Larry's Cabled Crewneck Sweater

My brother-in-law Larry wears lots of sweaters so when I saw this pattern on the Vogue Knitting website I knew I had to make it for him for Christmas.

The pattern is pretty well-written and easy to follow.  The only real tricky part is following three cable charts at once.  However, I got used to that pretty quickly.

To speed up the process a little and to make sure the sleeves were the same length I did them both at the same time and worked back and forth on a circular needle.  As I was working on the front I had the thought that it would be much faster to make the body of the sweater in the round on circular needles.  However, as I was attaching the sleeves I realized why the pattern is written with the front and back separate.  It's much easier to set in the sleeves when you can lay the front and back out flat so I'm glad I made it as written.

One note on fitting the sleeves: make sure you measure the shoulder length of the person who will be wearing the sweater before making the sleeves.  Since it's a drop shoulder, the sleeves could end up being a little long if the shoulder length isn't taken into consideration first.  Overall I enjoyed this pattern and will most likely make it again.

Molly's Teddy Bear

This is the teddy bear that I made for my daughter's friend Molly for her birthday.  I probably would have chosen a different color, but I let my daughter pick out the yarn and she liked the combination of the purples, greens and white. The yarn I used is Red Heart Super Saver in Grape Ivy.

Molly loves her teddy bear and decided to name it Carly. :)

If you'd like to make one yourself you can find the pattern on Ravelry here.  The pattern was a little confusing in a few places, but if you have any experience with making amigurumi crochet animals you can probably figure it out fairly quickly.  I modified the pattern slightly and eliminated the flower as well as the buttons on the arms and legs.

Ellie's Baby Elephant

Lately my daughter has been invited to several birthday parties.  Instead of buying her friends gifts I let her pick out a stuffed animal pattern and I've made them.

This is the baby elephant I made for my daughter's friend Ellie.  I found the pattern for free on Ravelry here if you'd like to make one yourself.  It's a pretty quick pattern if you're familiar with amigurumi crocheted patterns. It could be made in pretty much any color you like.  Ellie's was made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Lt. Blue.

How To Do A Cable Cast-On

Most knitters have a preferred method of casting on.  I personally like to do a long-tail cast on whenever possible.  I've seen many patterns that call for a cable cast-on but I could never really get the hang of it.  Ok, I'll be honest - I didn't really give it much of a chance until now.

I found a pretty detailed picture tutorial that explains how to do a cable cast-on a little better than I've seen it in the past.  You can find it at The Making Spot here.

Happy Knitting!

Snowtracks Cap and Scarf Custom Order

Recently I had a custom order request for the Snowtracks Cap and Scarf that I have in my Etsy shop with a few modifications.  I thought others would be interested to see the finished hat and scarf so here they are.  (Sorry about the dark picture.  The weather hasn't been cooperating lately and this was about the best lighting I could get before I shipped them out.)

The customer requested 100% wool with the cap in red with a rolled-up brim and the scarf in natural.  I had quite the time trying to find a reasonably-priced wool yarn that came in both red and natural.  What I found and ended up using is Patons Classic Wool.  I used 1 ball in Bright Red for the hat and about 1 1/2 balls in Aran for the scarf.

If you'd like to make these yourself you can find the Snowtracks Cap pattern here and the Snowtracks Scarf pattern on my blog here.  I also welcome custom orders.  If you'd like either the cap, scarf, or both made for you please contact me and I'll be happy to work with you to create something beautiful for you.  These make great gifts!  Be sure to order early, since the busy (or should I say *crazy*) Holiday crafting season is starting. :)

Kaitlyn's Tunic Sweater Finished

After putting my daughter's tunic sweater down for a while to work on some other projects, I finally picked it up again and finished it yesterday!  Yeah! 

I think it turned out really cute and she loves it!  In fact, she wore it to Sunday School right after it was finished.  If you'd like to make one yourself, you can find the pattern on the Caron yarn website here.  If you'd like one made for you please contact me.  I'll be happy to work with you to create a beautiful sweater for the lovely girl in your life!

Amigurumi Monkey With a Banana

When I saw this pattern designed by Betsy Brunson on Ravelry I thought it would be perfect for my cousin's daughter Hazel.  She just celebrated her 4th birthday the end of July so I made this for her.  Of course she loved it!

