In the News....

People are amazing with the things they can accomplish, especially if no one says they can't.

Amazing person beautiful work.

This is definitely worth a look.

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This isn't your granny's crochet.

Another fashionable look at crochet.

I wouldn't look good in these particular clothes, but I can add crochet embellishment to a lot of my things...… The ideas are fabulous

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Here's a way to take things that are trash and upcycle them into something usable and useful.

charity begins at home

This does take a while whether knit or crochet.  Collecting the materials requires the help of many.

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The value of crochet, priceless no matter who you are

Reading like Crochet are important skills

Both can help you find an escape, a way to cope, a way to be your own person.  What can you do with them??

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So many appeals for knit and crochet items.  Help is needed around the world.

Australia needs help
Jeppe Girls help with 67 Blankets 
poppy appeal

Can you help?  I can send a poppy or two.

Anti boredom month

Have you eve heard of this month?  I'm willing to bet you have.  It's more commonly known as July.

Why the name change?  Here in the U.S.,  most schools use a 9 month on 3month off clock.  By this I mean school is in session for 9 months and then nothing for 3 months.  How many of us have heard about 4 weeks into summer "I'm bored. There's nothing to do."

As a way to combat this, I suggest each week,  the kids learn something new.  A crafty way to release some of their creative juices.  Sculpting with clay, painting, knitting, crocheting,  jewelry making, metal working,  woodworking and these are just the tip of the iceberg.   We all have the waxy sticks of wonder known as crayons.  We all have colored pencils and markers.  There are only so many hours a kid will sit still and color either in coloring books (are these still a thing?) or use sticker books.  There are only so many hours a day we can park the kids in front of the tv to watch or play games on whatever system is currently popular or in front of a computer screen.  These are pretty much one in the same to me.

For younger children,  there are usually kits for most of these.   As the kids get older, try thinking outside the box.   These can also be an opening for them to become involved in volunteer work.  Your religious organization can be a great place to start.  A local charity can also be a good start. There are usually jobs to be done that are not skilled work which are very good for those not really acquainted with the systems used by that organization.  Recently my church had a paint day for woodwork.   

I'd like to see more kids knitting or crocheting.  Check out my website for ideas that will keep kids busy and productive with their time.  For the 4 - 7 year olds, I have finger knitting and finger crochet.  For the 5 + ages I have straw weaving, basic knitting, basic crochet, weaving on cardboard, arm knitting and dying with the food dyes.  These classes are free with the exception of having to purchase yarn and tools you don't have.  See your local big box craft store or thrift shop.

Ideas for the kids to use to create something from their handwork can be found here and in other posts of a similar name.

Don't forget to get out and exercise.  An hour a day can help the waistline and the mood of the family.  Play kickball with the kids, or maybe Frisbee.  Running games like little league or pickup games in the neighborhood are also great. 

Whatever you do, don't forget to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen.

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! There's so many Swatches!

Moving right along with what to do with them all, we come to what to do with more than a dozen at a time.  The obvious idea that we can all see is...........AFGHANS!!!!  These can use from 2 dozen up to 9 or 10 dozen.  You decide how many based on how big you want it to be and how big the blocks/squares are made.

OK.  Now that that has been said.  Let's come up with more ideas.

1. Bathmat:  Take a dozen in a 3 x 4 pattern of swatches/blocks that are 6 - 12 inches each in cotton.  
2. Welcome Mat:  Take another dozen in a 3 x 4 pattern of swatches done in jute, clothesline, rope or twine.  These fibers will stand up to some abuse.  The swatches/blocks should be at least 9 inches.
3. Heating Pad Cover:  Take 24 blocks/swatches in a 4 x 6 pattern.  Fold in half.  Seam along 2 sides.  Put buttons on half of the third open side and crochet along the other half of the open side and add some chain loops to fit over the buttons to act as button holes.  Insert the heating pad and button.  
4. Slippers:  With a dozen swatches/blocks you can make 2 slippers 6 swatches each that resemble booties.
5. Jacket or Coat:  With another 4 - 6 dozen blocks/swatches, you can make a coat or jacket of any size.  With tiny 2 inch granny squares you can make a baby cardi.  See this post for the basic layout.  To make this a longer coat, add more rows to the body.
6. Poncho:  With three and a half dozen (that's 42) swatches/blocks, you can make a poncho.  You can line them up in a diamond pattern or a very long rectangle to make the poncho.  It's up to you.
7. Rocking Chair Back:  With another two dozen in a 4 x 6 pattern and a couple of ties, you can make a wooden rocker back more cozy and comfy or cover a worn back.  Be sure to measure your rocking chair so you know your back will fit.
8. Contoured Bath Rug:  With a dozen more swatches/blocks that are 9 inches each arrange in this configuration.   Make it from absorbent cotton so it's easy care and can be warm to your feet in the middle of winter.
9. A variable number of squares or rounded grannies to fit your window, make a chevron shaped valance to add interest to a window that doesn’t need to be fully covered.
10. With 19 squares and some lining fabric, you can make a rectangular tote bag, 6 on each side and the rest are the gusset (sides and bottom to make it more usable).  Line for stability.  Add purchased handles or strap.
11. With 30 tiny thread squares sewn together into a long ring, you have a fancy lanyard for a convention name badge or scissors.

