Alpacas

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!

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

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

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?

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.

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!

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.