"When the Sun" -- Cabled Seed Stitch Scarf

This is something I designed to match a hat ages ago, but decided to dust off the pattern to help my poor college kid wallet. So, THUS begins my Etsy adventure. For real this time.

The Stats:

The Pattern - My Own Design
Yarn - About 1.5 Skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Lemongrass
Needles - Size 15 24" circs by Susan Bates (Knit flat, obviously.)

Source - Stitch Dictionary and Alison's Brain
Price - Free as Alison's Crazy Thoughts.

Songs*[rep] to end. - "When the Sun Grows on Your Tongue"

This scarf to me screams seventies, although I didn't actually plan it that way. It reminds me of this book of crazy knitted fashions too. So to accompany this little decade-inspired accessory, I chose my favorite psychedelic band. That would be Black Moth Super Rainbow (from Pittsburgh!). "When the Sun Grows on Your Tongue" comes from 2007's Dandelion Gum. I had originally considered "Iron Lemonade" since it's probably my favorite song from their new album, but the seventies flair just isn't as noticeable in that one. And if there's one thing this Lemongrass green marvel needs, it's more flair.

Cable Pattern:

Let's Get Cozy - Cabled Seed Stitch Scarf (CO 8/28/09, FO 8/31/09)

Ravelry Listing

Etsy Listing (Coming Soon)

This is just a simple pattern I whipped up when I wanted something to match a hat I had made. I really love winter accessory sets. If I make a scarf, I want a hat and gloves to go with it. If I have enough yarn, there's going to be a matching set. The purpose of this particular scarf was to sell it on Etsy. Since I'm on my own for spending money now, it became clear that I needed to get cracking on my designs to supplement my income. I also love super bulky yarn. I know that I can knit something fairly quickly and be pleased with the results.

You have no dreams, little yarn ball.

Everything has gone well with this design so far. My only complaint is that I got a skein of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick that wishes it was slub yarn. Now, I love slub yarn, but it's kind of cramping my style. Hear me now, Wool-Ease Thick & Quick: You are what you are. I have no patience of the dreams of skeins of yarn! Mwahahahaha! (Evil Overlord Voice. Yes, I am a yarn overlord.)

Look for the Etsy Listing soon. I'll have a space for the Etsy Merch on the sidebar when the time comes.

I heart yarn, but when it starts to think for itself, I start to get paranoid. Maybe it's a side effect of the psychedelic rock I chose for inspiration. Pretty Pattern + Yarn + Paranoia = Cabled Seed Stitch Scarf. I'll take it.

"Porté Disparu" -- Super Bulky Cabled Hat

Every knitter has stash problems. Or that's what I like to tell myself. Like most knitters, I have an unusual fondness for yarn. I try to buy yarn project by project, but there's a sale or a certain color catches your eye and it's bye bye budgets... helllloooo yarn. This is a stash busting project that I've made before with success. I thought it was time to revisit the good old Super Bulky Cabled Hat.

The Stats:

The Pattern - Super Bulky Cabled Hat
Yarn - (substitution) 1 Skein Lion Brand Landscapes in Country Sunset and 1 Skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Fig (used about 1/4 skein Thick & Quick)
Needles - Size 13 needles (Knit straight not in the round, but I usually use circs anyway.)
Source - Online at abmatic/k
Price - Free Online

A little WIP action...

Songs*[rep]to end. - "Porté Disparu"

I've chosen Malajube's "Porté Disparu" from their latest, Labyrinthes because I think it pretty much embodies my yarn stash craziness both in the insane situations and color palette. I kind of love that this video is in French, so the obviously quirky video idea seems that much more absurd with the incomprehensible song lyrics. Dead chickens, murder and colored suits. Yes, that is my life. And bonus points for disappearing like my yarn stash!

