Ending the year with some FOs

Jan A. wanted to be sure I had her finished objects before she hibernates for the winter so she dropped them by this morning.

Her Bella Shawl was made with DK weight 100% alpaca from Frog Tree. It’s the softest, cuddliest shawl you’ve ever felt.

These hats from upper left, going clockwise are Squarshy hat, Espina Cap, Trio of Hats, and Knotted Rib Hat.

The Sampler Cowl is a good one for wrapping twice around your neck.

This pattern is the Helmet Liner which I made years ago and decided to revisit it and I’m glad I did. Once I learned how to count correctly, I was able to get a decent head covering.

This is the top of a different hat I started which was going to be the helmet liner but the knitting goddesses decided to play a little game with me. I counted my stitches four times to be sure and when the time came for me to divide for the face opening, I was suddenly short by 20 some odd stitches. Rather than frog 6 inches of knitting I went with Plan B, folded the fabric and sewed the cast on edge to the live stitches so it had a double thick brim, and then completed a slouchy cap with a four square decrease which shows here in the photo.

The most aggravating thing is, I had the 84 stitches that were required for the helmet liner so somewhere I goofed with my count. Oh well, no harm done! I got two warm hats instead of one!

 Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year! And keep those needles clicking!

Happy Holidays

• The Chicks are on hiatus until January 3 so while we aren’t meeting in person, some of us are still knitting. Here is a very quick project for a cute pixie elf looking for a warm hat.
  
  
  
  
   The pattern is no longer available on Ravelry but luckily I wrote it up for you.It was listed as Throwback Pixie Hood.

Sizes: 0­3 months (3­6 mo, 6­12mo, 12­18mo, 18­24mo, 2T, 4T) 
­100­200 yds worsted weight yarn (sample is shown in Malabrigo Rios) ­US 7 knitting needles (I used dpns and a 16” circular) 
­Stitch marker 
Gauge: 6st and 7.5 rows per inch, slightly stretched 
Skills used: knitting in the round, three­needle bind­off 
To make: 
LTCO 60 (60,64,72,80,88,96). Place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist. Row 1­10(12,15,15,20,20,20) work p2,k2around. 
Row 11(13,16,16,21,21,21): BO next 2 St. BEGIN TO WORK FLAT: k2,p2across, ending with k2. 
Row 12(14,17,17,22,22,22) p2,k2 across, ending with p2. 
Row 13(15,18,18,23,23,23): k6, p2,k2 to last 6st, k6. 
Row 14(16,19,19,24,24,24): p6, k2,p2 to last 6st, p6. Row 15(17,20,20,25,25,25): k6, p2,k2 to last 6st, k6. Next row: k8, work in rib to last 8 st, k8. 
Next row: p8, work in rib to last 8 st, p8. 
Next row: k8, work in rib to last 8 st, k8. 
Continue in this pattern, increasing the number of knit or purl st by 2 at the beginning and end of each 4th row, until only 2st remain at the center. Work three rows in stockinette. 
Fold the work in half, and close the top seam using three­needle bind­off. Break the yarn and weave in the ends. Block lightly if desired.

Wishing you a season of blessings and a happy new year!

And don’t forget, keep those needles clicking!

Our last meeting before Christmas and a field trip

The Chicks started the meeting by browsing through some pattern books that Cinzia brought for inspiration. They were all amigurumi animals and objects.

Cinzia chose for her first project a sweet little turtle.

When he is completed he will look something like this.

But Cinzia will embroider the facial features so there are no button hazards for little ones to swallow.

Margaret started a Fair Isle hat called Orchid Mantis, using two colors of DK weight yarn. You can find it on Ravelry as a paid pattern.

We were lucky and found it on the first day of issue when it was being offered for free.

Carole's Morton Cowl looks beautiful with the color changing yarn. 

Just a few inches more and she'll be finished.

Janna is using yarn which was recycled from a previously knitted garment so it's still a bit kinky. Once it takes a nice soak the fibers will relax and the tension will even out. 

The pattern is the Mistake Stitch Scarf.

I happened to come across a YouTube video which explained how to mimic an Italian tubular cast on without using a provisional cast on. It was very easy to execute and makes a stretchy, very nice edge, if I may say so myself.😄

I used it for the ribbed cuff of a Helix Hat to use up some small scraps of yarn. 