Now that's another 20 dozen or more swatches or granny square blocks used.  Leave comments with other ideas.  I'd love to hear them.

Games Knitters Play

This post could go a couple of directions.   This will not be ways to lie to yourself and others about how much you or they spend,  how big the stash is or anything else. Deception is not something I advocate especially between spouses. 

I am games mistress for retreats in my knitting guild.   I will give you a peek between the skeins at some of the games we have played and might play in the future.  Sometimes the prizes are knit cash to be used for an auction.  Monopoly money could be substituted.  Sometimes the prizes are actual knit related items.  You can also google knitting games and there are a lot more there.

Trivia  ::  before a retreat, I will Google knitting trivia.  I print questions with the answers and a bit of history if available.  I use this as a way to keep the retreat goers on their toes and earn knit cash.  I just blurt out a question with an amount that I think it's worth.  All correct answers will collect that amount.  Obviously easy questions are worth less.

Stories   ::   someone reads a story that has a lot of repetition of a few words or phrases.  All retreat goers sit in a circle.   There is a ball of yarn that gets tossed around according to the predetermined terms.  Ie. If a is said the person tosses it across the circle while holding the part they caught, or a quarter of the way around either left or right. The final goal is to have a web of knitter's.

Magic ball  ::  this is similar to the stories above.   All sit in a circle.   A story is read and at predetermined terms the yarn ball is passed left or right by 1, 2, or 3 people unwinding as it goes.  The magic is that there are small trinkets wound in the ball, fancy stitch markers,  small tape measures,  blunt yarn needles, buttons, charms.  The person who gets the prize is the one is sitting at the slip knot holding the trinket to the ball.

Ugly sweater card game  ::  by changing the rules this can accommodate a large group with only a deck or two.  Dole out the cards.  Play as directed mostly.  The oldest or youngest starts.  Pull a card from person to right or left. Make a pair if you can and display it.  Next person does same.   If you pull and can make a pair that leaves You without cards, you are out.  You can have 2 winners if you use the ugly sweater cards only.  You can have 3 winners if you use the 2 ugly sweater cards and the person with the most pairs.  You can have 4 winners if you use the same as 3 and include the first person to be out of cards.  This can take a while until all the pairs are made.

Knitting relay races  ::  these can be fun.  Timer is needed for these.

1.  Have the people pair up.  More fun if they are not great friends.  Have a set of straights for each pair with a long tail cast on already on the needles.  20 sts seems right.  Each pair has to knit with one person holding a needle.   Use a timer and the pair with the most sts or rows each win.

2.  Each person knits onto the left needle  as opposed to the way you normally knit onto the right.  Again most sts or rows wins.

3.  Line up in teams of 4 or 5.  Each person knits a row and passes to the next person.  Keep going until time is up.  Team with most rows wins.

4.  Using set number of stitches already cast on, each person has to knit behind their backs.  Winner will be the person with the most sts or rows. 

5.  Again with already cast on needles, each players runs in place while knitting.  Winner will be the person with the most sts or rows.

6.  Another relay type of game inspired by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  I am thinking of the picture of EZ knitting on a shawl with someone else that is in one of her books.  Cast on in the round and knit 30 rds using 4-7 balls and 4-7 circular needles.   Have several of these set up to accommodate all players.  Usually this works best with 2 to 4 people per circle.  Divide retreatants into groups and  each person gets an end to 2 separate circs as well as their own ball of yarn.  winning team has the most rounds with fewest dropped stitches.

This last can be set to music and played like a variant of musical chairs.  2 people knit until the music stops, they trade places and continue knitting until the next break in the music.  Winning team has the most rounds with fewest dropped stitches.

