Monday, September 27, 2010

Knit-a-thon update

Here is the current status of my Pine Street Inn Knit-a-thon contribution.



There is at least one square that I'm considering frogging (part black part pink). I initially thought I would make the second blanket all kinds of multiple colored squares, but I am really drawn to the subtle effect of the double stranded squares.

My goal is 2 complete blankets... which means I need 70 squares. I am 12 squares into the second blanket. Yarn is currently the limiting factor, so I've got to scrounge some more up. I want to make sure any new colors get incorporated into the blanket well.

Visit http://www.knit-a-thon.org/ to sign up for this year's event.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits

Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits by Michele Rose Orne.

This book contains patterns with some "Design Workshops" interspersed. I thought the book would be much more design oriented, but it is helpful for someone to talk about how they designed something while showing you a pattern. The author is clear about what inspired her to create the different garments.

The Patterns:
  • Autumn (Indian Summer Cardigan, Amber Beaded Cardigan, Walk in the Woods Jacket, Coral Roses Jacket, Fair Isle Caplet and Gauntlets)
  • Winter (Shimmer Lace Shrug, Snowdrift Cardigan, Winter Wonderland Coat, Evergreen Sleeve Tunic, Whisper Cuff Cardigan, Frost Flower Cuff Pullover)
  • Spring (Lily of the Valley Shurg, Seed-Stitch Poet Jacket, Victorian Lace Blouse, Vintage Lingerie Top)
  • Summer (Tiny Twists Camisole, Ribbed Halter, Papillon Cardigan, Wedding Ensemble)

Workshops:
  • Finding Inspiration: This section makes me think of Project Runway and inspiration challenges. She is really designing fashion as much as knitware, and this chapter has good tips for how to turn the things that inspire you into knitting.
  • Building a Color Palette
  • Swatching and Sketching
  • Styling and Fitting
Some of these patterns really spoke out to me, even if they're not something I'd knit myself. Walk in the Woods Jacket has some of the most beautiful color work then I've ever seen in a knitting book. There are flowers that travel over the garment in splashes of brilliant color. I love the Snowdrift Cardigan (cover pattern), and how there are cables that circle the sleeves cuffs like bracelets. The Wedding Ensemble is not something that would work for me, but the cap sleeved top is stunning, with little buttons running down the back to close it.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Some Fun Squares

Here are some fun square patterns I found or adapted from Ravelry that I incorporated into my Pine Street Inn Knit-a-Thon blanket.

Wavy Squares
I followed this scarf pattern, starting with 36 stitches to get a 9" square. It was so fun to use that I have made a total of 3 squares in this pattern thus far.


The finished squares.

Outside In Squares
The concept for these squares is really intriguing, you knit the square in the round where the CO edge is the outer edge of the entire square. I needed to reduce the number of stitches since I only had size 9 round needles of the right length (the pattern calls for seven). My pink square is about 0.5" too large in all dimensions, but I'll still incorporate it into the blanket. I reduced the number of CO stitches by 16 in the black square, and it is the correct size.


If the size were drastically wrong, you can measure the progress of the square really early on in the project.



The finished squares.



Comparing the size of the finished squares. 16 fewer CO stitches made a big difference!


Crossover Square

I started with this scarf pattern, casting on 34 stitches.


The finished square.

I'll keep you posted if I come across any unusual patterns that are fun for a knit-a-thon.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Search For Knit Flowers

