New and Improved Tam

I finished another tam this week. I was on a quest to modify the pattern to meet my needs. I made a kind of tam/rasta hybrid. I am happy with the results on my second try.



Yarn: Knit Picks Palette, Purple
Needles: Addi Turbo 16 inch, size 3 and 5
Pattern: Pattern: Basic Tam Pattern from Knitted Tams by Mary Rowe, clockwise swirl decrease
Modifications: increased needle size, lengthened body to 5 inches before decrease

Compare the two tams:



I had to "unblock" the first tam because the 13 inch plate stretched out the ribbing. It fits okay, like a beret. But I wanted more coverage on my head, not something small that just sits on the top of my head. So I will be giving the first tam away to a friend with a preschooler who likes hats!



I am very happy with the fit of the purple tam/rasta. And I still only used one 50 gram ball of palette yarn. Three grams to spare actually! Very nice. Since I have so much of this yarn, I am thinking a whole wardrobe of hats, and some quick gifts as well.

Speaking of Knit Picks yarns, they have two new sock yarns out, Risata and Felici. I ordered a couple of each to try them out. I will let you know what I think once I get my little paws on them.

Back in the beginning of the month I mentioned an experiment with a pattern I found online. Then I forgot to update about the results. So sorry... I did finish these before the Brown Sheep trip to try out the Wildfoote sock yarn. I like it, it is kinda like Opal, a sturdy, all-purpose, no fuss sock yarn.



Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Deco Lime
Needles: Crystal Palace 2.25mm
Pattern: here
The best part, only 40 grams used for the pair!



Another use for the yoga socks - fingerless mitts!
Two uses for one pattern!

My First Tam

I borrowed Knitted Tams from the library a couple weeks ago. Great book by the way. And I have been itching to make one since I picked it up. What a relaxing, yet fast knit! I cast on Thursday night and it is blocking right now!





Yarn: KnitPicks Palette, Wood
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.5mm and 3.25mm
Pattern: Basic Tam Pattern from Knitted Tams by Mary Rowe
Blocking on a 13inch plate

I followed the pattern, except for one thing. I know the pattern says to block on a 10 inch plate, but I wanted it a little larger. I'll see how this works out. It looked really, really small before the blocking phase. I am talking toddler small, really. Now, I think it may fit an adult. I have already started another one, but on a bigger needle. I am going to try size 3 for the ribbing and a size 5 for the body.

Almost forgot to mention...
Last Monday, June 18th was a special day for two reasons:
It was my DD birthday! 20 years old, WOW!
And it was my one year anniversary of quitting smoking!
I am so happy about that!

Estes Park (part two)

This year I had a plan at the wool market. We went in early and scoped out the booths that I definately wanted to buy from. We did wonder around after that and talk to some nice vendor folks and picked up some odds and ends along the way. Surprisingly I came in $26 under my budget! WOW!

Again, there are alot of pics, so click to enlarge.


left: Plain&Fancy Sheep&Wool This is only available at festivals. I love it, so I get it when I see it! Makes nice socks too.
center: Brooks Farm
right: dyed mohair locks, not for me. I bought these as a gift.


left: Tofutsies 784& Trekking 182
right: Surina knitting needles.
I couldn't resist those lovely carved tips!
I also got some more dye, but it will not photograph well.

So what did I knit on the way and while there?



Yarn: Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool, Varigated dye lot #2
Needles: KnitPicks DPNs 2.5mm
Pattern: Thuja from Knitty
60 stitches, short row heel and toe

But since I got back I have been working on this:



Yarn: MJ hand dyed palette (here and here)
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 10 1/2
It is almost done I think. Kind of hard to tell on the needles, and it needs blocked. Also, it depends on who gets it, I may give it away. I like it, but I have been thinking someone special may like it as well. She likes pink and purple too!

Estes Park Weekend

We just got back into town from a long weekend in the mountains. We went to a wool festival in Estes Park, Colorado. We had a great time! And we took alot of pictures to share.

Click on any picture to enlarge.

There were alot of fiber critters:




There were events to watch:



We also went to Rocky Mountain National Park. There were breath taking views. We drove, hiked, and enjoyed ourselves in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.




Plenty more pictures here.

That was alot crammed into three days.
I will post pics of yarn and knitting later.
Right now I am tired.

Brown Sheep Trip

I am catching up again! Just so much to tell you about this week.

On Monday, my LYS took a trip to Brown Sheep. It was a great time. I met alot of local knitters from other knit groups around town on the bus. There were 29 of us on board. Mary (LYS owner) had a project for us to make along the way.



Cute little bookmarks with beads! I must make more for gifts!

The tour was very informative! And of course the stash enhancements from the store were fantastic. They had yarns that were not even out in the yarn stores yet!




More pics here.

Off Roading in Colorado

I love living in Colorado. The DH and I like to get out and go driving in the mountains. Saturday was no exception! It was a beautiful day. We packed a lunch, pulled on the hiking boots, and off we went for a day in the mountains.









Some of you may recognize this as the Hayman burn area. The signs of tradgedy still linger, but new signs of life are all around. More pics here.