Jeopardy  ::  play just like the t.v. show.   Make up the board large enough for all to see.  Have each player use a different ringtone on their cell phone for their buzzer.  Topics are all yarn, fiber and knitting related.  Utilize your knit cash.  All cash won is kept for an auction or other game.

Auction  ::  run just like any auction you have attended.  Utilize your knit cash here.

Knitting bingo  ::  I made up 2 types.  1 knitting bingo game I combined 3 different bingo games from Untangled Knots  blog post found here.  Things you hear knitting in public, Christmas knitting and summer knitting.   I used these 75 terms plus some from the comments and made up cards that mixed these.  Knitting bingo 2 is a swatch bingo.  4x4 swatches that are tagged with not only the name but how to knit them.  Names are mixed on the cards.   I pull the swatches from a small suitcase and it doubles as a trunk show.  Many are not things everyone has seen.  For this I had a head start in that I used my certification swatches and the increase/decrease swatches are 2 calls.

I also have other ideas for using kids games and changing the directions to knitting terms.   Candyland cards, each color is something different like red is k4, orange is p6, yellow is a yo,  and so on.  When I get the game set up, I'll post about it.

Chutes and ladders and again each move is a knitting term.  I wonder what ideas could be done with clue, monopoly,  hearts, slap Jack, war.....

I also saw an interesting Christmas game recently.   Pick up sticks using candy canes held in the mouth.  It brought an idea to mind.  Pick up sticks using straight needles and crochet hooks or cable needles to pick up the straights, maybe not by mouth.  I don't think it's hygienic or tasty.

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What can I do with them all?

We've found a home for so many swatches.  How many you ask???  Would you believe 99 swatches of a variety of sizes?  It's amazing.  Can you come up with any new ideas?  Here are ideas for 8 to 10 swatches each.

1. Seat Cushions:  Nine granny squares is also the right size for a seat cushion for the dining room chairs.
2. Tote bag cover:  Nine four-inch granny squares can cover the side of a slightly worn, but ohso-handy tote. Eighteen squares and you can cover the whole thing!
3. Doll House Afghan:  Nine tiny granny squares will make a doll house afghan. The best yarn to use here is one strand of three-ply needle point yarn.
4. Tote Bag Cover:  Eight 6 inch squares and you can cover the same tote above.
5. A whole sofa cushion:  Eight swatches or squares and you can cover on both sides of a sofa cushion
6. Slippers:  ten 3 -4 inch squares, 5 to each one can make slippers.  
7. Vest:  For larger children and adults, 10 swatches of 2 sizes will make a vest.  Take 2 very large swatches for the front and back panels.  Use 3 small swatches seamed to the left and right side of the front.  Seam them now to the back panel.  Seam 2 of the remaining 4 small swatches together on one side to form a shoulder strap.  Repeat.  To place the straps, start at the 1/4 mark and the 3/4 mark at the top of the tube you formed before and seam them working toward the outside edge.  To give a finished appearance, single crochet around the outside edges.  

And here we have found a home for another 63 squares/swatches in a variety of sizes.  Bet you can't guess what all there is in store for next month!

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What can I do with them all??

Again these are ideas for uses for ways to use the swatches.  We've covered many ideas for just a few for each article.  Let's try 5 or 6 swatches for each thing this month.  By summer, we should be up to the many and miscellaneous.  Or you have run out of swatches.

1. Table runner:  Seam 5 or 6 large swatches (10-12 inches square) into one long piece.  Line or not with coordinating fabric as desired.
2. Place mats:  Seam 6 together in a 2 x 3 grid.  Each swatch should be 4 - 6 inches.  Line or not as desired.
3. Cowl:  Seam 5 or 6 together as for a runner, then complete the ring.  The size of each swatch should be 8 inches or so.  Use fibers that feel nice.  Line with fleece or not.  Wear with pride
4. Beanie:  Seam 4 swatches 5" each in a long piece then complete the ring.  Add a 5th 5" swatch at the 5th side (like the ceiling in a 4 walled room).  This should fit an adult.  You can crochet around the bottom edge to give it a finished edge.
5. Scarf:  Seam 5 or 6 together just like for the table runner.  Use fibers that feel nice.  Wear with pride.
6. Hand towel/Dish towel:  Sew 6 6 inch swatches in a 2 x 3 configuration.  Add trim as desired.  Use cotton for the absorbency.
7. Baby block toy:  Seam 6 into a block and stuff before the last seam is sewn.  I like to add a jingle bell (with the X squeezed tighter to prevent the ball clapper from being potentially swallowed) in the center of the stuffing.  Use pattern stitches that are not lace like or otherwise open.
8. Diaper cover:  This is more cute than functional for keeping the baby's surroundings dry.  Seam 5 in the shape of a T.  For this two pieces of 1 x 1 inch Velcro will be helpful by being sewn on the ends of the arms of the T.  The other side of the Velcro gets sewn to the edges of the foot of the T.  