Cable Pattern:

Let's Get Cozy - Super Bulky Cabled Hat (CO 8/13/09, FO 8/23/09)

Ravelry Listing

I just want to start out by saying that the time it took me to complete this hat is completely unrealistic. I would have finished it in one day if I hadn't lost the second ball of yarn. Sometimes you have to factor in the crazy misplacement time. This hat is knit flat and then sewn up at the end. They recommend that you use a mattress stitch, but I usually use a whip stitch because it was the first way I learned to sew up a hat. It works just fine. I used the Fig for the band and then for the last 4 decrease rows at the top. I've considered adding a pom-pom, but for now it's been left plain. This is just a simple, quick hat. I'd recommend it for using up your stash. I'm thinking of turning it into a gift, but we'll see what happens.

So, 2 skeins down and a (number that I will conceal from my parents) of skeins to go. I can only pray that my weakness for pretty wool doesn't translate into a fondness for felines. It's a slippery slope from, "Aaawww kitten!" to "I have 17 cats and they're all named Chester Cheetah." I'm keeping tabs on myself. And on the number of litter boxes I have the urge to purchase.

"Made It Up" -- Highlander's Stole... Take 2

While working on the Highlander's Stole in my super lacy and fuzzy Suri Dream, I found myself wondering, "Why did I think this was a good idea?" So here we are: Me dropping stitches (which I never do) and cursing my decision versus having happy relaxing knitting time. In the end, it took me a very short time to decide that this version would not provide enough cover for a strapless dress, would not be fun to work with and would be all around bad. The Suri Dream will be some other nice thing of mine when the time is right. From here on out, I'll only post ideas and FOs. Everything else is sure to expose my tendency to change my mind. Here we go: Second verse, same as the first...

The Stats:
Same as the first except...
Yarn - (substitution) 2-3 skeins Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Black
Needles - (Which I neglected to mention) Cable needle

[Songs]*rep to end. - "Made It Up"
In honor of my indecisive nature, I choose this song about the indecisive nature of others sung by the one and only Ben Kweller. That would be "Made It Up" from Sha Sha, a great album. Ben Kweller has those tunes that just melt away the unhappy and leave only shiny music notes for your listening pleasure. The music on this album also epitomizes my knitting frustration. It feels really angry, but it's still knitting, so even the most frightening rages are softened by the presence of yarn. Or in Kweller's case, the presence of Kweller himself. Too cute to be angry.

Ben kweller make it up live la cigale
by agentshirley

Let's Get Cozy... again. - New and improved Highlander's Stole (CO 7/12/09, FO 7/16/09)
This project knit up super quick, although the blocking takes a little more time. The pattern uses a basketweave cable, which is really easy (just alternating a front, left cable and a back, right cable) and looks intricate and cool. It took me 11 cable patterns plus 1 up-to-row-4 one to reach 50 inches exactly. I've paired mine with a vintage brooch and the knitted fabric has yet to snag or refuse to fit in the clasp, despite the super bulky yarn weight. I couldn't be happier. It's the picture of style and function. It's a stole in the fall and it can double as a bulky scarf when it's snowy and slushy! It's practically magical.

That magic is thanks in part to the yarn, which the cashier at JoAnn Fabrics remarked, "That's really soft, isn't it?" So you know it's awesome. Thick & Quick is a yarn that I've used often. It's fairly inexpensive, washable, looks good, easy to work with and comes in fun colors. That last point obviously doesn't apply to this project, of course in the dark, colorless color Black (creative name, Lion Brand). Anyway, it's a good choice. For real this time. I know from previous projects that cables are easy-peasy with this yarn. Crisis averted, for the time being. Let's hope for the best and see where this yarn and this little stole takes us. I bet it's somewhere exciting. It is yarn, after all. I'd like to think Paris, France but it's more like My Futon, Pennsylvania. That sounds French, right?


Anyway, as it turns out, the cable pattern tends to make the piece a bit tight around the middle, so blocking is quite necessary. It may be a quick knit, but my putting off the blocking... Well, that takes a wee bit longer. There's a good article on blocking from About.com here. Then you'll be extra pretty. Or at least une jolie futon.