Gaby's Joy

Pattern: Joy
Design: Kim Hargreaves from Nectar
Yarn: YarnArt Jeans 220 g
Needle: 2.5 mm, 3 mm

I love this cardigan! The design is all Kim Hargreaves - elegant simplicity. I knit it with smaller needles and xs instructions and the fit turned out just perfect for my daughter. The only mods I made - lowered a bit the neckline and knit it in the round - definitely the way to go with this kind of knit texture. I'm already looking for a suitable colour of YarnArt Jeans for another Joy - I want one of these for me too :)

The Black Floppy Brim Hat

Pattern: The Black Floppy Brim Hat
Yarn: YarnArt Jeans 55% cotton 45% acrylic 50 g / 160 m; two skeins
Additional materials (optional): millinery wire, various wooden beads
Hook: 3 mm

Crown
0) chain 4, sl st to close the ring
1) 1 hdc, 11 dc in ring, do not join, continue spirally, mark the beginning of the round and move marker to each next round.
2) 2 dc in every st of the first round = 24 dc
3) *2 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc* = 36 dc
4) *1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc* = 48 dc
5) *2 dc in the same stitch, 3 dc* = 60 dc
6) *2 dc, 2 dc in the same st, 2 dc* = 72 dc
7) *2 dc in the same stitch, 5 dc* = 84 dc
8) *3 dc, 2 dc in the same st, 3 dc* = 96 dc
9) - 14) 1 dc in each stitch in the round = 96 dc
15) 1 dc in 95 stitches in the round, 1 hdc = 96 st
16) - 20) 1 sc in each stitch in the round = 96 sc, a total of five rounds of sc


Brim

Note: To make it easy, before the beginning of each round, I mark the places of the increases.
21) *1 sc in each of 7 stitches, 2 sc in the same st* = 108 sc
22) *1 sc in each of 4 stitches, 2 sc in the same st, 4 sc in each of 5 stitches* = 120 sc
23) *1 sc in each of 9 stitches, 2 sc in the same st* = 132 sc
24) *1 sc in each of 5 stitches, 2 sc in the same st, 5 sc in each of 5 stitches* = 144 sc
25) 1 sc in each st = 144 sc
26) *1 sc in each of 11 stitches, 2 sc in the same st* = 156 sc
27) *1 sc in each of 6 stitches, 2 sc in the same st, 6 sc in each of 5 stitches* = 168 sc
28) 1 sc in each st = 168 sc
29) *1 sc in each of 13 stitches, 2 sc in the same st* = 180 sc
30) *1 sc in each of 7 stitches, 2 sc in the same st, 7 sc in each of 5 stitches* = 192 sc
31) 1 sc in each st = 192 sc
32) *1 sc in each of 15 stitches, 2 sc in the same st* = 204 sc
33) *1 sc in each of 8 stitches, 2 sc in the same st, 8 sc in each of 5 stitches* = 216 sc
34) 1 sc in each st = 216 sc
35) *1 sc in each of 17 stitches, 2 sc in the same st* = 228 sc
36) *1 sc in each of 10 stitches, 2 sc in the same st, 10 sc in each of 5 stitches* = 240 sc
37) - 42) 1 sc in each st = 240 sc
43) {optional} 1 sc in each stitch, inserting a millinery wire
44) 1 sc in each stitch

Decoration - a string of wooden beads, intertwined with a simple string, evenly running through the hat.

I'm In!

I'm so thrilled! I've just joined my first web challenge:



and here's my pledge:

'I, Carmela of http://carmelabiscuit.blogspot.com/, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-Sept '11. I endeavour to wear at least one item knit or crocheted by me each day for the duration of September 2011'

That should be exciting! And a good way to check the wearability of my handmade items. I also intend to join the Flickr group and post images of my outfits. As I knit not only for myself, but also for my daughter, son and husband, some days I might include photos of them as well.
I plan it as a Monday review of my outfits throughout the previous week and I really hope to be able to stick to the end.

You can also join in this month-long challenge created by Zoe of http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com here.

Time For Something Frenchy

Pattern: Frenchy
Personal design, based on Betty Mouat by Kate (Ravelry name wazz)
Yarn: YarnArt Jeans 150 g in blue, red and off white
Needle: 3 mm, 2.5 mm, 2 mm


A raglan blouse with chevron lace body and stockinette stitch upper part, knit in the round. The chevron lace is knit over 24 stitches, a total of 8 rapports. The transition from the chevron to the stockinette - k2tog eight times per rapport, but yo only three (instead of 8). The sleeves are knit separately for the garter stitch part (2.5 mm needle), then inserted into the body, with raglan decreases every other row. Tried something new - left live the stitches under the arms and grafted them afterwords - neat! The garter stitch neckband is knit with 2.5 mm and then 2 mm needles for the last 6 rows.