Claire's "Gone Hog Wild" capelet

I am a big fan of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. I have been watching the show on Starz and really enjoying the knitted items. I was thrilled when I found this pattern for the capelet Claire wore in the episode entitled, The Gathering. 

I knitted this pattern on size US 11 circular needles with Bernat's Softee chunky yarn. This yarn is super bulky in the Pumpkin colorway. I used 2 skeins to knit this. I learned a new stitch, The kfb (knit in front loop, then back loop) this was a way to increase and very easy stitch. The pattern is a top down pattern. You start with the collar in seed stitch, k1, p1 (knit 1, purl 1), in seed stitch you knit the purls and purl the knits.  

I love this pattern, it was easy and quite fast to knit. Everytime I see this capelet, it makes me smile.

The Big Blue

This pattern is called The Big Blue by Meg Gadsbey / Atelier Yarn. I knitted this shawl for my Knit Wit's knit group (A prayer shawl knitting ministry the Novato United Methodist Church).
 This patttern me learn a new cast on, The Garter Tab Cast On. I had no idea what that was.  So as I always do when confronted with a new stitch or method, I went to You Tube, where there is a video on just about anything. I found what I was looking for on the New Stitch A Day channel. This was very helpful and after a few viewings and a lot of practice I was able to do the Garter Tab Cast On.  You cast on 3 stitches, knit 7 rows turn 90 degrees and pick up and knit 3 stitches then turn 90 degrees pickup and knit 3 stitches. Then there were 9 stitches in total on the needle.  
I also had to learn M1L (Make 1 Left) and M1R (Make 1 Right). Once again I went to You Tube and on the Knitwitch channel I learned to do that stitch.

I knitted this with 1 1/2 skeins of Red Heart Soft Seafoam on US 8 32 inch circular needles..

Library Capelet

This is a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn Company. I used most of 2 skeins of Lion Brand Homespun and size US 10 1/2 29 inch circular needles. It was easy to knit. The first few rows are in seed stitch (k1 p1 and then you knit the purls and purl the knits in other rows) and then do stockinette stitch (alternating knit row and purl row). I would like to put a shawl pin on it. 

Owl Boot Cuffs

I just finished the Owl Boot Cuffs. This was a free pattern on Ravelry. Once I figured out the pattern, they were quite easy to knit. I used Annabel Fox Chunky Donegal yarn and US 9 16 inch circular needles.

My First Fingerless Mittens

 
I knitted my first pair of fingerless mittens. This is a free pattern on Craftsy. This pattern had me knit in two colors. I used your basic acrylic yarn and size US 8 10 inch straight needles. These were easy because you knitted flat and seamed them up leaving a "thumb" hole. My seaming needs a little work. Of course, I knitted them in "Giant" Orange and Black!

Highland Gauntlets

This is a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn Company. I learned to make a thumb gusset. It is an easy pattern and will quick to make two gauntlets. I used Lion Brand Heartland, the color is glacier Bay. yarn and size US 8 10 inch straight needles.

After making these gauntlets, I am ready to learn to make an actual thumb on fingerless mitts.

Two Heats as One Dishcloth

I knitted this from the Knitting Calendar 2014. I used Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton and size US 7 10 inch straight needles. I like to knit dishclothes, it is a good way to practice new stitches. It is like doing big swatches.