what i’ve been doing instead of studying

Posted on January 27, 2009 by The Incurable Homebody

I knew before applying for my M.A. that, once school started, competition for my time and attention would be fierce. So far, the books have been winning — but only by a hair. Even with the weight of two term paper due dates fast approaching, and me with no outlines nor theses to speak of, I (rather unwisely) banged out this work in progress:

In my defense, not a whole lot of time has been spent on this, as the needles are large (U.S. size 17) and the yarn extra bulky — but enough to have caused me an adequate amount of guilt. Some tough self-love was in order, so after running out of yarn for the project, I am forbidding myself to buy any more of it until these term papers are written — and not just the first drafts, mind you.

I am going to lay some of the blame on Interweave Press for just recently publishing their latest book — French Girl Knits — which features a great number of beautiful, seamless designs. Seamless!!! Of course, I couldn’t wait to try out a pattern, and this one in particular caught my eye:

It’s called “Wrenna,” and being a fan of chunky knits, I decided to give it a go using some Wool Ease Thick and Quick that I already had in my stash. The horseshoe lace pattern is fun to knit, and very pretty as well, which I’m sure will be enhanced after a good blocking. Unlike the pattern, I’m not going to use a leather thong to close the front, as I’m not much a fan of that Renaissance Fair aesthetic, but will sew buttons instead.

Alright. Enough written. Back to the ol’ books I go.

my ravelry “meret”

Posted on January 22, 2009 by The Incurable Homebody

green-beret-top

I’ve finally put my Ravelry account to good use and made this beret (or “meret,” short for “mystery beret,” as it’s called on the site) from a free pattern. All you knitters who do not have a Ravelry account, get one pronto! I used Berocco Ultra Alpaca yarn in Pea Soup, and I loved working with it. Overall, this beret was a fast and fun knit. I want to make a few more — perhaps with a little more slouch — so I’m crossing my fingers in the hope that we’ll get another month or so more of this invigoratingly cold weather! (I live in L.A., hence the need for crossed fingers.)

green-beret-back

green-beret-side

new dress + craft sabbath

Posted on January 19, 2009 by The Incurable Homebody

I certainly do live up to my blog title. And being such a homebody, I don’t often get the chance to socialize. Which is why I decided to host something which I’ve dubbed Craft Sabbath — a time for folks to get together to get their craft on. I originally intended for it to be a bi-weekly, every-other-Sunday affair — but this proves difficult as I’m attempting to balance full time employment, grad school, a band, and a host of hobbies. So it looks like Craft Sabbath will turn out to be a once-a-month thing. Still, a group of people showed up for the very first Craft Sabbath on the 4th to knit or to learn how to knit, eat snacks, sip beverages and to chat. (Thanks for the terrific photos, Damien!)

Also, I made a new dress from the same pattern I used for my orange/white striped minidress a little while back. It’s a Built By Wendy (Simplicity 3835) raglan sleeve number that was meant for a woven fabric, but I decided to use a stretch knit so that I didn’t have to put a zipper in the back because I’m lazy that way. I got the fabric on sale and I don’t know what it’s comprised of exactly. Rayon maybe? It’s very smooth and stretchy and reminds me a bit of bathing suit fabric. Anyway, now that I know that this pattern can be used with jersey knits with great success, I’ll have to make a couple more in order to put a dent in the large stash of printed jersey knits that’s piled up in my closet.

happy feet

Posted on January 1, 2009 by The Incurable Homebody

First off — happy new year fellow crafters! Hope your 2009 brims with joy and inspiration.

I’ve only just recently tackled knitting socks (I’ve been crocheting them up till now) and since learning, I’ve been dying to try out some self-striping yarn. And as I’d been given some Michael’s craft store gift cards for Christmas and said establishment had every skein of yarn on sale (up to 75% off!) this past weekend, I couldn’t resist stocking up on some mega cheap (my apologies, fiber snobs!) but mega fun yarn. For these socks (still in progress) I’m using Red Heart’s Heart and Sole yarn in Razzle Dazzle. I’m not only amazed by the stripes, but by the fair-isle type designs that magically appear as well! I’ve known for a while that such yarn existed, but I still couldn’t helped but get giddy when I saw the designs form before my eyes.

Also completed a pair of chunky cabled leg warmers. I didn’t pay attention to counting the rows between crossing the cables because I wanted a very primitive, almost childlike feel. That and I wanted to be able to watch television at the same time I knitted them. Haha.

