Tag: knitting for fun

Posted in knitting

Cast-on Monday: Search and Swatch

Posted on by Laura Kate

So my objective for this week is to prepare to knit socks – at least 4 pair! Just to make things interesting, I have set up a few criteria for these projects.

  1. They will use as much of my stash yarn as possible. You can see in the photo above that I have a fair selection which includes DK as well as fingering weight. Having gathered my yarns together in this bowl certainly helps me begin to think about color pairing of partial balls.
  2. I will choose patterns new to me so that I will have variety and new skills to learn.
  3. The new patterns will be available on-line from free pattern sources.

So far, I’m doing pretty good! I had no trouble finding patterns that I like without spending a dime. Some of these are written for DK weight. Here are my choices of patterns so far and the swatches I worked up for them.

VERTICALLY STRIPED SOCKS by NOVITA

Making use of a very graphical but easy stranded design, this pattern is knit at 24 stitches per 4 inches. These socks look fun, sturdy and very warm. The yarn I swatched here is Knitpicks Hawthorne Bare in a dk weight and Berroco Vintage dk. Full disclosure regarding the pattern: I downloaded it a few years ago and now can no longer find it on the ‘Net. I did see similar designs offered on the Novita website.

YAMADORI

This pattern by Ema Marinescu is available through knitty.com. She says the design was born “from my finally embracing variegated yarn.” To achieve this effect, the yarn chosen should have short color changes. This skein of Wisco Sock in colorway Caterpillar by Ewetopia certainly qualifies. With a tight gauge (34 st per 4 inches) and slipped stitch pattern, the resulting socks can’t help but be warm and sturdy.

LEMON DROP with BUNNIES

I have already made this Universal Yarn sock pattern once for my granddaughter. This time around, I will change it up by replacing the Lemon Drops chart with the Bunny Got Back chart, which is a sock pattern also offered by Universal Yarn. The designer is Amy Gunderson. The main color is an unidentified skein of cream wool in my stash. I’m pretty sure it is a superwash wool from Knitpicks. The variegated yarn is also Knitpicks and the solid dark is Berroco Heritage sock weight.

FAIRLEE

I’m pretty excited to try this pattern. Designed by Amy Christoffers for Berroco, Fairlee is designed for their Vintage dk yarn. She calls them slipper socks, so they will be great for scooting around the house during winter. But I think they will also work well inside boots during the worst winter weather. I’m showing a swatch of Berroco Vintage dk, but I will need to purchase more of this yarn to make these socks. My stash is a bit lacking in this weight.

Okay, so I’m keen to get started. If any of these patterns interest you, you may want to click through the following links:

Novita website: https://www.novitaknits.com/en/yarns-and-accessories

Yamadori: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yamadori

Bunny Got Back: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bunny-got-back-socks

Lemon Drop Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lemon-drop-socks-2

Fairlee: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fairlee

Posted in knitting

Who Needs Pockets?

Posted on by Laura Kate

My first reaction is to say everybody needs pockets. But that is not necessarily true. Many grown-up persons carry bags, satchels, pouches and other accessories to ferry about their cherished possessions. But those persons young in age and close to the ground generally don’t have that option.

If so, these little ones need someplace to stash all the treasures they find along the way. And when you are that close to the ground, there are So Many Treasures to pick up: shiny pebbles, feathers, a snail or two, marbles, bottle caps and pieces of Lego.

Especially Lego People.

Little Lu will agree. So I made some pockets to insert into her summer vest.

I chose not to seek out a pocket making pattern. Come on, this can’t be very hard.

Cast on 40 stitches, leaving a 6 inch tail, then distribute stitches over three double point needles. Join together to work in the round. Work in stockinette stitch until piece is 3 inches tall. Flip the work inside out so the purl stitches are on the outside. Now move the first 20 stitches to one needle and put the second on waste yarn. Using the tail, sew the cast on edge together with whip stitch. Make a second pocket to match. Your pockets will be about three inches square and look like this:

When the body of your garment is longer than 3 inches, you can insert the pockets. Place stitch markers at the point where the pockets will go, marking 20 stitches between markers. Work to first marker. Holding the pocket against the back of your knitting, knit together each stitch of the garment with a stitch of the pocket. When you get 20 stitches knitted, turn work. Bind off the twenty stitches you just knit. Now slip the remaining 20 pocket stitches on to your left needle. Working in your pattern, continue to the second set of markers. Repeat to insert the second pocket. That’s it!

Here’s how the pockets look in the vest I am making:

Outside of vest:

Inside of vest:

This is an experiment. I promise to report back to you on how well this vest held up under vigorous, treasure-hunting use

Posted in colorwork, knitting

Cast-on Monday – Summer Style

Posted on by Laura Kate

I’m a bit restless with knitting the Vogue sweater. I am about halfway finished with the sleeves and the back. There are long stretches of stockinette stitch yet to do. So to break things up a bit, I’ve cast on a new project using Berroco Remix yarn.

I picked up three skeins of this yarn while in Madison during March. Made from 100% recycled fibers, it is a blend of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and linen.

While perusing Ravelry, I spotted this pattern by Anna Schei which will be perfect for my intended use.

Ravelry: Polkastripe pattern by Trekkentar Deg

This vest will be for my granddaughter. She is not quite three and very interested in dressing herself. The sprightly mosaic stitch pattern reminds me of her crazy-happy personality.

One small concern: The pattern is written in Norwegian. Fortunately, the color chart transcends language limitations and it is all I really needed from the original pattern. I will be adapting it to include a button-up front. My little one needs to practice her buttoning skills.

And here is my swatch.

This stitch is pretty fun to work and to admire!

Okay, back to my needles.

Posted in knitting

Cast on Monday – Last week of the month

Posted on by Laura Kate

Having finished a pair of socks, I am beginning another knitted accessory – a cowl. I have been wanting to make one for myself in this teal color.

The yarn is a mysterious orphan ball given to me by my friend Kathy, who is in the middle of a stash-clearing phase. There’s no label, so I am guessing about the fiber. It is very soft, with a prominent halo, suggestive of alpaca. If you look closely, you will detect a bit of gold glimmer. The total weight is 80 grams, and based on its thickness I am guessing there are about 250 yards of yarn here.

I started off making this lovely cable and lace pattern, from my book “60 Quick Luxury Knits.” But the yarn revealed a structure that did not sit well with complex stitchery – it has a thick and thin composition and a loose twist which suggests to me that it might be hand spun. I started over. After six rows of garter I worked a combination of yarn overs and knit togethers to create the undulation you see.

What I do next is still unclear. The only thing I know is that it must narrow as it rises.

This knitter is open for suggestions.