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What can I do with them all??

Last month we discussed what to do with just a few swatches.  This month let's talk more about this.
Four is a great number of swatches and can be so very versatile.  What ideas can you come up with?  Here are things I came up with or have seen online over the years.

1. Book mark:  Like last month use thread.  Seam 3 as before.  Crochet with a tiny hook around the edges, starting in the center of one of the short sides.  When you meet back up with the edging, chain for 6 - 9 inches and go around the last square.  Now you have a dangle.  Keep the dangle for a fancy swatch!
2. Dishcloth:  Using cotton, create 4 swatches or granny squares.  Coordinate the patterns or colors.  Seam them in the shape of a square and edge or not as desired.  
3. Pillow cover:  Do you have a square sofa cushion that is worn on one side?  Create a dishcloth using yarns that work with your décor and in a size that will fit your pillow.
4. Hot water bottle cover:  Use your favorite yarns.  Make 4 squares that are about 8 inches.  Seam into a square, then fold in half.  Seam one short end and the long side.  Add a tie woven through the other short end.  Slide the hot water bottle in, fill and cinch closed.
5. Eyeglass case:  Use non scratchy yarns.  Seam together to create a two layer thick tube.  Seam one short side.  Add a clasp to the other end if desired.
6. Doll blanket:  Depending on the size of the doll, seam the swatches together in a square shape.  The swatches should be a little more than the width of the doll.  This way the doll can stay warm.
7. Hot mat:  Need a larger mat to protect the table?  Platters for the holiday turkey, goose or ham require a larger hot mat/trivet than is generally available.  For this you will need to use cotton or wool yarn and several layers of felt.  Make your swatches 6 - 10 inches square.  Seam 2 together for each side.  Layer together with the felt in the center.  Seam or crochet around the outer edge.  Don't use acrylic yarn as it can melt depending on how hot your platter, pan, or baking dish is.

Review :: Bee Count An Android App

This is a stitch count/row counter with the ability to keep track of pattern repeats, stitch repeats.  New projects can be added.  New items can be added to existing projects.

**WARNING**

Be sure to SAVE your additions, editing, changes before downsizing to answer your phone, if used on your phone, or check time or anything else.  If you don't, you will lose whatever you put in.

I found this out the hard way.  I went to answer a local call only to find it was a telemarketing call and that I lost my additions to my new project.

Knit & Crochet Before the Yarn

Have you ever stopped to consider your yarn?  What is it?  How did it get into this usable form that we love?

Yarn, whether it's animal based, plant based, or petroleum based, is made of fiber that are spun. They are all treated roughly the same after a certain point.  

Animal based yarns are almost always made from the hair that is combed from, cut from or shed by the animal in question.  The only exception I can come up with is silk which is from silk worms.  The part used is the cocoon.  All animal fibers must be cleaned from veg matter.  Veg matter is bits of twigs, weeds, seeds and any other plant matter that becomes stuck in the hair as well as more unsavory items which we won't go into.  This last part is usually cut off in a process called skirting.

Plant based are actual parts of the plant.  I have not done much with plant fibers on the processing side.  I have done quite a bit with cotton on the knit, crochet, sewing and quilting sides. I'm working with linen and hemp.  I'd like to try other plant fibers but finding them locally is not so easy.  The plants are prepared according to their type which varies due to the part of the plant used.

The petroleum based yarns might have been originally mixed in test tubes but they are now mixed in vats.  These are designed to mimic various plant or animal yarn characteristics. The chemicals are mixed and fibers are created.

Now is the time when all varieties are treated the same, more or less.  The fibers or hairs are combed as needed to align them all nice and neat.  Now depending on the final yarn you are looking for, the fibers are separated into smaller and smaller sections (called pre-drafting, I think) and twist them.  This is spinning.  It can be done by drop spindle, foot powered spinning wheel or electric spinning wheel or in a commercial setting on huge machines that do multiple strands at a time.  The twisted fiber is wrapped on the shaft of the drop spindle or onto a bobbin on the spinning wheel.  This is called a singles.  Yes with an s.  Multiple singles are still called singles.  I don't know why.  I'm a beginner and have not asked all my questions yet to my teacher.  However, the twist creates friction on the fibers helping them to not just float apart.  To create even stronger yarn the singles can be combined with more singles and then they become plies.  Plies are twisted together in the opposite direction of the singles twist.  This makes the yarn stronger and helps prevent breaking.

