Hi All! I finally got something off my to do list that's been sitting there for over a year - the free spiral cowl pattern has now been updated! It's even better than before, with more pictures and a few word changes to clarify that pesky and confusing stitch marker slipping.
I just finished a new version in handspun!
You can get the latest version here (PDF file)
or queue it up on Ravelry here
Happy Knitting! =)
All the elves are in the workshop today working on the holiday gifts. If you were looking for some gifts or ideas for decorations for your own home I wanted to point you to my fabric ball tutorial I posted this time last year.
Happy Crafting!
If you'd like to make one too - the pattern is super simple.
Leftover Sock Newborn Hat (queue it up on ravelry here)
Difficulty Level: Easy peasy!
Gauge: 7sts/inch
Materials:
Leftover sock yarn (I used .6oz of merino cashmere nylon Julie Spins Yarn)
3mm needles or size appropriate for gauge (you can use 12inch circulars, magic loop, dpn's, 2 circs, etc, whatever your favorite method is to knit a small circumference. Since the hat is too tiny, 16 inch circulars won't do, they'll have to be smaller than that.) **Note- if you use 12 inch circulars, you will need to switch to dpn's when the head decreases make the circumference too small. **
Darning Needle & Stitch Marker
Sizing: Please note, the sizes of newborn heads vary greatly. If you'd like to upsize or downsize the pattern, use the gauge to calculate the size you want, and make sure that it's a multiple of 10 and put that number in the directions. Easy Peasy!
Here is a fantastic (!) link to a size chart for baby heads, to better allow you to estimate sizes.
In this case, I wanted a newborn size so I want a finished size that fits a 13"-14" head, you'll want a bit of negative ease in there for a good fit, so subtract one inch from the final size. That leaves us with a knitted size of 12-13". Based on our gauge, 90 stitches will give us a good number to CO for that final size.
Directions:
Cast-on 90 stitches. Join in round and placemarker.
Knit 3.5 inches plain stockinette
Start the head decreases:
Knit 8, K2tog all the way around
Knit 1 round plain
Knit 7, K2tog all the way around
Knit 1 round plain
Continue decreasing in this manner until you are down to Knit 1, K2tog
The next round, K2tog all the way around.
Slip1, K2tog PSSO, 3 stitches remain.
The 3 stitches remaining will become the i-cord umbilical cord. Start a 3 stitch icord and continue for 2.5 inches. Slip 1, k2tog PSSO to bind off. Weave in ends. Tie the top in a knot and voila! Easy Peasy Newborn Hat!
Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating! My favorite thing to do on Thanksgiving Day/Day after Thanksgiving is to make things! I love getting cozy at home with my yarn, fabric, fiber and lots of pumpkin pie and make all sorts of Holiday crafts.
I wanted to share this free fabric styrofoam ball pattern with you - this is something I love making, just can't make enough of them and it's easy enough to make with family (even my hubby gets in the mix and makes a few!) You can use different colors of fabric for a harvest or holiday theme. They can be used in the tree as ornaments by stringing ribbon in the bottom, hang them in windows, set along the mantle or placed in a bowl as table decoration. Lots of lovely ways to use them!
Details behind the cut....
Continue reading "Happy Thanksgiving and Free Fabric Styrofoam Ball Pattern!" »
New Feature: Free Pattern Friday
I've been wanting to create a new feature on this blog so I've decided to start a "Free Pattern Friday." Now, this doesn't mean a free pattern every friday (I'd need to leave my full time job for that!) It does mean that on every other friday or 3rd Friday or so, a simple, new free pattern will be listed here. It might be a remake on a oldie but goodie, or it might be something entirely new and it could be any of my crafts (knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc).
I hope you enjoy!
This Friday's free Pattern is for a simple ribbon headband...
I saw these cute little things all over the place, Target and Craft Markets and I love the idea so I decided to sit down on day and do some measurements to figure it out! It's a quick 10 or 15 minute project that uses items you probably already have at home. Such a great way to use up those precious odds and ends of ribbon and trim you have lying around.
Let's get started! First, gather your materials.
You'll need:
Sizes:
This pattern is sized for adult, lg child and sm child. For our purposes, a large child would be about 7-10 years old size wise and small child averages 5-7 years.
