Search for Christmas Ornament Patterns

So what if I'm thinking about next year a little too soon... It is never too early to plan out your gifts! I love itsy-bitsy projects because you get the joy of a pattern completion that much sooner. Sometimes the title is enough of a description.

• Beaded Christmas Ornament by ChemKnits.
• New! Bell Ornaments - Knit in about 15 min, you can almost hear them ring.
  
• Little Stuffed Trees
  
• Flat Tree with Emphasized Tiers
  
• Christmas Pickle - See the one that I knit.
  
• Bead Knitted Christmas Ball Ornaments
  
• Knit Christmas Ball - Simple and round. Jazz it up with some fun novelty yarn.
  
• Easy Lace Ball Cover - Jazz up a store bought bobble with this lacy cover.
  
• Snowman Ornament with Top Hat and Scarf
  
• Christmas Wreath - Knitting an Icord around a plastic ring creates a simple, sturdy wreath.
  
• Mini Candy Stocking - I've made this one before, and it does fit a candy bar nicely. It's not super intricate, but it was a cute stocking stuffer gift that could have some other function later on.
  
• Two toned Stocking - A fast project because it the yarn weight is large compared to the size of the stocking.
• CUTE little stockings - with colors and patterns and snowflakes
  
• Candy Pieces - Knit a rectangle, roll it up and tie it so it looks like a piece of hard candy. Maybe add some stripes or spirals to liven it up a bit.
• Sweater Ornament - Without any bend in the arms you could make a Popsicle stick figure to fit in it!
  
• Sweater - Knit top down with few seams. Supposedly a free pattern, although I did not give my email address to check.
  
• DARLING Bitty Sweaters - These sweaters take the cake, and I will therefore stop looking for more. With variety in shape and color patterns, you could make the entire collection without too much repetition.
• A mini water pitcher and an orange - So these aren't Christmas themed. They're mini aren't they? You can add the loop.
• Holiday Ball Ornament - Requires a free Lion Brand Yarn account to view.
  
• Fair Isle Snowflake ball ornament - Requires a free Lion Brand Yarn account to view.
• Tiny double knit Christmas stocking - About the size of a dime!
  
• Mesh Lace Ornaments - The pattern is simple, but the overall concept is darling. Now I just need to find pretty sparkly yarn at the local craft store!
• Knitted Holly - This isn't an ornament per-say, but we can certainly make it that way
• Poinsettia Ornament - Shown in white. Super cute!
• Christmas Star - Why are six pointed stars in red called Christmas Stars? Where I came from this is a Jewish symbol! I don't think I could make anything that looks like I'm trying to Christmakazie the holiday.
  
• Yarn and Wire Leaf Ornaments - Delicate yet sturdy
• Miniature Knitting Bag Ornament - You need to join ravelry to see the pattern, but it is free once you're there. Make these for your knitter friends!
  
• The best tree ornament I've seen. Now I just need to find a star shaped button for the top, although I suppose you could cut one out of felt.
• Acorn - Knit it up in silver and brown (as shown) for an elegent approach, or in two shades of brown for a more realistic version. I love the thought of a deciduous nut on an evergreen tree!
• Solstice Bird - This is knit as one piece, felted, cut up and stitched together. Beautiful, although I don't think I could do the embroidery!
• Korknisse - Saartje did it again! These cute little elves (?) that you make from a wine cork are going to make me drink a lot more as I prepare to knit this season....
• 5-color knitted star - Beautiful and stashbusting!
• Knit Christmas lights - So these won't emit light themselves.... but they're fitting, no?
• Hearts - The one with the embroidered sleepy eyes is my favorite.
  
• Pocket Angel
  
• Marisol Mouse - Not an ornament per say, but I play to turn her into one!
• Little Sweaters - So intricate and darling that I wouldn't want to make anything else!
  

There are many variations on the themes of these ornaments available. Hopefully looking at the beginning of the list will inspire you for your own projects. Here is a list of charity type organizations that would accept your donations of ornaments.

Of course, anything that is cute and miniature you can turn into an ornament! Have fun turning amigurumi into ornaments.

10 Hour Afghan Time Log

Here is the time log for my construction and design of the 10 Hour Remnant Afghan. A 5 foot square blanket in under 10 hours? How did I make that happen? Read below for the details.

I used an online stop watch to keep track of my knitting progress. I only timed the time I actually spent knitting, I would pause to take breaks, massage my hands, eat etc.

