Confessions of an Obsessive Knitter (free patterns)

Alpacas

2010-05-18T21:50:00.006-04:00

This past weekend my little sister graduated from law school. One might thing that this would have been a very busy weekend with little time for yarny pursuits. Au Contraire, my friends. We had a little time to kill, so my sister sent us up the street to the Yarn Garden, a quaint little shop with a nice selection. I picked out some Berroco Pure Merino to make pumpkin hat and booties for my stepsister's son, due in early autumn.

Then on Sunday we went to the Bent Pine Alpaca Farm. I learned many things I never knew about alpacas, and the proprietor of the farm gave me some literature to help convince my father to let me have alpacas at his farm! And of course I got a skein of alpaca yarn, which I am going to use to make a gift for my sister, a little way to remember the town she spent so much time in.

Disaster Strikes AGAIN!

2010-04-12T11:21:00.002-04:00

Last summer a new yarn store in the county opened up. The atmosphere was friendly and the yarn selection was more than I could have asked for. I mean honestly, sugar cane yarn? Who knew? Specialties like that right down to the staples of Plymouth Encore and Ella Rae Superwash. And TONS of Noro. And it has closed already! It was doing so well that it was taking a toll on the owner's health and family life, so I totally understand, but I NEED A YARN STORE closer than an hour away. And I had just started going to their Tuesday morning knit group. How sad. The owner is looking to sell the business, so hopefully someone else will come along and open it back up. Then there would be rejoicing for all!

Operation Helmetliner

2010-01-10T22:26:00.003-05:00

I have decided to participate in Operation Helmetliner. More info on that can be found on the CitizenSam website here: http://www.citizensam.org/ . I am making helmetliners for troops overseas subjected to subzero climates. So far I have made five. They need to be out of 100% wool so that should a soldier be in a situation involving fire, the helmetliner will burn to ash and not melt, as a fiber like acrylic would. I have been using Patons Classic Wool in color Chestnut, and a lovely person from Ravelry tells me she is going to send me some black Patons to continue with my efforts. It has been my dream since about the seventh grade to be a soldier. Due to medical reasons, however, I am ineligible to serve my country in such a manner, and feel like maybe I can do my part by supporting those who are serving. I have made five helmetliners so far, sent one to a specific soldier, and am working on getting a box of ten to send to CitizenSam. That means I need to make six more. As they only take me a day or so to knit, this shouldn't be a problem. Any help would be appreciated (yarn, words of encouragement, etc, etc, etc). You can contact me through my Etsy store or on Ravelry as screen name StevieLynn.

Rhinebeck

2009-10-19T13:59:00.002-04:00

This past weekend was the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. I went up with my friend and her daughter, and we had a great time. So much beautiful yarn to pet! I came home with an autographed book and five skeins of lovely yarn. Two skeins will go to make a hat to match my new ski jacket, two skeins of lovely alpaca will go to make a shawl, and one skein will be set aside to make the Knotty Gloves featured on Ravelry. The only downside to this is that I bought all this yarn to make projects for me when I really need to be working on Christmas gifts right now. Only two months left, and knitting isn't the fastest craft in the world.

At the show there were sheep, angora rabbits, alpacas, llamas, and more. My friend's little girl got a real kick out of petting all the animals. There were kid's activities too, which she really enjoyed. It rained a bit and was rather chilly, but we dressed for the weather and didn't have a real problem with it. I can't wait to go again next year! I would recommend the show to anyone who lives within driving distance of it. There are Ravelry meetups and a party on Saturday night, too! What more could you ask for?

Snow in October? Really now?

2009-10-17T14:28:00.003-04:00

It snowed two days ago. Seriously. The fifteenth of October. In New Jersey. This is getting rediculous. It snowed all day, though nothing really stuck to the ground, I assume because the ground was still too warm to handle the snow. Regardless, we had a very winter-like day. It got me thinking about winter and Christmas and how I really need to get going on the holiday knits I have planned. Mom's gift is done, Jimmy's is done, but nothing else really. So what do I do? Write a new pattern, of course. Why work on what needs to be done when I can play around and knit Christmas stockins my family doesn't need. The result, at any rate, is the pictured stocking. Simple enough to knit, with a ribbed cuff and stockinette body. Made basically the way one would make a sock, just with heavier yarn and bigger needles. Nice that stockings don't have to fit. At any rate, here is what I came up with.

