Zig Zag Jacquard

Here's another cloth pattern. This is the regular Sugan 'n Cream cotton yarn. The color is Country Twists. This was the first time I saw this yarn in the store. Maybe it's always been available but I just didn't notice it. This was knit with size 6 (4.25mm) needles.

I have another cloth pattern almost done for July in a pretty orange (Senso 100% cotton) on size 3 needles. It's another stitch pattern that has me dreaming of designing a summer tee top.

Knitting Nerd

My water bottle insulator (previous post) has earned me the label of "Knitting Nerd" by my non-knitting friends. All I can say is...."I'd like to thank all the people who have made this moment possible: My family, my sweet LYS owner and knitting pals there, and all my knitting friends on the internet that I haven't had the pleasure of meeting in person."

After a day of running errands and leaving water bottles in a hot car, my kids are longing for a "nerdy" water bottle insulator because their water was tea temperature and mine was nice and cool!

Eastern European Footlets

On to June!

We had our sock class this past Friday...p 108 of Favorite Socks.

Did you know there is a knit along blog for this book? I found it tonight looking for a picture of this sock. If you want to see what this sock is suppose to look like then click on this link. That blog entry also addresses the question on gauge for this sock...7 sts per inch with discontinued "worsted weight" yarn. I'll let you read the rest over there. (I did get 7sts per inch with Cascade 220 on size 2 bamboo dpns.)

Looking at the picture in the book, I thought these would not be socks for me. I like a cuff, sometimes a very long cuff. I like thin socks to fit in my normal shoes. Didn't figure these would fit that bill either. I was even considering not going to this class! That was until our kind teacher pointed out all the new things we'd learn knitting this sock.... Provisional Cast on, Intarsia and Fair Isle. How could I pass up on this opportunity? After doing several gauge swatches with my left over Cascade 220 I was ready to give it a try....

But my yarn was saying, I don't want to be a sock. I want to be a .........

Water Bottle Insulator!

And so I cast on 66 sts.

During class we learned the provisional cast on. And I did a short row toe...even unzipped the provisional cast on and put the live stitches on a needle again. Michele showed us how the intarsia part was done...that's the blue part. It is only done on the front. She said the box in the directions were very clear but I didn't even read them when I got home. Did I mention that Michele is an awesome teacher!

I've never done intarsia or fair isle and this first project shows that all too well. I need more practice (and classes) (and patience!) for me to do it nicely. But for a first project I was happy with it. Well, except for the 3 sts that were in the wrong color. That was an easy fix with duplicate stitch. I certainly wasn't going to back down 3 rows!

I then did the cuff with the garter ridges and added a 2 x 2 rib with some decreasing for the neck of the bottle.

I was worried I may have decreased too much for the bottom of the bottle (32 oz) to pass through but it works beautiful. I used a very stretchy crocheted bind off from the Crazy Toes and Heels book.

Then it was time for the bottom. I picked up the 66 sts from the long tail cast on and knit plain one row. Next row was knit 9, k2tog. Then a plain round. Then knit 8, k2tog. You get the picture....

The last round was knit 3, k2tog. Then with the bottle snuggly in place, I threaded the darning needle and passed it through all the live stitches and pulled it snug.

I've got two of these one quart bottles that are filled with water (that I drink each day).

So off to church I went with bottles in hand...the one dressed with a sweater, the other naked. Both bottles were with me at all times. I took the last sip of the naked bottle at about 3:00 in the afternoon and noted the temperature of the water...unscientifically. Then I took the first sip of the sweatered bottle. The water was cooler!

As for the provisionally cast on short row toe? It got frogged....but at least I know how it's done...don't think I'll be making another anytime soon!

Two-Yarn Resoleable Socks - Second Sock done!

I posted a picture of the first sock of this pair on May 29th. (p. 47 of Favorite Socks)

Instead of taking another picture of the finished socks (they look identical) I thought I'd post a close up of where the instep meets the sole. It's where the red (sole) meets the gray (instep)...looks like a chain stitch. There is a definite ridge on both sides of the foot...mostly on the inside. I'm not sure if this will be noticeable when my dh wears them or not...depends on how picky he is. But I won't know until next October or November since these are "boot" socks. These socks are the thickest I've ever made. They wouldn't fit in any of my regular shoes. I could see a pair in my winter boots though!

The technique itself was not complicated. It was a bit on the fiddily side and I'm not sure if I would resole them if they got a hole or just knit up a new pair of socks. The instructions were wordy but clear.

Overall it was a fun learning experience and I'm glad I gave it a go! And thanks to Michele for being such a great teacher!

Knitting List

I was intrigued reading the posts from Marie and Lora
so I thought I'd give it a go. I've been knitting for about 3 1/2 years.

Here are the directions:
Bold the things you have done.
Use italics for things you plan to do one day.
Use normal typeface for things you are not planning on doing.


