And look! It’s not a sock! Yea!
I started this moebius pencil holder on Sunday after I returned home from the Magical Moebius Festival. I’d been looking for something a little more knitterly to keep my pens and pencils in at work, and a felted bowl seemed like just the thing. And since I’d just learned to knit moebii, a much, much, much smaller little one seemed like just the thing
I worked on it a bit on Sunday and Monday, and then finished up the knitting on Tuesday night. Then into the washer it went. Two extra-hot cycles in my front loader were enough to reach the result I desired. It’s felted hard enough to hold its shape, but there is still a tiny bit of stitch definition. While it was still wet, I molded and squooshed it a bit so that the bottom would be flat and the sides would have the shape I wanted. Then I stuffed it with rolled up washcloths and let it sit until dry.
While knitting it, I allowed the handle to curl a little rather than forcing it to be flat because I liked the way that looked. I was aiming for something vaguely organic looking, as though it might have sort of grown on top of my desk. I think I mostly succeeded.
My pens and pencils used to reside a small flowerpot. The flowerpot is now inside the moebius bowl. The flower pot adds strength and a little more rigidity. If I only had a few pens and pencils, probably I would have been OK to leave the flower pot out, but with that many something more than felt is needed. Fortunately the flower pot just fit in perfectly.
The particulars:
- Yarn: Plymouth Tweed (100% virgin lambswool/ 109yds/50g per skein) held doubled — one ball of color 5314 (green) and one of color 5313 (rust)
- Needles: Knitpicks circulars, US#9 (5.5mm)
- Pattern: from Cat Bordhi’s A Treasury of Magical Knitting, with a few minor modifications.
- Techniques used:
- Moebius cast on.
- Bowl was knit using magic loop. I still don’t like magic loop, but I only have one US#9 needle apparently, so I was stuck.
- Applied I-cord edging.
I have also frogged out the moebius from hell that was too long, and have started re-knitting it. I think it will be much shorter this time. I’m about half finished with the re-knitting. The original had 3 rounds of seed stitch and a k2tog bind-off. I think I will keep the seed stitch. I’m debating whether to do the k2tog bind off again, or do an applied I-cord. Your thoughts, gentle reader?
I love it!
I’m working on deadline knitting, or I’d be felting a moebius myself about now.
But the pencil holder… PERFECT!
And better still, you and the front loader got it done. Gives me hope for my front loader.
Thanks again … for lots and lots (oh and that cast on, I adore that cast on!)
1Remark from Helen — Tuesday, 4/10/2007 @ 7:58 AM
It really does look like something organic and growing. Very cool! Has anyone at work noticed it yet?
2Remark from Kathy — Tuesday, 4/10/2007 @ 8:52 AM
It has been noticed at work, and most seem to think it’s pretty cool. Today it got a double-take from a guy who said I must have plants on the brain because I thought something mossy was growing on your desk. So I guess I done good. 😆
3Remark from Judy — Tuesday, 4/10/2007 @ 7:25 PM
The pen pot is so cool, love the colors. I too am contemplating a moebius….that’ll take about a year to figure out, but I think it needs to be brown, a nice warm brown
4Remark from Terri Lynn — Tuesday, 4/10/2007 @ 8:54 PM
Cute! I have one of her books, but I haven’t tried a moebius yet. That looks like a good project for leftover bits of yarn.
I like the k2tog bind off. Do you want the look of an I-cord bind-off? I am afraid to advise, because it really depends on what you want.
5Remark from Maia — Wednesday, 4/11/2007 @ 4:14 PM
I love that pencil pod! Looks like a rose hip, kind of. Or a big pea container. It’s great!
6Remark from Ann — Wednesday, 4/11/2007 @ 5:53 PM
Nice to know that you “got gauge” with THIS moebius project. 🙂
7Remark from ~Kristie — Wednesday, 4/11/2007 @ 7:12 PM
the bowl is wonderful!! so organic looking- like moss. love it.
8Remark from hpny knits — Wednesday, 4/18/2007 @ 5:40 AM
As soon as I saw the picture of your felted moebius bowl, I knew you’d been around Cat Bordhi recently. Did you attend Camp Cockamamie, by any chance? If so, my friend Lou was there. Seems like fun!
I’ve been to Portland, once, for a couple of weeks, and fell in love with it. 🙂 I’d move there, if it weren’t for all family ties out here.
9Remark from Mary — Friday, 4/20/2007 @ 4:28 PM
Cool bowl! I have Cat’s books and have made a couple projects, I’ll have to try a pencil holder for myself, thanks for the inspiration. Much better than the beer glass I currently use. Geez.
10Remark from Shelly — Friday, 4/20/2007 @ 7:18 PM
I was not a Cockamamie camper. I could only get time off work for one thing, and the Magical Moebius workshop won.
You know, I moved to Portland first. Then the rest of my family found out how nice it is here and they all followed me. 😉
11Remark from Judy — Saturday, 4/21/2007 @ 8:40 AM
Hi, Shelly! Good to see you!
12Remark from Judy — Saturday, 4/21/2007 @ 8:41 AM