Pattern Promo & Some Other Stuff

II’ve kinda been a terrible blogger but life finally seems to have gotten back to normal.  Well, normal for us at least.  This has been an insane year for the Mr and I.  It’s like someone took our life, turned it upside down, shook out all the contents, and left them out in the rain.  It hurt, things were uncertain, but I could only have gotten through it because the Mr is my best friend, I have an amazing family, and I am to damn stubborn to stay down for long.

1.  I have published the Pix Wrap and it turned out quite wonderfully.  To celebrate I’m running a buy one get one free promotion on all my patterns.  use promo code YayLife to redeem.

 

2. Probably the most important thing ever…the Mr and I bought a bar! 

The Lighthouse Inn, located in Portland, Oregon, has been around for the last 54 years, before that the building was a bank (it’s old vault is our liquor stock cabinet), and a post office.  Honestly, I really believe that this was the Mr’s life calling.  He loves it (though it is SO MUCH WORK), the customers are freaking awesome, we have a great staff, and there is an amazing sense of accomplishment when someone compliments you on the bar.

If you are in Portland please come down!  We are located off the 30, just over the St. John’s Bridge (tht green one you always see in Grimm) heading to the coast.  You can expect good drinks, amazing burgers, and a laid back attitude where everyone is friendly.

3.  I realize you all have’t seen pictures of goats or anything for a while, so here you go.

 

Christmas Eve Cheer

Holy Shit, it’s Christmas Eve. How the hell did that happen?

The wise words of Special Ed must be observed.

"The wise words of Special Ed must be observed."

In other news I received yet another Christmas Fruit Cake.

Its not that I dont like you fruit cake, its that you are not actually a cake, and that annoys me

"It's not that I don't like you fruit cake, it's that you are not actually a cake, and that annoys me"

I’ve started some festive holiday socks. Everyone likes reindeer right?

Yup, they are doing exactly what you think they are doing, playing leap frog

"Yup, they are doing exactly what you think they are doing, playing leap frog"

 

That is all. Happy holidays everyone! Have a safe and happy celebration!

Bob remembers that he hasnt been exactly a good boy this year. Dont worry Bobo, Santas still coming for you!

"Bob remembers that he hasn't been exactly a "good" boy this year. Don't worry Bobo, Santa's still coming for you!"

Entrelac Cowl

I’ve been asked by quite a few people for a while now to publish my pattern for this knit. So I’ve gotten over my laziness & written it all up. Please let me know if you see any problems as I knit this over 2 months ago & the details are a bit sketchy (as were my notes!).
download now

 

Supplies:
2 skeins Noro Kureyon (or roughly 200 yds of worsted weight yarn)
Size US 8 cicular needles 16 inches in length
Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends
1 Stitch Marker

Gage: 4.5″ over 20st (Though it’s not terribly important)

Knitting entralac in the round is quite easy, but learning how to knit backwards will speed this up immensely and save you a billion “turn work”s.  I am writing this with the “turn work” after every row since I know not everyone really wants to learn how to knit backwards. Be forewarned though, I knit every other row backwards and thus may have mistranslated something in the process. If you see ANYTHING wrong, please let me know! :) email me with any problems at pmsalyer AT yahoo DOT com

If you wish to learn how to knit backwards I’ve found this You Tube video very informative.

 

Directions:

CO 84 st and join in the round
(I then knit 1 round just to have a better foundation row, you do not need to do this if it is not ecstatically pleasing to you) No ribbing is necessary as entrelac does not curl.

Set Up: (these are your triangles)
1. K2 turn
2. Sl 1, P1 turn,
3. Sl 1, K2
, turn
4. Sl 1, P2,
turn

5. Sl1, K3, turn,
6. Sl 1, P3, turn
7. Sl1, K4, turn
8. Sl1,  P4, turn
9. Sl1, K5, DO NOT TURN, you now start the next triangle.

repeat these 6 rows 14 times till end of round.

Now onto the rectangles: These are a little tricky because you will not be going round and round as normal. You will complete one round right to left, (the triangles) then start your next round left to right (your first rectangle round) This sounds more complicated than it is, trust me. Once a round is completed you will see all rectangles leaning one direction, and that the next round they must be leaning the oppiset direction it will all make sense. 


Working left to rightpick up  6 sts as follows,  (you will have 12 live stitches after picking up 6)
Sl 1, P4, p2tog turn work
Sl 1, K 5, turn work
Sl 1, P4, P2tog
Sl 1, K 5
Continue as stated until you have once again 6 live stitches (you have consumed 6 stitches through the p2tog action)  and before your needle are now the slipped stitches of the next triangle (or further along rectangle) ready to be picked up.
Continue the rest of the round exactly the same way (14 Triangles have now been made)
The next round is worked exactly the same…but different. :) You are now going to work from Right to Left. Exactly, you are going back the way you just came!
This time pick up 6 stitches as follows
Sl 1, P5 turn
Sl 1, K4, SSK turn
Sl 1, P5 turn
Sl 1 k4 SSK Turn
Continue thus until you have completed 14 rectangles in this round.
Repeat these two rounds as many times as you like. I did 4 repeats (8 total rounds), but you can do more or less depending on how you like your cowls.
 Ending Triangles (finishing it all off!):
To be worked after round 2!
 *Pick up and purl 6 sts
Sl 1, K5 turn
Sl 1, P4 P2tog turn
Sl 1, K4 turn
Sl 1 P4 P2tog turn
Sl 1, K 5 turn
Sl 1 P 4 P2tog, P remaining sts

Repeat from * till you have worked your way around the whole cowl.

You now have an even row of live stitches on your needle. Now bind off (I preferred the sewn bind off, but you do what you like!) and weave in your ends.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Hawk Hat

 

Pattern: Hawk Hat
Yarn: Yarn Nerd (or any other worsted weight yarn 200 yard)
Needles: US 8 16″ circulars and set of US 8 DPN’s
Notions: Cable Needle, 4 stitch markers (one distinctive to mark begining of round), darning needle to weave in ends & kitchner stitch top.

Abbrivations:
RT *slip 7 stitches to cable needle hold to front, knit 7 stitches, then knit 7 from cable needle
Sl 1, K2tog, PS: Slip one stich from left hand needle to right needle, knit next two stitches together, then pass slipped stitch over just knitted stitch.

Set up: Cast on 88 stitches

Round 1: K14, P2, place marker [*K2,P2* 6 Times], K2, place marker, P2, K 14, P2, place marker[*K2, P2* 6 times] K2, place marker, P2.
Round 2-9: Repeat round one
Round 10: RT, P2, [*K2, P2]* 7 Times], RT, P2, [*K2, P2* 7 Times]
Continue to next set as follows;

Round 1: K14, P2, K26, P2, K14, P2, K26, P2
Round 2-9: Repeat round one
Round 10: RT, P2, K26, P2, RT, P2, K26, P2
Repeat rounds 1-10 3 more times

You now have a total of 5 cable twists, piece should measure approximately 7.5 inches long.  Proceed to decrease section.

Decrease rounds:
*Note: you are only going to be decreasing the 26 knit stitches on each side, not the center cable pattern.

Round 1: *K14, P2, Sl 1, K2tog, PS, K to marker, repeat from* end P2, (86st remaining)
Round 2: *K14, P2, K11, Sl 1, K2tog, PS, K11 repeat from*  end P2, (82 St remaining)
Round 3: *K14, P2, Sl 1, K2tog, PS, K17, Sl 1, K2tog repeat from*  end P2, (74 st remaining)
Round 4: *K14, P2, Sl 1, K2tog, PS, K5, Sl 1, K2tog, Pass Over, K5, Sl 1, K2tog, Pass Over repeat from *  end P2,(62 st remaining)
Round 5: *RT, P2, Sl 1, K2tog, PS, K2, Sl 1, K2tog, Pass Over, K2, Sl 1, K2tog, Pass Over, repeat from *  end P2, (50 st remaining)
Round 6: *K14, P2, Sl 1, K2tog, PS, Sl 1, K2tog, Pass Over, K1 Repeat from *  end P2, (42 st remaining)
Round 7: *K14, P2,Sl 1, K2tog, PS, repeat from *  end P2, (38 st remaining)
Round 8: * K14, SL 1 purlwise,  P2tog, Pass Over, P1,  K14, SL 1 purlwise, P2tog, Pass Over, P1

You now should be left with 34 stitches. Divide stitches on two DPN’s as follows; 2 Purl stiches, 14 knit stitches 2 purl stitches on each DPN.  Break yarn leaving long tail. Kitchner stitch the live stitches together. Weave in ends.

 

Striped Alpaca Raglan AKA: Wayzata Sweater

Feaverishly working on so many many projects right now. I honestly feel very restless because of it. Sure lots of FO’s but nothing I really cared about because, ya know, Christmas burn-out. So I started this sweater on a whim.  I think it’s funny that I knit a sweater just like the one’s my mother used to make me wear from L.L. Bean when I was young (and HATED). I am in love with this sweater. Beyond in love. This is everything that I wanted and more. Just turned out perfectly. My husband couldn’t stop petting me either (always a plus!), he was enamored by the striping and the colors & the lovely alpaca. So I think there might be a sweater like this in his future too.  

 This sweater fits me so perfectly. I can’t believe that I figured this all out on my own. I’ve really grown as a knitter when I see FO’s like this.

Even though I knit this (& I’m not bragging by any means) this looks like a sweater that you would buy from Eddie Bower or Lands End or L.L. Bean. If I saw another woman wearing this I would swear that it was store bought.

The Specs:

NAME: The Wayzata Sweater

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca

5 Skiens Moonshadow 6209

1 Skien each of Lobster Mix 6297 (not as obnoxious in person I PROMISE!), Peat Mix, 6277, Denim Mix 6287 (LOVELY In person!!!)

US 5 circulars & US 3 circulars (for cuffs of sleeves & collar NOT on the bottom hem because I don’t need sweaters that pull in & make my love handles obvious :P )

Gauge: 22st = 4 Inches (I don’t do a row count ever so I don’t have it sorry!)

 I used maybe 1/2 skien of the denim & green, & 1/4 of the lobster.

Since most people who read my blog are better knitters than I am, I won’t go into the huge math work sheet I did while doing this sweater. Maybe I will snap a picture of it so you all can laugh at my computations. I love knitting math, I’m sick.

INSTEAD! I will just share with you some basic numbers & the stripe pattern so you can do with it as you want :)

CO Main sweater color, work in raglan for 4 inches. Begin striping.

Knit 1 row color A

Knit 2 Rows with main color

Knit 5 rows of Color A

Knit 1 row of color B

Knit 1 row color A

Knit 2 rows of color B

Knit 2 rows of color A

Knit 6 rows of color B

Knit 2 rows of main color

Knit 2 rows of color B

Knit 2 rows of main color

Knit 1 row of color B

Knit 1 row of color A

Knit 1 Row of color B

Knit 6 rows of color C

Knit 2 rows of main color

Knit 1 rows of color C

Knit 2 rows of main color

Knit 1 row of color C

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