mk carroll

Knitters Without Borders: Smocked Mug Jacket (revised)

I started a Mug Jacket sample in Peace Fleece and got annoyed with myself. If you check the Ravelry projects for this pattern, you'll find a lot of very smart revisions to modify the pattern for different purposes (like travel mug sleeves) or just to make it easier to knit. Sometimes I think my desire to get something knit-to-fit or easily resized overrides my desire to make something easier to actually physically knit, which is how I wound up wrestling with the smocking stitch for a couple of repeats before deciding to just rewrite the pattern already. And so there is now a revised version available for sale - knit from the top of the sides, down to the base. The hand-drawn graph paper chart for the smocking stitch has been replaced with a chart done in Knit Visualizer. Additional photos have been added - each section has a small photo of the section being worked (the base, for example, includes a photo of the finished base).

The previous version is still available for free in the original blog post and as a free PDF download. The fundraiser version price has been raised to $5.50, with $4.50 going to Medecins sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders. MSF/DWB is always in need of funds; sadly there is no shortage of people world-wide in need of medical care. If you are reading this, there is a very, very good chance that, compared to most of the world's population, you are wealthy. If you are planning to knit a warm jacket for a mug or French press coffeemaker, chances are you can spare a few dollars to help others in need.

Ravelry users, you may have noticed that the free Ravelry download for the PDF has been disabled; while I work on figuring out how best to offer different pattern versions for free and for sale, that link will remain disabled.

For those who purchased the earlier version of the pattern, as a thank-you I sent a new download link for a free download of the revised pattern. If you did not get an email from me with the download link, please let me know so I can send you the link.

Tillie (Peace Fleece Ukrainian Red)

Pattern: Matilda & Tillie
Yarn: Peace Fleece Ukrainian Red

This is the "plain" brim version of Tillie (instead of the rolled stockinette hem, this has a slip-stitch hem), and I've made the crown about an inch shallower. After watching Gosford Park again earlier this week, I wanted to make a version more like Mary Maceachrans.

It's a badly lit photo of a color notoriously difficult to photograph, but I didn't want to forget to do an in-progress shot; I know that some knitters have felt really dubious about the pattern at this point. I intend to take more in-progress photos to show how it goes from this weird frisbee with warped strip to a lovely little cloche.

You can see the way the brim fabric biases away from the slip-stitch hem in this shot.

My Etsy shop is currently offering a Matilda & Tillie DIY Knit Kit with PDF download, professionally printed hardcopy, and skein of Peace Fleece Ukrainian Red for sale.

Top-Down Ribbed Beanie: handspun (Sweet Flesh)

Currently listed in my Etsy shop: Handspun Hat, $35
Yarn: Jenny Neutron Star, handspun wool plied with metallic gold, "Sweet Flesh"

You can see the metallic gold rick-rack plied with the wool in this picture.

2x2 Ribbed Beanie (Twisted)

Yarn: Twisted (twisted.etsy.com) "Evolution" DK weight, colorway "Batty"
(I'm a little sorry to do this to you - Twisted yarns got talked about on Lime & Violet and the shop updates have been almost instant sellouts ever since. I haven't seen any "Evolution" skeins up either, and Twisted is not taking custom orders at this time. You might like the "Mutating Variegated" DK, e.g. the [sold out] Netherfield or the "Soulmates" in [sold out] Firefly)

Pattern: in progress

I tried doing a top-down 2x2 hat, but it was more trouble than it was worth, what with all the increases and just how much I do not enjoy doing grafting (which I'd have to do for a tubular bind-off). After reading about how to do a 2x2 tubular cast-on on the Not Martha blog (check the comments on that post for the details), I decided to try it with this basic beanie. When I first got this skein of yarn, the request was for something off-beat and funky. I tried a few different ideas, but I had an interesting problem: this hand-dyed yarn is really something special. The color blending is subtle and lovely - anything that detracts from the yarn is too much.

I did a neckwarmer with the beginning of this skein, with traveling ribs and some cables. I didn't like it, so I set it aside to come back to later. One of the issues is with the cast-on and bind-off not matching, the other is with the cables looking too tight. I may do this over either with just traveling ribs or with the cables loosened up.

Handspun Hat: done!

Top-Down Ribbed Beanie Recipe
US 11 and 10 needles
Jenny Neutron Star handspun, "Candy", about 80 yards

This time it's really finished - I ripped back a few rounds, then switched to US 10 needles and did 2 rounds of stockinette and bound it off. I like it better now, although I do feel like the hat is asking for more. Some buttons, maybe? A few crochet circles? I may have to just set it aside and walk away. It's already quite exuberant.

About the yarn - the jennyneutronstar.com site won't load for me, and the Jenny Neutron Star Etsy shop hasn't had any activity for over a year. Back when I first got this yarn, quirky handspun yarn wasn't as readily available. When I was asked to put together a few kits for the Alt Fiber show, I didn't have much time and I really wanted to feature indie crafters. Jenny Neutron Star really came through for me and custom-spun 3 skeins to order (although I botched the wpi - this is really more like 5-6 wpi yarn, and it's my misstatement, not hers). 2 years later, nifty handspun/handdyed yarns are thriving on Etsy, and so while I can't find a way to direct you to Jenny Neutron Star right now, I do have a couple of Etsy favorite sellers for bulky thick/thin yarns: Terra Bella Spun does handspun/handdyed, which I've used to knit up similar hats. Miss Hawklet has some "scraptacular" yarns up right now that I find especially delightful, and I used some Midnight & Lulu yarn in the Springtime Scarflette I did last year. Typing "handspun yarn" into the Etsy search feature will get you pages and pages of delightful stuff! I know I have to be careful when I do that. For the next few days, my Etsy favorites (up on the top right corner of this blog) will be featuring lovely handspun yarns. I may have to go sit in my stash for a little while to keep me from buying more.

