New Pattern- Take Root

Springtime has arrived, but winter is not yet gone and cozy layers are still a must have. These fingerless gloves are knit with bulky yarn for a quick knit, perfect for a last minute or instant gratification project.

The lace reminded me of rows and rows of roots in the garden- a place where I’d love to get out and play right now- although probably not in fingerless gloves made of merino and silk!

The pattern is long, so I won't put it all here, but you can download a pdf of the free pattern here: download now. Or you can email me at Bohoknitterchic@yahoo.com and I will email you the pdf.




FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Laying flat after blocking: 14”x4”

MATERIALS
Needles:
1 set of US 10 6mm double pointed needles
1 set of US 9 5.5mm double pointed needles
Notions:
Tapestry Needle
Stitch marker
Stitch holder or piece of scrap yarn.
Yarn:
Fleece Artist Shiba [70% merino, 30% Silk]
153yd/140m per 100g skein]; 1 skein

GAUGE
16 sts= 4” in stockinette stitch on US 10 needles


Sizing: I wrote this in one size that would fit a medium/large adult. If you want a smaller size, go down a needles size for a slightly tighter gauge. This yarn can definitely be knit in a broad range of gauges.

Tip: If you notice that your gloves slouch or stretch with wear, sew clear elastic thread (found in the jewelry section in a craft store) all the way around the inside of the cuffs, making sure that the elastic tightens the cuff to fit snuggly on your forearms.

New Pattern- Makalu

Handmaiden Fine Yarn Himalaya may be one of the softest bulky weight yarns ever. It insulates so well and the angora makes it a luxury to have against your skin.

I decided to name my hat pattern Makalu, after the 5th highest peak in the world that resides in the Himalaya Range. It seemed only fitting.

If you prefer to have a printer friendly PDF copy of the pattern you can download it at Ravelry.com here: download now




FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
9” x 8” after blocking, laying flat
Fits a head size 22-24”

MATERIALS
Needles:
US 11/8mm 16” circular needle
Notions:
Tapestry Needle
Stitch marker
Yarn:
Handmaiden Fine Yarn Himalaya [78% merino, 22%angora,
10% nylon; 71yd/65m per 50g skein]; 1 skein

GAUGE
13 sts= 4” in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

SL1 wyib - Slip 1 with yarn in back. Holding the yarn in back, move stitch from left hand needle to right hand needle. Bring yarn to front and continue working in pattern.

Modifying pattern: This pattern is easy to modify to achieve different sizes. The pattern is in multiples of 5, so increase or decrease the CO stitch count by 5 to adjust the hat size up or down by 2”. Adjust knitting length also according to your preferences.

PATTERN

CO 45 sts in longtail cast on. PM and join into the round being careful not to twist sts.

Round 1: (P4, K1) around
Round 2: (P4, SL 1 wyib) around

Repeat these two rounds until piece measures 6-7”, ending with a Round 1. 6” will make a hat that sits above the ears and 7” will make a hat that covers the ears.

Decreasing Rounds:
Round 1: (P2, P2TOG, K1) around- 36 sts remain.
Round 2: (P3, SL 1 wyib) around
Round 3: (P1, P2TOG, K1) around- 27 sts remain.
Round 4: (P2, SL 1 wyib) around
Round 5: (P2TOG, K1) around- 18 sts remain.
Round 6: (P1, SL 1 wyib) around
Round 7: K2TOG around, K last st- 9 sts remain.

Break yarn, and using tapestry needle weave end through live stitches. Pull yarn tight and secure end.

FINISHING
Weave in ends and block as desired. This hat will get slightly larger when wet blocked.


ABBREVIATIONS USED:
CO- cast on
P2TOG- purl 2 together
STS- stitches
K2TOG- knit 2 together
SL 1- slip 1
Wyib- with yarn in back
BO- Bind Off
PM- place marker

Ride the Flaxen Wave

Over in the Colorsong Yarn Ravelry Group we have just started a Flaxen and Lino Knit A Long. They are fantastic yarns (65% silk and 35% Flax or Linen) and since you get to choose your own pattern, and there's a discount coupon code for the yarns, you really don't have any excuse not to join.

