Baby it's getting cold outside

The trees are changing, the rain has settled in, and the air is brisk. Winter is on its way. What do you like about this time of year? I like that it's not too cold yet, but it's cool enough to start pulling out the headwear, maybe some fingerless mitts, or even a cowl or two.

As a matter of fact, I saw today two of my co-workers sporting neckwear. One had mysteriously received a hand knit scarf (which she came to my cubicle to thank me); I laughed and said it wasn't me who gave it to her, but it was obviously someone who knew her well, because it was in her favorite color (purple) and it just so happened to match her outfit today. I myself have just started my gift giving knitting so I haven't had any time to finish a scarf yet.

The other co-worker had on a pretty mustard colored cowl that her mom made for her last year. It was a very nice pattern and I remember admiring it last year when I saw her wear it for the first time. This co-worker's mom is a great knitter and she knits so fast. She made a lovely turquoise colored cable scarf too last year, but didn't have time to make a matching hat, so my co-worker asked me if I would make one to go with her scarf. She bought the yarn, I showed her some designs, she picked one and I knitted it for her. She loved it and wore them together to work and they complimented each other so well. The hat design she picked was this kind of swirl pattern beret called Reverie designed by Amy Swenson in the Knitty Spring 2009 edition. You can see three examples of this beret on my Hats page.

I'm currently working on a cowl for a friend in a worsted weight yarn in a pink and white blended color. I got the yarn from another friend who decided to give up on a scarf she had started several years ago. I frogged the garter stitch scarf and decided to make the Mesh Cowl (designed by Sarah Bass) that I found in 60 Quick Knits from America's Yarn Shops. It's a quick and easy pattern and I've nearly completed it. I can't wait to give it to my friend, she loves all things pink so I'm sure this will be a great addition to her wardrobe.

When I'm done with this cowl, I'll finish the UW reversible cup coaster that I designed.

I got inspired after I finished a 12th Man Seahawks reversible cup coaster that I designed and made last month.

I used double knitting (here you will find tons of videos on how to double knit) technique which for the 12th Man coaster was a little difficult because I had to work the pattern backwards on the opposite side. But it came out pretty good.

I'd like to make some more fingerless mitts this year to give as gifts. I've found a few patterns I like but I would like to know if you have a favorite pattern you like to use when you make fingerless mitts. What do you like about this pattern? How many pairs of fingerless mitts have you made using this pattern? Looking forward to hearing from all you knitters and crocheters out there.

Happy knitting!!

Got my first custom request!

I received a tweet from a guy who saw my UW Team Spirit Hat on Twitter and wanted to know if I could make one for the Ducks?  Well, I thought, sure why not?! I tweeted him back to verify the team - University of Oregon Ducks? He said yes, and so I got to work on a design for them (see below), sent it to him and he tweeted back saying, "That looks great!" And he wants to place a custom order at my Etsy Shop!

Go Ducks!

Finished Ducks earflap hat - added
as a custom order to my Etsy Shop

Close-up of "O" using duplicate stitch

Wow, I was just having some fun with colorwork and making hats for my son to wear to school. Since he has been graciously allowing me to use his head to gauge the fit of my finished hats; I made him one in his favorite basketball team colors - Chicago Bulls - red and black. He's been wearing it to school in the mornings because its a bit nippy out there at 7 a.m. standing at the bus stop.  And he keeps getting questions from his friends on where he bought his hat, he just laughs and says, "my mom made it for me!" They of course are amazed and want to know can I make them one too?!

The red & black on the right is the one my
son likes to wear to school

A co-worker saw the WSU hat I was working on and she told me not to even bother posting it to my online shop, that she wanted to buy it for her son's girlfriend - and I wasn't even done with it yet!  It seems I can't make them fast enough!

Team Spirit Hats

I've been having so much fun with colorwork these days! I've been inspired to create team spirit hats. You saw from my previous post the Pittsburgh Steelers team color inspired hat - my son was crazy about it, so I had a thought - what if I made more of these kinds of hats?  My son gives me the ideas and I try to create a hat from the color scheme of the team.

For instance I came up with my own colored chart to create a hat for the UW Huskies:

Go Huskies!!!

Reminiscent of the early football helmets of the 1900's
Earflaps are knitted double-stranded for warmth

Made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Oxford Grey,
Violet, and Gold 

Learning colorwork has been challenging yet fun and its opening up more design ideas. Also, now when I come across colored charts I'm not so intimidated. In the past I have steered away from patterns that require me to read a chart and especially any that had colorwork designs!  Now that I've designed a few of my own colorwork patterns, I say, "bring on the colored charts - I'm not afraid of you!!!"

I am currently working on of course UW's rival team - Washington State University Cougars, for which I have also designed a colorwork pattern for and of course I can't leave out the Seattle Seahawks - I designed a really cool pattern for the team color scheme for them. I will post pictures of the hats when I'm done, but in the meantime here is a sneak peek at the design I created for the Seahawks team spirit hat: 

Have you started your holiday knitting?  Have you decided on patterns and designs for the colder weather yet?  Would love to hear from you, come on and drop me a comment.  Happy knitting!!

Update: Finished September 28, 2011

As promised here is the women's WSU beanie with pom pom that I designed and below is the colorwork pattern for it:

Model: Vanessa, a friend at work

Update: Finished September 30, 2011

Seahawks, Sounders FC, or Thunderbirds Team Spirit Beanie

Close-up of colorwork design