Hexipuffs

I have now completed ten total hexipuffs. Two in Madeline Tosh, three in knitpicks palettes, one in knitpicks handpainted something, one in Storied Yarns, one in my own hand dyed, and two random sock yarns from my stash.

Bee Keeper's Quilt - it begins

This will be the first post of many about this quilt. I just recently started the "Bee Keeper's Quilt" by the wonderful Tiny Owl Knits.
I have made five hexipuffs. Of about 400. This may take a while.
Being ravelled here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/NataliesKnits/the-beekeepers-quilt
Thus far I have used:
- Two Knit Picks Palette
- One Knit Picks hand dyed
- One Storied Yarns hand dyed
- One of my own hand dyed.

This shall be interesting, it's nice to finally have a one a day, something non-demanding I can work on at the end of the day.

The winner!

Using the good old random number generator from our friends at random.org, I've selected a winner. It is comment number two, Lisa Cox! I can't do screen shots on my mobile so I can't show the generator, sorry! Lisa, I will be messaging you!

Coffee Cozy - free pattern

I had been looking for a coffee cup cozy pattern for fingering sock weight yarn for long while, and couldn’t find one. So, easiest solution – make one up! This cozy should fit small through large size cups.

Ravelled here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-cozy-4
PDF here - http://nantucketknitter.com/cozy.pdf

YARN: Fingering weight sock yarn. The most important thing is it should be machine washable. I used yarn from the wonderful Storied Yarns – http://storiedyarns.etsy.com .
NEEDLES: US size four DPNs or circular long enough for magic loop.
GAUGE: 1” = 7 sts
NOTIONS: Tapestry needle to weave in ends.

INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cast on 62 sts, and join to begin knitting in the round, being careful not to twist.
- Work in K1, P1 ribbing for five rows.
- Knit five rounds.
- Next round: K1, K2tog, K to last three sts, SSK, K1.
- Next: K all sts
- Repeat these two rounds three times more. 8 sts decreased, 54 sts remain.
- Knit five rounds.
- Work in K1, P1 ribbing for five rounds.
- Bind off all stitches.
FINISHING: Weave in all ends.

Pattern and images copyright Natalie Gonzalez, 2012. Please do not reproduce and redistribute pattern. Please do not make these items to sell unless for charity. www.nantucketknitter.com

Infinity Scarf

Just thought I'd share what I'm loving to work on the most right now:

A beautiful Infinity Scarf, which I plan on selling at a table I am renting at a fair this summer.

The yarn is from Knit Picks, and it's a wonderful silk merino blend. I love the name of the color - Sea Spray.
Being Raveled Here.
To read more of my favorite things this week, hop on over to my personal Blog, Smiles are Contagious.

PS - Remember to enter my giveaway!

2 x 2 mitts

I have really been wanting to knit some of the yarn I have dyed, but couldn't think of anything I really wanted to create. Then these popped into my head. They're fairly simple, and can be made simpler by using a regular bind off, rather than the picot edge I used on these.
They are so quick, they knit up in less than a weekend.
(FYI - I plan on getting pictures with both of the mitts being worn in one picture in a few days. Right now it is just me and my camera phone, so I could only take one hand at a time!)

YARN: Fingering Sock Yarn, I used a 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon blend that I dyed myself.
NEEDLES: US size one DPNs or circular for magic loop.
NOTIONS: Needle to weave in ends
GAUGE: Doesn't really matter

Before we start I want to warn you that these are going to look super small as you knit them. However, the 2x2 rib is really stretchy, so don't worry, these will fit any average sized wrist!

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cast on 40 stitches. Divide between four DPNs if using. Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work in 2x2 rib(K2, P2) for 5 1/2 inches, or desired length.
Thumb: Work in patt for five stitches, bind off six stitches, work in patt to end of round. Next round: Work in patt for five stitches, cast on six stitches, work in patt to end of round.
Work in patt for another 2 1/2 inches, or desired lenght.

Bind off stitches using picot edge bind off.

Finishing: Weave in ends.

PICOT EDGE BIND OFF:
*Cast on two stitches. Bind off four stitches. Return stitch on right needle to left needle; repeat from* to end of round.

Don't forget my yarn dying kit giveaway

Pattern © 2011 Natalie Gonzalez. Please e-mail me at natalie.knit@gmail.com if you wish to make these to sell. Do not reproduce and redistribute pattern. Any questions or comments? Feel free to e-mail me!
If my fingers appear dirty in these pictures, it's because, well, they are. They're stained with soot. Long story.

