Jason's hat winter 2025-2026

One night at dinner Jason suggested that he would like for me to knit a hat for him.  He didn't really care the color as long as it was dark.  He liked the idea of twining which I interpreted to be cables and he agreed.  But the main thing he wanted as part of his gift was that I did not buy yarn....that I used something that I had on hand. 

I found a very nice dark brown/charcoal alpaca yarn in the drawer in my zodiac chest.  I chose for the pattern a pattern that can be found among my adobe acrobat files as kapapattern002-2.pdf

But when I got to the top third I decided that I would prefer a more form fitting crown.  And so I have switched to an article on Interweave to finish the hat.  This article can be found at:

https://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/hat-crown-decreases-explained/?utm_campaign=IW+Knitting+-+NL&utm_id=Newsletter_20251212_GPM251125029&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omeda&oly_enc_id=2093H2335067G0W

The pattern called for size 9 needles and that is what I am using.  However, the yarn was not as heavy as what I would want with size 9 needles, so I doubled it.

While looking at Interweave's article I found another one on the site about making hats that fit:

https://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/5-tips-for-knitting-hats-that-fit/?utm_campaign=IW+Knitting+-+NL&utm_id=Newsletter_20251208_GPM251125027&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omeda&oly_enc_id=1216A8524389I7F

Hats

Christine found this chart for me at knitting at the Blue Ewe on Wednesday

It can be found at:  https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutorials/Knitting-Hat-Size-Chart/amp

 I want to make some hats and also find some of the hats I have made over the years to share.  

Wine bottle cover

 I have filed the pattern on drop box.  Knitting patterns>Wine bottle covers  It is also available on my Interweave Knitting account

Seed stitch basket

Impulse buy but I do like it and see it as a great way to use up some variegated yarn. 

 

I stored the pattern among knitting patterns on Drop box  named Seed Stitch Basket.  It has small handles on the ends that are not visible in this picture.  But you can see the handles on Ravelry.

 

Luna Wrap

 Jonathan had a trunk show at the Blue Ewe in early March from Mirasol.  I bought yarn for my next project to knit at the Blue Ewe.  I would never have bought this project if I hadn't seen the shawl in person.  That just shows you how affective a trunk show is.  The pattern was thrown in with the purchase of the yarn.  I have stored the pattern in the chest beside my bedroom door in the knitting drawer.  

The yarn is 

It is a DK weight yarn spun in Peru.  This beautiful tweed yarn is a blend of Superfine Alpaca, Linen and Bamboo Tweed.  I will probably knit the project on a size 5 needle as I would like it to drape well.

Cherie Chevron Shawl

 Finally finished Loop.  Very surprised how quickly I was able to weave in the ends.  So this past week I started my new Blue Ewe project: Cherie Chevron Shawl

I would never have chosen this shawl if I had not looked through the projects to find these particular colors and the owner wearing it exactly this way. I found the photos from the original project to not be nearly so appealing.  I am using yarn from the Blue Ewe:

The Variegated is from Tulip Tree Yarn in Lexington in color evening rainbow and the Red background color is Symphonie Terra in Red Rose.  I am using size 6 needles

I am really enjoying knitting this shawl.  I am using my old method from when I used to do a lot of texture knitting of putting the pattern on notecards with a rubber band.  I used a new method of making the notecards.  Since my pattern was digital, I copied and pasted each row on mailing labels with row number on each.  Then I used the mailing labels on my notecard....it has turned out great.  And I love the fact that when I finish each row I know the stitch count on that row has turned out perfectly.  Which means that I never have to pull out more than one row because of mistakes.  

Snow Day

 I had three doctor's appointments in place for today

All three have called to cancel because of the 

HUGE winter storm that has hit our area .

So I guess this will be a knitting day for me.

Hope to finish my Loop shawl!  And perhaps

start a new Blue Ewe project.

Paris Toujours

When I finished my  orbit shawl in Araucania Prisma Yarn, I looked around the house for another pattern to start and ended up deciding on Paris Toujours in 

It is easy to pick up and put down and one can see mistakes easily.  I like it a lot.  I have looked at this pattern for many years.

Joining Blanket squares

 This came via pinterest tonight.....

https://www.amazingknitting.com/2019/05/JoiningBlanketSquares.html#google_vignette

 I have collected a variety of amazingly wonderful skeins of yarn that are variegated. ....just one skein.  Here is a listing of patterns that call for two or three or four colors that are perfect for using one skein of variegated:  

On the Spice Market by Melanie Berg:

This version calls for only three colors.  Melanie's original pattern called for more.  But the lady who made the one below called it My Corona and I have a photo that names her on another blog post.  The three colors below are an orange, a tan and a variegated.  REALLY pretty!

