AtomicKnits

Ice Queen

Yeah, so it's been a little while. I have completed many knitting projects that I have not posted about here. I'll write more about happened later, but here's a project now! This is Ice Queen, and it is a lace cowl with beads. It's very light and fluffy, but very warm at the same time. It's a bit too warm to wear it now, and it is a bit sophisticated for my casual style, but it was a fun project to work on. I couldn't really put it down. My friend Gail picked out the most perfect beads for this project, and I really enjoyed adding the beads as I was knitting. I couldn't wait to get to a beaded row. This cowl is pretty cool, because you can wear it around your neck like above, or...

You can wear it over your head like so. I don't know if I will ever wear it like this, but if I am really cold I might. This IS a fun project and it moved fast, and I definitely recommend it if you like beading and using super nice yarn (if a little slippery). The only part where I was like "omg when is this going to be OVERRRRR!" was right at the end when I was doing the beaded picot cast-off. That lasted forever. The results are stunning, but it did take me about three movies to get through (not in a row). I was happy to finally get to this one. I remember I bought the yarn for it about 4 years ago.

Ice Queen
Pattern Source: Knitty Winter 2007
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze
Needles: US 7 & US 5

Red Skies At Night

This scarf kind of took forever, but it was definitely worth it.  This is a pretty straightforward lace chart that is worked over and over again until the scarf is the length you want.

My friend Gail gave me and awesome skein of yarn that she received in one of her Woolgirl sock club packages.  It's a hand-dyed semi-solid wool with little bits of sparkly silver.  I thought it would be perfect for this scarf pattern, and it totally was!  The lace chart was pretty tricky to get the hang of. On the beginning end of the scarf, my ladders don't quite line up and some of them are twisted, but I did get the hang of it by the third or forth repeat of the pattern.  I love how the little triangles look like little sailboats.  It's kind of too warm to wear this now, but I think I'll be wearing it a lot come fall.

Pattern Source: Free Ravelry Download
Yarn: Zen Yarn Garden Bling, colorway Ruby Slippers
Needles: US 6

Gram's Christmas Scarf

I really wanted to make my Grandma's Christmas present this year, but I was getting a little short on time. I decided to break out my loom, because weaving a scarf only take several hours instead of days!  When I spun this purple yarn, I knew my Grandma would love this color, and I especially love how the purple heather streaked with blues and reds came out woven.

This project also gave me the opportunity to weave one piece out of the same yarn, and also a piece that is almost as wide as my loom.  I love how this material came out kind of light and airy, but also very warm.  My Gram really loved the scarf, and I was glad I got a chance to make it for her.

Gram's Christmas Handspun Woven Scarf
Warp & Weft Yarn: Ashland Bay Multicolor Merino 2 Ply, colorway Amethyst

Clapotis for Mom

I have gone so long without knitting the famous Clapotis, but this seemed like the perfect project for a little scarf for my mom for Christmas. I have to admit, it was a fun knit, and I did anticipate the rows where I got to drop the stitches.  While I wasn't excited about the colors I received in the Tofutsies Sock Club, I really do like how this yarn washes and wears.  This scarf blocked out so nice and flat and delicate.

Clapotis for Mom
Pattern Source: Knitty Fall 2004
Yarn: Southwest Trading Company Tofutsies, colorway 744
Needles: US 6

Apple Venus Scarf

This is a scarf that I wove over the summer before I moved to Eugene.  I wanted to start another weaving project for a Christmas present and I found this hanging out in my loom carry bag.  I totally forgot about it!  The edges of the warp and the weft yarn is my first handspun and the other yarns are bits of things I had lying around.  I remember totally hating this scarf when I got done, because I had so many problems weaving it.  The edges are all messed up, the tension got all weird about halfway through, it was ugly.  But, when I pulled this out I didn't think it was so bad.  I washed it and it looked even better after that.  I really want to get in the habit of weaving more regularly.

Apple Venus Scarf
Warp Yarn: Vanilla Corriedale Handspun, KnitPicks Shine Worsted - colorway Green Apple, Berroco Ultra Alpaca - colorway Potting Soil Mix, mystery blue yarn I got from a friend
Weft Yarn: Vanilla Corriedale Hanspun

Magic Ball Scarf

Before I bored you with another book review, I wanted to put up some actual knitting content?  I remember how I promised to do a better post on this here scarf I knit while on my awesome Delaware vacation with Santina, well here it is!  I haven't been knitting that much at all this summer, mostly because it's been so hot, and the big move to Oregon has been so stressful (but fun).  I am getting back into it and should have more to show you soon.

While we were in Lewes, Deleware, Santina and I both picked out a skein of this crazy novelty yarn called "Magic Ball."  All of the colorways were awesome, and each one had bits of wool, mohair, ribbon, and nubbly handspun in it.  I picked out the Lemonade colorway and Santina picked out Shakespeare.  We also each got a pair of honking size 19 plastic needles to knit these scarves on.

