Tag: Hitchhiker

A Friday Finish!

On By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Scarf, Uncategorized12 Comments

IMG_8895

I finally finished knitting something!  It’s a Hitchhiker.

I could tell you (again) how the Hitchhiker is the best scarf pattern ever.  I could tell you I love the color.  I could tell you about manually striping a solid and variegated yarn to break up the pooling even more.

 

I could tell you how happy I am to have frogged this yarn from a different project to reclaim it for one.  I could sing the praises of neon green.  I could tell you it’s perfect timing because Fogust is arriving in style, it’s super foggy this week.

IMG_8896

I could tell you it took me 15 movies to knit this.  I could even give you reviews of those movies.

Unfortunately, I’m short on time, heading to another movie.  With no knitting?!?  For my next trick, I will be crocheting in the dark!  I’ll let you know how it goes!

WIP Wednesday

On By FogKnitsIn Casting On, Scarf, Sweater11 Comments

IMG_8423

After months of threatening, my next sweater is, finally, on the needles!  It doesn’t look like much yet but it’s gonna be perfect!  I can say this with authority because it’s a nearly identical copy of my last sweater.

IMG_6559

The pattern is Vivido by Carol Feller.  It’ll be my fourth one.  It’s a cardigan with raglan shaping and a shallow v-neck.  Nothing fancy, just a sweater that is comfortable and looks good.  It’s easy knitting and easy math when doing gauge conversions.  I really couldn’t ask for more.  Unless maybe someone wants to knit it for me?  :)

As for the yarn, I’m keeping the same stripes (Noro Rainbow Roll) but changing the main color (unspun Icelandic Plutolopi) from brown to navy blue.  I’m actually expecting it to be significantly different.  You never know what’s going to happen with Noro stripes, after all.  I can’t wait to see it develop…the ‘stripes make you knit faster’ phenomenon has definitely kicked in!  I’m making good progress.

Of course, I am easily distracted and this also fell onto my needles yesterday…

IMG_8427

It’s been 3 months since I knit a Hitchhiker.  It’s definitely time for another one!  This is my 15th Hitchhiker, one of nearly 30,000 on Ravelry.  I assume you already know how awesome this pattern is but in case you don’t…it’s awesome.  There are literally 29,670 Hitchhiker projects on Ravelry.  Imagine the people who don’t maintain Rav Notebook pages?!?  There could be 50,000 Hitchhikers in the world!  It’s amazing!  That’s just how perfect it is.

Here’s the pitch, just in case you need it…

It’s garter stitch, gotta love no purls!  The pattern is committed to memory easily.  It’s perfect for difficult yarn…that variegated skein you just couldn’t resist but turns into a horrible nightmare every time you attempt to knit with it.  The Hitchhiker’s continually growing rows in combination with the garter stitch tame those hard to use yarns.  From horrible pooling and clown barf to lovely scarf in no time at all.  And, perhaps most important, it’s easy to wear and always looks great.

Be warned though:  this is knitter’s crack.  You will be hooked.  Once is not enough.  The addiction is real.  ;)

 

 

FO Thursday – Surprise Yellow

On By FogKnitsIn Scarf9 Comments

Who’s ready for the weekend?  We’re kicking things off early here at FogKnits headquarters!  There’s been so much FO’ing this week, that Friday can’t contain it all.

First off the needles this week, a new Hitchhiker. 

IMG_6523

There are over 29,000 Hitchhikers on Ravelry.  That’s a staggering number.  Sure, 14 of them are mine.  Obviously, I get the fandom with this particular scarf.  Still…29,000!!  That’s incredible!  Imagine how big that pile would be!! Wow!

This particular Hitchhiker is special because it’s striped…

IMG_6525

…and I only had to weave in two ends!?!  Seriouesleeeeeeeee!  Love that!  This is another self striping skein of shawl yarn from Gauge Dye Works.  And it’s a Merino-Cashmere-Nylon (MCN) blend.  It’s so soft.  I just want to put my face on it and take a nap.

IMG_6524

I don’t usually go for yellow.  Actually, I never go for yellow.  I hate yellow.  If I had an arch nemesis, it would definitely be yellow.  I didn’t pick this yarn.  It came to me in a swap.  I reluctantly accepted it’s yellowness.  I begrudgingly knit it, only because I was unable to re-trade it for a better color.

So, of course, despite all my protests, it turns out, this Hitchhiker is just exactly what my wardrobe needs.  Stupid yellow.

It’s perfect for pretty much every outfit I own.  Every one.  A zing of yellow really peps up my sea of blues and greens so I’m giving it a try.  We’ll see how it goes.  I may be won over.  I mean, At least it’s not pink!

 

 

FO Friday – Marled Hitchhiker

On By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Scarf10 Comments

My latest Hitchhiker is finished!  Lucky Hitchhiker number 13 for me!