We pulled off Rampart Range Road for lunch and to let Majc run around. Del found a nice campsite to hang out and watch the sun go down. A perfect day!

Bridge to Terabithia

What have I been knitting for the past two days? Nothing actually. A shock I know. I shocked myself! See previous post when I admit to how much I knit every day. But I picked up a wonderful book and just could not put it down.



It is a very good book. I have heard that some folks read this in school, but this my first time. I was sad to take it back to the library today. I must get my own copy. The DVD is coming out this month. I will probably watch it, and I will probably be disappointed. The books are always so much better than the movie. I think because you can use your own imagination!

When I got home there was a package waiting for me. I know, I have been told that I have more sock yarn than some yarn stores. But this yarn is special.



This yarn is called "Steelers" and it is Claudia Hand Painted that I got from The Loope Ewe. I live in Colorado now, but I am originally from Southwestern Pennsylvania, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. My DH and I are bigtime Steelers fans! So I had to get this yarn! Socks for both of us! Now to pick an appropriate pattern........hmmmmm

Rip and Restart

Knitting

I was not thrilled with the new shawl on the needles, so I ripped it completely and restarted. Now I am happy. I changed the increases from yarn overs to knit in the front and back and went up in needle size. I restarted it last night and I am back to where I was when I ripped it. It did come to work with me today too, it is fairly mindless knitting, perfect for the office!



Yarn: MJ hand dyed palette
Needles: KnitPicks Options size 10 1/2

The other change that I made was that I am doing a garter ridge when I change colors. I like the effect. I don't remember where I got that idea, I think it was Elizabeth Zimmerman, but not sure.



I have something else new on the dpn's.



Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Deco Lime
Needles: Crystal Palace 2.25mm

I wanted to try some of this yarn before the big trip to Brown Sheep next week. I only have one 50 gram skein, so I am experimenting with a new idea I saw while blog surfing last week. Details to follow, if it works out.


Comments

I have been wanting to respond to some comments for a while. So let me jump right on in!

Leisel commented on the new issue of IK.
I like the cover sweater, but the neckline's too wide, and I don't know how to fix it (also, the cabled ribbing should end under the bust, not across the middle of it).

I agree, the cover sweater was kind of...different. I do not get that the cables stop in the middle of the chest area either. I think they should have put the Oriel lace blouse on the cover. It is the summer issue after all.

gray la gran asked:
do you usually start/work both socks at the same time? i try to, sometimes, to keep from having orphans.

In a word, yes. No second sock syndrome for me.

Sylvie asked:
Can I ask how much time you spend knitting each day?

Alot! Let's see, I knit during my lunch break at work, and usually my second break also. In the evenings, I knit while dinner is cooking, and for a couple of hours after dinner. On the weekends, pretty much all the waking hours, except for Sunday services. Yeah, alot!

Senja said:
Ooohh! I am jealous of all the sock yarn. I just discovered the world of socks (for some reason I didn't knit them until now) and I love it! You inspire me to knit more.

Thank you for the compliment. I am glad you are inspired! Be careful out there new sock knitter, socks are addicting! And so are all the pretty sock yarns!

Senja also said:
Again beautiful socks! I should try to finish mine soon. Do you use a short row heel when you knit toe up or a heel flap? PS Tag your it! check my blog for details:)

Yes, I have been doing the short row heel and toe exclusively since I learned it. Before that I did an afterthought heel, the heel flap just never fit me right. But that is what is so cool about knitting, individuallity! We get to do what we like!

Sorry about the Tag, I don't do meme's anymore.

Abigail left this comment on my Memorial Day post:
My husband and I are Vets. We both served in the US Navy. Thank you!

I was in the Army. And I am proud of my military service!
I am not ashamed to be patriotic. Here are a couple patriotic videos for your enjoyment. America. Please read this story then click "video"


Thank you all for your kind words regarding my knitting journeys. I really appreciate the time you take to say something nice on my humble blog!

Pembrokeshire Pathways Socks

I first saw the pattern for Pembrokeshire Pathways socks during Socktoberfest 2006. I fell in love with them instantly. But it took me quite a while to cast on for them. I thought they looked too difficult, that they would be a challenge for me. But I was wrong! The challenge was all in my head! It is only knitting and purling after all! Okay, cables and yarn overs too, but I can do that! Then when I did finally start them, I thought they would be an epic project. Wrong again! I really enjoyed knitting these socks! I will definately be making more. They are so fancy, I feel they deserve special attention. So I photographed them on my feet, not the usual sockblocker pic.



Yarn: KnitPicks Essential Petunia
Needles: Crystal Palace 2.25mm
Pattern: Pembrokeshire Pathways here
cast on 64 stitches
increased to 35 stitches instep
short row toe & heel
increased to 77 stitches after the heel
changed needles to KnitPicks 2.5mm 3 inches after the heel
Cuff: 5 inches 2X2 ribbing (2.25mm)
Russian bindoff

I know, I did quite a few modifications. But it was worth it!



I picked up this book today. Not only is this sock knitter eye candy, there are a couple of patterns that I will have to try.

Speaking of eye candy, I will leave you with this....