That night we knit these scarves while we watched Lady in the Water and Anchorman.  It was really fun to see how these scarves knit up with the textures and colors and also get to knit with a lot of interesting fibers at one time.  I also think it's really cool that I have this souvenir that I can pull out and look at and touch and wear that will remind me of Santina and our fun weekend.  Especially since I'm so far away now, this is a nice thing to have.  I miss you, Santina!

Magic Ball Scarf
Pattern Source: Me - just a plain old garter stitch scarf
Yarn: Be Sweet Magic Ball, colorway Lemonade
Needles: US 19

Mother's Day Gift 2009

I wanted to make my mom something again this year since she liked her bath set so much last year. I was up to visit last month and it was still pretty chilly up there!  My mom doesn't wear scarves that much, and a cowl is a quick, low-stress gift to make.  I picked something from my stash that I think would go with lots of things that my mom wears.  She wears a lot of blue and grays.  It arrived in time for Mother's Day and she liked it and said it was still cold enough to wear it! :)

Burnished Leaves Cowl
Pattern Source: Free Ravelry Download from Chrissy Prange
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Zarina, a mystery navy blue colorway
Needles: US 5

Campfire Headphase Scarf: My 1st handwoven project!

Last weekend I went with Santina down to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.  We had an awesome time.  I got a lot of new spinning fiber and also this awesome new Ashford Knitter's Loom.  This loom is so cool I can't even begin to explain. I have been wanting one for a little while, but I was afraid to spend the money (times are tough, yo).  Santina and I looked all around the festival and found the 12" loom and carry bag for $210 from Ohio Valley Natural Fibers.  They had the best deal by far so I bought it!  When I got home, Justin helped me warp it up after I picked my yarns.  It was really easy to warp and Justin and I even thought of a few ways for me to do the step where I need a 'friend' by myself.  I will share that when I find a good way.

The next day I started weaving and it was so easy!  I got the hang of it quickly and my scarf started to grow.  I couldn't believe it was going so fast.

Today I finished it!  The entire scarf probably took me about 3 hours from warp to fringe. ISNT THAT CRAZY?!  I kind of feel like I'm cheating or some kind of knitting traitor, but I have to say that having a complete original scarf in 3 hours feels pretty good. I don't think I'll stop knitting at all, but I think I am going to get hooked on this new weaving thing.  I named this scarf Campfire Headphase, because the colors remind me of the Board's of Canada album of the same name.  I like the idea of naming things after album covers, so I am going to go with that for my weaving projects.  That's another thing I like about this.  These creations are mine!  I'm the artist.  I can be with knitting too, but I like following patterns too much and while that is fun and relaxing, I always feel like a little part of the finished peice still belongs to the pattern designer.  This scarf is 100% mine, and that feels great.

I think I did make some beginner mistakes.  You can see when both ends of the scarf are next to each other.  The end I started with is in back.  You can see it is much more open and uneven than the end I completed last.  I'm going to try to tighted up the beginning of my next scarf to try and make the weaving more consistent.  MY NEW LOOM IS AWESOME!

Campfire Headphase Scarf
Warp Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic, colorways #3760 Bright Light Green & #3806 Bright Blue
Weft Yarn: Colinette Giotto, colorway #38 Lagoon

I'm talkin' about The Road

The Road scarf is finished and blocked and all nice and flat and pretty.  I really like this scarf, but it is promised to Justin's sister, Karen.  I hope she has a chance to wear this down in Texas!

I am contemplating making another one in a lighter color for me.  I think the stitch pattern blocks would looks SO GREAT and stand out way better in a lighter color.  And, I would also pay attention to which side is right and which side is wrong...  I did four whole pattern repeats and I like the length a lot.  It's long enough to wrap around my neck twice and still stick the ends into my coat.  This would be a really good pattern for beginners who want to knit something a little more than a plain scarf.

The Road Scarf
Pattern Source: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca, colorway 6289 - Charcoal Mix
Needles: US 9

The Road is fucking hard

The Road is fucking tough AH!  I always get that Tenacious D song stuck in my head as I'm knitting this scarf.  This is The Road scarf and it is for Justin's sister, Karen.  She commissioned a scarf from me when I saw her around Thanksgiving time.  It feels like I haven't knit a scarf in forever!  This pattern is knitting up so fast, and it is pretty mindless despite all of the stitch pattern changes.  I did run into a problem, though.  After the first 4 pattern blocks, I reversed my right and wrong sides.  I just wasn't paying attention!  I think I'm going to have enough yarn to do 16 pattern blocks in all (4 pattern repeats).  So, my plan now is to alternate right sides every 4 blocks.  I think it will still look ok, especially after it's wrapped around someone's neck.  I'm very annoyed that I made such a juvenile knitting mistake. Don't get cocky!