fishie’s aquarium

Yes, I’ve been bad about posting. But I haven’t been as bad about knitting, at least not in the past month or two. I got back from the Fiber Arts Retreat I signed up for, what, two? Three? posts ago? Anyway, I’m back. And instead of actually posting about it like a good girl, here’s a pattern for something I haven’t even finished knitting.

Kananaskis Shawl (Self-hosted PDF)
Kananaskis Shawl on Ravelry (Rav-hosted PDF)
Both links go to the exact same pattern. If you download the Ravelry file, you can save it in your library on the site.

Here’s a picture of it that I took the day after I cast on, while still at the retreat. Amy from Knitty taught the class, and boy can she make designing easy.

And now I go before I actually start putting content in here.

PS: Oh yeah, and this yarn isn’t in the pile the next post down. Since I took that picture, I have accumulated somewhere around 80 new skeins of yarn. But I swear I’m done now! ;)

My first version of this pattern is complete. When I finish up some other things, I’ll start working on a simplified, less cluttered version with a better brim. But for now, here ya go, my first written pattern! The yarn quantities are estimated. Bernat Satin comes in 166 yd skeins and the hat used barely half of the main, if even that much. I don’t have a scale yet so I can’t give more than my estimations.

Inspired by the art of Alex Grey, this hat is decorated with a representation of the crown chakra. This simple fair-isle pattern requires the use of only two colors at a time, with some duplicate stitching used to carry the design into areas where stranding is inconvenient. Using worsted weight yarn, this is a quick knit with warm results. Two variations of the color-work have been included. The two hats shown use the first variation.

MATERIALS

• Approx. 80 yards MC1/MC, 60 yards CC/CC1, and 30 yards MC2/CC2 of worsted weight yarn (I used Bernat Satin Solids, Mai Tai/Flamingo/Bordeaux and Ebony/Mai Tai/unknown worsted)

• Size 6 circular needle, 16″
• Size 6 DPNs
• tapestry needle
• one stitch marker

GAUGE: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Chart (click to enlarge)

Using MC1/MC and circular needle, CO 100 sts, place marker, and join in the round.
Work in k1, p1 ribbing for 5 rounds, then in stockinette stitch for 4 rounds.
Begin working chart joining in CC/CC1, starting on Row 3 (pattern on Rows 1 and 2 are done in duplicate stitch later). Make sure that your yarn floats are loose enough to allow fabric to stretch.

As you’re working:

• Rows 12 and 13 are worked in MC1/MC with duplicate stitching added later. Do not break CC/CC1 yarn, it can be carried up and worked in row 14.

• Rows 23-25 also have duplicate stitching that is added later. Knit these stitches in MC1/MC.
• Row 30: Break MC1/CC1 and begin working with MC2/CC2.
• Rows 33 and 36 involve decreases where stitches of two different colors are knit together.
• Switch to DPNs when it becomes difficult to knit on the circular needle

After Row 43 is completed, break yarn and draw it through 5 remaining sts, down into hat and weave in ends.
With a tapestry needle, take lengths of specified yarn in chart to do the duplicate stitches to complete the design. Here is a good duplicate stitch tutorial if you need a little help with this.

If you decide to knit this pattern and run into a problem or notice an error, please let me know! Also, I’d love to see pictures of finished ones. To see the process of this pattern, click here.

P.S. Please don’t sell this pattern or anything made from this pattern. Thanks :)

… is posted here. I’d put it in here too, but I’d feel dirty.

So I’ve had my eye on this book for a while, and it doesn’t even go on sale until May 1st. I’m an undie fiend so this stuff is heaven, and I really like a good portion of the things Joan McGowan-Michael has designed, like the Zaftig bra on Knitty and these two deals:

Of course I’m going to buy the book. I was going to wait until they started going up used on Amazon, but apparently there’s a special pre-sale deal on the White Lies Designs website that convinced me to buy it NOW. The deal?

The release date is May 1 2007, but order before April 30 and receive an autographed copy of the book, free domestic shipping AND a coupon for 15% off the purchase of any White Lies Designs merchandise.

Since I was planning on buying the book and some of the patterns ANYWAY… why not get the book new, signed, and with a 15% off coupon?

I don’t like buying pattern books without seeing FOs or looking through them first, but the sneak preview on the website looks good enough to convince me.

When I was working at Value Village, I was the bed and bath pricer. This meant I priced bed and bath shit, all the accessories like purses and ties, and… all the craft stuff. So I not only did I get DIBS on the knitting crap… I DECIDED HOW MUCH THEY WOULD COST. I got a 50% discount, so I’d price things in a way so that they’d be JUST BARELY too expensive for somebody to just buy, but with my discount, it would still be really fucking cheap. If I even priced it and put it out on the floor instead of accidentally leaving it in my pocket before I went home.

One day, I found heaven

My heart skipped a beat in the same way it did when I found $90 in a crappy wallet. Could this be? Did I really find the holy grail of ugly vintage knitting patterns? I opened it to the first page, and I realized my dreams had come true:

It was love at first sight. Normally when I find a book or magazine of knitting patterns, I’ll like ONE thing in there. Maybe. But this… The book is FILLED with brilliance. Like…

A beautiful sweater dress

and

KNITTED PANTS AND MATCHING PONCHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!