Time Log (HH:MM:SS)

• 00:15:50 - 3.5 rows into the project. The piece is ~23 inches wide, as best as I can tell, and about 3 inches high.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 00:30:35 - 8 rows in, 6 inches. Since what i'm working on will be 1 of 2 or 3 lengths stitched together, it is doubtful that this will be completed in 6 hours.
  
• 00:45:58 - 13 rows, 9 inches
• 01:24:23 - 30 rows, 22 inches long.
• 02:02:24 - My shoulder is getting a little sore... this project is heavy! 42 rows, 31 inches. The lengths are very approximate because this blanket has so much stretch to it! I'm also beginning to worry about running out of wool, since I am only about 1/4 done with what I want. I discovered another 2 balls of the fisherman color in another stash bag, so at least I'm not going to run out of cream any time soon! I also have some yarn given to me when I was doing the knit-a-thon that I can put into this project. Maybe I was naive to think that I would be able to construct a reasonable sized blanket with only 17 balls of yarn...
  
• 02:38:23 - 52.5 rows, ~35 inches (measured on wood floor so I wouldn't be stretching it). This is the row when I used up one complete ball of yarn, which means that this is when I've used up 8 balls of yarn. Since I will be doubling the width (knitting two separate panels), I cannot just work until the blanket is complete, I have to plan this out a bit better. If I want to do 100 rows (times 2), then I will need about 32 balls of yarn. Meaning that I need to order more yarn. But how much more yarn? The whole POINT of a stashbuster is to clear out my stash, I do not want to have a lot of extra remaining. I will finish these 100 rows, decide how much I will need, and then likely order a bunch more fisherman's so I can dye my own colors for the rest of the replacements. (It is more fun if I know the story behind the yarns in this project.)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 04:07:50 - 47 inches (measured on the floor), 79 rows.
  
• 05:15:13 - Finished the first rectangle! I'm half done with the blanket. 100 rows, and the unstretched dimensions are (drumroll please), 28x60" (which is a good thing since my tape measure only goes to 60 inches!) Still have not finished the second set of 8 skeins, but we're pretty close.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 05:29:20 - 3 rows into the second panel I finish the second complete skein, so this project has now consumed 16 skeins of yarn. I now have to decide how much I am going to order. As I've said, I do not want to have too much extra yarn at the end of this project since this is my stashbuster. Going beyond Lion Brand Wool Ease (to other wool/acrylic blends), I have equivalent to 10 balls in my stash. I will buy 4 balls of fisherman, 1 Clove and 1 Autumn Print for $20 (including shipping). So I can start knitting as soon as it arrives, I'm going to start dyeing yarn now.
• 06:06:34 - 16 rows on the part 2 done.
  
• 06:43:51 - 34 rows completed. I'm trying to plan the colors so when I get to the end it won't be boring. I would hate to get to the end, and only have 2 colors left. I would then loose the pretty color gradients I have been creating.
  
• 07:17:47- 50 rows complete. I'm now 3/4 done with the blanket! I'm not quite done with the 3rd set of 8 skeins, but it is getting pretty close. I should have some extra yarn at the end.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 7:37:00- 58.5 rows complete, finshed the 3rd set of 8 skeins, 24 balls used total at this point.
• 08:25:50 - 80 rows complete. I'm in the home stretch. All hand dyed balls are now attached... hopefully they'll last long enough to make the end have the same color change variability as the rest of the blanket. My right hand is a little sore, as I've done 77 rows of this section today. It is helpful that I had to wait for more yarn to get delivered, because this is hard work!
  
• 08:52:47 - I am getting creative with scraps of yarn now. I'm starting to run out of all balls, so I'm doubling up certain colors. The end of this rectangle will be very blue... 92 rows done.
• 09:09:48 - I FINISHED THE SECOND SQUARE!!!!! WAHOO! I can now put down these huge knitting needles and take a bit of a breather. These things are huge!
  
  
  
  
  
• 09:23:03 - I just finished stitching the two rectangles together. I made sure to stitch loosely so I would not loose stretchiness over the seam.
• 09:32:46 - Finished cutting and "weaving in" remaining ends. For me, this is trimming them since when I tried to weave them in they didn't really stay. (A bit of the end would always stick out after stretching, so I gave up and just trimmed them short.) You may keep finding other ends to snip for a while.
  

And when time no longer matters...

