Tag: purple

FO: Hats & Unexpected Hiatuses

I realized I hadn’t checked in for about a week and I didn’t meant to take a hiatus…I just haven’t felt like I had a ton to say while I was working on lots of little thing. I’ve been a bit preoccupied with work, teaching (I never consider it work because it doesn’t really feel like it), a trip to Louisville, Kentucky for the long weekend and then a little upcoming mandatory down time (I have to have a minor surgical procedure that will require me to rest this weekend – which means knitting and dog snuggles are required). But throughout everything, I still knit.
Karite blocked
So one of my latest hats (I told you, 2018 is the clearly the year of the hat for me) is another Karite hat. You may remember the one I made in black in December as a gift. This is a lovely purple version using the Fiberist Audubon Worsted for my girlfriend Alisa. She asked for a simple purple hat and I thought this would fit the bill. Also, this is a really yummy yarn to work with. I loved the color and it just felt great while I was working with it. I’m interested in trying more!
Karite blocked
Also I try on all hats before they are given way. I have to make sure they fit! I love the look of this hat pattern and totally have intentions to make it in an off white version for myself…I just never seem to get around to it!
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I also offered to put a pompom on it and she declined. I told her she was no fun. I feel like most hats require a pom on top. It just ups the cuteness factor by like 200%!

So I just wanted to pop in to say yes, I’m still here and plugging along but I might quiet for just a bit longer but I’ll be back! Knit on my friends!

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by Categories: Color, FO: Finished Object, Hats, Knitting, purple, The Fiberist, YarnTags: , , , , , , 12 Comments

FO: Purple Rain

For the last few years the first project of the year I finish is typically something for my cousin Safia in Chicago. We also send her an after Christmas/Kwanzaa box filled with gifts and something handmade, we’ve been doing this with her since she went to college. Last year it was her red Lila Winter sweater. The year before that was her pretty pink raglan sweater. This year when I asked her if she had any requests she told me she’d like a nice wrap or big scarf she could use for when she’s cold at work. I immediately thought about the Rain Outside.
December FO
I’ve knit this shawl four times now (shawls #1, #2 and #3)! Clearly this is a favorite pattern. And in the back of my mind I knew I wanted to use this variegated yarn that went from orange to pink to dark purple that I bought the very first time we went to Chicago to visit Safia.
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I lost the label a while ago and the yarn shop has since closed but I knew that Chicago yarn had to be a part of her shawl, I had 400 yards. But what to contrast it with? Well Periwinkle Sheep yarn had an awesome Black Friday sale and I picked up this gorgeous purple dk yarn, Safia’s favorite color. I love Periwinkle Sheep for her really vivid and true dye colors, just gorgeous. (Periwinkle is the bright blue yarn I used for my Mom’s Christmas sweater last year)
Purple Rain
I didn’t know how this yarn blend was going to work out but man this is vibrant and fun. Pictures honestly don’t do it justice.
Purple Rain
And now it is being delivered to its new owner in Chicago…even though it was so lovely I wanted to keep it for myself. But purple and orange aren’t my colors, so I happily gave it away. I can’t wait to see her wearing it.

by Categories: Color, Cowls & Scarves, FO: Finished Object, Knitting, orange, Periwinkle Sheep, purple, YarnTags: , , , , , , 20 Comments

Stitching Status: A Textured Test Knit

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I posted this time lapsed video on Instagram on Saturday. I’ve been working on a test knit for Alicia Plummer for the last 10 days and I’ve just got 20 rows of ribbing on my last sleeve and it will be blocked. She posted this pic on Instagram asking for test knitters and I had the time and the yarn so I volunteered.
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I decided to do this test knit because it was a pattern that my sister would love. A mock neck sweater with some interesting texture on the shoulders. It’s a simple 1/1 cable pattern but it’s turning out nicely. I just don’t love cables but this isn’t so complex that it’s turning me off but I really should learn how to cable without the cable needle. I do realize though that I’m horrible about reading my pattern to know when to adjust the pattern, so one sleeve the pattern moves ever so slightly and the other sleeve is pretty perfect. Only I will be able to tell so I’m not bothered by the imperfection.
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I knew I was knitting this with my sister Helen in mind so I purposefully knit it in a lovely heathered purple (it’s Knit Picks Swish Worsted) so that I wouldn’t want to keep it for myself. I don’t have a  lot of neck so I tend to not gravitate towards turtlenecks of mock necks but she loves them. She saw the teaser pics on my Instagram stories with this yarn and told me she was hoping it was something for her. She was right. Now if I knit this in a lovely shade of green all bets would be off on whether she would be getting it. I will probably make this again but omit the mock neck and just let it have a nice v neck. My only sadness is that this was the warmest February on record in the DC area so she’ll have to pack it away and wear it next winter.

Does anyone else ever test knit? This is only my second time volunteering but it’s a fun way to see the design process early on.

by Categories: Color, Knitting, purple, Stitching Status, SweatersTags: , , , , , 5 Comments