pieKnits

When I created my cadet-style cap pattern, Topi, awhile back for Knitty.com one of the things I really liked about it was its gauge flexibility.



Since it is worked from the top down, you don't have to swatch or have the exact same size yarn if you simply work to the desired size you need. So when a friend requested a Topi and picked out a bulky yarn I was excited about putting the pattern to the test at such a different gauge.

It works! While the pattern does need to be modified from casting on 5 sts to 4 sts to create one less increase wedge section, that is essentially the only change. This modification was necessary because the yarn has such a larger row gauge it was increasing too quickly and causing the top to ripple. From there however you work the pattern pretty much as written. The pattern instructs how to determine your own diameter measurement for the finished size you need and you work to that point.

 

In the extended entry I've listed my exact modifications. The brim requires less sts as well but this would not need to be exact either- just BO sts stopping when you have left the size you want for your brim then follow the directions working to each wrapped stitch.

For a little extra something I was asked if I could "add a skull" which I was only to happy to do (I could add wee skulls to everything). Unable to fit it in with intarsia in such a small space I contemplated applique and settled on a little embroidery. This was accomplished with basically this technique with sketching out a design on notepad paper, pinning said paper to hat and stitching over it.



Pattern: My design, Topi from knitty.com
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky, #127 Walnut
Needles: US 10½ (6.5 mm), US 10 (6.0 mm)
Mods: Bulky gauge, CO 4 sts instead of 5 - Details in extended entry

Hello bloggie, I've missed you.

Not as much knitting going on lately, other life stuff, etc etc. I did mange to finish up a should-be-quick project finally. A little snood for either some retro flair or as an addition to my Renaissance garb.



The vintage pattern is available here for free. I forget the yarn I used, a nice linen/cotton blend with US 10 1/2 size needles. I converted the pattern to work in the round on 60 sts and grafted the bottom instead of seaming the sides. Lace seams and me are not buddies.



I do have some other FO's to share, just need to get some decent photos. You know, ones not snapped hastily on my lunch hour.

After finding this great Colinette Point 5 look-alike yarn on clearance and using it for individual double-ended fake dreadlocks at Halloween I've been meaning to try my hand at some dread falls. After about 30 minutes I had my first pair, easy!



What are dread falls? Basically they are artificial hair extensions mounted on hair ties/elastics that you wrap around your real hair after it's pulled into buns. A nice instructional PDF on how to wear them is located here.



Mine I didn't make super full and put them on really quick before heading out to a show (Voltaire, who was spectacular). Instant hair! It was fun feeling like I had my long hair back for awhile. These were super painless to make too. There a tons of places online the sell really awesome falls made from nearly every kind of material imaginable but these basic yarn ones were a snap. The yarn is so interesting to begin with and I lucked out that it contains all the colors in my real hair too.



If you're interested in making some of your own this video explains the process pretty well. Basically you're just making a lot of Lark's Head knots to attach your folded over yarn lengths to the hair elastics, similar to starting a macrame project.

Also, a reminder the contest ends Thursday!

Wow where did the last several weeks go? I'm such a bad blogger, I totally missed my 4th Blogiversary! In attempt to make up for it lets give away some goodies (damask print soft needle case, amongst a few other fun things); yes I think so. Nothing fancy to enter, just leave a comment (let's say by May 21st)!

Also, have a cookie - or at least a cookie recipe, the touted NY Times "Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie".



I had been curious to try these out to compare them to my beloved Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. With my lovely sister coming to visit for a week I knew it was perfect timing, as we have long shared a near obsession with cookie dough. In fact we used to make batches with zero intention of it ever seeing the inside of an oven. Therefore this recipe's instructions for the dough to rest in the fridge for 24-36 hours were easier for us than perhaps some. (Although perhaps regrettable after coming home from the bar and diving into it.)

