My UFO Quest Continued

Posted on February 9, 2012 by MakerKnit

In my quest to finish my heap1 of UFOs (that’s the nerdy knitting acronym for UnFinished Objects) and finalize my numerous almost-finished pattern write-ups, I have been methodically tackling the situation.

My husband's newly-finished MakerBot "M" logo hat.

Last weekend, along with finishing the new scarf for my daughter and getting that pattern written up, I also finished a hat for my husband (although I still need to write up its pattern).  It is a simple Stockinette stitch, rolled bottom hat in black cotton featuring a red “M” done in intarsia.  The “M” is meant to resemble the logo for MakerBot Industries, the company that makes my husband’s 3D printer.  I’m still working on my intarsia skills, and cotton is not the best yarn for intarsia work,2 but the hat turned out alright for a first attempt and my husband is happy he can finally wear it.

My two lovely, finally-finished Brattleboro hats.

So far this week I have finished two other hats, one for myself and one that’s a gift for my mom.3  As you can see in the photos, it’s the same hat, just in different colors.  The pattern is the Brattleboro Hat by Melissa LaBarre4 and the yarn is Malabrigo’s Worsted Merino, which comes in so many beautiful, hand-dyed colors that I couldn’t choose just one.  I loved the design of the hat, so I decided to buy multiple hanks and make multiple hats.  I’m really happy with the results.

Close-up of my Brattleboro Hat in color 118 Tortuga.

Close-up of the Brattleboro hat for my mom in color 117 Verde Adriana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am now working on finalizing another pattern,5 this one for a “spa set” consisting of a bath mitt and votive candle sleeve that was a gift for my mother-in-law last Mother’s Day.  Similar to my summery headband pattern, this pattern for the spa set was all typed up–and even had photos–and just needed a final edit.  I’m in the process of double checking the patterns and hope to have that completed before the end of the upcoming weekend, so check back if you’re interested in making a spa set.

I’m really on a roll and feeling great about the progress I’m making.  I realize I won’t be able to keep up this pace forever, but hopefully I can stick to my more realistic one-per-week goal.  Although, I have thought to myself, if I complete more than one UFO and one pattern in a given week, can I carry those extras forward and count them toward the next week?  Sounds like cheating, I know, and kind of defeats the purpose of my quest, but the thought did cross my mind. 🙂

  1. I was going to say “stack” but that conjures up something too neat and tidy for my situation.  My unfinished projects are too numerous and would topple into an unruly pile, hence my use of “heap.” [↩]
  2. I gave my husband a choice between cotton and wool, and he wanted the cotton. [↩]
  3. But she doesn’t know about it yet; I’ve gotten smarter and stopped “advertising” a gift before it’s truly complete and ready to give. [↩]
  4. The Brattleboro Hat is just one of the many fantastic projects in the book “New England Knits” by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa La Barre. [↩]
  5. Well, two patterns actually, but they’re a set so I’m writing them up together. [↩]
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Finishing Unfinished Projects: Yes, I Know It’s February, But Here’s a Summer Headband Pattern

Posted on February 6, 2012 by MakerKnit

I have a ridiculous number of unfinished projects1 and a lesser, but not insubstantial, number of almost-ready-to-publish patterns.  Last week I vowed to finally take charge of the situation, and so I won’t feel completely overwhelmed by the gargantuan task, my goal is to finish just one project and one pattern per week.  What’s especially ridiculous about the situation is that many of the projects are fully knitted and only their ends need to be woven in and many of my patterns are typed up and just need photos to accompany them and a final edit.

"Days of Summer Headband"

One such pattern was for my “Days of Summer Headband.”  I designed and made the headband last summer, and even typed up the pattern for it.  Then I tried taking some photos of the headband while I was wearing it, holding the camera over my head and clicking away.  The photos were terrible.2  Some were out of focus, some were at weird angles, and others cut off parts of the headband.  Feeling discouraged, I abandoned the photo session, never to return again until today.

My photographic skills are still lacking, but I have learned why models are employed for photo sessions.  My daughter’s dolls and stuffed animals are my favorite models–they’re very cooperative and will sit still for shot after shot.  So today I asked to borrow a doll, took some new photos of the headband, and finalized the pattern.

I know it’s February, but since I finally finished this pattern, I’m going to post it even though it’s intended for warmer weather.  Just think though, if you start now, you could have dozens of these knitted up and at-the-ready by the time summer actually arrives (and they’re also great stash-busting projects).

Download my “Days of Summer Headband” pattern here:

 

  1. I know I’m not alone, which gives me much comfort. [↩]
  2. I’d like to blame it on the fact that the camera’s just a little point-and-shoot type, but I don’t think that’s the problem. [↩]
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Knitting a Scarf with Variegated Yarn: The Mixed Berries Scarf

Posted on February 5, 2012 by MakerKnit
My daughter's "Mixed Berries Scarf."

My daughter's "Mixed Berries Scarf."

I finished the scarf for my daughter using some lovely variegated yarn I had in my stash.  I’m calling it the “Mixed Berries Scarf” because the colors in the yarn make me think of a bowl filled with beautiful, luscious berries.

I chose to design a reversible pattern so the scarf would look good from either side.  The pattern is very simple and easily memorized, which makes for quick and easy knitting.

As with many scarves, this scarf is a great stash-busting project since it only requires approximately 140 yards of worsted weight yarn to make a child-size scarf.  You can also make an adult-size scarf with just one hank (210 yards) of the yarn I used.  Download my pattern for more information and instructions:

 

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