Now as I've said many a time, I do love my cables. However it wasn't until knitting on a particularly cramped plane once that I suddenly became self aware enough to realize I was sticking my cable needle (and extra double point for that matter) in my mouth when not in use. Oh.
So what to do with it?

I know many rave about cabling without a cable needle and I do it for 1x1 cables sometimes but generally it's just not for me. (I end up feeling I'm strangling rather than working the cables). I like working fast though and all other methods have fallen short (sticking behind the ear- long hair bad idea / in the knitting - it falls out, split stitches / setting it down- the invisible gnomes abscond with it, etc).

With Mother Necessity nudging me, I set my mind to inventing a solution. I wanted a method that didn't require letting go of the knitting and liked a similar idea to the wrist pin cushion. After a few failed prototypes this is what I came up with and Eureka, it works perfectly!

This cable needle holder is worn like a ring on any finger that's comfortable. The elastic loop performs double duty as a button loop closure and holds the cable needle securely under tension. The cable needle is slipped in and out as needed without having to let go of the working yarn or needles.

What You Need (or what I used anyway):

• 2 1/2" long piece of round cord elastic
• 4" x 7/8" piece of fabric (approximately)
• Matching sewing thread
• One 1/2" button (with a shank strongly preferred)

If you'd like, you can print out this template for the fabric. First fold and press your hems, your final size should be 3" x 5/8". This final size is what matters, not the hem allowance. (Also, does pressing my folds with my hair straightener instead of the huge industrial iron make me a total freak?)

I used the fabric selvedge here as it was a little sturdier for attaching the elastic.

View from the right side. Note: if you have thin fingers (smaller than size 6), or would like to wear this on your pinky I'd recommend making the piece shorter.

Next fold the piece of elastic in half and secure it to the inside hem fabric making sure not to go through both layers. It's pictured here half unfolded on the right side. I found lashing down both ends by wrapping the thread around everything a few times help to initially secure it. Then work up and over each end in a figure 8 fashion being sure to pierce through the elastic a few times until it's nice and secure.

If you have greater finesse with a sewing machine than I, topstitch around all the edges to secure hem. Otherwise hand sew with backstitch.

Finally, sew on your button. If not using the recommended shank type button be sure you make a good strong thread shank. (You will be putting a lot a repeated tension on this closure.)

Now you're ready to zoom through your next cabling project!
I'm really rather fond of mine and happily wear it simply as jewelry. Definitely more stylish if forgotten than a needle behind the ear (or in the other stow-away place I’ve heard of- the cleavage)!

Posted by Jen at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)

I had hit that burn out point, lost the interest, you know? Uninspired and bored with current projects I had decided to tell my nagging voice of "finish up other WIPs" to stow it and cast on for Juliet. It was a good decision.

A great fling of a knit, quick and does the interesting/not-overly-complicated balance well.

Modifications weren't much for the body other than to use SSK (Improved) instead of SKP in the lace section. I usually do this sub as a personal preference. For the buttons, I did like the asymmetrical ones in the pattern but I liked the look of button tabs more. Cast on about 14 sts, worked two self-reinforcing buttonholes then bound off, can't get much easier.

Pattern: Juliet by Zephyr Style
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, held doubled; Deep Plum; 4 skeins (of the 5oz size)
Needles: 10 1/2 (although probably should have gone down to a 10, at least for the garter section)
Size: Small

I had originally intended this to be more cropped but after only 5 repeats and binding off it simply didn't hang right. It probably would've worked better in a cotton that had more drape as the back just stuck out too funny. So I ripped back and added 2 repeats to be safe. I'm much happier with it now although still, in retrospect, I think a cotton blend and 6 repeats would've been Goldilocks perfect.

And finally- Happy Birthday to Meeeeeeee!! Hehe, my new piano and bestest present! Thankoooo Mr. PieKnits ;)
Music has always been large part of my life and piano one of the heftiest. I took lessons as a kid up through college but have not had a piano since I lived at my parents. (Non-full size keyboards aren't the same!)
Now I'm on the hunt for some cool fabric to sew a cushion for the bench and reupholster a matching new settee, more on that later!