Christmas Stocking
Yarn: worsted weight any style will do. I used two colors of Patons Merino, but something like Wool of the Andes or Lionbrand Wool-Ease would work. Even Red Heart would do the trick, if you can stand knitting something this big with 100% acrylic yarn.
Needles: US 7 DPNS set of five
Notions: tapestry needle and any applique's or bells or tinsel or whatever you might like to decorate with.

CO 60 sts, dividing evenly on four needles 15 sts on each)
Work MC in 1x1 rib for 4".
Change to CC and work 15 rows (2")
Change back to MC and work 15 rows (2")
contiue until leg portion has four color repeats done.
K 7 rounds in CC.
Divide for heel flap
Place 30 sts on one needle. This will be the heel. Leave other thirty sts on two needles, which will be the instep.
Work 20 rows of heel flap in MC.
Turn heel:
K to center (15), K3, sl 1, ssk, turn.
P to center, P3, sl 1 P2tog, turn.
There are now two decrese points set up. These points are the gaps in the sts. K to 1 st before gap, ssk over gap, turn.
P to 1 st before gap, p2tog across gap, turn.
Continue in this manner until you reach the edges of the heel. There should be 10 sts left on heel needle.
Pick up 14 sts on each side of foot. Needle 1 should have 19 sts, needle 2 15, needle 3 15, and needle 4 19. Knit 1 round in CC.
Next round: Needle 1: Knit to last two sts, k2tog. Needle 2&3: K. Needle 4 SSK, K to end of needle.
Next round: K
Continue in this manner, maintaining stripe sequence, until 60 sts remain on needles. Continue in stripe pattern, 1 stripe MC and 10 rounds CC.
Begin toe decreases: Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 2: K1, ssk, k to end of needle. Needle 3: K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end of needle.
Next round:K.
Continue in this manner until there are 6 sts left oneach needle. Graft toe together. Weave in ends. Create a braid or crochet a chain to form a hanging loop. Stitch to inside of stocking. Decorate as desired. Hang by chimney with care for Santa to fill.

2009-09-11T23:14:00.007-04:00

So I made a couple Knit-Tab Hats on Ravelry and decided I really wanted some handwear to match. Unfortunately, there was no such pattern to be found on Ravelry, so I invented one. It is based on my Ribbed Wristwarmers pattern, but I added a button tab on each wristlet to match the hat. Without further ado I give you the Button Tab Wristlets:

Needles: Size 6 straights and dpns

Yarn: Worsted Weight (I used SandnesGarn Smart

Notions: Tapestry needle, sewing needle, sewing thread, buttons (2-4 depending on size desired)

Right Wristlet:

On straight needles CO 50 sts

Row 1: *K2, P2* K2

Row 2: *P2, K2* P2

Repeat these two rows until you have 14 rows of rib.

BO 10, Knit in rib pattern to end of row.

Transfer to dpns (40 sts)

Join in round, working in rib pattern until piece measures 5" from CO edge.

Next round: Do not join

Turn work and knit 12 rows in rib pattern (Essentially you will be working these twelve rows flat)

Rejoin in round and work an additional ten rounds. BO Loosely in rib. Sew button(s) to flap.

Left Wristlet

On straight needles CO 50

Row 1: *P2, K2* P2

Row 2: *K2, P2* K2

Repeat these two rows until you have completed 13 rows.

BO 10, kniti in rib pattern to end of row.

Transfer to dpns (40 sts)

Join in round, working in rib pattern until piece measures 5".

Next round: Do not join
Turn work and knit 12 rows in rib pattern (Essentially you will be working these twelve rows flat)
Rejoin in round and work an additional ten rounds. BO Loosely in rib. Sew button(s) to flap.

And she's back!

