The details:
This is a one-size-fits-most pattern, but it is easy to make it smaller or larger- just knit the bands a little longer or shorter, as needed. It's easy to hold it around your head while still on the needles to ensure a good fit. I knit this on two (4mm (US 6) dpns. The bow is knit flat, seamed, and sewn onto the headband with just a few stitches at each bow end to keep it attached.

Yarn: 1 skein of Tanis Fiber Arts Yellow Label DK weight (it will take approximately half a skein, so you can make two!) in 'Brick' 

Needles: 4mm (US 6)

And of course, a tapestry needle and a button for the back closure.



You know, when my cousin first requested the headband, I was really dubious- I just couldn't imagine how a big bow could look... grown up. But the trick is proportion- the bow isn't too big and showy, and it's not too small and twee. Positioning it on the side gives this headband a lot more 1920s style, I think. My cousin was right- a headband with a bow IS awesome.

Pattern: Lavish Baby Booties

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere (the blue ones) and Koigu painter's Palette Premium merino (yellow)

Mods: The blue ones are exactly as the pattern, but the yellow are just the stockinette version of the same pattern.

Notes: I feel like this would be much better knit in a DK weight yarn, as the 4mm needles seemed a little large for the fingering weight, but then again, I bet that gives the booties some extra stretch for when those little feet start growing quickly.



I knit the blue booties first,but wasn't sure how I felt about the garter stitch. So I experimented with the stockinette, and I think I really like both of them- for different reasons. I am planning on embroidering the yellow ones, but I was thinking of putting her name on them. So... I won't be doing that until after she's born. ;)

For the first time ever, I haven't heard back from any of the people I've contacted for a Mod Monday. I'm sorry, guys!! I'm sure I'll hear back from the knitters I've contacted soon. In the meantime, may I beg forgiveness with cookie?

G calls these the best oatmeal cookies in the world... and I'm going to go ahead and agree with him.


First, let's make sure our expectations are in line. First up- these are plain, old fashioned, no-frills oatmeal cookies. There are no chocolate chips. It's not a fancy cookie. But hot damn, they are perfection. if you like a classic oatmeal cookie, then this is the cookie for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats*
• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla
• pinch off salt
• 1 cup golden raisins 

* The oats need to be rolled oats- not the weird, quaker oats flaked stuff that looks like it's been swept up off the floor of a processing plant. This really affects the texture.
  
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F (190C) 
2. In a bowl, mix together rolled oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. 
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in egg, vanilla and molasses. 
5. Stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until combined, add raisins. 
6. Shape into 2 inch balls and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet. 
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
8. Try not to eat them all at once. 

That's it!

Pattern: Adelia Mitts

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Purple Label Cashmere Sock in Sand and Spruce

Needles: 3.25 (US 3)

Mods: None.

Notes: Hooray for mittens! These are the softest pair of mittens I've ever worn. They are part of the TFA January KAL, and I think the last of my KAL FOs, even though I also wanted to knit the matching cowl. I love these mittens- stranded mittens are perfect for extra warmth, and they are sooo soft. Did I mention the soft?! Soft. Anyway. I digress.

I also have some bump photos! Because hey, mittens look good on a baby bump, I think. I'm also pleased that there are lots of cool textured buildings around our new place, so it's given me lots of neat places to plan for future FO shots.

 I'm participating/moderating the Tanis Fiber Arts January Knit/Crochet Along, which is happening over in the Ravelry Group thread. The official kick off was January 1st, and crafters are challenged to complete a project before midnight on January 31st. I've got a few projects lined up for this KAL, and the first finished is the Prism Shawl in the Jewel Colourway (Red Label).

I didn't make any modifications, although the pattern is more of a recipe than a hard and fast set of rules to knit by, which I enjoy. As for the yarn, you know me- I can't get enough of single ply goodness!! I'm loving how the red label knits up, it's sooo soft. And the colour is amazing. There is something so wonderfully luxe and yet rustic about single ply yarns, I find them addictive.

Original Pattern: #09 Lace Dress

Knitter Extraordinaire: Amanda (Ravelry ID)

Mods:  Used stockinette on the body instead of garter stitch, reworked armholes, tightened up the neckline, ans added a different trim to the hem. Project page with great instructions on the knitted edging can be found here.

What Makes This Awesome: Sometimes a whole knitted dress can be a bit of a investment, not just of time, but of yarn as well. But changing it up into a beautiful top is a great alternative. This top is the perfect summer modification- it's breezy and a great mix of knitting and crochet, and I'm really impressed with the gorgeous results!

• Paula said... I really love Pikkuapila and Vammus. They're both lovely!

Thanks so much everyone for participating! It's always exciting when there are three chances to win.

As for me, I've been doing a fair bit of knitting lately, but not a lot of photo taking. But recently we did get these photos:


I needed a new slouchy hat.  Of course there are already loads of slouchy hat patterns out there, but hey- surely we've got room for one more? This hat is a very quick knit, super comfy, and perfect for hand-dyed or variegated yarns. The pattern is getting ready for formatting, and then it'll be going live! For those of you who are interested in the Strada Winter Headband pattern, don't worry- It'll go live in the next couple of weeks.I'm trying to keep things in order around here, otherwise it'll never get done!

 I recently heard about Hold Your Needles 1 and Hold Your Needles 2, two remarkable pattern collections
from Finnish designers Mari Muinonen and Suvi Simola. The first collection has 12 patterns and the second collection has 10 patterns, all for very reasonable download prices. Both collections feature lots of texture and many have gorgeous (I mean, really) cable details.

Hold Your Needles 1 has a great mix of patterns, including two for men, two hat/mitts combo patterns, and  some for kids/babies. Most of the patterns call for heavier weights of yarn, which helps them knit up really fast, as well as keeping you and your loved ones nice and toasty warm.


