anna knits - moto vest update 2

A few months ago I decided to join the Woolful March Knitalong and make the Moto Vest pattern designed by Shelli Westcott of Knitterly. It took me a little longer than a month to finish this project - and even longer to find time to take pictures for this post - but it was actually a pretty quick knit. The pattern basically consists of two scarves (one long around the front of the body, the other shorter and down the back) joined together. It is a wonderful beginners garment.

I wanted a larger Moto Vest, so I initially cast on 58 stitches in Cascade 128 Superwash in Doeskin Heather (1926) on size US10 needles. Unfortunately I lost track of exactly how much yarn I used, but I think it was about six skeins. I knit flat using circular needles, because I find it easier to transport my knitting when it is on circular needles, and I like to knit on my subway commute. After I finished the two major parts and sewed up the seams, I wet blocked the vest. It took a few days for it to dry completely as the ribbing is pretty thick, but I am really happy with how it turned out.

On a recent trip to Block Island, I posed for these pictures. It was a great garment to have on the chilly New England nights that come even in July, and I look forward to wearing it layered with flannel and denim this fall. I also have some extra yarn from this project, so I might try to make a smaller version of this vest for me, or maybe a little sweater for Mae the adorable pug featured above.

Read my Moto Vest Update 1.

anna knits - moto vest update 1

It has been a while since my last post, but that is not because I have not been knitting. As with most US east coasters, winter is usually my most productive knitting season. Sitting down with a pile of wool is just more appealing when it is cold outside, and this winter was a cold one for NYC. What is harder during the winter months - for me at least - is capturing pictures of my creations. With limited natural light and cold temperatures, I wasn't so motivated to set up photo shoots. And fellow bloggers will know that once you get out of the habit, it is hard to get back into it. That said, it looks like spring has finally begun in Brooklyn (despite the sad looking plants in the following pics...), so I got out my camera and started documenting my latest project (with a little help - pc: jpa). Here it is:

The past few weeks I have become obsessed with the podcast Woolful. If you are not listening, head over to the itunes store and subscribe (its free). Each episode features interviews with people in the fiber world (i.e. knitwear designers, yarn store owners, dyers, fibers farmers, and more). I listen to it on my morning commute, which has come to include subway knitting - usually on the B train.

During the month of March, Woolful hosted a knitalong (multiple knitters making the same project at the same time) around the Moto Vest pattern by Shelli Westcott. I learned about the knitalong from the podcast, and found the pattern to be really cute as well as an innovative way to enter the world of garment knitting. All you really need to know how to knit is a ribbed scarf -- see the clever way the project comes together here. When I was gifted some super soft Cascade 128 Superwash in Doeskin Heather (1926) at the end of March, I decided to cast on, despite not having a hope of finishing by the end of the month.

I went with size US10 circular needles, which I find easier to use if I am transporting my project. I casted on 58 stitches, because I wanted the vest to be on the cozier side. So far I have knitted about 1/3 of the project and used almost two skeins of yarn. I have four total, so I will probably have to get a fifth in order to finish since I want the vest to be hip length. I'm hoping to be finished with the project by early May, but with more time or bulkier yarn I could see this project taking many knitters just a few days time. So far it has been a fun pattern, and a great way to keep my hands busy while listening to Woolful.

anna knits - octopus tea cosy

At the beginning of the summer I was asked to make an ocean inspired tea cosy. Well, it took me the entire summer, but I've finally finished! Enter the octopus tea cosy; modeled after a design on Ravelry by the user Cephalopot. It fits a large, six-cup tea pot.

For the octopus, I used this pattern by Hansi Singh via Ravelry. While the pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, I opted for Kambgarn sport / 5 ply yarn in Rosebloom and Glacier Green, which I had bought in Iceland (read about my trip here!) with size US2 double pointed needles. This of course made the octopus smaller and more delicate, which I liked. You can see more pictures of the octopus, including execution pictures, here.

For the tea cosy itself, I used this pattern by the blog Cast On Cast Off. It is a modified ribbed pattern, which I thought kind of mimicked an ocean rock. I knit it with Cascade 220 Heathers in Dark Charcoal, color no. 4002, which has a nice color variation going on, making it look more earthy, or rock-like in this case.

I then embellished the tea cosy with a seaweed design made using tambour crochet. You can learn how to tambour crochet here. I used a left over green yarn that I had gotten second-hand, so I don't know its specs.

While this project took me a while, it was a lot of fun to knit. I like knitting amigurumi (see my pug, bulldog, tea cup), and the tea cosy itself was quick and easy. Tea cosies are great because you are encouraged to be creative. I'm currently brainstorming ideas for my next tea cosy, so let me know if you have a fun idea!