Recycling

I got this poncho as a gift from my parents, several years ago. It was back when ponchos were enjoying their moment in the sun, their 15 minutes of fame. I would like to say I was never a fan of the style, but my wardrobe begs to differ (I have a gorgeous, hand crocheted black poncho made for me by my mother in law, which I love and wear a lot. But it was hand made. And from my MIL. And black never looks bad). The problem with this particular ponch is the length - too short. I obviously suffer quite a lot with short clothing (as my mohair cardi testifies...). This thing just hung off my boobs as if they were a shelf. For shame.

So I let it fester in a cupboard for several years. I don't know what I was hoping for... maybe that it would move out in the night?

Here we are in 2007. I am not buying any more yarn this year (I have my fingers crossed that Ma & Pa have bought me yarn for Christmas - my dad tried to engage me in a conversation about colours of Twilleys Freedom, which was very bizarre and suggests to me he was digging for information... anyways...) so I thought I'd try and recyle the ponch. I attacked it with some scissors, following advice I read in the Frankenknits section of Knitty (www.knitty.com). First I removed the tassles. Then I unpicked the seams - essentially this garment is 4 big blocks of knitting joined together, so unravelling it all was easy. I ended up with 4 large balls and a couple of small balls of this funky yarn - some of it is like roving, it's just actual unspun wool, and then it turns into a really thin, almost 3 ply consistency. Weird. There is just about every colour ever involved here too.

So I knit myself a hat and scarf. I didn't bother about patterns as the yarn is so funky, any sort of pattern stitch would've been entirely wasted. Here is a hat adapted from a pattern from Knitting Pattern Central, knit initially on 5mm needles, and then on 6mms for the main body of the hat (which is plain old reliable stockinette).

I wasn't entirely happy with how the hat turned out - basically the needles were too small. I used 10mm needles for the scarf (which is k1, p1 over 20 stitches all the way up, simple yet effective) which has a far better tension, so I'm thinking with the remaining yarn I might re knit the hat on 7mm/8mm needles. Then I can give the hat to someone or sell it or something.

This was an eyeopener. Imagine how much I could save on yarn if I just recycle old stuff I buy in charity shops or something? It was easy, and I got so much yarn for very little effort.

That said, I am weak. I like the process of going in a yarn shop and touching everything, and imagining it all knit up. It's going to be an expensive new year... especially if Ma & Pa don't come up with the Twilleys....

Digby, The Biggest Sock in the World!**

**This is very witty, believe me, so long as you were a young child in Britain in the '70s.

Another free pattern! Does my generosity know no bounds?

You need: about 50g red DK weight yarn (I opted for acrylic nastiness), 25g each of yellow and white (both in DK weight) but to be honest I probably used less. Obviously you can change the colours.

Set of 5mm double pointed needles.

Using white yarn, cast on 64 stitches and divide over 3 needles (21 stitches on 1st needle, 22 stitches on 2nd needle, 21 stitches on 3rd needle). Place a marker if you need to marking the beginning of the round.

Work K1, P1 ribbing for 4cm. Join red yarn.

Knit straight round until work measures 8cm in total. Join yellow yarn.

Follow the following chart for the stars - the chart is worked over 11 stitches and 11 rows. Basically, you work 1 row of the chart, then knit 5 "separator" stitches (in red) before working the chart again. This is the case for each row of the chart. You end up with 4 snowflakes round the sock.

Once the chart is complete, cut yellow yarn and secure. Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 15cm in total.

Join yellow yarn, and knit straight until work measures 19cm in total. Change to red yarn.

Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 21cm in total. Change to white yarn.

Continue in white (knitting straight every round) until work measures 25cm in total. Change to red yarn.

Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 30cm in total.

Knit across the 21 stitches of the first needle, turn and purl across these stitches and those on the third needle. Join yellow and white yarn at this stage. These 42 stitches will be the heel.

Work 14 rows in stocking stitch (starting with a knit row), alternating colours every 2 rows. Stick with one colour (I chose yellow) for turning the heel:

Turn Heel:

1st row: K30, sl1, k1, psso, turn.

2nd row: sl1, P18, P2tog, turn.

3rd row: sl1, K18, sl1, k1, psso, turn. Repeat rows 2 and 3 8 times, then 2nd row again. (There should now be 22 stitches on the needle). Change to red yarn.

Sl1, k to end, then pick up and knit 11 stitches evenly across the first side of the heel flap.

Using a 2nd needle, knit across 22 stitches of the second needle (instep), then using a third needle, pick up and k11 stitches evenly across the 2nd side of the heel. Knit across 11 stitches from the end of the first needle. You should now have 66 stitches over the three needles (22 on each).

K1 round straight.

