I enjoyed the
Calorimetry pattern from the Winter 2006 issue of Knitty greatly. So much, in fact, that I decided to make lots of my own. I only followed the pattern to a T the very first time around. After that, I was inspired by all sorts of craftsters, many of whom had altered the pattern themselves. I threw in cables, I made it narrower, I made it much wider.
So when I saw a hat with adorable owl cables recently here on Craftster, I thought that another Calorimetry was the next logical step. So, dear craftsters, I bring you Owl-orimetry.
Look at how pretty I am! Too bad it's not actually in focus.Of course, when I adapted the owl cable pattern, I forgot to take the spacing between the cables into account when I figured the initial stitch count and pattern. This left me with uncentered owls and giant holes, as I didn't feel like short-rowing the whole way. I did, however, like the way the little tabs looked on the ends, but didn't leave them in for the second go-around, when I figured the spacing correctly.
The owl cable pattern isn't mine, by the way. I found it on the world wide internets. Also, this pattern assumes that you're already familiar with the original Calorimetry pattern, and that you know how to do the accompanying short rows.
Owl cable pattern(11+3 st rep, beg WS)1: Work one row of reverse stockinette (purls on the right side).
2: [p3, k8], p3
3: k3, [p8, k3]
4: [p3 c4b, c4f], p3
5-11: alternate rows 2-3, beg and end with row 3
12: [p3, c4b, c4f], p3
13: k3, [p8, k3]
14: [p3, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1], p3
15: k3, [p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k3]
16-17: rep rows 1-2
18: [p3, c4b, c4f], p3
19: k3, [p8, k3]
20: Work one row of reverse stockinette (purls on the right side).
Important note: as you work the twenty rows with the owl cable, you will also incorporate shaping. I did this with short rows. On each row, short row 1 stitch per side, to avoid gaping holes (like the top photograph below).
Short rows are worked on the first 5 of the 9 stitches on the outsides of the markers. Also, these 9 stitches are worked in garter stitch. To make the fun little narrow tab-like ends, the first short row on either side can be worked over 4 stitches, and the rest of the short rows over 1 stitch.
InstructionsCast on 98 sts. (I like the cable cast on; you can see directions on
Knitting Help, about halfway down the page).
Work two rows of garter stitch. On the second row, place one marker 9 stitches in from either end. (The space between these two markers is where your owl cable pattern will be. From the marker to the end of the row is where the shaping magic will happen.)
Begin owl cable pattern. At the same time, start your short rows. (In other words, work your reverse stockinette to the last stitch, wrap and turn, and start row two.)
RS: Sl wrapped stitch, knit to marker, sl m, begin cable pattern for 7 repeats, sl m, knit to last stitch, wrap and turn.
Continue through cable pattern, wrapping one stitch per row. Once you finish row 11 of the cable pattern, you will have wrapped (short-rowed) 5 stitches on each end. Start increasing your short rows, picking up the wrapped stitches you left behind.
Work final row of owl cable pattern. You should be ending your last short row here on this row.
Work two rows of garter stitch.
Bind off. I used the k2tog method: k2tog, *sl st from RH needle to LH needle, k2tog.*
You should have both of your yarn ends, from the cast on and the bind off, on the same side of your FO. Draw each of the ends through the opposite side, and tie them in a bow. Pop it on your head, and go out on the town! You're now just as stylish, if not more so, than xamonster!
My first edge, with a squished owl and a hole.
The new edge, sans hole.By the way, this pattern is typed up from the scribbles in my knitting notebook, so mistakes are possible. Let me know and I'll fix it up!
Thanks to
sundayafternoonhous ewife for requesting clarification. Sometimes I'm garbled.
