Khristmas Knits: part 5

The quickest of them all would be this hat. On an aran weight alpaca I was able to whip this hat out in about four hours with distractions.  have found that most of the men in my life are the ones that are really attracted to this hat. So if you realize that you missed one person on your Christmas list this year, I suggest this hat. The puff ball is even easy. I used this fur yarn from Luiza Harding and all I had to do was knit a small square and cinch it up to make the ball. I found it much faster and cleaner then doing a normal puff ball.

Khristmas Knits: part 4

FOR ALL MY SINGLE SKEIN LADIES OUT THERE! THIS ONE IS FOR YOU
You know what I am talking about. It is always one of two things: 1) When your friend goes on a trip and buys you yarn as a gift or 2) it's the yarn that when someone hears that you knit and they go "oh! I use to knit, do you want my yarn? Here is my yarn you can have it. " and my first thought is thaaankkkssss...now what will I do with this. So here is my thought, make a cowl and give it as a gift.

This is my go to project for all that gifted yarn and it super easy and fast. This is the TV knit gifts. I love to make these cowls as I watch all my Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel. Depending on the size you want to make all you have to do is change the cast one number but almost across the board the needle stays the same.  As you can see it works with a bundle of different yarns and textures.

1 Skien of cashmere 2- ply (400 yards)
CO 100 sts on size US 9

1/2 Skien of Mohair ( 330 Yards)
CO 100 sts on size US 9

1 Skien of Noro's Taiyo ( 220 Yards)
CO 150 sts on size US 9

Khristmas Knits: Part 3

This edition to my Khristmas knits is the best one for some of that scrap fingering yarn you have lying around. It not only is a quick little knit but a great repetitive practice of yarn overs and decreasing. It is a braided cabled chain or ribbon type thing. I do not really know how to describe but what is cool is that you can make it a multitude of things. Both my friend and I made ours into head bands. But the pattern shows it as both a bracelet and a necklace. I think all ways are great and it look really cute. I also thought it may be a good belt or a strap for a felted bag you may have just worked up. No matter how you use it I think its a great little pattern to have in the back of your head.

Khristmas Knits: Part 1

Christmas time is hard for us knitters. What should we make people? Do they deserve that? Is this going to cost way to much? How much work will that take? Well I have come up with a few different projects that absolve all these questions. My first project is for all that leftover cashmere you have sitting in your closet. Its for all those scrapes of luxurious yarns that you know you will never be able to make anything with it but its so nice and soft so there is no way that you can throw it away. I am just like all of you until I made this hat. I was up in the middle of the night going through my stash and I realized how much of this yummy scrap yarn I had hidden away and I thought what can I do with this? I vaguely remembered coming across this hat on Ravelry and I thought to myself "I like it but lets do more...lets be creative". And here is the result. Now for those who love to follow a pattern I would go back here and purchase her pattern and make a wonderful gift, or something special for yourself, you deserve it! For those who like to take a leap of faith, like me, then please go have fun. The lace pattern that I used was from another project that I had really enjoyed. I say do the same as me, find some old patterns you loved and throw them in.

My yarn choices starting from the bottom of the hat moving up
hand-spun cashmere: ribbing 2x2 CO: 
Angel: 15 row lace pattern 
Habu Looped Mohair: stockinette 
Sweater: eyelet rounds 
8-ply Cashmere: cables 
Beaded Silk: stockinette 
Habu Looped Mohair: stockinette 
Angel: decrease eyelet round


--I think I may have even edited this when I actually knit it but it was fun and organic no matter what!