Oh the Bounty!

This was knit in one day, one long lazy Saturday. It's made entirely of Caron Wintuk, which is incredibly stiff and sticky yarn. I would probably never use it for anything that would touch skin. But it was perfect for this. The pattern is Kimberly Chapman's (who is also the designer of the DNA model, and thus a hero) and is incredibly straightforward and easy to follow.

I chose to knit the cob inside out, so that my rounds were knit instead of purled. This would have worked fine, except I didn't give the decreases enough thought and they were a bit sloppy once reversed. Of course, no one said anything. ("My that is a nice knit ear of corn, except for those unsightly decreases.")

The nature of the yarn and the sized down needles made this a very rigid piece. More rigid than the turkey leg, when it was knit. This was great, since it held it's shape really nicely- even the leaves had a pliable quality to them.

Bottom line: The Midwest loves corn.

Paper or Plastic?

Just another unoriginal take on the question, "Paper or plastic?"

You can reuse (and thus, reduce) plastic bags by turning them into a "yarn" and knitting the bags into a grocery bag. Here is a pretty clear tutorial, and the result isn't half bad.

For the more advanced tree-hugger, it is possible to spin newspaper into a durable "yarn" as well. I don't spin yet, but think this is a pretty neat idea.

Preliminary Turkey Leg Pattern

Fakesgiving is totally today. What better way to celebrate?

Vegetarian Turkey Leg Pattern

Materials:
1 skein Vanna's Choice yarn in Honey
Scrap ivory, undyed or white yarn for bone
Size 7 dpn
Tapestry needle
Stuffing, (get it?) poly fiber fill

Directions:

Leg:
CO 13 sts, join in the round, being careful not to twist. (I prefer to slip last cast on stitch to first needle and k first two sts tog to make round join tighter, resulting in 12 sts, if not, just CO 12 total sts to begin)
K5 rounds (4 sts per needle)
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 15 sts (5 sts per needle)
K5 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 18 sts (6 sts per needle)
K6 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 21 sts (7 sts per needle)
K5 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 24 sts (8 sts per needle)
K4 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 27 sts (9 sts per needle)
K2 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 30 sts (10 sts per needle)
K3 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 33 sts (11 sts per needle)
K1 rounds
M1 st at the beginning of each needle, 36 sts (12 sts per needle)
K1 round
K2tog at the beginning of each needle, 33 sts (11 sts per needle)
K2 round
K2tog at the beginning of each needle, 30 sts (10 sts per needle)
K2 rounds
K2tog at the beginning of each needle, 27 sts (9 sts per needle)
K1 round
K2tog at the beginning of each needle, 24 sts (8 sts per needle)
K1 round
K2tog at the beginning of each needle, 21 sts (7 sts per needle)
K2tog at the beginning of each needle, 18 sts (6 per needle)
K2tog around, 9 sts
Cut yarn and pull through remaining 9 sts
No need to weave in, just tuck in enough that it won't come out when stuffed

Bone:
CO 12 sts, join in the round, being careful not to twist. (I prefer to slip last cast on stitch to first needle and k first two sts tog to make round join tighter, resulting in 11 sts, if not, just CO 11 total sts to begin)
K in the round for about 2-2.5 inches, (not critical, this will be tucked into the leg piece)
K6, CO6, join to make one nubby (six sts will remain on another needle to make other nubby)
K4 rounds
*[K2tog, K2] *three times (9 sts)
K1 round
*[K2tog, K1] *three times (6 sts)
Break yarn, pull through remaining 6 sts; knot or weave in

Join new yarn and K remaining 6 sts, pick up 6 sts to close the gap, 12 sts
K4 rounds
*[K2tog, K2] *three times (9 sts)
K1 round
*[K2tog, K1] *three times (6 sts)
Break yarn, pull through remaining 6 sts; knot or weave in

Finishing:
Weave or hide all ends.
Stuff bone firmly.
Stuff turkey leg.
Push bone into turkey leg, and stitch into place.


Enjoy.

Science slump

Unfortunately, new fall classes and new projects at work are making me all stressed and annoyed and thusly, needing a slouchy hat. Famous and cool people are wearing them, and that's good enough for me.


However, I'm knitting this beret on the sly. Periodically, I find myself so bogged down in UFOs, that I take on some small project with the zeal to finish it in three days or less. This was true of the legwarmers, true of the slippers, and now nearly true (Friday at the latest) for my beret.

Mine will be of my favorite Lion Brand Wool-Ease ($3.00/skein) in the "mushroom" colorway. It looks surprisingly like the color of mushrooms. And now that I think of it, it will probably look like a mushroom on my head, what with the floppiness. Is that good or bad?