A Lot of Knitting

February was a good month for knitting, because it was a slow month for working. I made lots of progress on my sock blank, and also completed two small projects - a pair of mittens, using my top-down pattern, and another Lily bath mitt.

 

I finally finished the SWS striped scarf. I alternated two colorways, Navy & Russet, inspired by Jared Flood's Noro Striped Scarf. Though it should've been a bore with endless 1x1 ribbing, the color changes continuously kept me interested. My honey likes it, too, although he has yet to wear it, but I'm not hurt, because I know he doesn't wear scarves. I was more interesting in knitting it than gifting it. Next winter, I'll make one for myself in more feminine colors.



I started an Ernie sweater for my nephew - a striped raglan, knit it pieces, so I can sew it up to perfectly match the stripes. It's based upon the construction of the pattern in Son of Stitch 'n Bitch, only much smaller. It's bigger than he is, though, and hopefully I can give it as a birthday gift, that he can wear when the weather turns cold in the fall.

For March, I will focus on finishing all UFO's before I start anything new, other than another small simple on-the-go-stuff-in-my-purse project. It keeps me sane whenever I'm out and about running errands and have to wait for something or someone.

Mossy Border Tank Top

I finished it long ago, but have been too busy to even think about a photo shoot, much less noting the details. Since Ravelry automates the noting of project details, I use their database instead of typing everything out here. I suggest y'all go sign up for Ravelry. It's free, and it's like MySpace for knitters and crocheters.

I used humble Sugar'n Cream yarn, in sage heather, a Bond knitting machine, and then handknit the borders. For the moss panel in the middle, I actually dropped down those stitches after working them on the machine, and then worked them back up in moss stitch - something easily done with a 10" double-ended crochet hook.


My cake decorator training has been keeping me from my needlework - sometimes for days at a time! Now I'm an official Wilton Method Instructor. I started my first cake decorating class this month, Course 1, where I teach a beginner class the essentials of cake decorating. So far, everything's been great fun. In the meantime, I leave you with the photos of my latest cake creations.

Flower Pattern, Yarn Dyeing, and Knitting Machine Love

It's been a great day! I've been playing with DD, playing with yarn, and even doing a little housework. Now we're about to bake some chocolate brownies, and while we're waiting, try the new Latin flavor Kool-Aids on wool.



FELTED CROCHET FLOWER PATTERN UPDATE!

You'll need worsted or aran weight 100% wool yarn, size J (6.0mm) crochet hook
(or yarn weight of choice, using a hook 1 size larger than recommended), and a yarn needle

To yarn as in photo (enough for 3 flowers): For each color, wind off 36 yards of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool, tie each in a loose hank, place each in its own microwavable coffee cup, fill with water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, then let soak for 30 mins. Next dissolve 1 packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid in Cherry, Orange, and Pineapple respectively. *Microwave until it starts to boil, rest for a few minutes, repeat from * until water is colorless. Let cool completely, rinse carfully, hang dry out of the sun, and....

pop = popcorn (sc 4 times in same st, remove hook from loop, insert hook into 1st sc, then into loop, yo, and pull through both

Start with an adjustable ring. With this tutorial link, end with step 6.

Rnd 1: ch-1, sc 10 times into ring, ss to 1st sc, tighten ring

Rnd 2: ch-1, (sc, pop) 5 times, ss to 1st sc (10 sts)

Rnd 3: ch-1, 2 sc in each st around, ss to 1st sc (20 sts),
fasten off yarn

Rnd 4: (work entire rnd in front loops only) join new yarn with ss in any st of rnd 3, (ch-2, 2 dc in next st, 2 tc in next st, 2 dc in next st, ch-2, ss in next st) 5 times (5 petals made), fasten off yarn

Rnd 5: (working behind rnd 4, work entire rnd in back loops of rnd 3) join new yarn with ss at same st as the join of rnd 4, (ch-4, 2 dtc in next st, 2 ttc in next st, 2 dtc in next st, ch-4, ss in next st) 5 times (5 petals made), fasten off yarn and weave in ends

These are easily felted by hand. Fill 1 bowl with the hottest water you can stand with gloved hands plus a squirt of liquid dishsoap, and 1 bowl of ice water. *Immerse flower in hot water, rubbing it vigorously for a few minutes, then immerse and rub in ice water for a minute.* Repeat from * to * until felted as desired. Keep the hot water as hot as possible for fastest felting. Press in a towel to remove excess water, and lay flat to dry.

Single color option: Omit "fasten off yarn" and "join new yarn with ss" steps. At beg of rnd 5, begin w/ ss in the back loop of rnd 3

Popcornless option: These can be difficult, so just replace "pop" with "sc" to simplify!

Abbreviations: rnd=round; ch=chain; st=stitch; yo=yarn over; ss=slip stitch; sc=single crochet; dc=double crochet; tc=treble crochet; dtc=double treble crochet; ttc=triple treble crochet

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Here DD and I dyed some kitchen cotton in the colors of my kitchen: cranberry, pine, & mahogany. I'll make some dishcloths from this, and if they're too pretty, I hope I'll have the nerve to use them.


Here's a little experiment with a lace pattern I slightly modified from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Embellishments. Also, I finally tried a picot bind-off, and I can see great potential! I was thinking about making a shawl from this prototype, perhaps in a Valentine color, but would a heart lace shawl look corny?


You know your man loves you when he buys you yarn and knitting books, but THIS???



My man took a brand-new tool cart (toolheads swear by Mac), modified it by adding a tabletop, and voila, I have a knitting machine worktable. This man doesn't just love me, this man is obsessed with my obsessions. I'm marrying him!

I Knit, Therefore I Crochet

I've been modestly productive on the creative front. I frogged my sister's birthday tank top and made her a purse instead, 2 weeks late. This is my very own pattern, which includes a basketweave stitch body, garter stitch handles, wooden sticks whip-stitched on top. I like it so much, I just might one for myself.


I've just completed 1 panel of her yellow poncho on a Bond knitting machine, though it's an inch smaller than the pattern, it's the exact dimensions of a similar pattern, and since my sister is petite, I'll go with it. I'm making 2 big rectangles, then I'll sew them together and fringe and bead the edges.


Raven pulled 3 yarns from my stash and asked me to make a Valentine's sweater, so here it is March, and it's almost finished. I made this on the knitting machine too. I tried to seam the shoulders with the Kitchener's stitch, and I think I did it wrong, because doesn't look seamless. Still, it looks okay, so I'm leaving it, and hopefully it will be my first seaming-success-story.


For Raven's Val-Day gift, I freehanded a crocheted poncho in 3 days, and everybody loves it. It's just a big red rectangle, then I joined the ends with a decreasing band, then added a picot trim. I can't decide which I like better - knitting or crochet? Crocheting is faster, but knitting creates a flatter fabric. They both make me happy, so away I stitch....