Falala 2012 #3: Armas

There may be time (if you're a quick knitter) to whip up a lovely pullover for the special man (or woman) in your life. Mari Muinonen/tikru designed Armas, which means "beloved" in Finnish, for a bulky weight yarn. When I was visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, I enjoyed using a blankie I knit up in Cascade's Eco Wool, so I highly recommend it as a yarn choice for this pullover. Armas is also part of Mari's pattern book Hold Your Needles, so you could knit something for just about everyone on your list.

Falala 2012 #2: Wee Tiny Elf Sock

Sometimes I try to resist the twee, but most of the time I embrace all its darling weensieness (that word is so misspelled, and you're just going to have to live with that). Falala #2 is the Wee Tiny Elf Sock courtesy of Meg Bakewell, and I love it! Curled up toe, bell, and all. Plus, it's a good way to use up all those sock yarn nuggets you have leftover. Make up a bunch for trimming the tree, as gift card holders, or an ersatz Advent calendar. Bonus: this one is free. And involves bells. Extra bonus: Meg sells adorable sock blockers in her Etsy shop.

Falala 2012 #1: My Deer

I have a little catch up to do, here, so you will find three Falala posts today! In previous years I've had a theme (free, independent designers), but this year I'm just going with whatever strikes my fancy, so some patterns will be gift ideas and some will be to queue for a reward to yourself after the gift knitting is complete.

First up: My Deer - a deer trophy - an adorable, clever, free pattern for a knitted and fulled deer head trophy from the talented Claire Garland. This is perfect for the vegan OR hunter on your list, or anyone in between!

My Deer (pattern by Claire Garland)

I knit mine up in one day with some Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Taupe from the good people at Three Bags Full, and then threw it in with the towels in the wash (I tried it with the "warm" wash, but it really needed "hot" to full). I think I will make a second and stuff the antlers before fulling, which wasn't specified originally. The antlers look good but are not as robust as Claire's original. I think I have enough Taupe for the head and ears and will do the antlers in some Natura I have left over from Isobel's set of Matryoshka dolls.

Pattern: Castaway Shawlette

Castaway shawlette by Kathleen Dames

I have a new shawlette pattern to share with you: Castaway. Worked from a tab start at the neck down to a ruffled edge, this is perfect for that skein of Malabrigo Lace that you couldn't resist. The stickiness of the yarn works to your advantage to keep the ladders from pulling at their neighbor stitches.

Castaway shawlette by Kathleen Dames

If you can cast on, bind off, knit, purl, and work basic increases and decreases, you can create this lovely, soft shawlette. This is a "wide" triangle shawl, which means you increase at four points on the front and two on the back. A friend of mine, who also is an LYSO, thought this was cashmere when I showed it to her.

Castaway shawlette by Kathleen Dames

One skein of yarn, one circular needle, and one pattern are all you need to make your own Castaway - perfect for desert island knitting (or when you want to get away from it all!).

Materials

One skein of Malabrigo Lace (or 470yds/430m of a similar laceweight yarn)

One US4/3.5mm 29" circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)

stitch markers

tapestry needle

Skills Needed

Casting on

Binding off

Knitting

Purling

Increasing

Decreasing

Thanks!

Technical editing by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud

Test knitting by Elizabeth Hutchison and Annie Rota

Photographed on the bank of the Kennebec River, Bath, Maine, by Nicholas Dames

Pattern available for $6 on Craftsy, Etsy, and Ravelry or by using the button below.

Deckhand: Annie's Alternative Version

Almost forgot to show you Annie's version! She wanted to do red and white, an we agreed that it would be good to have a version where the hems and collar are in the MC. You have choices!

Annie's Deckhand

Pattern: Deckhand - Women's

Deckhand - Women's by Kathleen Dames

Now that your little scallywags have their own Deckhand sweaters, it’s time to get yours. But how about a bit of shaping for a woman’s curves, ¾ sleeves, and a raglan yoke with button detail? This one is also just right for cool summer evenings on deck. And working it up in Cascade’s Ultra Pima makes it a bit more refined. Let those little scallywags climb the rigging—you’re going to loll on the deck!

Jogless stripes allow you to work this sweater in the round without your stripes spiraling out of control. A double-knitting trick keeps your placket happening all at once. Just sew on your buttons and weave your underarms, and you’ll be ready to set sail.

Sizes 
Women’s XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] sample shown in size M) 
Chest: 31 [34, 38, 41, 45, 48, 51] inches

Materials 
Traditional version 
Natural (MC) 3 [4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7] skeins; 
Indigo Blue (CC) 1 [1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3] skeins

Annie’s alternative version 
Wine (MC) 3 [4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8] skeins; 
Natural (CC) 1 [1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2] skeins

US6/4.0mm 29-inch circular needle and set of five DPNs (or longer circular needle if using Magic Loop for sleeves) Cable needle or spare DPN 
Stitch holders or waste yarn 
Stitch markers 
Coil-less safety pins 
Three 1-inch Buttons 
Matching thread, if yarn will not fit through buttonholes

Skills Needed 
Casting on 
Binding off 
Knitting 
Purling 
Increasing 
Decreasing 
Working flat 
Working in the round

Technical editing by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud. 
Sample knitting by Annie Rota.

Pattern available on Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy, or by using the button below.

Pattern: Hap-py

Hap-py shawl by Kathleen Dames

A new-world homage to the Shetland Hap shawls of old. Worked all in one piece with one needle and one skein of yarn, this makes a perfect travel project, whether you’re waiting on a park bench, soaring above the clouds, or sailing the high seas. Plus, the Crest of the Wave pattern (written out and charted), an interesting variant on the traditional Feather and Fan, is easy to master with spectacular results. What are you waiting for? It’s time to get Hap-py!

Instructions are given for a swatch, which will make a perfect little shawl for an 18” doll, plus the full-size shawl, which measures 32” square. Swatch and shawl do use all of the skein of Madeline Tosh Prairie, so be aware that not achieving gauge may lead to your needing more yarn.

Hap-py shawl by Kathleen Dames

Materials 

Madeline Tosh Prairie 100% Superwash Merino; 840 yards/768 meters per 114 gram skein; color: Plaid Blanket; 1 skein 
Note: With swatch, entire skein was used. 
One US6/4.0mm 40-inch circular needle 
Stitch markers, including one different to mark end-of-round 
Tapestry needle

Skills Needed 
Casting on 
Binding off 
Knitting 
Purling 
Increasing 
Decreasing 
Picking up stitches 
Working in the round

Technical editing by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud.

Pattern available on Ravelry, Etsy, and Craftsy, or by using the button below.