American/English knitting
Bobbles
Button holes
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Continental knitting
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Double knitting
Drop stitch patterns
Entrelac
Fair Isle knitting
Freeform knitting
Fulling/felting
Garter stitch
Garterlac
I-cord
Intarsia
Kitchener BO
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with DPNs
Knitting and purling backwards
Knitting smocking
Knitting small tubular items on two circulars
Knitting a circular item using the Magic Loop
Lace patterns
Long Tail CO
Moebius band knitting
Norwegian knitting
Provisional CO
Short rows
Slip Stitch patterns
Steeks
Stockinette stitch
Swatching
Textured knitting
Swiss Darning or Duplicate stitch
Thrummed knitting
Tubular CO
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Knitting with alpaca
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Knitting with beads
Knitting with camel yarn
Knitting with cashmere
Knitting with cotton
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Knitting with linen
Knitting with metal wire
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with silk
Knitting with soy yarn
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Knitting with wool
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Afghan/Blanket Baby items
Cuffs/Fingerless mitts/Arm warmers
Gloves
Hair accessories
Hat
Household items
Jewelry
Mittens: Cuff-upMittens:
Tip-downPillowsPurses/bags
Rug
Scarf
Shawl
Shrug/Bolero/Poncho
Slippers
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Stuffed toys
Sweater
Toy/Doll clothing
Charity knitting
Designing knitted garments
Dyeing yarn with plant colors
Dyeing yarn with acid dyes
Dyeing yarn with kool-ade and other food colorings
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Holiday-related knitting
Knitting art
Knitting a gift
Knitting for a living
Knitting on a loom
Knitting to make money
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Knitting for pets
Knitting for preemies
Knitting in public
Knitting items for a wedding
Machine knitting
Olympic knitting
Participating in a KAL
Publishing a knitting book
Resizing patterns
Spinning on a drop spindle
Spinning with a spinning wheel
Teaching a male how to knit
Teaching knitting classes
Writing a pattern

Multidirectional Diagonal Dishcloth

Here is a cloth pattern made with the Sugar 'n Cream dishcloth cotton on size 6 or 7 needles. It is an adaptation of the Multidirectional Scarf pattern. This is a great way to get at little experience with short rows.

You can use any thickness of yarn for this cloth...just increase (or decrease) the number of stitches. I've also used Paton's Grace (varigated) with this pattern as well.

Updated the Labels

I just went through all the posts and gave them labels. That should be helpful in the long run. If you are looking for a particular item or post you can just check in the label column on the right hand side.

If you have this blog subscribed in a feed (e.g. Bloglines) then it may appear that I have a bunch of new posts. I don't...it's just the new labels.

Two-Yarn Resoleable Socks....p. 47

This is the sock for May's sock class from the book Favorite Socks.

I tweaked a few things.....

1. The cuff is ribbed until about an inch before the heel flap.

2. The instep is 2 rows shorter.

3. I started the toe decreases right after the M1 round.

4. Once I got to 12 sts on each the instep needle and the heel needle I decreased every row to 8 sts. I then did the donkey ear trick and kitchenered shut.

All the toe tweaks I did after I had already knit the toe the way that pattern suggested. The sock was too long, and the toe too pointy so I ripped it out and redid the toe. Much happier with the way it turned out with the tweaks.

The yarn is Lambs Pride Superwash (100% wool...worsted weight). The colors are Charcoal Heather and Shane's Red. I also included a strand of red wooly nylon on the heel and sole. I used two circular needles...size 2's for the ribbing and size 3's for the rest of the sock.

Haiku's

I was inspired this morning when I read Beer Haiku Daily.

So here is a knitting haiku....

Knitting with Euroflax Linen

Thin, scratchy and stiff
Pattern grows with each repeat
Cloth softer each wash.

Elfin Lace

You've seen this cloth before (or not). It's about 7 1/2" x 7 1/2", 55 sts, done in Mercerized Cotton. Other options for smaller dishcloth yarn would be the linen I spoke of in the other post I did today or Patons Grace (that's a little bit bigger than the mercerized cotton).

I didn't think I'd be adding so many cloths to this blog. But it is so much fun to chart them up and share them with others.

This charted pattern is a bit on the unconventional side. Hope it makes sense to those wishing to knit it. I've used it quite often...even for a lace cashmere scarf (I'm a little better than half way with that) so I know the pattern works. Y'all may just be a little taken aback with the way the repeat stitches line up...or *not* line up as the case may be! The chart is pretty and colorful...I mean.... it's pretty colorful.

This is the first pattern that I switched to using the knitting fonts available from Aire River. It works really slick and can't wait to do more charting with that font. I'm not entirely used to it yet but it looks *very* promising.

King Charles Brocade

Happy Memorial Day!

This is a charted cloth pattern done with Louet Euroflax linen on size 1 (2.50 mm) needles.

I found the Euroflax linen to be much more pleasant to knit with if I wash and hang dry the skein before winding it into a ball. I found it to be tricky to keep stitches even when it isn't washed first because the linen is a bit stiff. The more this cloth is washed the softer and softer it will become.

