Yummy neck warmers

I made these as gifts for Evie and Joe. Hope they like them. The light colored one is made with Encore, worsted -- the Coffee Beenz line. Used maybe 1/2 a skein, size 8 needle. The pattern is a free download on Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-warmer-8   

The blue one is the Casablanca Cowl made with a lovely fluffy mohair blend -- Multi Mohair by Marks & Kattens. I had some leftover after making Lee Anna a lovely scarf/shawl for Christmas. (see below)

The Casablanca Cowl is by Jill Deal. I found the pattern at a LYS but cannot find it on the Internet. Jill Deal states on her pattern to "Feel free to share the pattern with all that love to knit" but to credit Jill Deal, Jilldeal, Inc. Milford, PA. I will see what I can do to post a PDF in the next few days.

Lee Anna's scarf/shawl is a free download on Ravelry. I altered the pattern by not connecting the ends together and continuing the increases on the ends to make it a little bit longer.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/planet-x-bandit

Another hat for dad

I made another hat for dad. The last one shrunk quite a bit. I made this one from Plymouth Yarn, their Encore line. This is "coffee beenz" (75% acrylic - 25% wool), color: quarry

To keep the roll of the brim under control, after 6 rows I did two rows of Knit 2 purl 1 ribbing. Very happy with the results. 

Free Ravelry download: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-roll-brim-beanie

Single stripe knitting

I was watching a video by Eunny Jang, knitting a multi-stripe sock with no jog. The stripes just go around and around the sock - it was likened to a barber pole. I wanted to try the technique but I could find nothing on the Internet that showed how to do this with just two colors. I read as much as could, found it referred to as "helix" knitting, but no directions that I could find. Well I just jumped in and look at the great results!
So how do you accomplish this? I started out with a standard sock pattern, my old standby favorite Yankee Knitter pattern #29 "Classic socks for the family." The pattern is a bargain: directions for baby through adult large, sock through worsted weight. In the photo I used Plymouth Encore worsted weight yarn and size 5 double pointed needles. I knit the cuff as usual, then I knit 2 rows beyond the cuff, though that is not necessary. On the third row I then I knit three stitches of the cuff color (Color A) on the first needle. Now drop Color A and pick up the next color, Color B. Knit the next row in Color B. When you have knit all the Color A stitches with Color B, drop Color B and pickup Color A. Knit the Color B stitches with Color A.

Project bags

I had such a hard time finding project bags. You know a little bag that's just the right size to put a skein or two of yarn and a set of needles? And you don't want one but several because you are working on lots of things at once. Check out the Dollar Store! My husband found some at JoAnnes, and I saw some at Michaels. They are perfect. You must get some.

Hat for dad

Dad is always complaining about being cold. Solution? Wear a hat!

The pattern is a free download on Ravelry: "basic roll-brim beanie" by Ana Clerc.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-roll-brim-beanie

I used about 100 yards of worsted weight yarn left over from a sweater I made. Needle size 7. Hat size med/lg (one size down from the largest).

I think there is an error in the pattern. I added another decrease row after row 16. K1, K2tog. Then a plain knit row before the K2tog row. 

Almost toe time!

Lucy Neatby Fiesta Feet! How much fun. A sampler of stitches. One almost done -- one more sock to go. 

Mermaid socks

These are Lucy Neatby's Mermaid Socks. Pretty cute. Bought the pattern on Ravelry. 

Dishcloth knitting

A perfect hot weather knitting project.

Why would you use a provisional cast-on and how do you do it?

You use a provisional cast-on when you want to have two sets of live stitches. You do this by knitting the first row into waste yarn and then you undo the waste yarn and pick up those live stitches. Too many words!

I made a You Tube play list of knitting help videos that I like. In there you will find my favorite method of provisional cast on as well how to graft garter stitch that you will need when you finish the Fiesta Feet.

