HaNdKrAfT

Game Day Beer Coozies

I mentioned these coozies before, as one of my 17 projects.  These two (out of a set of six which I am still working on) were Christmas presents for my brother. 

Just before Thanksgiving, he saw some other knitted coozies and thought that they were "too girly,"  and asked me to make some "you know, plain ones."  He also asked me to knit him a sweater, but as my brother has a 44 inch chest, I would need the budget for a small European Country to knit him a "you know, plain one" in a fiber that is "something I can wash."

Since my brother is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, and only seems to during beer when he is watching football, Game Day Coozies were born.   

Here is the pattern:

Size: One size

Measurements: 6.5 inches finished length

Materials:

• Two Skeins Cascade Sierra Colors 58 (maroon) and 65 (dark Grey black) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Colors!  These two skeins are enough to make at least 8 coozies.
• 1 set US Size 9/5.5mm Double Pointed Needles
• 1 Stitch Marker
• Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 20 sts and 21 rows/ 4 inches in 2x2 rib, slightly stretched. 

It is ok if your gauge is not precise, as these coozies are going to stretch over a beer bottle.  If you knit tightly, you might consider going up a needle size just to make sure that the coozies are not too tight.

Pattern Notes:

CO 28 sts in MC, divided on 3 DPN as follows 8 sts, 8 sts, and 10 sts. 

Work in 2 x 2 ribbing throughout.  Work 6 rnds of MC.  Pick up and knit with the other color for 9 rnds.  Switch back to MC and continue to work in 2 x 2 ribbing for 22 rnds or until your desired length.  Work one p round, arranging the knitting on 4 dpns, 7 sts on each needle. 

Decrease for coozie bottom: *K 5, ssk. Repeat 4 x, 24 sts remaining.  K 1 rnd.  Continue in this manner until there are 2 sts left on each needle.  Break yarn and draw through remaining sts.

Finishing:  Weave in ends.

Happy knitting (and drinking).  I am currently working on more color variations for the Coozies, which I will post when I have finished them.

Hanging my head in Shame...

Because my "resolution" to not purchase any new yarn untill I finished 17 projects ... lasted until Wednesday.  I caved.  In a big way.  10 balls of Misti Alpaca Alpaca lace yarn (The entire bag) and   6 hanks of Misti Cotton Silk.  In my defense, the lace is for a specific project out of a Gathering of Lace, and the Cotton Silk is for an Hourglass sweater. 

When I bought the bag of lace weight, Kathe, Knit Witz's owner said "you know there is alot of yarn in that bag, right?" Yep.  4,370 yards to be exact.  The project I am working on reqires 3600 yards:  That is 9 balls.  I fugured that since I needed the 9 balls anyway, I might as well buy the whole bag.  Oh, and the real attraction is the color. It is the same spa blue as the background of the blog.

Christmas weekend is starting off well: we went out to dinner as a family tonight, and had a great time.  The food was alright, but our waiter (server) was H.O.T. Hot.  I could have eaten HIM up. 

One step forward, and one step back

So Project No. 5, the Lorna's Laces Beret is finished, but I can't seem to get it away from Jack long enough to wrap it.  I chased him around the couches, under the dinner table, and tried to reach him under the bed.  After about 15 minutes of chasing him, I gave up  I retreated to do a load of laundry.  After wrestling with my stackable w/d to get the load in and started, I finally cornered him in his kennel and rescued the beret.  Since this is a Christmas gift, I needed to make sure that Jack did not "do it in" before I could give it to Kyla.  I am also making some progress on the beer cozies for Stefan (Project No. 6). I have 3 out of the six done.  Since this is a Christmas gift too, I need to get it done ASAP.  Once I am done with all of them, I am going to post my pattern for what I have called the "Game Day" Cozies.

One could comment that this looks like a promising start to finishing my self imposed 17 project restriction.  If you believe that, than you are deceived.

Boy Howdy, are you deceived.  I had to frog my entire Sea Silk Icarus Shawl.  The whole blessed, stinking thing.  There were far too many mistakes in it for me. I am not a perfectionist, but,  If the mistakes, in such a simple pattern, were not so very obvious (and I am talking yarn overs, extra stitches, decreases that were in the wrong place) I probably would have fudged it.  Kathe, the lys owner says that you will never regret it if you frog a mistake, and will always regret if if you don't.  So I am regretting the frogging only in that it is setting me back from my goal of completing 17 projects before I buy new yarn.  See that ball on the left of the picture?  That is all of the yarn that I pulled out of Icarus version 1.0.  I also switched needle size on the project.  I like the way that the yarn is knitting up on size 4's.  I had the shawl on size 6's before. And now, a week later, I am near finishing the second repeat of chart 1.  Only 6 more repeats left until the seaon is over.

Thank heaven for small miracles

S. has come home from Afghanistan for 10 days for Christmas. He almost did not get leave at all, but by now should be "boots on the ground" at home.  I had considered going to see him, but I feel that he should have this time with his children - I will get my time once he has come back.  I have also been trying to get his undivided attention for years, and I know that if I want that, this leave is not the time to do it.  I will have to settle for a couple of phone calls while he is home.

Of course, I don't want him to see me at this weight either: he is getting in shape over there, and I am in a holding pattern here.  No more- I am kicking this weight loss thing into gear. I want to be in tremendously great shape when he comes back.  I will keep you posted!

The 17

Since I decided not to include the Noro Shawl, here are the projects:

1. Icarus in Handmaiden Sea Silk, 2. Sari Silk Hat 3. Over the knee stockings in Regia Silk, 4. Alpaca circular shrug, 5. Beret out of Lornas laces Shepard Sport, 6. Beer Coozies (2 of 6 completed), 7. Lady of the Forrest shawl in Cherry Tree Hill Laceweight. ** 8 - 17. TBD**

Here are the rules: no PURCHASE of yarn until these 17 named projects are completed.  I can cast on as many more projects as I want, but the listed projects must be complete in order to qualify for new yarn. (Casting on more helps the goal of stash reduction overall, so by its very nature is acceptable.) Also, there must be at least 2 additional garments as part of the 17.

Rainbow Connection

Thank you to my secret pal for sending me such wonderful gifts!  There were two bags of jelly beans - my favorite! Alas, the Strawberry Daqueri bag did not survive to be photographed.  Also included in the package was a lovely note, some sachets and the Kermit Ornament.  It plays "Rainbow Connection," one of my favorite songs. 

I have to compliment my pal on her great timing, because the package arrived on Friday after a very bad day.  (and also three days without my laptop!)

"Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep beliving, keep pretending, we've done just what we've set out to do, thanks to the lovers, the dreamers and you." -Kermit in the Muppet Movie.

Thanks Secret Pal!

Should it count?

So for my 17 project goal, here is the question:  do I count the shawl I finished yesterday?  It had about 30 sts to cast off, and then needed to be blocked.  My inclination is not to count it, as it somehow seems like cheating.  So I am casting on another project this morning to put into the 17.  More info on this later!