I'm sitting on the couch enjoying my new blanket. It is warm, cuddly, and breathable so I don't overheat. I am so happy I finished this project in under 10 hours! I keep finding other loose ends to trim as I move the blanket around and ends pop out, but I had expected that. I cannot think of a more fun stashbuster. As I sit here, I think of the gifts I've made, and the fun I've had in my kitchen dyeing yarn.

Go to the Pattern Page of my 10 Hour Remnant Afghan

10 Hour Afghan Pattern - My Remnant Throw Blanket

So in my search for big needle blankets, I found a blanket titled "6-Hour Afghan." I wanted to make a big needle blanket of my own, using left over Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn from my sampler afghan and various other projects. Is it possible to create a blanket like this in 6 hours? See my time log to see how the project goes.

This is more of a 9 hour 32 min blanket. See my time log to understand the real time progress of this project.

Materials

• Size 50 knitting needles (Lion Brand 'Speed Stix;' 25 mm)
• Remnant Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn. Since I had a lot of the fisherman color left over, I hand-dyed some with koolaid . The project will take 32 balls of Wool ease yarn (6304 yards; 197 yards/ball*32 balls). 
• Finished Dimensions: 60"x60" (Measured on wood floor so stretching wouldn't become part of the measurments)
• Gauge over seed stitch: 5 sts/3 inch, 16 rows/10 inches.

About 15 balls of Wool-ease yarn from my stash. I found another 11 equivalents around my apartment, and had to order 6 others to complete the project. See more details about yardage in the Time Log.

The Pattern

• Cast on 33 stitches using 8 strands of yarn on size 50 knitting needles.
  
  
  
  
• All rows: K1, *P1, K1* repeat from * across. (Seed Stitch)
• Work in the seed stitch pattern for 100 rows and bind off. This is the first rectangle.
• Repeat to make a second rectangle.
• Stitch the two panels together using 4 strands of yarn. Make sure to stitch loosely so you do not lose the give and stretch of this afghan.
• Weave in loose ends. If you choose to make a remnant afghan like I did, there will be many loose ends where you switch colors. The weave is so loose that a end woven in will stick out in some place, so you may need to play with it a bit to find something that you're happy with.
• Enjoy!

The two rectangles before stitching them together.

I am unbelievably happy with this afghan. I had no idea how much I would love it when I decided to save up my remnant yarn for this project months ago. My hands are tired, but it is 100% worth the effort. This afghan is so cozy and squishy. It was quite comfortable to stitch the two pieces together while sitting on it on the floor.

The Final Skein, 19.6 grams, or 1/5 of a ball remaining. Now this 1 ball is representatative of the 4th set of 8 balls. But the 32 ball estimation of the project is very reasonable. You could add a fringe with the leftover yarn! (I am out of fun colors so I will not be doing that.)

I made my blanket huge. The seed stitch pattern is so stretch knit on these huge needles that even half of the blanket is enough for one person to cuddle with. The blanket will stretch to accommodate your body like a hug.

An illustration of the stretchiness of this afghan. I think you would need more than 8 strands of worsted-weight wool to make a knit that isn't so loose!


A closer look at the seam

Here I've folded the blanket so you can see the amount of color variation I have within this one blanket. You could plan one out to be uniform, or use this as an excuse to clean out your stash.

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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 Please send a picture of your project to chemknitsblog@gmail.com when you've finished your afghan, I'd love to see your creation!

Note: I became a Lion Brand Affiliate in January 2018.  

Resveratrol Wine Cozy Knitting Pattern

You may have heard about it on the news. Yes, this molecule has shown potential as a "fountain of youth and health" for mice. It is a natural substance found in many things including red wine. Of course, you would have to drink BOTTLES a day to consume enough of resveratrol for any biological effect. I am NOT encouraging you to take it as a supplement, but I was amused by the idea of putting it on a wine cozy!

This Resveratrol Knitting Chart is 18x38 stitches.

Materials Required

• Miscellaneous remnants of machine washable worsted weight yarn in three colors.
  