2009-08-31T19:44:00.005-04:00

I've been so delinquent about keeping my blog up to date and I'm so sorry. I have been busy with my knitting as my cousin is having a baby girl and I feel the need to endow her with knits. I also entered seven items in the state fair earlier this month and came away with five ribbons. Not too shabby. I also was commissioned to make hats for twin boys with bear ears by my friend. I couldn't find a pattern I liked so I wrote one and they came out way cute. Here's the pattern: (sorry for the fuzzy picture; my camera is acting up)

Baby Bear Hat

Gauge 4"= 24 sts

Materials : 6" circs and dpns
tapestry needle
worsted weight yarn (I used Ella Rae Superwash in color Taupe)
scrap pink yarn

CO 80 sts. PM and join to work in the round.
Work in 1x1 rib for six rows.
Switch to st st and work until piece measures 4 1/2 inches from cast on edge

Decrease rounds:
*K6, K2tog*
Knit
*K5, K2 tog*
Knit
*K4, K2tog*
Knit
*K3, K2tog*
Knit
*K2, K2tog*
Knit
*K2tog
Break yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Thread through remaining sts, pull tight, tie off, and weave in end.

Ears (make 4) :
CO 15
K 4 rows st st
Next row: K2tog each end
K2tog at beginning of next four rows.
P2 tog each end (9 sts remaining)
BO Knitting 2tog at each end.

Stitch two pieces together with right side facing. Turn right side out and sew in position on hat.

Pink part of ears:
CO 10
K 4 rows st st
K2tog each end
P
K2tog each end
P
BO Knitting 2tog each end.
Stitch to front of ears.

Humble Apologies

2009-04-27T11:42:00.012-04:00

I'm so sorry for not being around since January. For a while I just didn't feel like knitting, so what was the point in posting? Then I was in the hospital (I'm ok now, no worries), and then I finally decided to pick up my needles again. So I began to knit. And knit, and knit, and knit. I made hats and headbands and dishcloths and spa sets and a shawl.

To make my absence up to you, I have designed not one, but two patterns for you to enjoy. The first is the Diamond Lace Headband.

Size 7 straight needles

Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Malabrigo Worsted)

Tapestry needle

B3 = K3 sts for border

CO 6

K 20 rows in garter stitch

Increase rows:

1. K3, M1, K3

Row 2 and ever even row during increase section, P

3. K1, M1, K5, M1, K1

Continue to increas after the first stitch and before the last stitch of every odd row until you have 17 sts.

Begin pattern:

1. B3, p2, k2tog,[ki, yo]twice, k1, sl1, psso, p2, B3

2 and every even row:B3, k2, p7, k2, B3

3. B3, P2, k2og, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, p2, B3

5. B3, p2, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, p2, B3

7. B3, p2, k2, yo sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2, p2, B3

8. As row 2

Repeat these rows six MORE times for a total of seven repeats.

Decrease rows:

1. K1, k2tog, k11, k2tog, k1

2.P

3. K1, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k1

4.P

Continue decreasing in this manner until you have 7 sts

Next row: K2, k2tog, k3

Knit 20 rows of garter stitch.

BO, sew ends of headband together, weave in loose ends.

Next we have the Little Shells Dishcloth:

Size 7 needles
worsted weight cotton
tapestry needle for weaving in ends

B3= K3 for border

CO 43
K 3 rows
1. K across
2. B3, p 37, B3
3. B3, K2 *yo, p1, p3tog, p1, yo, k2* 5 times B3
4. B3, p 37, B3
Repeat rows 1-4 10 more times for a totall of 11 repeats.
K 3 rows
BO
Weave in ends

2009-01-17T16:40:00.002-05:00

You know how writers get writer's block? Well, I've got knitter's block. I've got about eight UFO's that I could be working on and a store full of yarn that I could start a new project with, not to mention to commissioned works that need to get done, yet all I can do is stare at my needles and shake my head.

Cany anyone else relate? Man, I want to be knitting, but I'm stumped!

Success!

2008-12-09T11:27:00.004-05:00

Wow, it's been a while. Sorry, ladies and gents. Just a quick update to tell you all that I participated in my church Christmas Craft Bazaar this past Saturday and it was a complete success. I got lots of complements, earned quite a bit of money, and got to spend some time with my mom, who came to help me sit my table. I sold over half my hats, half my scarves, all my wool mittens, a hackeysack, and some of the hemp jewelry I also make. I was very excited. Now all I have to do is finih illing a few custom Christmas orders and I'll be all set! Hope you are all doing well and I'll try to update again soon.

