A Little Karma

Got some pics of my latest project on the needles, which is both of the following:

--Stashbusting! Going thru my Sundara Yarn "Brown Sugar Over Buttermilk"
--Summer Knit! Gotta show off my knitting skills this summer

So far the pattern has been real easy, and am I'm able to knit this while completely engrossed in the NBA Finals with the Lakers vs. Magic. Go Lakers!!! Their up 2 on the series!

Pics in this post are from last week, which was in the real beginning stages.






See my "Edward Apple" stitch marker? I love that stitch marker, a gift from one my fave spoilers 8)

Oh, and look what happened with my Sundara yarn cake for Karma...



Do you see how it's "coning" out? That's from my daughter's cat, the little rascal Gracie, who found my Karma tank on my bed and decided to attack the yarn cake. My daughter caught her in time to stop further damage. I was a bit upset because I had to detangle alot of yarn and save it so that it wouldn't have to be cut.

I'm starting on the 10th round repeat now of the German Herringbone Rib portion of the pattern; I've officially put the needles down for tonight, need my rest for another round of work for the next week. Too bad work is never a true FO! There's always another round around the corner.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

~Rocky

The Aztec Pattern

Story behind the Pattern:
This simple design failed initially, but the 2nd time was a charm. The original “prototype� pattern (swatch) started out with Malabrigo yarn (worsted weight), and didn’t hold the stitch definition very well. I started the design for my husband, who had made a special request that I knit him a beanie of my own design. All he knew when he requested the beanie was that he wanted it to have cables or “braids� as he called it. The first go at the pattern had only cables that stood out in the pattern. After frogging the original project, I also went with a different yarn choice, Cascade Yarns Venezia (worsted weight), which is Merino Silk, 70% wool, 30% silk. The texture of the yarn is very nice and it is both warm and airy all at the same time. Thus the final product was set in motion. I added 2 knit stitches to form columns in between the cables to create a “columned� effect, similar to the columns of a Greek building. My husband’s view of the finished hat was that it reminded him of the Aztec calendar, which on one had is true; the simple pattern has that sort of look to it. I hope you enjoy it knitting this hat; I look forward to seeing different yarns and colors.
For issues or questions about the pattern, please feel free to let me know. Send me a message on Ravelry , my ID is Rocky Moreno .
This is a free pattern, I only ask that you don’t sell it, or use it to sell items with.
Pattern is Copyright of Rocky Moreno 2009 – 06-01.


Materials:
• 1 US 7
• 1 stitch marker
• 1 skein of Cascade Yarns Venezia in Worsted Weight
• 1 cable needle
Pattern Skill Level:
I would rate this at Intermediate level, only because of the Cables, which are very easy, but still at an intermediate level, but it is really beginner friendly.
Yarn Colors:
• Main color gray
Note: Make it your own! Use your own choice of main color or even use variegated yarn!
Yarn requirements:
1 skein of yarn worsted weight is all that is needed.
Gauge:
Approximately 5 -6 inches per stitch across.
Needles:
US 7 16 inch Circular or US 6 DPNS
Cast On:
121
Methods:
Cables, Knitting in the Round.
Sizes:
If circumference of beanie is too tight, you can add additional pattern repeat to lengthen the scarf by adding an extra 8 stitches, always ending with a knit stitch, since we start with a purl stitch.
Sizing suggestions:
Average size 121 stitches
*adjust accordingly for other sizes
 
Cast ON:
Cast on 121 stitches.
If you are using DPNs, just evenly distribute your stitches. (about 30 stitches per needle)
Step 1:
Join yarn by purling the first stitch, place stitch marker before purling the first stitch.
Hint: I usually knit the first 3 stitches with both the working yarn and the tail from the cast on, just to have the tail knitted a few stitches. I still weave in the tail at the end of the project.
Step 2:
First round only! Knit all stitches, when you get to the last stitch before the stitch marker, slip the stitch, and remove the stitch marker, place the slipped stitch back onto the left needle, and knit the slipped stitched and the stitch to the left of it together (K2TOG), then replace the stitch marker and proceed to pattern.

PATTERN
LEGEND

P= Purl


K= Knit


CBF2= Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in front, knit next 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches from cable needle


Round 2
*P1 K2 P1 CBF2* repeat to end of round


Next 2 Rounds – Purl the Purls and Knit the Knits
*P1 K2 P1 K4*

Round 5 and on, repeat Rounds 2 – 4 until you have 6 ½ inches from edge (brim) of beanie, ending on Round 2.

Decrease Rounds

1st decrease round:
These rounds you’ll always Purl the Purls and Knit the Knits, with the exception of the K2TOG’s. *Work 8 stitches, then K2TOG* to end.
Next round, *Purl the Purls and Knit the Knits* (no decreases this round)
2nd decrease round, Purl the Purls and Knit the Knits, with the exception of the K2TOG’s. *Work 6 stitches, then K2TOG* to end.
Next round, *Purl the Purls and Knit the Knits* (no decreases this round)
3rd and remaining rounds all decreases, *K2TOG* around until you have approximately 8-12 stitches (your preference), cut 8’inch tail and weave through remaining stitches to finish.

Finishing
The finished object in the pattern picture isn’t blocked, it could be blocked to widen if needed or if your gauge is tight.

