A Needle Case

dpn case 1

A needle case to hold my dpns.

I’ve needed a case for my dpns for some time, and frustration got the best of me last week and so, I created one.   The needles were initially stored in a small pink pouch along with most of my notions.  The single pocket container left little room for storage so with the needles out of the way, my notions now have room to breathe.

A consequence for not drawing one’s plans out at the onset resulted in an omitted top flap to help secure the dpns in place.  My solution: wrap the darn thing as tightly as possible, be extra-careful when handling (yeah, right), and perhaps, make a second case that will include the flap… when time again permits.

dpn case 2

In Gram news, the little guy is nearly two months old and growing like a cornstalk - I didn’t want to say “weed” because, frankly, no parent, at least not I, wants to compare their child to a weed.  Gram now weighs a hefty 12 lbs (my arms and back are feeling it!) and has grown two full inches, from 21.5 in to 23.5. He currently spends a lot of time talking to himself, mommy, and daddy.  He laughs and chuckles.  He also found some buddies - his hands, which spend most of the time in his mouth.

Gram on bouncy 1

Phil has spoken!

Six more weeks of winter it shall be, says Phil!

Creative Spaces

Thi Miller and Knitty Couture are featured in the latest Where Women Create issue!  Stop by the shop to get your copy of the mag today!

Join us on Sunday, Jan. 31st, 1pm-6pm, for a celebratory potluck!

wwc spr

Winter Mittens

At the shop, the Mittens Winter Knit-Along begins this Sunday, the 24th.  Mittens are always a necessity, especially since, in my case, they’re a bit easy to misplace or damage… I once burned a hole in a pair while roasting marshmallows during a camping trip.

Though I won’t be casting on anything new this time, I will, however, be busy knitting mittens.  Two (actually, three) pairs of mittens are waiting to be finished and now is as good of a time as any to finally be done with them.  Finishing these will mean I’ll have knocked three more UFOs off my list!

Endpaper Mitts

The first pair is the Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang.  These were started by our friend, Ariel, last winter and sadly left in the basket until, well, now.  Aren’t they pretty?  Prettier finished, I should say! This pattern is a wonderfully easy fair isle knit, requiring only two colors, and is a small enough project to achieve immediate gratification.

Two summers ago, while attending Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp, I fiddled around with EZ’s Brioche Hat pattern and made it reversible in two colors.  Since, I thought I would try my hands at figuring out how to create reversible brioche mittens/handwarmers.   Why not, right?

Brioche Handwarmers

The first mitt was created last winter.  I’m proud to say that I diligently kept notes so that a pattern could be written up.  Was it so successful that I decided to knit another pair?  Um, not quite.  The second mitt, started last summer, was an attempt to make sense of those notes which looked a lot like a bunch of gobbledygook.  Even I couldn’t understand my own notes.

After a bit of editing, I think we’ll be ready for the third attempt which is the finish both of these and to make sure the pattern isn’t heiroglyphic.  What will you be working on?

Brioche Mittens

Two Down, A Million to Go!

The first two pieces of 2010!

brioche cowl 1

Brioche cowl 2

I love the coziness of this cowl.  The Blue Sky Alpaca sportweight was perfect for this piece given that the alpaca fiber blooms after blocking.  Cast on100 sts and work in brioche until desired length or, in my case, the yarn runs out.  Brioche stitch is the wonderful stitch that creates an incredibly elastic, vertical, ribbed fabric without using up too much yarn.  A skein of each color (approximately 200 yds total) was used.

Brioche Stitch (multiple of 2)
Set up round (MC): K1, yo, slip 1
Round1 (CC): Yf (yarn is placed over needle to back), s1, (move yarn over needle from back to front), p2tog
Round 2 (MC): K2tog, yf, s1

The stitch is a bit tricky to get the hang of, but once you do, the pattern is rather simple and moves along fairly quickly.  Work the stitch in a single color, two colors, or even a solid and a variegated together for interest.

In actuality, there is not just one form of the brioche stitch, but rather, many many many.  B. Walker, in her A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, informs us that the “Brioche Stitch is the basic member of a large family of patterns of Eastern origin (i.e., Double Brioche, Waffle Brioche, Syncopated Brioche, Tunisian Brioche, etc.,).”  There is even a website devoted to this interesting stitch.  Should you want to knit a brioche sweater, turn to EZ’s The Opinionated Knitter!

F&F cowl 1

F&F Cowl 2

This Feather & Fan cowl was casted on during my stay in the hospital while I was waiting for the cervidil to take effect.  Knitting this cowl achieved two purposes: it gave me an opportunity to do a bit of lace knitting and helped to use up stash yarn. This pattern was selected because despite its popularity, I had yet to knit it.  It’s actually enjoyable, looks very pretty, and is so simple!  Yarn: Kidsilk Haze.  I casted on 144 sts.

Feather & Fan Stitch (multiple of 18)
Round 1 (RS): Knit
Round 2: Purl (knit, if working in the round)
Round 3: (K2tog) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times
Round 4: Knit (purl, if working in the round)

Full website coming soon!