I did actually happen to have both specialty flours as well (yeay for bulk grocers) although substitution seems common with good results. Somewhat pathetically only two small batches actually make it to cookie stage and as you can see from the photo I just managed to snap this last remaining cookie before they all disappeared. So the verdict? One of the best I've had. I don't think one recipe is actually is better than the other as they both have their strengths. I think the NY cookie is more true to the original sugar cookie with chocolate chunks origin with clean and balanced flavors. I think this one would probably have wider appeal. However I really love the deep more caramelly flavor and supreme chewiness of the other recipe, as a more personal preference.  I think I will adopt the chilling and adding sea salt steps to that recipe and see myself making both in the future.

New York Times Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours' chilling

• 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons
• (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
• 1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
• Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Note: Disks are sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate; Valrhona fèves, oval-shaped chocolate pieces, are at Whole Foods. [I used an organic high cocoa% chocolate chip instead. I feel the smaller pieces make a more enjoyable dough and prefer less chocolate to cookie ratio in the final product as well.)

---

The Bluebonnet Knitting Guild was kind enough to invite me back to present on Double Knitting tonight. Check out the guild if you're in the Grapevine/North Dallas area!

Knitting? O no, I have been playing outside. We just finished having a new deck built, extending our existing patio (we love it!) but it's been a big motivation to get the gardens in order. I've had what I jokingly referred to as a "3 year plan" to work up to getting plants in all 4 pre-made flower beds. The last being 350 square feet.

This was the state of the patio garden after the electrician dug it up to run power out to the deck.



And here it is after cleaning the fountain, adding compost, leveling, planting and mulching, so much better! We decided to use pebbles to cover the problem area where the gutter above dips in and water overflows, causing erosion. (We've tried fixing the gutter to no avail.)





Here is the herb garden I started last year after moving a few plants around and planting new annuals. My basil and cilantro did fantastic last year so I'm hoping for a good repeat performance. I currently have Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Cilantro, "Curry" Plant, Flat-leaf Parsley, Oregano and Garlic and Onion Chives.





Iris divisions my friend gave me and planted last year are blooming for the first time.





I'm really happy with how these succulent containers came out, like little alien landscapes.
I've also started my veggie garden and have several plants I ordered coming soon. I've worked up a big garden plan on graph paper after measuring out the plot.

Growing up I was never really a fan of sweaters. Being a child of the 80's, I consider this quite understandable given the sea of huge shapeless sacks (with or without loud intarsia) of that time. However I remember whilst looking through the back of a closet one day, coming across some of my mother's clothes from the 1970's.

In the assortment was a fitted rust colored sweater with cables and lace and subtle pouf sleeves. I brought it out to show my Mom saying "Hey, this is actually cute!". Apparently it was one of her most favorite pieces; she loved the sweater and hadn't been able to bring herself to part with it.



When I started knitting, I remembered this sweater, it being the only one from my pre-knitting years I could ever recall really liking. I started to think about recreating it. I asked my mother if she would ship it to me so I could study it, now with a knitter's eye.

Now I can appreciate it even more. I love the cute split collar, the way the lace repeat travels down the arm and is framed with the cables and the deep ribbing at the waist. While the sweater does still fit me, I want to recreate it making a few updates/modifications. Mainly this will be extending the body ribbing to make it less of a cropped waist (for today's lower rise pants) and changing the sleeve length. Right now they hit really high on the wrist. I'm still deciding on whether to shorten to 3/4 length or lengthen for full. Anyone care to weigh in on that?



Here's my first swatch, to work out the lace and rough gauge. Please ignore the glaring error but I like this idea of using a strong eyelet pattern that shows through on the reverse purl side. I decided on Knit Picks Swish DK in mustardy Grain Heather for the yarn.



Proof my mother did wear this sweater a lot, a photo of her wearing said sweater at my first birthday. Yep that's little melon-head baby me, also with my dad and my awesome 1982 Strawberry Shortcake theme cake.

I have so many little projects going on here and there and many completed and simply waiting for a chance to photograph. Hoping the spring weather will energize me to get some stuff done as I've been feeling a little scattered lately. I'm so thankful for the extra hour of day light now; I might be able to do something other than weekends.



