November 26 Progress Update

It has been a very long time since we last updated our numbers on knitting. We have not been knitting quite as quickly and fervently as we were before. However, we are still making some progress. Here are the latest totals.

As normal you will see an update of how many projects we have completed, started, or are still waiting to be started. If a project is still waiting it may have a name next to it. Some may not because a few of them we are going to decide on later. As in previous update posts if the project name is colored pink it is in progress by Brittany and if colored green it is in progress by Em. If the project name is colored and crossed out that means it is completed. We will also have Pattern Entries linked next to each project as we update the blog with our evaluations and input on each pattern.

Our original goal, as many of you know, was to have the whole book completed in time for the New Year. However, with only a month to go and another 23 projects to complete, we do not think this will be a reality. Instead we are hoping to have 5 more projects completed by the end of December. This will leave us with just 18 projects to finish in 2012. Now, taking into account that most of the projects we have left are scarves, our new goal will be to finish by June 2012. Though the book is called 60 Quick Knits it is very rare to have quick knit scarf of any kind. We still have about 8 of them left to do! Yikes! Happy knitting! :) Brittany & Em

As of November 26, 2011:
37/60 Projects - Completed
11/60 Projects - Works In Progess
12/60 Projects - Waiting to be Started

Pattern #1 Chain-Link Scarf

Pattern #2 Cable Brim Tam - Project Entry

Pattern #3 Waffle Mittens - Project Entry

Pattern #4 Puppy Mittens - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #5 Tweed Watch Cap - Project Entry

Pattern #6 Tied Rectangle Wrap

Pattern #7 Embroidered Mittens - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #8 Lion Scarf

Pattern #9 Monkey Hat (Em)

Pattern #10 Diagonal Stripes Hat - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #11 Wave Scarf - Project Entry

Pattern #12 Cables & Wraps Scarf

Pattern #13 Ribbed Wristers - In Progress Project Entry

Pattern #14 Zigzag Scarf

Pattern #15 Striped Bobbled Hat (Brittany)

Pattern #16 Ribbed Bonnet (Em)

Pattern #17 Plaid Mittens - Project Entry

Pattern #18 Striped Graduated Scarf - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #19 Twisted Toque - Project Entry

Pattern #20 Textured Triple-Stripe Scarf (both)

Pattern #21 Birdcage Mittens

Pattern #22 Bobbles & Cables Cap - Project Entry

Pattern #23 Smocked Fingerless Mitts - Project Entry

Pattern #24 Mitered Scarf - Project Entry

Pattern #25 Ribbed Keyhole Scarf - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #26 Basketweave Scarf - Project Entry

Pattern #27 Scalloped-Edge Beanie - Project Entry

Pattern #28 Reverse Stockinette Mittens - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #29 Cupcake Hat (Brittany)

Pattern #30 Eyelet Scarf

Pattern #31 Garter-Ridged Hat (Brittany)

Pattern #32 Garter-Stitch Neck Wrap - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #33 Pocket Cap - Project Entry

Pattern #34 Checkered Mittens - Project Entry

Pattern #35 Textured Tam - Project Entry

Pattern #36 Leaf Scarf - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #37 Mock Cable Wristers - In Progress Project Entry Completed Project Entry

Pattern #38 Garter-Ridged Scarf - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #39 Cables & Stripes Mittens - Project Entry

Pattern #40 Tweed Mittens - Project Entry

Pattern #41 Pocket Scarf - Project Entry

Pattern #42 Ribbed Pillbox - Project Entry

Pattern #43 Octopus Mittens (Brittany)

Pattern #44 Tasseled Topper - Project Entry

Pattern #45 Bunny Mittens - Project Entry

Pattern #46 Leaf-Lace Gauntlets - In Progress Project Entry

Pattern #47 Striped & Ruffled Wrap (both)

Pattern #48 Starfish Hat - Project Entry

Pattern #49 Slip-Stitched Hat - Project Entry

Pattern #50 Ruffled Scarf

Pattern #51 Cabled-Cuff Mittens - In Progress Project Entry Completed Project Entry

Pattern #52 Cabled Scarf Hat - In Progress Project Entry Completed Project Entry

Pattern #53 Two-Color Slip-Stitched Hat - Project Entry

Pattern #54 Twisted-Rib Hat (Em)

Pattern #55 Triple-Cable Scarf

Pattern #56 Flip-Top Mittens - Project Entry = Coming Soon

Pattern #57 Drop-Stitch Neck Wrap

Pattern #58 Spotted Fair Isle Mittens

Pattern #59 Hugs & Kisses Mittens - In Progress Project Entry Completed Project Entry

Pattern #60 Scandinavian Mittens

Pattern #19 Twisted Toque

Good Day Everybody, Em is here!!

