emily k(nits, watches, and writes)

This is a bit of a placeholder post, but I just adored working on this pattern and wanted to share it.

Per Orla

Per Orla, Ballband Detail

Per Orla, Leaf Detail

This was my first foray into the much-loved ballband pattern by the Mason Dixon ladies. I didn’t have any trouble making the slipped stitches line up; I’m either that awesome of a knitter or I’m that awesome of a knitter. Jury’s out I guess.

I used PurlBee’s applied icord instructions for the trim.

You can find the pattern here.

And you can queue it on Ravelry here:

After moving and shuffling things and refinding things I have finally finished and woven in the ends of my two most recent cowl projects.

Clinton

Clinton by Berroco. Uses 8 skeins of Vintage, and I’m pretty sure you can squeeze two cowls out of the 8 skeins.

Calm Cowl

Calm Cowl, a free pattern I found on Ravelry. Knit up with 1.5 skeins of Berroco Vintage DK in Oats. Love it.

Both are on display near their respective yarns at Hill Country Weavers. Feel free to check them out!

So I knit Kyle a hat at one point, but it was a teal color that was a bit too much on the green side …. it was also made out of 50/50 alpaca/wool so it’s super warm. Seeing as he lives in LA, something a bit lighter would be more functional. So I made him this watch cap (which fits me because I have a big head and a lot of hair):

Watch Cap

I knit it out of pretty much my favorite yarn ever, Berroco Vintage. Wool/Acrylic/Nylon blend, super soft, washable, great colors. A much more manly color and fit. The pattern is from Bruce Weinstein’s great Knits Men Want. I’m determined to knit most of the patterns from that book for him. (But not a sweater. This I know. Not yet anyway.) The picture was taken above New Mexico on an airplane as I as headed out to LA to spend a week with him (d’awww).

Now I’m casting on another in Berroco Ultra Alpaca for my friend Scott (what color? black. “forever black, forever alone” so he says). It’s a quick knit and a great on-the-go project.

I started knitting this guy on Thursday, June 23rd. Friday morning this is how far I had gotten:

Clinton

Today is Monday, June 27th, and here is how much I’ve gotten done:

Clinton

It’s been such a quick knit for me, mostly because I am so excited to switch colors. The gradation of the different colors is wonderful, and all you need to be able to do is work with two colors at once.

I’m following the tip from Mason Dixon knitting of turning stranded colorwork inside out. It helps keep the floats on the loose side.

I’m an unabashed Berroco fangirl so I’m not even going to bother explaining why I’m doing this. The Fall/Winter 2011 doesn’t have one book in particular that I’m flailing over, but there are a few patterns that I will for sure be lusting over when the booklets arrive this summer:

Clinton

Clinton is a stranded colorwork cowl where you only use two colors at a time. Sounds perfect to me. The color combinations are gorgeous and I am SO making this as soon as the booklet comes into the shop.

Fieldstone

Fieldstone. A seamless, top down pullover with a fair isle yoke, a bit of garter trim, and and some fair isle sleeve details. EZ would be so proud of this.

Panna

Panna, an open-front, boyfriend length cardigan with ribbed trim and garter stitch edging. Simple and beautiful.

Ekberg

Ah finally, some patterns for Flicker! These Ekberg mittens are adorable and I love the cuff details.

And from Norah Gaughan’s new book:

Nyx

Nyx, a luscious, cabled cowl with a hint of glitter from the tinsel in Blackstone Tweed Metallic. (Aside: is shiny coming back?)

Overall, not a bad season for Berroco patterns. I’m pretty disappointed in the lack of crochet patterns, though. And I fear what direction they might go without Cirilia Rose…