Anniversary Cowl

It was a year ago that I sat down with some lovely Yarn Pirate BFL sock yarn to make a cowl for my mom for Christmas. I tried a few different attempts that resulted in not so lovely pooling, and ended up holding the yarn doubled with the colorway staggered.

After Christmas I posted some "how to" information about my Gloria Cowl on my flickr page.
Who knew that I was adding a simple, speedy cowl pattern into the mix right at the start of the cowl craze of 2008.



1. Maryse Ro, 2. Betty Loves Yarn, 3. *Melanie*, 4. flwrhead, 5. jillthereckless, 6. Bertha, 7. JulieFrick, 8. cmr727, 9. knitting by bicycle, 10. terhimon, 11. knitting by bicycle, 12. knittinging,13. aspenglow, 14. Elinor Brown,15. wannabeknittin’ ,16. cauchy09,17. weetsiewoolens, 18. 100%philistinemade, 19. zknitter, 20. sarahemcc, 21. sarahemcc, 22. (anne), 23. novamade, 24. Cyknithia, 25. knitter in the kitchen, 26. riverwoman, 27. elinknits, 28. femiknitter, 29. KessaKnits, 30. funkycarolina, 31. affiknitty, 32. Jejune Ennui, 33. merwenna, 34. jetbot, 35. greendillybean

This year I enjoyed knitting vicariously through all the varied yarn choices and modifications, and I loved seeing all of the ideas that knitters added to make their finished cowls truly their own.

To celebrate a year of Gloria, I have an Anniversary Cowl pattern to share.
It's to celebrate an anniversary, but it is also inspired by the cuff of Nancy Bush's Anniversary Socks in Interweave Knits' Favorite Socks.



Ravelry
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1” (of stockinette)
Needle: US 8 - 16" circular
Yarn: Approx 100 grams of fingering weight yarn (about 400 yards), I used Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Sock "It's a Girl" (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon) It is so soft and squooshibly perfect!
Knit two strands together for the entire pattern.

This cowl makes for great semi-mindless knitting because there are only two pattern rounds to remember:
Regular round = k2, p1, k1, p1 (repeat around)
Crossed round = C2*, p1, k1, p1 (repeat around)
*C2 = knit into the back of the second stitch on needle (leave on needle), then into the back of the first stitch. Slip both stitches off the needle - the stitches cross into a 2 stitch cable.
I knit left handed, so, all you righties out there, your cable will cross the other way



Cast on a multiple of 5 stitches – I cast on 110
Join in the round - and (say it with me) be sure your stitches are not twisted.
Purl one round
Knit 2 regular rounds
Knit 1 crossed round

Continue with 3 regular rounds followed by 1 crossed round.
Repeat with a 3 regular, and 1 crossed round pattern until "done".
Finish with 2 regular rounds and bind off in purl.
My finished cowl is 8" tall.



I blocked my cowl with the BO as the bottom since that edge seemed to have more visual weight to it. I also squished the cable rib together at the top and stretched it out at the bottom during blocking to create a nice flare.



I am thrilled with the squishy, cozy weight of this cowl.
Long live cowls!

Shiny Happy Cowls

I feel like I'm 15 again.
I want to jump up and down and scream.
Take a look at who is wearing ADD Knitter's recent Gloria Cowls.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!
I can hardly stand in the place where I live!

OK... So... I lied

I typed yesterday that I was not starting a cowl... and then all I could think of was cowls. Perhaps it was because of this yarn... my recent acquisition from the Zen Yarn Garden Semi-solid sock club...

...which has been screaming to be up higher up than my feet.

So I pulled it out last night and cast on for Gloria version 2.0 (version 1.0 is here)



This time I cast on 85 instead of 99, and I am increasing by 2 stitches every 5-7 rounds so that it is a little cozier at the top and flares a bit at the bottom.
I also wanted to have more of a transition from the seed stitch to the plain stockinette to eliminate the harsh line and stop the tendency to fold at that point.
After the 3 rounds of seed stitch, I did one round of *k2, p1*, then a round of *k3, p1*, a round of *k4, p1, ending with a round of *k5, p1*. I like the random look of the transition so far.
Although I am reserving judgment until I can try it on off the needles.




I also started my second February Baby sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman during nap time today. After my first one, I knew that I wanted to try another one without the gull stitch lace. I'm using Dream in Color Classy in "Cloud Jungle".

So far I really like the yarn, except it is quite smelly. It's not a bad smell, but enough to make me need to take a break from it. I think it will be just fine after washing it. However it does make me think that I may want to wash the yarn first if I knit with it again.


I was tagged a few weeks ago for the top 100 yarns meme by Michelle of Knitting in Transit, and I have no good reason at all why I have not done it yet - especially since it is my first real meme (woo-hoo!).

Here are the details:
Using the top 100 yarns on Ravelry (by number of projects):
Bold the ones you’ve used and would use again;
Cross out the ones you’ve used and would not use again; and
Italicize the ones you’ve never tried, but would like to.
Add comments as desired, and then pass the meme along to 5 knitters/crocheters. Link back to this post and to the person who tagged you.

Instead of putting a huge list of so many things I have not used (I'm still pretty much a newbie), I have only included the ones I "marked".

1. Cascade 220 Wool – I’ve heard this is a great “go to” yarn, there has to be a reason it it #1
3. Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted - I just gotta at some point
4. Noro Kureyon – Only the new sock weight, which probably doesn't count for this
5. Caron Simply Soft - meh
6. Lily Sugar’n Cream Solid - just fine
9. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solid - I don't like the acrylic mix
10. Noro Silk Garden - Actually I used the "lite"
11. Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM)
14. Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
15. Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi
23. Zitron Trekking (XXL) – in the stash waiting!
29. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Mediumweight – in the stash!
41. Lion Brand Microspun - meh
42. Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino - socks that were a gift, so I'm not sure how it wears
47. Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK
59. Dream in Color Smooshy – In the stash and casting on soon
61. Dream in Color Classy – Just cast on today, and like it - but it's smelly
87. Lily Sugar’n Cream Stripes - just fine
89. Lion Brand Magic Stripes – another meh
99. Cascade Fixation Spray Dyed/Effects

Other yarns not in the Ravelry top 100, but in my list (and not yet in my stash) to try in the future...
Wollmeise
MadelineTosh - Glazed Sock
Ewa's Sockenwolle - Wool/cotton
Hello Yarn - Fat Sock

I know I am supposed to tag 5 people, but I am going to be lazy and just invite those who have an affinity for listy things to opt in.

Cowls are the new scarf...

...or so I've been told.

I had no idea that I was so up on (or is it down with) the trends.

Actually it's Grandma Gloria who is so trendy.
She was the one who asked for a cowl.



I was nervous about even adding it to Ravelry as a pattern - it's just a plain tube with a seed stitched edge after all.

How was I to know that I was adding a cowl pattern into the mix just before the start of Cowl Craze 2008.

I have loved seeing all the different versions of the Gloria Cowl on Ravelry,

...and reading about them
here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

I just borrowed the original cowl back to re-block and record my gauge and measurements.
If you are wondering... I added it here.

So many fabulous cowls and cowl patterns have been surfacing lately... perhaps I should announce (to fit with the craze) that I am currently working on a cowl, but no... instead I have sock plans for this...



and sweater plans for this...


and this...


I found this pile (8 skeins) of white, superwash, worsted weight wool at a local senior center "shoppe" in a grab bag with 4 more skeins of a different brand. I snagged them for a couple bucks to dye and possibly turn into a toddler sweater. I have not been able to find either yarn through Ravelry or the internet. I'm not even sure if the brand is Tessan or Jessan.

My other thrifty purchase (for which I do not yet have a plan) was a 75 cent bag of...


Green Mountain Spinnery Double Twist Worsted
250 yards of the bricky red color and 125 of the green.
It included a chaming ear flap hat pattern as well.
There was only one tag naming one of the colors as "Bittersweet" - I'm guessing the red one, but who knows.


I finally finished my "Harlot Socks" that I started for the Yarn Harlot's visit back in April.


For some reason the pink, red and orange together just makes me smile,
and I am flabbergasted that the stripes worked out to match - even with two splices in one of the socks.


Pattern: Improvised Toe-Up
Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 Cotton Stretch
Needles: Needles: US 1 Knit PIcks 40" circ
[Ravelry]

I am still working on Cascading Leaves in Shi-Bui "Honey". [Ravelry]



I really like the pattern - it has a very intuitive feel.
I'm not 100% in love with the slight striping effect of the colorway - but overall I think it is a good pairing of yarn and pattern.




Thanks to Nikki for sending me a wonderful surprise package from Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival - including the first of my flock. It was like my own little Ravelraiser prize!
She is participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life soon, and I'm sure she would gladly accept more pledges!