Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Pidge me!

All my running around last week put this knitting project on the back burner but now that I'm home and getting caught up, I completed my version of the My So-Called Pidge:



It is very warm and soft and I'm very pleased with it. Even though I don't have buttons on it I consider this to be "finished" and plan to take it Stitches West and shop for the buttons while I'm there.  In the meanwhile, it can be held together easily with one of my little hairsticks, like the one I used in the picture above.

Why I know not, but it took me three tries to get the hang of the stitch pattern but once I had it down, it was incredibly simple and I really like the fabric that results.



I think this is the kind of stitch pattern that works equally well for many types of yarn. In a solid, the stitches and texture really pop. In a variegated or multicolor, the slipped stitches and psso's do a marvelous job of mixing up the colors.  I'm sure I'll use it again in the future!

While I was on the mainland I stopped by one of those big box stores that like many, are drastically reducing the amount of yarn they stock.  So for the whopping price of $2.47 I picked up:



Very interesting stuff this.  You can read more about it here, but the basic concept is that 20% of the content consists of a fiber made from recycled plastic bottles. It is quite soft and at a washable worsted weight very practical.

In fact, I've already decided that I want to make a hat with it.  What I have in mind is sort of slouchy tam, one I can tuck all my hair up inside of, like the tam I made last September. But I don't wear that one as much as I'd like to because of the colors, so I think something similar in basic black will be more useful and hopefully will be something that looks equally good with my usual blue jeans lifestyle or on the rare occasions I dress up more. I'm thinking about maybe the Baroness Beret. Very pretty, but is it too lacy to look okay with jeans? I have a couple other patterns in mind, but that one's the frontrunner - so let me know what you think!

6 comments:

Ellen Bloom said...

Of all the acrylic yarns on the market, I like working with Caron Simply Soft the best. I crocheted the "Chevron Lace Cardigan" (on ravelry) with this yarn. It looks good on me, but just a warning, this yarn pills and starts looking ratty after awhile. I still love my cardi, but even after a washing and de-pilling, the fabric just hasn't stood up. Hopefully, a hat won't get all that rubbing, so it should be OK.

Mia said...

Beautiful colors too! I love that stitch.. I may have to end up knitting something just so I can try it :)

Wool Enough said...

I love the Baroness Beret. Definitely not too lacy for jeans. It could probably look either casual or dressy depending on the yarn and color that you use.

Harbor Hon said...

I think the Baroness will look lovely with whatever you choose to wear. It's funky and classy all at the same time. Go for it, Hon! xxoo

Sheepish Annie said...

I think either one would work, but it might be nice to do the Baroness Beret for a change of pace. I sometimes hate knitting the same thing twice. Except for socks. And the Maine Morning Mitts....

Love The Pidge! Nice work!

Anonymous said...

I think the Baroness Beret would be great with jeans. Jaunty and European.