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.

Cable and Rib Sweater

I made this sweater for my Mom for Christmas this year.  You can find the pattern on the Coats & Clark website here.  The pattern calls for Moda Dea Fashionista yarn, but I actually used Bernat Satin yarn in Antique Rose for this sweater.

Luckily my family has pretty much stopped asking me who I'm making a particular project for when they see me working on something.  Lately most of the things I've been working on are either gifts or to sell in my Etsy shop.  Mom happened to stop by my house the same day the package arrived with the yarn for this sweater.  She saw the yarn skeins and commented on what a pretty color they were.  I just said "yes, I like the color too."  What I wanted to say was, "I'm glad you like it because it will be for you." She figured it out once she opened her package with the sweater inside. :o)

The sweater fits great, and the nice thing is that with the ribbed pattern it stretches as much as you need to hug your curves.  That way it expanded to fit Mom nicely now, and as she is losing weight it will contract and still look attractive and not frumpy.

Round Ripple Christmas Tree Skirt

I decided to torture myself again this Christmas and make almost all of our Christmas gifts.  Since I made an afghan for my in-laws last year I wanted to do something different for them this time.  While browsing the internet for pattern ideas I came across the perfect project for them - a Round Ripple Christmas Tree Skirt designed by Donna Mason-Svara aka SmoothFox.  You can get the pattern free here.

The beginning is a little confusing, but I figured it out and was very pleased with the finished tree skirt.  My Mother-in-law was beside herself with awe when she opened this up on Christmas Day. :o)

Knit Cowl Neck Pullover Sweater

This is the sweater that I made for my Sister-in-law Melinda for Christmas this year.  You can find the pattern on the Bernat yarn website here.  I used two strands of Bernat Softee Chunky in Rouge held together throughout.  I was amazed at how quickly this sweater worked up, and the yarn is incredibly soft.  I'll definitely be making this pattern again, maybe for myself this time. :o)

One note:  Melinda says she loves this sweater but it is VERY warm, so you may want to save it for those really cold winter days.

Log Cabin Quilt

The Log Cabin quilt block is one of the most versatile blocks ever created.  Traditionally, there would be a red fabric in the center of the block to signify the fire in the fireplace of the cabin.  Then the "logs" (fabric strips) are placed around the "fire".

There's a great tutorial for doing Log Cabin blocks at the Quilter's Cache here.  Marcia Hohn of the Quilter's Cache explains how to create this block so even a beginning quilter can understand and make this beautifully.

The quilt shown here is one that I sold in my Etsy shop and uses a variety of blues and creams/whites.  I decided to break from tradition and use blue for the center instead of red for this quilt.

Crocheted Lacy Stripe Baby or Lap Afghan

This beautiful hand crocheted afghan/blanket features a lacy stripe pattern and makes the perfect gift for the precious little one in your life. It measures approximately 32 x 35 inches, which is the perfect size for the crib, as a playmat, or to take along on outings. It also is the perfect size to use as a great lap blanket for anyone in a wheelchair.  This afghan is currently for sale in my shop on Etsy.com.

I will post the pattern here when I have a chance.

Love this afghan but prefer a different color?  I welcome custom orders.  Please contact me and I'll be happy to work with you to create something beautiful for you.

Little Mermaid Quilt

It's amazing what you can create with a simple fabric panel and some coordinating fabrics!  I made this quilt for my daughter using a Little Mermaid fabric panel for the center, and then added coordinating fabrics to the top and bottom. 

Since the panel is an underwater scene I free-motion quilted a small stipple design so it looks like ripples in the water, and then just followed the outlines of Ariel and Flounder to quilt them.