Adult - Cut ribbon 17 inches long
Large child - Cut ribbon 14.5 inches long
Small Child - Cut ribbon 12 inches long
Custom Size:
Make your own custom fit! Start by measuring your head where you normally wear a headband to get the distance all the way around in inches.
Directions:
Gather your ribbon and notions. Figure out what size you want to make (see size notes above)
Cut your ribbon to the proper length, fray protect the ends and trim any loose threads.
Prep your elastics. Take the two ends and lay it over the other, take both ends and pull it through and tighten to a knot.
Attach the ribbon to the elastic. Wrap the ribbon end around the end of the elastic on each side. It should be folded 1/2" up. Pin to hold. Repeat other side.
Adjust your machine to sew a shorter stitch length than standard. Put on your 1/4" foot if you have it. For example, I adjust my bernina to sew a 1.8 length from a 2.4.
The shorter stitch length helps keep the ribbon in place. You should stitch 1/4 from the rubber band on the right, as shown below. Take care not to sew the band itself, just right before it. Sew once across, backtacking at both ends, and then back again so you go over it at least twice so it will hold.
Repeat other side. Fray stay the ends and stitches and trim any extra. Let it dry and it's ready to wear!
Easy peasy headband! Now rinse and repeat and make some more. I made a stack for my nieces birthdays to include in their birthday cards with their standard birthday cash. They love 'em.
I loved creating a more mature version in imported Japanese lace trim. You can find the trim here. Doesn't it look like something you'd buy at anthropologie? Instead it only costs $2.50 to make! Can't beat that!
Questions? Feel free to ask and I'll leave the response in the comments so it helps everyone. Thanks!
Hi Everyone!
As promised here's my new free pattern - Spiral Cowl
This pattern is very easy and mindless to knit and is very elegant and simple. Encompasses many of my favorite things in a handknit!
You can queue it up on ravelry here
OR
You can download it directly from my site here - Link to PDF File
Happy Cowl Knitting!
Well it took a bit longer than I was hoping but I just finished up formatting and editing the plain vanilla socks pattern. Everyone has their own way of making socks, so I thought I would put up the way I make them. It's my fallback pattern that I could almost knit by heart and is the perfect thing for mindless knitting. The pattern is full of my little sock knitting tips also to get a great looking sock without pesky gusset holes.
You can download it here (PDF) or it's on the sidebar - enjoy!
And I finished up on a different option of the plain vanilla sock, it's cuff is an extra twisted rib (I knit AND purled TBL) and the toes are just twisted rib 1x1, knit through the back loop to give it a cool, fun look. If I had to do it again, I would only do a twisted rib, the extra TBL gave it ZERO strechy-ness. I did however get the inspiration for twisting it here. The yarn is from Mama-E in the colorway Bev knit on 2.5mm magic loop of course.
That is some crazy pooling going on, it looks like lightning bolts!
I got back into town this week and I'm slowly settling back in to my schedule of work and home-life...amongst that I finally finished the scarf pattern that many of you were asking about (and thank you for the interest by the way, I'm flattered!=)) I did end up making it to Purl in NYC and purchased some koigu for Anemoi mittens in my fav colors of the moment, chocolate brown and turquoise. (Have you seen Tiennie's and Erica's? Very lovely!)
However...without further ado...here are some pics and the pattern is in PDF format. I've put it in the right-hand side bar under patterns in a PDF format (or you can download here). I love this pattern for how simple and classic it is, it's the sort of thing which goes with everything and always looks great!
I've also completed my first FO of the year a pair of socks for hubby...you know those gold toe socks? Well these are blue toe socks simply because I ran out of yarn. They're knit with a full ball of brown kroy for each leg/foot and then switched to blue when I ran out. The pattern is a simple, easy "plain vanilla" sock pattern, my favorite kind. I actually wrote it up for a friend who was making socks for the first time so I'll post it here shortly too just in case it would help anyone.
Made a little progress on Rona, I've learned that stitch markers can be your best friend with this pattern. Marking out each repeat is a handy way to keep track of a small set of stitches. I believe I'm on about round 50 so far (and fading fast, I don't know how much longer it will last before I put it away for a bit!)
Have a great weekend!
Recent Comments