Finished: Beanie

I find myself always rushing through my projects because I absolutely can not wait to see how the finished product turns out. Luckily with this project, it only took me a few hours to complete it, so only a little bit of rushing was required. The pattern is super simple, and even though it's mainly a men's hat, I can't help but wear it for myself. I used the Bernat Roving yarn in Flint. It's 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool and 100% soft! The yarn itself is a bit difficult to work with because it's very felt-y. The hat also felts a lot, which does not please me so. I think I'll try the hat again with a different bulky yarn and see how it works out.

 

 

How the hat looks inside out.

Aaaaaand I was going to post a picture with my face in it, but I looked awkward, so here's one of faceless me, wearing the hat.

Haul 003.

Wool, wool, wool! A cloudy day with lots of chill and wool is my favourite kind, all I need now is a pumpkin spice latte and I'm set for life. My package from Etsy has arrived and I'm so excited! I found this wool while browsing and I fell in love with not only the colours, but the prices as well, ahem. Not one of them is acrylic or any other 'fake' fabric, which is what really drew me to them. The first one is from Lanaloft and it's pictured below. It's a gorgeous lavender colour and my mom chose it for the headband I'm making her. It's 100% wool and is 160 yards. I also believe it's hand spun because it's all one long string, rather than a few strings twisted together, if that makes sense.

The new two are from Lamb's Pride. One is a beautiful flannel blue colour that I'll probably use for a chunky ribbed hat for my dad, just so he can wear around casually. The other is a really pretty seafoam colour. I have yet to decide what I wanna do with that one. They're both 85% wool and 15% mohair, which makes them snuggly and soft to the touch. They're also 125 yards. I'm actually really excited to work with these guys!

Next are two skein's from Nature Spun, the first is a silver sage colour I'm so in love with that I'll have to make myself a cowl with, and the second is a beautiful purple colour and I know exactly who this one's going to. They're both 100% wool and super, super soft. With a good wash and fabric softening, they're going to be amazing on the skin. Okay, I know I was excited to work with the Lamb's Pride yarns, but I'm actually really excited to work with these ones.

And last but least, I have these three babies. I'm planning on making the H&M scarves with these, even though I know I got the wrong material for them. The H&M scarves were probably a mohair, but I know I can throw these in the wash with some fabric softener and they'll be really great. Another weird thing I did is get 1 pink and 2 of white and grey. I don't know what was going through my mind at the time, but it could be the people I'm making these for. Anyways, they're all 80% cotton and 20% merino wool, and 215 yards.

So that's my wonderful haul! And yes of course I'll be updating further about what I'll be making with these beautiful yarns, so stick around. Also, can anyone please tell me what "second" means? It says so on each yarn label and I'm a touch confused.

Quick Beanie

One of my favourite Youtubers posted a Men's Beanie video and it was such a coincidence because it was exactly the type of hat I was looking for! I just happened to have the right yarn for it, so naturally I got to work right away. Admittedly, I'm not loving this yarn because it felts very easily and is a bother to work with, but it's coming along so no regrets.

The yarn I used is Bernat Roving yarn in the colour Charcoal (but don't quote me on that 'cause I could be wrong). I'm using the same circular needles from my Boye Needlemaster set as in the video.

I'm almost done and super excited! Pictures to come of the completed project!

Herringbones

Yay for new projects! As beautiful as the moss stitch is, I got tired of it and I was just itching to get my hands on something new. I found a wonderful tutorial on Youtube for this gorgeous herringbone cowl that is super chunky and super cute. I planned on using a different yarn for this project, but switched last minute and I'm so glad I did! Instead, I used my tweed yarn from Romni's. As you can see below, the piece is beginning to curl a little at the ends, but I think it's probably because the cast on is rather thin, and then the piece doubles in thickness. When I wash it, I'll block it a bit to ensure it's flat.

After working with the stitch a bit, I've come to the conclusion it's the thickest stitch I've ever worked with, but it's also my favourite. I just love the pattern that comes out of it and it's very easy to work with. If you're afraid the stitch will be too thick for you because you want a lighter piece, I'd suggest using a thinner yarn, possibly a fingerling.

Future Projects

I'm always looking for any shape and form of inspiration, generally causing me to dig deep, but sometimes the inspiration finds me. That's the one I love best. I was scrolling along on Tumblr, and I came upon these images, that left me drooling and wanting more. I have vowed to recreate these pieces, even though two of them seem nearly impossible, but it's a challenge and I like those.