You Tube Play List

Gail's Project Notes: Fiesta Feet cuff:

these notes need to be used in conjunction with the pattern

• I used the provisional cast-on for the cuff. 
• My cuff had 27 main color ridges (row 1 & 2), then I knit row 1 only (main color). 
• To set up grafting I put the provisional cast-on in the front and the last main color (row 1) in the back, the purl bumps were on both the front and the back piece face you. Then I did the grafting for garter stitch. 
• Pattern for garter stitch grafting pattern: set up: slip -- leaving on the needle -- as if to purl. Then front needle slip to knit and remove, slip to purl leave on. Back needle uses the same pattern. 
• Watch You Tube videos on Play List

I {heart} Lucy Neatby

Fiesta Feet, how does someone come up with such crazy fun ideas? It is a little bit scary -- trying to follow the directions but I have managed and WOW! has it been fun.  (:

I did not use the cast on in the directions but a provisional cast on. More to come on that as well as a video of how to do the bobbles.

If you want to read more about Lucy ...
      Fiesta Feet (on her blog)
      Happy Stitches (her blog)
      Patterns in her Ravelry Store.
      And for fun, Google Fiesta Feet

Beach Knitting

Just knitting a dish cloth today. Maybe tomorrow I will do something more complicated. 

What nice mittens

I love this pattern! It is "New England Mittens" designer Amanda Lilley. I had a question about the pattern when I was making the gray pair for Taylor. I emailed the designer and she wrote me back immediately to answer my question. She even gave me a pattern. So nice.

These mittens (like the gray ones I made earlier) are made with Bartlett Yarn. Due to the bulky nature of the yarn I cast on 33 stitches instead of 39. I did use the recommended needles 3 and 5. Because there are fewer stitches the decreases at the top are done the same way except the knit amounts between the decreases are 12, 10, 8, and 6. I know this sounds a little strange but if you get the pattern you will see what I am talking about.

Love them! Gifting them to Morgan (:

Can I have too many scarves?

This one is made with Noro yarn -- Kereyon Sock Yarn. I saw the pattern  and purchased the yarn at Country Woolens in Lebanon, NH. The pattern seemed intimidating but when I started it and followed the set up carefully it was not hard at all. It is a free download on Ravelry -- Gaia Shoulder Hug. The color changes for the stripes are based on the color transitions in the yarn. How clever of the designer, Anne Carroll Gilmour.

A few notes:

-- I used a bamboo needle

-- I used two small stitch markers on either side of the center stitch 

-- I stopped at 137 stitches total on either side of the center stitch (I was running out of yarn)

-- Need approximately 15 grams (or 45 yards) to do the picot bind off. The picot bind off is wonderful!

Hat for Don

I had some left over yarn in my stash -- Knit Picks "Wool of the Andes." Don picked out a hat pattern on Ravelry -- Ribbed Watchman's Hat. I was worried it would be tight and scratchy but it came out perfect. I must make another. I used a size 8 needle and knit the hat in the round.

Mittens

I love the pattern "New England Mittens" purchased from Knit Picks. I used Bartlett Yarn purchased at the Yates Farm yarn sale this fall. The yarn I used is a heavy worsted so a little bit bulky for the pattern. I had to scale it down a little but the results were wonderful. I made them for Taylor. The heart is done in duplicate stitching that is not easy for me but I do like the results. I want to make a plain (thanks Beth!) white pair for Morgan (sshhh -- don't tell her).

EZ Jacket

I took a class before Christmas at Country Woolens to make an Elizabeth Zimmerman Surprise Jacket. I got a lot done in the 4 week class but still more to do.

Love self striping yarn

I have done a lot of knitting but not a lot of blogging. I found this great yarn in my stash and made Morgan a pair of socks using my old standby Yankee Knitter sock pattern. If you don't have it -- invest in one. The pattern is for baby, child, women, and men and includes directions for finger, sport, and worsted weight yarn. After you buy the patten make a copy (or copies) and circle or highlight the numbers you need.

I sometime struggle with "pick-up and knit" usually getting some gaps I am not happy with. I have tried a new technique using an extra needle to pick up the stitch then knitting through the back of the loop I picked up. This puts a twist in the yarn and takes up the slack I sometimes get in the picked up stitches. I like the result.