I’m a sucker for flecks — especially colorful ones like in this Moda Dea Tweedle Dee yarn (in Sahara).

first step towards a more colorful kitchen

Posted on December 30, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

Never pass up the chance to make a thing of beauty out of something mundane. It’s one of the secrets of happiness if you ask me. Take, for example, the humble dish towel. Why need they be drab? I found myself in need of a couple, so instead of buying some run-of-the-mill factory made ones, I decided to buy myself some cheerful (and cheap!) cotton yarn and knit my own. For the one pictured at left, I used Vogue Knitting’s embossed vine and leaves pattern (free online here) and the other is a simple stripe using three colors and super easy stitch patterns: garter, moss and seed. The yarn cost me less than $4, and the effect these cheery towels have on my mood when I dry my wet mugs is priceless. Now that I’ve seen what a little splash of color can do, I think I might have to knit myself a pair of cafe curtain panels to match!

Bobbles & Twists Fingerless Mitts Knitting Pattern (Straight Needles)

Posted on December 15, 2008 by

Hi readers! Today marks my first attempt to create a knitting pattern. Woot woot! I wanted to make some fingerless mitts/gauntlets that had both cables and bobbles, but found none that I liked, so I took a stab at designing my own. So I present to you Homebody’s Bobbles & Twists Fingerless Mitts (on Straight Needles). And I think they came out pretty great, if I do say so myself. I’m a little bit nervous about sharing my first pattern, but here goes. Please do tell me if there are any errors.

Since I’m still getting the hang of circular knitting with DPNs (double-pointed-needles) and I figured that a lot of beginners might be in the same boat, I decided to knit these on straight needles. However, If you absolutely hate seaming and you’re more adept at DPNs than me, then they’d definitely be a good choice.

Bobbles and Twists Fingerless Mitts (On Straight Needles)

US Size 9 (5.5 mm) straight needles
Gauge: 4 stitches in stockinette = 1”
Worsted weight yarn of your choice.

MB = Make bobble. [k1, yo, k1, yo, k1] all in one stitch (you have turned one stitch into 5), turn and p5, turn and sl 2, k3 together, pass 2 stitches over the first stitch. For video instructions on how to make a bobble, click here and see “Creating Basic Bobbles” under Decorative Stitches.

(Bobbles and Vines panel from Reader’s Digest Ultimate Sourcebook for Knitting and Crochet Stitches.)

Right Mitt

CO 34
Rows 1 and 3: *k2, p2, repeat * to the end
Rows 2 and 4: *p2, k2, repeat * to the end
–Start Bobble/Cable pattern between stitch markers with reverse St st on either side of markers–
Row 5 (RS): p6, pm, k16, pm, p12
Row 6 (WS): k12, p16, k6.
Rows 7 & 8: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches
Row 9 (RS): p6, slip 4 stitches on CN and place in front of work, k4, k4 from CN, k3, MB, k4, p12
Rows 10 – 14: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches
Row 15 (RS): p6, k4, MB, k3, slip 4 stitches on CN and place in back of work, k4, k4 from CN, p12

Repeat Rows 5 – 15 until the arm warmer is the desired length (not including the lower ribbed edge). Mine have three full bobble/cable pattern repeats before beginning the ribbing.

Next row (RS): *k2, p2, repeat * to the end of the row
Continue in k2, p2 rib for 9 more rows
Cast off in pattern.

Left Mitt

CO 34
Rows 1 and 3: *k2, p2, repeat from * to the end
Rows 2 and 4: *p2, k2, repeat from * to the end
–Start Bobble/Cable pattern between stitch markers with reverse St st on either side of markers–
Row 5 (RS): p12, pm, k16, pm, p6
Row 6 (WS): k6, p16, k12.
Rows 7 & 8: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches
Row 9 (RS): p12, k4, MB, k3, slip 4 stitches on CN and place in back of work, k4, k4 from CN, p6
Rows 10 – 14: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches
Row 15 (RS): p12, slip 4 stitches on CN and place in front of work, k4, k4 from CN, k3, MB, k4, p6

Next row (RS): *k2, p2, repeat * to the end of the row
Continue in k2, p2 rib for 9 more rows
Cast off.

Finishing:

Sew the side seams to make a tube, leaving a gap approximately 2.5 inches long for a thumb opening. If desired, you can pick up stitches around thumb opening to create a thumb gusset in the round with DPNs—but I’m lazy and never bother. 🙂

Please let me know if you make them yourself. I’d love to see!

bobbles and twists

Posted on December 15, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

Happy to say that I’ve achieved my goal to complete all my Christmas presents by the 15th! Woohoo!

This is also a milestone post for me, as I’ve attempted to write out my very first knitting pattern. I wanted to make some arm warmers/gauntlets that had both cables and bobbles, but found none that I liked, so I took a stab at designing my own — and I think they came out alright. I’m a little bit nervous about sharing my first pattern, but here goes. Please do tell me if there are any errors.

Note: I tried, at first, to knit them in the round with double pointed needles so I wouldn’t have to seam, but it wasn’t fun making the bobbles and cables while contending with all those needles, so I switched to straights. If you absolutely hate sewing and you’re more adept at DPNs than me, then they’d definitely be the better choice.

