Christmas Hairbands

I didn't make Christmas gifts for all my family members, but I made a few! These headbands are super warm because they are double layered and knit with soft wool. I really like  the multi-coloured pinkish one, the wool is hand dyed from Romni Wools on queen- they have their own wool. The purple one in a wool blend from Michaels called Sheepish.

The Gauge

A new hat! Only I had to take it out 4 times due to sizing, since I assumed the yarn would have the same gauge as the last yarn that I used for this pattern....I WAS WRONG. You think after taking it out three times I would figure it out. Well I didn't. I would create the hat as per the pattern and then start knitting it up only to realize this is too small, it would only fit a child. I would take it out and add 4 stitches...I really had to add 16. I still think its too small, but the person Im gifting to has a small head, according to Christopher. 

Here is a website about why GAUGE is so important.

http://www.earthguild.com/products/knitcroc/marypat/gauge.htm

Big Yarn

Hello,

So after several fingerless mittens, I have tried a new kind. With chunky yarn and  13mm needles.

Heres what I did:

CO20

1 inch KKPP

Then increase this row: K5 m1 all the way accross

Stockinette Stitch for 3 inches or for desired wrist length

Next row: K3 M1 all the way accross

6 rows stockinette stitch

Next row: K12 put 6 stitches on a holder then K the remaining stitches (the stitches on the holder are for the thumb- leave these stitches in the front)

Knit 1 inch stockinette

K 1 row KKPP 

Cast off

Thumb

Knit off holder KKPP

KKPP for one inch

Cast off

Mattress stitch the mitten together :)

Big Lace Part II

 Look familiar? Its my big lace scarf....this time on a wool acrylic blend. Its so beautiful. I thought I would hand it on my floral wing back chair again to compare to the last one, can you see the difference?  The color is different, the bottom one, 100% acrylic charisma yarn from Michaels and the other is a wool acrylic blend. Both are super soft. The one above is bulkier and warmer, however you may sweat in that one.

Why the difference? Because Charisma decided that this color was DONE (below) so it had to go. When I had more orders in this color, I didnt know what to do.  Ta Da!

I am still knitting super slow! I joined the school knitting club- maybe that will help. Christmas is fast approaching and I have four major gifts to knit. Not knitting 35 like last year.

Happy Knitting.

The perfect finger less mitten

I guess there is always a new reason not to knit... this time, its my class. Teaching grade 7 and taking a course it taking up a lot of time. I still have my small moments to knit, but its the not the same... In my spare time I have been perfecting my finger less mittens.  These are my new blue ones and my grade 7 math text book, that I use to teach everyday day with my students :). 

The blue mitt is made a little bit looser and longer :)

Knit Flat

Blue 

Co 48

Rib KKPP st for 1 inch

K7 m1 all the way across

Stkn for 4 inches

K4 m1 all the way accross

St kn 14 rows 

Next row k 25 put 18sts on holder k rest 

Stkn st 1 inch

KKPP 1 inch

Bind Off

Thumb

Pick up stiches

2 rows of stkn stitch

one inch KKPP

Bind off

SEW together :)

Cowl me pretty :)

CO 125 sts  onto size 5 circlular needles
Join round
K2 P3 for 2.5 inches
Stockinette until piece measures 11 inches or desired length
K2 P3 for 2.5 inches
BO

There you have a beautiful cowl... like the back to school cowl, only slimmer.

Back to School Cowl

Need a cowl for those back to school shots?

 Size 4 Circular Needle
CO 166 stitches
3 inches K2 P3 ribbing
Stockinette stitch until 3 inches away from desired height (I did 10 inches)
3 inches K2 P3 ribbing
Cast off


BTW: the most amazing magnet ever!

Turning Sideways

Firstly, I have spent the last hour trying to flip these pictures so they will face the correct way. IMPOSSIBLE! I flip them, save them and they still face sideways when I put them on the blog.  

Nonetheless here are some fashion mittens.

I've heard these mittens are all the rage, so I decided to make a few pairs. 

Pattern for the beige ones

Using size 2.5 or 3mm needles (Im using my grandmothers needles which dont have any markings on them...so after measuring them I have estimated this size)

You also need a stitch holder (small)

Knit Flat

CO 44 stitches

KKPP rib the next rows until piece measures 1 inch

Next row: K6M1 repeat for entire row

Next rows stockinette stitch for 3 inches (whole piece will measure 4 inches)- alternatively you can make the wrist longer or shorter, the green mittens are only 2 inches stockinette stitch

Next row: K3M1 repeat for entire row

15 rows of stockinette stitch

Next row: Knit 25, then put 18 stitches on stitch holder, put stitch holder in front of work, then knit the rest

Stockinette stitch for 1 inch

KKPP rib for one inch 

Bind off

Thumb:

1st row: knit off the stitch marker

2nd row: purl

KKPP for 1 inch

Bind off

Sew the thumb and mitten inside out using mattress stitch

Tada!

Happy Knitting

A Warm Big Lace

I call this scarf the WARM BIG LACE cowl or circle scarf. Its super warm and acrylic thus easy to wash.

The stitch pattern is only 4 rows
Work in a multiple of 6 stitches plus 2
Row 1: K1 (edge), *K3 YO SK2P YO* repeat from *to* until last stitch K1
Row 2: Purl all stitches
Row 3: K1 (edge) *YO SK2P YO K3* repeat from *to* until last stitch K1
Row 4: Purl
Repeat rows 1-4
For those of you who dont know SK2P (this was my first time doing this) its Slip one stitch knitwise then knit two together than pass slipped stitch over.

