These are gusseted fingerless mitts with columns of lace that reminded me of art deco patterns, hence the name.

If anyone actually happens to be reading this, I’m also announcing my hiatus from knitting and writing knitting patterns. I will still be around for pattern support and whatnot, and who knows, I may get totally inspired and come back all blazing guns in the fall. But for now, I’m shifting gears big time. I’ve been getting really into tribal fusion dance and flamenco, and want to work on costuming and jewelry for both. This stuff is inspiring as hell! Heapieces, earrings, and fabrics, tribal metal pieces, feathers, lace, whee whee wheeee!

I’ve been wanting to incorporate more math into my knitting, so I decided to use the math constant pi as a design element. The first ten digits were plotted out and used to switch between knit and purl stitches on a standard slouchy style hat. To make things even more interesting, I put rows of eyelets on either side of each section. If a person wanted to get REALLY nerdy, they could chart out pi to 60 digits. Maybe I’ll try it myself!

(all images from bugknits/Althea Chrome)

From fiber artist Althea Crome who uses teeny, tiny needles and thread to knit ornate sweaters and pieces to scale:

In 2000, my fascination with this tiny scale merged with my love of knitting, and since then I have been pushing toward ever new technical and design challenges. Tough as it is to knit on such a small scale, the “bug-knit” scale has allowed me the freedom to create and experiment with designs which, on a larger scale, would be cumbersome and prohibitive. My success in developing commercial patterns and techniques for 1:12 scale gloves, socks and other garments has only inspired me to venture further into what I’ve come to think of as “extreme knitting.” Indeed, from the time I began my vocation as an extreme knitter, I have made very few full-scale garments.

In the past several years I have been incorporating portraits and images into my knitting. Inspired by my small collection of antique portrait miniatures and my love of ornament and art, I strive to capture the romance and allegory I find so playful and fascinating in the art I love. I use garments as my “canvas” because I find that it adds a dimension that is lacking on a flat surface. Many of my designs are created as a narrative, and by turning the piece and viewing it from sleeve to sleeve, you see not only a pattern emerge, but a story.

link!

It seems like the knitting world is passing up fringy scarves for buttoned cowls these days. I’m all for that, but now when I want something with fringe, I want a *lot* of fringe! Something more like a maribou boa than a scarf. Add that to my weird fixation on vultures, and here ya go. Vulture couture is born.

This baby is EASY to make. In fact, this could very well be a project for a virgin knitter; or a good project for a seasoned knitted to knock out a last minute accessory or gift. That’s basically how it came about- I needed something big and wooly for KrampusCon, and I had one day to make it. Well, procrastination is a hell of a muse.

YOU WILL NEED:
-one skein (~100 yds should do it) of worsted/HW/bulky weight yarn. I used Joann Sensations Illuminations but only because I’m desperately trying to use up old yarn. Something like Dream in Color Starry would be fabulous (double or triple stranded).
-size US 13 needles
-yarn needle
-crochet hook for attaching fringe (optional)

GAUGE:
-not super important, but ~3.5 sts per inch, finished dimensions are 16″ X 6″ without fringe

TO BEGIN:
-cast on 24 sts. knit every row until piece measures 16″ (~60 rows).
-break yarn leaving a 10 inch tail. You have just knit a long rectangle- now fold it in half lengthwise and use the tail yarn to sew cast on and bind off rows together. (For tips on sewing seams, go here: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-sew-seams-together) You now have a circular cowl!
-cut the rest of your yarn into varying lengths of pieces from 8-12 inches. Grab 3 pieces, fold in half, and use a crochet hook to pull through one loop between two knitted rows along the top edge of the cowl. Continue to do this around the whole top edge.

How easy was that? Now fold the cowl in half (from top to bottom) and wear with the fringy side out. Do you feel like this guy?

(photo credit: codeerror.igetweb.com)

My widgets don’t seem to be working, but I’ll soon proudly be wearing Proselytizer, MacGuyver 1&2, Asshole, Under the Influence, Math Whiz, and Useless Object.

I am going to be making a ton of these for sale on my Etsy. Each will be named after a different dubstep track. This one is “Captain of Crunch” (by liquid stranger).

Project #4 was inspired by one of the contributors to naughty needles and it couldn’t be easier to knit- take one strand of mohair on giant needles, knit in garter stitch, and every once in awhile, tie on super fat-thin yarn for one row. But oh, what a soft, dreamy, wonderful fluffy thing it is. If I don’t sell these, I won’t be sad. I call it Gobs & Gossamer, and it’s also for sale on my Etsy:

************************** Number #5 will be a fuzzy pink kitty hat. I guess I better get cracking. Also much love to my model Brittany. <3

I’ve been seeing these chunky knit cabled beanies everywhere. My friend was ogling a giant wall of them at the winter-sports-megastore, and I stood beside her and said- “pick ANYTHING on this wall, and I could have it done in an hour or two.” The yarn was not an exact match, but she was very pleased with result. She moved to Stockholm recently, and I hope her head is nice and warm. This pattern works fast, and is perfect for any last-minute holiday knitting.

FINISHED DIMENSIONS: 12″ wide, 7″ tall
TO BEGIN: you will need a size 11 16″ circular needle, a set of 11 DPNs, a cable needle, and a yarn needle. Cable needle is abbreviated as CN in pattern.
CAST ON 64 STS.
Rows 1-3: k6, p2
Row 4: *slip 2 to CN & hold in back, k1, k2 from CN, s1 to CN & hold in front, k2, k1 from CN, purl 2, rep from * to end

Repeat rows 1-4 six times, 24 rows total.
Row 25: k6, p2
Row 26: k6, p2tog
Row 27: k6, ssk
Row 28: *slip 2 to CN & hold in back, k1, k2 from CN, s1 to CN & hold in front, k2, k1 from CN, rep from * to end

At this point, switch to DPNs- 18 sts on the first 2, 12 on the third.
Rows 29-31: knit
Row 32: *slip 2 to CN & hold in back, k1, k2 from CN, s1 to CN & hold in front, k2, k1 from CN, rep from * to end
Rows 33-35: knit
Row 36: *slip 2 to CN & hold in back, k1, k2 from CN, s1 to CN & hold in front, k2, k1 from CN, rep from * to end
Row 37: k4, ssk
Row 38: k3, ssk
Row 39: k2, ssk
Row 40: k1, ssk
Row 41: k2tog
Break yarn and thread yarn needle. Bring yarn needle through all live stitches, remove the knitting needles, and then pull tight and knot. Weave in ends.

River Rapids Socks (pattern link)

These are actually the first socks I’ve knit. And there will be many more to follow!