Birkenwasser knits

I have recently used bubblewrap stitches in several designs: Pastilles Hat, Ipana Cardigan and Mesmeria Dress. It's a nice way to add what looks like stranded knitting with a bit of texture - and only working with one color at a time. Knotions magazine published a tutorial for bubble stitches and it's really worth it to have a look if you are not familiar with the technique. The stitch is also known as Drop, Ladder, Knit (DLK). I was happy to read that my pattern was in the top 5 for the January issue of Knotions - maybe it was the bubble stitch!

Bubble stitch tutorial in Knotions

Knitting for babies is always a pleasure: whatever you knit, it won't take much time and you get a cute result. So when I heard that we'd be visiting a friend who had a baby last summer, I wanted to knit something for her. I included a baby size for the Mesmeria pattern that I published in November, so I decided to make a mini version of the dress. One of my test knitters used a gradient yarn for her dress, and I wanted to see how that would look like. I had just enough pink-purple Nordlys left from my U-turn sock project that all I needed was a main color for the dress.



I like the way the dress looks totally different from the first one I knitted in red and brown. And I love the little pink butterfly buttons that I found for this dress!

It's CreaDienstag.

January 21, 2017 is going to be a day of women's rights. Starting from Women's March planned for Washington, D.C, the movement has spread around the world with sister marches arranged in various cities. We are going to have one in Helsinki, so I thought that it's time for me to join the PussyHat Project. The idea is to have everyone marching wear a pink pussy hat. The original PussyHat Project pattern has more than 6000 projects on Ravelry, so it seems that this project has gotten needles moving. You don't need to use that pattern, though - any pussy hat pattern is ok.


To support the Pussy Hat Project, I have made an adult version of my Catwoman returns hat. You can find the instructions below. It's basically the same hat as the original children's hat, only the earflaps have been replaced by a 2 x 2 ribbing and it's a bit bigger to fit an adult head. I wanted to keep the crown shaping and short-row ears, so I didn't use the original PussyHat Project pattern by Kat Coyle.

Materials and tools

150 m (165 yards) Aran weight wool (here: Novita 7 veljestä)
Needles: 3,5 and 4 mm DPNs (US 4 and 6)
2 stitch markers, tapestry needle

Gauge

21 sts and 29 rows = 10 cm (4") in stockinette stitch.

Instructions

Cast on 112 sts on smaller needles. Join in the round and place marker at beginning of round. Work in (k2, p2) ribbing for 6 cm (2 1/2 inches).

Switch to larger needles and continue in stockinette stitch until total length is 15 cm (6").
Following round: (k12, k2tog), repeat to end of round. (104 sts)
K 10 rounds.
Following round: (k11, k2tog), repeat to end of round. (96 sts)
Set up round for ears: k48, place marker, k48.

Start ear shaping with short rows. If you are not familiar with short rows using wrap & turn (w&t), check out this Knitty tutorial.

K15 sts after marker, w&t.
P30, w&t.
K to 10 sts after marker, w&t.
P20, w&t.
K to 7 sts after marker, w&t.
P14, w&t.
K to second marker, catching wraps as you come to them.
Repeat ear shaping for the other ear.
K to first marker, catching wraps as you come to them.
K one round, catching remaining wraps as you come to them.

Bind off sts, using three needle bind off: place first and fourth needle close to each other, k2tog (one from each needle), k2tog, lift previous st over this one. Continue to last st.

Weave in the ends. Block the hat and get ready to march for women's rights!

Last summer I took Joji Locatelli's "Approach to sweater design" class in Jyväskylä. As "homework" she gave us her Worsted Boxy pattern so we could take a closer look at how grading is handled in the pattern. Well, I thought that I would learn more if I knitted the sweater, so here we are!


There are two options in the pattern: seamless or seamed. As there's rarely an opportunity to knit in pieces and for all the other reasons why seamed is better I opted for the seamed version. It's a nice piece to knit while reading: as the name suggests it's basically a big box with neck opening and sleeves, so there's plenty of plain stockinette stitch to keep your hands busy while reading the newspaper. However, I have to say that I'm not used to knitting with such big needles, so it took a while for my hands to get used to it. Surprisingly I found a set of ugly plastic DPNs in size 5,5 mm from my needle storage, so I didn't even have to buy tools for this project. I have no idea where these needles originate from, though!


I'm really happy with the way the sweater turned out, and I can see why the pattern has been so hugely popular. However, it might not be the best pattern to learn about grading, as there is not much difference between sizes due to the boxy shape. Well, you get the idea, and you get a lovely garment as a result, so all good. Except the yarn. It was a disappointment: after two weeks of wear, it was all pilled. Good thing is that I opted for black, so the pilling is not that visible. There's also a lot of static electricity building up charges around this sweater, but I don't know whether it's the amount of fabric to rub against itself or the material or just the cold winter weather. I still wear it, because I like the look!




It's RUMS day.

Knotions January 2017 issue is out, featuring 14 patterns for accessories. My Pastilles Hat is one of them.



Pastilles Hat features rows of candy, created with bubblewrap stitches. The technique creates an illusion of stranded work without the trouble of working with two yarns at a time. Dig into your stash and find those little bits of leftover yarn in your favorite candy colors! Folded brim keeps your ears warm without making the rest of the hat too thick.




Business Woman liked the hat so much, that she asked if she could keep it after the photo shoot. Not too long after that she left it on a long distance bus in Estonia, when returning from our trip to Saaremaa. When discussing this with my 5-year-old Troll Princess, I realised that the little girl is pretty aware of what this knitwear design thing is all about. After asking how did Business Woman loose the hat, her second question was: "Did you take pictures of it before she lost it?!". Well, I did, and I told Business Woman that it didn't matter that she lost it. But it did matter to her, and I quote: "It is the best hat ever! I really want it back!". So after doing her business in Tallinn she called the bus company and went back to the bus station to get her hat back.

I hope you will all enjoy this pattern and make best hats ever with it!