DIY KNIT KIT: Matilda and Tillie Cloche Hats

Matilda & Tillie Knit Cloche Hats Pattern

I listed most of the Matilda & Tillie Cloche Hat knit kits in the DIY Kits section of my Etsy shop (still working on how to set up the shopping cart for the blog) and some of the colors are so delightful I'm tempted to hold them back.

Yarn: Peace Fleece worsted, colorway Chickie Masla
This colorway reminds me of buttered popcorn!
Matilda & Tillie Knit Kit, Chickie Masla, $18.50 (includes postage in US; international add $5)

Yarn: Peace Fleece worsted, colorway Anna's Grasshopper
This color is so much like the early days of spring in a temperate climate.
Matilda & Tillie Knit Kit, Anna's Grasshopper

Yarn: Peace Fleece worsted, Ukrainian Red
This is a bright true red, very 50's lipstick.
Matilda & Tillie Knit Kit, Ukrainian Red

 

Knitters Without Borders: Smocked Mug Jacket

Remember this? The Mug Jacket and French Press Cozy went up as a free pattern in July 2007. More recently, I decided to offer the PDF as a fundraiser for Tricoteuses Sans Frontieres/Knitters Without Borders and as a free download on Ravelry.

So far, the cozy pattern has raised $99 for TSF/KWB!

May 07, 2008: I have revised the for-sale pattern; it is now written to be knit from the top of the sides to the base, and the chart has been done with Knit Visualizer. The price has increased to $5.50, with $4.50 of the proceeds going to TSF/KWB's fundraising. The free PDF version is still available for free.

If you would like to purchase the PDF for $5.50, you can either use the buttons below or go to my Etsy shop. $4.50 of each sale goes to TSF/KWB; the rest covers PayPal and hosting fees. You can still get the pattern for free here on the blog or as a Ravelry download.

DIY CROCHET KIT: Anne Crochet Lace Scarf (Sky Blue)

Currently listed for sale in my Etsy shop:

DIY Crochet Kit, $18 (includes USPS Priority Mail in the US; international $5 for USPS Global Priority)
Kit includes:
Pattern: Anne Crochet Lace Scarf, both a PDF download and a professionally printed version
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, 1 skein Sky Blue
Hook: Size G/4mm, aluminum, "experienced" aka "gently used" - from a collection I recently inherited

DIY KNIT KIT: Matilda and Tillie Cloche Hats

I got the order of Peace Fleece in today, and have listed a kit in Zarya Fog on Etsy [SOLD] - more to come as I get photos of the different yarn colors. Right now I'm setting it up so that the yarn for the hat and the yarn for the Rosie motif are separate listings - I want people to be able to choose if they want to get yarn for the Rosie, and if so, which color. The price includes postage in the US, and international postage is $5.00. The Matilda & Tillie Knit Cloche Hat kit includes both a PDF download and a professionally printed version of the pattern (Rosie included).

Edited to add: all the kits are in the DIY Kit section of the shop.

Anne: Yarn Costs

Anne Crochet Lace Scarf Pattern
Elann.com Seta Lana, 50% silk/50% wool, 2 skeins
Hook: L/8.0mm

One of my goals with the Anne scarf pattern was to take something basic and show how different yarn and hook choices can change the look. I'm sure it's no surprise to you that it can change the cost rather dramatically too. Prices will vary depending on the vendor, cost of shipping if ordered online, etc., and are of course subject to change without notice, so take this list with that in mind. Prices given are for the total number of skeins, not yardage (for example, with the Cascade 109 Chunky it is assumed that you will purchase 2 skeins even if you only use 1.5 skeins). Yarn weight is given as general terms (laceweight, worsted, etc.) and CYCA Yarn Standards (1, 4, etc.).

Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton
1 skein = 150 yds, worsted weight/4, G/4.0mm hook: $8.50 - $10

Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Suri
1 skein = 142 yds, fingering/1, K/6.5mm hook: $11.00 - $12.00

 
Elann Super Kydd
1 skein = 259 yds, laceweight/0, K hook/6.5mm: $2.25 (can make 2 scarves from one skein)

Elann Silken Kydd
1 skein = 232 yds, laceweight/0, K hook/6,5mm: $3.25 (can make 2 scarves from one skein)

Elann Seta Lana
2 skeins, 76 yds each = 152 yds total, bulky/5, K - L hook: $8.96

Cascade 109 Chunky
2 skeins = 109 yds each, 160 - 218 yds total, bulky/ 5, K - L hook,  $13.00 - $14.00

Malabrigo Chunky
2 skeins, 104 yds each = 208 yds total, bulky/5, K - L hook: $24.00 - $27.00

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky
2 skeins = 153 yds each, 230 - 306 yds total, bulky/5, L/8.0mm hook: $10.00 - $12.00

Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Chunky
2 skeins, 125 yds each, bulky/5, K - L hook = 250 yds total, $15.00 - $17.00

I wanted the pattern to be possible as a one-skein project, and if you use the Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton called for in the pattern, it is. Turns out it can even be a less-than-one-skein project with the Elann Super Kydd.

The crochet pattern (with full written instructions and a symbol chart) can be purchased as an instant PDF download for $5.50 (USD) by using the buttons below with a PayPal account, credit card, or debit card (please note that eCheck payments take 3 - 7 days to clear, and the download will not be sent until payment clears). If you'd prefer, the PDF downloads are also available through my Etsy shop (mkcarroll.etsy.com) - download link will be emailed within 24 hours of payment clearing. If you'd prefer a finished item, check the Sample Sale section of my Etsy shop.