Entrelac Tam Pattern

I love love love love love this hat!

Thanks to the wonder that is ravelry, I found a pattern for an entrelac hat that myyarns had made out of Patons SWS and I knew I had to make one. The original pattern is a pattern from Lorraine Majors, but the pattern was for an infant's hat, and I wanted something a little slouchier.

So if anyone is interested, here is my re-written pattern with the modifications to make it into an adult size tam.

Entrelac Tam

Yarn: 2 skeins Noro Silk Garden
Needles: US 8
US9
Pattern:
With smaller needles, cast on 72 stitches.
Work k1,p1 ribbing for 6 rounds.

Set up base triangles:
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1: k1, turn.
Row 2 and all even rows: p1, turn.
Row 3: sl1, k1, turn.
Row 5: sl1, k2, turn.
Row7: sl1, k3, turn.
Row9: sl1, k4, turn.
Row11: sl1, k5, turn.
Row13: sl1, k6, turn.
Row14: sl1, k7. Do not turn work.
Work 8 more triangles.
Break yarn* leaving a few inches to weave in later.

Turn work (WS facing), slip the stitches from the last triangle you worked to the right needle. With new yarn, begin Tier 1 Rectangles.

*To avoid having to break the yarn and weave in a ton of ends, you can turn the work after row 14 and purl the 8 stitches, but this will create a slight hole in the work at the beginning of each new tier.

Tier 1 Rectangles
Row1: Pick up and purl 8 stitches along selvedge.
Slip last picked stitch to left needle and p2tog. Turn.
Row2: k8, turn.
Row3: sl1, p6, p2tog. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 six more times. Do not turn.
Make 8 more rectangles.
Turn work (RS facing)
Break yarn.
Slip the stitches from the last rectangle you worked to the right needle. With new yarn, begin Tier 2 Rectangles.

Tier 2 Rectangles
Row1: Pick up and knit 7 stitches along selvedge.
Slip last picked stitch to the left needle and ssk. Turn.
Row2: p7, turn.
Row3: sl1, k6, ssk. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 six more times. Do not turn.
Make 8 more rectangles.
Turn work (WS facing)
Break yarn.
Slip the stitches from the last rectangle you worked to the right needle. With new yarn, begin Tier 3 Rectangles.

Tier 3 Rectangles
Repeat pattern for Tier 1 Rectangles, but only pick up 6 stitches.

Tier 4 Rectangles
Repeat pattern for Tier 2 Rectangles, but only pick up 5 stitches.

Tier 5 Rectangles
Repeat pattern for Tier 1 Rectangles, but only pick up 4 stitches.

Tier 6 Rectangles
Repeat pattern for Tier 2 Rectangles, but only pick up 3 stitches.

Tier 7 Rectangles
Repeat pattern for Tier 1 Rectangles, but only pick up 2 stitches.

There will be 18 stitches remaining.

From RS row, slip first stitch over second stitch of each triangle. 9 stitches remaining.

Break yarn, thread through live stitches twice. Pull tight. Weave in ends.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

So I haven't posted anything in almost three months. Ummm absence makes the blog grow fonder?....

I'm starting to get the itch. That itch that creeps up right around this time when it's time to start planning and colors like red white and green just set my heart all aflutter. It's July and I'm thinking about Christmas with the anticipation of a five year old and the dread of last minute knitting. I have been a die hard procrastinator with everything my entire life, except for knitting, and well I consider that progress.

Guess Who's Blocking!!!!

I feel like a shut-in

I had a very busy weekend. If lounging around knitting things counts as busy. First up is Knit and Tonic Wendy's Le'Slouch, and what can I say, this pattern was Le' Fab and Le' Fun to knit. I started it Friday night and finished it up early Saturday afternoon. It was knit it Classic Elite City Lights in a gorgeous maroon color. I just love the slight sparkle, it just adds that little something extra that makes it look just so.

