Repeats

 I do not like making knitting patterns more than once.  I am not a repeat girl, especially if the pattern is all one stitch.  This year I found an exception to my rule.  The Color Affection Shawl by Veera Valimaki, is a gorgeous, knit.  I made two of these shawls this year as gifts.  For both I used Berroco Weekend DK, for the one pictured I used Starry Night, Pebble and Curry, I also made another with Pebble, Pitch Black and Rhubarb.  Both shawls turned out beautifully. Of course when you have the amazingly talented Amy, from Amy Kimball Photography, taking your pictures, anything looks fantastic!

 

Colette

My youngest sister is an esthetician who is going through cosmotology school.  When she finished her esthetician training she gifted my daughter with Colette.  Colette, who my sister had painstakingly (and beautifully) drawn all the muscles and nerves of the head and face on.


  

 

 

My daughter, at this point in her life, is sure she will be a doctor or a marine biologist and LOVES all things human and animal science.  Fortunately, my daughter allows Colette to help size, form and model hats for me.

 

 

Pattern coming soon!

Searching for Peace

My nephew Joel touched so many lives during his short period on this earth.  One of those people is Patty.   Like an aunt to him, Patty and Joel were lucky enough to share a special bond.  This is what I knit for Patty, sent with the prayer that peace will find her.


Cables and Flower Cowl

Materials:

US 8 needles
3 Skeins Queensland Collection Sweet Pea
3 buttons
Stitch markers
Cable Needle

You can buy the pattern here.

A Scarf for my Daddy

My father is the only man in my life that it is easy to knit for.  My husband loves the scarf I made him for Christmas last year and that is all I am going to say about that.  The older of my younger brothers lives in San Diego, where, as he pointed out, he has no need for knitted garments.  My youngest brother seconded that thought, even though he lives in southwest Missouri.  Thankfully, my father has no such qualms.  Here is what I made him for his birthday this year.

A scarf, complete with cables and double moss stitching.  Made from Berroco Floret, in cookies and cream, it's a quick, soft, cozy knit.





Directions:

Materials:
3 Skeins Berroco Floret, cookies and cream
Size US 7 needles

Gauge:
16 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in double moss stitch

Finished Measurements:
67 inches long and 9 inches wide

CO 40

Row 1: k2, p2, c4f, p2, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p3, c4f, p2, k2

Row 2: k4, p4, k3, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2, p4, k4

Row 3: k2, p2, k4, p3, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k2

Row 4: k4, p4, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k3, p4, k4

 Repeat these 4 rows until desired length ( I did 73 repeats)

 For those fellow chart lovers out there, here is the chart:

A special thanks to my gorgeous husband for modeling for me!

A Birthday Gift for my Mama

 

Both of my parents celebrate birthdays in November.  While my father is actually very easy to knit for, my mother is not.  I love my Mama, she is one of the most amazing people alive.  However, my mother would rather hang a shawl I knit for her on the wall than wear it.  After 8 or so years of knitting for her I finally grew wise and started knitting house hold items, it has worked great!  Here is what I made my Mama this year.

A table runner!!!!!!  She loved it, yay!!!!!!!

 

Here's how I started: with one skein of Yarn Hollow Quest and a 8mm crochet hook (one of the very few times I've ever used one), I chained 140, then fastened off.  After I fastened off, I spread the chain out on the table and marked where I wanted my leaves to be placed.

I used the patterns for the oak and elm leaf from Martin Storey's Winter Warmers book.

For the smaller leaves I cast one stitch onto US size 8 needles.  

Row 1) kfb, k1

Row 2)kfb, k to end of row

Continue repeating rows 1 & 2 until 13 stitches are on the needle.  Knit 3 rows. 

Next row begin decreases: ssk, knit to last to stitches, K2T

Repeat decrease row until 3 stitches left on needle.  

Last row: Slip 2 stitches, knit last stitch, pass two slipped stitches over knitted stitch.  Break yarn, feed yarn tail through final stitch on needle.

kfb: knit into the front and then the back of the stitch

ssk: slip two stitches together, then knit into the back of the slipped stitches (decreases one stitch)

k2t: knit two stitches together

I made a couple of variations to the size of the leaves based on how big I wanted them.

Finally, I connected the leaves to the chain by using my crochet hook to pick up a stitch at the base of each leaf I had made.  I then chained 6 or 7 (until I had my desired stem length).  My next chain connected the stem to the main chain (the 140 count original) by using a slip stitch.  I then fastened off the stem and wove in my ends.

A very special thank you to the lovely Lindsey for helping me with crochet lingo.

