August 2009 Archives

Well I'm kinda out of anything more to say about this one. I guess it doesn't make a very interesting blog project but it was interesting to knit. I enjoyed doing some stranded colorwork as it had been awhile. These headbands wear differently now that I have so much shorter hair but I like it. So here are some photos (what everyone really looks at anyway right?), project details below.





Pattern: Argyle Headband, by Lady Spankington
Yarn: Dale of Norway Baby Ull, #0090 Black & #0010 White
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
Mods: Provisional cast-on to start at beg. of chart. Worked the ties to desired size after chart completed, a few inches of i-cord then finished in crocheted chain.

For years, I had wanted to take belly dance lessons. I'd even posted about it before but for various reasons I hadn't done it. Finally last March I found a perfect beginners class really close to me. I've been going since and I love it!

Just a few weeks back we had our first introduction to playing the finger cymbals, or zills, and I immediately thought, "weee! I need to get me some of these!". Now my playing cymbals in drumline experience is actually coming in handy, who'd have thought?



My shiny new Saroyan Nefertiti's came in the mail along with an instructional video and I happily began driving my dog up the wall with them. So I realized I needed to make some zill mufflers stat, especially if I actually wanted to practice with anyone in earshot.

These knitted covers help damped the sound of the cymbal but it's still audible enough to hear yourself while practicing. Elastic run through the final stitches make these easy to slip on and off. 

There are some nice looking crochet patterns out there but as I'm still woefully crochet-challenged I wanted to create my own. Using a doily pattern as a jumping off point this is what I came up with -

Zufflers!

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Finished Sizes
Fits 2 - 2 1/2" sized zill.
Materials
Lace weight yarn or Crochet Cotton Size 10 or similar weight. Needles: US Size 2 (2.75mm), Size C crochet hook (or similar size). Notions: Sewing needle, 1/4" elastic or cord.
Abbreviations
See Yarn Standards Abbreviations or Chart Key below.

DIRECTIONS (Make two, or four for a more subdued sound)
With crochet hook and using Emily Ocker's Circular Cast-On (tutorial link) CO 8 stitches. Slip and divide sts evenly onto double point needles to join in the round. Work written directions below, or follow chart working 8 repeats. After a couple rounds pull cast-on tail to close the circle.

Round 1: K all sts.

Round 2: *K1, yo; repeat from * all around - 16 sts.

Round 3 and ALL UNEVEN ROUNDS: K all sts.

Round 4: *K2, yo; rep from * all around - 24 sts.

Round 6: *K3, yo; rep from * all around - 32 sts.

Round 8: *K3tog, yo, k1, yo; rep from * all around.

Round 10: *K1, yo, k3, yo; rep from * all around - 48 sts.

Round 12: *K1, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo; rep from * all around.

Round 14: *K1, k2tog, k3; rep from * all around - 40 sts remaining.

Round 16: *K3, k2tog; rep from * all around - 32 sts rem.

Round 17: *K2tog, yo; rep from * all around.

Round 18: *K1, k2tog, k1; rep from * all around - 24 sts rem.


Chart

Finishing
Leaving all sts on the needles, cut yarn and pull through last stitch to fasten off. Thread elastic through all live stitches on the needle. Fit piece over zill and cut elastic to size. Sew ends of elastic together. Weave in all ends.
See more PieKnits patterns this way >>



Just for the heck of it I rummaged around my closet and put together a "costume". Here's where marrying into an Indian family is helpful, hehe! I have lots of scarves/veils, bindi's, bangles, full skirts, etc. Just threw some on and snapped a few impromptu photos.

But this one is my new go-with-anything hat!



The super cute and popular (with good reason) Felicity pattern. I love a good stocking cap and this one has just the right amount of shaping. I know some people had issues with the brim being too small but mine fit perfectly using the recommended needles and cast-on amount. Followed the whole pattern exactly actually (not always common for me).



I used the uber economical Caron Simply Soft for this. Love that stuff for this kind of thing. This hat isn't your heirloom colorwork piece, it's a stuff your hair in it, beat the crap out of hat. Easy to care for, soft and non-scratchy on the skin. Plus a $1.25 for a hat? It won my thrifty heart.



It looks so unassuming laying flat. You can see the the overall shaping a little better here. The brim simply uses a smaller needle size to create a neat fit.

Pattern: Felicity [ravelry link], by Wanett Clyde of Knitology
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, #9727 Black
Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm), US 7 (4.5 mm)
Mods: None!