Bobbles and Twists Arm Warmer

US Size 9 (5.5 mm) straight needles
Gauge: 4 stitches in stockinette = 1”
Worsted weight yarn of your choice.

(Bobbles and Vines panel from Reader’s Digest Ultimate Sourcebook for Knitting and Crochet Stitches.)

Right arm warmer:

Repeat Rows 5 – 15 until the arm warmer is the desired length (not including the lower ribbed edge). Mine have three full bobble/cable pattern repeats before beginning the ribbing.

Next row (RS): *k2, p2, repeat * to the end of the row
Continue in k2, p2 rib for 9 more rows
Cast off in pattern.

Left arm warmer:

Next row (RS): *k2, p2, repeat * to the end of the row
Continue in k2, p2 rib for 9 more rows
Cast off.

Finishing:
Sew the side seams to make a tube, leaving a gap approximately 2.5 inches long for a thumb opening. If desired, you can pick up stitches around thumb opening to create a thumb gusset in the round with DPNs—but I’m lazy and never bother. 🙂

Please let me know if you make them yourself. I’d love to see!

more christmas knits

Posted on December 8, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

***CHRISTMAS PRESENT SPOILER ALERT!!!***

More Christmas knits to report.

First off, how adorable are these miniature sweaters?! They’re meant to be tree ornaments, but I thought (if made slightly bigger) they would make terrific gift card holders. So I made these and that’s what I intend to use them for. Might also make one for myself to hang from my rearview mirror. This pattern (and many more) are available free here at the Berocco site.

img_5404_2

A chunky cabled neckwarmer (no pattern used — pretty straightforward cable pattern done over 6 stitches with seed stitch on either side).

img_5406_2

And some fingerless mitts, one embellished with very simple embroidery and the other with an ultra easy fair isle pattern.

img_5420_2

img_5416_2

warm things for winter

Posted on December 3, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

**CHRISTMAS PRESENT SPOILER ALERT! Friends and family, read on at your own risk!**

I was that high school slacker who pulled caffeine-fueled all-nighters banging out term papers begun just that evening but due the next morning…and my lousy grades reflected my habitual lack of planning. After much determination and effort to put that all behind me, I’m proud to say that I’ve learned to get (most) things completed way ahead of time—including taking care of my Christmas list before the holiday crunch. This year, pretty much everyone’s going to get a knitted/crocheted item—but of course I’ll try to throw in a sewn one here and there as well.

So, needless to say, every free minute I’ve had for the past couple weeks has been spent knitting gifts, as my goal is to have them all completed no later than December 15th. We’ll see how I fare!

So far, I’ve made this crocheted Peruvian style earflap hat using this pattern…

…a basketweave stitch scarf (not pictured), and some neckwarmers…

…using this very pretty lace scarf pattern, free here. I cut the scarf in half lengthwise (cast on 17 instead of 34 as the pattern calls for) as the lace pattern was repeated once on each row, and I used a thicker weight yarn — and I love the result!

Last but not least, get a load of this ultra kitschy 70s-style clutch, complete with pom-poms, that I made with some leftover yarn. knitted it up on a whim just this evening, but I’m not sure if it’ll get stuffed into any stockings this year. Think the kitsch factor might be too high on this one to consider it a serious gift!

orange crush

Posted on November 24, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

Orange is definitely my color of choice for this winter. Actually, it’s been my color of choice for the past two winters…as well as the past few springs, summers, and falls. Alright, forget what I said, I just love orange in general. And to prove it, I present here two creations: a completed cardi-belt set and a UFO (unfinished object, for my non crafting readers) — the Best Friend Cardigan from Big City Knits I’d mentioned in the last post.

So, energized by my first knitted garment, I set to work on this little number that I based on my blue shrug. I basically extended the length (decreased a bit at the center back so it wouldn’t be too baggy), added about 5 inches of ribbing on the bottom edge and created a two-button seed stitch belt to give it some shaping. I’m thinking it might end up someone’s Christmas present.

And now for the UFO. When I first laid eyes on this cardigan in Twinkle’s Big City Knits, it was love at first sight, so I delved right in without going online to check for any tips from other knitters who’d attempted the same project. Had I done so, I would have discovered that this item knits up tiny. And I mean TIIIIIINY.

So, all the knitting is done (I had plenty o’ of fun making those bobbles and cables!) and all that’s left to do is to attach the sleeves, sew on the buttons and weave in the ends…all of that tedious stuff that I HATE to do. And since it’s ended up too small for me to wear, I ran out of the motivation to complete it. *sigh* So for the moment, it’s shelved until I find a little girl to give it to. Either that, or a very thin friend.

THE INCURABLE HOMEBODY

"Thanks, but i'd rather stay in and make stuff."