Red Velvet Cupcakes

Holly Golightly: It's useful being top banana in the shock department.



Red Velvet Cupcakes are sleeves inspired by something Holly Golightly might wear in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. They were created to bring some feminine elegance to any occasion.

Details:

Sizes: Women’s Small (Large)

Wrist circumference:
5.5 (7) inches 14 (17.5 cm) unstretched. Will stretch to fit 7 (8.5) inches 17.5 (21.5 cm).

Gauge: 32 sts/48 rows = 4" in St st

Needles: 1 set of US #1/2.25mm 32” circular needles (magic loop) OR 2 sets of 24” circulars (two circulars) OR double pointed needles.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker.

Yarn: Black Trillium Pebble Sock. [100% SUPERWASH Merino; 400yd/366m per 100g/3.53oz skein]; color: Mean Reds; 1 skein. Or any Fingering weight yarn that gives you proper gauge.



Backstory:
Melanie from Black Trillium came up with the richest red sock yarn and challenged me to make something inspired by the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's been a while since I've seen it, to be honest. I recall a shocking character played by Mickey Rooney (you know what I'm talking about, I expect) and shuddered. I knew there was also a ton of chic style in this movie, but what was I to do?

Then I got the yarn. It's amazing. It's not Tiffany blue. It's red. Melanie had just watched the film and was taken by the mean reds. So...I googled the term "mean reds" and found this:

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?

Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?

Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?

Paul Varjak: Sure.

Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!

I think I know that feeling. Melanie also reminded me that all of the ladies wear elbow length gloves throughout this movie. Okay, done. I knew what I had to do.



This little number is available now as a kit from Yarn4Socks. The pattern will be available individually starting May 1st, 2010. Hey! That's pretty soon!

In conclusion, (yes, I was having fun with these quotes) I have to leave you with this gem:

Holly Golightly: You could always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you. I must say, the mind reels.

Spaghetti Season

AKA April Fool's! Check out my new (real, no joke) pattern inspired by trickery:



April Fool’s Day is observed everywhere. No one really knows where or when it started. My favorite pranks involve trying to get people to believe ridiculous things. One such gag was orchestrated by the BBC in 1957 regarding a bumper crop of spaghetti trees. Check out the full story here:



That's the backstory. Now, let me tell you about the socks.

These socks are both really simple and really unusual. The prank here is that a simple pair of socks emerge in the strangest fashion. Because the pair is knit all at once, there will be no second sock syndrome... And if you can’t bear cutting the socks open, you can always wear your creation as a cowl!



This is a pattern for multiple gauges/sizes!

Foot circumference:
7 (8, 9, 10) inches 17.5 (20, 23, 25.5 cm) unstretched. Will stretch to fit 8 (9, 10, 11) inches 20 (23, 25.5, 28 cm).

Sizes: This pattern is written for four sizes: (See foot circumference to determine best size) Women’s Small (Women’s Medium/Men’s Small, Women’s Large/Men’s Medium, Men’s Large)

Yarn: Any Fingering, Sport or DK weight yarn that gives you proper gauge.

Yardage Requirement Chart: (approx.)

Fingering:
Women’s Small: 350
Women’s Medium/Men’s Small: 375
Women’s Large/Men’s Medium: 400
Men’s Large: 425

Sport:
Women’s Small: 275
Women’s Medium/Men’s Small: 300
Women’s Large/Men’s Medium: 325
Men’s Large: 350

DK:
Women’s Small: 250
Women’s Medium/Men’s Small: 275
Women’s Large/Men’s Medium: 300
Men’s Large: 325

You’ll also need waste yarn in the same thickness in a contrasting color, 4 yards.

Notions: Scissors, Tapestry needle, and (optional) a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round.



Gauge: This pattern is written for four different gauges:

Fingering:
9 sts = 1” - US 0 (2 mm)
OR
8 sts = 1” - US 1 (2.25 mm)

Sport:
7 sts = 1” - US 2 (2.75 mm)

DK:
6 sts = 1” - US 3 (3.25 mm)

Needles: 1 set of 32” circular needles (magic loop) OR 2 sets of 24” circulars (two circulars) OR double pointed needles.



NOTES: This intermediate sock pattern is worked from the toe up. The technique is unusual, but it is not too hard. The toe is worked, then the short-row heel, the leg, the cuff, a few rounds of waste yarn are worked, then another cuff, leg, heel and toe. This produces a two-ended sock which will be cut open at the section with the waste yarn. Live stitches are picked up and bound off. This technique produces a pair of socks knit as one piece.

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