I've been meaning to show you a completely different type of FO. DH made me this kitchen island/cart to my specifications. I wanted somewhere to hang my skillets and spatter screen and to store many of my excess kitchen appliances. There is also a wire shelf inside for some of my oddly-sized baking pans.




The outside is just stained beadboard and the top is granite tiles.



The thing I like most about it is that it is higher than standard kitchen counters - about 39" high. I vastly prefer chopping veggies on the island and have stopped using my counters for food prep.

Dale of Norway Moose Sweater

I call this sweater the Bullwinkle sweater because of the goofy cartoon-like moose on the back. The pattern is Dale of Norway 20006 from a now out of print booklet #200.



I made this sweater in Nature Spun sport and I was thrilled I actually had enough yarn in my stash to make the entire sweater. I think it is too big now but it did actually fit back when I made it.



I've been cooking much more than knitting lately but I'll try to have something to show you soon.

La Parisenne FREE Beret Knitting Pattern

**** PATTERN HAS CORRECTIONS****


The pattern for La Parisienne is ready. As I said in my pattern preview post, this is a quick easy project, but with a fanstatic impact, because of the kaleidoscopic effect of the chevrons. Just think what wonderful Christmas presents these berets would make! As far as color choices are concerned, my recommendation would be to not be afraid of contrast. The contrast gives the decreasing chevrons a lot more impact.
Happy Knitting, and enjoy being a Parisienne!

Materials:

SockPixie Sock Yarn 1 each in Peacock, and Tea Rose
Needles: 16" US 3, dpts US 3
Gauge: 7stitches/inch on US 3


Cast on 120 stitches.
Join round.
Throughout the pattern you will be knitting 2 consecutive rows of each color. To avoid a jagged edge you can foloow this cool little technique . Do not cut the yarn after each color change, rather carry it up.
Alternating the colors as set above, knit in K2P2 rib for 1".

Increase row: *K1, K1f&b* Repeat for one whole row. You should now have 180 stitches.

Start pattern:
R1: *K1f&b, K5, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K5, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Knit

Repeat R1 and R2 until the piece measures 4" from cast on edge.

You will now start decreasing while maintaining the chevron pattern.

First decrease round:
R1: *K1f&b, K1, K2tog, K2, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K2, K2tog, K1, K1f&b* Repeta from * to *
R2: Knit

For the next 6 rows continue as follows:
R1: *K1f&b, K4, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K4, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Knit
You repeat R1 and R2 3 times each.

Second Decrease round:
R1: *K1f&b, K1, K2tog, K1, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K1, K2tog, K1, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Knit

Continue as follows for the next 4 rows:
R1: * K1f&b, K3, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K3, K1f&b*
R2: Knit
You will repeat R1 and R2 2 times each.

Third decrease round:
R1: *K1f&b, K2tog, K1, slip 2, K1 , P2SSO, K1, K2tog, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Knit

Continue as follows for the next 2 rows:
R1: *K1f&b, K2, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K2, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Knit

Fourth Decrease Round:
R1: *K1f&b, K2tog, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K2tog, K1f&b* repeat from * to *
R2: Knit

Continue as follows for the next 2 rows:
R1: *K1f&b, K1, slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K1, K1f&b* Repeat from * to *
R2: Knit

Decrease Rounds:
R1: K2, *slip 2, K1, P2SSO, K4* repeat from * to *, end knit 2.
R2: K1, * slip 2, K1 P2SSO, K2* Repeat from * to *
R3: *Slip 2, K1, P2SSO* Repeat from * to *
R4: *K2tog* repeat from * to *
R5: K2tog but only on 2 stitches, K till end of row. You should have 5 stitches left.

Knit a 1 cm long i-cord on the 5 remaining stitches. BO of the i-cord by knitting 3 together, then 2 tog, pass the first stitch over the second one, and you are done!
Weave in all ends.

I'm currently working on the Traditional Allover gloves from Carol Rasmussen Noble's Knitting Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves. For some reason I had to make the thumb gusset twice as long as the pattern specified even though the actual length of the glove hand worked out okay. I had to go up two needle sizes so they'd fit and I'm using Knitpicks' Palette, including some of their new lovely heather colors.

La Parisienne Beret New Pattern Preview

I know it has been hot all over the country, but yesterday was Bastille Day, and France was on my mind. This beret is my way of commemorating my roots.
I named the beret "La Parisienne", because what is more French than a French woman wearing a beret! I combined two new colors of SockPixie's Sock Yarn to emphasize the chevron pattern. I also had tremendous fun creating a chevron that merged toward the center of the beret. There is something kaleidoscopic about it. I finished the beret with a tiny whimsical i-cord.
I will be posting the new FREE Pattern tomorrow, and in the mean time, enjoy the picture!

The Ann McCauley square in the world's most difficult color to photograph. I feel like I deserve a bobble certificate of merit after this one.



There sure are a lot of lizards around the house this year.



Peaches is unconcerned with matters of lizard overpopulation.

Here is the Ginger Smith square from the Great American Aran Afghan (booklet published by Knitter's magazine). I'm not sure if I've posted this one before but Blogger refuses to publish my post from yesterday so I hope this post pushes it through. I do think I'm going to have to change the blog template one of these days but it will be such a pain that I'm putting it off as long as possible.

Every year when the weather gets hot I blog less. At least I am knitting - I've finished 3 more afghan squares. This is the Ada Fenick square. I still have to get photos of the other 2 I've finished.



I have now finished 9 of 24 squares. Only 20 squares are used for the afghan (the other are made into pillows) but I'm making them all in case some of them turn out smaller or larger than the other squares. Then I can avoid using those in the afghan to try to keep it even. My Barbara Selesnick square turned out much smaller so that one will definitely be used for a pillow.

I also have the booklets for the Great American Afghan and the Great North American Afghan. I'm starting to think about using my favorite squares from each to make a second afghan in shades of purple.

I will get photos of the other 2 squares this week. Also, I know I've been remiss in posting photos of Peaches. She's doing better this summer (she tends to overheat easily) due to the additional air conditioner. In fact she likes to park herself right in front of the AC for most of the day just like me.

Dale of Norway Sirdal Cardigan

This is Dale of Norway's Sirdal. The most remarkable thing about this sweater is that the Norwegian braiding and buttons cost more than the yarn I used (Nature Spun sport). I actually am not sure this is my style so I don't wear it as often as the other Dale cardigan.
Becky has asked a few questions in the comments. Allegro Yarns offers Dale of Norway kits and they often have a few sweater kits for booklets that are no longer in print. Bea Ellis Knitwear offers most of the Dale books that are in print and you can see inside the booklets. The older Dale booklets that are out of print offer the most intricate colorwork designs so Ebay is the best bet for those.