So, in addition to purchasing new yarn or reclaiming yarn from finished garments that don't fit or flatter you, you can create your own from fibers from animals and plants.  The petroleum based fibers are not available to the home spinner, that I have found.  I don't know if we'd want to spin them if they were.  But I don't know that for sure.  All I can say is I wouldn't want to utilize them. 

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What to do with them all

I have swatches.  No big surprise there.  Most of mine go into a binder to be used for teaching purposes.  Again, not a big surprise to anyone, I hope.  However, I do remember back 20 years or more when I got my first knitting machine.  It was a Singer LK-150.  I liked that machine.  I took lessons to learn how to use it.  Most of the issues I had were not addressed in the training video.  I didn't oil it nearly enough.  Now back to the reason for this little side story.  I had swatches of all kinds of things I learned.  At first I kept them in the box.  Then I decided that I \would keep them for learning when I did those techniques.  Fast forward a few years, I didn't need the swatches.  The lessons had stuck.  I had all these swatches that were 7"x9" give or take.  I made an afghan.

But it got me thinking about granny squares and swatches.  What can we do with them all?  What ideas can you come up with??  I found quite a few ideas online over the years and come up with a bunch on my own too.  So let's start with 1, 2 or 3 squares. 

1 block.

1. Pincushion:  Stuff and sew into a rectangle or triangle.  Use wool with the lanolin still in to prevent rusting.
2. Coaster:  Use cotton.  No stuffing.  No sewing.
3. Sachet:  Fold and stuff just like the pincushion.  Saturate the stuffing with essential oils to either smell nice or keep moths at bay.  You can also stuff with dried flowers of the scent you want.  
4. Sleep pillow:  This uses a large swatch, usually 8x8 in a soft yarn.  Fold it in a triangle and stuff with cotton.  Add some essential oil.  A drop or two of lavender promotes sleep.  Too much and you end up with the jitters.  Add to your bed at bedtime keeping it near your head.  
5. Eye glasses case:  This also uses a large swatch, 6 - 7 inches. Fold in half, seam on 1 short and the long side.  Again use soft yarn that won't scratch the lenses.

2 Blocks

1. Potholder/Hot pad:  2 squares in wool or cotton.  No holes in the pattern.  Add some layers of felt the same size  (wool is nice for this since it doesn't burn or melt).  Crochet or sew around all the edges.  Add a hanging loop or not.  
2. Tote bag:  2 very large squares.  12 inches is a good size.  Seam on 3 sides or crochet.  Add a strap of whatever sort.  A braid can be used and can be custom fit to you.  You can also use a strap from a worn out purse.  Line it if you don't want to lose things.
3. Halloween treat bag:  Choose 2 Halloween charts, using either a fair isle or knit/purl pattern, that are the same size and work up at about 8 - 10 inches square.  Seam on 3 sides.  Add handles to the open end.  Trick or treat at will.
4. Vest:  This can be deceptively easy.  Choose the recipient.  I suggest a doll for starters.  Use a ribbon and across the top, tie together the front and back 1/4 of the way in from each edge continuing out to the corner.  Neck hole made.  To make the armholes, work down those sides to the bottom edge.  This can work until the child is about 4 years old or so.  They are usually not curvy.
5. Soap Sack:  Use cotton for this.  Hold wrong sides together.  Seam on 3 sides.  Weave a tie around the open side.  Insert soap slivers and scrub the dirt away.
6. Fingerless mitts:  Measure around the hand at the knuckles of the recipient.  The swatches used should be a square that meets this measurement and coordinate in pattern and color.  1 swatch.  Fold in half.  Seam from one end up 1 - 2 inches.  This is the part that is above the thumb.  Leave the next inch or two open for the thumb.  If the hand is very small, leave less.  Seam from that point to the other open end.  Repeat.

3 blocks

1. Bookmark:  Perfect for the reader in the family or your circle of friends.  Use crochet thread to make these not too thick so as to not break the spine of the book.  Seam together into a long rectangle.  Gift with a favorite book.
2. Hot mat or small place mat:  Use heavy wool yarn or cotton yarn for this in a larger size.  Seam 2 together, then add the 3rd centered over the seam to form a triangle.  Cheery colors look great in a kitchen.  Adding glass beads can bring an extra touch to these.