Sometimes it's fun to put an embellishment on a hat, so I decided to search for free flower patterns. These flowers won't wilt! I'm searching for "free standing" embellishments or ornaments, not charts or flowers within lace.
  • Head Huggers Flower - Flat, 5 petals, works well on a hat, has 3 beads in the center which really jazzes it up.
  • Flower Pacifier Clip - You can ignore the clip portion, and use this double knit flower on other projects. There is a windy leaf/vine.
  • Flower Corsage - 8 petals (5 and then 3) with a circular center. Simple.
  • Knitted Flower - 4 Petals that appear stuffed, a little round embroidered center.
  • Bloem - 3D with some stamen coming out of the middle. The shape reminds me a little of a crocus. You could make a bouquet which a little girl would love to play with. (Or I would love to play with!)
  • Hannele - This is beautiful with a lot of textured detail. Six petals with a button center.
  • Flower Hair Elastic - Ruffled type flower
  • Flower Power Flower - I have knit this hat in the past, and the flower is knit as a row with bindoffs in the middle to create the petals. Very simple and open, a similar effect could be achieved with i-cords.
  • Lydia Flowers - Three flowers knit and then sewn together create this full corsage. There is also some beading.
  • Christmas Blossoms - Glittery and felted. Novelty yarn makes these fun, and would make a great embellishment on many projects.
  • Knitted Flower - Six petals that have some curl to them, beads in the center.
  • Piku Flower Swap - Icord flower with 5 petals and a non-knit (I cannot tell if it is a pin or button) center embellishment.
  • Plethora of Petals - Here are 4 different patterns for flowers, i-cord, flat and felted, curly 3D and multi-petaled.
  • Fabulous Felted Flowers - Multiple flowers are in the pdf that you can download form the linked page.
  • Poinsettia - 5 petals with knit center. The petals have a lacy detail.
  • Knitted Rose - Has 2 leaves in addition to the rose swirl.
  • Flower Pin - This rose also has a leaf. It is small, and super cute.
  • Pretty Rose - It looks like a rose!
  • Flowers for Mam - These little rolled roses are attached to knitting needles to make a bouquet.
  • Linen Flowers - Flat 5 petal flower with large knit center. There are excellent construction images available on the pattern page.
  • Flower Power Brooch - I-cord petals (5) and A swirled I-cord Center.
  • Knitted Flower for Bike Helmet - Unfortunately I did not see a picture on the site, but it sounds like a fun idea to put a flower on a bike helmet.
  • Clematis - You will need to create a free lionbrand account to view this pattern. The center has loopy "stamen"
  • Arum Lily - Stunning, this actually looks like the flower it is named for. You will need to create a free account to view this Lion Brand pattern.
  • Fiori - Three tiers and a button center
  • Daffodil Flower Knitting Pattern - Wonderful. A pipe-cleaner stem enables this cute flower to stand up in a vase. I think that I will need to make this as daffodils are some of my favorite flowers
  • Snowdrop Inspired Flower Pattern - Like the previous pattern, the stem has a pipe cleaner. The flower hangs below the leaf in a bell shape, which is a very great image given that it is entirely knit!
So I'm making this list, and I discovered that Knitting Pattern Central has a list of Flower Patterns. Check it out if you would like to find more than what I've provided here from my searches. I also came across a blog that is entirely based on flower patterns, Flowers to Knit. The blog has pictures of the patterns to help you sort out what you would like.


Thursday, September 16, 2010

100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet

100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet: A Collection of Beautiful Blooms for Embellishing Garments, Accessories, and More by Lesley Stanfield

The contents are not divided by flower type, but by color. Knit and crochet flowers are combined in the pages. It is a beautiful way to visualize them all. I love it where there are pictures in the table of contents, it really helps you figure out what you would like to make. Sometimes you have to look so closely to tell if it was knit or crochet. (I still don't know how to crochet.)

These flowers and leaves and fruits are very realistic looking. When you're told the species, you can see it in the image, which makes it so fun to read.

When you get to the actual patterns, they are separated into Knit and Crochet sections, and within each section they are arranged according to difficulty. (So I cannot complain too much, I can just flip through my section!)

The book ends with a chapter of projects. Projects that you can use these flowers in. Unfortunately, these projects do not have detailed instructions, but they are provided for a source of inspiration. Personally I like the idea of using them to decorate gifts. This was a fun book and great read. It is one that I wouldn't mind owning.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

RFR/RFB Stocking


I am getting married in the summer of 2011. Ever since Keith and I moved in together I have wanted to design stockings for us. I worked out a design, and then discovered a flaw. This Christmas I will still be unmarried, but the following June my last name is going to change. Which means that my initials will be different. Why make a stocking with my old initials if I'm going to make a new one in a year? I compromised by putting my current initials (RFR) on one side, and my future initials (RFB) on the other.

Check out Keith's Stocking that I published yesterday.

Materials
  • Knitting Needles: 5 - size 5 (3.75 mm) double pointed knitting needles
  • Yarn: 2 balls each of Telemark Yarn in Drift (MC; white) and Skyline (CC; Blue).
  • Gauge: Not important.
  • Misc: Yarn needle
  • Finished Size: 6" wide, 20" top to toe.
The majority of the stocking was knit stranded with the blue and white. Inspired by the description of the Modern Classics Christmas Stockings, the stocking is knit as a tube and afterthought heel finishes off the stocking.

The Chart (Knit from the bottom up, right to left. The images can be opened larger if you open them in a new window.) There are 116 rows to the chart total. See the instructions below for where the afterthought heel goes!

