Chakra with Mittens

The Pattern: Chakra by Alysa Joaquin
The Yarn: 1 ball Noro Kureyon in #253 Turq, Royal, Red, Pink 1 ball (110yds/100m) and 1 ball Ella Rae Classic Superwash in cream (219yds/200m)
Needle size: US 7 (4.5mm)

Started: 8/12/11
Finished: 8/13/11

I knit this hat once before for a swap. I loved it, but I had to give it away. So I decided I'd make one for myself.

This time I decided to make mittens too. I made up the pattern as I went along.

Heads and Hands

I had a lot of time off in Dec and Jan so I made hat and mitten sets for Megan and Anna.

The Hat Pattern: Ear Cozies (CH-34) by Bev Galeskas
Hat Sizes: Large for Megan and Medium for Anna

The Mitten Pattern: Kathy's Mittens by Chris de Longpré
Mitten Sizes: Preschool for Megan and Toddler for Anna

The Yarn: 1 skein of Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Baby in Berrylicious and 1 skein each of Caron Simply Soft Party Black Sparkle and Purple Sparkle
Needle size: US 9

Started: 1/5/11
Finished: 1/14/11

I really like the ear cozie pattern. It has two versions the pointed and rounded. I made the pointed for Anna in the past, so I used the rounded this time and added pom poms.

I wanted the sets to be similar, but not identical. So for the body of Anna's mittens and hat I used a polka dot pattern.
Anna has the hat on backwards in this picture. When it is turned around the cozies fit over her ears better.

Then for Megan I did stripes. Hmmm Megan has her hat on backwards too, I can see the seam O_o
The mitten pattern was relatively easy to follow. The only modification I made was lengthening the cuffs.

Kiki Mariko

I've basically been finished with this for over a year now. I've been waiting to post it 'cause I kept thinking that I would get around to binding the edge. But I don't think that'll ever happen :)

The Pattern: Kiki Mariko from Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines by Kay Gardiner and Ann Meador Shayne
Size: 42.5 in x 35 in (108 cm x 89 cm) before felting
        37.5 in x 29 in (96 cm x 74 cm) after felting
The Yarn: Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky 2 balls of Chocolate and 1 ball each of Lime, Navy, Red-Purple, Burgundy, Pumpkin, Gold, and Oatmeal (108yds/99m)
Needle size: US 11 - 8.0 mm

Started: 6/6/10
Finished: 6/13/10

This is a colorwork project knit in the round, so you basically end up with a big tube.

A checkerboard pattern is knit at the beginning and end of the round to form the steeked egde.

To felt the rug I placed it in a pillow case and put it through the hot wash cycle of my washing machine.

As you cut through the middle of the checkerboard pattern your knitting will not unravel because the separate strands of yarn were fused together during the felting process.

The steek should be cut while the rug is still wet from washing, so that you can shape the rug. It took a lot of pulling and stretching to get the rug into a even rectangle. With a little more effort I could have also straighten out the edges. But I liked the slightly wavy look, so I left them alone.

The felting creates a nice tight fabric.

This is the edge that I had meant to bind in brown using a whip stitch. I just never got around to it and after a year I don't think I ever will. And I like the checkerboard pattern just as it is anyway.

Towering Inga

My first Ugh!

The Pattern: The Inga Hat by Sheila Macdonald 
The Yarn: Main Color Ella Rae Classic in White 01
     Contrast Color 1 Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool in Maple 911
     Contrast Color 2 Cascade 220 in Teal 9420
Needle size: 3 and 5

Started: 3/7
Finished: 6/14

This is my second colorwork project and my first try with more than 2.

I did have a little trouble managing the 3 colors. It is much easier when you only have to worry about 2 colors.

It was fun to watch the braided edge come together. However, there is a lot of twisting of the yarn. Don't worry though. the first half of the braid twists in one direction and the second half twist in the opposite direction. So if you just let it keep twisting it'll eventually work itself out.

If you're having trouble understanding the pattern instructions for the knitted braid here's a good link to help you out: Siskyou Knits

I changed the chart up a bit, because I wanted to bring more of the second contrasting color into the pattern. So I used the second contrasting color for the centers of the diamonds and the lines inbetween. I recolored the chart so that I'd remember to use the correct color. The colors wouldn't have meshed as well if I didn't bring more of the teal in.

Things I love about Inga:
·The color combination. I really like the teal and maple combo, I think it looks really delicious and they really pop against the white background.
·The diamond design, I like the intricate look.
·The braided edge. Cool technique and I like how it turned out.

The ONE thing I HATE about how Inga is her size. She's ridiculously tall!

This is clearly my fault, because everyone else's Inga's seem to be the right height. Yet mine towers above. I suspect I should have paid more attention to the height of my gauge. I do confess, I didn't swatch for this.

I plan to go back and fix her. Eliminating half a a diamond should bring it down to the right height, but for now I'm shelving Inga. In the back of my closet. So I don't have to look at her. Because I'm frustrated.

Chakra

Pattern: 'Chakra' by Alysa Joaquin
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in 240 about 2/3rds skein and Ella Rae Classic in white 01 less than half a ball.
Needles: Knit Pick Circ US 7/4.5 mm

Started: February 1
Finished: February 9

Joaquin describes the pattern as:

Inspired by the art of Alex Grey, this hat is decorated with a representation of the crown chakra.

Since the colors of the crown chakra are white and violet I chose a natural white yarn for the main color and a violet colorway for the colorwork.

I loved the way this turned out. The pattern includes two variations and was very easy to follow. This was my first colorwork project and my first time using Noro.
I found that the colorwork wasn't as complicated as I'd thought. You just have to remember to keep your knitting loose and to spread out your stitches. This will allow color that you are carrying along to not get too tight, preventing your project from puckering. It also helps to work with a wool or other scaly yarn so that the floats will sticks to itself on the inside.
The Noro yarn is so beautiful. I love how saturated with color some of the areas get. I was concerned about the violet bleeding onto the white when I blocked, but I didn't have any bleeding problems at all.

I love Kogepan

The only modification I made was to omit the duplicate stitching. I didn't like the way it look on other projects and since I was using a multicolored yarn I didn't see the need.

For any first time colorworkers here is a good video tutorial from knitpicks: