Inside-Out (and round and round)

Anyone remember that moldy-oldy disco hit by Diana Ross? I had a 45 single of it as a kid (wow, that really dates me, doesn't it?) Anyway, this song kept playing in my head while I was knitting this reversible cowl. It drove me crazy, but I love the results.


Inside...

What a satisfying way to use up a lone skein of pretty yarn.


Out...

My first attempt on 5mm needles yielded a flabby fabric, and I didn't like how messy the knit columns looked in the Mistake Rib stitch pattern. So in my second go, I changed to 4mm needles, and I worked all the knit stitches in the back loop, which created a tidy, reversible fabric.


And round...


And round...

Here's what I did, in case you'd like to make your own:


INSIDE-OUT COWL
Yarn: Handmaiden Casbah, 325 metres (I used about 2/3 of a skein)
Needles: Addi Turbo 4mm/40cm circs
Gauge: 22 stitches per 10cm (precision is not crucial here, just create a fabric that has a density that you find pleasing)

Pattern:
Cast on 110 stitches (more or less, as long as it's an even number).

Join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place marker at the beginning of the round.

Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
(Repeat these two rows twice more)

Row 7: knit in back loop
Row 8: knit 1 in back loop, purl 1, repeat till end
(Repeat rows 7 and 8, working till desired length. Mine is 20 cm long.)

End tube with same garter border as beginning. Cast-off loosely, neatly darning in ends.

By the way, I realize that knitting in the back loop is a bit of a pain. You don't have to be as persnickity as I am, just go ahead and knit the knit stitches the ordinary way. I just have a thing for twisted stitches.

I may try and create a PDF and post it on Ravelry. I just have to figure out how to do it. Anyone have tips?

Happy knitting.

Resistance is futile

I give in to the relentless attack of the pretty cowl. A girl can only withstand so much before she gives in to beauty, finesse, style, and grace. (Don't you know that linking to a bunch of cowls is almost as trendy as the cowls themselves?)

This yarn was way to pretty to be socks anyway.


Handmaiden Casbah (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon)




I've unvented a pattern of my own. I'm using broken rib, but in reverse. I may actually write it up when it's done. Let's see how it turns out first.

New friend, new wool

What more could a girl ask for?

Last weekend I got to meet one of my favourite bloggers, Ingrid. She was vacationing in these parts, and so we arranged to meet. I wanted to take her on an epic yarn crawl, but I didn't have the car that day, and the better lys's are in the burbs.

We met downtown for a lovely Japanese lunch, where we talked for hours. You know you're having a great conversation when the waitress has to come 4 times to take your order and you haven't even looked at the menu yet! We then went on an unsuccessful croissant hunt (Ah merde, all sold out!)

Our combined fiber radar eventually guided us to a quirky little yarn shop, Knitknackers, where we found some good stuff:

I continue my neutral-love with this random ball of Peru Naturals from a sale bin. I don't think I have enough to make anything with it (90m = wah???). I just love the combo of pale blue and soft browns.


It kinda looks handspun to me.

Ingrid and I pounced on the Noro Kureyon sock yarn (and I learned that "Kureyon" is pronounced "crayon"). We were so excited to see it in "real" life, it was a given that we would both walk away with some.


Colour # 150, soft greys, blues, greens, lilacs.

And no visit to Knitknackers is complete without a thorough molesting of the Malabrigo. I contained myself, while Ingrid bought some gorgeous orange worsted.


Thanks Ingrid for such a wonderful day. You're a delight!
I can't wait to visit you in Nova Scotia!