Immediately after finishing this gem, I moved onto Blue Sky Alpacas' Baby Bobbi Bear. Less than 24 hours later, voila! Instant Teddy Bear! This thing is so friggin cute, I just can't stand it. It's knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton in Willow, which is this lovely sage and cream twisted cotton that gave the teddy bear a heathered look. He's a present for my goddaughter who lives halfway across the country and turned 2 on February 24th. I can't wait to get a picture of her with her new friend. Her baby brother is getting the same bear for his first birthday in the same yarn, but in the Pebble colorway, which is the cream again, twisted with the color of a cup of coffee with the perfect amount of milk. His birthday's not till August, so I'm debating starting this one for a while, even though I already have the yarn.

I've also been working on and off on the Noni Adventure Bag in the Weekender size and wow is this bag HUGE! I'm 26 rows into the 90 that I need to go before I can even think about making the tabs for the strap and it's going S. L. O. W. I'm taking my time with it though, because it's just for lil' old me and I've still got 3/4 of the last sleeve to go on the Berkshire Pullover, plus a few rows around the neck (as per the lucky recipient's request). My goal of being done by the 31st is not going as well as it was a week ago. I wanted to have the noni ready for my trip at the end of the month, but with knitting, felting, and the DAYS worth of drying, I'm not gonna bet on it. But feel free to wish me all the illogical knitting luck we all possess.

I was...

Inspired. Yes, inspired. I don't know where it came from or why, but the Berkshire Pullover has gone from having 1/2 a sleeve to 1 full, complete, bound off, end weaved sleeve. It's a miracle. This sweater has been sitting in the same basket since October or November. My cousin tried it on, and it's a perfect fit. Phew. I was a little worried I was going to have to frog a sweater full of yarn I could have substitued at a MUCH cheaper price. But I digress. One more hour of knitting and this bad boy will be done. Now I'm in no way saying that the one hour will happen tomorrow. But I can say with certainty, since I've given myself a deadline, that by March 31st there will be a finished and blocked Berkshire Pullover courtesy of Weekend Knitting. Onward and upward!

Time for an Update

I have with me a great big glass of red wine and a great Evening Noni Adventure Bag finished (as usual) just in time for a friend's birthday tomorrow. If I do say so myself, I made one nice purse (with the help of one great pattern). I'm not totally crazy with the rings, but it was all M&J Trim had, and beggers can't be choosers when they realize they forgot to order said purse rings and it's a Thursday afternoon and said knitter needs said rings for Sunday. At 3 hanks of cascade 220, you can't beat the purse for it's price, and I have a LOT of yarn left over. We're talking about half of the third skein. And since it was such a great pattern, I'm going to tackle the Long Weekend size, which should be fun....at 9 skeins...That thing, pre-felt, is going to large enough to put a small child in. I'm also very happy to report that felting the checkerboard in my front loading washer wasn't a fluke, I also did the adventure bag in it and it came out lovely.

In other news, I finished my version of Endora and if I do say so myself, it came out beautifully. I didn't like the look of the plush border, so I stuck with the Lullaby and picked up a few extra stitches on each side to get the ruffle. The mom to be (now just the mom) loved it and has been putting it to good use.

Also, here are pictures of the Men's Cashmere Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and Stephanie Japel's Orangina that were Christmas presents for my step-father and my mother. Loved these too. That seems to be a recurring theme with me. Loving the patterns I knit. Never would have guessed that one. And the last picture is a crocheted scarf made for a friend for Christmas out of Tilli Tomas Disco Lights in a teal colorway. I also bought a hank of it in colorway American Beauty which is absolutely delicious, but I'm holding onto it for a very special pattern. Hopefully it will come around soon, I hate seeing it lie there, waiting to be used.

King Me!

This whole Christmas thing....it hasn't got me worried one bit. Aside from a certain New Hampshire Farm losing my order, thereby forcing me to change not only yarn but pattern as well for my step-father's present, I haven't got a thing to worry about. Just to show the squish of Endora, here's a picture of my progress so far. I love how the yarn works up, but damnit, if your hands aren't made out of pure silk themselves, the damn yarn snags on EVERYTHING!!!!! I'm just constantly amazed that Berroco could come up with a half decent pattern. Because Holy Fug....most of their patterns are just so damn fugly that I'm suprised they're still in business at all. But I do love this pattern. It's one of those where you've got it down after the first repeat. Super simple, but it looks beautiful, and I know the lucky mom that's getting it will adore it. (Not to mention the pure coincidence that I picked out the exact colors of the room three months before they decided)

I also finished a checkerboard a while back, it was from the fall issue of Knit.1. Simple crocheted strips sewn together with checkers to match (and a case i added for good measure) all felted. The colors aren't quite so jarring in person; the flash just wasn't cooperating. And unfortunately I was an idiot that day and took pictures pre-felting but not after it was finished, and since it's already made itself at home with it's intented recipient, it might be a while before i can sneek a shot...but you know the deal....it's just smaller....and slightly fuzzier.