Knit to last 2 stitches on first needle, k2tog, k1. Knit across second needle, then on 3rd needle, k1, sl1, k1, pss0, knit to end. Repeat the last 2 rounds until 44 stitches remain. Change to yellow yarn, and knit 2 rounds straight.

Knit to last 2 stitches on first needle, k2tog, on 2nd needle sl1, k1, pss0, knit to last 2 stitches and k2tog, then on 3rd needle sl1, k1, psso, knit to end.

Knit 1 round.

Repeat the last 2 rounds until 28 stitches remain, join red then decrease as before on every round for 2 rounds. Change to white, and continuing the decrease on every round, work until 8 stitches remain. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Turn work inside out to cast off.

Casting off: (this is the easiest method that I use).

Useful tip: I find it's easiest to turn the whole thing inside out if I transfer the remaining stitches onto safety pins first - the whole they have to fit through is tiny so I don't trust myself to try and get a needle through there or just take the stitches off the needle altogether. Once the sock is inside out, put the stitches back on two needles.

Knit together 1 stitch from each needle twice (so 2 stitches on the right hand needle), pass first stitch over 2nd to cast off as usual. Repeat until everything is cast off.

Maybe that should've been Digby the biggest blog post in the world....

Mixed Feelings

Have to admit... I'm slightly disappointed with the outcome of the Mohair cardi. The fit of it just isn't right on me. Maybe it's my body shape that doesn't suit the garment rather than vice versa... either way, it's a bit boxy.

I like the style. I adore the yarn. I love the ribbon round the edging (which I would definitely include on other garments). I think the main problem with this for me is the length - I followed the pattern to the letter and I think I could've done with adding 2 inches to the length all round.

All of that said - this is the first real item of clothing I've tried to knit, and it's come out cardigan shaped and I could wear it out, so I'm not deeply upset with it. Lessons have been learned.

The pattern is from The Art of Knitting magazine (you can probably subscribe if you look up "Hatchette Partworks" on Google... it's a good series of magazines for a beginner knitter, which I am, but frankly some of the patterns are so easy my husband could probably knit them - and this a man who suggested we improvise chop sticks from my needles...)

The yarn is Sublime Kid Mohair (colour is Venetian Green) which is gorgeous and I would like to be buried in a pile of it. I used 6mm needles which explains why it took me less than a month to knit. I got the ribbon from Army and Navy haberdashery (it was something like 40p a metre. I have no idea what colour it is or anything, but it's about 1/2 a centimetre in width).

So I've forged straight on with a stocking decoration I'm knitting for Christmas. The pattern is my own, so it'll feature here in the next day or so. I'm knitting it with old nasty acrylic bought ages ago (no point on wasting good yarn on a project that will essentially see the light of day once a year). I had a bit of red left, a full ball of yellow, and some white all in DK weight, now I'm half way through the stocking and I'm not sure I have enough yarn to even finish it! Time will tell...!

Busy!

It's been an age since I last posted - I've been crazy busy. Which is not to say that there hasn't been knitting - there has. All on the Mohair cardi. I am now finishing off the first sleeve, then it's just the second sleeve to go! Hoping to get some more done on it this week.

I did my Christmas shopping this weekend (having taken a couple of days off work to do so). Guildford shopping centre is officially the seventh circle of hell. And it wasn't even a weekend day... Despite getting dangerously close to homicidal at several points, the Christmas shopping is now done, and I did not weaken and go in the yarn shop (Pandora's). Although I was tempted.

I'm thinking about doing a bit of Christmas knitting. Not gifts for people - I'm going to stop at the socks in terms of gifts - but I thought it might be fun to make some decorations. I get ludicrously over excited about Christmas. I can't help myself. I knitted a tiny tree decoration last year which wasn't too stressful (ie. you can knock it out in a day, so no real deadlines!). I also made stuffed snowmen, which are just the cutest (and you can find the pattern at www.knittingpatterncentral.com). This year I think I should do something different altogether...

Finished Socks of Rock

Another finished item (or in this case, items) to add to the pile! The socks are done, here they are in all their glory on my feet.

These were quick to knit, and the yarn is fabulous. It was my first experiment with self striping yarn and I was pleased with the result, and pleasantly surprised that I managed to get the different colours to pretty much match up. Where there are differences, I'm also happy, as it just makes them look a bit more hand made.

A close up to give a better idea of the pattern of the yarn. The sock pattern itself wasn't much of a challenge - it's a 2x2 rib all the way down, but in my defence, I'm still new to socks so all the fun is in turning the heel etc. for me at the moment.