You can also access the excel document of the chart so you can enter your own initials (Note: you will need to save the document as another file before you can edit it). Check out my tutorial on how to make knitting charts in Excel to help with making changes.




Rebecca's Stocking Pattern

PDF printout of this page
  • Cast on 70 stitches in MC. I arranged the stitches on 4 double pointed needles as follows: 20, 15, 20, 15.
  • Join in the round, and begin to work the chart (see below). The first two knit rows are the first two rows in white on the chart. The chart is followed starting at the bottom, and working from right to left. When you substitute your own initials, make sure that you turn them upside down to knit. Since we are knitting the stocking from top down, if you were to leave the chart as you expect to see it in the finished product you would end up with upside down letters.
  • Setting up the Afterthought Heel: After the third section (curly loops) has been completed, we will use some waste yarn to set aside stitches for the afterthought heel. This occurs after row 77, and before row 78 of the chart (see the yellow stitches below). You will have completed one complete row in CC.

    Rearrange the stitches on the four needles as follows: 18, 17, 18, 17. Using waste yarn (I recommend using a color that is not MC or CC), Knit across needles 2 and 3. Turn the work and purl back across needles 3 and 2. The stitches that you are knitting are shown highlighted in yellow below. The stitches shaded in gray are not knit.
  • Resume the chart, starting with working one complete row in CC.
  • Follow the rest of the chart.
  • Decreases for the toes using CC (starting with 70 sts)
    • *K5, K2tog* repeat across (60 sts)
    • K 1 row even
    • *K4, K2tog* repeat across (50 sts)
    • K 1 row even
    • *K3, K2tog* repeat across (40 sts)
    • K 1 round even
    • *K2, K2tog* repeat across (30 sts)
    • K 1 round even
    • *K1, K2tog* repeat across (20 sts)
    • K 1 round even
    • K2tog across (10 sts)
    • K2tog across (5 sts)
    • Cut yarn, pull through the remaining 5 stitches and weave in loose ends.
  • Knitting the Afterthought heel (in CC)
    • Pick up 70 stitches of the CC that is on either side of the waste yarn, cut waste yarn and remove from stocking. (I found it easier to pick up stitches from the inside of the stocking)


    • knit one round even, (70 stitches). To minimize gaps, I will sometimes pick up and decease extra stitches at the edges, or else you can stitch these closed after you finish the heel.
    • Decrease as instructed for toe decreases
  • Braided tie
    • For the tie, I cut 3 - 24" pieces of yarn (2 blue, 1 white) and braided them. I then wove these into the hanging corner (I went in and out of the knit fabric more than one time so it would be sturdy when hung). T
    • Tie a bow, hang and admire! (I used a bow rather than a loop so I would not be limited to hooks to hang the stocking)

Pictures through the construction


Comparing my initials to Keith's. Starting out, mine is a bit bigger.

So I am a little disappointed with my large snowflake. When I did a K/P test of this snowflake, if anything it was a little wide. Once I was done with the whole stocking, I was happy with the final product, but early on I considered a re-design.


Location of the afterthought heel waste yarn.

Done with the colorwork!


About to pick up the stitches for the afterthought heel. Inside of the work.

The amount of white remaining from 3 balls of telemark for the 2 stockings.


Finished stocking before blocking.


Attaching the tie: Red line is where the braid is on the outside of the stocking, blue dashed line is where the braid is on the inside of the stocking.


Both Sides of the Finished stocking


References, Credits and Influences
---------------------------------------
Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
K - knit
P - purl
SSK - decrease by slipping two stitches then knitting them together. Alternatively, you could slip one stitch, knit one stitch and pass slipped stitch over.
K2tog - decrease by knitting two stitches together.
MC - Main Color
CC - Contrast Color


This this pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. This pattern is not to be replicated, sold or redistributed without permission from ChemKnits. © 2010 ChemKnits

Friday, September 10, 2010

KAB Stocking Pattern



Here is Keith's Stocking! The beginning of our holiday traditions together. I'll post my (RFR/RFB) stocking tomorrow.

Materials
  • Knitting Needles: 5 - size 5 (3.75 mm) double pointed knitting needles
  • Yarn: 2 balls each of Telemark Yarn in Drift (MC; white) and Grass (CC; Green). This sport weight wool has 103 yards/50 gram ball. Small amounts of Bayberry (CC2; red), Skyline (CC3; blue), and black (CC4) to finish the Dinos.
  • Gauge: Not important.
  • Misc: Yarn needle
  • Finished Size: 6" wide, 20" cuff to toe.
The majority of the stocking was knit stranded with the green and white. Duplicated stitches with CC2-CC4 can be done where applicable. Inspired by the description of the Modern Classics Christmas Stockings, the stocking is knit as a tube and afterthought heel finishes off the stocking.

