Dindy Beret



One hat out of the Thistle yarn wasn't enough,
So I made this sweet little hat for my daughter out of 2 balls of the Old Rose colorway.

The pattern is the Dindy Beret by Kate Oates of TotToppers.

What a cute little hat this is. The leafy border is such a nice detail.

I made a few modifications for my daughter's version.
The pattern calls for 2 adorable body styles, but I chose to leave her hat plain on the top.
Also I knit the leafy band with a size 7 needle, and the body in a size 8 which created a slightly slouchier look.

I love the swirly decrease pattern and the bobble on top.
The small little details really add to the design.

If you like this hat, check out Kate's blog here.
She has a ton of great hat designs for adults and children.


For all of the great photos I get of my daughter, there are twice as many...
uh... uncooperative photo taking experiences. :)

It seems that the more of a deadline I am under with the photo taking,
the goofier my 4 year old gets during our photoshoots.

But I will get my revenge someday.. these will be great to show at her high school graduation party,
or if she ever has a boyfriend that I don't like.


Cute hat though!


Alana Comments
16-Sixteen Cable Hat


I just had the pleasure of knitting the 16 cable beret by Circe Belles Boucles.
What an amazing pattern!

The pattern is simple, quick and not fussy at all..
There are only 4 cable crosses in the whole hat!

I love these how these over sized dramatic cables look..


Such a fun knit!

I made a few minor modifications to my version. I made the largest slouchiest version and added one extra cable cross before decreasing. I just felt that it should be there.

Also I eliminated some of the plain knit rounds in the decrease portion.

I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Its so soft and cushy and WARM.

Perfection.


The lovely yarn I have to thank for making this hat possible is Louisa Harding Thistle.
It offers a truly decadent knitting experience.

This hat took 3 balls, but if you were to make the smaller version,
you could definitely squeeze this pattern out of 2.
I just barely had to dip into that 3rd ball of yarn.

Check out my latest podcast episode to hear more about this yarn and
how to enter to win both yarn and pattern!



Alana Comments
NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 32 : Yarn Fetish
AlanaNevernotknitting Podcast Comments
Stitches Stash

So I went up to Stitches West a few weeks ago or so.
And a few skeins decided to come home with me...

Well.. maybe a lot of skeins. I guess it depends on how you look at it. :)

I am in love with all of my new yarns. I have no idea when I'll get the chance to knit all of them.. but for now I am greatly enjoying just having them in my possession.


Each picture links to the vendor from which I bought from.


(Starting at top left: 1: Miss Babs Yummy Monochrome-2 ply Superwash in Moss, 2: Malabrigo Worsted in Paris Night, 3: Becoming Art Handspun in Auburn Reconcile, 4: Pigeonroof Studios Heavy Laceweight in Black Walnut, 5: Becoming Art Celio Sport in New Moon, 6: Anzula Cloud Laceweight in color #206, 7: Becoming Art Mar Lana in Sandalwood, 8: Madelinetosh Vintage in Victorian Gothic, and last but not least
9: Knitting Notions Classic Merino Superwash Sport in Lichen.)


Be sure to listen to my upcoming podcast episode on March 15th to find out more
about my trip to Stitches West!



Alana Comments
New Bags!

Out of the kindness of my heart, I've adopted
two more RoseKnits bags into my knitting bag family.
My RoseKnits 'Box Tote' was pleased to have a little sister.. :)


I just love the size of this 'Cube' project bag! Its perfect for a sock or hat project and the little notions pouch fits inside perfectly!


And.. aren't these fabrics just the cutest?



I've been working on 2 new hat projects recently, so I've been using this little project bag a lot.

I packed my little zippered notions pouch with all of the things I would need for the projects:
Dpns, measuring device, cable needle, stitch markers and scissors.
It was great having all of those things in one place with my knitting..
and in a matching bag too. Just love that!


I hope to adopt more in the future.


Alana Comments
Roseknits Springtime Giveaway

Get ready for Springtime knitting with this lovely, yarn-filled "Fortune Cookie" style bag by RoseKnits and this brand new copy of Nicky Epstein's Crocheted Flowers.

The shape of this project bag with its large triangular base, is perfect for setting beside you while you knit. While you are knitting, you can leave your yarn in the bag and zip it up almost to the top. That way your yarn stays nice and clean while you work and
you don't have to worry about your yarn rolling all over the floor.
This bag is also very roomy and can easily hold a small to medium size project.

With this giveaway you will also have the chance to win this lovely book by Nicky Epstein.
Crocheted flowers are perfect for adorning your Springtime knitting projects.
Look at all of the pretty flower patterns found in this book!


Enter to win the complete "springtime collection" by simply leaving a
comment under this blog post with some contact information.
Gain an additional drawing entry by posting this phrase on Twitter.com:

" I entered the RoseKnits Springtime Drawing Giveaway on nevernotknitting.com!
You should enter too! @nevernotknittin "

There will be only one winner selected at random.
The winner will be announced March 15th, so please check back then!


This drawing is now closed.

The winner is Jen G.! Congratulations!


Alana Comments
The NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 31 : Knitting Emmy
AlanaNevernotknitting Podcast Comments
Ravelympics Day 14: Wrap-Me-Up Pup


I've finished knitting this little puppy his very own knitted blanket...
And that, my friends, is the completion of my Ravelympics projects for this year!