Harry Potter, Again

2008-10-22T14:12:00.003-04:00

So I'm on another Harry Potter kick, mostly because I finally finished my Quidditch sweater, which I am very proud of. It fits perfectly, is warm and snuggly, and I can just imagine myself out on the Quidditch pitch on a broomstick, looking for the snitch.

I've also made the HP Snitch Dishcloth to stick in a Halloween care package for a young friend of mine who loves Harry Potter as much as I do.

On top of these, I have made an entire set of Weasley sweater ornaments out of Charmed Knits, but I am embarassed to post the pictures of them because I am so bad at duplicate stitch. And I just cast on for the 3-4 year scarf, also from Charmed Knits.

Soon I'll be posting pictures of Christmas gifts, though I have to be careful because my mother finally got on Ravelry and has access to all my pictures and my blog now! (But hooray mom for joining us on Rav!)

New York Sheep and Wool Festival

2008-10-20T13:39:00.002-04:00

Yesterday my mother and I drove up to Rhinebeck, NY for the New York Sheep and Wool festival. It was fantastic! The weather was perfect, and I've never seen so much wool in one place! I pet an alpaca, too. They're nice and soft, and I want one (or two, as they're herd animals). I met Melanie Falick, the author of Weekend Knits and Knitting New Scarves and a few others. I brought my books for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee to sign, but she had left by the time we got to the authors' building. Boo for that. But I did get The Prayer Shawl Companion and got it autographed 1.) because I've always wanted a prayer shawl book and 2.) because I opened up to a page and looking back at me was my grandmother's cousin! I had no idea she knit, let alone was good enough to have a prayer shawl featured in a book! I of course bought some yarn while I was there too. Some lovely undyed wool and a grey tweed. Of course neither of them have tags on them so they don't have names or anything. But they are both lovely yarns and I can't wait to wind them and start using them. All in all, it was a wonderful day. Oh, and I met a few people from Ravelry. I even talked to Jess and her brother for a minute. How cool!

The Golden Compass (Lyra's Hood)

2008-09-16T16:33:00.005-04:00

Have you seen the movie that came out last holiday season, The Golden Compass? It's based on the trilogy by Phillip Pullman, His Dark Materials. Anyway, the movie contains some gorgeous knitwear, and I decided to write a pattern to reconstruct Lyra's hood, the that she appears in most frequently. And, for you, my friends, I decided to share it!

Lyra's Hood
Yarn: Bernat Camoflauge Desert Sand 2 skeins
Needles: size 11
Notions: tapestry needle, crochet hook
Gauge: 3 sts per inch
Size: Adult

Holding 2 strands together, CO 60
Knit in St St for 10 inches.
BO.
Sew seam up the back.
Cut 12 1-yard lengths of yarn and thread 6 through each front corner. Braid each set of strands for approximately 18 inches. Tie off braid and cut ends evenly. Weave in any loose ends.

Disaster Strikes!

2008-09-06T21:05:00.002-04:00

Disaster! Double Disaster! First, I find out that the next Harry Potter movie has been postponed from November 21 to July! I can't wear my Quidditch sweater in JULY! Now I have to come up with something else to knit that I can wear in the middle of the summer for the movie opening. What a tragedy.

Second, and more importantly, THE YARN LOFT IS CLOSING! My yarn store, the one I've worked at, the only one in the whole county, is closing! DISASTER! What will I do for yarn?

2008-08-02T10:02:00.003-04:00

It's fair week here in New Jersey, and I have entered a number of exhibits in the Home Ec division. The entries I am most concerned with are, of course, my knitting entries. I entered a sweater which recieved Honorable Mention .

I also entered a poncho (not pictured- sorry) wich recieved Second Place, and two hats, which received First and Second. (Cables and Earflaps, 1st, Norwegian Star 2nd.) I'm very pleased.

Harry Potter Mania

2008-07-20T12:14:00.004-04:00

I've been holding off on my designing in order to participate last minute in a knitalong that ends July 31. I'm doing the Harry Potter Craft-along on Ravelry, and I'm trying to get in one project related to each of the books. Here are my favorites:

We've got a Golden Snitch knit out of Cascade 220 Wool, Hedwig made with Lion Brand Tiffany, Caron Simply Soft, and scraps, a House Hat out of Plymouth Encore Worsted, and a Weasley Sweater ornament, also out of Plymouth Encore Worsted and scraps. Also on the needles is a Quidditch sweater which I hope to have finished in time to wear to the new HP movie, which comes out November 21.