Sundance Inspired Wrap

 

 My father in law once asked me if I could find anything I liked in a Sundance catalog.  My husband quickly replied, "the thing is to find something she doesn't like in a Sundance catalog".  He knows me so well.   I have a deep adoration for all things Sundance. The main problem is that most of their sweaters are made with wool.  Fortunately, there are some things I can be inspired by.

 















Sundance Inspired Wrap

Materials:
8 Skeins Rowan RYC Cotton Jeans color: Canvas (This yarn is discontinued but I have quite a few skeins and I LOVE it.  I would think you could make this with most cotton or acrylic yarns.  Berroco Floret would work well.)
US 8 needles

Gauge:
4.5 stitches by 5 rows = 4 inches in rib stitch

Finished Measurements:
11 inches wide and 69 inches long

This wrap is knit bottom up in a ribbed stitch.  Once the wrap in completed a strap is made and sewn onto the wrap. 

Wrap:

Cast on 63
Row 1) *K,P* to the end of row
Row 2) *P, K* to the end of row

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until wrap measures 69 inches, bind off all stitches.



****CORRECTION!!!!****

Strap:

Cast on 10
Row 1) *K, P*
Row 2) *K, P*

Continue repeating rows 1 and 2 until strap measures 6.5 inches, bind off.

When sewing the strap on, measure 15 inches up from on edge of the wrap.  Align the strap vertically with the ribbing of the wrap.  Sew the strap onto the wrap.  (When I sewed the strap on, I measured where to sew it on by how it draped on me.  I am pretty short so where I would need it to sewed on probably would not be the same for most people.)

A special thanks to Ellie who always looks fabulous at a moments notice with her oldest sister realizes that she needs knit pics.

*Please excuse typos, my migraine is getting the better of me today.

Fall Yarns

As the leaves start to change color and a chill comes into the air, I head for my fall colored yarn.  Although I cannot touch any animal fibers, there are still plenty of cozy yarns in lovely colors.

Yarn Hollow Gemini, in Spiced Pumpkin, Espresso, Truffle and Bronze

Queensland Collection Sweet  Pea Multy, color 103

 

 Yarn Hollow Quest, in coffee

Misti Alpaca Pima Silk in Aquarious, Misti Alpaca Tonos Pima Silk in Shell Beach

 One of my most favorite yarns ever, Rowan Pure Life Revive 474 Silt

 Misti Alpaca Tonos Pima Silk in Strawberry Jam

Another favorite, Rowan RYC Cotton Jeans in Canvas, this yarn is discontinued.   I have had luck finding it on ebay.

 Berroco Floret, in Cookies & Cream

Prism Delicato Layers, in Shale

Lori Beth

Labor Day weekend a light went out of our world.  Our family lost my husband's nephew Joel.  Joel who smiled with his whole heart of gold and that smile that lit up every room he was in. He left behind his parents, six siblings and an extended family who adore him.  This is the shawl I made for his Mama, Lori.

Made from Queensland Collection Pima Fresca, this lace shawl is knit bottom up with a garter stitch edging. The 5 garter stitches on either side of the lace panel are knit every row. These 10 stitches (5 per side) are not marked on the chart.

Lori Beth

Materials:
4 skeins Queensland Collection Pima Fresca ( I used color 107)
Size US 8 circular needles
2 markers

Gauge:
16 stitches by 16 rows = 4 inches

Finished Measurements:
27 inches wide
55 inches long


Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
YO: Yarn Over
K3T: Knit 3 together
SK2P: Slip one stitch knit wise, knit next two stitches together, pass slipped stitch over
pm: place marker
sm: slip marker

Instructions:
CO 85

*****CORRECTION*******

Edging:
K 10 rows
Begin body of chart
Body of Chart:

Row 1: K5, pm, (k11, k3tog, yo, k1, yo) 5 times, pm, K5

Row 2: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 3: K5, sm, (k9, k3tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) 5 times, pm, K5

Row 4: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 5: K5, sm, (k7, k3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2) 5 times, sm, K5

Row 6: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 7: K5, sm, (k5, k3tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3) 5 times, sm, K5

Row 8: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 9: K5, sm, (k2, yo, k1, yo, sk2p, k9) 5 times, sm, K5

Row 10: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 11: K5, sm, (k3, yo, k1, yo, k1, sk2p, k7) 5 times, sm, K5

Row 12: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 13: K5, sm, (k4, yo, k1, yo, k2, sk2p, k5) 5 times, sm, K5

Row 14: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

Row 15: K5, sm, (k5, yo, k1, yo, k3, sk2p, k3) 5 times, sm, K5

Row 16: K5, sm, p to marker, sm, K5

 Repeat this chart to desired length (I did 13 repeats).

K 10 rows (removing markers)

BO all stitches & weave in ends, block to fit measurements

For those of you who are like me and adore charts, here she is!