Ripping Yarns: a knit design, travel & Hat blog

Introducing Sarah's Slouch

2012-02-08T15:49:23Z

A very good friend of mine had a birthday recently, a special birthday. And knowing just how much she loves Hats, I decided to make one just for her. But I didn't just knit her a Hat, I designed with her in mind, in a style I thought she'd suit, and in colours that would cheer the dullest of days. And then I wrote the pattern for her Hat.

You know my friend as BabyLongLegs.

So, I said to BBL, "your Hat, your call - what should I do with it?" And so it's been published as a free pattern, which we both felt was the right way to go.

Doesn't it suit her? I love these photos she sent me... although they're a tad coy, the whole composition looks cosy and comfortable and right. BabyLongLegs is rockin' that Hat, I'd say. And I'm reliably told it's her Happy Hat :)

Before I sent it off, I grabbed a couple of photos of Alyx wearing the Hat... (it's a habit to get photos of Hats before they get sent anywhere in case they go amiss) and I had a bit of a job trying to get this Hat of Alyx's head, as she too was rather taken with it...

Two yarns are knitted together to create this effect - the base yarn was Semi~Precious 4ply (BabyLongLegs own yarn!) which is constant all the way through. It provides stability, in the colours and in drape, with it's 50/50 silk & merino blend. For the 2nd yarn I used a number of different DK/light worsted yarns, and used as many BabyLongLegs oddments as my stash would permit.

I liked the idea that the same yarns that had been hand dyed by my friend, then used in my patterns, would make their way into her present. Like they had a story to tell all of their own.

The pattern does include notes about the use of yarns, with links to any relevant tutorials. Use wool for the 2nd yarn, so they can spit splice nicely together to create continuity between the colours. It's how the yarns and colours are used that make this Hat special - each combination is entirely unique. You could use a single yarn that gives the same gauge if you prefer, though I do think it creates a deeper effect with the yarns held together. Why not try 3 fine yarns for really deep colour?

It makes me happy to see something I've made enjoyed, to see my friends happy too.

There's a few sizes included in the pattern, something for everyone, and we hope you enjoy it too. You can download Sarah's Slouch from it's own page.

Snow photos

2012-02-06T21:47:28Z

All the media attention is focused on Rome yet none of the other regions get a mention, especially those that have far worse conditions, so here's what's going down in this part of town. Emilia Romagna was declared a state of emergency yesterday.

We're at 125cm (50 inches) of snow and it's still coming down.

Photos courtesy of Freddy Brett.

And not too far away in the hills....

(Freddy is over 6ft tall)

The weather has lost the plot. Big time.

Emergency measures

2012-02-06T10:10:09Z

Thought I'd post to let family & friends know that we're managing OK under the extreme snow!

The total snowfall here since tuesday is just shy of a metre. It's been snowing constantly - it stopped briefly for an hour this morning but has started blizzarding again. The daft weather doesn't seem to care that this is Italy, not Siberia.

A state of emergency has been declared for the Emilia Romagna region, which is where we are. The military have been drafted in to dig folks out of their houses. This snow is no joke and I'm not gonna pretend that it's fun. This morning I lost it; having to fight the cold and wet each morning is exhausting. That said, we're better off than most are. We've had less snow than most of the region and we still have electricity. Heck, with the help of some boiling water we can still get in and out of the front door.

Several friends are stranded here, either because they can't drive home locally (houses are buried under 3m+ of snow) or because their flights have been cancelled. All the extra electric heaters we bought to make the winter comfier have been lent out to help make a few people less cold. It was only 4.5°C in here this morning but the woodburner stove warmed up pretty quickly. Our wood store should have seen us right through spring and it might now only last a few more weeks but at least we have it.

Up until last night we'd manage to keep one tap working, but that's frozen now too. Think everyone and everything on the Yard is frozen now! We're collecting the fresh snow, melting it & using it to defrost the toilet and the bus doors. We've butts of water for washing up and bottles of drinking water for cooking and cups of tea.

Tom was able to dig out the car yesterday and get off the Yard - he found a laundrette open and bought milk and veggie supplies, so we're good for another week. Which is handy, as we've been forecast another 10 days or so of the snow and cold. And then we're looking at another week to thaw out.

Tom's also been a star, helping others to add extra support to their roofs and brush off the snow. Our roof is metal, it's coping under the weight but several folks here have had quite a bit of damage, and that's not fun.