Stitch-n-Pitch

2008-07-13T18:36:00.002-04:00

So I went camping with some Ravelry folk this weekend. We had a lot of fun. Knitting around the campfire, dying yarn with Kool-Aid, and just generally chatting and knitting and having a good time. It was so good to meet all these people and put faces to names! I had a blast.

I spent my weekend working on the Quidditch Sweater out of Charmed Knits. The new movie comes out November 21 and I am determined to have my sweater done so I can wear it to the movie. I also dyed my yarn red and yellow to make self striping Gryffindor wristwarmers from my wristwarmer pattern.

I put my Cooler Hammock pattern on hold because I lost a needle. It turns out that this is fine because you are not allowed to have coolers out of the car where we camped anyway. Now I don't see the point in finishing it because I don't see another camping trip in the forseeable future, much as I would love it. But I will finish it eventually, because it is a mighty cool project.

A note for anyone using How to Knit in the Woods: Shannon Okey (the author) contacted me and informed me that the campfire chair is not made using sisal at all, but nylon twine, so if anyone else was as confused as I was, there you go.

Not much else to report. However, I will post a few pictures of my camping trip next time!

JK Rowling Saw My Stuff!

2008-06-29T17:51:00.002-04:00

As the title says... JK ROWLING SAW MY STUFF! For anyone who is living under a rock and doesn't know who JK Rowling is, she authored the Harry Potter series. And she saw the stuff I made!

Explanation, dear friends: Last year I sent a care package to a friend at Halloween. As she and I both share an obsessive love for all things Harry Potter, the package contained a cauldron, pumpkin bread, pumpkin beer (yes, folks, I sent her beer), and, of course, a wand carved by me and my trusty Swiss Army knife and a hand knitted Gryffindor scarf with the school crest on it. THIS year she went to graduate school at Harvard (yes, really, she did) where the commencement speaker for the year was none other than JK Rowling. As the graduating class was small, my friend was sitting right up front, wearing the scarf and carrying the wand with her cap and gown. And JK Rowling smiled at her and her regalia. And she told me and I was excited.

Book Review

2008-06-11T19:09:00.005-04:00

My mother gave me the book "How to Knit in the Woods." I was terribly excited for the book to come out and even more excited to get an early birthday gift. At first glance there were some really great practical things like a camp chair knitted with sisal, some stuff that I wasn't sure I'd want to knit for the woods (really, who spends hours knitting a sweater and then wears it camping?), and some really silly stuff, like a Nalgene water bottle cozy. But, being the outdoorsy knitter that I am, I dove right in and began to knit with gusto. I made the Ell Pond Nalgene cozy, and who knew, it really works! Who would have thought that wool would keep something cold?! But it's great, I love it, I've since made two, have had a friend ask for one, and am enjoying embellishing them.

I have also started on the Cooler Hammock, which is knit from butcher's twine (kitchen cotton) and meant to suspend your Igloo cooler from a tree branch to keep out of reach of marauding beasties. I'm not sure about how well it would stand up to the black bears we have around here, but it will at least keep the ants out of my cooler when I'm car camping.

Then there's the camp stool which I've tried to knit three times and can't get to work. First of all, sisal is nasty to knit with. It's stiff and grainy and little pieces shred off it. It's meant for baling hay and the like. Second of all, the book says you can get what they used at the local hardware or home improvement store. I hit four and can't find what they are talking about. Mine's not white and it doesn't knit to guage. It's huge. So forget that for the time being. Maybe I'll make it out of nylon or polypropalene or something.

THEN there's the fact that the book does not stand up to weathering well. One would think that a book made for knitting in the woods would be able to take a slight beating. Well, my Camelback leaked in my backpack and the book is now ruined. I'm not sure if I am going to get another copy or not. We shall see, my friends, we shall see.

Fortissima Colori Socks

2008-05-26T11:29:00.004-04:00

Well, fellow knitters, I do believe I have perfected my sock pattern. This is for your basic 2x2 ribbed crew sock (shown here with cuff turned down), nothing fancy. But I do love handknit socks.