Posted by Jen at 08:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)

Sometimes, things just seem to stumble into place.

I had recently received this vintage yarn along with some other coordinating funky yellows at a Destash Night at a local knit group. Now I love what I affectionately call "hideous colors"- muddy, rather 70's inspired greens and yellows. I just do. So when this yarn was offered up to a less-than-enthusiastic reception I jumped on it. I have several skeins in two similar shades and was immediately thinking of some kind of subtle yoked colorwork.
That weekend however I happened upon a new coat in ridiculously bright yellow and could not be parted from it at the store. Upon coming home I realized it perfectly matched some of the new yarn. Obviously a portion as a matching accessory was Ment To Be.

So a-pattern-hunting I went on Ravelry, needing something a little different, a little funky, a little retro. The Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap had long been a pattern I wanted to try and seemed an ideal match.

This is such a fun and ingenious pattern, that perfect balance of interesting enough to not be boring but not so tedious it becomes frustrating. You also never work more than 36 stitches for any one row, so it feels like fast progress! First glance (or 2nd, or 3rd) at the pattern however probably leaves many unclear on visualizing it's construction (myself included.) So here's a shot of it with the knitting completed, laid (relatively) flat before seaming. Roll over the image to see the direction of knitting.

^Roll over me

Pattern: Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap, by Head Huggers
Yarn: Lana Moro Ali (1 1/4 balls, approx. 120 yds); 70% wool & mohair, 30% acrylic
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm
Modifications: Not much, went down a needle size to get gauge and bound off in pattern. I made a little matching brooch with my favorite and Simplest Flower Ever Pattern. I'm always exorbitantly thrilled when I can scour through my vintage button collection and use one, as I did here for the center.

Posted by Jen at 01:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Here's a little quick double knit project for fun - reversible heart rings!

With just a smidgen of yarn, and a few stitches you can knock these babies out in no time, great for a little Valentine's Day exchange. A little more info on how the technique of double knitting works can be found in the beginning of this post.

Or if your heart is feeling a little more black...

Finished Sizes
Small (Regular) [approx ring sizes 4 (6)]
Materials
Crochet Cotton Size 10 or something similar weight; 2 contrasting colors. Needles: US Size 0 (2mm) or smaller (samples worked on 0000). Notions: Sewing needle.
Gauge
10 sts = 1” in Double Knit Stockinette Stitch.
Abbreviations
See Yarn Standards Abbreviations.

DIRECTIONS
With both yarns held together, create a slip knot and place it on the needle. Using the working strand of each color, hold yarn in usual manner for long-tail cast on. CO 17 (20) sts (NOT including the slip knot) starting with 1 regular cast on, then one Purl or Reverse Long Tail cast-on, alternating between the two. Tutorial for the Purl Long Tail Cast-On can be found here. Slide slip knot off the needle. [Alternate CO: Braided Cast-On].

Note: At the beginning of each row, take the working strand of the 2nd color on the needle and twist it under and over the other strand. This will neatly join the edges.

Turn work, designate the first color on the needle as MC (Main Color) and second color as CC (Contrast Color).
Row 1: *With both colors held in back, k1 in MC, bring both strands to front, p1 in CC; rep from *.
Row 2: *With both colors held in back, k1 in CC, bring both strands to front, p1 in MC; rep from *.

While continuing to repeat Rows 1-2, work 16 sts [8 pairs] (20 sts [10 pairs]) and then start working chart. On the chart each square represents two sts. For the RS, the st on the near side fabric, knit in the color shown, and then p the corresponding st in the color not show. For the WS do the reverse.
After completing the chart repeat Rows 1-2 once. BO row: With both colors held in back, k1 in MC, *bring both strands to front, p1 in CC, slip first st on right needle over other two sts and off the needle, bring both strands to back, k1 in MC, slip first st on right needle over other two sts and off the needle; rep from *.

FINISHING
Weave in all ends. With one strand of yarn seam together edges.
See more PieKnits patterns this way >>

HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Posted by Jen at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)