I have decided to start (yes I did say START) with Flaxen in Glacier. It's the perfect yarn and color for my trip to Florida in April and I just have to knit a tank top out of it to wear at the beach. I knit up my swatch (23sts in 4" on size 4's) and I am knitting the Razor Cami. This tank was written in 1 size but gives you easy instructions for modification. I cast on for a slightly larger size, hoping for a 34-36" bust. After knitting the first couple of inches I realized that it was just a little to big (my gauge was a little looser than the pattern called for), so I'm recasting on to follow the pattern as it's written.

The KAL is going to be great fun and runs until April 14th. Head on over to Ravelry and join the fun!

BohoKnitterChic Spins 3rd Anniversary Celebration!

In February 2009 I officially opened an Etsy Shop. I started small: a few hand spun yarns, a few hand dyed yarns, a knitting pattern, some stitch markers, and a few hand knits. I don't think I really had a vision or idea of what I wanted to the shop to become. I just wanted a place to sell the things that I made, and hopefully fund my hobby so that my poor husband didn't have to stress and worry about what I was spending our money on.

3 years, over 2200 sales, and many, many pounds of wool later BohoKnitterChic Spins has evolved into a wonderful place to be and I am so proud to have created it, and so thankful for those who have supported me and helped it grow.

All the month of February I will be adding new items every single day. There will be items for knitters and spinners alike. I have already added armfuls of yarn and fibers since the 1st, and we still have 3 and a half weeks left in the month. Check the shop every day at 3pm central time for at least 3 new items.

Thank you so much! I could not have done this all without you!

New Home, New Outlook

Surprise, Surprise! We moved again! Since getting married in January 2007 we have lived in Oregon, Utah, California, Arizona, back to California, Colorado, back to Oregon and now: Montana! My husband Brian received a wonderful job opportunity in Polson, MT, right at the base of Flathead Lake and to the west of the Mission Mountains. It's gorgeous here, seriously. I've always wanted to live in Montana and have the opportunity to be closer to my dad and step mom so when the job popped up it just seemed like the right thing to do. It was hard to leave Oregon, we had been there for 2 years, and we did love it, but we both agreed it was time for a change.

(The skirt in the image is my new Citrus Skirt knit out of Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3-Ply with the Mission Mountains in the background)

I've been a knitter now since June of 2007. I started spinning in January of 2009 (and opened an etsy shop in February 2009). I had (and still have) a whole room devoted to my crafting, which is in no way limited to knitting and spinning. I had drawers and cabinets for painting, resin casting, sewing, embroidery, shrinky dinks. You name it, I probably had a way to make it.

Then I was faced with an enormous task; pack all of my stuff to move from Oregon to Montana. I will admit, at times, I wanted to just throw it all away and start over. There was so much stuff! I carefully sorted through everything and eventually made a promise to myself: stop dabbling in everything and just focus on my absolute favorites. I gave away all of my random crafting supplies for painting, drop spindle making, lots of fabric scraps, ribbon, buttons, books, etc. I even gave away yarn and fiber. I decided to focus on knitting, spinning, sewing, and embroidery. In that order. And I only wanted to focus on the projects I was really excited about creating.

BUT- then I got to Montana; it's colder here, I'm no longer going to work everyday, and my creative juices really got flowing. I spun over 20 yarns in 2 weeks. I've finished more knitting projects in 2 months than I did all of 2011. That also means that I've been buying yarn for more projects. There are so many things I want to knit, so many things I want to design, and so many patterns I've written that I think I could make better. It's getting out of control again. I created a Ravelry project page for almost every project I have the yarn and pattern for: THERE ARE 30 OF THEM! and about 10 others that I should create project pages for. I am OUT OF CONTROL.

It's time to set limits for myself, and here is the first one: No more yarn shopping! Not for a very, very long time. I think I need to finish at least 15 projects before I even consider looking at a skein of yarn I don't already own. And you all need to hold me accountable for this! I give you permission to inspect my stash, and scold me when I cheat. Hold me ladies, it's going to be a rough ride.

Sastrugi Cowl Pattern

I may have fallen behind on Blogging, but I have in no way fallen behind on knitting and spinning. I have a new pattern out, the Sastrugi Cowl.