Errata
None at this time

The Aztec

The Aztec is a beanie I designed for my husband, and finally finished. I had actually been formulating a design I had in my head for a long time, but the first prototype ended up being frogged for several reasons.

The first thing I didn't like when I initially started working the design was the yarn choice. It was originally Black Malabrigo, worsted weight, while I love Malabrigo, it just didn't have the feel I was going for or the texture I wanted to really capture the pattern. Here's the first one, the pattern was in the beginning stages, nothing original, nothing fancy, but it just didn't work.



I frogged it and the project hibernated, until about a week ago. My husband had been asking me when I was going to knit his beanie, and I finally got back in the groove with the design. I was a bit discouraged from the first go around, but enough time had past that I could really get into it. I had this vision of cables, but cables that had a look like columns. Columns like that of Greek architecture:



The original pattern was just straight cables, your basic knits & purls. I switched up the stitch count and then let my husband pick a yarn from a few skeins I decided would be good for the pattern. He choose the Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted yarn in Gray, which is Merino Silk, a blend of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Silk. It is very soft and warm, yet airy at the same time.

Here's the final piece completed; I'll be putting together the pattern and publishing it for free on Ravelry if anyone is interested in it. There are so many beanies out there that have cables, but this is a pattern I felt gave me the exact look I was going for.



I went for a "rope" looking brim, and it came out pretty neat. It's one of the details I was quite happy with as the beanie took shape.







I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and I'm going to knit another one, this time for my son, who fell in love with it, but prefers black.

I'll post probably Tuesday with the new pattern and have another new project on the needles that I'm loving!

It's the "Karma" tank from the Custom Knits book (fabolous book!)....



Oooh, and one last awesome tidbit, Twilight swept the MTV Awards! And the New Moon trailer is great, and a huge tease! I've added the trailer to my site, in the "Interesting" section!

What a surprise!

Today I came home for lunch, as I usually do to make me a quick bite to eat, and there was a package waiting for me. I was caught completely off guard as I had swaps going on and no orders I'm waiting for. What did I get?

My Aunt Virgie from Bremington, Washington sent me the best gift, just because 8-) It is my very own "Edward" Apple paperweight! I love it! Something so simple and little yet so wonderful! I, as you know, am a Twilight fan, and this is super. I've placed it atop the top shelf of my book case in my office next to all my other Twilight paraphernalia.



I'll have to call my Auntie tomorrow to give her a HUGE thank you!

In other fibery news, what's on new on my needles?

The "Aztec" beanie, this is my own design, I'm knitting this for my husband. I'm using Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted Weight yarn in color #131. This yarn is Merino Silk; the color is an ash gray, perfect for a man. My husband named it "Aztec" because it reminds him of the Aztec calendar. I've been meaning to knit him a beanie of his own for awhile now, and I did try with a different yarn, Black Malabrigo yarn, but I just wasn't getting the right stitch definition from the Malabrigo, so I frogged it.

I started this version the other day, but haven't made much progress because I need shorter circulars, these are 24'inch, and it's rather slow knitting because I to constantly adjust the stitches as I knit. I'll be picking the right length US7's up tomorrow to finish the "Aztec". I really like the way the stitch definition is coming out with this yarn. I really can't wait to get the right needles so I can finish this.





I'll keep you posted on the progress of this, I hope to finish it this weekend, but I have allot planned that won't involve knitting 8( We'll see if I can squeeze in an FO!

Have a good weekend!

~Rocky

A Mellow Mother's Day

This Mother's day was one for the record book, very mellow indeed. I got some good rest in and then my husband took me to Starbucks for a Grande Vanilla Rooibos. I've weened myself off of the Venti White Mochas and now have the Grande Vanilla Rooibos, which is just a black tea packet of vanilla flavored tea with steamed milk. It's de-li-sh! No sugar needed, simple and tasty. For the past two years I've been working on changing my eating habits. I had first started out by eating my dinner on a child sized plate with child sized portions, and also eating more in between meals. Then I weened myself down from no coke except 7up, and then down to eating more healthy raw vegetables, and so on. Come to present day and now I only drink plain water, milk, or sometimes juice, no soda. I also eat much differently, more chicken, alot more veggies, no sweets, unless I feel like it. I've actually learned to not crave anything sweet, which is pretty cool and I've learned to really love water, I never new I could. I tried having coke the other day, and ugh, it was gross to me. I even tried having one of my Venti White Mochas, and boy did I get sick, my system was rejecting it. I've also started running for the last 2 months, I run between 1-2 miles every other day, and I'm loving the feeling. I've lost so much weight, and I feel great.

A great feeling this Mother's day, sorry for the digression there, I'm just felt like sharing some of the my adventures. My husband treated me all weekend, just being at my beck and call, even though he really always is for me like that. I had a BBQ'd tri-tip, grilled asparagus, and stuffed mushrooms for dinner, hmmm! Ooh, and a drumstick for desert, YUM-O! Plus roses from my hubby. My kids bought me an awesome Twilight t-shirt from Hot Topic, I love IT! My Mother bought me the book "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer with $40 in it for spending.

Here's my happy face!



To all Mother's, "Happy Mother's Day!"