Saturday, January 17, 2009

FO: Knotty Pillow


I finished the crocheted faux bois pillow, and it turned out so well. The pattern says it's 20"-by-20", but mine is about 17" square. (I stuffed a flattish 19" pillow into it.) I bought 3 balls of Red Heart Soft Touch and 2 balls of Bernat Satin for this project, and I think there's enough left for a second pillow. You know what would be awesome (and pretty easy to do)? Adapting this pattern to make a blanket.



I wish I could photograph this pillow against the wood panelling in my parents' house! That would be crazy.

I spent some time last week putting lots of my vintage Beehive pattern booklets into my Ravelry library. (Rav link.) It was inspiring. I want to use more of those patterns. The patterns for women's sweaters can be tricky, because they were generally designed for women who are smaller than me to start with, and then wearing a girdle or a corset or something, but the sock patterns are gold. They usually have to be adjusted slightly, because today's sock yarns are generally 4-ply while the patterns are usually written for thinner 3-ply (and most of the patterns I have are for men), but that's not hard to do. (For example, I'm planning to start a pattern called "Alternating Rib" next, from Patons book no. 113; the stitch pattern is a multiple of 4 stitches, so instead of casting on 72 sts., I'll cast on 64.)

I don't know if it's cold where you are, but it's super-freezing here. Another week of this winter weather, and then we're off to Cuba for a week! Bill found us a cheap all-inclusive deal in Varadero, and two of our best friends are coming, too -- I can't wait. I'm thinking a lace shawl will be a good thing to take, so I'm packing a skein of Alpaca with a Twist Fino and the pattern for Cleite. Who knows? Maybe I won't knit at all. Maybe I'll read novels! Maybe I'll just look at trashy magazines! But I'll tell you what I won't do: slip on the ice, freeze the tip of my nose off, or stay indoors all the time.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the pillow. I wonder if there is a similiar knit pattern. It is downright frigid down south just a little north of B'ham, AL. Yesterday, it was actually warmer in Alaska than here! I'm so glad I was off yesterday and didn't have to get out. We're not used to it being this cold.

shannon said...

that, quite honestly, is the coolest pillow i've ever seen! makes me want to learn how to crochet just so i could make one for myself!

Anonymous said...

Have fun in Cuba - So jealous!

Anonymous said...

That pillow is just awesome!

Sarah A. said...

I love love love that pillow and think a blanket version would be just brilliant.

Going to the tropics is the only cure for the common winter. Have fun in Cuba!

Cari said...

love love love that pillow!

knithound brooklyn said...

Hey that is a kick ass pillow! And a blanket in the same design would be amazing!

Anonymous said...

That pillow is so cool...it *almost* makes me want to learn how to crochet properly ;)

Unknown said...

I think that pillow would translate into a beautiful blanket.

Have a great trip!

ingrid said...

That pillow is 15 different kinds of awesome.

Have fun in the sun!

Purlgirl918 said...

Oh so jealous about your trip!! We are freezing in Maine too...I'm looking out the window now at the falling snow and dreading going outside! Unfortunately, there is no more coffee in the house.

Anonymous said...

The pillow is wonderful - congratulations!

Have a wonderful time in Cuba and take a gazillion pictures. It's the great unknown for people in the U.S.

Gudrun Johnston said...

I really like that pillow....so unusual but extremely impressive!

Anonymous said...

love Cuba. Love the fact that the tour guides speak English and French. My sweetie went on the wrong tour (french). He offered to reschedule but the very nice guide just translated the bits he didn't understand then the other french-speaking people started translating and talking to him so the whole group got to know each other very well. He asked to go with the group again for their next tour. The guide thought that everyone was pretty funny.

Jody said...

That is one of the coolest ideas for a pillow! I love it!! My newly acquired crochet skills are yearning to make one of these now!

vivian said...

Gorgeous! This pillow has inspired me to attempt crochet again. Thank you for that.

monica said...

That pillow is so cool!!

Tora said...

I love that pillow!!

shannyb70 said...

Great pillow!

Have fun in Cuba! Have a Cuba Libre or Mojito for me!

Anonymous said...

I love this pillow- it's one of the first projects to ever get me excited about crochet!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous work. Where did you learn to make things like that....? I am stunn.

Anonymous said...

superbe travail ... çà me fait penser à de l'écorce d'arbre
félicitations

Knitting Linguist said...

I love the pillow! And your trip to Cuba sounds just perfect :)

spajonas said...

that pillow is just so awesome. have a great time in cuba! i hope i can go someday. let's hope obama lifts the embargo :)

Anonymous said...

I love love love that pillow and think a blanket version would be just brilliant.

Unknown said...

it's so awesome!!! i was thinking about making this myself, but now that I've seen yours I'm DEFINITELY making one.

Anonymous said...

That pillow is outrageous! You should seriously consider making the companion pillow...

liset said...

WOW this is amazing! Beautiful!! Lots of compliments!

Susan S. said...

Great pillow. Great photograph. I'll be learning to crochet in order to make one myself. Thanks for the inspiration.

Skogul said...

I'm guessing that's not a free pattern. Bummer, I was looking forward to dusting off my hooks and making one or two for myself.

The FO looks great, though!

Meg said...

i love the pillow - the wave is such a cool texture