My personal favourites from Hold Your Needles 1:

 Clockwise from top left: Lumme, Muikkuset, Reha, Muffeli

Hold Your Needles 2  maintains a similar design aesthetic, focusing on the heavier weights of yarn that knit up quickly, as well as lots of rich texture and beautiful cables.You really need to click on over to Mai to check out the amazing details (and it's grown up version, Juuli)- those pockets are amazing!

My personal favourites from Hold Your Needles 2:
Clockwise from top left: Paju, Friika, Kiedo, Mai

Both of these collections are filled with thoughtful details and clever designs, and when you look at the FOs from other knitters, you can see they have consistently strong results- which is extremely important! It's easy to have great pattern photos, but the proof of a great pattern is in it's ability to deliver consistent results. 

Suvi and Mari have very generously offered to do a giveaway- 3 lucky winners will receive the e-pattern books for both Hold Your Needles 1 and 2! Just leave a comment on this post telling me which is your favourite pattern from 1 AND 2 (so- you're telling me the names of 2 patterns, one from each collection). The deadline for entering is Thursday, January 19th at midnight (12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time). I'll announce the three lucky winners on Friday- good luck everyone!

Original Pattern: Anjeli

Knitter Extraordinaire: Jen (Ravelry ID, blog) 

Mods: Jen did a lace repeat on every row (instead of every other row) for a portion of the scarf, which created this new look. Project page with full details can be found here.

What Makes This Awesome: Sometimes you misread a pattern and get a very different result, which can be either disastrous or serendipitous. This is an amazing incarnation of the latter- a happy accident of misreading the lace chart had Jen knitting the lace on both the right and wrong sides, which gave gave a totally different shape and a lacier, airy texture. The result is so different from the original, yet absolutely stunning!

 
Original Pattern: Kalajoki Socks

Knitter Extraordinaire: Annabel (Ravelry ID)

Mods: Using the design for the socks as a stepping stone, Annabel created these great-fitting arm warmers. Project page with great details on her mods can be found here.

What Makes This Awesome: I'm always quick to say that a great sock pattern can be modified into an arm warmer pattern, but the truth is it requires a little more math than that to get a good fit through the arm and wrist. Annabel did a superb job with these mitts- they look comfortable, cozy, and great-fitting. I love the placement of the design, and the thumb gusset looks perfect. These are beautiful mitts!!

The Pink Grapefruit Cowl and Mitts pattern is now for sale!! This was the exclusive pattern I developed last spring for the  2011 Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour (my month was May).Now that 2011 is over, the pattern is publicly available for $4 (you get both the cowl and mitts patterns together in the download).
Included in the pattern is a video tutorial link on how to 'unravel' the dropped stitches portion, so you can see exactly how it works for the cowl. The mitts include two sizes.

This is my first time adding a not-free pattern to Ravelry, so I wasn't sure how to link both the Cowl and Mitts. If anyone knows of a better way, please let me know!



The cowl is more of a necklace style, and is surprisingly warm and wearable. I know it looks more decorative than warm but somehow it just works and is indeed cozy (although I imagine if you use cotton yarn, not so cozy). I knit it again later that summer in blue, using a full skein (220 yards):


I really love both the cowl and mitts, and I hope you do too!

Original Pattern: Melody's Shawl

Knitter Extraordinaire: Sachiko (Ravelry ID)

Mods: The clever construction of this pattern intends for the item to be worked in the round and then cut open like a scarf- Sachiko decided to keep it 'uncut' for a modern and stunning infinity scarf.  Project page can be found here.


What Makes This Awesome: I love how Sachiko transformed this clever scarf into an infinity scarf, it's a great idea that could be done with lots of other scarves, as well- even if it is knit more conventionally, a provisional cast on could be used and ends could be grafted together. But this one really shines for it's simplicity, and requires a really beautiful yarn to pull it off- her choice of the Malabrigo Lace in 'Paris Night' (a truly amazing colourway) really sets off the knit. I want one just like it!

My 2011 knitting goals were to have 28 FOs and design 3 new patterns. I did hit my design goal:

*These were exclusive for the Tanis Fiber Arts 2011 Year in Colour Club, but will be for sale in January!

I fell short of my overall FO goal, with only 22 FOs, and I didn't even photograph one of them yet (it was a Stockholm Scarf that I gave to a friend for Christmas, and I wrapped it up the second it was dry) Here are the 21 I did get photographed:

 

Pattern: Oak Grove

Yarn: Becoming Art Cielo Sport

Needles: 3.25 mm dpns (US 3)

Mods: None.

Notes: these are such pretty mitts, the oak leaf design is really exceptional, and the technique gives it a raised look. My only wish is that I had reduced the stitches around the wrist- I have scrawny little bird wrists (5.5" circumference) , and there is a bit more room in them than I typically need. It would have been easy, too- just decreased about 6 stitches shortly after the ribbing from the stockinette portion, and added them back in when approaching the thumb hole round. But how can you argue with the results?

These photos were taken shortly after Christmas at my parent's home, where the local temperatures were -17 C without the wind chill. Going coat-less meant the photos had to be done in 2 mins or less!

Original Pattern: Textured Knots


Knitter Extraordinaire: Claudia (Ravelry ID)


Mods: used the great stitch design of the original blanket pattern to create a totally different pullover inspired by it. Her project page with more photos can be found here.


What Makes This Awesome: I love the details, the way the cables for the knots are used to elongate the shape of the sweater for a flattering fit. it would have been easy to go a bit overkill and have knots all over from cuff to neck to hem, but the design elements are right on key.  It's a stunning knit, and also pretty impressive to turn a blanket into a sweater!