Actually pretty much everyone at the party loved this adorable monkey, and a couple people asked me about making stuffed animals for them. :) 

If you'd like to make one of your own you can find the pattern for free on Ravelry here.  I used small black buttons for the eyes, simply because I had them on hand, but the pattern actually calls for safety eyes.

Amigurumi Crocheted Lion

It's been so crazy this month I just realized I haven't posted the lion that I made for my nephew yet.  He absolutely LOVES it!  It took a little longer than most of the crocheted animals I've done since it's quite a bit bigger, but it was worth the effort.

If you'd like to make one of your own you can find the pattern on the Naturally Caron yarn website here.  The pattern calls for Naturally Caron Country yarn.  I substituted Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Gold for the head and body, Chocolate for the mane, nose and the end of the tail, and then small amounts of white and black for the eyes.  I did the mane and the tail a little different than the pattern calls for, but I'm pleased with the results.

If you'd like to have one made for you please email me.  I welcome custom orders.

Amigurumi Crochet Doll

I've been making quite a few animals and dolls lately.  This is a doll I made recently for my daughter's friend Emily for her birthday.  I thought this doll was so cute with her little ponytail & maryjane shoes.  You can find the pattern for free on the Bernat yarn website here.  Of course now my daughter wants me to make one for her too. :)

The pattern calls for Bernat Handicrafter Cotton.  I used Caron One Pound in Off White and Red Heart Super Saver yarns in Chocolate and Spring Green just because that's what I had here in my stash already.

I pretty much followed the pattern, but for the doll part I skipped the joining step at the end of each round and just crocheted a huge spiral, marking the beginning of each round with a safety pin.  Yes, you can buy those split-ring stitch markers, but a safety pin or a piece of scrap yarn works just as well and costs quite a bit less.  The pattern didn't specify when to put the head on, so I decided to do that last to make it easier to get the dress on the doll's body.  I also made the dress all one color instead of doing the ruffle in a variegated yarn.  I think I may do the ruffle in a coordinating variegated yarn the next time I make this. 

Amigurumi Crochet Panda

My niece and nephew happened to be at my house when I was working on the amigurumi frog that's for sale in my Etsy shop and of course both asked me to make them a stuffed animal for their birthday.  My niece asked for a panda and my nephew asked for a lion. (I'll be posting the lion as soon as it's finished.)  So here is the finished panda.  She LOVES it!

You can find the pattern for this adorable panda at Darncat Crochet here.  I pretty much followed the pattern but made a few changes for this one as follows:

I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn in white and lavender.  Since I was out of safety eyes I used buttons for the eyes.  I also crocheted each part as a spiral and skipped the step of joining at the end of each round.  That way there isn't a seam running down the back.  The pattern says to make the head and body separately and sew them together, but I just took out a row at the neck and made them in one piece to avoid having to do another seam.  (That's my least favorite part about making these - can you tell? lol )  I also made the arms and legs each a row shorter than the pattern calls for and attached them as shown so the panda is sitting instead of standing.  So have fun with this and modify it as necessary to fit your needs.  Happy crafting!

Custom Curtains For The Trailer

My husband's family owns property in Northern Minnesota that we spend quite a bit of time visiting in the Spring and Summer.  When my husband, daughter and I visit we stay in the old travel trailer that my husband's grandparents used to own.  

The trailer is pretty cozy and comfortable, but let's just say the curtains could use some help.  Ok, they were almost 40 years old and falling apart.  I finally decided to do something about it and have been busy making new custom curtains for the trailer windows.  The picture here shows the before and after.  The orange curtains on the right are the old ones and the beige ones on the left are the new ones I just made.

Since the curtain rods have clips to hold the curtains on, I didn't need to make any rod pockets so the construction was pretty simple.  I just needed to make rectangles cut to size and hem them.  In case you'd like to make some of your own, this is how I did it.

Measure the width of the windows, adding a couple inches on each side.  Then measure the height of the windows from the curtain rod to a couple inches below the window.  Then decide how much of a hem you want to have at the sides, top and bottom. 

For these curtains I purchased cotton duck fabric since it's durable and machine washable.  Also, with this fabric I didn't need to add curtain lining.  These windows just happened to be about the right size to do 2 panels of 44/45" fabric for each section, so I only had to cut the length and not the width.  Then I folded over about 3/4" on each side (enough to fold over the selvage edges) and stitched them in place.  For the top hem I folded over 1/2" to the wrong side of the fabric, stitched it in place and repeated.  For the bottom hem I folded over 1/2" and stitched in place, and then folded over 1 1/4" and stitched in place.  And voila... A completed curtain panel!