Today I write to you about my very first knitting project from this book...the Twisted Toque.

That's right, this is the pattern that got Brittany to fall in love with the book and purchase it.  (I got it from falling in love with the book from my friend Donna.)

I made the first version of this hat in 2009 (way back in the day when Brittany and I shared a room at Saint Norbert College) for the Green Bay Girl Choir.   When I made the hat then, I had to restart it twice because I had a hard time getting the pattern to twist.  Once I was able to, I knit the hat in less than 24 hours.  However, I didn't take any photos of the ha.  I have no idea why.  The hat has been donated and I have not been able to track down the person who has the hat.  But let me tell you, that hat was pretty awesome.  I used Lion Brand yarn to make the hat.  Since the hat was for kids, I wanted a simple durable yarn.

Well, a few of us on the 60 Quick Knits site decided to do a knit along.  The results were awesome...we all managed to get our hat to twist!

Here is what I think the secret is to the twisting...the M1!  I know a few times I forgot to make that stitch, and in result, the pattern would not shift to the side.  The stitches in this hat fall into place very easily.  You knit or purl what you see and then make one at the end of the 12 stitch repeat.   I promise you, if you do the M1 your pattern will twist!   It will take a few rounds (and when I mean few I mean about 10 or so) before you can see the actual twist.

One of the knitters that made the project in the KAL said that she did not knit the full length.  This was because she did not want the hat to become "too slouchy."  This makes sense, especially if one is a looser knitter.   I did the same thing: my hat has a 3 inch brim and a 5 inch pattern before the decrease.

Another knitter stated she did not care for the hat because it was "too pointy."  (You can see that pointy-ness in the photo below)

The decreasing on the top of the hat is more slanted than other hats in the 60 Quick Knits.  Many of the other hats have a k round between decreases.  However, this one just decreased from 96 sts to 8 sts in a matter of 13 rounds.  This may seem like a lot, but I have made other hats that had twice as long to decrease the same number of stitches (aka. the Tasseled Topper hat).

There are no errors in this pattern.  It is a great, simple, fun knit that everybody should try!

I used Misti Alpaca for this project, sorry Cascade...I was craving orange alpaca!

E

Pattern #44 Tasseled Topper

Hey Everybody it is Em!!!

I am pleased to announce that I have finished the Tasseled Topper...pattern #44 in the 60 Quick Knits Book! I am making this hat for my grandma!

I knitted this hat with a size 8 (then a size 9 because my needle broke). I used Cascade Eco+ to make the hat.

This knit was a fast knit...it only took me three days to make. What I found interesting was the pattern itself. There is a cable in the middle of the hat. However, after a few rows, we stop making the cable and start knitting and purling instead. The knitting and purling combination made the hat "stumpier" so I added about 15 extra rounds to the hat. Many people on Rav said that the hat was way too short.

I found my hat to be way too "spacy." I cannot stand how some of the hats in this book are A/too short and B/too loose. They don't feel comfortable and therefore end up in the bottom part of my closet. This hat is very loose, but it covers the ears. It will also be perfect for my grandma because she likes her hair to have space underneath her hat.

The cable was not what I expected. The back of the cable looks cooler than the actual cable. I thought that it was strange to do it that way. Since the cable was only knit with 22 rounds you only cable twice.
At first, I thought I was messing up the cabled pattern. It just did not look right and the photo did not help me. The photo is taken at a strange angle, which makes it difficult to know if I'm doing it right or not. I ended up looking at pictures on Ravelry and then decided I was doing it right.

There were no errors in the pattern...at least none that I found.

That's all for now!!!! I'm working on a few more patterns from 60 Quick Knits...I hope to post more very soon!

Em