FO (mod): not so slouchy

I modified the hat so it fits a bit better. As proof, above is a photo of me wearing it yesterday, sitting by a load of giant bells at the British Museum (my last name is Bell...). You'll have to excuse the dark shadows and slightly dazed look, I was a bit off colour over the weekend and not sleeping that well.

I frogged it down a good couple of inches. The patten says to work for six inches before starting the crown decreases, but in this version there is a bit under four. It's still slouchy enough for me to tuck my hair inside, if the mood so takes me (useful when it's windy).

FO: too slouchy?

Firstly, thanks for the comments on my recent posts. Moving to bloggerbeta makes it harder to reply to people. I realised google had changed my settings; I needed to re-tick the box letting them show my email EDIT: on my profile page (so that when I comment people can reply).

I'm not going to post a pattern of the voodoo doll - it's just two spheres and four tubes! The heart used a very simple chart, anyone who can do intarsia can work out how to write one themself. As for any doll, its advisable to work a tight gauge, I did two strands held together for thickness. If you still want guidance, there is a really great voodoo doll pattern here.

Anyway, I finished something. A hat. Do you think, maybe, it might just be a bit big?



It's Le Slouch (n.b. links to pdf)

I know it's meant to be slouchy, but it's not quite the look I was hoping for (even when I wear it properly). I think the problem is more likely the yarn than the pattern. It's cashmerino and has a bit too much drape. A strong woolen tweed would do a lot better, but it would have scratched my forehead.

I'm going to try wearing a bit more this week, maybe I just need to find the right way for it to hang. I love the colour and the seed stitch at this tension, even if it is a bit too drapy. If that doesn't work out I'll frog it down a few inches. As the designer says, it's basically an elongated beret. So I can try de-elongating it a tad. I hate re-knitting with cashmerino thoug - too fluffy and cotton wool like.

xmas FOs (forecast, legwarmers, armwarmers)

I finished three things over Christmas. Count 'em. They were all done and dusted for the start of 2007, but it took me a while to sort photos.


First up, Forecast, which I started during the october knitflicks. I used barginous Rowanspun Aran. Like most tweeds, it magically softened up after washing. The colour looks nicest in sunlight, and nothing like the "caviar" the yarn's named after. But I like it, it reminds me of a nice warming wholemeal bread. It's a bit baggy under the arms, but not terribly so - I could probably have made the size down, but it looks ok and is comfortable. I did the same mods as Guavaseeds, except I kept the 5st bobbles and decreased a few extra sts at the start of the arms. I only used 6 buttons, but they are HUGE ones, which I like the look and feel of.


Illusion legwarmers. Essentially the lovemeknot socks, sans feet. In brown wool leftover from the hotwater-bottle cover striped with cashsoft 4ply to save my feet from itches. Check out the hidden purple hearts! I need more legwarmers, expect at least two more pairs before the cold season is out.


Lastly, some armwarmers. A sort of upside down version of the lace up gloves in Alterknits, similar to Ysolda's laceup opera gloves, but in the round from the cuff down. Two balls dk cashmerino to match my shedir. The best thing about them is that you can stick your thumb in any of the spaces between the ribbon lace-up, they can be armwarmers stuck under the wrist, or super-warm top-less mittens worn high up the hand. I need that flexibility in glove-type things. I may make more.