Cobblestone Pullover FO and Nomad Hat and Scarf FO

Cobblestone Pullover

I like it when it only takes 9 days to knit a sweater. Of course it doesn't hurt that My Fella usually fits one of the smaller sizes. This Cobblestone Pullover pattern by Brooklyntweed is a beaut. It's very easy to read and all of it is knit in the round which I love! The only seams to be sewn are under the arms, another plus for me since I dislike sewing seams. My Fella is so sweet he has been very careful his green zip-up skull sweater for fear that he might wreck it somehow. It was the first sweater I had ever knit for him so I appreciate and understand how he feels. But this time I have given him strict orders to wreck this sweater. Pilling, threadbare, worn. I want him to wear it so often that people start asking him why he doesn't change clothes. *haha* Okay, maybe not that much...

I knit this sweater with Rowan Felted Tweed (50% Merino wool/ 25% Alpaca/25% Viscose/Rayon). 6 1/2 balls @ 50g each (175m/191yds).

Nomad Hat and Scarf

Another quick knit FO I've got is the Nomad Hat and Scarf pattern by Kat Coyle from the same Fall 2007 issue of IK. I knit it with Patagonia Nature Cotton from Araucania.

Now all we have to do is wait for fall.

Crocheted Polypropylene Grocery Bag

What's a crafter to do with polypropylene string? I can't remember the title of the book that I saw this idea in, but I picked up some string to make up my own pattern.

I started from the bottom up, finishing with the straps. I don't like to get too fancy with my crocheting so it's all chains, single and double crochets.

I really like how this bag turned out, and who knew polypropylene string came in pretty colors! I have this blue shown here as well as red which you can see in the bag, just above the bananas.

(Pattern disclaimer! I just quickly jotted down what I remember of how I made this bag. If you happen to try this pattern and it reads all screwy, let me know and I will try to decode it for you. I will not pretend to be a pro, I really don't do a lot of crocheting... Also, this is just my interpretation of a bag I saw in a book I can't remember the name of. I don't mean to rip off the pattern at all!)

Pattern: Crocheted Polypropylene Grocery Bag

Bag is made from bottom up in the round.

-Chain 25.

-Single crochet all the way down one side of chain and back up the other side and slip stitch to join to work in the round.

-Chain 2 to begin round and work single crochet for 2 rounds.

-Chain 3 to begin round and work double crochet for 2 rounds.

-Chain 5 to begin round, (*skip 1 space, double crochet into next space, chain 3*) repeat (*to*) until end of round, slip stitch into 3rd chain from beginning of round to join.

-Slip stitch into next 2 chains, chain 5 to begin round, (*double crochet into next space (between double crochets), chain 3*) repeat (*to*) until end of round, slip stitch into 3rd chain from beginning of round to join. Do 11 rounds like this.

-Chain 2 to begin round and work single crochet for 2 rounds.

-Work single crochet around both single crochet rounds together to create a bigger, sturdier round for the bags edge.

Strap Directions

-Lay flat (to help determine where the straps will be attached.)

-Slip stitch to about 1 1/2 inches in from side.

-Chain 3, double crochet into next 4 spaces. (5 double crochet-wide strap.) Turn.

-Work until strap reaches desired length. I made mine 19 inches.

-Hold strap end to 1 1/2 inches in from opposite side and single crochet together to join.

-Slip stitch around to other side until about 1 1/2 inches in from side. Repeat strap directions for second strap.

I don't know that hook gauge needs to be too specific. I used a 5mm and my bag ended up measuring 14" top to bottom, 10" across at the bottom and 14" across at the top. Straps measure 19".

Another thing to note, the single and double crochet at the bottom does not stretch as readily as the loosely chained body of the bag. I like it this way but you could always omit the double crochet section and start right in on the body portion of the pattern.

FO's like a mofo!

Red Ribbed Shrug

~Specs~

Pattern:
Ribbed Shrug from Erika Knight's Glamour Knits (Slightly modified. I knit from cuff to underarm in the round and shortened the length of the collar.)

Yarn:
Cascade Yarns 100% Peruvian Highland Wool 100g/220 yards 4 balls (because the pattern calls for 2 strands knitted together.)

Needles:
generic circs in 9mm and 8mm

Pros:
Quick like a bunny. Easy too. It was practically like knitting a scarf. Yep.

Cons:
Supremely warm. Good if it's cold, bad if it's just about summer. Also, next time I will knit it with one strand of yarn as opposed to the 2 strands the pattern calls for. Or maybe in a different weight all together...

Here is the back of the shrug and me racked out on the bed. This is actually one of the only photos that shows the true color of the yarn. Why is red so hard to photograph?

Next up: The Noro Striped Scarf. It was so quick to knit up there was no time for a colour progress update. Here she is all finished up.

Striped Noro Scarf

~Specs~

Pattern:
Variation of a pattern found at Brooklyntweed

Yarn:
Noro, Noro, Noro! 100% wool - 4 balls over different colourways. Kureyon Greens(163)/Kureyon Purple(153)/Kureyon Forest Brown(172) and a leftover ball I lost the band for.

Needles:
4mm bamboo straights

Pros:
This one, also quick like a bunny. easy and total instant gratification. Watching the colour combos happen was the best part.

Cons:
I already want to make another one but do I really need more than one of these scarves? Maybe to give as a gift....


I was in the process of posting more photos of the Striped Noro Scarf but Blogger has crapped out on me. Will edit post with more photos later.