A Giveaway

I have decided to host another giveaway. No special occasion. Just 'cause...well partly inspired by my forays into hand dyeing yarn.
I am giving away a kit I put together, supplies you need to hand dye one skein of yarn. You get yellow dye, citric acid, a skein of undyed 100% peruvian highland wool (bulky, 137 yards), and a printout of my dying instructions.
Plus, as in all my giveaways, you get some chocolate! A bag of Nantucket chocolate covered cranberries to be exact!
This kit is perfect if you want to try dyeing yarn, but aren't sure about making the investment.

(Not the best quality picture, but a photographer I am not!)
(You will need a teaspoon, a big enamel or cast iron pot, and a thermometer.)
As always, you can enter up to three times. One, just leave a comment. Two, become a follower and leave a comment saying you've done so. And three, share this post (your Blog, Twitter, Facebook, a forum, etc) and leave another comment telling me!
I'll leave this contest open until Saturday the 19th, around noonish.
Good luck!

Hand Dying Yarn 101

A great and creative activity!

You can e-mail me for a pdf at natalie@nantucketknitter.com
You will need:
- a teaspoon
- a big enamel or cast iron pot
- a thermometer
- white, cream or light coloured wool yarn
- dye
- citric acid

STEP ONE: Wash yarn. Follow washing instructions on yarn.
STEP TWO: Fill large enamel or stainless steel pot with warm water, you want it about 100 degrees. Tap water should be sufficient. Add yarn and soak for fifteen minutes.

STEP THREE: Dissolve between 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (depending on how intense you want the color) dye in a small paper cup with warm water, and add dissolved dye to yarn bath. Stir to incorporate, and soak for ten minutes.

STEP FOUR: Slowly raise temperature to 175 degrees F, and soak at consistent 175 for ten minutes.
STEP FIVE: Add one teaspoon of citric acid and stir to dissolve. Slowly raise temperature and stir until water is cleared. If water is not cleared in a few minutes add another teaspoon of citric acid. If the water is almost clear, by the time the water is cool, it should be clear.

STEP FIVE: Once water is clear, remove pot from heat immediately. Let cool, then rinse with cold water and let the yarn dry.
CONGRATS! You have now dyed yarn!

A great yarn dying kit to start with

(This last picture was dyed one solid color following these instructions, and then it was repeated again on half of the yarn sing a darker color. It produces a long striping pattern.)
Photos © Natalie Gonzalez

Halfway There

Something New - Dying Yarn

I accidently linked to this post for this week's favorite thing Friday. This one was last week's! click here for this week's post!
Today, I took my first foray into hand dying yarn. It's something I have been thinking a lot about lately, and after much research and some investment, I took the leap. If you care to, follow along as I dye my first yarn!

My 462 yards of bare yarn, out of the washing machine. This particular yarn is machine washable and dryable, so that step was super easy and quick.

The yarn before it went into the machine. Tying it like that was hugely unneccassary, as it just unwound itself. I was planning on doing two, but I was worn out after one, so left it at that.

The two dyes I used (purple and blue) and some citric acid.

Soaking in the pot at 100 degress F for ten minutes.

The blue dye dissolved in some warm water.

After soaking at 100 degrees, the dissolved dye was added. The temp was raised to 175 for another ten minutes. I used a chopstick to stir everything.

Once it has soaked at consistant 175 for ten, citric acid is added. The temp is then slowly raised, until the bath is cleared, or mostly cleared.

After the citric acid was added.

I really wanted a yarn with more than one color, but I'm not quite ready for handpainting. So I decided to cross my fingers and repeat the process again with just one half of the yarn.

The purple side being dyed.

Once the dye bath is clear, let it cool. Once cool, rinse, and then let dry! Yay! Yarn!

I made one little mistake. I decided since the yarn was machine dryable, that instead of letting it air dry, I would just pop it in the machine with my clothes that were being washed anyways. Well, I don't think this would have even been a problem at all, but I forgot to turn the temp to low. So it felted a wee little bit.

But once it was peeled apart and wound in a ball, it's not even noticable! And I know not to do it again.
All in all, I am so proud of myself. These pictures honestly don't do the color justice. The dye was awesome, and organic too!
So all of this inspired a giveaway! Enter here!

Dying instructions The dye kit I bought

White Wool Commuter

This week I am working for the first time on some mitts with folded cuffs.>

I have so much Cascade 220 in my stash, it's great to use some on a relatively easy project. Commuter Fingerless Mitts

I am linking up to a new linky party I found: