Colorwork Cozy

Pattern: None - this was dreamed up in my head with the assistance of some chart motifs from Alice Starmore's Fair Isle book

Yarn: A variety of leftovers and sample skeins in my stash - all fingering weight. The tan yarn is a merino-possum blend, the ecru is pure merino wool, and the green is a silk blend - I just don't remember what the silk is blended with.

Needles: US0

Apparently all of my portable electronics need some sort of knitted case - and I apparently am partial to practicing my colorwork when knitting these wee things.

I selected subtle neutral tones for this one, mostly because that's what I had in my stash that went together, but also because knitting the pattern in it was almost like knitting up a secret. The motif is indeed very subtle, the lower motif is x's and the upper motif is more like o's or diamonds - they are much more readily apparent when the knitting is wet - but I hope for that to never happen while the ipod is inside! Even better, if I happened to have made a mistake in the knitting, no one will know ;) because it all blends together :D

As for the yarn, it was all lovely to work with - the merino-possum has a unique dark halo, and it's so luxuriously soft. The green has a very subtle shine due to the silk and some neat heathering that results in some additional shading.

Knitting a wee case like this is a great way (I think) to learn or practice colorwork....though I can't say I'd recommend trying the flat colorwork right off...it's much easier completed in the round!

Fair Isle Camera Case

Because every camera needs a case :) I decided I'd make mine nice and personalized - it's not based on any pattern - I basically pulled a bunch of motifs together and made it up as I went along.

Needles: US3

Yarn: Harrisville Designs New England Shetland, primarily in Tundra and Olive. Color accents were pilfered from my leftovers from other Mitten Alongers - Steve & Kiki.

The motifs are both geometric and organic all at the same time - I'm really happy with hot it turned out, with the one motif set transitioning as the closing flap wraps around the camera over to the other side...

I did discover that fair isle in the flat is a serious kick - doable, but tricky - trying to maintain proper tension while purling 2-handed was definitely a learning experience.

The mother of pearl button, pulled the whole thing together quite nicely :) I'm happy to report it's a perfect fit for my camera!

Twinned Knits

Pattern: Fake Isle by Amy

Yarns: For the Red one, I used Patons Classic Merino in Burgundy paired with SWTC Karaoke in the Black Sheep Colorway. For the other, it's all Karaoke - Black Sheep and Forest colorways.

Needles: For the Red one, I used US6 needles throughout. For the other, I used US4s and US6s.

Sizes: The Red was the Larger size, and the green is the smaller size. Sadly, neither fit perfectly.

It started with the red hat, knit according to the pattern, with a couple extra rows at the brim as the only modification - mostly because the hat looked a bit short in the photos on the pattern. I'm not sure what it is with my knitting, but it seems every time I knit a hat, it always develops a bell like shape where it is fairly wide at the brim. Seeing as a normal person's head does not do this, it makes for an ill fitting hat. While the top portion of the hat seemed to be about right for circumference, the hat wound up being too deep - and rather than rip it all out, I debated with myself over felting it or turning the bottom of the hat inside - due to the belled shape, I figured the 2nd option would make for lumpy lines, so into the sink it went.

Sadly, the felting experiment didn't go so well - instead of shrinking, the hat seemed to bloom (in case you're wondering, no, I did not wash my swatch. I'm one of those knitters that swatches rarely - and I fix my knitting on the fly. It can sometimes be my downfall). Anyhow, back to the hat - it seemed to bloom and expand. While the stitch definition became less defined, I saw little shrinkage. I also noticed that even after blocking the hat nicely, it seems to have a point at the top - nowhere near as pointy as my meathead, but the hat definitely does not lay flat against the top of my head - even when I pull it down tightly. I suspect an issue with my floats combined with the possible change in gauge for the very last bit of knitting (all one color for the very last bit).

Undeterred, I cast on for a 2nd hat, this time opting for modifications including knitting 2x2 (rather than 3x1) ribbing on smaller needles. I also stayed on the smaller needles after switching to stockinette for about 4 rows. This was successful in preventing the dread bell shape.

Unfortunately, the hat is still too deep - not by too much, but some. While the hat does fit better than the first, it still doesn't quite stretch right at the very top and also has a slight lump at the very crown of the hat. I'm thinking my head is not suitable for the pattern of decreases used on this pattern.

Excuse the baleful eye in the left hand photo :) I assure you - my head is not cone shaped as it appears in that red hat. Now I'm stuck with a dilemma. 2 lovely hats - neither of which fits quite right - I might keep the red one for my own, I can't see foisting the cone head on someone else. I'm still debating gifting the green one away - it was intended as a gift, but I'm not sure it will fit the recipient properly given that it doesn't quite fit me (or my DH) Comments? Suggestions for yet another hat pattern? I hate to say it, but I might be relegated to yet another Pirate Hat.

Regardless of the fit issues, I think the stitches look nice, don't you?