Off the Needles and On the Needles

Orangina is FINALLY finished and I can hardly believe it myself. I can also hardly believe that it actually took me an entire month and a half to get done. But in my defense in between knitting marathons of Orangina to finish it by Christmas, I made up a hat pattern, and made six of them this week. I'll post the pattern as soon as I write it up. And I love it because I can finish one in two hours. The only project on the needles right now is Endora by Berroco. I hate Berroco for the most fugly patterns ever created by and for knitters. But every now and then, they come through with a pattern, and as far as baby blankets go, this is going to be beautiful. Two different sized cables in the most delicious yarn ever, with a border that's just as soft. I have until January 6th to finish it, so I'm not at all worried. But the fact that I have a sweater that still needs to be started, 1 1/2 sleeves on the Berkshire Sweater (why the bloody hell can't I finish this damn thing), and a scarf for a man who's 6'4" and the yarn hasn't come yet...I'm worried. Scratch that....terrified. There's just no way in the world I can pull it off. But like every knitter, every year, I will do my damnedest, staying up for hours and hours trying to finish in vain. But really....I figure if I just stop sleeping, eating, and talking to people, I'll be more than fine....wish me luck! In the meantime I'll keep dreaming about the day I actually get to start my Lady Eleanor from ScarfStyle. I think i'll just start planning next Christmas...NOW.

Hello, yes it's me,

the WORST blogger in the WORLD. so well over another month has gone by and what do i have to show for myself? I'm still working on Orangina, with 3 inches to go on the back, and the 5 inches of 3x3 ribbing on size 3's....exactly 1 month to go as of today and 3 projects left to do. I desperately need to clean, but I know that this ribbing is going to put me in the hospital, so I just pretend that the piles surrounding me aren't there, and that my clothes won't try to kill me in my sleep....k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, skp, k2tog....knit, rinse, repeat.....3 inches to go....just 3 more inches....

It's been far too long since I've posted, so it's time to play catch-up. I wish I've been knitting more, but among work, school, and a very happy trip to Wisconsin, I haven't had much spare time. Congratulations on the Engagement Claire and Greg! (even though I knew about it the whole time :-P)

First up are two more Reverse Bloom Washcloths, 1st Christmas present for my mother is finished!

The washcloths were knit in Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille, and I just smile every time I finish one. They really are such a quick knit.







Next up is the Honeymoon Cami from Knitty. It was knit in GGH Mystik for my sister (also a Christmas present. It really is a good thing no one in my family knows I'm blogging). This one has been finished for quite a while, but I never got around to taking a picture. I also loved this pattern. It was knit entirely in the round until the triangles, which had to be worked separately. I can't stress how much I enjoy working in the round...









Stephanie Japel's Orangina is next up. This one is actually still on the needles and was just started on Monday. It is being knit in Rowan 4 ply cotton in a size medium. I love the lace pattern of this shell. I had it down after one repeat and I'm just so excited to see the look on my mother's face when she opens it this Christmas, because this top is just so 'her' and she's been asking and asking me to make her something for so long.





Last and certainly not least is a picture of the cutest little girl in the world. I'd like to introduce you all to my goddaughter, Natalie. She's an adorable 20 months old and I can't wait to see her again (come here in December!). The pattern is Knit and Tonic Wendy's Girlfriend School Spirit Sweater. It's knit in Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, size 4 (so she can wear it for a few years, though I wouldn't mind knitting it again in a bigger size, it really is such a super quick pattern). I omitted the sleeve stripes and the monogram, and while I was at it, I made a matching one in the reverse colors for her younger brother Andrew, who won't be wearing his for a VERY long time.


Hope you enjoyed. All I know is I feel so much better having finally posted. After Project Runway, i'm suddenly inspired to get back to work (even though Uli lost...it's just so wrong....)