Everyone loves a good trilogy

It's still quite cold here in Chicago, so I'm really glad I finally finished the last pattern in my Nest Egg series - a cowl to coordinate with the hat and fingerless gloves featuring the same cable pattern. This cowl is so warm! I've made a few cowls over the last year or so, and I always liked the way they turned out, but their either a) didn't cover enough of my neck or b) let the wind through the fabric because they had a lace pattern on them. I know, I know - that last one I should have seen coming! But sometimes, it's easy to get blindsided by how cool something looks that the practicality gets thrown right out the window.

Practicality is, of course, very important when you're readying yourself for another Chicago winter - or waiting for one to finally throw in the towel! With that in mind, I created this extra-warm cabled cowl which is knit flat and cozily overlaps around the neck, secured with two buttons.

Just the facts, ma'am:

Pattern: Nest Egg Cowl by Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter, $6
Yarn: 1 skein Malabrigo Rios - shown in 'Solis'
Needles: US #7 straights or circulars

Other supplies: cable needle, 2 removable stitch markers, several regular stitch markers, two buttons (mine are from Soutache in Bucktown), sewing needle & thread.

Cable pattern is charted.

I posted a coupon on Twitter Tuesday night (hint: I do that fairly frequently, so mayhaps you should give me a follow!) for $4 off the Nest Egg Trilogy. Since I like you so much, I'll let you in on the secret password for check-out: APRILSNOW.

Comments

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b...

A Finished Sweater, With Cat Hair

After losing Tilly and Robin within a year of each other, I sure didn't think I'd be finding cat hair in my knitting any time soon. But the universe had other ideas. Over the winter, a white feral cat adopted us. I'd noticed her when we moved into our apartment last summer - I would see her hiding in the bushes or sunning herself in the grass when she thought no one was looking. I assumed she was someone's cat until I realized how skittish she was around humans, plus she had a tipped ear, which is a universal sign that a feral/stray cat has been spayed. Neighbors confirmed that she was a feral kitty (descended from several generations of feral cats, in fact), and that she has survived on her wits and whatever food various residents put out for her. We had some bitterly cold days over the winter, and I just felt so sorry for this poor kitty! I started offering her treats and slowly gained her trust. She didn't even want to come inside our apartment at first, much le...

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a...

handmade by stefanie

Search This Blog