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The Air is Different

Yes, the air is different. It has a strange, “not-sweaty” feel to it. I believe we have survived another Texas summer.

The dogs feel it, too. This is their favorite morning sunning spot, but it’s too hot in the summer. They collectively decided that today was the Grand Re-Opening of the Futon.

Tippy looks very dramatic here.

And here’s a very lumpy and bumpy shot of my current project –

This is a new design for a men’s sweater that will soon become a pattern + video tutorial. Keep the requests for videos coming! Now that the weather is cooling, we can get back to a regular shooting schedule.

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Woman’s Zippered Letterman’s Jacket

Could it be? Is the weather really cooling enough so that we can think about wearing hand knits again?

This jacket is knit in a top-down raglan style, but because the sleeves are a different color, it’s knit in pieces and seamed together. In this tutorial we’ll learn how to construct this sweater, seaming, icord edges, working fair isle, working short rows, and installing a zipper. If you live in the Southern US (like me), this might be the only winter jacket you need this year!

This pattern includes links to NINE instructional videos to walk you through the tricky parts of working the pattern. You can view the videos for free at the bottom of this post.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X) To fit actual bust sizes 30 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52). (Note: because this sweater fits like a jacket, there is 4” of positive ease worked into the pattern for each size.)
Needles: size US 7 circular needles in 24” or 32” length, size US 7 16 inch circulars (optional, but awesome to have), size US 7 double pointed needles
Yarn: Any worsted-weight yarn, preferably in wool or a wool blend. Yarn amounts:

    Size XSmall, 550 yards in main color, 340 yards for sleeve color
    Size Small, 580 yards in main color, 360 yards for sleeve color
    Size Medium, 650 yards in main color, 400 yards for sleeve color
    Size Large, 720 yards in main color, 440 yards for sleeve color
    Size XLarge, 780 yards in main color, 480 yards for sleeve color
    Size 2X, 870 yards in main color, 420 yards for sleeve color
    Size 3X, 900 yards in main color, 550 yards for sleeve color

Additional Materials: tapestry needle; scrap yarn; stitch marker; separating zipper; a “knit picker” tool (also called a snag fixer), used for preparing the zipper for installation (this can be purchased inexpensively at just about any craft/sewing store)
Gauge: 20 stitches over 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Pattern + links to 9 instructional videos $10 US via PayPal

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Christmas Gift Ideas

I know I preach this all the time, but I can’t say it enough.

YOU SHOULD ALREADY BE WORKING ON YOUR KNITTED CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

Just think of the great feeling you’ll have when December rolls around, and you have all of your gifts ready. Ahhh. So nice. You can relax and enjoy the holiday instead of getting caught in the mad scramble.

The ideas below are tried and true. I’ve knit and given all of these items as gifts, and they were very well received. They are also pretty quick to knit.

First up – gift ideas from my own pattern library.

Amirah Fingerless Gloves

Mad Men Mittens

Yoga/Pedicure Socks

Christmas Stockings

Earflap Caps

Ida Neck Wrap

And some of my favorite quick-knits from other designers –

French Press Slippers

365 YIP, day 328

Pile-able Pups

Capitan Hat

365 YIP, day 97

Just Enough Ruffles

Just Enough Ruffles

Bella’s Mittens

366days, day 365

Hudson Hat (this is actually a kid-sized hat)

365 YIP, day 20

Fetching Mitts

Fetching in blue with trim

Good luck!

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Brioche Stitch

The Brioche Stitch (or combination of stitches) creates a pretty, flat, double-sided fabric. The video below demonstrates both the one-color and two-color Brioche Stitch. Written instructions are available as a free Ravelry download.

EDITED TO ADD: I get a lot of questions regarding fixing mistakes in Brioche Stitch. Here is a common question, plus my answer below:

Q: Staci, I’ve made a mistake in Brioche Stitch, and I’ve ripped my work back so that I can correct the mistake. I’m having a problem getting the stitches back on the needle. Can you help?

A: Sorry you’re having trouble! Yes, it is very difficult to pick up stitches in Brioche Stitch after you’ve made a mistake, even for an advanced knitter. I recommend that you thread “proactive” lifelines in your work every few inches or so, so that if you do have to rip back, all of your stitches (including yarn-overs) are safely held on the scrap yarn, and easy to pick up again.

It sounds like you’ve already made a mistake. The best thing you can do is to rip back below the mistake, and do your best to pick the stitches back up again on the needle. I’m sorry, there isn’t much more help than this I can offer you without actually helping you fix your work in person. You might also try visiting your local yarn shop for help.
Good luck!

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Still Running

Back in May, I wrote about how I’d started the Couch to 5K (C25K) running program, then in June I mentioned that I was suffering foot pain and had to stop running.

I want to post an update, since I know that some of you (including both of my sisters) have started the program with me.

I stopped running for the month of July, and swam laps instead. I also bought the ugliest pair of shoes I’ve ever owned so that I could run in the pool. My goal was to keep up the routine and the level of conditioning I had achieved so that I could get running on land again ASAP. I didn’t really enjoy swimming. I am a land mammal.


The Ugliest Shoes Ever.

A few weeks ago I decided to give running a try. My foot still hurt, but it had improved some. I started back on Week 1, Day 1 of the program, which involves more walking than running. I honestly didn’t know if I was going to run for 60 seconds, then have to limp home. But I was fine!

Since then, I’ve been moving very gradually through the C25K program. Before my foot injury, I was excited to quickly hit that 5K goal. This time, I’m repeating each week a few times, which seems to be allowing my foot to keep up with the increased impact.

Here in Austin, we’ve had something like 60 days straight of temps over 100 degrees. I think I’ll enjoy running even more when it cools down to, say, a brisk 95 degrees. Ha.

This happy little African dog loves the heat, and doesn’t understand why humans complain about it.

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The Deaf Basenji

I guest blogged today on the Basenji Rescue site about Ike. At 13 years-old, Ike is losing his hearing, but his awesomeness more than makes up for his deafness.

And he’s a handsome devil, to boot.

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Learn to Knit Gloves

No matter what time of year you’re reading this, I have to ask – have you started knitting your Christmas gifts yet? Gloves are a great gift, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly they knit up.

This pattern is for a warm pair of thick gloves. We use size 3 US needles and worsted weight yarn to make learning the techniques easier. After you’ve worked through this pattern, it will be no problem to move on to other, more complicated patterns that use smaller needles and thinner yarn, to make more delicate gloves.

The only required skills are knitting and purling. The pattern includes links to NINE instructional videos that will explain using double-pointed needles, working the thumb gusset with Make 1 stitches, working the fingers, and doing tidy finishing work.

Sizes: Women’s Small (Women’s Medium, Women’s Large/Men’s Small) [Hand circumference 7” (7.5”, 8”)]
Needles: Set of 4 size 3 US double-pointed needles (3.25 mm)
Yarn: Any worsted-weight yarn, preferably wool or wool blend, approx 75 grams (170 yards)
Additional Materials: 2 ring stitch markers, 1 clippie stitch marker or safety pin (optional), tapestry needle, scrap yarn
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette

Pattern + links to 9 instructional videos $8 US via PayPal

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