Speaking of spring, or spring cleaning, playing around in my craft room the other day I whipped up a couple of these super simple box bags. I had seen a great idea somewhere for using them to store onions and potatoes in the pantry. Easy, useful and perfect! I made mine from some scraps of muslin I had around, although linen would look really lovely. Our onions are always shedding everywhere when kept in their original large mesh bags but a plastic bag wasn't an option as they need to have air circulation. The open weave of the muslin was a nice solution. Basically it was formed like this tutorial.  You can see I just used the finished selvedge edge at the top to skip hemming too, 10 minutes start to finish.



So I also finished, or thought I had finished, a hat (Seamen's Cap) for my father. I had actually promised him one during Christmas and am only now getting it done. I had sewn in ends and blocked it only to discover this yarn (Knit Picks Swish Worsted) really expanded it's gauge after washing, more than I've ever seen before. Well I chose a superwash wool for ease of care and I don't know if that's what caused it or it's just this yarn. So now it's too big, even for a larger size head.

Do you think I'd have any luck trying to run this superwash through a hot wash and dryer to shrink it a little?? Or do I need to just suck it up, rip it out and redo? *wibble*

Be forewarned, this hat is ready to file a restraining order against me and my camera.



Yep, another mini hat! Oh how I love it so. I want to invent more excuses to dress up and where it. I adore the look of these wee hats of the Victorian era. Decorating them is also half the fun and really completes the hat.
This is a modified version of the Miniature Top Hat pattern by Lara Breese of Dark Twist and worked in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.



Here is the hat after fulling and pre-embellishments. I printed out some victorian scrollwork samples to use as inspiration for the needle felting. (This is what I was practicing for on my other hat.) I unspun different weights of black yarn to form the lines. You may notice in the unmodeled pics the top of the hat was sinking in a little. To correct it I flipped the hat over and traced the top circle on some plastic mesh canvas (love that stuff, so useful!) and cut it out. I then pinched it in half and inserted it into the top of the hat and let it pop into place. Due to the shaping of that hat it stays in place perfectly without having to tack it down.



My modifications were to make this at about a 3/4 scale from the original. If I make another version I will probably work the side decreases rounds in quicker succession to make the sides shorter. I also used the optional i-cord bind off which I think gives it a really neat and almost rolled brim edge. The hat is held in place by a hair comb sewn to the underside of the brim, same as my mini tricorn hat.





For the embellishments I wrapped two ribbons around the base and made a ribbon bow with the sheer ribbon. Then I took some tulle netting, folded it accordion style then folded it in half to create a fan and secured it by sewing two buttons on top. To finish it off I stuck in some feathers and viola!



I have the feeling this may be the beginnings of a miniature hat collection...



Few more photos on my Ravelry page.

Having seen a scarf similar to this in an online shop I got it in my head that I needed one. Do certain items ever do that with you? You see something and have to make it, abandoning any other current projects until the current obsession is done? I'm rather hoping it's not just me...



There are several versions of this type of scarf/neckwarmer patterns out there, I came upon this one first (Bowtie Scarf) and figured I'd just modify it for what I wanted. Upon further looking I think there are some better written and/or closer to what I was looking for patterns out there (perhaps this one Bow-knot Scarf).



I knew I wanted it smaller, with a Stockinette slipped stitch border for neatness, non-visible increases (instead of YO's as I didn't want to carry them all the way through) and the knot section in 1x1 ribbing. In retrospect I probably should have done the other gathered section in 1x1 as well but you can't really see it when it's slipped through the keyhole. So I only increased to 21 sts for the main sections and used a backwards loop increase instead of the yarn over.

With the mohair content I thought it might be a bit scratchy but after adding some conditioner to the blocking rinse it really softened it up! It didn't bother me at all to wear it next to skin all day.



Pattern: Bowtie Scarf (Ravelry link) although Bow-knot Scarf would be a closer jumping off point
Yarn: Lana Moro Ali, #2621 (From a swap, used for my Amelia Earhart hat that matches my yellow coat)
Needles: US size 6 (4mm)
Mods: Smaller, less wide, slip stitch edging, backwards loop increase, knot section in 1x1 rib

Today is the second stop on the Tops & Toes Blog Book Tour and I'm welcoming Sarah Wilson of Not a Yarn Snob! My fellow designer will be asking a few questions about my design for the book, Phaidros Grecian Hat.

