A Blog about Knitting
It’s FUN to try a new technique!
Martha
Part one of the series is found here. Part deux can be found here.
Other knitting projects skipped ahead of this one: baby blankets, a full sized blanket, felted oven mitts as gifts, and class projects.
I am happy to get back to this item. I finished the body of the sweater and joined the shoulders using a three needle bind off.
I started the first sleeve, worked for about 6″ and decided the increases were too fast. I frogged (rip it, rip it) back to the second cable row and slowed the increase rate.
I usually don’t “Hand wash, lay flat to dry” until after the garment is put together, but I just HAD to see how the cables would open up. I like it!
Stay tuned. I started it October 2017. It will be finished by the end of THIS October!
KnitYourselfHappy
Please sing along to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”:
This little tune is designed to make you feel wonderful even before you begin!
Whether you are sewing plain stockinette stitch or a stitch pattern, a vertical seam is the same in both cases.
Verbal Explanation of “figure 8” at the start of an edge: Thread a blunt tapestry needle with the tail from the knitting or a new piece of yarn. Take the needle under the lower cast on edge between the first and second stitch. Repeat on the other piece. If necessary, repeat this on each side again to make the sewn edge look the same as the cast on.
Verbal Explanation of mattress stitch vertical seaming: Begin seaming by taking the yarn under one or two bars between the first and second stitch from bottom to top; going back and forth from one piece to the other. Always start the next stitch on each side by going into the same place where the yarn from the previous stitch on that side is coming out. Sew about 3-4 bars on each side and then pull the seaming yarn taut until the pieces come together and look like an uninterrupted piece of fabric. Continue for the entire seam. If the top of the seam will show as a finished edge, repeat the figure 8 to end.
And now to wrap up with another verse:
This favorite stitch right now resembles crochet. The Star Stitch can be done in a solid color or any number of colors. It is usually knit in two colors. Try working it in a gradient yarn.
You may use it for shawls, scarves, baby blankets and even sweaters in any weight yarn.
If you work the Star Stitch in two colors, simply draw the yarns gently up the side of the work without cutting.
Cast on with color A. *Work rows 1 and 2 in color A. Join color B and work rows 3 and 4 in color B.* Repeat between *’s.
Note: When a stitch pattern gives a multiple with a plus number behind it, use multiples over and over and add the plus at the end. For our example, you would cast on a multiple of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, etc) and then add one stitch. The pink swatch has 41 stitches. The green and white has 25 stitches. The cream and peach swatch has 17 stitches.
Watch the video below to learn the Star Stitch.
Check out these darling pumpkins.
You can make them with any weight yarn, but because I think they are so cute, I had to make them tiny! I used various fingering weight yarns and size 3 and 4 double point needles.
Need help getting started with double points?
Check out my You Tube video here.
And the Summer Squash looks just like the real thing!
As if I couldn’t get enough, I had to make the Zucchini.
For me, knitting the tiny items is instant gratification. Each one I finish is my favorite!
But… some people like to make super chunky items for instant gratification. So, I decided to knit The October Vest by Karen Clements on Ravelry. How is that for cozy warmth to toss on with a pair of jeans? I used four skeins of Loopy Mango Merino 5 in Midnight and size 19 needles.
And last but not least, every year I have to make another Pumpkin Hat! This one was made with Berroco Vintage Worsted in the most beautiful orange you have ever seen.
We love knitting in the cooler weather!
Knit Yourself Happy!