The Chart (Knit from the bottom up, right to left. The images can be opened larger if you open them in a new window.) There are 119 rows to the chart total. See the instructions below for where the afterthought heel goes!

You can also access the excel document of the chart so you can enter your own initials (Note: you will need to save the document as another file before you can edit it). Check out my tutorial on how to make knitting charts in Excel to help with making changes.




Keith's Stocking Pattern

PDF Printout of this page
  • Cast on 70 stitches in MC. I arranged the stitches on 4 double pointed needles as follows: 20, 15, 20, 15.
  • Join in the round, and begin to work the chart (see below). The first two knit rows are the first two rows in white on the chart. The chart is followed starting at the bottom, and working from right to left. When you substitute your own initials, make sure that you turn them upside down to knit. Since we are knitting the stocking from top down, if you were to leave the chart as you expect to see it in the finished product you would end up with upside down letters.
  • Setting up the Afterthought Heel: After the third section (squiggles) has been completed, we will use some waste yarn to set aside stitches for the afterthought heel. This occurs after row 76, and before row 77 of the chart (see the yellow stitches below). You will have completed one complete row in CC.
    Rearrange the stitches on the four needles as follows: 18, 17, 18, 17. Using waste yarn (I recommend using a color that is not MC or CC), Knit across needles 2 and 3. Turn the work and purl back across needles 3 and 2. The stitches that you are knitting are shown highlighted in yellow below. The stitches shaded in gray are not knit.
  • Resume the chart, starting with working one complete row in CC.
  • Follow the rest of the chart.
  • Do any embroidery or replicate stitching that remains.
  • Decreases for the toes using CC (starting with 70 sts)
    • *K5, K2tog* repeat across (60 sts)
    • K 1 row even
    • *K4, K2tog* repeat across (50 sts)
    • K 1 row even
    • *K3, K2tog* repeat across (40 sts)
    • K 1 round even
    • *K2, K2tog* repeat across (30 sts)
    • K 1 round even
    • *K1, K2tog* repeat across (20 sts)
    • K 1 round even
    • K2tog across (10 sts)
    • K2tog across (5 sts)
    • Cut yarn, pull through the remaining 5 stitches and weave in loose ends.
  • Knitting the Afterthought heel (in CC)
    • Pick up 70 stitches of the CC that is on either side of the waste yarn, cut waste yarn and remove from stocking. (I found it easier to pick up stitches from the inside of the stocking)

    • knit one round even, (70 stitches). To minimize gaps, I will sometimes pick up and decease extra stitches at the edges, or else you can stitch these closed after you finish the heel.
    • Decrease as instructed for toe decreases
  • Braided tie
    • For the tie, I cut 3 - 24" pieces of yarn (2 green, 1 white) and braided them. I then wove these into the hanging corner (I went in and out of the knit fabric more than one time so it would be sturdy when hung). T
    • Tie a bow, hang and admire! (I used a bow rather than a loop so I would not be limited to hooks to hang the stocking)

Pictures through the construction


The black accents on the dinosaurs were done with replicate stitches. Instead of purchasing a whole ball of black telemark, I used a double strand of palette.


Amount finished when the first ball of white ran out. The entire project requires less than 1.5 balls.


The colorwork is done! Here is the stocking before beginning the toe and afterthought heel.


The finished toe. Pretty cute with the space invaders dancing on it.



The toe is finished, and the blue stitches are where the after thought heel will go through.


Attaching the tie: Red line is where the braid is on the outside of the stocking, blue dashed line is where the braid is on the inside of the stocking.



Both sides of the finished stocking. Keith prefers the dinosaur in the hat, so that will be the visible side when it's hanging in our home.

References, Credits and Influences

---------------------------------------
Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
K - knit
P - purl
SSK - decrease by slipping two stitches then knitting them together. Alternatively, you could slip one stitch, knit one stitch and pass slipped stitch over.
K2tog - decrease by knitting two stitches together.
MC - Main Color
CC - Contrast Color


This this pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. This pattern is not to be replicated, sold or redistributed without permission from ChemKnits. © 2010 ChemKnits

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Knit-a-thon update

This summer I have been knitting for the 2010 Pine Street Inn Knit-A-Thon. (The website is still for the 2009 version, but I have received emails already about this upcoming event.)