Having read the forecast for the next couple of weeks, we're busy with extra insulation jobs. We've some spare carpet that Tom is laying as an extra layer, and I'll be pinning old blackets around doors to help kick those drafts out. Tom's even carpetting the windows in the cab, as that's the biggest source of the cold. From what I've read on Twitter we're keeping warmer in our bus than many friends across Europe are in their houses... although many may not have the deep snow, they are colder, and we've still got that extreme cold to come.

We've still a few leaks but we've given up on trying to fix them - we're using a rotation of old towels to soak up all the water and keep us dry. Bizzarely, the freezing weather is drying them out so we can use them again! Damp is a problem but keeping water usage to a minimum helps with that, and I'm wiping the windows and walls as they need it.

Jimmy the ginger cat is fine, he's safely snuggled in with us. We are a bit concerned about the ferrals who live under the bus, but we can't do much for them. We think they're surving on the birds. If they stay under the bus they'll probably be quite well insulated with all the drifts.

There's been no blackouts for a few days and the internet has been pretty stable, so I'm hoping to get a few emails sent today. Otherwise, work is on hold: keeping us warm and dry takes priority.

We're coping OK, and we should be good for another week or so. It would be nice to have a shower or not have to boil snow to flush the loo, but at least we're relatively warm and comfortable!

Snowed in

2012-02-03T11:45:40Z

The heavy snow has pretty much cut us off today; getting in & out of the Yard is tricky as it's virtually impossible to drive. The local roads were ploughed yesterday, but after dropping to -5°C last night, and then further blizzarding, I doubt those roads will be very safe!

We've had some 8inches/20cm now, which is helping to keep the water pipes insulated so we're not without running water, though the washing machine is frozen solid (we thought the previous heavy frosts had killed it but after an extra few days of thawing, it miraculously started working again) We do though keep losing power - one power cut yesterday killed my printer - it trips out only for a short time before coming back on and these little and frequent power cuts cause more damage than those lasting a few hours. This morning Tom managed to get the internet back up and running after the heavy snow took our entire network down. Countries that deal with this sort of weather every winter are much better prepared; this area of Europe doesn't usually see this much snow, and isn't prepared at all. Friends of ours who live a short drive away in the hills are totally cut off, and their 87yo neighbour says she's never seen snow like this before.

I'm trying to keep up with all my emails but with frequent loss of power and/or network, it's getting difficult! Please bear with me while we battle through this freakish weather.

Aran, on the other hand, is thoroughly enjoying it all. This was him yesterday, contemplating venturing away from the cleared path. It's knee deep on him in most places.

We are warm though, and since Tom managed to fix the leaks, we're dry too. The snow on the roof isn't causing it to buckle, so we're leaving it there as insulation! This was the view from our bedroom window, taken with my phone's camera on wednesday evening, it's even deeper now.

We've plenty of food and water and fuel supplies, so we can survive through to next week comfortably. As I've mentioned above though, we keep getting cut off so I hope you understand if I'm not able to respond to an email or query straight away. I'm doing what I can when I can, but mostly I'm trying to not to get wet & cold by staying indoors! With any luck after the weekend it'll stop snowing and the sun will come out to start the long thaw.

Introducing Arkanoid

2012-02-01T14:22:27Z

Arkanoid is published today!

Designed with BabyLongLegs luscious Semi~Precious 4ply, this Hat is soft and drapey and oh so comfy. The texured stitch pattern is interesting enough to knit without being too complex, and the subtle folded brim adds enough detail without making the pattern too complicated.

There are 6 sizes included, and as well as the instructions for the slouchy version, notes are included for a not so slouchy version. All in all, with it's unisex style, it's a Hat you can make for anyone - the size range covers babies (14in) through to large adults (24in)

The Semi~Precious is such a lovely yarn to knit with - the drape and softness and stitch definition is amazing, and let's not forget the colours that BBL achieves! That said, I know folks won't all be able to get their hands on a skein, so I've included a couple of suitable subsitutes on the pattern. If you can though, do try and grab yourself a skein of the Semi~Precious, I can assure you that you won't regret it!

Arkanoid is also the February KAL pattern over in the Ravelry group, and I know BBL is doing a special offer on purchases of the Semi~Precious, so there's plenty of incentive to join in ;)

Has the snow that's sweeping Europe been well received or is it wreaking havoc? We thought it might be quite fun, but it seems that the recent heavy frosts have damaged some of the rubber window seals, and under the heavy snow, we've sprung a few leaks. One of which made itself apparent by soaking our bed in the early hours. Thankfully most of it has dried and there's a good chance we'll be sleeping in our own bed tonight, but it wasn't the most welcome start to the morning! Or to the 2 weeks of similar weather we've been forecast...