Mittens...Regular.... Finger less :)

Regular childrens mittens, which I swear I knitted from an adult pattern... but childrens mittens work!

These bright canary yellow fingerless mittens are too cute!

Not sure how appropriate the colour is for the next season but I love them.

As school approaches so does the show! I am running out of knitting ideas. I want to have some variety so I can learn about what people like, but my obsession with one stitch sometimes takes over and everything looks the same! Any suggestions?

I dream in Andalusian

Another Andalusian double stitch circle scarf....in my fave again South Pacific!

This time I used a size 6 needle

CO 45

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: K, K, P (repeat for entire row)

I have two stitches on each side for the edge :)

Lunch Bags by Natalie T

This amazing lunch bag...not yet felted, was created by my friend Natalie T. It looks awesome. It makes me want to stop knitting for show and start knitting for FUN again.

The pattern she used: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0618.html?newreg=1

I actually have the lion brand app on my iphone and I love it!

I am still show knitting away.

Show OFF!

I am knitting away popular scarves, hats and ear warmers for the craft show and  I am hoping to have about 30 items to sell in November. So far I am at 12... Here are some samples.

Too hot for summer!

This Andalusian circle scarf is too hot for summer, but will be wicked soft and warm in the winter. Craft show here I come!

 I made it with the Pima Cotton South Pacific yarn I love soooo much and made it long and wide.

 
PS look my model is back!

Even Moshi Likes Slouchy Hats

SCHOOLS OUT!
Time to knit.
Hopefully.

This is my most recent slouchy hat, worn by Moshi. It actually fits a human head, but Moshi likes to model.
I plan this summer to knit as much as possible and maybe sell a few items at a craft show? I guess we will see. Therefore I will be knitting my popular items and maybe less new creations and less blogging :(. 

Zig Zag

Another slouchy hat... with some zig and zag!
This slouchy beret type hat was fun to make and would be a great fall or warm winter day hat. I made it with mystery wool. It was some wool a friend gave to me, it feels like authentic wool, but its a little shiny which gives me reason to believe it is mixed. I have been using this wool to make the previous hat and the knitted tie part II. Hopefully since school will be finishing I will have the summer to knit... and hopefully post.

Super Slouch

Look! A Men's slouchy hat! Made expecially for Isaac's birthday :). Not weather appropriate, but will be good for next winter.

Cable Hat!

A birthday present cable hat! This hat has four six stitch cables and some solid stockinette stripes in between.

Materials:
Worsted Weight Yarn
5mm circular needles
5 mm dpns
darning needle

1. CO 72 stitches
2. 2by2 rib stitch until hat measures 2inches
3. *K6, P5, K2, P5* Repeat until the end of the round
4. *K6, P5, K2, P5* Repeat until the end of the round
5. *K6, P5, K2, P5* Repeat until the end of the round
6. *Cable Back6, P5,K2, P5* Repeat until the end of the round
7. Continue steps 3-6 until hat measures 8inches
8. Begin to decrease knitting each stitch as it is showing (P or K) separating the stitches into 8 sections  knitting together stitches 7 and 8 in each section.
9. Keeping your stitches separated in 8 sections knit together 6 and 7 in each section
10. Keeping your stitches separated in 8 sections knit together 5 and 6 in each section
11. Keeping your stitches separated in 8 sections knit together 4 and 5 in each section
12. Keeping your stitches separated in 8 sections knit together 3 and 4 in each section
You may need to switch on to DPNS at this point
13. Keeping your stitches separated in 8 sections knit together 2 and 3 in each section
14. Keeping your stitches separated in 8 sections knit together 1 and 2 in each section
15. Use a darning needle and pull yarn through remaining stitches
16. Weave in all loose ends

The Knitted Tie Part II

Here is another knitted tie. This time stockinette stitch and I made as a rectangle and sewn to the shape. Its a little thick, but much better than the last.
I know I havent been blogging, but it is mainly because I am so busy with my grade 7s and 8s. They keep me on my toes, but away from my knitting needles and computer.

A knitted tie part 1

Here shows Leonard wearing a knitted tie. I saw some of these online and wanted to try it out. Its done in a seed stitch so I had some difficulties with with it:
1. My needles were sharp and would divide the yarn
2. My decreases didnt look smooth
3. Over the stitch didnt look perfect, I guess its just something I need to work on.

I'm trying a new tie this week, different stitch...different pattern. We will see how it goes!

Place mats

I knitted four new place mats for the new place!

The pattern:

CO 45

5 rows seed stitch

Next row: Seed stitch 5 stitches K until last five stitches seed stitch last 5 stitches

Next row: Seed stitch 5 stitches P until last five stitches seed stitch last 5 stitches

Continue the last two rows until about 1.5 inches away from desired length

Last 5 rows seed stitch

This place mat is 15.5 inches by 11.5 inches

They are a little small so in the future I may cast on 50 stitches!

More FABULOUS FIND...

I found more sweaters knit by my Nonna,  I used to wear when I was a child.

A Scarf with some FUNK

I decided to make myself a funky scarf.

I used a lacey diagonol to the left from the 400 Knitting Stitches Book (http://www.amazon.ca/400-Knitting-Stitches-DIctionary-Essential/dp/0307462730) with a merino wood for the inner part of the scard and then did a double crochet stitch with some funky yarn for the outter edges.  It was super fun to make! The yarn for the inner part I bought at Mary's Yarn, and the outter funky yarn came from Hot Yarns (http://www.hotyarns.com/).