Tangled Up In Blue or how to mess up the most popular pattern on Ravelry!!

So about mid-January I coveted (with the rest of the knitting world) Purl Soho's Big Herringbone Cowl designed by Whitney van Es. I wanted to use some stash that I had, a cotton wool, Cascade Sierra in light purple, because I knew by the time I finished it Spring would be here (although cowls will still be hot I'm sure).

My first attempt came out a wild mess ... the 17 needle was a bit too big and my stitches were ugly and uneven.  So I frogged (note this is frog #1 for whoever wants to keep count).  I went down to a 13 needle and after knitting about 10 rows the stitches looked great but the gauge was WAY too tight.  Stitches were supposed to be about 4 an inch and I had almost 5 and a half.  So I frogged again (#2) and cast on 290 stitches.  I was sailing along and then MY CABLE BROKE ON MY NEEDLE.  Cheap plastic crap!!!

 I was so frustrated at this point I put it down and made a pair of slippers.  It is freakin cold in Ithaca!!!

So I was telling my daughter about how much I loved this Big Herringbone Cowl pattern and I asked her if she would like me to make her one. "Yes," she said, "my favorite color is Cerulean Blue, like the crayon."  So I just got paid, so I went to my favorite LYS, Homespun Boutique, and as soon as I walked in I saw two beautiful skeins of Malabrigo worsted in what I think is pretty close to Cerulean Blue.

So I also bought size 15 needles and started my daughter's Big Herringbone Cowl.  The yarn was luscious and the color was amazing.  I got to about 4 inches.

It was coming out lovely.  Then the yarn started twisting around the cowl and while I was trying to untangle it I realized OH NO I TWISTED THE STITCHES ON THE CAST ON!!!!!  FROG #3 on Cowl #2!!!! And here is what it looked like after a frustrated frog - TANGLED UP IN BLUE ...

What a mess.  Well, this catastrophe waits for me on my kitchen table until I have a spare 72 hours to untangle it.  I'm sure there is a Frog #4 in my future.  God Bless all the lucky ravelers who are wearing their trendy Big Herringbone Cowls down a frigid 5th Avenue. I'm sure you look awesome. grrr.

Stay tuned. Sue

My Favorite Christmas Present

Here is a video of the Christmas present I bought myself.  It's a Japanese music box that plays "Both Sides Now," a song by my favorite artist, Joni Mitchell.  When I bid on it at ebay, I was worried it wouldn't meet my expectations, but I was so happy when I got the package yesterday.  The lid is a wood carved, painted yellow finch, and the music sounds beautiful.  I'm so happy!

Take care, Sue

Slouchy Hat: Free Pattern!

My sister Patty loved this hat that Jennifer Aniston was wearing in a photo online, so we bought some yarn when we were at the grand opening of GoshYarnIt, this cute new shop near her house in Wilkes Barre, PA.

Here is the quick pattern:

Materials:
3 skeins Classic Alpaca from The Alpaca Yarn Company.  110 yds. DK weight.  I used colorway Sea Green.
1 circular needle size 6, 16 in.  1 set of 5 double pointed needles size 6.

Gauge: 22 sts and 28 rows for 4 ins. 

Cast on 122 sts with #6, 16 in circular and rib 1x1 for an inch and a half. Increase Row: stockinette st k5, m1 around, end k2. Then knit for 7 ins. First decrease row:  K4, K2tog around. Dec 2 more sts within the next 4 rows to get to 120 sts. Knit for 2 more ins.

Decrease crown: Row 1:K10, K2tog around Row 2: K. Repeat these two rows, knitting one less stitch (eg. K9, K2tog for row 3, K8, K2tog, for Row 5, etc.) Also change to double pointed needles when crown gets too small). When you get to 12 sts, K2tog around. Cut yarn and slip through last 6 sts, pulling together, then secure yarn. Done.

Here is Patty and her new slouchy hat (and her new grandbaby Lily!)

Take care, Sue