I am currently up to 35 Squares, so I'm 100% done with the squares for one afghan! I am going to wait to assemble this afghan until I have completed some other squares. I have an idea for a diagonal striping pattern.

I recently published some 9" square patterns that I designed. I am considering doing some mitered squares soon.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

9" Square Patterns

Here are two 9" square patterns that I designed while working on the 2010 Pine Street Inn Knit-a-thon. Both of these squares were knit with size 8 knitting needles using worsted weight yarn.

These are pretty simple squares, but as I'm going for my goal of 70 squares, finding different patterns keeps it interesting.

Circles and Stripes
  • cast on 36 sts
  • row 1 - purl across
  • row 2 - K1, K2 tog, YO, YO, K2tog, *K2, K2tog, YO, YO, K2tog* repeat until last stitch, K1.
  • row 3 - purl across. In each double yarn over, K1, P1.
  • row 4 - knit across
  • row 5 - purl across
  • repeat rows 2-5 until the piece measures 9 inches, then bind off.
Mock Garter
  • Cast on 36 sts
  • *K4, P4* across for all rows.
  • Knit until the square is 9" long, then bind off.








This pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. This pattern is not to be re-published in any other way without the permission of the author.© 2010 ChemKnits

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Even MORE Knit Toy Book Reviews

I'm so happy to find so many toy knitting books in the Minuteman Library Network. As I've been flipping through dozens of knitting books this year, I wonder how the authors feel about libraries. It seems silly to me to purchase a book for a single pattern, but then again I frequently do not want to purchase a single pattern for $5. But each time I borrow a book from the library for a single pattern, I'm cutting into the profits of the author. Thoughts?

Anyway, enjoy the reviews of the following toy knitting books.


Knit a Square/Make a Toy: 24 of the Easiest Soft Toys You'll Ever Knit! by Home Library

I have friends who are intimidated to make toys because they are scared of shaping. When asked what they like to make, they feel that they can confidently make a square or rectangle, but have fears of knitting in the round. This book would be great for that kind of knitter.

Each pattern in this book is made up as a series of squares and rectangles. The shaping comes through the way you stitch the pieces together. There are sketches that accompany each pattern showing you exactly how you should put the pieces together.

The finished products are extremely cute. I don't know if I'll knit any of these pieces myself (I am much worse with my stitching than I am with my knitting, so I'd prefer to knit pieces with shape and minimize the amount of sewing I have to do.) That being said, this book is great to show someone that ANYONE can make a knit toy.


Family Circle Easy Toys: 25 Delightful Creations to Knit and Crochet (Family Circle) by Trisha Malcolm

First impressions: HUGE toys (enough for a kid to sit on!), amazing texture (don't you want to hug the pig on the cover?) and DINOSAURS!

These toys include: Knitted Toy Blocks, Teddy Bears (many variates: large, small, color blocked and clothed), Owl (wow, the novelty yarn ends up looking like feathers!), bunnies (multiple variates), lizard, Duckling (a fluffball from the novelty yarn), a clown made of crochet disks, sheep, snakes, DINOS, penguins, large squirrel, Fuzzy Polar Bear, hedgehog, panda floor pillow, pig.

I'm in love with the variety in this book. There are so many different shapes and textures that there is something for everyone in this book. I highly recommend it!


Nursery Knits: 25 Easy-Knit Designs for Clothes, Toys and Decorations by Zoe Mellor

So this book is not strictly a toy knitting book, but it contains projects that would tempt anyone, no matter what your knitting preference is. The book is separated based on the age of the child you're knitting for, from New baby, Nursery to Toddler.

The Patterns:
  • Clothing: Puppy and Kitten Sweaters, Outdoor Snuggle, Angel Dress, Luxury Lettered Coat, Head Honcho Poncho, A boy's own jacket, Fancy Fair Isle (sweater and matching hat), 1-2-3 sweater, Polka Dot Button-Up
  • Accessories: Mini Mittens, Cashmere Bootees, Snowflake Hat and Scarf
  • For the Home: Starlight Blanket, Floating Clouds Pillow, Kaleidoscope Throw (and matching Rainbow Cushion), Party Flags, My Own Puppet Theatre
  • Toys: My First Teddy, Darling Doll, Playful Penguin, Zoo Toy Bag (with a pocket to hold a little toy on the outside), Play Cubes, Puppets
I'm not sure how you would stuff the play cubes tight enough that a kid could sit on them without it getting crushed at all... This isn't a book you would buy just for toy patterns. This is a book you would buy when you find yourself having to make gifts for multiple expecting parents and first birthdays.