I used 3mm needles, Regia yarn (the ball band is in German so I'm not entirely sure of the name of the colour... "Jacquard" I think?), and the Legendary Cath's 70's sock pattern. They will be a Christmas present, although I'm not sure who the lucky recipient is... probably my Uncle in Law. Or my Grandfather (who often mentions how he would wear hand knit wool socks back during his years in the navy for weeks at a time, without his feet becoming sweaty or smelly or anything. Bearing in mind my entire immediate family have the worst smelling, sweatiest feet in the world - we're not proud, but hell, we're realists - this is an impressive boast, and makes us all very jealous).

As with every sock I've ever knitted - it was enjoyable during the knitting, but I'm delighted to get them done... now back to the Mohair cardi full time.

I finished the left front last week (in one day!), and cast on the right front. Then I decided to get a nasty cold and put it down for a few days. I shall be picking it up again today or tomorrow - whilst I'm not going to set myself a firm deadline, I would like to get it done in the next 2 weeks. Watch this space!

Brief and to the Point

A flying visit today, simply to report that the back of the Mohair Cardi is now complete - always read the pattern, kids, you don't want to be ripping back six rows of mohair. I managed to salvage everything (after much swearing and pleading with the yarn), and the back is complete and done. I am casting on the right front today (it's half the number of stitches for the back, so I'm guessing I will probably be halfway through it by the end of today).

Also managed about another inch on the sock last night - slow progress, but this still remains the fastest sock I've ever knitted.

I'm suffering with some sort of illness at the moment, which apparently involves not feeling bad enough to take to my bed, but coughing like a walrus and feeling all round shabby. Progress is therefore slow - but there will be pictures as soon as I can be bothered.

Stripey Ear Flap Hat

It occurred to me that I have not blogged the pattern for the extremely funky and cool ear flap hat that I'm wearing in the picture (for which I did make up the pattern). Why deprive the world of such a cool hat! Modelled here by my mother :)

Materials: DK (light worsted) weight yarn in 6 colours (which we shall call A, B, C, D, E and predictably, F). Probably about 25g of each, this was a stash busting exercise for me.

4mm circular needle and 4mm straight needles.

Ear flaps (make 2):
Using A, cast on 7 stitches.
Row 1: K1, P to last stitch, K1
Row 2: K1, KFB (knit into front and back of stitch, creating 2 stitches), K to last 2 stitches, KFB, K1.
Repeat rows 1 & 2, change to B.
Using B, repeat rows 1 & 2 (13 stitches), change to C.
Using C, repeat rows 1 & 2 (15 stitches).
Row 3 - K1, P13, K1.
Row 4 - K.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 (so 6 rows have been worked in colour C in total). Change to D.
Using D, repeat rows 3 & 4. Change to E.
Using E, repeat rows 3 & 4 twice (so 4 rows total have been worked in E). Change to F.
Using F, repeat rows 3 & 4 (2 rows total). Change to A.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 twice (4 rows total). Change to B.
Using B, repeat rows 3 & 4 (2 rows total). Place work on a spare needles. (I generally weave in ends here, saves time and effort later).

Place first ear flap on circular needle (always make sure that the right side of the ear flap is facing outwards) - attach colour C and knit across stitches of ear flap (15 stitches), then cast on a further 38 stitches. Place the second ear flap on the circular needles and knit across those 15 stitches, then cast on a further 32 stitches, and join up with the first ear flap (you'll have 100 stitches total on the circular). I also find it handy to place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.

The pattern for the main body of the hat is as follows:
K19, (P2, K2) repeated 8 times, P2, K49.
I also changed colours as follows (starting with the colour you cast on the main body of the hat with):
Colour C - 6 rows
Colour D - 2 rows
Colour E - 4 rows
Colour F - 2 rows
Colour A - 4 rows
Colour B - 2 rows
Work the same row as many times as each colour dictates until hat measures 17 cms from the cast on edge of the main body (You might want to measure your own head for this - mine is ENORMOUS).

Decrease row 1 (keeping the colour change pattern as for the main body - you may also want to change to 4mm double pointed needles): (K2 tog, K8) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 2: K
Decrease row 3: (K1, K2 tog, K6) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 4: K
Decrease row 5: (K2, K2 tog) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 6: K
Decrease row 7: (K2 tog, K1) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 8: K
Decrease row 9: (K2 tog) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 10: K
Repeat row 9.
Cut yarn leaving about 20 cm. Thread needle then thread remaining stitches through, tie tightly. You can opt to plait some of the yarn you used in the knitting to make funky tassles for the ends of the earflaps - just plait about 30cm of yarn together, secure at one end and fasten the other end to the ear flap by sewing.
Voila! Cool stripey hat to amaze your friends and relatives.

Progress on the sock and the mohair cardi continues - nothing really exciting to report, but hopefully photos after the weekend.