The first is an H&M scarf that I'm absolutely in love with. It comes in many different colours, and even though they're only selling it for $14.95, it's not as satisfying as being able to say I made it myself. Plus, theirs has a seam, I'll be making mine on round needles. The only thing I have to do now is go into an H&M and secretly count on the stitches to get it just right. Oh, did I mention my yarn's on it's way? Pre-planning! And I bought several different colours so I could pass some on to friends and family.

The next two are my challenges. The first is a gorgeous cabeled cardigan with big buttons and lots of cozy comfort. I'm not at the stage where I'll be able to write my own pattern for it, so instead I'll browse around Ravelry and try to find a pattern for a similar cardigan. Fingers crossed!

This second sweater is my other challenge, and the other piece I'll be trying to find on Ravelry. I have similar sweaters to it, but nothing compares to something you've put your time and effort into.

And finally, this sweet little girl and her gorgeous beanie have captured my heart. And it looks like the hat's easy to make without a pattern! I'll be needing to do some Youtube watching on decreasing, but I think this hat's easily achievable with just a RS knit and WS purl. PLUS, it's the only piece I've seen that wholeheartedly accepts the curling and looks cute with it!

 

 

Disclaimer: None of these images are mine, all have been found on Tumblr.

Haul 001

My very first knitting haul! Woohoo! This is a bit of a compiled haul because I got all of these items over a few week period.

The first item is a pair of blue blunt-ended yarn needles by Red Heart. They're made of a plastic, which I'm afraid won't be as good as a metal needle. I have yet to try them out but I'll be sure to review them when I do.

The next thing I purchased I'm actually really excited about! It's a grey cabling needle! Cable knit is one of my most favourite things in the world and I can't wait to use them on a future project I'm planning! They are from Red Heart as well.

I've wanted the Boye Needlemaster Interchangeable Set for the longest time and I am SO happy I finally ordered it! I found it on Ebay for $30 which was such a steal because I saw the set at Michael's for $90. $60 savings means more yarn! I'm expecting a lot of use from this set considering I can make pretty much anything with it. Also, it is a set of circular needles, but they can be used as straight needles as well. You get a set of 13 needles ranging from size US 2 to US 15, 4 cables and a few accessories all packed neatly into a pretty brown leatherette (?) travel case.

I also purchase a pair of Anodized Aluminun circular needles from Boye, size US 17, cord 29". I needed these for another future project coming up very soon. They cost me around $11, I think, and I purchased them at Michael's.

While at Michael's, I also found the big sale bin full of yarn! After a good amount of digging, I finally came up with a few skeins. The first is 5 skeins of bright blue acrylic chunky yarn, each 114 yards. I bought these for a scarf I'm planning on making, but the pattern didn't state how many yards was in each skein of yarn the original scarf was made in, just that 5 skeins was used.

Next I came up with 2 skeins of sparkly wine red yarn! I'll be using these for a hat I'm hoping to make before autumn chills set in! I was honestly pretty hesitant about getting this yarn because of the sparkles and colour, but I decided 'what the heck' and got it anyways. The sale bin claimed each skein was $2.99 but when I went to check out, it turns out each was $1.99! Super save! I just regret not going back and picking up a few more skeins.

This picture and the one underneath are not true to colour.

The following yarn I purchased on Etsy from El Coyote Ranch. I found it while browsing around. It cost me $10 from $20. The colour I purchased was Rusty Gray (WHICH I LOVE) and it is 60% wool and 40% mohair, approximately 180 yards. I'm a little hesitant with this yarn because it's much rougher than I expected it to be, so I'm not sure what to make with it. I'm considering doing a hat because I'm afraid it might be too scratchy as a scarf. I'll have to use a lot of white vinegar and fabric softener with it.

Next, I got 2 skeins of the same yarn in different colours. The first colour is a charcoal, the second a natural camel-y colour. They are 80% acrylic and 20% yarn, both very soft. I'll probably make a hat out of the first and a scarf out of the second. They cost me around $5 each.

And finally, I stopped by Romni Wools in Toronto. After browsing the very-packed racks of various wool, an associate there told me about the sale section in the basement and I jumped at the chance. The basement was just as packed as the upstairs! I finally decided on 6 skeins of Rubens Tweed, which is 65% virgin wool, 14% polyacryl, 12% polyester and 9% cotton. I really like the colour and for $6.50 a skein, I just had to have them!