Cable headband

Chunky Cable headband.

Using 10mm needles and super chunky/super bulky yarn (I used Araucania Limari) cast on 4sts using cable cast on (this gives a slightly firmer edge but you can use any cast on you prefer).

Increase section

Row 1:  k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 2:  Inc 1 in 1^st st, k1, p1, inc 1 in last st.

Row 3:  *P1, k1, rep from * to end

Row 4:  Inc 1 in 1^st st, p1, k1, p1, k1, inc 1 in last st

Row 5:  *k1, p1, rep from *to end

Row 6:  Inc 1 in 1^st st, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, inc 1 in last st

Row 7:  *p1, k1, rep from * to end

Row 8:  Inc 1 in 1^st st, *p1, k1, rep from * to last st, inc 1 in last st

Row 9:  *k1, p1, rep from * to end

Row 10: Inc 1 in 1^st st, *k1, p1, rep from * to last st, inc 1 in last st

Row 11: *p1, k1, rep from * to end

Row 12: Inc 1 in 1^st st, *p1, k1, rep from * to last st, inc 1 in last st

Row 13: *k1, p1, rep from * to end

You now have 16sts

Commence cable pattern

Cable pattern row 1:  p1, k1, p1, k2, p6, k2, p2, k1

Cable pattern row 2:  k1, p1, holding yarn at back of work sl1 k.wise, bring yarn to front of work p2, k6, p2, holding yarn at back of work sl1 k.wise, k1, p1

Cable pattern row 3:  As cable pattern row 1

Cable pattern row 4:  As cable pattern row 2

Cable pattern row 5:  As cable pattern row 1

Cable pattern row 6:  K1, p1, holding yarn at back of work sli k.wise, bring yarn to front of work p2, C6B, p2, holding yarn at back of work sl1 k.wise, k1, p1

Cable pattern row 7:  As row 1

Cable pattern row 8:  As row 2

These 8 rows form cable pattern. Repeat cable pattern 7 times more then first 2 rows of cable pattern once more.

Decrease section

Decrease row 1:  *p1, k1, rep from * to end

Decrease row 2:  p2tog, *k1, p1, rep from * to last 2sts, k2tog

Decrease row 3:  *k1, p1, rep from * to end

Decrease row 4:  k2tog, *p1, k1, rep from * to last 2sts, p2tog

Decrease row 5:  *p1, k1, rep from * to end

Decrease row 6:  p2tog, *k1, p1, rep from * to last 2 sts, k2tog

Decrease row 7:  *k1, p1, rep from * to end

Decrease row 8:  k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, lift p.st over last k st on right needle, p1, lift k. st over last p.st on right needle, (2 st cast off), k1, p2tog

Decrease row 9:  p1, k1, p1, cast on 2sts, k1, p1, k1

Decrease row 10: p2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2tog

Decrease row 11: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1,

Decrease row 12: k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k2tog

Decrease row 13: p1, k1, p1, k1

Cast off final 4 sts.

Weave in ends and attach button.

But I said I would give away one handknit, from beautiful Araucania wool didn't I? Sixteen names, multiple entries for being a follower or sharing a link, so a long list of names to turn into numbers. How? Well I assigned all comments a number, then I added you onto the list again if you were a follower, and then yet again if you had mentioned that you had linked to the giveaway. This gave me a list of 30 in total, so off to Random.Org I went. And the number that popped up?

Five

Otherwise known as......

Claire from Simply...Life!

So Claire if you email me via the address up on the top right I will get your headband into the post asap.

Thanks everyone for all your comments and I hope the pattern above is compensation for not winning :)

-x-

And on and on and on and on..........

Scarf knitting!

Seems a good idea in theory, maybe less so in reality, huh?

Finished knitting the hat for Owen, plain and simple, all in red, just like the one he showed me:

Matching gloves, quick and easy and all in red again:

Oh dear, another awful picture. And they aren't really that twisted honest, besides, what's the point in blocking something that's going to be a snug enclosed fit anyway?

And then it's the turn of the scarf. Still wanting all red, and just like a big boys, so double rib it is. 

Hmm, maybe if I'm really good Santa might bring me a decent camera?

44sts, k2, p2 repeat, 4mm needles..............not a lot else to say is there? 

Fun - no. 

Enjoyable - no comment. 

Mindless - too right. 

Ah well, perfect for knitting whilst watching Harvey. 

Oh what a party girl I am :)

And for when the scarf knitting gets too much....I can flit back to the other one, 90cms done, the same left to do. Gah, winter knits....

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the much quicker, and prettier, winter knit. Pattern being written and hopefully posted by the end of the week.

Enjoy creating everyone.

-x-

Sharing the love.....a giveaway!

Time to move Nan down the page. It's been lovely having her smiling at me each time I logged into these pages. Only thing is I didn't want to move her by posting a new entry. But then it has to be done at some point so how better than sharing some bloggy love?

Inspired by my incredible good fortune at winning Lucy's recent lovely giveaway, I thought I would host a little giveaway of my own. So what could I come up with that you might want? Well it's turning cold here so just the time for something warm and cosy. The time for gifting is also just about here and so I thought something that would make a great stocking filler if you don't want to keep to yourself. And because I so enjoy all your lovely comments I wanted to share something special I have been holding onto for a while.

So here we are a little something crafted from a favourite part of the stash, a yarn that has waited so long for inspiration to hit:

Araucania Limari super bulky 70% merino, 20% alpaca, 10% silk

Only one 100g hank of this in the stash so very much enjoyed for it's softness, and colours, and for the ideas it brought forth.

And so today I grabbed the needles and settled to work. 

Do you want to see what I came up with? 

Of course you do....

What do you think?

Would you like to feel the softness and warmth of this beautiful yarn keeping your ears and head cosy and snug? 

Would you like to own a very much in style but one off accessory?

Or do you know of a special person who might like to find this in her stocking on Christmas morning?

And a big button to combat that annoying habit wool has of stretching over wear.....simply move the button further along! Clever huh?

For your chance of getting your hands on this then all you need do is leave a comment after this post. Open to all who read. If you're a follower then you get a double entry, so go on click that follow button :) If you want to share this giveaway with your own blog readers then link away, and if you do and come back to let me know I'll throw your name in the hat yet again. Hmmm, when to draw? How about one week from today - Sunday 27th November?

The pattern for the headband came straight from my imagination so this is truly a one off although I will be writing the pattern up shortly if there's any interest so if you aren't lucky enough to win you could still make your own in just an hour or two.  Oooh the joys of super bulky yarns......

A sock beginners giveaway.

I have such a lot of unfinished projects. And most of them are socks! I have two pairs on the needles for dear husband, 1 pair for Helen, and 1 pair for Heather. Also have a few more planned. And so I was sorting through these projects earlier and I wondered if other knitters were as fond of knitting socks as I am. Well half pairs anyway.......
So I thought why not spread the sock addiction? And how better than a little giveaway to tempt you all to take up the challenge?
So here you are, a complete sock knitting kit to be had. A set of five 2.5mm DPN's, a ball of Patons cotton 4ply (enough for one pair of adult socks), a really easy to follow pattern, and a handy little sock knitters guide. OK I know the idea of an adult in white socks might be a little bleurgh, but it's great yarn to practise with, you can dye it any colour you wish if you like the finished socks, and best of all...it's free!
So if you want to see what all the sock fuss is about then just leave me a comment before next Monday and the kit could be yours.
xx