Month: January 2020

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The Claire Cowl – Free Pattern

I admit, I am late to hop on the Outlander train. Hadn’t heard about it; hadn’t seen it. The first thing that brought it to my attention was, of course, The Claire Cowl. Then all the different knit accessories.

Then the controversy. You know. The hullabaloo about whether the knits were authentic for the time. Imagine, there are people debating whether something is authentic in a show where the lead time travels across centuries. Oh, the irony.

In any case, this is a very simple but impacting knit for the beginner who wants to make garter stitch more interesting or the experienced knitter who wants to knock something fabulous out the park in short order.

I didn’t bother looking at the patterns because it is a pretty simple knit up. So I just made my own. It’s right here and you can download it free. Claire Cowl

If you aren’t able to download it. Here are the instructions:

The Claire Cowl

Yarn: Buttercream Luxe Craft Alpaca Solid
2 skeins in Night
Needles: Size 19 straights
Size L crochet hook to join ends

Cowl is worked with two strands of yarn held together

  1. Cast on 18-20 stitches
  2. Knit every row until desired length
  3. Cast off
  4. There are several says to join the ends of the scarf to form a cowl. You can take a tapestry needle and see the ends together.
  5. You can take a size L crochet hook, or whatever size you chose that will hold the yarn, and crochet the ends together through the front loops only.
  6. You can do a version of a 3 needle bind off by not casting off immediately. Instead, put the working needle through the first stitch in the needle and through the first stitch in the other end, knit them together, repeat with the next stitches and then bind off.
  7. After binding off, weave in ends.

It’s just that simple. You can modify it by using a single strand of chunky or super chunky – you will still get a stunning piece when you double it. You can make it longer or wider. Just add stitches and keep knitting.

 

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The Finish Line

 

I can see the finish line for the blanket. Which means I will continue until I reach the desired six feet mark or until it’s time to leave for the party. The first update, the blanket was in the infant stages. 

Remember this from last month? The time when the world was new and dreams were tangible? The good old days.

 

 

 

A few scant weeks later and here we are. As you can see, it takes up the space. It no longer fits on the small table but it was fun trying to get it to. But I know that doesn’t really give a good look to the stitches, though you can definitely see the texture. 

 

How about this one? I can’t believe how the light changes in the same room only a few feet apart. This is taken without the flash and the colors are not that bright.

But you can see it. It might seem like it’s big enough but it’s still too much of a rectangle. Needs to fill out a little more and it will be good to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, I have been using chunky yarn and made two cowls and have a third one on the hook.This is using the Buttercream Luxe Craft Alpaca. I have the idea of making a less chunky but still chunky version of this cowl using the Tea Cakes. This is using two strands of yarn. That makes it very chunky and cozy but also makes it very expensive.

 

I’ve also started using Ice Yarns Glitz! It’s taken a while to get there but it’s on the needles and the work has progressed a far cry from what you see here. 

I’ve also started doing some embellishments but haven’t done any photos but they are coming. I did say I was ready to start doing the 2020 stuff, right?

I still have two more things to start. I pulled some cotton yarn to start my market bag – one of two market bags; one knit, one crochet. And then I need to start the fingerless gloves.

Did I mention we also just purchased a condo? Nope, not busy over here. Not at all.The finish line seems to have moved.

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Happy New Year

Don’t judge me. It took me a minute to remember I haven’t yet posted this year. I was doing the last few orders and the final was shipped off a few days ago and now I am free…

…to start working on 2020 items. I did take a few hours off and played some Candy Crush Soda but then it was back to work. Though there are no deadlines so the work is a little more relaxed.

I have three items on needles or hooks – not counting the afghan I need to finish for Mr. Honey’s family gathering next Sunday. It is a crap shoot to see how finished it gets. I measured it yesterday and it was a little over 2 feet long. I’m headed for 6 feet. It’s 3 rows to the inch. 

Let’s do the math, shall we?

It’s 31 inches as of this morning. We want to get to 60. 60-31=29. 3 rows to the inch. 29×3=87 rows. 9 days. 87/9=9.666. I think the 666 is significant. 

This seems doable. I will show you the process I am making in another post. When I have the camera upstairs. But 9 rows of 171 stitches could be manageable. Someone wake me up from this dream.

It should also come to no surprise that I changed the pattern. The intention to do the fast and easy blanket was real. But you all know I am a chronic changer. But hey, it’s still an afghan and it’s still being crocheted, so that’s something. I did think about how to create knit stitches but time didn’t allow it.

I will be more than happy to post my version right here on the blog when it is done.You really should have known I would change it. I mean, it’s a baby blanket and I just told you I have 170+ stitches to a row. Do you think that would have been my only change? It’s like you don’t know me at all.

As I was saying, I have three things currently going and two more items that will probably get their start today. I have a Claire Outlander cowl started (it’s way too basic to even call it a pattern but I will also post how I did it and you won’t have to buy it.) I also have another cowl and then some embellishments – currently hearts. The first of the fingerless mitts will be started and the first of the market bags.

I have my first orders of 2020. I kicked one off pretty quickly and the other was a pattern. I’m excited for the new patterns coming. Of the five items that are going on, only the embellishments are the only things I’m not doing from scratch. There are other things I want to do that I will use a pattern (as far as my condition allows.)

All in all, the beginning of the year looks really hopeful and creative. So Happy New Year!

Looking forward to it. I don’t do resolutions. Do you?