You can purchase it in my Etsy Shop or on Ravelry:




Sastrugi is snow that has been eroded by wind, leaving it rippled and textured. When the weather is cold and windy, all I want to do is bundle up with something warm and cozy. Peter Rabbit is just that. It’s fuzzy and warm and deserves to be close to you face when you need extra snuggles. The texture of this cowl makes it fun to knit and intriguing to look at.

Notes on techniques for this pattern:

Mattress Stitch- a way to seam two edges together. Knitting Daily has a tutorial here: http://bit.ly/9m3Cew and a video can be found on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0thcLro8RI

ABBREVIATIONS USED:
CO- cast on
RS- right side
WS- wrong side
STS- stitches
SSK- slip, slip, knit 2 together
K2TOG- knit 2 together
M1- Make 1
BO- Bind Off

Hangtown Yarnival and Pluckyfluff Adventure

From August 31st-September 4th I had the opportunity to participate in one of the best, most exciting fiber events EVER. Lexi Boeger, of Pluckyfluff, hosted a fundraiser earlier this year so that she could build "Pluckyfluff Headquarters"- a studio space dedicated to spinning, teaching about, and showcasing fabulous yarns. The grand opening was this past week along with her traditional spinning workshop. It was by far the most exciting fiber event I have ever attended.


The studio turned out so amazing! It's full of fiber and yarn, but it's clean, bright, and the perfect place to get creative!




My fabulous friend, Craftypuppylover, and I shared a booth together where we were selling out yarns, fibers, and hand knits. We were also fortunate enough to get to camp right in the orchard of the Boeger Winery where the event was hosted. We celebrated all day and spun late into the nights, woke up early, made some pancakes, and started it all again. It was a dream come true!


Me with Debra, Esther, Lexi, and Amy

And the best part of it all is that Ashley of Neauveau Fiber Art created a documentary of the event! Carrie and I were interviewed together and that starts at 44:30. Check it out! It's pretty amazing.


You can see the rest of the pictures I took at the event in my Flickr Set.

So how about those goals?

Way back at the beginning of 2010 I set some knitting goals for myself, things that I wanted to accomplish in order to progress to the next level as a knitter.

I wanted to knit a full sized sweater.

I wanted to knit a pair of socks.

And I wanted to knit something lacy.

I wouldn't say that I succeeded in knitting the most complicated or the most impressive projects for those 3 categories, but I definitely accomplished something in each category.

The Sexy Sweater only took me a year and a half to knit. You may laugh but I say: A project done is a project done, regardless of how long it takes. I finally finished the sweater in June 2010 I used the Aran Off the Shoulder Sweater pattern and Classic Elite Wool Bamboo. I really loved both the yarn and pattern! I knit the sweater in the round instead of in pieces, and in the end the neck pulled off the shoulder to much so I stitched elastic thread around the neckline.

My other 2 projects have TERRIBLE photos, so I apologize.

For the lace project I started one thing, the rose scarf I think? Well, I still haven't made much progress on that. Tiny needles and I just aren't friends. So I decided to do something a little easier. I took 238 yards of my own handspun in a worsted/aran weight and set out to knit a shawlette for my mom's 60th birthday present that I named Boheme Flourish. I finished knitting it in late July 2010. I used the Flourish pattern found on Ravelry.com. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It's a little small, but I found a gorgeous shawl pin to go with it so it stays in place.

The socks turned out to be a big letdown. I went on a cross country road trip from Seattle, WA to Madison, WI with my friend Carrie 2 weeks before Christmas 2010. I decided to surprise my husband and knit him a pair of socks so that he'd stop asking me about it. I'd always wanted to knit him house socks using the Log Cabin Socks pattern. It was a great pattern. But I didn't think much about the yarn and just got what the pattern recommended, Cascade Yarns Pastaza. BIG mistake! It's wool and llama, no nylon to keep it in shape and the llama is so fuzzy! The sock stretch terribly every time my husband wears them, the yarn fuzzed so much that you can't see the cables and it attracts pet hair so much and it's impossible to get out! Boo! I guess at least I can say that I knit my husband a pair of socks, and I got them done in 10 days.

Goals for 2011-2012: Knit the boatload of superwash yarn I got for baby knitting for a baby that hasn't even been made yet. Again with the overachieving....