If you aren’t familiar with the Hitchhiker Scarf, you’re missing out!!  It’s the most wearable scarf, that’s easy to knit, perfect for on-the-go and social knitting and, if that’s not enough, it tames even the craziest of rainbow clown barf variegations!  It’s perfect!

I’ve done a lot of variations over the years.  Seed Stitch.  Eyelets.  Eyelets with Beads. Big One.  Little One.  Sparkly One.   This is my first marled Hitchhiker though!

2017-03-16_18-11-33_486

I’m quite pleased.  The yarn is Anzula’s Haiku.  Instead of an MCN (merino cashmere nylon) blend, it’s an MBN…merino/bamboo/nylon.  It’s soft and warm but hasn’t made me drip sweat yet!  The garter stitch gives the fabric a delightful squish and holding the yarn double only adds to that.  This is all came together so perfectly!

I predict this scarf becomes a staple as Fog Season approaches!

 

Shawl Progress

On By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP6 Comments

All this talk of sweaters, you may have forgotten about the pile of shawls I’ve got in progress.  There’s still a long way to go but I’ve made sizable dents!

With so much fabric scrunched up on the needles, it can be hard to tell what’s going on.  I think I’ve got some visible progress though.

Of course, this one is new all together.

It’s a Hitchhiker.  The yarn is Anzula, Haiku.  I had a different plan for this yarn.  A plan that didn’t pan out.  I was holding the yarn double then.  And so, now, I must also hold the yarn double.  Frogging a project back into single skeins after it’s been held double is a serious pain in the butt.  I picked the easy solution, winding it double as I unraveled my work.   While that decision limited my options going forward, it’s also created an amazing squishy lovely huggable fabric.   Plus, I haven’t knit a Hitchhiker in 5 months?!?  I was way overdue!

My Dotted Rays – Doodler mash up has made some lovely progress.  I’ve added a few new stripes to this WIP, which is quite a task given how long the rows have gotten.  I still have plenty of scraps to add in, so it’s just going to keep going.  Although, it seems I’m heading for the neutral zone.  Not surprising that those are the scraps I reach for last.

2017-03-05_16-21-48_758

I also decided to omit all my variegated scraps.  That’ll be the next one!

The real progress though, and my current favorite, is the Eyeball Shawl.  You can’t really tell it’s an eyeball yet.  It’s going to have a very dramatic reveal at the bind off.  I haven’t dared to look but I’m guess at the point of bind off, it’ll have 650+ stitches.  It’s a lot of fabric.  Even if I can’t spread it out, it’s still lots of fun to photograph!

 

The yarn is MadelineTosh.  Those colors!  I just can’t resist.

With fingers crossed and just a little bit of discipline, I think this could be the next big thing off my needles!  Only time will tell!

 

 

Friday Photo Dump

On By FogKnitsIn Hat9 Comments

Here’s all the random photos I’ve been collecting on my desktop.  I’m cleaning up and getting rid of this clutter!  (because digital cleaning is so much nicer than actual cleaning!)

This is from the short row hat binge two weeks back.  I like the colors, I like the shaping, I like the fit, I like all the wedges, I like the stockinette texture!  I do wish the short rows were just a bit less harsh.  I used the standard wrap and turn for the short rows.  My intention is to try YO short rows and/or German short rows to improve it.  I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.  It’s on the list.  Soon come.

I’m really putting the hiker into this Hitchhiker.  It’s been on the go and making good progress.  This was a particularly photogenic day in Golden Gate Park.  It’s had me wishing I was back in Iceland.  I stood in front of a lot of waterfalls taking selfies wearing that hat in Iceland!

Several days later, the sun came out briefly.  I had to run and hide in the nearest bar I could find.  And this happened…

warriors

What you don’t see is the Golden State Warriors logo, painted on the window next to the Warriors graphic you do see.  The whole Warriors mashup has always tickled my fancy, so shadows and the garter ridges lining up just right and then there’s that weird green dot?  It must be a fairy.  I don’t think there could be any other explanation for it?

14280574_161118000997426_884981165_n_medium2

and then, my mom painted me a sock blank!  I can’t wait to get started!  I’m trying to talk myself into socks but it’s not going well.  I think it needs to become something that will be seen!  I want to see these colors!

And then, Rocky didn’t get mad when I forced him to be a pom pom photo prop.  He didn’t help much though.

p5

And then, Trillium Sequoia’s birth announcement showed up with this photo.  Trillium is the white flower on the hat, the pinecones are from a Sequoia.  The whole thing is just so sweet!  I find it irresistible.  And they did a very nice job of hiding just how huge the hat really it.  I don’t really know how big babies are?  She’ll be growing into it soon enough.  Perhaps a dress to match?  (this is how I end up with 10 projects on the needles…)

I have done a little de-cluttering around the house.  I came across a bag of stuff from my cross stitching days.  I always wanted the back to be clean.  Looking at it now, I’m completely impressed with myself.  I don’t have the patience or focus for it anymore.  Every time I try to cross stitch now, I fling it down out of total boredom and disinterest in about 9 minutes.  I loved it once upon a time though. How else do I explain that pheasant??