Needles: Size 2 dpns

Yarn: Fortissima Colori

Notions: tapestry needle

CO 64 sts and distrubute over four needles. Knit in 2x2 rib for 5"

Redistrubute stitches so that there are 32 on one needle and 32 on the other. Set remaining to needles aside.

Heel flap: Choose one needle to be the heel (it doesn't matter which) and work 31 rows in st st. Other needle will just be holding live stitches.

Turn heel: Purl to middle of row (16 st) p2, p2tog, p1, turn. S1, k back to middle of row, k2, ssk, K1, turn. You have just set up two decrease points so that each row you do, you should be decreasing across the gaps. Continue in this manner until you reach the edge of the heel. There should be 18 sts on the needle.

Pick up and knit 16 sts on side of heel. Work instep (32 sts) in 2x2 ribbing. Pick up and knit 16 sts on other side of heel. Knit fourth needle. Now begin decreasing away your extra stitches until you are back to your original 64:

Round 1: K to last two sts on first needle, k2tog. Work in 2x2 ribbing on next needle. On third needle, ssk, k to end. Needle four, knit.

Round 2: Knit around, keeping needle 2 (instep needle) in 2x2 rib.

Once there are 64 sts left, (7 on needle 1, 32 on needle 2, 7 on needle 3, 18 on needle four) redistrubute sts again. Slip nine from needle 4 onto needle 1 and nine from needle 4 onto needle 3.

Work in the round, keeping instep in 2x2 ribbing until foot is 2" less than the length you want it, or reaches approximately the base of your big toe when tried on.

Now decrease for the toe:

Round 1: K to last three sts on needle, k2tog, k1. Next needle k1, ssk, k to last three sts on needle, k2tog, k1. Needle three, k1, ssk, k to end of needle.

Round 2: K

Continue in this manner until 16 sts remain Graft toe together. Weave in ends.

Begging Your Pardon

2008-05-15T07:28:00.006-04:00

I beg forgiveness for not posting recently. I have been hard at work on some projects. first of all, I finished my rainbow striped scarf, made by manually striping two colors (four skeins) of self striping Plymouth Boku.

I also learned how to felt, and made my mother a basket to put the rest of her birthday present in.

I have also been working on a stocking cap, a hemp hat (my hemp yarn finally came in the mail!), and have been designing a pair of socks. When those are finished I'll post the pattern. Until then, fellow knitters!

Wool-Ease Mittens

2008-05-03T09:56:00.004-04:00

I present to you a simple, quick to knit pattern for your basic mittens. They are warm, hard wearing, and machine washable. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Women's Medium (Large)

Yarn: 1 Skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick
Needles: 1 set #10 DPN

Notions: tapestry needle, stitch holder or scrap yarn

Make 2:
Cast on 22 (24)
Work in 1x1 Rib 12 rnds
K in St st 2 rnds

Gusset:
K1, M1, K1, M1, knit around
K1 round
K1, M1, K3, M1, knit around
K1 round
K1, M1, K5, M1, knit around
K1 round
K1, M1, K7, M1, knit around
K1 round
K1, M1, K9, M1, knit around
K1 round
K2, place next 8 st on holder, K around

Hand:
K in St st 20 (22) rnds
K3, K2tog around
K2, K2tog around
K1, K2tog around
K2 tog around
Cut yarn, lace through remaining stitches, pull tight, tie off.

Thumb:
Pick up 8 st on holder
Pick up 1 (2) st on either end of previous 8 st
K in St st 12 (14) rnds
K2tog around
Cut yarn, lace tail through remaining loops, pull tight, tie off

Lesson Learned

2008-04-26T20:47:00.002-04:00

Today I was a vendor at a flea market. I set up a table to sell some of my knitted items, and also some beaded earrings and macrame necklaces and bracelets. Very little sold. I didn't even earn $100. Boo. If complements paid my bills, I'd be set for life, but I very quickly learned that people don't troll flea markets looking for handmade items. They want cheap, cheap, cheap. And what I make is not. So, as disappointing as it is to have sold so little, I do have more than I went in with, and I learned my lesson. I'll look for craft fairs.