Enjoy Arkanoid, and stay warm!

PS/ the first commenter to tell me a) where the name came from and b) why that name gets a free copy of the pattern! (don't forget to leave your email addy in the relevant field, so I can gift it to you)

Another tutorial update

2012-01-30T17:05:27Z

Sorry it's been nearly a week since last posting, the flu has been a real pain around here and won't leave us! Each time I feel like I'm much better, it comes straight back with a vengeance. Aran's still sniffly, though much better; it seems to be bothering me more. Typical, as my mountain of work is ever growing!

Pattern writing and maths hasn't been easy with this foggy head, so I've been slowly working on a few simpler things that have been waiting for my attention for some time. And that includes 3 new tutorials (hey, I'm almost up to date with the tutorials to-do list!)

Firstly, I uploaded a more user friendly tutorial for stocking stitch kitchener. I know the indepth analysis throws a few people who are looking for something more straightforward, and this new one is an extract from Going Straight. It includes a few helpful tips, too, for those tackling grafting for the first time!

Secondly, to complete the range of techniques needed for sideways knit Hats, I've added a short rows (w&t) tutorial. Again, this one is based on the Going Straight tutorials, although isn't as indepth as the tutorials included in the book. This one has been on my list *forever* so I'm pleased to get it added.

And lastly for today, the final installment in the woolly Dreadlocks series. This one has been near the bottom of my list as it's not directly pattern or work related, and I really didn't think they'd be much interest in it. And boy was I wrong! I've had lots of emails asking when it would be posted, and I'm glad to say it's now finished.

And that's about it from me. Except to say that Arkanoid will be published on Wednesday 1st February, and I know a few folks have been waiting for that one!

(as always, newsletter subscribers will receive a coupon code when the pattern is released)

We've been forecast snow from tomorrow until early next week, so we'll be busy preparing for another freeze. With any luck we'll get some nice snowy photos to share with you!

On the needles: Wickery

2012-01-24T11:33:04Z

We've all been full of the flu here, and whichever bug it is, it's not a nice one. It's left us all a bit foggy and drained and sleep deprived. We're all on the mend now; Aran has gone back to school today and I've managed to get out of bed for the first time since friday. (Tom, as always, managed a snuffle and sneeze and that's about it. So when I say 'we' I really mean Aran and myself)

And a foggy, bunged up head isn't good for all the work I need to do! For once I have been kind to myself and had a few days off, managing to answer the odd email here and there, but that's about it. Itchy fingers have demanded some knitting, and rather than knit something for one of us (which would require a discussion and a decision as to what to knit) I thought I may as well knit one of my older designs that was in need of a new sample.

So I cast on for Wickery.

There's a stack of Hat samples still missing from my collection (which is no bad thing, else I wouldn't be able to carry them all to shops or shows!) but there are a few patterns that really should get more attention, and don't, because I don't have the samples anymore. Wickery is one such Hat. The sample in the pattern photos belong to lovely Cottonon, who very generously allowed me to use her photos. Yet I can't take that sample to shows; it's not mine! And having the Hat there, for folks to try on, can't be beat.

I figured this was a good knitting plan: my fingers can keep busy while the brain rests, a bit more stash yarn gets used, I feel semi productive and another Hat gains it's sample for shows and display.

The original sample was knit in Cascade 220, which the pattern calls for, but my stash is seriously lacking in that department, so I grabbed some local yarn which is a really good substitute for the 220. I don't think this one is on the Ravelry database - I have been adding some of the missing Italian yarns as and when I can. It's nice and woolly - it has a few more plies than the Cascade 220 but not so many that it's especially springy. It's a pale mossy green, not the grey the photos would have you believe.

Well, it seems that even straight forward knitting is too complex for this foggy flu addled brain. See that nice stack of cable twists there? Well, part way around, somehow, a few of those columns managed to gain an extra twist. So I had to rip it all back this morning and start again.

I love love love my Harmony interchangeables. Especially the short tips (they're not just for sock knitters, y'know..) And I've been liking square needles, too - Yvonne very kindly gifted me a set of Kollage square DPNs a summer or two back, and they are strangely smooth to knit with. Naturally, I treated myself to some KnitPro Cubics tips.