Crocheted Wine Bottle Bag

I've been making quite a few wine bottle cozies/bags lately and I thought other people might enjoy making them too.  Both of the wine bottle bags shown are crocheted with this same pattern but in different yarns.  Experiment with your favorite bulky yarns.  I'd love to see pictures if you make this yourself.

You'll need:

• Approx. 2 oz bulky weight yarn.  The orangish red one is made with Bernat Softee Chunky in "Rouge" and the purple one is made with Lion Brand Homespun in "Baroque".
• Size K crochet hook.

Gauge isn't real important for this project, but you'll want to crochet loosely with the bulky yarn.  If you tend to crochet tighter you may want to use a larger hook.

The base of the bag measures approximately 3 1/2" in diameter, and it's approximately 12 1/2" tall.  It will fit most 750ml wine bottles and champagne bottles.

If you really like these but don't want to make them yourself, I have the finished wine bottle bags in my Etsy shop.  Love this but want it made in another color?  I welcome custom orders.  Please contact me and I'll be happy to work with you to make something beautiful for you.

Round 1: Ch 4, 11 dc in 4th ch from hook. (The first 3 skipped chs count as a dc.)  Join with sl st to top ch of 1st 3 chs. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each st.  Join with sl st to top of ch3. (24 dc)
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in each st.  Join with sl st to top of ch3. (24 dc)
Rounds 4-18: Repeat round 3.
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Tie: Ch 70.  Fasten off.

Finishing: Weave tie through stitches in round 15.

You have permission to sell the finished product made from this pattern as long as you give me credit as the designer, but please do not sell this pattern or post on another site without my permission.

Spring In Minnesota

Well, according to the calendar it's supposed to be Spring.  On Monday I was pleasantly surprised to see these flowers growing in my front yard.  (I didn't plant them there so some animal must have moved the bulbs.)

Now today it's snowing and it's supposed to continue most of the day.  Yesterday it was snowing so hard just South of the Twin Cities that some of the schools closed early ~ Crazy!  Here's what my front flower bed with my tulips looks like this morning.  The picture is a little dark, but those spikey things sticking up are tulips trying to grow.

I think it's a good day to stay inside and knit.  Have a great day everyone!

Kaitlyn's Tunic Sweater Progress

The tunic sweater I'm knitting for my daughter Kaitlyn is coming along nicely.  I thought people might enjoy seeing some progress pictures.   



I like the fact that the sweater is done all in one piece without having to sew any seams.  I just have to finish the sleeves, do the bottom ruffle and weave in the yarn ends.  I'm hoping she'll be able to wear it for Easter, which is coming up in just a little over a week, so I guess I better get going on this. :)

Knitting Provisional Cast On

I'm currently working on a lovely pink tunic sweater for my daughter and the pattern said to do a provisional cast on, which I had heard of but had never done before.  Thanks to the wonderful world of YouTube I found this very helpful tutorial and I thought others may be helped by this as well.

The provisional cast on method is helpful when you want to have live stitches left at the bottom of your work so you can add some kind of edging later.  You cast on the needles with some scrap yarn and knit your work onto that.  Then when you're ready to have those stitches available to work on you simply remove the scrap yarn and you have your live stitches, rather than having to pick up stitches later.  You'll need your knitting needles, some scrap yarn and a crochet hook to do this method of casting on.

All-Over Cable Mittens

I've had several requests for the pattern for these mittens that I made recently, so here it is!  This is a pretty basic mitten pattern and is a good way to practice doing cables.  I could have condensed the directions somewhat, but I like to be able to check off the rows as I go so each row is written out separately.  That way, if you have to set the work down in the middle of the project you know where you left off when you pick it up again.  If you have any questions or find any errors please contact me.