Phaidros Grecian Hat, Ravel it here!

JT: Hi Sarah, thanks so much for stopping by to talk with me blog. I'm really looking forward to reading about all the other designers on the tour.

SW: I'm interested to hear you talk about your design aesthetic. What is it that makes people remember Jennifer Tallapaneni? If you could have knitters associate you with something, what would that be? It seems like most of the "popular" knitwear designers have something they are known for, whether it be a particular method of construction, or a particular type of project, or just being a prolific designer or blogger. What's your "thing?"

JT: This is a really interesting question, as I like to try so many things. I think I offer some diversity in my patterns, from fair isle to lace to cables and accessories and garments. I think the unifying aspect is I like to play with techniques to make the knitting look or behave in unique or non-traditional ways. Sometimes this is subtle such as using double knit in small places to achieve certain effects for example. I think that is would be what I'd have knitters associate me with, unique construction and/or clever details. Although lately I seem to have been doing a lot of hats!

SW: Was this your first time being published in a book?

JT: Technically yes, as it is the first book I have an accepted design to go to print. I actually have a design that was accepted before this one, for the next Stitch N' Bitch book but after delays it has yet to come out. So it was very exciting getting to hold the finished book in my hands for the first time! I've been published in magazines before but there is just something more permanent about a book.

SW: How did you feel about seeing your design on the cover?

JT: That was rather funny actually. I had been checking (stalking) the publisher's website waiting for the cover image to come up as I was really curious to what would be the final look of the book. I was all excited when I first saw it was up and then it took me a moment to realize, "Wait a minute! That's my hat on there!" Haha. It's my first getting a design on a cover so it was pretty neat.

SW: How you feel about the yarn you used?

JT: I initially chose the Patons Classic Wool Merino as it had the type of colors I was looking for and that fit into the color forecast for the season. The blues have a nice subtle heather to them that adds depth to the cables. The yarn was great to work with, a lot of nice spring to it that really helps the cables pop. I like using yarns that are more readily available too. I know we all like to support our LYS with luxury yarn purchases but they're not always easy to get to or afford!

SW: How on earth did you come up with that method of construction (it's really cool!)?

JT: Thanks! Recently I've been really interested in studying different fashion through the ages. I had always loved the look of hair taping or wrapping, especially the swept up braided looks of ancient Greece and Rome. I had seen a three rowed headband and started thinking how I could translate that to knitting and then into a hat. I thought I-cords would work well and decided to experiment with weaving them through yarn overs like you would ribbon but only in the back to secure them. Looking through Greek art and studying the hairstyles I picked a twisted rib for the band, to mimic the fine rows of the swept back hair that then transitions into the braided cables. I think slouchy style hats have a great look to them and it also worked to carry the silhouette of the full piled up hair.



I have to say this design was one of the closest for turning out so like my original vision. Not all ideas end up translating well into yarn. In fact, I was particularly amused when looking through the photos my husband took for me (not having ever seen my concept sketch) at one shot's similarities. I created a split screen image, my modeled photo on the left and my original design sketch is on the right (which I drew before the item was knit). I actually used an image of a Greek statue as the "model" in the drawing too!

---

I just wanted to add a few comments about the book itself. I was so pleased when I got my copy to see this book is really a knitters dream. Kara did a great job. The book is full color through out with each design having a full page photo of the modeled piece as well as lots of extra photos, including ones of it lying flat. It is also has a hard back cover (great for protection from bended pages) and is spiral bound, so the patterns actually lay flat. There is also a photographic thumbnail glossary of every design in the back for quick reference. I wish every magazine/book did this!

So thanks again for stopping by Sarah! Be sure to check my interview of her from yesterday over at her blog and you can see the full tour schedule here. Next stop, Erika Flory at It's About the Knitting!