• size 3 double pointed needles (I like a tight gauge on my cozies)
• Gauge: ~ 11 sts/2 inches; 17 rows/ 2 inches over stockinette
  
• A wine bottle to check the desired fit. (Measured flat the cozy is ~5"x13")
• Ribbon or I-cord chain for the top closure
  
• Yarn needle or crochet hook to weave in loose ends
  

The Pattern

Row 1: Cast on 6 sts, join and knit 1 round even
Row 2: KfB across (12 sts)
Row 3: KfB across (24 sts)
Row 4: K 1 round even
Row 5: *K3, Kfb* repeat to end (30 sts)
Row 6: K 1 round even
Row 7: *K4, Kfb* repeat to end (36 sts)
Row 8: K 1 round even
Row 9: *K3, Kfb* repeat to end (45 sts)
Row 10: K 1 round even
Row 11: *K4, Kfb* repeat to end (54 sts)
Row 12: K 1 round even
Row 13: *K8, Kfb* repeat to end (60 sts)
Knit 8 rounds even (Rows 14-21)
Now we're starting the main chart part of the pattern.
Row 22: ssk, yo, *K2tog, YO* repeat from * 4 more times times, K2, *YO, K2tog* repeat from * 5 more times, K34 sts (60 sts)
Row 23: K 1 round even
Row 24: ssk, YO, K22, YO, K2tog, K34 sts
Row 25: K4, [work 18 sts of the bottom row of the chart, right to left], K until the end of the row.
Row 26: SSK, YO, K2, [Work 18 chart sts], K2, YO, K2tog, K across until the end
Repeat rows 25 and 26 (alternating rows with the YO border) until you have finished the last row of the chart. This last row should be a row 25.
Row N1: ssk, YO, K22, YO, K2tog, K34 sts
Row N2: K 1 round even
Row N3: ssk, yo, *K2tog, YO* repeat from * 4 more times times, K2, *YO, K2tog* repeat from * 5 more times, K34 sts (60 sts)
Rows N4-5: K across
At this point, the project should cover all but the neck of the wine bottle. Continue knitting rows until the project hits the bottom of the label on the neck (Approximately 15 more rows)

Next Row for tie holes: *K4, K2tog, YO* repeat from * until the end of the row.
Knit 20 more rows or until you've reached the top of the desired wine bottle.

Bind off, weave in loose ends. Find a ribbon or make a crochet chain for the bag tie. Put the cozy on a wine bottle and admire.

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Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
Kfb - increase by knitting into the front and back of a single stitch.
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.
YO - yarn over


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

Dark Mark Scarf

A while ago, I decided to search for Harry Potter related knitting patterns. Among the patterns I found, I was amazed by the Dark Mark Illusion Scarf. My younger brother is the one who got me to love the Harry Potter books years ago. This scarf is a nice way to give him a HP related gift, a subtle HP related gift!

This scarf was knit on size 6 needles using 2 skeins each of Wool of the Andes in Grass and Coal.

The designer was correct, and illusion knitting does require blocking. See the curls:

I blocked by soaking completely in water, and the pattern still remained okay. Maybe it is even more subtle now... but at least the scarf is cute on it's own!

Before blocking. I didn't have to get as low to see the illusion before. Whoops!

In playing with the scarf, it looks pretty cool with just the horizontal stripes. Cozy and Manly (thank goodness, since it is a gift for my brother!)

See the illusion? Looking at it straight (left) you cannot see the snake/skull at all! At an angle (right), however....

Today's my brother's half birthday, so I figured it would be appropriate to post it today. Happy (half) Bday, J!

This is me wearing the scarf looking down. THE DARK MARK, AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Not Just a One Note - Part II

I found too many "single category" books to put all in one post. Here are the rest that I found!

Latvian Mittens: Traditional Designs & Techniques by Lizbeth Upitis.

This story of a mitten tradition begins with an introduction for mitten instruction, in both English and Latvian. Every pattern is written in two languages!

There are complete patterns for some mittens, but rather than just a desciprtion for each pattern shown, there is also a chapter describing the different symbols and their meaning to the Latvian people. There are patterns from different districts. The author walks through examples of different patterns, and then the back of the book is filled entirely with different pattern charts. Of new interest: There's an interesting a looped-fringe right after the cast-on. I will have to try it!

I've been making Selbuvotter Mittens for a while now, so most of my experience comes from that book. This folk-glove/mitten tradition uses more colors, but there are similarities to the scandanaivan mittens (which were often seen in just black and white). I will need to check this out again to go into the pattens further.


Folk Mittens: Techniques and Patterns for Handknitted Mittens (Folk Knitting series) by Marcia Lewandowski

This isn't a one note... this isn't even one region! The book collects samples of folk mittens from all over the world. Although there are some similarities, there are distinct flavors to mittens from different regions. I love Selbuvotter, but although the patterns are varied, there is still a similar feel between the mittens and gloves. With this book, you can make two pairs of mittens in the same colors, and end up with products that do not look like they were made by the same person. (This is an obvious statement, since these are from different regions of the world, of COURSE the design elements would be different, but hey, I'm a scientist. I say it like I see it!)