This pattern "Wrap me up Puppies" is also from the book Itty Bitty Toys.
I just love this book. This is now the 3rd pattern I've knit from it.
I'm pretty sure that Susan B. Anderson is a toy knitting genius.


My daughter absolutely loves putting her stuffed animals and dolls to bed.
That is by far her favorite playtime activity. From the first time I flipped through this pattern book, I knew that this is a toy that I would definitely make one day.

I just love how you can wrap this little blanket around and fasten it up like a little puppy burrito.

Very clever.


This puppy and blanket only took a few days to knit,
and was the easiest toy out of the 3 to make. I would definitely consider making this one again.

My daughter is of course thrilled to add puppy to her knitted toy collection..

...which is growing quite large these days...


Alana Comments
Ravelympics Day 11: Lamby

Yep! Its a Lamb! Isn't he cute?


This was a pretty fun pattern to make.
It only took me a couple of evenings to create. I knit my Lamb from the Itty Bitty Knits book,
but you can also find this pattern for free online here in Petite Purls magazine.

What knitter doesn't love a knitted lamb?

My daughter loves him too.. especially since she didn't have to
wait a long time for him to be done.

I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan for his nubbly woolly body, and O-wool Balance for his legs and face. The combination makes for quite a cuddly little toy. I love the boucle texture of the Astrakhan yarn but it was sort of a pain to knit with on such a tight gauge. The results were well worth it though! I think that the textured body really makes him extra special.

His I-cord legs are stuffed with pieces of a plastic drinking straw to make them rigid so that he can stand. I think that I made my legs a little too long, so Lamby is not so great on his feet. My daughter helps him though.. :)

Well.. its 11 days into the "Ravelympics" and I have 2 out of 3 toys completed!
Don't Francis and Lamby look so cute together on my daughter's shelf?

I've been working very hard on my Ravelympics projects and I'm glad that I'm ahead of the game. I didn't plan the end of this month very well.. and now I have Stitches West, the Ravelympics and a new podcast episode due all at the same time! Ahh!
What exactly was I thinking?

Alana Comments
Ravelympics Day 9: Onto The Next..


I've started my next "Ravelympics" toy!
Working with this soft boucle yarn is a welcome change
from the thin cotton I was using for Francis.

I think that this new little animal will work up awfully fast!



Meanwhile.. my daughter is having a lot of fun with her new turkey friend.



I love the way Francis the Turkey turned out..
but I don't think I would ever want to knit him again.
The pattern was a bit fiddly with lots of pieces, sewing, intarsia and woven in ends.

Was it worth it? Yes! Was it fun? Not exactly. :)




Alana Comments
Ravelympics Day 8: Meet Francis

On my last "Ravelympics" post, many of you guessed what kind of creature I was knitting up. Great guesses! Many of you thought I was making a chicken or an ostrich.. and one of you guessed that I was making a kiwi. :)

But only one of you (Christina) guessed correctly.

Its a...

Turkey!

And isn't he so funny and ugly-cute?! I love how fat he is.
We have a lot of Wild Turkeys around where we live.
They really are ugly things in real life, but fun to watch and listen to.

This "Francis Turkey" pattern is from the book
The Organic Cotton Kids Collection put out by Rowan yarns.
All the patterns in this collection are super adorable, and all use Rowan purelife organic cotton.

This book seriously has some of the cutest toy patterns I've seen.
If you like Francis you will love the other patterns too.

But more about Francis tomorrow.. its getting late and he's off to roost...




Alana Comments
Tea Leaves Cardigan


My Tea Leaves Cardigan is done, and I absolutely love it! It fits great!

The only thing I'd change about the pattern is the buttonband. I would
definitely pick up fewer stitches next time.
This current buttonband could use some shortening.
I might fix it one of these days.. if I feel like it... maybe.

This cardigan is super cozy and wonderful, one that I will wear often for sure!



What? You want one too?

Well the...

beautiful pattern is found here. Soft madelinetosh yarn is found here. Fabulous lightweight buttons are found here.




Alana Comments
Ravelympics Day 6: I-cords

This little toy that I am making for the "Ravelympics" requires many knitted I-cords.
So that's what I was doing today. I-cords. And lots of them.

I-cord trivia: Do you know why they are called I-cords?

Answer: Elizabeth Zimmerman named these little knitted tubes "Idiot Cords" in honor of her accidental discovery of the simple technique. "I-cord" for short. :)

So there you have it... an idiotic mistake turned knitting invention!

Learn how to knit one HERE with this video tutorial.


Alana Comments
Ravelympics Day 5: Blank Canvas

After a few hours of work...and some wool stuffing...


...I've got this nice plump animal body.

A perfect blank canvas for all sorts of knitted body parts to be sewn onto.

I feel like I'm finally making progress now.


Alana Comments
Ravelympics Day 3: Little Helping Hands
This is what I've created since yesterday. And Yes.
Little intarsia pieces like this take awhile when knitting with 4-ply cotton on size 1 needles!

I can see that just getting this little guy knit up
for the ravelympics is going to be a challenge in itself.

The funny thing about knitting up these toys is
seeing my daughter's reaction during the process.
She is always talking about her new toys, and questioning my speed and knitting ability.

"Mom! Are you done with my toy yet?"
"What is that thing?"
"Why are you making it like that?"


...Can't wait until she's a teenager.. :)

Alana Comments