Asymmetrical shawls

I am getting close to the end of my  Orbit pattern using Araucania Prisma yarn.  And I think that I want to just keep knitting until I run out of yarn.  But will it be too big?  So I measured this morning and the long side is about 36 inches....hard to tell for sure until it is blocked but that is my best guess.  So I googled what is the best size for an asymetrical shawl.  And while I haven't found the answer to that question yet, I have found a few things that I want to remember.

First is a great article from Interweave knits explaining different ways to start and proceed when making an asymmetrical shawl as well as several photos of finished projects.

https://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/shawl-shapes-explained-asymmetrical-triangles/

Next I looked on Ravelry at shawl projects and realized that I had made a pattern in the past called Wendy's Fern that is similar in shape to the one that I am working on.  I tried it on and am reassured that I can keep knitting until I am out of yarn.  I believe that this shawl is going to be great with jeans this fall.

Wave by Kristen Finlay using Rowan Creative Linen yarn

It must have been an impulse buy when I bought three skeins of Rowan Creative Linen yarn.  I had made a shawl to go with the jeans that I bought for Mary's wedding:

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2022/10/wrap-to-match-jeans.html

But I didn't end up liking the shawl with the jeans....and as fall is getting closer, I wanted a shawl that I liked.  I had found a sweater at LL Bean that I love with it and wanted the perfect thing to wear with the outfit...we'll see if I succeed in liking this new project.  I am using the Rowan Creative Linen in a kind of dark raspberry color.  The pattern is Wave by Kristen Finlay.  It is a free download on Ravelry.  

Here is a picture of the shawl from Ravelry:

But I wanted to document the beginning of this shawl as I really like the shape that it seems that it will give me.  It starts with four stitches and increases every other row by 4 stitches which makes it a lot wider than deep.  I find this shape to be easier to wear than the triangular shawls.

However, I found that I kept making   mistakes as I knit this shawl...and I didn't love the color as much as I had hoped.  And I am frogging it in November.....well actually I had knitted only a bit more than shown above....and am adding it to my summer yarns for next year.

Shawl using Scheepjes Secret Garden Yarn

Several years ago when we were knitting at the Wild Ramp, Mitzi and Sally and I became very excited about a shawl that used Schweppes Secret Garden Yarn.  The shawl is pictured below.  As was usual, Mitzi bought the yarn and had the shawl finished before I had acted on the idea to make this shawl.  Mitzi was disappointed in the results and so I filed the idea away for a while.  Then one day the yarn was offered on sale and I bought it and the pattern.  But again, as usual, I did not start it right away.  I pulled it out this summer because it looks very pretty in a glass container in my bedroom.  And I have been thinking about perhaps working on a project with this yarn.  But now I am not so "taken" with knitting a shawl that has such a deep triangle point.

So I have continued to look at the yarn and think.  I found a pattern that I might use called Nordic Sunrise.

This shawl is in fingering yarn while the Secret Garden yarn is a DK yarn with suggested needle size 6.  But since it is a shawl, I am willing to give a try to using a different size yarn as fit does not matter.  I think that I have 9 balls of the Secret Garden yarn each containing 142 yards, so I believe it likely that I have enough yarn to make a substantial shawl.

 I am thinking about doing the parts that are Brioche in two color Fisherman's rib.  This morning I found a site that has good explanation of this and I did not want to loose the idea:

https://www.bettaknit.com/blog/knit-stitches/2-color-fishermans-rib-stitch-tutorial

Beginning knitters possible projects

When I knit in public, I find that almost always someone asks me about learning to knit.  I suggest that they come and get needles and yarn from me and then actually use you tube to learn the technique.  But I always think about the fact that we should choose a simple project for their first project that they can actually finish and wear.  Tonight I am looking for a few possible projects.

Elm Bank Cowl.  Sarah made me my first one.  And I have made two since then.  

the pattern is no longer available, but I have the pattern in my drop box files under scarfs and cowls.  This cowl is knit on size 17 needles with 90 yards of  super bulky yarn.  If using less bulky yarn, one might use two strands of worsted held together.   For my cowls I used Malabrigo Rasta. 

