Headband request

Morgan asked for a headband, sending me a few ideas of what she was looking for. I headed to Ravelry and found so many cute designs, but settled on the Whitney Headband. I had a skein of merino/alpaca blend in my stash that was perfect.

The biggest problem I had was finding a knitted flower. I read a few patterns and finally came up with my own flower pattern. I topped it off with a vintage button. Great don't you think?

Gail's Flower
worsted weight yarn, size 7 needle
Knitting is a little easier with circular needle
Cast off is a little easier with a crochet hook

Cast on 12 stitches
row 1: K front and back of each stitch (24 stitches)
row 2: Purl
row 3: K front and back of each stitch
row 4: Purl
row 5: K front and back of each stitch
row 6: Purl
row 7: K front and back or skip to row 9
row 8: Purl
row 9: K1, K front and back (repeat from K1)
row 10: Purl
Cast off with Russian cast off:
Purl 2, put on left needle P2 together
Purl 1 put on left needle P2 together

What have I been doing?

My sister told me "if you don't start putting some new stuff on your blog I'm going to stop checking it out." She's right. I have been knitting and not posting. Let's start with this beautiful scarf. I made one for a friend and loved it so much I made one for myself.

The pattern is Fiber Trends "Versatile Scarves" AC-32. It is has three different designs and written for three different weight yarns. I made the Basic Garter Stitch Scarf with one skein of Giselle from Classic Elite Yarns. It is a mohair, wool, and nylon blend purchased at Whippletree Yarn Shop in Woodstock, VT. I used a size 8 needle.

I find this pattern a close substitute for the Shawlette Pattern. I love the Shawlette Pattern, but it requires increases after a certain number of rows. I have a difficult time counting the rows so I tally each row, and that takes time. With the Fiber Trends scarf you increase every row. Easy! (Don's paintings in the background.)

Try a new heel

Looking for a different heel? How about an inset or afterthought heel? They are fast to knit but it usually takes me quite a bit of time to set it up. They are easy to replace if you get a hole. I wrote these directions up a while ago, hope they make sense. It is very helpful to have two sets of double pointed needles (whatever size you are using -- it means a lot less juggling of needles). I set up socks using the Yankee Knitter classic sock pattern (#29)

Knit the leg. If the leg is a pattern and the foot will be stockinette, knit 1 row
Row 2: knit to needle 2
Drop the main color and knit needle 2 with waste yarn

Drop waste yarn, pick up the main color and knit needle 2 again (the waste yarn)

Continue knitting with main color
Knit the foot of your sock for a few inches and then go back and work on the heel

Pick up the stiches above and below the waste yarn. I think this is tricky to do but you might not find it as difficult as I do. I use a smaller needle to pick up the stitches. Remove the waste yarn.

Pick up one extra stitch on either side to close any holes.

Transfer to the correct size needle; I use four needles.

Right side facing, working right to left: Attach yarn on the right side, knit 2 together where you picked up the extra stitch. You might want to knit through the back loop. This puts in a twist and tightens up the stitch. Work across to the other needle where you picked up the extra stitch and knit 2 together.
Work across all needles to where you started. You might want to add stitch markers to mark the “corners.”

Round 1
Needle 1: K1, K 2 together through the back loop (or ssk), K to end
Needle 2: K to last 3 stitches, K 2 together, K 1
Needle 3: K 1, K 2 together through the back loop (or ssk), K to the end
Needle 4: K to last 3 stitches, K 2 together, K 1

Round 2
Knit on all four needles

Continue both rounds until 5 stitches remain on each needle for a total of 20 stitches or approximately 1/3 of what you started with. You can try it on and see how it feels and adjust as needed

Transfer to 2 needles (ten stitches on each needle) and Kitchener stitch

Done!

Dishcloths

How wonderful are these! I enjoy knitting dishcloths. They are easy to knit, take with you, practical, great to give and fun to receive. The patterns are: Grandma's Favorite and Ball Band Dishcloth. I have gotten over the idea that Grandma's Dishcloths need to be all the same color. I noticed my friend Ann knitting one and when she ran out of yarn she just used another color. OMG! what a good idea, now I have a use for all those little scraps I have saved.

Grandma's Favorite

1 ball of worsted weight cotton like Sugar N’ Cream or Peaches & Cream
Needle size 8

DIRECTIONS
Cast on 4 stitches
Knit one row
Increase Row: Knit 2, yarn over, knit to the end of the row
Repeat this row until there are 44 stitches on your needle

Decrease Row: Knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row
Repeat decrease row until 8 stitches remain

Knit 2 together 4 times
Bind off

The Ballband Dishcloth pattern is found on the yarn band of Peaches & Cream yarn (I have found it at Walmart) and on this web site: Ballband Dishcloth

Stranded Knitting

I took an Intarsia & Stranding workshop at Country Woolens, Lebanon, NH this fall. They have a great array of classes. I had fun learning the techniques and used it right away on this cute kids hat. I need to keep practicing.

Inspired Mittens

These mittens were made by request for Taylor. Inspired by Kate Spade. I used Cascade 100% superwash wool, worsted weight, needles size #7, Ann Norling's "Basic Mittens on 4 Needles" pattern. I did the HI 5 in duplicate stitch. That was challenging but You Tube had lots of help. The charts are a free download on Ravelry, thanks Emily Matisz!

Purl Hat

I found this Noro Iro yarn in the sale basket at Northern Nights Yarn Shop in Norwich, VT. I was looking for a new winter hat! I spent quite a bit of time trying to decide what pattern to use. The hat is a combination of knit and purl rows and a spiral decrease for the top. It took several tries to get the look I wanted, but success!



Noro Iro 75% wool 25% silk
132 yards super bulky -- 1 skein
Gauge 3 stitches = 1”
Circular needle 16” size 10 and double pointed

Cast on 70 stitches
K 5 rows
P 4 rows
K 4 rows
P 4 rows
K 9 rows
P 2 rows
K 4 rows
P 5 rows
K 1 row

Decrease:
Switch to double pointed needles when needed

Row 1: *K 8, K 2 tog*
Row 2: K
Row 3: *K 7, K 2 tog*
Row 4: K
Row 5: *K 6, K 2 tog*
Row 6: K
Row 7: *K 5, K 2 tog*
Row 8: K
Row 9: *K 4, K 2 tog*
Row 10: K
Row 11: *K 3, K 2 tog*
Row 12: *K 2, K 2 tog*
Row 13: *K 1, K 2 tog*
Row 14: * K 2 tog*