Quick Projects

Fresh Noodle Beth turned me on to this quick knit, the Swirl Pool Cap, from Vogue Knitting on the Go: Teen Knits. Anytime you say “quick and easy” to me and add in that it actually looks good, I perk up immediately. She added in words like “teacher gifts” and I was all in. I whipped up this cap as a practice and it really didn’t take long at all, an afternoon perhaps? (Sorry, Beth, for my readers’ sake, I had to mention how quick is quick. Mea culpa. Please forgive.)

Project: Swirl Pool Cap from Vogue Knitting on the Go: Teen Knits
Yarn: Knit Picks Cadena in mahogany, 1/2 skein
Needles: Knit Picks Options US size 11
Start: November 10
Finish: November 10

Thoughts: It uses a bulky yarn, and while I was waiting to get some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino SuperChunky as recommended by Beth, I had ordered some Knit Picks Cadena to practice on. The yarn was surprisingly soft knit up, much more so than it felt in the skein. The pattern was fun, and quick to memorize. You knit it on the stockinette side, but then flip it inside out for the final look. You’re supposed flip the icord at the top inside out also to form a little button, but I am a bit button challenged. The cap came out a bit small, more like too short. It’s plenty stretchy, so the next one I make will be a few rows longer. It used up 48 grams, and I have 55 left over to make another, longer version. When I get the Cashmerino SuperChunky and knit one of those up, I’ll have a good comparison on the yarns for this cap. Definitely a good pattern to keep in the pattern arsenal.

I cast on for Wisp last Monday and finished ‘er up after a couple of days. After some severe blocking, She grew to about 54″ in length. I’m heading out to buy buttons for her now.

Project: Wisp by Cheryl Niamath
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Butterfly in brownish burgundyish (read: too lazy to look for the ball band), one skein plus a little from another.
Needles: Knit Picks Options US size 11
Start: November 5
Finish: November 7

Thoughts: I stumbled across this pattern while browsing through ravelry. I had seen it on Knitty but it looked too delicate and fine for my liking. However, anxiousdog’s version of Wisp did me in with the green and its more substantial nature. Using a thicker mohair on size 11s, that was just the inspiration I needed to dig through my stash. I loved this pattern because of it’s simplicity and interest. After nine rows of the lace, you get to do a bit of garter stitch to break things up. It’s a short scarf or after I put buttons on, it’ll be a stole or wrap. But please don’t call it a ponchette, kay? Here’s Sweetie Girl showing off some of the ways to wear it and things to do while wearing it. Princess Ham, I tell ya.

You can do your best flamenco dancer pose in it.

You can wrap your hair with it.

You can do your best street urchin imitation in it.

Your can dance your heart out in it.