And with that, my desktop is clear and it’s time to start the weekend!  Hope you have a good one :)

FO Monday – Beaded Hitchhiker

On By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Scarf22 Comments

IMG_8237

In the ramp up to the Ravellenic Games, I finished my Unicorn Fart Hitchhiker with beads!  You get to see it today because I’m saving Friday for my Ravellenic sweater!  Oh yes, the games started last Friday and the goal of the Sweater Triathlon is to knit a sweater in 17 days.  That seems like such a long time though.  I’m thinking of this more like a Sweater Sprint!  (obviously, I chose the chunky yarn on size 11 needles!)  But enough about that…

The base pattern here is the Hitchhiker.  I assume we’re all familiar with it’s awesomeness.  I’m a big fan, this is my 10th Hitchhiker.  As such, I’ve got a string of fun modifications up my sleeve.  This iteration employs the eyelet row mod and takes it a step further by adding beads.

It’s a ton of beads.  I hadn’t thought of the weight it would add.  Ultimately, I enjoy the extra weight.  In addition to beautiful drape, it really helps the garment stay put.  A happy accident, indeed!

The beads –the rainbow beads!– alone don’t make this scarf though.  No, this is about the double rainbow.  The yarn is rainbow as well…Unicorn Farts!

IMG_4063

YES!  and, to make it just a little more special, it’s not just fun rainbow yarn, it’s fun rainbow yarn that my Mom dyed for me!  Naturally, I’d been saving it for something special.

Mission accomplished!  I’m pleased with this one!

(Of course, I’d still make one small change next time.  I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.  I think maybe it’s a little too much, next time I’ll be K2Tog tbl.  I think that’ll give me a nice edge without that little bit of flare.  Or perhaps the Icelandic Bind Off, another bind off that has give without flare.   I’m not Type A enough to redo this one though.  Plus, I’ve got more pressing issues…like knitting an entire sweater in 7 days!  Check back for the unveiling later this week!!)

WIP Wednesday – Current Favs

On By FogKnitsIn Scarf, Shawl, WIP16 Comments

IMG_7958

The reality of 10 WIPs at once is most of them are actually being ignored.  The proverbial time out corner.  The back of the chair is the stuff that will most likely get finished.  The green project bags are my favorite to carry, so you’re likely to find my most active projects in them.  Today is no exception!

 

First, my beaded Hitchhiker…nearing the end!  The beads are an interesting modification to a classic design.  The workflow suits me, 6 mindless garter rows, a (yo, k2tog) row and then one row of focused attention adding the beads.  It’s been more of a go-to project than I expected.  I’m up to 32 teeth and I haven’t run out of beads yet.  I’m currently betting the yarn will run out first.   The end is in sight, either way!

 

The other project getting love this week, my Rockefeller.  It was on a bit of a hiatus but it’s happily back in business!

I’m currently slogging away on the 300+ stitch i-cord bind off.  Worth the effort but worthy of a little gripe too!  An hour at the beach the other day, an hour at knit night, an hour this morning…persistance is paying off.  I WILL get there.  And the next section tapers into a point…no bind off!  So I’m just getting the obligatory complaint out now :)  (don’t worry, I’m still saving the ‘oy! look at all these ends to weave complaint’ for later! )  The yarn is Sylph from Jade Sapphire, a cashmere-linen blend!  There will be no complaints when I’m finally wearing this one!

The Ravellenic Games (aka the knitting olympics) begin Friday, I’m fairly certain I can make it until then without casting on something new.  :)

 

 

Rebirth

On By FogKnitsIn Scarf, Uncategorized, WIP9 Comments

IMG_7721

I couldn’t resist, once I frogged the unfortunate project, the yarn just jumped back on the needles!

IMG_7725

And so, a new Hitchhiker was born!  There are almost 25,000 Hitchhikers on Ravelry?!?  That’s a lot of garter stitch!  This is my 10th Hitchhiker, so obviously, I get the fandom!  The Hitchhiker is certainly worthy of all it’s praise.

That said, I still love discovering new ways to modify the pattern.  My last Hitchhiker incorporated a row of eyelets on row 8.   I’m taking that modification one step further this time.  I’m beading each K2tog from row 8 on row 1.

IMG_7742

Rainbow on rainbow action!  I’m loving it!  Of course, I’m still setting myself up for problems down the line.  I’m most certainly going to run out of beads before I run out of yarn.  Oh well.  I can’t get more so I’m knowingly accepting this problem.

I’ve also created a right side and a wrong side–or at least a beaded side and a side with no beads.  I’m okay with that too.   In the end, anything is better than curling stockinette.