Sew Wrong

Boyfriend Scarf

Boyfriend Scarf

I’ve never knit anything for a boy before, especially one that I’ve been dating. I think it’s because of the “Boyfriend Sweater Curse” – I didn’t want this to be a scarf that would end our relationship or something silly like that. 

What prompted the idea to knit him a scarf was the topcoat he bought to wear to with his suits this winter: the coat didn’t button all the way up and required a scarf to stay warm.  I knew that if I wanted to guarantee that he would wear it, the scarf needed to be a “manly” scarf.  And what could be more “manly” than charcoal gray and a thermal-like stitch pattern?

Boyfriend Scarf

The best part?  On days when it’s colder than he thought, he gets upset that he left his scarf at home since he said it keeps him nice and warm.

Boyfriend

MATERIALS:
Yarn
2 skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick-N-Quick – Charcoal

Needles
US 15 straight needles

Notions
Tapestry needle

Gauge
2 sts = 1″

DIRECTIONS:
CO 20 sts

Thermal Stitch Pattern 
Row 1: K
Row 2: K

Row 3: K 2, P 2

Row 4: K 2, P 2

Continue in pattern until scarf is 58″ or to desired length.  BO and weave in loose ends.

Boyfriend Scarf

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Sideways Cloche

Sideways Cloche

Pattern: Sideways Grande Cloche from Boutique Knits
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande, color 1285
Needles: US 10, 9, 8, 7
Size: One size, altered to fit smaller

Sideways Cloche

It’s sad but true: I own very few hand-knitted “cold weather” items.  I guess it’s partially because I tend to gravitate towards bigger challenges like pullovers and cardigans, and I see scarves and hats as kind of boring.  Or, maybe it’s because I haven’t had success in that area of knitting.  I’m not a big fan of hats, and since my head is on the small side (“pin-head”, as my sister would say), I’m usually let down with the finished product since it’s way too big for me to wear.

One thing is for certain though and that is the love I have for this hat.  LOVE IT.  It’s deceptively complicated looking but in actuality a beginner could make this hat.  The construction is straightforward: knit a long ribbed fabric like you would a scarf, pick up some stitches on one of the long sides and knit the crown, sew up the side seam, and then pick up and knit two straps that twist together and connect at the crown to form a faux cable.  Easy!

Sideways Cloche

A word of caution, though – this hat does run large.  Many knitters on Ravelry adjusted the pattern and casted on less stitches than what the pattern calls for.  I followed their advice and casted on 33 stitches so that the length of the hat (which is essentially the width of the fabric piece when you’re knitting) wouldn’t cover up my eyes.  That happens with hats, when you’re a “pin-head.”

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Wisteria Scarf

Wisteria Scarf

Pattern: Wisteria from Twinkle Weekend Knits
Yarn: Twinkle Handknits Soft Chunky – Crimson
Needles: US 35

Wisteria Scarf

It’s mid-December and it still feels like early November in Boston, which makes it hard to believe that Christmas is a little less than a week away (crazy, right??).  I’ve been trying my hardest to wrap my head around that fact and get “in the spirit,” but with my crazy work schedule and the temperatures outside, it’s been a challenge.  So when we *finally* had a seasonably cold day, I knew this red scarf would help me snap out of my mentality and feel festive.

This was the quickest knit of my life – hands down.  Two skeins of Twinkle Soft Chunky and size 35 needles – can you say, “instant gratification?”  I used to own the book Weekend Knits but got rid of it after a bad sweater experience and didn’t want to buy it again, so I actually looked up the stitch pattern and figured out how to knit the scarf without the pattern.  I also opted for no fringe – not a big fringe gal, and the scarf was long enough after I whipped through the two balls o’ yarn.

This is a fashionable monster of a scarf and not for the timid or petite.  I even find it overwhelming at times if I don’t wrap it around my neck properly but boy, what a show-stopper it is.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Knitter Edition

holiday gift guide for knitters

1. Herdy Peep Mug, $15 – Sheep inspired kitchenware from the UK


2. Della Q Theo Circular Needle Case, $44 – A compact solution to organize circular needle collections. Made of striped or solid taffeta with numbered pockets to store different needle sizes.  I’ve given ones as gifts to my mom and sister, this needle case is fantastic!

3. Lantern Moon Sheep Sherpa, $17.95 – Because every knitter needs a cute sidekick to hold the necessities

4. Lantern Moon Ladybug Stitch Markers, $7.35 – I love using these in my knitting since they always make me smile when I look at them.  A cuter alternative to boring plastic stitch markers,

5. Rebecca Danger Zombie Monster Knitting Kit, $24 – Monsters + Knitting = Rad

6. Knit Collage Pixie Dust Yarn, $37 – A few skeins of this sparkly mohair and wool yarn could make a gorgeous lap blanket or festive scarf

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Lil’ Gray Cape

Lil' Gray Cape

Lil' Gray Cape

Pattern: DROPS 116-19

Yarn: Cascade Lana Grande
Needles: US 17 circs
Size: Small

I love capes.  Ever since I saw the pictures from the spring runway shows, I knew I wanted a cape for fall this season.  Yes, they are impractical.  Yes, they trigger images of super heroes or Little Red Riding Hood. But damn it all, I wanted a cape this year come hook or by crook.  And why buy one when you can make one?

My initial plan was to make the Not-a-Poncho City Cape by Wendy Bernard.  It had all the elements of the RTW capes I had seen in stores, with the slits for arm-holes and a chunky ribbed collar.  When I went to my LYS Gather Here, Virginia unfortunately did not have the amount of gray Eco Wool that I needed.  Which was probably just as well; I don’t think I would have been brave enough to rock a giant knitted cape like I originally thought.  So instead I scrolled through my Ravelry queue and found a little DROPS cape pattern that I liked and some chunky gray yarn at the store that fit the bill.

Lil' Gray Cape - Back

I modified the amount of stitches I needed to cast on since my gauge was smaller on the needles I used (US 17 instead of 19).  The rest of the pattern was followed exactly, except I knitted the collar ribbing to 6″ instead of 8″ – it just seemed like it would be too much collar if I knit it to that length.

Lil' Gray Cape

I also used two buttons I had in my stash instead of three like the pattern calls for.  I like the open look just two buttons creates, and the ribbed collar has more of a sailor collar effect than a traditional fold-over collar.

I wore this to work this week since it’s been chilly in the building (seriously, is the AC still on??), but I probably will only wear it around the apartment in the coming months even though I got comments at work on how cute it looks.  It’s like a little woolly blanket that fastens around your shoulders and stays in place.  As much as I love how it looks, it doesn’t replace the warmth and functionality of a coat.

At least I’ve gotten my cape-lust out of my system now.

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