Also, I opened an Etsy store today. Be sure to check it out! There are only a couple items right now, but if there seems to be interest, I'll be listing more things as time goes on. My vendor name is StevieLynn.

In non-knitting news, I just returned from a three day, 25 mile backpacking trip on the Appalachian trail. I met some interesting people, including a few through hikers who were quite amused to see me sitting in the shelter at night with my knitting, working by headlamp. (Ok, so it's not quite non-knitting related.) Was a good trip, but it did take away from my knitting time. Oh well. It was fun, any way you slice it, and my knitting did make an appearance.

Tune in next time for another original pattern.....

Insomnia Strikes

2008-04-19T04:42:00.003-04:00

It's 4:42 am. Bah. I can't sleep tonight, so I figured turning to some knitting isn't a bad idea.

Everyone needs one of those projects that yields finished results almost immediately. You know, something you can start and finish in the same day, something that doesn't really take a time commitment like sweaters and shawls and afghans do. Well, for me lately, that project has been cat toys. Now, if your cats are anything like my cats, they love the knitted things they are not supposed to have. They want to sleep on them, knead their claws in them, bat around balls of yarn, you name it. So I like to make them knitted things they can have. The mouse is a Catnip Friend from Oddball Knitting by Barbara Albright. The ball is actually a Knitted Kick Sack from the same source. But the fish, the fish is my design, and you all may have it.

Note: this pattern is worked from tail to head.

Needles: US size 6 dpns
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in carrot
Scrap of black yarn or embroidery floss
Notions: tapestry needle

CO 21 st
Join to knit in round, being careful not to twist.
Arrange sts so that there are 7 on each of three needles.
Knit 5 rounds.
Begin first set of decreases:
Round 1: *K5, K2tog*
Round 2: K
Round 3: *K4, K2tog*
Round 4: K
Continue in this fashion until there are 3 sts on each needle.
Begin increase:
Kf&b into the first st of each needle until there are 8 sts on each needle.
Knit 7 rounds.
Begin second set of decreases:
Round 1: *K6, K2tog*
Round 2 *K5, K2tog*
Continue in this fashion until only one st remains on each needle.
Cut yarn, lace through live sts, pull tight, tie off, pull yarn through to inside.
Stuff with polyfil, catnip, and/or a plastic shopping bag (they make a great crinkling noise my cats love), close tail with a whipstitch and embed any lose ends inside the toy. Embroider two eyes in the appropriate places with scrap yarn or embroidery floss.

It came!

2008-04-14T21:58:00.003-04:00

It's here! It finally came! My yarn from Knit Picks! Now, normally, Knit Picks is great with shipping. They say five to ten business days, but I've never even waited five days for my yarn to be shipped all the way across the country. This time, however, I depended on my computer screen to be accurate. I found the perfect shade of green to make a shawl to match a sleeveless dress I own. When it arrived, it turned out to be this horrible shade, absolutely garish. That's what I get for thinking the coloring of my screen is dead on accurate. Right, like that ever happens. So I sent it back, exchaning it for a purple shade called Aubergine. So instead of getting my yarn to start this shawl two weeks ago, I had to wait for it to ship back, the return to process, and the new shipment to come. Far too long to wait for yarn. But it came today! I have already started knitting up the Dragon Scales Shawl by Carissa Browning, which can be found on the blog Carissa Knits. When I have some progress made, I'll post a pic or two.

In other news, I learned to double knit last week, and I'm working on this scarf. If you aren't familiar with double knitting, the other side is exactly the opposite, a blue star on a yellow background.

I am also waiting on two Ebay shipments; one of 100% hemp yarn and one on 100% bamboo yarn. I can't wait to work with fibers that are totally renewable and earth friendly. If only I could find them that were made in this country.

As Promised...

2008-04-12T20:21:00.008-04:00

As promised, here is the pattern for my Norwegian Star hat. I think I have all the kinks worked out, so here we go.

US size 7 16" circ
Cascade 220 MC
Cascade 220 CC
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes also works well for this pattern.

