Lauren's Crafts

Coming to Terms

October 30, 2009 in general by lauren

My mother died on Wednesday night. My step-father, who was with her, said it seemed she had decided it was time to go. She had dementia, and the last couple of months were one trip into hospital after another until she’d had enough. I miss her awfully. May she rest in peace.

Finished Catkins

August 13, 2009 in projects by lauren | 2 comments

I posted about the beginnings of this long ago, here are the final photos. It was a fun knit, architecturally interesting, small enough to not get boring. My daughter uses it as a hat, doll blanket, scarf, and toy carrier, depending on her mood. It’s tough enough to handle all of that without problems.

Yarn: J&P Coats Royale Classic Crochet Thread (Size 10), 1.5 skeins in mint green

Needles: 3 mm to start, then 3.25 mm starting at round 63

Pattern: Birkenkätzchen – Birch Catkins by Herbert Niebling

Modifications: none

Comments: see the previous post

Dates: Started July 23 2008, completed September 13 2008

Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/laurendw/birkenkatzchen—birch-catkins

Hooded Scarf

August 12, 2009 in projects by lauren | No comments

To go with the acrylic hoodie, I also knitted my Mum an alpaca hooded scarf last Christmas; slightly less easy to care for but more luxurious. The pattern is from the Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark book Knit 2 Together. I’ve knitted a couple of things from this book now, and haven’t come across any mistakes or instructions that are difficult to understand. This pattern is another easy one, and the finished product works well.

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca, two skeins, one for the scarf and one for the bonnet part.

Needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm for the main part, and US 7 / 4.5 mm for the ribbing

Pattern: Grownup Bonnet by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark in their book, Knit 2 Together

Modifications: I made the large size of bonnet for wind protection, and also made it all on smaller needles for wind protection.

Dates: Started December 12, 2008; completed December 20, 2008

Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/laurendw/grownup-bonnet

Christmas Hoodie

August 12, 2009 in projects by lauren | 1 comment

Another in the catching up series, from last year’s Christmas knitting. My mother lives on a farm in Saskatchewan, where it gets to -30 C, and feels colder with a wind. Layers of things that can be machine washed and dried are called for there, so I knitted her this hoodie. I don’t usually knit much with acrylic, but sometimes the easy-care nature is important.

Yarn: Bernat Satin Solids, just under two skeins

Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm

Pattern: Mystery Hoodie with Neckwarmer by Terry Morris, from the Holiday Mystery Gifts Yahoo Group

Modifications: none

Comments: a quick, easy knit

Dates: Started November 14 2008, completed November 22 2008

Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/laurendw/mystery-hoodie-with-neckwarmer

Brown Sweater

August 12, 2009 in classes, projects by lauren | No comments

I recently realised that I have a lot of projects on my Ravelry pages that aren’t blogged. So I’m going to put in a few postings to catch up. Since it’s some time since I knitted these, details are likely to be sketchy, but at least I’ll have the photos in place.

First up is a sweater I knitted for my husband in Jean Wong’s Level 2 knitting class (a simplified version of the Nihon Vogue course). The requirements are for a round-neck sweater; my husband picked the yarn colour and the simple k3, p1 rib pattern. The rest was customised to his measurements. The ribbing around the neck, waist, and arms is k1p1 on smaller needles.

I used Elann’s Coto Canapone, a cotton/hemp yarn that shrinks when washed. Fortunately you do things properly for knitting class, so I did wash and block the gauge swatch. I made the body a little too long but am hoping it will shrink a little when washed again. I also made the ribbing around the neckline a little too deep; next time I’d make it only half the width. The yarn is hard on your hands while knitting, but does knit up really nicely and should wear well (my husband is hard on clothes). It’s also a reasonable price, and is machine-washable.

Yarn: Elann Coto Canapone, 20 skeins

Needles: 3.5 for the body, 3.25 for the ribbing

Pattern: my own, based on k3p1 rib for the boddy and k1p1 ribbing

Comments: the yarn shrinks when washed

Dates: Started September 13 2008, completed November 12 2008

Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/laurendw/ribbed-mens-sweater