Knitted Cowl

Oct5
Still perfecting my knitting skills but am very pleased with my completed light weight cowl, which I added a ruffled flower with a very nice decorative button to give it some pizzazz. SONY DSC I used a wonderful Madeleine Tosh DK yarn (Optic) for a cool black and white design. My needles were a size #8 and I completed the entire cowl using the Seed stitch. I’m sure a more experienced knitter would know how to do this in the round but I was more comfortable doing a provisional cast-on http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/invisible-provisional-cast-on   and then completing a three needle bind-off. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/FEATfall06TT.html Once I had completed my bind off and had joined my two ends together,  I gathered the cowl (using a long running stitch out of the same yarn) along the bind-off edge, tied if off with a square knot and then sewed on flower and button. SONY DSC My finished cowl was approximately 7 1/2″ wide X 26″ long. I just knit until I had used up the entire skein of yarn (225 yards). Now as a somewhat beginner knitter, I really enjoyed the seed stitch but took me a little bit to figure out the pattern. Directions for the seed stitch just say, knit the purls, and purl the knits and I had to learn what a knit stitch and purl stitch looked like when I began my second row. Actually, it is a good thing to learn because if for some reason you have to put your knitting down in the middle of a row to make yourself that cup of awesome vanilla tea, you can pick it back up and know by looking at your stitch shapes what stitch you need to do next. Check out this site for good pictures of what a knit stitch and purl stitch looks like.  http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/04/how-to-knit-seed-stitch/ SONY DSC Will definitely do another seed stitch pattern again 🙂

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”    

Whoooooo Goes There??

Jun21
Wow, Summer is moving right along.  Actually starting to make some stocking stuffers !!!
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Crochet Owl Pouch

I did come across a really cute little owl pouch pattern, which I found at 1dogwoof.com.  Here’s one of mine!!  Makes up fast but best of all, I came across the best striping techniques for crochet to keep those stripes looking nice and even when you are joining. One of my favorite websites, PlanetJune has a couple of videos  you can watch to see her striping techniques.  I really like the invisible joining method as the outcome is fantastic.  It also makes for a wonderful fastening off technique so that you have a continuous looking stitch edge. SONY DSC SONY DSC If you are wanting to perfect your crochet striping, take a moment and check out these websites.  I know you won’t be disappointed 🙂

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”

                                Nancy

Happy Mother’s Day

May10
Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day and hope your day has been extra special too!!
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Just wanted to share this awesome “yarn bouquet” that I received as a gift.  As much as I love to have fresh flowers around, this bouquet is just as special as I get to look at it and decide what do I want to create!! This bouquet was shipped through Jimmy Beans Wool website and I received 3 gorgeous skeins of a beautiful Madeleine Tosh DK yarn with two different sizes of knitting needles.  It came with a lovely pattern that I downloaded through Ravelry called Sylkie Cowl by Gudrum Johnson.
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I also downloaded 2 other “free” patterns from Ravelry:  one is called Mara by Amy Hendrix which is a triangle shawl and the other is called Honey Cowl by Ann Maria.  Both of these patterns are really cool too!! However, I think I am going to give the Sylkie Cowl a try.  As I have mentioned before, my real yarn love is crocheting but I am adventuring out in the knitting world and this pattern does offer some new techniques for me to try. If you are looking for a unique gift to get your favorite yarning person, then check out JB’s website, I don’t think you will be disappointed. Wish me luck as I attempt this new pattern.  Hey, if I think it looks horrible, I can just frog it and find another “crochet” pattern~~ ha, ha, ha!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”

Baby Blanket Finished

May5
Well I finally finished the baby blanket adding the Ultra Comfy fabric to the back.  First time that I ever “quilted” a crochet project. I thought it came out very nice and will be perfect to use as a cover for the car carrier or a good, thick and soft blanket to lay the little guy on the floor so he can stretch or sleep to his heart’s content and when he is about 2,  I can see him running around using it as a cape 🙂
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Finished blanket on top of wrong side of blue backing.

This is where I folded over the edge of crochet to create binding

This is where I folded over the edge of crochet to create binding

I’ve included some pictures on how I trimmed the backing fabric in the corners and did the machine stitching.  I did use a regular sized zigzag stitch length and stitch width for the edging.
How I trimmed the edge of blue fabric and the corners.

How I trimmed the edge of blue fabric and the corners.

Stitching

Stitching

Also, something to keep in mind should you try this technique, I only pinned and sewed 2 sides at a time.  Because the backing fabric was extremely soft and somewhat stretchy, I wanted to make sure that I got it smooth and somewhat taut to fit my crocheted blanket.
More stitching

More stitching

This way I stitched 2 sides and relaid it on the floor and pinned the other 2 sides and finished my zigzag stitching.  Once all the zigzag stitching was completed, I did make two stitching lines down the center of the blanket to hold both pieces together.  I just divided my blanket into thirds and used a longer stitch length than normal but not as big as a basting stitch and sewed it all together.  Also, I did change to blue thread in the bobbin to match the comfy fabric and continued using the white thread to match the top.
Completed blanket

Completed blanket

Ready for shipping

Ready for shipping

Now it has been wrapped and shipped along with several different sized beanies and a pair of thumbless mittens!!  

HAPPY CREATING!!

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”

Progress Pictures for Baby Blanket

Apr14
Well, I did find an awesome blue Ultra Comfy fabric (similar to a Minky fabric) to use as my backing for this baby blanket. Oh it is just so soft and comfy!!  It is all machine washable and tumble dry low which is perfect for a baby because you know how messy they can be.  🙂 I have already washed and dried the blue fabric and it came out wonderful.  It is just waiting for me to finish my crocheting. Here are some updated pictures on my crochet progress for my special baby blanket.  Currently, my blanket measures 36″ wide x 28″ long~~adding another 5″ to the length. SONY DSCSONY DSCSONY DSC I’ve decided that the edge of the blanket needs a little something.  I am going to crochet a small border of HDC (half double crochet) stitches around the entire blanket probably stitching in the BLO (back loop only) to give a nice finished appearance. Then I’m planning to do 1 row of SC (single crochet)  join, chain 2, 1 row of DC (double crochet) BLO (back loop only) and then fasten off.  The SC and DC rows will become my binding edge that I will fold over the raw edge of the blue fabric. I am planning to machine stitch the blanket to the crocheting to make it really secure.  I’ve also decided to make some small white hearts trimmed out in blue to randomly place across the top of the crocheting to help hold both pieces of fabric together. Goal is to have everything completed within the next 10 days and will try to post some more pictures of the finished blanket.  I will probably make a little white beanie too!!

“HAPPY CREATING”

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”