Hip Knit Hats: 40 Fabulous Designs By Cathy Carron.

I've long been an advocate that someone's first project should be a hat, not a scarf. Why? Knitting in the round is not that hard, and then you get the satisfaction of having a finished product much sooner. It is easy to visualize your progress in a hat, less so in a scarf that you want 5-6' long.

I have never seen a diverse collection of hats in one book like this before. Many of the patterns have a classic appeal, but a couple are quite unique and would get compliments when you wear them on the street.

They have you play with texture, yarn type/size, bobbles and felting. many of the hats would work just as well for men and women. The sections are divided into Caps (10), Buckets and Boxes (11), Berets and tams (6), Witty Knits (8) and Fabulous felted (5). With many photos of some of the hats, you can see how you can achieve different looks with adding multiple colors or novelty yarns.

Great source of inspiration when you are looking for something new to keep your head warm!

The Chivalrous Love Pig

There are only two things that relate this little piglet to Valentine's Day. 1) It is pink. 2) I decided to post this project today!

This piglet was knit on hand (tea) dyed wool yarn on size 1 (2.5 mm) needles. This pattern can be found in the book World of Knitted Toys by Kath Dalmeny (along with many other really cute little animals).

Oh no! Everything knit up except for the ears and tails, and I'm out of yarn!

Dyeing your own yarn for projects is fun, and there are many advantages including the ability to make a small amount of a color for a tiny project without purchasing a whole ball. Most knitters know about the problems with dyelots, and that when you're planning a big project it is better to get too much yarn than not enough because another dyelot may not be the same color. I suppose I could achieve a pretty close color if I were to re-attempt this pink, but I need so little yarn to finish up the ears and tail that I wanted to look in my stash and find something complementary.

The knit pig body with different strands from my stash laid acorss it. From left to right, a rowan DK pink, worsted weight hand dyed wool-ease yarn, tea dyed palette, white palette yarn.

The Rowan pink was closest in color, but it was so solid that it stood out against the rest of the pig. I chose the hand dyed wool ease yarn, and divided the 4-ply worsted yarn into a 2-ply "small enough to work for this pattern" weight. You can tell when you look up close, but from afar, who would know that I didn't dye enough pink?

Big tip, sew things together with thread, not yarn. It is MUCH easier and far less bulky.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Not Just a One Note

The books in this review are about a single type of project, either socks or scarves. Yet these books are not just a one note, but have many interesting variations on a single theme.

Knitted Socks: Over 25 Designs for Fab Feet and Cozy Toes for the Whole Family by Anna Tillman

Many (most?) knitters love socks. They are finished quickly, and, unlike hats and scarves, you always need more. The introduction of Tillman's book includes a sizing chart, which isn't perfect but should give you an idea about what size to choose as you're knitting.

These patterns are creative, fresh, new, exciting... just WOW.

• Fabulous Feet: Pop-out penguins (PENGUINS!), Strawberries and Cream, Crazy Fur, The Whole Hog, Rainbow Toes, Thigh Highs, Zitzag socks, Sock Buddies (pickets for toys), Fly away home (turn a kid's feet into ladybugs... I cannot wait to make these)
• Cozy Toes: Covered in Cable, Frilled to Meet You, Fab for Flip Flops, Going Dotty, In Jest (Jester shaped...), Slouch Socks (ruched), Winter Warmers (makes me think of the Harpoon beer...), Felted booties, Felted Slipper Socks
• Well-Heeled Wonders: Verticle Stripes, Flower Power, Cable Cuffs, Do The Twist (A twisted rib tube sock), Footlets (pompom on the heel), Fair Isle Stripes, Lovely Lace, Classic Fair Isle (which would make cute mittens too).
• The chapters end with Mix&Match and a bit about creating your own sock patterns.

Do you want to put your feet together to see a whole pig? I'm just so amazed by how different the patterns are from each other.


Knitting New Scarves: 27 Distinctly Modern Designs by Lynne Barr

Who said that scarves had to be a rectangle that was boring to knit?

The 27 Patterns include:

• Ruffled Edges
• Beads on a String
• Stashbuster Projects
• Circles
• Batting, Texture & volume
  
• Drifting Pleats
• Linked Ribs
• Waves (both flat and 3D)

I don't know how wearable all of these scarves are... but they are innovative. It's a good way to give a gift that is definitely unique.

Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks by Cookie A

This book has the best introduction to more advanced knitting techniques and design that I have ever seen. There is discussion about converting written patterns to charts (and back). The design discussion is more than just technical, but there is a discussion about the asthetics of design. Do you make the socks symmetrical or not? If you don't want them symmetric, how to make it look deliberate versus a mistake. Frequently, Cookie included sketches of her designs before the patterns, she would think about the shapes first, then how to achieve that with knitting.

I had to wait on a list of about 17 other people for the library to lend me this book. Talk about high demand! The socks are amazing, beautiful and look like they'd be fun to make. (I am tempted to try the cover pair even though I know it will take me a year to finish. This is a pattern for 2-at-a-time so I don't quit after the first due to the complexity!) I HIGHLY recommend you take this book out for a read, or even as a reference book! It's on my "purchase once I am not broke" list.

Dyeing Wool-Ease Yarn with Food Coloring - 4

Time to finish up dying the excess Fisherman Wool-Ease Yarn (20% Wool, 80% Acrylic) for my big needle blanket.

Before dyeing, make sure you soak the yarn in water until it is thoroughly soaked. (Unless you want to TRY to make the dye absorb unevenly.) Since this yarn is not 100% wool, the colors will come out muted/more pastel than if you were to use a 100% natural fiber. If you look at the individual strands, you can see the fibers that were colored versus the acrylic ones that remain mostly unchanged. This gives the finished project a heathered look, one that I happen to enjoy.

Red to Pink Gradient

• Create a dye-bath with 1 packet Kool-Aid Pink Lemonade
  
• Add 20 drops red, 5 drops NEON Pink and 5 drops of NEON Purple

Bring the dye-bath to a boil, then turn off the heat. Using a pre-soaked skein, dip an end of the skein into the bath and wait 1 minute. Slowly, minute by minute, increase the amount of yarn that is in the dye-bath (about 1/4 of the skein at a time). The final dip should be very fast so only the slightest amount of color goes to the skein The dye-bath will not run clear because you want the later dipped sections to have a lighter orange color, and you're not going to let it soak that long. Remove the skein from the dye-bath and allow it to cool. Wash the completed skein in mild soap and luke warm water. Hang to dry.

Pink #2

• Use the remaining dye-bath from the above gradient
  

Bring the dye-bath to a boil, turn off the heat and add the pre-soaked skein. Allow the skein to soak in the dye-bath until the color has absorbed to the yarn. Remove the skein from the dye-bath and allow it to cool. Wash the completed skein in mild soap and luke warm water. Hang to dry.

Purple

• I started with the remaining dye-bath from above. There was still a fair amount of pink left in the dye-bath.
  
• 5 drops blue, 5 neon purple

Ah the "elusive" purple. Purple takes a while because red absorbs to wool before the blue, for reasons I have not found a scientific explanation for yet. I believe, based on experience, that if you have too much dye present, you can over dye the yarn with the reds in the solution before the blues can bind to create the color you want. This color takes patience. Keeping the dye-bath on low heat (not even at a simmering level) could be helpful since this takes longer than some of the other colors.

Green Gradient Colorway

• The great thing about doing multiple colors in one day is that you can keep re-using the same dye-bath that has been cleared of color, just add more dye and water if necessary.
  
• 10 green drops, 5 NEON green

I brought the dye-bath to a boil, and allowed it to simmer during dyeing, much like in the pink gradient. This time I dipped the skin in thirds, allowing the final third to be in the dyebath for less than a minute. The portions in the dye-bath the longest have the most color. The gradient is subtle, and would likely be more pronounced if I had been using 100% wool. Allow the skein to cool to the touch, wash with mild soap and luke warm water, and hang to dry.

Green #2

• Used the water from the previous dye-bath
  
• 5 drops green, 5 drops NEON green food coloring
  

I didn't wring out the cool water from the pre-soaking when I added the skein into the boiling dye-bath. I was curious whether the color would come out even. This really had no effect on the color, it was pretty even over the entire skein. I may try this again with 100% wool. I see more variation in the color in those cases (you can tell the "dye lot" more) probably because there is more fiber to absorb to. Since 80% of the yarn I was dying today does not take dye, it make subtle differences in how the color absorbs to the fiber less noticeable.

Comparison of the greens. Gradient on the left, straight on the right.