Size: Adult Medium (Fits the average-sized lady’s hands)

Materials: Vanna’s Choice Yarn (or other medium worsted weight yarn)  1 ball (3.5 oz/100g/170 yds/156m)  Color shown is #151 Charcoal Grey

Double-Pointed Knitting Needles Sizes US 5 & 7

Cable Needle or extra DPN

Stitch Holder

Stitch Markers

Yarn Needle

Gauge: 18 sts = 4” in Stockinette Stitch

Special Stitches:

·         K1, P1 Rib: K1, P1 around

·         C4B: Slip next 2 sts onto CN and hold in back of work, K2, K2 from CN (This creates a right-leaning cable)

·         C4F: Slip next 2 sts onto CN and hold in front of work, K2, K2 from CN (This creates a left-leaning cable)

·         K2tog: Knit 2 sts at the same time (decreases 1 sts)

·         Inc 1: Knit in front and back of stitch (increases 1 st)

Mittens (Make 2)

Cuff: With smaller needles cast on 36 sts.  Divide evenly between 3 DPNs, being careful not to twist sts.  Place marker for beginning of round.  Do K1, P1 Rib until piece measures approx. 3” from beginning.  (It took me 16 rounds to get to this point.)

__  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __

Change to larger needles and begin cable pattern

□ Rnd 1: K around

□ Rnd 2: K around

□ Rnd 3: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4, C4B, K4

□ Rnd 4: K around

□ Rnd 5: K17, inc 1 in next st, K to end of round (37 sts)

□ Rnd 6: K17, place marker, K3, place marker, K to end of rnd

□ Rnd 7: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K1, slip marker, inc 1 in each of next 2 sts, K1, slip marker, K5, C4F, K4, C4F (5 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 8: K around

□ Rnd 9: K17, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K2, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K to end of rnd (7 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 10: K around

□ Rnd 11: C4B, K4, C4B, K5, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K4, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K1, C4B, K4, C4B, K4 (9 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 12: K around

□ Rnd 13: K17, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K6, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K to end of rnd (11 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 14: K around

□ Rnd 15: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K1, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K8, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K5, C4F, K4, C4F (13 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 16: K around

□ Rnd 17: K17, slip marker, inc 1 in next st, K10, inc 1 in next st, K1, slip marker, K to end of rnd (15 sts between markers)

□ Rnd 18: K to 1^st marker, remove marker, K1, slip next 13 sts to a stitch holder, K1, remove marker, K to end

□ Rnd 19: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4 C4B, K4

□ Rnd 20: K around

□ Rnd 21: K around

□ Rnd 22: K around

□ Rnd 23: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K8, C4F, K4, C4F

□ Rnd 24: K around

□ Rnd 25: K around

□ Rnd 26: K around

□ Rnd 27: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4, C4B, K4

□ Rnd 28: K around

□ Rnd 29: K around

□ Rnd 30: K around

□ Rnd 31: K4, C4F, K4, C4F, K8, C4F, K4, C4F

□ Rnd 32: K around

□ Rnd 33: K around

□ Rnd 34: K around

□ Rnd 35: C4B, K4, C4B, K8, C4B, K4, C4B, K4

□ Rnd 36: K around

□ Rnd 37: K around

□ Rnd 38: K around

□ Begin shaping top of mitten ~ Rnd 39: *K4, K2tog; repeat from * around. (30 sts)

□ Rnd 40: K around

□ Rnd 41: *K3, K2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sts)

□ Rnd 42: K around

□ Rnd 43: *K2, K2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sts)

□ Rnd 44: K around

□ Rnd 45: *K1, K2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sts)

□ Rnd 46: K around

□ Rnd 47: K2tog around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a 5 or 6” tail.  Draw tail through remaining sts and pull tightly to secure.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Thumb: Divide sts from holder evenly onto 3 DPNs (larger needles), From right side, join yarn to mitten.  Pick up & K 3 sts along top of thumb hole, then K remaining sts. (16 sts)  Place marker for beginning of round.

Next Rnd: K2tog, K2 tog, K to end of rnd (14 sts)

Next Rnds: K around until thumb measures approx 2 ¼” from join. (It took me 10 rounds to get to this point).

__  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __  __

Next Rnd: K2tog around – 7 sts remain.  Cut yarn, leaving a 5-6” tail.  Draw tail through remaining sts and pull tightly to secure.  Fasten off  and weave in ends.

 

Kaitlyn's Soon-To-Be-Made Tunic Sweater

I think I have a future crafter on my hands here.:o)  While on a recent trip to Michaels to buy some yarn for another project, my daughter Kaitlyn just had to feel pretty much every skein of yarn in the yarn aisles.  Then she found the Caron Simply Soft.  Yes, it's as soft and wonderful as the name sounds.  She fell in love with this bright pink (Color Watermelon 9501) and pretty much begged me to buy it and make something for her.  Since it was on sale for $2.50 for a 7 oz skein I gave in and bought it.

