Loquita

LOQUITA

In a few other posts, I mention how I purchased a series of kits for knitting projects and I receive one kit every other month for one year. The designer is Laura Nelkin. This is the latest project and the pattern name is "Loquita".  The kit came with yarn, two kinds of beads, a two-part metal clasp (for the back of the neck), and a dental flosser for stringing beads.  This project is less than a dozen rows so it knits up rather quickly.  The new technique I learned with the project was a long tail cast on where beads are inserted in the cast on edge.  Very cool!

I have been a crafting maniac for the past few months but have not taken the time to post much lately.  I'll try to post a few things in the next few days.

"ALL-Ways" Cowl

"ALL-Ways Cowl"

This is a super fun pattern by Laura Nelkin.  If you look closely in some of the photos, you might see some green beads in there.  My beads match my yarn SO WELL, that you can hardly see them! Doh!

The yarn I used for this project is a worsted weight yarn from "Retold Yarns".  I bought it because the color way is called "I am Groot" (adorable!).  I made a Messy Bun Hat with part of the skein so I guess I have a matching hat and cowl now.  The "All-Ways Cowl" pattern can be knit with any weight of yarn and can be knit with or without beads. My cowl worked up quickly since I used worsted weight yarn. I just kept knitting until I was almost out of yarn; however, I would have liked for my cowl to be slightly wider.  This pattern is easily customizable. Is that a word?  You can make it longer, shorter, narrower, wider, etc.  

If you'd like to make the "All-Ways Cowl", you can find the pattern on Ravelry (Click HERE).

Nelkin Designs "Lolatude": Kit #1

Lolatude Kit #1

Back in August, I was looking at knitting designs by Laura Nelkin.  I stumbled across her blog where she was advertising an upcoming event where you could purchase project kits and have them mailed to your home for one, three, or six months.  I decided to treat myself to six months of project kits since my 50th birthday was in September.

I received my first kit in the middle of September. This is what came in the package.

• A Gale's Art Hand Dyed Sock blank (about 33 grams)
• some beautiful beads
• a Japanese bead needle
• some coordinating thread 
• some candy
• a post card with keycode to download the project pattern 

This was a pretty quick knit since it was only about 1/3 the size of a regular sock blank.  The instructions have you knit a boomerang shaped, asymmetrical triangle. You start at the narrow end then and, at the end, you work a number of rows in what's called "linen" stitch.  Finally, you bind off with an "I-cord bind off".  Next you create three tubes out of small (size 6) seed beads using needle and thread.  Thankfully the pattern had a great video link for how to make these Peyote Stitch Tubes.  It was a little tricky at first, but I enjoyed the bead work.  At the end, you sew the tubes to the linen stitch border of the scarf and then you insert the narrowest tip of the scarf through the three Peyote Stitch Tubes.  Each of the tubes is a different size depending upon the number of beads you use when you start the Peyote Stitch Tube.  

Eeeeek!  I made a mistake. I sewed my tubes on in the incorrect order.  I could not insert the narrow end of my scarf in the correct direction so I had to insert it in the opposite direction.  Thankfully it still works, it's just not as the designer intended.  So there you have it... a one of a kind scarf!

Here are some photos to show you what the kit looked like when it arrived.  I am also posting some photos of what the project looked like while in progress. I sure am looking forward to receiving and making my other "Lolatude" projects!