Elle Tricote !

On the French site of  elletricote there are a few amazing paterns. The scarf 'Piora' , a triangular winter scarf in mohair and wool caught my attention.  Originally made in Lang wools, I thought it was a nice pattern to use up some of my gigantic pile of stash....

So, this is my version : I had some grey/brown mohair with  82 % pure wool. It changes from brown to beige to grey.  I added some  light grey bouclé from Bergère de France, and inbetween those yarns I knitted a fine ribbon in off white with a little bit of gold.

A nice warm item to put around your shoulders on a cold spring day.
There are 3  frills (is that the correct word?  We call them flosh) at each of the 3 points of the triangle.  I added a big pearl before I sewed them on. 

 All increases are at the sides and in the middle.
I like the change of colour, yarn and stiches. the rows with the 'balls' are fun to make.  It makes it a knit with a lot of alternation.
I finished it in 4 days, and I only knit in the evening in front of the TV.

it has a good length for me, I'm rather tall.

Baktus finished !

I am proud to present : my first Baktus is finished.

I really enjoyed knitting this scarf, it is sooo easy, all stiches are knitted, there is no purling involved.  You can find the free pattern on ravelry here !

I used 4 skeins of peruvian merino wool I had in my stash, 2 brown, 1 orange and 1 dark green.
And the result is :

I am wearing it in the morning, when I cycle to my work.  It keeps me warm and is light to wear.

knitting a poncho

I have discovered knitting with a loom.  it was very easy and a quick way to make rectangles.
Now what can you do with a rectangle ? 
When you have 2, you can make a poncho. 
So I knitted another one, put them together, added fringes and ladida :

It's very easy to make a poncho. 
Here is the explication :

first you knit 2 rectangles of aprox. 50 cm to 70 cm.
If you knit it on needles, use big needles and fine wool to create a light effect.
Sew together like on the drawing I made.

the part that isn't sewn remains open for your head.

2 rectangles

join together here

fold and sew 2nd seam

Now you can add fringes.
cut (a lot of) strings of aprox. 26 cm.  I used an old wooden board that had the right size.

wrap it around several times, then cut one side open

4 threads form 1 fringe

 

 

 

 

 

Fold the string of 4 double, and pull that through a stich on the edge of the poncho

put the hook through a stich and pull the 4 threads through

make a loop

pass the threads through hte loop

pull tightly

Continue until you have fringes all around the hem.  Don't underestimate this work, it takes quite some time to finish this properly.  It also consumes a lot of yarn.

Finally, add some buttons or a brooch to the front of the poncho.

Have fun making your own poncho !

me showing off my poncho at chic et pas cher...