Aproustian's Knittery

Lightning McQueen Hat

aproustian — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:56:59 +0000

This pattern is by my sister (hatstand4510 on Ravelry), who doesn’t have a site to use when creating Ravelry patterns. In her words:

My boss’ five year old son has lost all his hair in his battle with leukemia. He is a big fan of the Pixar movie Cars, so I created this hat for him.

LightningMcQueenPattern

Diamond Socks

aproustian — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:13:26 +0000

I wanted an easy, mindless sock that wasn’t just plain stockinette, with a simple texture pattern that wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the variaged yarn I had. Searching through one of my stitch dictionaries led me to the diamond.

Yarn: Claudia’s handpainted

Needles: 4 US1 dpns

Sock is based on Wendy Johnson’s generic toe up sock (as all my socks are now–I love toe up, since I want to use up every single bit of these great sock yarns).

CO 30 st with crochet chain provisional cast on.

After toe, begin pattern:

(will add later)

There is an issue with how the rounds match up; I did a bit of finagling to make it look right, but I leave that to the discretion of the knitter. Either way, it probably won’t be a noticable effect to a nonknitter.

Mardi Gras Socks

aproustian — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:55:13 +0000

The inspiration for these was some lovely Koigu I got while in New Orleans for the March Meeting, hence the “stranded beads” that the bobbles form around the top.

The sock is done toe up, in classic Wendy Johnson style (http://www.wendyjohnson.net/blog/sockpattern.htm). I’ve found her recommended cast on to work quite well.

When the sock is tall enough (mine was about 2.5 inches above the heel), start pattern:

(will be added soon)

Rutile Mittens

aproustian — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:08:35 +0000

Yarn: Malabrigo worsted, three colors (I used Dusty, Applewood, and Bobby Blue). The pattern would also work with two colors.

Needles: US6 dpns

CO 28 st, do 1×1 ribbing (next time, do more stitches here with smaller needles, eg. US5, 33 st)

Increase evenly to 36 st. For the front of the mitten I made a checkerboard pattern, alternating either tan/blue/tan or tan/pink/tan depending on the row. Vertical stripes would also work here. Follow the chart for the back of the mitten:

I used a gusset for the thumb, so on the rows marked with a black dot, increase twice to form the gusset (the dark brown boxes represent purls):

At the top of the mitten decrease on these same rows, on the third vertical repeat of the chart (this can be changed depending on the length of the hand) starting on the first pink row. After 5 rows switch to decreasing every row (ie. 5 rows every other, 5 rows every). Kitchener stitch to close the top.

Finishing the thumb: when the gusset had 17 st, put stitches onto waste yarn and CO 5 st to reconnect the front and back. After finishing the rest of the mitten, pick up 4 st above those 5 st and continued the checkerboard pattern. On the first round, decrease twice (once at each side of the held stitches). Knit for 5 rows. Decrease twice each row for 3 rows, graft together remaining st.

Modifications: make gusset shorter by 2 or 3 rows

DNA hat

aproustian — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:10:28 +0000

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay (probably not the most suitable of yarns, given its thick & thin nature)

Needles: US8

CO approx 80 st. (can change number of purls between DNA and cables to change size of hat to fit). There are 4 repeats of the pattern. I worked a simple cable with 5 stitches (k2 p1 k2) but any similar size cable or ribs would suffice. Put in at least two purls between this cable and the DNA; the DNA will never come closer than 2 purls to the cable, so this sets the limit for the DNA.
To make the DNA cable: stagger the beginning knits (k2) so that one side is up against the limit of the cable, and the other is 2 st toward the center from its limit. Make the interior all purls for 2 rows, then all knits for 2 rows. When crossing the DNA backbone, switch between right cabling and left cabling.

Decreasing: Do 8 decr/row every other row. First decrease the 5 st cable into 3 st (after which make it all purls). Use p2togs before and after the DNA cable until few enough stitches are left to run yarn through and close top of hat.

Increasing purls in ribbing

aproustian — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:24:06 +0000

If you kfb on the last knit before a set of purls, the new stitch looks like a purl and fits right in.

Aunt Nelda’s Slipper Pattern

aproustian — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:14:56 +0000

A simple, common slipper pattern which I love and have made many pairs of.

Yarn: Any

Needles: recommended by yarn

CO appropriate number: 3N+1 where N is usually between 10 and 12. Knit garter stitch except for two rows of stockinette (i.e., separate into N garter, k1, N-1 garter, k1, N garter) until stretched slipper is approx 2 in shy of end of foot. 1×1 ribbing until stretched slipper is length of foot. Pull yarn through all stitches (sew hole at toe shut if desired), seam half way up foot. Seam at heel. Add pompom or bow as desired.

Ravelry.

Martha’s Tam

aproustian — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:26:09 +0000

Very loosely inspired by Martha Jones’ tam in Doctor Who (I can’t find a picture of it, plus it was crocheted to begin with). In any case, both are purple tams, and mine has been absolutely lovely to wear during the fall.

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia

Needles: US8

CO a multiple of 4 to get 22 in around (approx 88 st), do 2×2 ribbing for 1 in. Increase once every 4 st (by knitting into leg of stitch below). Knit about 4 in. stockinette. Decrease in pinwheel, pull yarn through last stitches and add pompom.

Ravelry.

Woven Cable Slip-through Scarf

aproustian — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:49:28 +0000

The shape is based on a neckwarmer my great aunt knit years ago which was wearing out.

Yarn: Suri Alpaca (locally raised in Three Oaks) 3-ply fingering weight, held doubled
Needles: US6

Stitch Pattern: Woven Cable from Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns

CO 2 st, increase every other row with kfb on the 2nd and 2nd to last st, knit all rows (garter stitch). At desired width, begin decreasing with ssk/k2tog on the 2nd and 2nd to last st. At desired width, switch to 1×1 ribbing for 2 1/2 in. Begin working stitch pattern, with 3 garter stitches on each side. Knit desired length (approx. 12 in). Switch to 1×1 ribbing and do all decreases and increases to create symmetric end. Pick up stitches on back of one side where pattern meets the ribbing; knit garter st for length of ribbing. Do quasi-three needle bind off (that is, one of the “needles” is the scarf) to connect this square to the scarf.

Ravelry.

Oval Cable Hobo Mittens Pattern

aproustian — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:54:32 +0000

Originally made in June 2007 for LBC, these were my first foray into hobo mittens. They are mostly successful, but a few modifications (in italics) would make the pattern better.
Yarn: Ellyn Cooper’s Yarn Sonnets Woolly Bear

Needles: US8

stitch pattern: Oval Cable from Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns

2×2 ribbing for the wrist, with a set of 4 knits to set up the cable. For hand, knit in the round with stockinette and oval cable. Afterthought thumb, 5 st wide (either full or half thumb). Where palm meets fingers, knit a row with waste yarn (as with afterthought thumb), continue pattern and finish mitten with two pairs of decreases. Return to palm; knit up from waste yarn row with 2×2 ribbing for 1 in, BO, whip stitch to secure the sides. Knit down from waste yarn row with 1/2 in of 2×2 ribbing, BO, seam nicely to sides. Secure button on back of hand where it meets the wrist; make small loop at top of fingers and secure with thread.

Ravelry.