Free Pattern: Striped Phynn Scarf   Yarn: Blue Sky AlpacaSport Weight    Needles: US #5 24" circular

This might look familiar.  Its a different take on the mostly-solid color Phynn Scarves.  The only difference in this pattern is that there is a specific way to change colors to get the right striping effect.  There are more rows than the solid version too but it is still a relatively quick project to work up.  Try using up some leftovers that you already have on hand if you don't want to plunk down the bucks for this particular yarn.  I just happened to have this group of lovely yarn in my leftover bin.  Other weights of yarn can be used too but do a gauge swatch to get an idea of how long it will end up being.

(close-up view)

Free Pattern: Celestine from Berroco (by Norah Gaughan)   Yarn: Assorted different sock yarns    Needles: US #2

Can you say dodecahedron?  I couldn't.  In fact, it was embarrassing when my husband corrected me.  But he was quite interested in the pattern when he saw it printed out and when it was completed.  He even pulled an old astronomy book off his shelf to show me how it relates to his hobby (he's an amateur and at this point I have no idea how it relates to astronomy).  I had a bunch of fun making this up.  The construction spoke to my love of almost all things modular.  I say "almost all things" in the event I come across something that doesn't ring my bell but speaking in general I love knitting one piece onto another and building something totally unexpected.  Maybe is has to do with the fact that I live with an architect and that I work in the architecture profession--you know, all those buildings that get put together piece by piece must have an effect on me.

So about Celestine, I saw Norah's post right before Christmas and knew I would have to make one.  Going through this process helped bring me out of my post holiday funk that creeps up on me from year to year.  It was like taking a dose of Prozac (although I have no experience to truly make this analogy).  I had no idea I had so many different skeins of sock yarn that would actually coordinate either.  Now I'm trying to figure out if I want to make a pair of socks that match the star.  Hmmmm...

So Gumby is now done.  I finished the duplicate stitch last night and it still looks like cr_p!.  Its a little better than my first attempt but I can't say I'm sold with this type of embellishment/color work.  Click here for the chart.

Come and meet my little friend:

Gumby!

You may know him.  You may love him.  He's mean (not really) and he's green and he can sure work a yellow smile (and nose and eyebrows).  And red eyes, well I'm not photo-shopping those babies!  What better face to use for my first sample using the double knitting technique?  I'm working up a dishcloth using kitchen cotton and happened to have some (very old) skeins already on hand. 

Don't let the red eyes scare you (but don't stare at them too long).  After working up the base cloth in the double knit technique, I intend to duplicate stitch the details on.  But as you can see here I've stopped until I can get better at it.  I'm using the same yarn to work the duplicate but I just can't figure out why it looks like cr_p!  I did a small portion of the white part of the eye (see chart here) and hated it.  I ripped it out until I have a better frame of mind.  Here's the reverse side of the cloth:

I'm actually rather pleased with my first attempt at double knitting.  I was inspired by several projects in the book "Son of Stitch 'n B*tch" by Debbie Stoller.  I got the book as a Christmas gift (thanks, sharchitect!).  It took a little while to master how to hold the 2 strands in my left hand (working Continental style) and move forward and back as needed.  Here's a link to a video on Knittinghelp.com (scroll down the page)--I hold my yarn a little differently than she shows you how. I wasn't able to work this technique knitting backward so I turned my work every row on this project.  The edges turned out a little loose but maybe if its made up in a yarn with more give, it'll even out more (yes, I'm talking about a wool yarn). 

I'm hoping that a good washing will help shrink things into better shape so I better get on with the embroidery.

Pattern: Sock Recipe from "the knitter's handy book of patterns" by Ann Budd    Yarn: NoroKureyon Sock Yarn (from The Yarn and Fiber Company)     Needles: US #0 

Shown on my Duct Foot

I don't know why I did it but the first sock is knit at a looser gauge than the second.  Thus the first sock is larger.  Its kind of hard to tell in this photo but its at least half an inch larger around the cuff.  I was several inches into the second sock before I discovered the difference but decided to keep going anyway since I don't mind imperfections like this.  I was just too inspired by the color of this yarn.

The cuff consists of K3,P1 ribbing with a roll top (4 rows of stockinette after casting on).  I wanted just a very simple sock pattern to show off the yarn.  I don't think a lacier stitch would have really shown up well.

Close up of the toe (which is a 3-needle bind off).

Bottom of the heel (showing my not so consistant gauge).  The yarn is a single ply and there are thick and thin spots throughout.  Character, I guess you could say.

This is what is left over from the 100 gram skein.  I don't know what I'll do with it yet but I'm not turning it loose.  I ordered a second skein in the colorway 164 (mostly greens).  I'm going to wait to see how these wear before planning the next pair.  Maybe I'll think of something else to make up in the yarn instead. 

Inner Monologue: The post reads as if a robot wrote it.  Must...get...inspired...must...get...motivated...must...clean...my...house...