Oh, look! Something Sparkly...

I'm sorry I've been away, life happened. I am back now though, and I have a new project to share with you!

I've had The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief in my Ravelry queue ever since I saw Tami's project way back in June '11. I've been dying to knit it, but could never find the perfect yarn for the project. On Friday, the perfect yarn finally came along.

Branching Out Scarf
Click picture to enlarge

It came in the form of King Cole - Galaxy, in the Venus colourway. I originally used it to knit the Branching Out scarf by Susan Lawrence. For several different reasons (which I won't go into), I ended up frogging it. So, I was left with two gorgeous skeins of sparkly yarn that I had idea what to do with. It wasn't until I spoke to Sarah (from Crafts from the Cwtch) about the next Shawl KAL that I got the idea to knit the long awaited Age of Brass & Steam Kerchief.

I enjoyed learning the Garter Tab technique, it looked scary at first but I used this brilliant photo tutorial and it all made sense! I also learnt how to make one left, and make one right. So, despite it being an incredibly simple pattern, I still managed to learn three new techniques.

I'm about 70% through now, but it's looking smaller than it should be so I'm going to add another three or four sections to make it larger. I'm really happy with how its looking, and it will be mine once I'm finished - hooray! I'm starting to get the hang of making things for myself (I now have a total of 5 knits, just for me!), and I'm starting to plan projects for me, for a change, so that is progress! :)

I have noticed since knitting this shawlette, that I'm getting a little sparkles obsessed...

Yarn, knitting (I also have to sparkly beanies I didn't show you), hair clips, make-up, nail polish, bangles. Sparkles everywhere!!

Click the picture to find more YOP posts for this week! :)

Tulisa

Tulisa

by 

Charlotte Dunning

Materials:

1 skein of Galaxy DK by King Cole in Venus (this is colour B) & Jupiter (this is the main colour)

1 set of 4, 3.25mm DPNs

1 set of 4, 3.275mm DPNs

Abbreviations:

St/sts - Stitch/es

Rep - Repeat

KFPB - Knit into the stitch as you normally would, but do not slip off needle. Working into the front of the stitch, insert the right needle from back to front through the back loop of the stitch on the right needle. Bring yarn over and purl, then slip stitch off left needle.

Sl1k2togpsso - Slip one stitch, knit two stitches together, then pass slipped stitch over.

Sl1p2togpsso - Slip one stitch, purl two stitches together, then pass slipped stitch over.

Directions:

Brim:

Using 3.25mm needles & colour B, cast on 120sts. Join for working in round, being careful not to twist stitches, place marker.

Work k2, p2 rib for 3 inches.

Change to main colour.

Increase Round: *(k1,p1)x5, KFPB; rep from * until 10sts remain. (k1,p1) x 5 ---- (Count 130sts)

Body: 

Change to 3.7mm needles.

K1, P1 rib until hat measures 7 inches from cast on.

Crown:

Round 1: *K1, P1; rep from * until end of round.

Round 2: *Sl1k2togpsso, (p1, k1) x5, Sl1p2togpsso, (k1,p1) x5; rep from * until end ---- (Count 110sts)

Round 3: *K1, P1; rep from * until end of round

Round 4: *Sl1k2togpsso, (p1,k1) x 4, Sl1ptogpsso, (k1,p1) x 4; rep from * until end ---- (Count 90sts)

Round 5: *K1, P1; rep from * until end of round

Round 6: *Slk2togpsso, (p1,k1) x3, Sl1ptogpsso, (k1, p1) x 3; rep from * until end ---- (Count 70sts)

Round 7: *K1, P1; rep from * until end of round

Round 8: *Sl1ktogpsso, (p1, k1) x2, Sl1ptogpsso, (k1, p1) x2; rep from * until end ---- (Count 50 sts)

Round 9: *K1, P1; rep from * until end of round

Round 10: *Sl1ktogpsso, (p1,k1) x 1, Sl1ptogpsso, (k1, p1) x 1; rep from * until end ---- (Count 30sts)

Round 11: *K1, P1; rep from * until end of round

Round 12: *Sl1k2togpsso, Sl1p2togpsso; rep from * until end ---- (Count 10sts)

Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight to close & fasten off. Weave in ends.

© This pattern is for personal use only

Rizzle's Sparkling Beano Beanie

While Rizzle* was in hospital, I ended up living on my own for a few days for the first time ever. To distract me from worrying too much, I read an awful lot (the Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw was amazing), watched the first series of Downton Abbey (which I managed to score for £3 brand spanking new!) and knitted a simple yet satisfying Beanie.

I chose the pattern Katahdin by Kate Gagnon Osborn, a lovely pattern that I hope rises to fame soon. The first skeins of yarn I came across were King Cole Galaxy DK in Venus (plain black) & Red. I am kind of obsessed with this yarn. I have 2 skeins in Mars, 1 in Venus, 1 in Jupiter & 2 in Red. (Deramores have even more colourways, I especially love the Fushia & Pink)

Galaxy is luxuriously soft as it is a mixture of 65% Acrylic, 31% Wool & 4% Soft Payette. It also has silver sequins sewn into the yarn at random intervals, making it shimmer when you move your knitting.

Katahdin is simply a 3 inch rib brim, then you use a very clever jogless stripe pattern for the body. It knits up really quickly, and is a lovely mindless knit so you can get lost in the rhythm of yarn forward, purl, yarn back, knit.

I gave it to Rizzle as a gift when I had finished knitting it, and this afternoon she felt well enough to do a 5 minute photo shoot with me. Here are the results! (and check out her new ombre hair Mum did for her at home)

Swaaaaaaaag!

I'll definitely knit this again, it is a great fall-back pattern if you need to knit a quick gift for someone :)

My 'Tulisa' Beanie is almost finished, I am onto the crown (not sure what I'm talking about? Check out this post) and will be off the needles by this evening, so I can show you the finished result tomorrow, then release the pattern on Saturday.

Have a lovely Thursday! x

* Little Sis' new nickname...