The finished size is about 7 3/4" by 7 3/4" (55 sts).

The chart is very colorful and hopefully that will make it easy to read.

Lean to the Left

This free cloth pattern (pdf) is a finished size of about 8" by 8". Charted pattern here.


It's 61 sts on size 3 needles done with Royale Fashion Size 3 Crochet Thread.


I think this one and *especially* Lean to the Right would make a cute stitch pattern for the bottom of a summer top...say from the belly button down. Lean to the Right has just a bit more ribbing action to it than Lean to the Left.

Lean to the Right

This free pattern is done in the size 3 crochet cotton like the others.

This one is 55 sts on size 3 needles.

It measures about 7" x 7".

Charted pattern here.

Leafy Vines

Here is another free washcloth pattern I put together.

It's done in the size 3 crochet cotton. This one is 53 sts on size 3 needles.

I'm loving the green grass, warmer temps and the smell of the neighbor's lilacs coming in through the open windows. I wish lilac season was longer.


Edit on 4/12/12: Click this link for help with the SSK.

Rainbow at Dawn

A non-knitting post! *gasp*

My dh rises early...I don't...nor do the kids!

So when he went outside yesterday morning he witnessed this beauty in the western sky. He rushed back in the house for the camera. By then it started to sprinkle which are the white specks...I thought they looked like stars and a moon.

Almost makes me want to write a poem....

He says the picture doesn't really do it justice. He could see the full arc. It must have been amazing. Next time we've got rain expected about the time the sun rises -- I'll have to too.

Columns of Greece

Here is a pattern for a cloth made with size 3 Mercerized Cotton.
(It's a PDF file)

I've been looking through stitch pattern books for patterns I think would make into nice cloths. I hate to say dishcloths because I think these would make nice face cloths as well.

I added the borders to the stitch pattern...and viola! A new dish/face cloth pattern!

It's 58 stitches on size 3 needles. The pattern is charted but is very easy to read. You read the odd rows, right to left. The even rows, left to right.

This cloth looks the same on both sides.

Favorite Socks - New Interweave Press Book

I bought this book at my favorite LYS where she's doing a sock a month from this book for the next six months (with the possibility of doing more after that).

This sock is on page 69....Meida's Socks.

It looks much prettier in a solid color but I had this yarn in my stash and thought I'd give it a try.

The lace pattern is really easy to read and do from memory. The box on page 70 describing how to do the Estonian Cables without a cable needle is well written. I did hold the bottom of the stitches that are let loose temporarily with my left thumb nail. This helped me to get the loose stitches back on the needle.

These socks are in limbo at the moment. I'm a little short on the yarn and not excited about this yarn with this pattern.

The next sock is the Two-Yarn Resoleable Sock on page 47. I've got my homework done and can't wait to see how to do the sole!

Knitting Pure & Simple

This is Knitting Pure & Simple's pattern no. 241
Neckdown V Neck Shaped Cardigan

I knit this cardigan in Berrocco's Ultra Alpaca (color #6287, 6 skeins)....a Christmas present from my parents.

It was a very quick knit. I think it only took about 2 weeks to knit this up.

I did increase the rows of seed stitch on the bottom of the sweater. It called for an inch but I did more like an inch and a half (also on the cuffs to match). The sleeves I tweeked a little too since my gauge must have been a little tighter. In the upper arm I didn't do the last decrease. So when I got to the bell sleeves I didn't do the last increase either.

The sweater isn't really crooked. I lean to the right (in more ways than one!). Plus it looks like it could have been adjusted on my shoulders better. Next time I'll hire a professional to take the picture.....Not!

It is very comfortable and *soft*. If you get a chance to touch some Ultra Alpaca you'll see what I mean by soft.

I've been wearing it *a lot*!!! I anticipate being able to wear it all summer...especially in air conditioning!

If Momma's happy, everyone is happy

I thought these were already posted...guess not.

These were made for the twins who were born in August. (friends of ours at church)

The magazine pictures are on a half of a colored file folder (tacked with stick glue) and covered with clear contact paper. We used a twisted cord from the yarn that we used to knit the bunnies (also a gift to the twins and shown in another post). The cord goes around the seat/headrest of the car so the babies can "talk" to the pictures while riding around in the car.

There are more pictures on the flip side of each.

Cashmere Scarf

My mom and I went to Stitches Midwest last year with our LYS. This laceweight cashmere yarn was something my mom bought (it came with a free pattern). She didn't enjoy knitting with such thin yarn on such slippery needles (addi's) so in frustration she threw it my way.

I cast on.....I didn't mind it at all. It was a nice break from sock knitting. And for her birthday this year I knew exactly what to give to her.

Marie, thanks for asking about the size. That would be nice to know. I called my mom and she'll measure it. The other pictures I had were not that great. I had dried it on bath towels...note to self...buy prettier bath towels for drying knit items. I wanted to get a picture of my mom wearing it and I did have a chance yesterday but spaced out. Ooo...mom called it is 12" x 55".