Cinzia finished her green hat for which she also used the above mentioned cast on technique.

And Janna's Fair Isle hat looks great! Such a nice color combo too.

Here is the sweater Margaret was able to finish when she found one lone skein of yarn in the same dye lot she needed to complete the sleeves and ribbing. It's the Flax sweater which is offered in multiple sizes on Ravelry.

Cinzia finished her Bella Scarf last week but had to bring it home for blocking.

 Now it's ready for the inventory.

Barbara B., Cinzia, Carole, and I went on a little excursion last Friday to the Hyde Collection  in Glens Falls, NY last Friday. The artwork that the Hydes collected is breathtaking in its variety and value.

We were especially interested in the temporary exhibit of antiques quilts.

Some were dated back to the 1860's! 

We were mesmerized by the intricacies of the stitch work, all done by hand!

The precision of the spacing of their stitches and patterns in days without computers and stencils and erasable pens was mind boggling! We kept marveling at the fact that the stitch length matched throughout the quilt even though it was probably quilted by many hands during a quilting bee.

And there were such different designs in the collection.

These quilts made by African-Americans which pre-dated the Civil War were lively and colorful in their fabric choices and layout compared to...

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the somber beauty of this Amish quilt which is gorgeous in it's simplicity. It was a lovely exhibit which lasts through January 2, 2023. I would check with the museum to be sure of the dates.

 We Chicks send you best wishes of the holiday season and will return in the new year. 

Until then, keep those needles clicking!

Boosting inventory this week

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sailors-rib-capWe've been very productive these past few weeks which, considering it's holiday season, that's saying something!

Barbara B. finished the Hepsi's Neckwarmer at the top with a pair of Morristown Mitts to match. Her striped hat on the left with a bit of modification is the Christmas Elf Beanie , the purple hat is Squarshy, and the shawl/scarf is Letters from Russia Lace Shawl. All those patterns are free on Ravelry.

Jan P. added another Squarshy hat which has become her new favorite because the pattern writing brings a chuckle to her heart. 

It's the one with the spicy language for those of you who haven't seen it yet.

Carole's Turn a Square hat has a perfect gradient of colors. The first day it was offered you could get it for free but now it's a paid pattern.

Then she took small amounts of scrap yarn to make a cheerful rainbow hat, perfect for Knit the Rainbow!

Jan A. couldn't remember the name of this hat pattern. But it's a beauty! Edited: Jan said it’s called Sailor’s Rib Cap

Janna made the Guernsey Hat and created a Moebius cowl by making a Mistake Stitch short scarf and sewing the ends together with a twist. It's a perfect addition to the hat.

She also made a colorful Helix Hat. These hats are like Lay's Potato Chips...you can't make just one.

And here's another Jan A. contribution, another Hepsi's Neckwarmer. The turtleneck snuggles up to keep the wind off your neck while the longer drape keeps your chest and back warm too.

Jan's The Queen's Spiral Cowl has a neat optical illusion attributed to the self striping yarns. If she had knitted straight stripes you would never get that offset design which adds interest to the fabric.

I finished a hat called You're A Firework. I can't say it was my favorite since I had issues with tension but it certainly is eye catching. The top view looks more like a chrysanthemum to me than fireworks.

Barbara B's current project is this hat which starts with the cable band knitted flat to the circumference measurement of your head and then sewn together on the short ends. From there stitches are picked up along one edge and the crown is knitted to the top.

She was knitting happily along until she lost her place in the chart! Thankfully, she was able to get back on track. I guess we were talking to her too much.

Jan P. started another Lay's Potato, I mean, Helix Hat. It's a great way to use up left overs when you don't have enough to make a whole hat.

Jan A. made some progress on her Espina Cap. It called for a DK weight yarn but she liked this fingering weight tweed and so is holding two strands to get gauge.

Janna's Fair Isle hat is starting to show off the snowflake design. She mentioned her issue with trying to keep tension so someone said she should try knitting it inside out. If you tuck the right side into the center of your needles it allows the floats to be on the outside and gives it a naturally looser tension by having to span a slightly longer space.