CO 112 st
Knit in 1x1 ribbing for 3 1/2 inches.
Knit 5 rows.
Work chart.
Knit 10 rows.
Begin dec:
Round 1: *K6, K2tog*
Round 2: K
Round 3: *K5, K2tog*
Round 4: K
Continue in this manner until 14 st remain. Cut yarn, lace tail through live sts, pull tight, tie off on wrong side and weave in ends.

(Jan 19, 2010)ETA: Many Ravelers are finding that this pattern yields a very large hat. It is made to fit my 22" melon. If your head is smaller than mine (as it very likely is), I suggest you take other Ravelers' suggestions and CO 96 sts and work from there.

Wristwarmers for All!!!

2008-04-12T18:47:00.004-04:00

Today's project: your basic ribbed wristwarmers. My mother swears these things are useless, but as a teacher/naturalist, I constantly have to start campfires, page through field guides, and the like, none of which I can do with a gloved hand. Even if you're not a granola girl like me, you still need your fingers to fumble for keys or dial a cell phone. I think whoever invented fingerless gloves and mittens deserves a medal. My hands and wrists stay warm and my fingers stay useful. Everyone wins.

So, without further ado, I give you the Basic Ribbed Wristwarmer :
Yarn: 1 skein Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (110y/50g) color Pidgeon Twist
Needles: 1 set of 5 size 6 dpns
Notions: tapestry needle

CO 40 st
Distribute evenly on four needles and join for working in the round.
Work in 2x2 ribbing (K2, P2) for 5 inches.
Begin Thumbhole:
Round 1: work all four needles in rib pattern. When you reach the end of the round do not join.
Round 2: turn work and work rib pattern back in the direction you came. (essentially you will be knitting flat)
Repeat rounds 1&2 five more times for a total of twelve rows.
Next round: join work across thumbhole. Work 10 rounds of rib pattern.
BO in rib. Weave in ends.
Make second wristwarmer

Hats!

2008-04-11T16:52:00.001-04:00

Lately I've been on a hat kick. Plain hats, hats with stripes, hats with cables, hats with pigtails. But last weekend I learned how to do Fair Isle, so my most recent hats have had colorwork on them. I've progressed from a simple checkerboard:

To an easy vine and stripe:

To a traditional Norwegian star pattern:
This last hat is an original design, the star pattern a combination of one I found in a book and one I found on the net, and the knitting pattern itself just sort of evolved as I knit. When I have it perfected, (and when I figure out how to post charts) I shall post it here.

Currently I am working on my second Norwegian star hat in an effort to perfect it. Other Works In Progress include Lacy Skirt with Bows from the book Greetings From Knit Cafe by Susan Mischer, a feather and fan afghan, and a double knit scarf with a star pattern. I will be posting pictures of them in completed form in due time. Stay tuned for Finished Objects and original patterns!

Genesis

2008-04-10T09:48:00.001-04:00

So, I've decided to start a knitting blog. Here you will find my ramblings on patterns, projects, needles, and more. In celebration of my first post, I have decided to provide you with a pattern, one of my first designs. So welcome, and enjoy.

Cables and Earflaps

Yarn: For this pattern I used a locally grown alpaca yarn from Rainbow's End Farm. It's a light worsted weight, so substitute at will.

Needles: Size 8 16" circulars, Size 8 dpns
Notions: crochet hook, tapestry needle, markers

CO 88 st. PM and join, being careful not to twist.
Work in garter stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for ten rounds, increasing 12 stitches evenly in the last round (100 st).
Begin body of hat:
Round 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6: *K2, P2, K4, P2*
Round 3: *K2, P2, C4B, P2*

Work in this pattern until hat measures 7" from cast on edge.

Decreases:
Round 1: K2tog at each K2
Round 2: P2tog at each P2
Round 3: K2tog in the middle of each K4

Cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull top of hat closed. Thread through to wrong side of work and secure, weaving in ends.

Earflaps:
Mark center back of hat with removable marker. Count forward 8 st from marker. Pick up 18 st with dpn. Knit ten rows.
Row 11: K to last 3 st, K2tog, K1
Repeat Row 11 14 more times (3 st)
BO
Repeat procedure on opposite side of hat.

Braids:
Cut 6 one yard lengths of yarn. Thread through bottom of earflap with crochet hook. Braid. Tie off with an overhand knot. Repeat procedure on opposite side.