Waiting on tax time is a real struggle! Especially when I have Knitter's Pride Karbonz interchangeables and double pointed needles waiting for me in my Amazon cart! I also have several knitting site's (EatSleepKnit, Knitpicks to name a couple) wishlists full of yarn, I'm anxiety awaiting.
But anyways, some of the projects that I've working on haven't all been strictly knitting design work or even knitting! I have made some crocheted potholders using the ever so simple Tunisian crochet stitch, they are double sided and slip stitched wrong sides together in Sugar 'n' Cream cotton. Super simple, took me only a day and very little cotton to make both. I used 1 1/4 balls for the body and a little bit of matching yarn for the border. Even added a small loop to hang. I plan on making matching ones when we move but as for now these ones are fine.
I also dipped my hand into some brand new techniques.
If you follow pretty much any knitter especially some of the greats (cough, cough West Knits) then you know that brioche knitting is all the rage these days. So I had to try it out for myself.
My first attempt was pretty crude, even though I had read many articles and how to's tutorials to know that it was going to be a little looser gauge than traditional knitting. I was skeptical. So I casted on for a baby sized hat and ended up with a hat that could fit my fiancee's large head. I learned my lesson than. I frogged that hat and made this one next:
I knitted this hat out of Lion Brand Wool-ease in, I believe, Gray Heather and Oxford Grey. I didn't make it baby size because one of my fiancee's co-workers had seen the first hat and wanted one for himself, so I make this one with an adult in mind and just casted on fewer stitches with smaller needles. The stitches are much tighter and well structured. The guy asked for a pompom so I whipped one up to throw on top. I haven't yet been able to gift it to him.
I also tried double knitting on this little piece here. I couldn't resist adding a color-work. It's something I could see myself making some cowl double knitting designs but right now there aren't any inprogress yet. Check out my Instagram (@hammydesigns) to see what I'm currently using this for.
I also tried out thread crocheting with a pattern off Ravelry (click link for the pattern name).
It was a lot of fun but for sure a lot of work to make a small piece of clothing. It was worth it though to see the end result. I have already started on another crochet thread project for my future mother-in-law, it just needs starched and a good blocking before you can even sneak a peek at it.
I am going to start a new closing for this blog by having a:
#Knittersofinstagram Knitter of the Week
it'll be someone who I've recently found by browsing Instagram and happened upon them and if you ever need some knitting inspiration their feed will certainly help you out. I know that I spend wayyy too much time on Instagram, I'm willing to admit that. I got two today, @una04 and @dankfiber
Both of these people have such beautiful knit work I am jealous! The yarn and pattern are on my queue for Suke-Suke Cowl similar to the one @dankfiber made!
My next post will probably be in a few days when either I have goodies to show off or a pattern uploaded. I do have a blanket design on the needles and some pattern submissions in the works to submit in the next couple days, but nothing else to show. Just waiting, waiting on being able to buy yarn. . .