Another good pattern is the Church Mouse Bias Before and after Scarf:

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2023/11/church-mouse-bias-before-and-after-scarf.html

Another good pattern is the Bayshore Wrap:

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2022/11/bayshore-wrapi-cord-tab-cast-on.html

Another good pattern would be Church Mouse's Magic Three Yarn Scarf

http://marshamosesknitting.blogspot.com/2021/11/church-mouses-magic-three-yarn-scarf.html

I am cleaning up my overly full screen on my computer today and found a pattern that would be easy but look quite impressive when finished.  It is Matchmaker by Martina Behm

Talavera Shawl in Noro Kashirukuru yarn

 Someone sent me an e-mail with Kashirukuru Yarn on sale that included a photo of five colors lined up that spoke to me.  It turned out that another site had the yarn on sale at an even lower price and I was hooked.  This is the shawl that I had in my mind when I bought the yarn.

Araucania Prisma yarn for Orbit pattern

I could not resist color way #3 of Araucania Prisma yarn at half price.  It has been discontinued.  I have chosen pattern Orbit.

The pattern is for a shawl that is a little small, but I found a project for which the knitter said she just kept knitting .....and it seems she used 814 yards and shawl looks big enough.  

I am going with needle size on Famillediondoyon's Orbit as I like the fabric she shows for her project:

She chose to use needle size 9.  And the photo shows the same colorway that I have chosen.  This seems like a wonderful summer project!  I am excited to work on it.

I am almost finished with my first ball of the yarn.  I thought perhaps I would begin to .....hmmmm....it seems that one just continues to knit until it is big enough and then one binds off with a lace edging.  Not what I expected, but I think it will work.  I forget at the end that it was suggested to bind off with a lace edging.....but I like my finished product.

 

Harper's baby blanket

Harper and her friend, Rachael came over the other night.  They have a friend who is pregnant and far enough along to know she is carrying a boy.  Both of them want to make something for the baby before October when he is due.

We had no problem choosing something for Rachael as she is an experienced crocheter and found yarn in my stash and decided to make a rhinoceros with the yarn and immediately started her project.

Harper and I found yarn that we liked and I cast on for her and she knitted a part of a row.  But at the end of the evening I was not satisfied with the project we had chosen so I looked again in my stash and still was not sold on any project for Harper.  She wants to knit a blanket.  I want it to be machine washable and pretty enough that she won't loose interest.  I think we need to choose a project with larger needles than the one we chose so it will go more quickly,  So after a thorough search for yarn in my stash, I decided to go see Jonathan at the Blue Ewe to see what he has on hand that might be suitable.

The pattern Harper and I had chosen last night was Garter Block Baby Blanket by Meg Hollar.  Sarah and I had made this baby blanket for my Mary's twins six years ago and they turned out aok.  Meg's pattern takes 650 yards of yarn and is knit on size 10 and 1/2 needles.  I am not convinced that Sarah and I knit on that large of needles nor that we used Bulky yarn so perhaps we made a different version of this pattern.,

It is an easy pattern but not totally mindless as there is a bit of counting that needs to happen.   I am also going to add a couple of patterns below that we considered because of nice color selections 

So I am organizing what I looked at at the Blue Ewe so that I can show Harper what I felt were the best choices that Jonathan carries.

Queensland Fair Isle is an Australian 

And below is a sample that shows what a larger piece of fabric might look like:

And then a photo of a pattern called Bondi by Susan Claudio that might appeal to Rachael in this yarn

The Queensland yarn is 75% super wash wool and 25 % nylon and comes in 246 yard ball.  They suggest 7 to 9 knitting needles.  

Queensland also has solids in 100% Cotton knit on size 7-9 needles with 185 yards of yarn and can be machine washed.

Below is th shelf with the Coastal Cotton selection:

Probably Jonathan's favorite suggestion was Cascade Cherub Aran Prints.  It is a Nylon/Acrylic yarn knits on size 7-8 needles.  Machine Washable. 240 yards

And here is what they look like knit up:  Top one is Colorway 701.  Botton one is 702.  The lady who knitted it complained that the yarn was not very thick.

 

The next yarn I looked at is Araucania Alsa.  I was unable to find it on Ravelry.  It is a lighter weight that the others have been but it is very pretty.

It knits on size 5-7

And last but not least is Cascade Elysian6

It is 60 percent Merino and 40% Acrylic.  It knit on size 9 needles.  Johnathan had a t-shrit made out of it on the wall.  It is bulky and is knit on size 9 needles.  Here are colors available.  It is Superwash Merino