In today's Caron email newsletter was the perfect project for this yarn.  It's called the Girl's Smocked Tunic and the pattern is available for free from the Caron website here.  As soon as I finish the project I'm currently working on, this will be cast on my needles next.  I'll post pictures as I get more finished.

Snowtracks Hat and Scarf

A while ago I knitted this lovely hat in white mainly using the pattern for the Snowtracks Hat designed by Timothy Peters for Coats & Clark with a few slight modifications and listed it in my Etsy shop.  I then had a request to make a matching scarf and mittens in dark grey and black.

This is the pattern I used for the scarf.  The hat says it's for an intermediate knitter, but I think an ambitious beginner could do it without too many problems as long as you can do a knit and purl stitch and have a little patience.  This is a great pattern to practice cables.  Yes, I realize I could have condensed the instructions a bit, but I like to have each row written out so I can check it off as I finish.  That way if I have to put the work down for a bit I can find where I left off pretty easily.

Materials:

You can use any worsted weight yarn.  The original pattern for the hat says to use Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller "Bamboo Ewe".  I used Vanna's Choice.  3 balls (3.5 oz each) total for one hat, scarf and mitten set. (The scarf alone uses about 1 1/2 balls.)

Size 9 knitting needles

Cable Needle or other spare knitting needle

Large eyed needle or crochet hook to weave in ends

Special Abbreviations:

• P = Purl
• K = Knit
• CN = Cable Needle
• 2/2 LPC = Slip next 2 stitches to Cable Needle and hold in front of work; P2, K2 from CN
• 2/2 RPC = Slip next 2 stitches to Cable Needle and hold in back of work; K2, P2 from CN
• 2/2 LC = Slip next 2 stitches to Cable Needle and hold in front of work; K2, K2 from CN
• 2/2 RC = Slip next 2 stitches to Cable Needle and hold in back of work; K2, K2 from CN
• sts = stitches
• WS = Wrong Side of work
• RS = Right Side of work

Gauge is not real important for this project.  Mine finished about 58" long.  If you prefer your scarf a little longer then do another pattern repeat before ending with rib pattern.  If you want the scarf a little shorter then do fewer pattern repeats.

Scarf:

Cast on 32 sts using long-tail cast on (or your preferred cast-on method).

Ribbing:

Row 1 (WS): (P2, K2) 3 times, P2, K4, P2, (K2, P2) 3 times

Row 2 (RS): (K2, P2) 3 times, K2, P4, K2, (P2, K2) 3 times

Repeat these two rows for ribbing until piece measures approximately 2" from beginning, ending with a WS row.

Begin Cable Pattern:

Row 1 (RS): (K2, P2) 3 times, 2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC, (P2, K2) 3 times

Row 2: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 3: (K2, P2) twice, K2, P4, 2/2 LC, P4, K2, (P2, K2) twice

Row 4: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 5: (K2, P2) twice, (2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC) twice, (P2, K2) twice

Row 6: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 7: K2, P2, K2, P4, 2/2 RC, P4, 2/2 RC, P4, K2, P2, K2

Row 8: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 9: (K2, P2) twice, (2/2 RPC, 2/2 LPC) twice, (P2, K2) twice

Row 10: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 11: (K2, P2) twice, K2, P4, 2/2 LC, P4, K2, (P2, K2) twice

Row 12: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 13: (K2, P2) twice, (2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC) twice, (P2, K2) twice

Row 14: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 15: K2, P2, K2, P4, 2/2 RC, P4, 2/2 RC, P4, K2, P2, K2

Row 16: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 17: (K2, P2) twice, (2/2 RPC, 2/2 LPC) twice, (P2, K2) twice

Row 18: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 19: (K2, P2) twice, K2, P4, 2/2 LC, P4, K2, (P2, K2) twice

Row 20: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 21: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 22: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 23: (K2, P2) twice, K2, P4, 2/2 LC, P4, K2, (P2, K2) twice

Row 24: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 25: (K2, P2) 3 times, 2/2 RPC, 2/2 LPC, (P2, K2) 3 times

Row 26: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 27: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Row 28: K the K stitches and P the P stitches as they face you.

Repeat Rows 1-28 of Cable Pattern 8 more times (9 times total).

Do rows 1-2 of Ribbing for 2".  Bind off loosely in rib.  Fasten off yarn, weave in ends.