Three posts in two weeks! I'm guessing that by now it's pretty obvious that school is out for the holidays :) I've been merrily knitting away on the couch, starting a new Christmas tradition: savouring every version of Pride and Prejudice I can get my hands on. I've watched four so far!

Anyway. What I'm supposed to show you is this:

Oops. That one's rather blurry, isn't it?

It's a slouchy tam to match the Triangles cowl. I wanted to knit my paternal grandmother a hat this Christmas. She taught me how to knit when I was 7 or 8, those long, skinny, striped garter-stitch scarves that I never quite figured out how to cast off and finish... She kept them in a pleather trunk by the television, where I was to leave them before I went home, but was always welcomed to pick up again on our next visit... She looks beautiful in deep, bluish reds, so I dug through my stash and was really pleased to find two skeins of Louisa Harding Kashmir DK.

If you'd like to knit your own, I'm happy to share what I did!

Triangles Tam

EDIT MARCH 2014:

**I see that the hat tuned out too large for some knitters. I've recently knit my third Triangles Tam and it really is very loose-fitting. Please consider using fingering weight and size US 4 needles rather than my recommended DK weight with US 6 for a closer-fitting hat.**

Materials:

~~US 4 DPNs~~ US 2-3 DPNs or circular needles for ribbed band.
~~US 5 or US 6~~ US 4 DPNs or circular needles for the body of the hat
1.5 skeins (I used well under 2 skeins) of Louisa Harding Kashmir DK, or any other ~~DK yarn~~ fingering weight yarn that gives you a gauge of 22 stitches over 4” with a US 6 needle.

Sizes: The size I knit is for my 24" noggin (circumference when measured from top of forehead, down one ear, accross upper neck where it meets my head, back up over the other ear, back to the top of forehead.) Best to try it on after the first row on triangles have been completed to check fit.

Mini triangles chart:

Using size US 3 ~~or US 4~~ DPNs or a 16” circular needle (or longer, if using magic loop method), cast on 112 stitches. Join to knit in the round.

Place marker to indicate start of row.

Work in 2x2 rib for approximately ¾ of an inch, or 7 rows.

Change size ~~US 5~~ US 4 needles, and work the next row as follows:

Row 1: *Purl one stitch, purl in front and back of next stich. Repeat from * until the end of row. This is fiddly, it’s true, but you’ll only need to do it for this row, I promise!
(Here’s a good video on how to do the purl in front and back move: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJCawekDfY)
You now have 168 stitches, which appears like a regular purled row.

Row2: Begin working from 2^nd row of triangle chart. (Chart reads from right to left each row.) Repeat these 6 stitches from row 2 of triangle chart until the end of row.

Rows 3-7: Work according to chart.

Now work the entire 7-row triangle chart 3 more times.

You now have completed 4 repeats of little triangles.

Next row (decrease row): Purl 11 stitches. For the 12^th stitch, work a double decrease: [slip 2 stitches from the LH needle to the RH needle as if to purl. Purl the next stitch on the LH needle. With the LH needle, bring both slipped stitches together over the purled stitch off the RH needle]. Repeat these 12 stitches to the end of row.

Work rows 2 – 7 of triangle chart.

Next row: Purl 9 stitches. For the 10^th stitch, work a double decrease as described above.

Work rows 2 – 7 of triangle chart.

Next row: Purl 7 stitches. For the 8^th stitch, work a double decrease as described above.

Work rows 2 – 7 of triangle chart.

Next row: Purl 5 stitches. For the 6^th stitch, work a double decrease as described above.

Work rows 2 – 7 of triangle chart.

Next row: *Purl 2 stitches, work a double decrease. Repeat from * until the last two stitches, purl 2.

Next row: *Purl 1, work a double decrease. Repeat from * until end of row.

Next row: Repeat as above until last stitch, purl 1. Break yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches. Pull gently to close hole, and weave in end.

I blocked mine over a mixing bowl:

Lacy Triangles Tam Variation

For lacy eyelet version in picture below (project post with more photos here), use size US 3 and US 4 needles and fingering yarn (I used about hald of a skein of Fleece Artist 2/6 sock yarn), and follow the alternate not-so-triangles-ish chart.

Triangles Tam

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Arithmetic! Algebra! Geometry! Grandiose trinity! Luminous triangle! Whoever has not known you is without sense!

- Comte de Lautreamont

I’ve been a little bit obsessed with triangles this year. As 2011 was coming to a close, I wanted to do knit something simple, reversible, and versatile featuring my favorite shape.

This pattern consists of small knit and purl triangles, the knit triangles receding into the background, the purled triangles popping to the fore, creating a subtle texture. The equally subtle tones of the MadelineTosh Pashmina add a little extra depth shimmer to the fabric.

Materials:

US 8 32” circular needles

2 skeins MadelineTosh Pashmina, held double

*or* any other yarn with a gauge of 19 sts/24 rows over 4”

Triangle chart:

With US 8 32” circular needles, and holding the MadelineTosh Pashmina yarn doubled, cast on 204 stitches.

Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist work, and place marker to indicate beginning of row.

Row 1: *Work stitches 1-12 (reading chart from right to left). Repeat from * 16 more times to the end of row.

Row 2: *Work stitches 1-12 (still reading chart from right to left). Repeat from * 16 more times to the end of row.

Continue knitting 12-stitch triangle pattern chart as above for rows 3-13.

You now have your first row of triangles!

Now repeat rows 1-13 five more times.

You now have 6 rows of 17 little triangles.

Cast off!

You’ll probably want to block it. I used my industrial clothes steamer because I was far too impatient for wet blocking.But just a warning: unblocked, it looks a bit like corrugated cardboard.

Here it is when worn as a long loop:

And I think it can be worn as a hat:

Or a wimple:

Ok, maybe the wimple looks a little silly.

My favorite way to wear it is still looped over on itself:

I'd like to wish everyone who celebrates a holiday around this time of year a chance to relax with some needles and yarn, and happy times with family and friends!

Triangles!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Now that it’s *finally* dry, I just couldn’t wait for daytime to photograph my new sweater. Never mind that it’s dark out and that the only room remotely illuminated is our tiny bathroom.

My first original sweater! I’m so incredibly surprised it turned out alright!

I’m afraid I don`t really have much of a pattern to offer, but I did keep notes of the process and drew up a chart for the reversible rib cables in case someone wanted to knit something similar. However, I have to stress that I’m putting out a huge "attempt at your own risk” disclaimer on here… Much of this was made up as I went along, my memory is shoddy, and I would really hate to frustrate and disappoint a new knitter :(

Keeping in mind that it’s not really a pattern, and that what follow are convoluted transcriptions of many scribbled little pieces of paper, feel free to use the notes below if you’d like!

Click here for PROJECT NOTES

Mon chandail étant *finalement* complètement sec, je ne pouvais plus attendre pour le prendre en photo. N’importe qu’il fait noir et que la seule salle bien illuminée est la salle de bain!

C’est mon premier design d’un vêtement pour adultes et quoiqu’il soit loin d’être parfait, j’en suis complètement ravie. C’est le mien! Je dois admettre que je suis également complètement renversée du fait qu'il est plus ou moins réussi - jusqu'à présent, mais efforts dans le domaine étaient plutôt insatisfaisant. Toutefois, je regrette de ne pas avoir écrit de vrai patron. Ce que j’ai à offrir ce sont mes notes écrites en anglais et transcrites ici à partir de petits bouts de papier gribouillés, au cas où quelqu’un se demandait comment je m'y suis prise.