Building in Color: Panel #2 in Progress

Building in Color: Panel #2

Today I had my Building in Color Afghan Class at my local knit shop. I think the ladies in the class are enjoying this new technique as much as me. This is super fun!

This panel uses at technique called "double ended knitting".  You have to use a circular needle for this panel.  To start the panel, you cast on 28 stitches with Color A and then, instead of turning your working and knitting or purling on the other side, you slide your stitches from one end of the circular needle to the opposite side, join Color C, and knit across again.  Upon completion of some rows you do turn your work but other rows you slide all your stitches to the other needle.  The raised vertical line that runs up and down the panel are created from slipped stitches.  I keep saying it looks as if I am knitting plaid and I love that.

Below you can see Sandy and Brutus. Sandy is inspecting my work; Brutus was just interested in laying on top of my feet so I would not get off the couch.

These Building in Color panels all roll terribly since they are primarily stockinette stitch; even after blocking they roll up on themselves. But it will all be sorted out when the panels are stitched together in then end.  This is a really fun project and I am learning so much from this great pattern.  I sure love designs by Michelle Hunter (AKA: KnitPurlHunter).  It's hard to put panel #2 down. I am sure I'll have it done in no time. I've also started work on Panel #3 and I love it, too!  Color work is load so fun.

Building in Color: Panel #1 Completed

Building in Color: Panel #1

This is panel #1 from my Building in Color afghan project. The new-to-me-skill in this panel was Intarsia and it was not as difficult as I had imagined.  The trick is to lock or wrap your yarns together in a specific way when you switch from one color to another so that there is no hole or gap.  The pattern designer is Michelle Hunter and she as some excellent Intarsia videos on her website if you'd like to try out the Intarsia technique.

Here is a video about the Intarsia technique (click HERE to see the video).

When you make a panel such as mine, you have to use three balls of yarn (two taupe and one blue).  It gets cumbersome if the yarns get all twisted up.  Michelle posted another video to help you manage your yarn; it's a very cool trick really.  Click HERE to see the video about how to manage your yarn when knitting Intarsia. 

Below, you can see a photo of my completed panel. It's on the blocking mats on my craft table. 

Here's a photo of the backside of the panel. 

Below you can see a few photos of the panel in progress; yes, there is ALWAYS a dog or two on my lap!

Socks

Ribbed Striped Socks with an Afterthought Heel (Yes, that is a dog lying on my lap underneath the Sock!)

I've been spending time knitting socks lately.  For this sock, I am using two patterns from Susan B. Anderson and they are "Ribbed Socks for Bigger Feet" and "Smooth Operator Socks."  The Smooth Operator Sock pattern calls for an "afterthought heel".  In the photo below, you can see some bright yellow yarn knit into the sock.  I removed the yellow yarn and knit a heel in that spot with some dark blue solid colored yarn.  I like how the socks are looking but I am disappointed that I did not cast on a few more stitches.  I cast on only 60 stitches but 64 stitches would have been a bit better fitting sock for me using this yarn.

The yarn I am using for these socks is Patons Kroy Sock yarn in the Striped Blue Ragg colorway.

Here are the links to the patterns I am using.

Ribbed Socks for Bigger feet:  Click HERE.

Smooth Operator Socks:  Click HERE. 

Building in Color: Panel #1

Building in Color: Panel #1

My Building in Color Afghan class began a few weeks ago but I've not had the chance to post about it.  This class is meeting at my local yarn shop, The Yarn Shop at Words of Life, the last Friday of each month.  Each month, we are making one of the afghan's eight panels.

This is panel #1 and the technique is Intarsia. This is a new skill for me so I had to learn the Intarsia technique in order to teach it.  It's a skill that I've wanted to learn but I was a bit intimidated. Turns out, it's not too difficult... thankfully.

If you'd like to see more about the Building in Color project, you can see more on Ravelry by clicking HERE.

Bunny #2

I made another Bonbon Bunny. I sure love this pattern. I will be teaching a class on this project at my local yarn shop on February 18th, so I made up another bunny to have on display at the shop to show what the bunny looks like knit up in a solid colored yarn. This yarn is Berroco Comfort Solid Worsted Weight yarn in white.  Instead of knitting a tail, I made a little pom pom using some gorgeous left over sock yarn (Kraemer Yarns Sterling Silk and Silver).  There is a little silver bling in this variegated sock yarn.  I made a little I-cord scarf for bunny and also attached a mini pom pom to the scarf. 

If you would like to  make this project, I just have one two words of caution regarding this project.

First, the pattern reflects you only need 100 to 110 yards of yarn, but you will need closer to 150 yards (my friend and I split a ball of yarn and we ran out!)

Second, be forewarned... once you make one bunny, you will want to make another!

Pattern link:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonbon-13

Funny Bunny

Funny Bunny

I love this little bunny; it was a super fun knit!  When I finished the bunny, I kept thinking "Funny Bunny" so I guess that's his name.  I used to love to read a book called "It's Not Easy Being a Bunny" to Zach when he was small (see the book HERE).  The bunny in the book is named P.J. Funnybunny.

This knitting pattern is called "Bonbon" and is available for purchase on Ravelry for $6.00.  Here is the LINK.  This is one of the most clever patterns I've ever followed and I am immensely impressed.  The pattern directs you to make the legs, arms, tail, and ears first and then you leave some live stitches at the end of each appendage.  Then as you knit the body, followed by the head, you are able to stitch the appendages into the body and head as you knit so there is no additional sewing at the end.  Brilliant!   

This pattern is by a designer named Susan Claudino.  You can see all of her cute patterns at this LINK.  I have made one other pattern by Susan Claudino and that pattern is called "Voo Doo You Love Me?"'; you can see that cute little bugger HERE.  The Voo Doo pattern is such that you have to sew the arms and legs on after you sew the head and body. I much preferred the technique in the bunny where the arms/legs/ears/tail were knit into the body and head as you go.  Very clever!   

Here are a few more photos of Funny Bunny.  But first, I should add that Funny Bunny is knit in Cascade Superwash 220 Paints in the "Fruit Smoothie" colorway. My friend, Belinda, and I thought we could get two bunnies out of one ball of yarn so we bought this yarn together and split up the ball.  Perhaps if I would have used smaller needles I would have not run out of yarn, but I did. So the tail and the lower halves of the ears are knit in Berroco Vintage worsted weight yarn in the "Mochi" colorway.  Funny Bunny is definitely one of a kind with his two-toned ears.

I should mention the pattern does include instructions for how to stich a nose and mouth onto the bunny but I find that hard to get just right. I might just leave Funny Bunny's face as is.  I think he has plenty of character just as he is.

HOPPY KNITTING!

Norah's Vintage Afghan: Block #9

Norah's Vintage Afghan: Block #9

Over the holidays, I worked on Block #9. I took these photos in natural light to capture the details a bit better but the color is way off in the photos.  The color is called "Black Currant" (Berroco Vintage Worsted Weight yarn).  In person, this color is more of a burgundy, but the photos it looks purple. 

When it comes to knitting these blocks in the darker colors, I sure wish I had better light by which to knit. What ever the case may be, I love knitting these blocks.

I need to take a little break from these blocks as I prepare for the new afghan class I am teaching.  The last Friday of each month, I'll be teaching a class called "Building in Color".  The afghan pattern is by Michelle Hunter.  I'll be sharing more about this soon.  This weekend I am working on a knitted stuffed animal which I will probably finish in a jiffy.

Happy Knitting!