elise lopez 11/20/18 elise lopez 11/20/18

#WIDN: Custom Hat in Malabrigo Rios

One of my recent commissions was a request for a special winter hat, and after being deep in Turkey Hat orders for the last two months I couldn’t think of anything better than taking a break from stuffing and seaming legs than to refresh my brain with some beautiful yarn and a quick new project.

I went to pick out yarn at one of my local yarn stores, Th e Altered Stitch. It was my first time visiting despite driving by all the time, and I’m so grateful for the commission that sent me there seeking yarn...they have the most amazing selection of indie-dyed yarn from a large range of makers and it was hard not to desperately covet all the sock yarn (Hedgehog Fibres Typewriter was particularly calling to me!)

I ended up choosing two skeins of Malabrigo Rios, an incredibly beautiful 4-ply superwash merino. My client particularly wanted something very fun and bright, and these colors jumped out at me almost immediately.

I chose two skeins of color 093 Fucsia (a solid color with some very, very subtle variances that make it very rich and interesting) and one skein of 057 English Rose, just a mind-blowing variegated in all the colors that make me drool.

In true Elise fashion, I didn’t reference or use any patterns…I just kind of jumped right in. I’ve made so many hats at this point in my life that I have a pretty good idea of how many stitches to cast on depending on the yarn weight. Using two strands of Rios at the same time felt to me similar to worsted weight. So I grabbed some US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles and got right to work!

I held two strands of Fucsia together and knit a simple 1x1 rib for the brim. I just love a 1x1 rib...I love how it looks, and I love that it helps the brim keep from getting too stretched out.

For the body of the hat I originally wanted to do a fun stitch pattern like seed/moss stitch or skinny cables, but after I did a quick swatch that all went out the window. The yarn is so pretty and the colors are so vibrant that I thought it looked best showcased in simple stockinette. I finished the body of the hat holding one strand of Fucsia and one strand of English Rose together. I knit the body to make a slouchy fit, long enough so it could also be worn with the brim flipped up for some extra warmth.

And then of course I finished it off with a large pompom, made with a mix of both colors. It’s seriously the best part.

I love how it turned out! The Malabrigo Rios was such a dream to knit with, I’m already scoping out other colorways.

What do you think? Have you knit with this yarn before?

elise lopez 1/22/18 elise lopez 1/22/18

knitspiration: artist kate jenkins

i follow a lot of amazingly talented makers on instagram, and am constantly discovering new artists and inspiration. when i came across the work of kate jenkins, i was immediately blown away by the level of detail and texture she has achieved; her knit and crocheted foods manage to look both playful and realistic at the same time! i love to discover artists like kate that are creating such fun and whimsical pieces. check out some of my favorites:

this is such a beautiful and colorful plate! i love the wrinkly walnut and microgreens.

how great is this sequined crab eating linguine? she has a lot of other great work in sequins including shiny lobsters and little sardines coming out of the can.

happy little mussels :)

i love the snips of "chive" on this plate of crocheted penne!

pineapple hunk!! very cute and clever. i love the bobble texture and the shaping of the arms!

check out kate's website to see more of her work and pieces for sale, and follow her on instagram @kjcardigan so you don't miss out on the knitspiration!

elise lopez 12/4/17 elise lopez 12/4/17

knitspiration: knit snowman ornament maker photos

last week, i posted the instructions to make your own knit snowman ornament using my free pattern. today, i wanted to share some serious snowman knitspiration!

this pattern has been live since last year, so i've seen so many talented knitters posting photos of their snowmen. it's so awesome to see the way other makers interpret your designs and make them all their own. check out these super cute creations!

those chunky scarves look so cozy! I love the loopy ends on the blue and green one.

so much innovation on this one...put a knit hat on everything! i love the addition of the bobby pin arms! french knot eyes is such a great idea!

i love the super long scarf on this little guy, and the excellent job on the face embroidery!

the whole gang!!! love the creativity of using buttons and beads for the faces, and i'm dying over that tiny knitting basket!!!

the first fan snowman! love the hat and scarf combos and the knit carrot nose.

i love how this maker embroidered some singing mouths on this snowman family!

last but not least, the 12th snowman in seahawks-themed winter garb! i love this idea, it would be super easy to customize it for the sports fan in your life!

download my free pattern from ravelry here or check out my blog post from last week! happy knitting and be sure to share your creations with #elisemade!

-Elise