Fountain Pen Shawl #2

Pattern: Fountain Pen Shawl (Ravel it!)
Source: Interweave Knits, Spring 2009
Yarn: J. Knits Lace-A-Licious! in Nebraska
Needles: US 3 24" circular
Started: May 31, 2009
Finished: August 17, 2009
Modifications: I only completed 9 of ten main-body repeats. This came out to about the same size as my first Fountain Pen shawl, despite having 2-3 more repeats, because of the different gauge. The previous shawl was a 2-ply on US size 6 needles, this was a 1-ply on 3s.

Chevalier Mittens

Pattern: Chevalier Mittens (Ravel it!/free)

Source: MadeByMyself (blog)

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Kettle Dyed in Grasshopper

Needles: US 5 dpns

Started: August 5, 2009

Finished: August 20, 2009

Modifications: eliminated optional repeat in the fingers section; decreased with simple paired decreases along the side, instead of the more complicated charted manner.

Very Warm Hat (EZ pattern)

Pattern: Very Warm Hat (Ravel it!)
Source: Knitting Without Tears, by Elizabeth Zimmerman
(Find it on Amazon or at KnitPicks)
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Cloud and Chestnut
Needles: US 7 dpns
Started: July 21, 2009
Finished: July 24, 2009
Modifications: I added Norwegian star pattern in contrasting color on each side

Almeara Gloves

Pattern: Almeara Gloves (Ravel it!)
Source: Vogue Knitting, Winter 08/09
Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed DK in Tahitian Pearl
Needles: US 7 dpns
Started: July 14, 2009
Finished: July 21, 2009
Modifications: none

Love these! I wish I didn't have to give them away... but maybe I'll make another pair in the recommended "Oatmeal" color later. They are very squishy, but I can't tell how warm they'll be. Usually for gloves or mittens, a needle at least two sizes smaller than the recommended size is used. For these, the needle is the same or one bigger than the recommended 6-7 US needles. Of course, the cables tighten things up considerably.

The garter stitch palm side makes them curl in a decidedly hand-like way, which makes them adorable when they're just sitting on the table.

Another rock-star pattern from Jared Flood!

Puple Sonata

Pattern: Pink Sonata (Ravel it!)

Source: Vogue Knitting, Fall 2008

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Hyacinthe and Eggplant

Needles: US 2 dpns

Started: July 2, 2009

Finished: July 11, 2009

Modifications: none

Fake Isle Hat

Pattern: Fake Isle Hat (Ravel it!)

Source: Spunky Eclectic

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Onyx and Dove Heathers

Needles: US 6 dpns

Started: July 10, 2009

Finished: July 10, 2009

Modifications: Added motif in the "petals" of the crown pattern (because I was nervous about running out of Dove gray. Shortened the crown by three-ish rows because the hat was starting to look enormous.

The idea behind the "fake isle" of this hat's name was to use a self-striping yarn as the background color to mimic the color gradations in a true fair isle. I, however, in an effort to make as masculine a hat as possible am opting for solid neutrals.

It turned out fairly large, which could probably have been predicted from the comments on Ravelry, but if it's a problem for boy's head (which is significantly larger than mine) I can always felt it a little. I'm still pleased that I didn't have to felt the Fishtrap Aran from a few weeks ago, so I might be due for an off-sized hat. We shall see - fitting will be tomorrow!

Update 7/11/09 : Dang. It's too big even for my model's giant head. I will try to felt it a little and see if I can get an appropriate size.

Update 7/12/09 : First felting didn't help. I hate having to do it by hand in the kitchen sink. Hmph. I hear you starting to worry to yourselves - don't! I use laundry soap, not dishwashing liquid, to do the job.