emily k(nits, watches, and writes)

Chantillon Cowl

Detail

The Chantillon Cowl is a pattern I made up for the Head & Shoulders pattern booklet released at Hill Country Weavers for the Hill Country Yarn Crawl this year. The booklet was a handout for yarn crawl participants; each pattern included is made to use one skein of Cascade Soft Spun, which we also gave to yarn crawlers.

The patterns are currently rolling out on Ravelry, and the booklet will eventually be for sale as an ebook on Ravelry. For now, you can queue up my pattern here:

And you can check out the rest of the patterns as they become available here.

About the name: Nothing fancy really, just a contorted version of the French word échantillon. If you look it up you may gain some insight into my design motivation.

I have been knitting and stuff. Really.

Proof:

Octopus Cephalopod Amigurumi

Cactus

They were made for the shop as samples. We started balling up Ella Rae Classic into mini balls of yarn (about 73 yds) to sell as our own little version of small balls. The yarn just wasn’t selling, as people tend to gravitate towards Cascade 220. So Suzanne asked if Brenda could crochet up something to help sell the yarn and generate more interest in crochet. I took over and made some amis. I think they’re pretty cute!

Now I’m back on a crocheting kick and want to make every ami pattern in my queue. And I may just do that, too. They are so quick and easy to make!

And if you couldn’t tell from the top of the page, I have re-embarked on a Season 12 scarf, this time around following the directions from WLK. It’s going swimmingly, and I have to admit, it’s getting to the point that its difficult to transport comfortably. Which is unfortunate because it has been my go-to bus ride project.

I’d say more but I’m pra tired. BYE.

We knitters sure know how to spice things up!

Where my stitches at?

The Knitters were out in full-force at Gallifrey One this year. Tara Wheeler, known for her amazing Fourth Doctor scarves and her life-sized TARDIS replica, commandeered half of the Philadelphia room at the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel and Conference Center and claimed it for her TARDIS and for Ravelry.com.

Practically a 24/7 stitch 'n' bitch

As soon as the doors opened on Friday morning there was a group of knitters in the TARDIS room, helping Tara mind her TARDIS, offering to take pictures of people with said TARDIS, and showcasing amazing scarves and Doctor Who-related knittery. One brilliant knitter even shared her fantastic illusion-knit Doctor Who blanket with us. From straight-on, the scarf looks pretty much like a bunch of garter stitch stripes.

Fantastic illusion-knit Doctor Who blanket

But at an angle, you can see Cybermen, Daleks, the letters W H O, and a ?. Simply stunning.

What the illusion knitting illuded to ...

And on Saturday the proud participants of the GOTSCARF Traveling Fourth Doctor Scarf KAL got together for a picture with the finished scarf and the TARDIS:

The Scarf KAL knitters (can you find me?)

We put the scarf in the auction on Sunday, which raised $250 for charity! Go us!

Other Fourth Doctor scarves were found all over the place during Gally. I saw over a dozen different versions, though most of them were either season 12 or 15 from what I could tell. When the wonderful Mr. Javier Grillo-Marxuach (creator of The Middleman, writer/producer of the first two seasons of Lost, etc.) arrived on Friday he was sporting his own (bought, based on the tag I remember seeing on it) Fourth Doctor scarf:

Michelle/Michelf with Javier GM!

Ravelry members also at the conference got our own ribbons, which were plotted on the Who Knits? forums and brought by Nancy/tigereye:

The Ravelers of Rassilon

Our hang-out spot in the Philadelphia room was also the “official” meetup spot for the lovely gentlemen behind the Doctor Who: Podshock podcast:

Unofficial DW podcast meeting spot

James Naughton, pictured on the right above and one part of the international Podshock crew, was sporting a lovely Fourth Doctor Scarf-inspired tie which I believe was made for him by Tara:

James and his ScarfTie

We even dominated the latest episode of The Happiness Patrol, a DW podcast co-staring the aforementioned Tara Wheeler!

The Happiness Patrol, ep. 15: “Gallifrey 21″

We also got a great shoutout (a few, actually) on the Gallifrey One edition of the 2 Minute Timelord podcast:

2MTL 106: Gallifrey One Wrap-up with Shaun Lyon (TIME DILATION)

The knitting love was all around at Gally this year. And it sounds like nearly all of us will be back again next year, ready to share the DW-inspired knitting love in 2011. I’m already plotting to make a knit Eleventh Doctor bowtie …

Check back soon for part 2 of my Gallifrey One: 21 recap!

Hello 2010! How are you? You seem to be doing well so far.

I feel like there are a lot of things to talk about, but at the same time nothing to talk about. I guess that’s what vacation is like. I survived the semester, survived Ten regenerating into Eleven, and have so far survived being around my family every day. I’ll spare you the school nonsense, and reserve my Doctor Who discussion for a separate post. For now, how about some knitting?

I’ve actually done quite a bit of knitting over the last few weeks. And I finally got around to uploading a few images.

First up, washcloths. I think I brought up before that I decided to make my aunties washcloths for Xmas. Well, I did. I ordered some nice soaps to give them, but they never showed up. So I didn’t take pictures. I just gave them all the Body Shop soaps I ordered for myself. I guess the fancy stuff will be for me! I did stumble upon a different pattern, though: the Mason Dixon washcloth.

Mason Dixon Washcloths

Pattern: Mason Dixon Washcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Tahki Sky
Needles: addiTurbo US8 16″ circular needle; Susan Bates US8 double pointed needles
Thoughts: Love this pattern, love this yarn! This has to be the best cotton to knit with EVER. I want to knit every cotton thing ever with this yarn. Seriously.

A Hat Fit for a Ruth

Pattern: A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend by Stephanie Nicole
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Stonechat
Needles: addiNatura US8 16″ circular needle; Clover bamboo US8 double pointed needles
Modifications/Thoughts: I changed the decrease rounds a bit so that the edges would be smoother. Basically I made every odd round (starting with round 3) a SSK rather than a K2TOG. I also knit 6.5″ before decreasing, which ended up being the perfect size for Nate (the recipient). Also, I LOVE these needles! The smooth joins and cord of addiTurbos with the warmth of bamboo. Totally awesome.

I’ve been putting thought into resolutions for the year—well, more like goals than resolutions—some knitting related, some not. When I decide what they are I may have to say something about it here. In the meantime, happy new year. Enjoy a bowl of ozoni … here’s to good health and good luck in 2010.

ek