block 'n tackle knitting

I've had fun learning a new thing -- tunisian crochet!  I found this weird long hook at the thrift store a while back and for 69 cents I couldn't resist...  I dug around in The Happy Hooker and found instructions for how to do this odd hybrid between crocheting and knitting (it's sometimes called afghan stitch) and thought, hey, that looks cool!  It's super easy, makes a sturdy fabric with a cool basketweavey look on one side (cross stitch, anyone?) and the other side looks like purls, which I love... Not sure what I want to make with it yet, but I'm sure I'll think of something (I might even try my hand at cross stitch, hmm...).

I've been away on a wonderful holiday in Vermont! The leaves were fantastic and inspired me to start some autumn colourways for my Christmas knitting... Since Vermont is all the way across the continent from me, I spent rather a lot of time in airports, which means I had to find things to knit. I finished these two hats, coming and going (grey slouchy one for me, stripey beanie for my daughter who is lookin' cute modeling both):

I was gleeful to find that the remainder of that salvaged orange 'n pink mohair knit up into such a large piece:  I used simple garter stitch and BIG needles (12 mm) to make this wrap, which, when finished reminded of of the exact colour of a sunset I remember watching over Slave Lake in northern Alberta. It's feather-light and warm as mohair should be.  Yum.    

Here is my second original design for a scarf -- enjoy! KiKi's Garter with a Twist scarf I like how using garter instead of stockinette as a background to the cables not only makes this scarf look a bit more rugged, but allows it to lie flat without any blocking. I think the stripes give it bit of a Dr. Seuss-y punk feel, but it would look equally stylin' in a solid colour. This is a good beginner's cable project. 6 mm needles 2 skeins salvaged worsted weight yarn in pale rose and darker rose colours (or two skeins in one colour if desired, but it's often easier to find random skeins of yarn in different colours.) cable needle abbreviations: k = knit p = purl C6F: slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 3 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle. C6B: slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 3 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle. CO 28 in darker colour row 1 - k6, p6, k...

All done!  I just had to add the pink double crocheted border, 'cause I love doing that kind of thing.  (Deets here .)  

Well, actually, bowl 'o orange... Lookit what I found at the thrift store yesterday for only $2.99! Two skeins of orange mohair and a ball of pink!! Just in time for autumn knitting... Pattern idea from here . I love autumn.

I've designed my first original pattern (that I want to admit to, anyway).  Here it is, ta da!  Enjoy... Reefer Madness:  roll your own stockinette scarf This scarf is simple and makes a subtly subversive statement.  It's an ideal beginner's project, or something soothing to knit when your fingers are itching but your mind needs a holiday, or you can knit it in the park while discussing Timothy Leary.  It's that kind of scarf. Salvaged worsted yarn, any type, in off-white and a nice leafy shade of green.  Try for 2 skeins of white and you'll only need a half-skein, at most, of the green stuff. Size 10 1/2 US (7 mm) straight needles stockinette stitch row 1:  knit row 2:  purl rinse, lather and keep repeating these two rows Cast on 30 stitches in off-white Knit, for as long as your attention span lasts, in stockinette, or until it's just about long enough. Change to leafy green and knit some more.  Not too much, just en...