I was hesitant about the KnitPro cubics, mostly because of their colour. And sorry to say, I like it even less in person. Natural wood I love. Fake wood is great too; the original colours of the Harmonies are so bright and gorgeous. But fake natural just doesn't do it for me. That said, they are very smooth to knit with, and I do hope they can manage a shorter tip version at some point in the future. But my biggest wish would be to give us a choice on the colour and make them available in the same colours that have made the Harmonies so successful.

Right, onwards with the flu remedies! This afternoon sees me picking the lucky winner for the Wollmeise & WW pattern giveaway - look out for an email from me.

Frosted

2012-01-19T12:57:46Z

The weather has turned here this last week; it isn't normally so cold but we do get heavy frost or snow occassionally. When the cold weather does strike we often find ourselves without running water - how and where we live isn't permanent, it's different to living in a house, and we're much more exposed to the elements than many imagine. So while we're on water rationing for a few days, we get to see how beautiful the frost can make the world around us.

Tom took all these photos a couple of hours ago - aren't they beautiful? They are all elements of The Time Machine, a group installation that's been on The Yard for many years. It's one of my favourite locations for taking photos; it's so atmospheric and dynamic. So unusual as a backdrop, and it has the most amazing effect on light at different times of the day or year.

As much as we'd like the weather to warm up, I'm secretly hoping it stays cold, or at least slightly foggy and frosty, so we can manage a quick photoshoot in the morning!

New tutorials, new look

2012-01-17T10:20:20Z

Last night I uploaded 3 new tutorials as PDFs!

Firstly, the Alternate Cable cast-on for 2x2, 2x1 and 1x2 ribbing. Originally, I was going to include the initial 1x1 AC cast-on within it's pages, but this one was at 5 pages already, and felt it better to reference that first tutorial, so that folks don't need to download/print if they've already got it. Find it here.

The next 2 tutorials are for techniques that many may consider common, but you'd be surprised at how often I get emails about them!

The Spit Splicing tutorial is a must for joining wool yarns (my faves, as you know) and there's something else coming in a few weeks that'll build on this method. Then we have the I-cord - I do get emails asking about this method, as they appear a lot in my patterns, and there should be a tutorial for them. I know I can refer folks to other sites and links, yet I'd like to cover as much support as I can from here.

Both of them can be found here.

The tutorial pages were getting a little crowded, so I've split up the Cast on and Cast off methods into 2 pages, to make them clearer. They are cross referenced, incase the move catches anyone unawares!

And you may have noticed the new banner... I did like the previous colour one but it wasn't part of the greater plan. In my head, I've known for a long time how I'd like this site to look, but lacking the time/skills/funds to get it all done in one go, I've been slowly and organically working on it here and there. It's starting to feel like home now - the more minimal look allows the photos, and the Hats, to stand out. Adriana at Adriprints developed the watermark/encircled W for me early last year and it's great to start to put it to use (finally!).

And now it's back to pattern writing and knitting for me... there's more new things on the horizon!

Monday Giveaway, 16th January 2012

2012-01-16T08:51:01Z

There's a few skeins of yarn in my stash, ones which really do deserve a better home. They know what they want to be, yet they compete all the time for space and attention. And as you all know, we live in a double decker bus with limited stash space, and so I'd like to offer a few of these yarns to you, my knitterly readers.

Today I have a skein of Wollmeise Molly, 100g of their now, sadly, discontinued worsted weight. And it's purple.

The Wollmeise is delicious and soft and oh so worthy of a beautiful Hat. When we visited the store way back then, I bought 3 of these little beauties, and the other two skeins became Elsica and Medici. This one though has waited patiently, and since it's now discontinued, it's been pushed further towards the back of the stash. And it really does deserve to be knit by someone who can give it time.

The lucky winner of this yarn will get a choice of pattern, too:

And here's the deal:

Leave me a comment on this blog post (not Twitter or Facebook - it has to be this blog post to qualify) telling me a) which of the 2 patterns above you would like, b) why you should win! and c) your email address (there is a field for this when you leave a comment - add it there and it won't be visible to the general public)

Once the winner is selected and contact has been made, your choice of pattern will be digitally gifted - either to your email or Rav account - and the yarn will be posted.

The draw will be left open until 23rd January, one week from today, and I will contact the winner via email. If I haven't heard back from the winner with their postal address by 27th January then I will reselect a winner.

Spread the word, and good luck!

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This giveaway is now closed - thanks so much for visiting!