, that cream (aka undyed merino) is not a manly color.  Yes, you heard it here first, folks, cream is not a manly color.  I also learned that cables are not manly, nor is anything with a pattern on it.  It won’t surprise you that I have yet to knit for this side of the family…

But I digress, I needed a manly hat, to easily fit variety of sizes.  And since at least one of the men has a ginormous brain (or exceedingly thick skull) I clearly needed some simple, stretchy, manly ribbing. 

Mannelijke
Materials:
Less than 150yds worsted weight wool yarn (Cascade 220 works well, but any worsted is fine
3.75mm (US5) circular needle; 20″ or size you prefer to use
stitch marker (optional)
yarn needle

Sizes:
One-size fits all; if you’re worried the head you’re knitting for will be too big for the hat, CO an additional 10 stitches and work the pattern as written.

Instructions:

1. CO 100 using long-tail cast-on (or your preferred stretchy-ish CO)
2. Join work, being careful not to twist stitches; place marker if desired
3. (K5, p2, k1, p2); repeat around until work measures 7in from CO edge

Mannelijke at Rest

Work Crown Decreases:

1. (k2tog, k3, p2, k1, p2) around
2. (k4, p2, k1, p2) around
3. (k2, ssk, p2, k1, p2) around
4. (k3, p2, k1, p2) around
5. (k2tog, k1, p2, k1, p2) around
6. (k2, p2, k1, p2) around
7. (k2, p2tog, k1, p2) around
8. (k1, p1, k1, p2) around
9. (k1, p1, k1, p2tog) around
10. (k1, p1) around
11. (k1, p2tog, p1) around
12. (k1, p2) around
13. (k1, p2tog) around
14. (k2tog) around
15. repeat row 14
16. Use tapestry needle to thread tail of yarn through remaining stitches, pull tight
17. Weave in ends

Since it’s (finally) spring, it’s unlikely I’ll be knitting another tester anytime soon, but if anyone is interested in trying this pattern out, I’d love to hear how it goes.

My inspiration?  Santa Ana, a bulky weight, quality fun fur/eyelash type yarn, available at a really great price.  I haven’t bought the yarn yet because I’m indecisive about the colour(s) I want to use, but I have come up with the pattern.  I haven’t knit any yet, but a friend knit 10 balls of Santa Ana up in straight garter stitch, which resulted in a 95cm square.  Knitting on the bias should result in a similar size. 

Materials:
Since this pattern can really be used with any yarn, it’s dependent on the yarn you choose.  Remember to note how much yarn you used on your increase rows – you will need to have the same amount for your decrease rows.  Needle size?  Choose a size appropriate for your yarn. 

Instructions:
CO 3
Odd rows: k across
Even rows (increase rows): k1, m1, k to last stitch, m1, k1

To make a parallellogram (it’s not quite rectangular, but close) work increases until desired length of short side is achieved, then:

Even rows (for rectangle): k1, k2tog, kto last stitch, m1, k1

When desired length & width are achieved on the two sides you have, begin decrease rows:
Even rows (decrease rows): k1, k2tog, k to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1 until only 3 stitches remain.

BO 3.

I wouldn’t bother blocking, but that’s just me.

I will post some pictures and created a downloadable PDF just as soon as I’ve knit one of these up.  In the meantime, have at it.

Initially, I was going to splurge on some of the fantastic deals that can be had during Malabrigo March (if you don’t know what it is, you need to join the Malabrigo Junkies group on Ravelry), but when the colors I wanted, in the quantities I wanted, were really hard to come by, I was bummed.  Then, it happened.  The Addi Click became available.  And I bought a set immediately. 

While the Malabrigo budget has decreased substantially, I am over the moon.  It is quite likely that there will be lots more FOs in my future, because you know I’ll not be able to resist knitting…and knitting…and knitting…

I am patiently waiting for my family to get together and open their Christmas gifts (I didn’t get them mailed until the second week of January, and now they’re there, but they all haven’t been there, too, so everything remains in the box).  This has caused some delay in the pattern I posted teasers for, because I don’t want to post the pattern without pictures, and I’m not going to post pictures before the recipients see the FOs.  So I wait.

In the meantime, I have another secret project in the works.  That I can’t talk about.  But I’m working on a lot.  ARRGH!

So what can I talk about?  I’m working on a new moebius pattern, and I’ve got round one almost completely knit up. Unfortunately, I discovered halfway in to the second ball that I had fouled up some decreases early in my knitting.  While it’s fixed up and hard to see the mistake, I now need to make up another one, without defect.

And there you have it, the update from my knitting corner.

I am, however, almost done.  And I will be done by the time I have to find my way in to work again (I hope).  So with some luck, I can get the darn things shipped this coming Monday (yay!).  There is a benefit to being just about snowed in, I guess.

What am I making?  Well I can’t tell you yet, but I will soon!  That is, as soon as I know that the things I’m working on have arrived at their destination safe and sound, and received by the family I miss so much. 

Two patterns will be released, too – how’s that for a teaser?

And now, back to work.  Happy Holidays to all, may you be save and warm and well-loved this holiday season!

I thought of a simple enough ribbed stitch pattern that I think is manly-ish, and I’m knitting it up.  Hubby Dearest likes the outside.  I prefer the inside.  Hey, it’s reversible!  Fan-tastic, less likelihood of complaint from men who have a thing against handmade.  (Don’t ask.)

Hat 1 is DK/sport, Hat 2 will be worsted.  Both will be (hopefully) finished today.  Pattern w/ sizes will go up as soon as the crown decreases are sorted out.