Friday, August 25, 2006

bulky cabled hat in action!


DSC03276.JPG, originally uploaded by kweaver614.

This is what happens when you try to drain pasta for 20 people while camping. Amazingly even though only maybe 1/3rd of the pasta fit in the strainer at a time we didnt spill much. Perhaps even more exciting, the next photo in the series features an action shot of my long-johned butt..



DSC03277.JPG, originally uploaded by kweaver614.




(photos by karrie)

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

one year later

Its one year to the day since I moved back to California...

then
IMG_0863

now (in all its messy glory)
DSCN2421.JPG

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Super Bulky Cabled Hat


DSCN2008.JPG, originally uploaded by abmatic.



**This blog has moved!** All updates to this pattern can be found at the new site


Its finally here!! The pattern is pasted below, pdf version may be available on email request... If you are looking for more pictures Carmen has made many of these hats in various colors such as these and these.

PATTERN DESCRIPTION
A simple cabled hat made from Super Bulky yarn that is quick but not boring. I think it makes a good first cable project as well. The pattern does a great job showing off the beautiful colors from handpaintedyarn.com although they have recently stopped carrying this yarn (Ive heard that their yarn store line Malabrigo recently picked it up) but I’m sure that similar bulky yarns will work well too. Square brackets indicate the cable section which is twisted on every 5th row. During the Decrease section I will not list the cable twists because it depends on long you want your hat to be. You may wish to continue with the cable into the decrease section and can just add the cable twist in the appropriate row.

MATERIALS
handpaintedyarn.com (or Malabrigo) Super Bulky [wool; 65 yd/ 59m per 100g skein]; color: Green Apple; 1 skein

1 pair US #13/9 mm needles
cable needle, tapestry needle

GAUGE
9 sts/15 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN
CO 48 stitches
Rows 1-4: K48
Row 5: K *K P2 [K4] P2* K2 (right side) repeat from * to *
Row 6: P *P K2 [P4] K2* P2 (wrong side) repeat from * to *
Row 7: same as Row 5
Row 8: same as Row 6
Row 9: K *K P2 [place 2 stitches on cable needle and hold behind work, K2, K2 from cable needle] P2* K2
Repeat rows 6-9 until work is between 6 and 7 inches in length (depending on how long a hat you would like) ending with a right side row.
Decrease Section:
Row D1: P *P K2tog [P4] K2tog* P2 (38 stitches)
Row D2: K *K P [K4] P* K2
Row D3: P *K2tog [P4] K* (4 repeats only!) K2tog [P4] K2tog P (32 stitches)
Row D4: P *P [K4] P* P
Row D5: *K2tog [P4]* K2tog (26 stitches)
Row D6: *P K2tog K2tog* P (16 stitches)
Row D7: *P2tog* (8 stitches)
Cut yarn and draw through remaining stitches and seam (mattress seam works well). You may wish to use a smaller diameter yarn for the seam. Weave in ends and enjoy!
ambatik.blogspot.com


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

swift!


DSCN2075.JPG, originally uploaded by abmatic.

This is a "hollywood yarn reel" in action that I bought at an estate sale. It makes a pretty good swift so long as your skein lenght is pretty standard and i love how simple it is. the four arms are just dowels that stick into the center cog and have a few holes for the posts at the end for different skein lengths. the cog in the middle is held in place by another dowel that sticks into the base. The whole thing comes apart and fits in a small little box. Its not as versitle as those fancy pants expanding swifts I see at the store and it cant accomodate all skeins but it only cost $3!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

pumpkin


DSCN2292.JPG, originally uploaded by abmatic.

this is pumpkin the camping cat. weighing in at what i would estimate to be 15lbs (and maybe more...) he likes riding in the car and going camping. he apparently has a fascination with semi-trucks and often tries to go over in the parking lot to have a look. he also likes sleeping in the drivers seat and munching on left over fish sandwiches. the last time my cat went for a road trip he got carsick (just picture me walking briskly into my parents house holding a polluted cat carrier at arms length) and he meows a lot during the whole ordeal. i wonder why pumpkin is so down with the whole idea of a vehicle journey.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

im in alaska!


DSCN2226.JPG, originally uploaded by abmatic.

here is a picture of miriam and a somewhat visible denali. we got a good glimplse of the mountian early in the morning but it only got cloudier as the day went on. in general the scenerey was pretty impressive though. today its berry picking and tomorrow canoeing!