You might remember a couple of weeks ago that Margaret was stopped in her tracks because the extra ball of yarn she thought she had turned out to be the wrong dye lot and showed a considerable difference in color. Well! She found another ball of yarn in the same dye lot in her stash! YAY! Now she doesn't have to make contrasting colored sleeves and ribbing for her Flax Sweater.

Cinzia worked on the last few rows of lace on her Bella Shawl. By 3PM it was finished so she's going to take it home and block it to bring out the lace edging.

Carole found some colorful sock yarn to pair perfectly with a chocolaty brown worsted weight yarn for her Morton Cowl. She is knitting this one in the round instead of flat as in the original pattern. I guess it's because turquoise is my favorite color but I just LOVE how this is turning out.

Oops! I almost forgot to add one more FO. This was a Youtube video that a crocheter posted without written instructions. So that means you have to watch the video in slow motion and write down every step to create written directions. I love how it turned out but boy! I sure used a lot of yarn! It took close to 500 yards! I'm going to try to figure out how to make a knitted version which won't use up as much yardage. But isn't it nice to have the hood and the cowl all in one piece!?

 It's nearly time to start cooking dinner so I'll finish up for now. Have a great week and

 keep those needles clicking!

Post Thanksgiving gathering

We have all recovered from eating too much turkey and too many desserts. What better way to celebrate than to eat another pie while we knit?!?! My dinner guests all decided to bring dessert so I had one apple pie left over for the Chicks.

That white tube in the foreground of the picture is a crocheted hood/cowl combo I found in a YouTube video. I'm writing the directions as I watch it. It's going quickly so it should be done by next week. But it takes a TON of yarn! It's a good thing I had five skeins of this white Lion Brand Wool-Ease in the stash.

Barbara B. found a "recipe" for magic loop, two at a time, toe up socks which require you to do some math for finding out size and number of stitches to cast on, etc. She got as far as the gusset and became so confused she has decided to rip back to before the short rows and make an afterthought heel. You know my motto, "If it's not fun don't do it!" Boy! Has that come back to haunt me a few times when I was still raising my family! LOL!

Carole decided to use up some small scraps of yarn to make a delightfully striped slouchy hat. Perfect for our recipients, Knit the Rainbow.

Dorah's Easy Scarf is coming along beautifully in spite of the fact that she hates knitting with such a fine lace weight yarn.

Margaret wanted to try her hand at the Flax Sweater in a child's size. Confident that she had enough yarn with the two skeins in her stash, she wasn't aware that the second skein was a different dye lot so now she has to go to Plan B. We all convinced her to make the sleeves and the bottom ribbing in a contrasting color since there's no guarantee that she would even be able to find another skein in the same dye lot to purchase.

Barbara B. put the socks in her project bag to work on a cute slouchy hat.

The Fresco Simply Slouchy hat is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Jan P. had a good bulky weight yarn suitable for her Squarshy Hat, also free on Ravelry. Just be forewarned, the pattern language is a bit ummm...spicy, shall we say.

Jan A. had this pattern next in her queue but she worked on...

her Bella Shawl today. This will be a beauty with a little blocking to enhance the lace.

And Cinzia worked on hers as well. With a gradient yarn, it has a whole different look.

Now for some FO's. I completed the knotted headband earwarmer, thanks to Barbara B's help. I was so befuddled by the directions for sewing the ends together that I couldn't figure out how it was going to work. But Barbara cleared it up for me.

Margaret made her 1898 hat using small amounts of yarn left over from other projects. It's good practice for not wasting yarn.

Dorah did the same with leftovers to make this lovely striped hat. The colors blend so well that you'd never know it was ends from other projects.

Dorah also added this infinity scarf to the inventory but I didn't catch the name of the pattern.

And we have another Helix Hat to add to the inventory too. This pattern is so fascinating to knit since the stripes never hit a jog where the colors change.

I had to show you something Cinzia crocheted for my other charity knitting group, The Delaware Avenue Stitch Angels, at our local library. She's going to share the pattern with us so I'm sure you'll be seeing more of these adorable critters in the future.

                                          

That's all for this week. Stay warm, stay healthy, keep those needles clicking!