Sweater Recycling

Do you have a sweater that is no longer you, your style or otherwise wrong?  We all do.  For this,  it doesn't matter if the sweater is store bought or hand knit.  If it was knit for you by someone close to you but not you, it could get complicated.  Recycling a gift can get tricky.  Let's assume you knit it for yourself or it's store bought.  In what ways can this be recycled?  Here's my list of ways that I have come up with.  One big piece of advice before you start.  If this garment is a hand knit, you might want to let the creator know before you rip it back or chop it up.

1.  The obvious is to donate to a thrift store or hand it down to another family member.   By donating to a store you have an opportunity to support a charity you feel strongly about.

2.  This next way is a bit more drastic.   It involves the use of a pair of scissor.  You can cut the sweater into a wide variety of things.  Some ideas include:  very small dog sweaters from the sleeves, blanket squares from the front and back, mitten shapes from the front and back, cut a U shape at the neckline and remove the sleeves.  by sewing the bottom closed you have a shopping bag.  If you cut your blanket squares off at the underarm line and straighten the armscye and the neck, the front and back can be sewn together and add a "hem" to the top and bottom in whatever form you like and you have a cowl.

3.  This way is the most drastic.  Remove the seams as needed.  Unweave the ends that were so painstakingly woven in.  Open the bound off end and completely unkinder the sweater.  This is best done on a sweater that is nearly new.  A worn sweater will have weak spots in the yarn.  Wind into a skein.  Tie with contrasting non felting yarn or thread.  soak in a warm water bath with a rinse less "soap" for 20 minutes.  Hang the skein(s) to dry with a 1/2 lb can in the cradle of the skein.  These will help to remove the kinks from the previous knitting.  When the yarn is completely dry, it can  be hanked up and put on a shelf until it is needed.  Or it can be wound on a ball winder and used immediately.  Now the yarn can be used as desired.  This will become a class in April.

A year in stitches week 3

Knit week 3

This is a study of the most basic lace stitch pattern. Faggotting. It biases terribly to the right until blocked.  Do you see a difference when the yarn over is after the decrease?  Do you see a difference when row 2 is purled,  knitted, or is a repeat of row 1?  The photo shown is with r2 purled as written.

This is a multiple of 2.

Cast on 20 stitches.

R1: k1, * yo, k2tog. Rep from * to the end of the row.  End k1.
R2: p.

Do you want this to bias left instead?  Try yo, ssk. This variation is called the Turkish stitch.

Crochet week 3

Let's do another basic.  Plain mesh. Many types of stitches are based, in part, on mesh.

Ch 20.

R1:  dc in 8th ch from hook,  * ch 2, sk 2, dc in next st.   Rep from the * to the end.

R2: ch5,  * dc in dc,  ch 2. Rep from the * to the end. End dc in 3rd ch.

Rep r 2 to the desired size.

Another option is to make the mesh larger or smaller.  

For a smaller mesh, use hdcand ch 1 space.

For a larger mesh,  use tr and ch 3 space.

A Year in Stitches week 1

This year is starting off slowly for blog posts. There's a problem with publishing new posts but not pre-scheduled.  And now here's week 1.  I did have this up but can't find it anywhere now.

Knit week 1

This is a quickie.   It's a 1 row stitch pattern in a multiple of 4.

R1: * k2, yo, k2tog-b.  Rep to the end. 

Crochet week 1

Granny in rows

This is another easy and quick stitch pattern.   It can be done with 1 color, 2 colors, or many colors and possibly use up leftovers. It's a multiple of 4.

Ch 24

R1: 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, * ch 1, sk  3 ch, 3 dc in next st. Rep from the * to the end.

R2:  ch 4, * 3 dc in ch 1 st, ch 1.  Rep from * to the end. End with dc on top of ch 3.

R3:  ch 3, 2 dc in ch 1 space,  * ch 1, 3dc in ch 1 space.  Rep from the * to the end.

Rep r2 and r3 until the desired size is reached.

3 Pieces of Advice for Beginners and Reminders to Those More Experienced

There are 3 things I think important to tell beginners.  It doesn't hurt to remind more experienced stitchers of these either.  

1.  Relax.  This is supposed to be fun.  You can't have a good time if you have your hands choking the tool or the yarn.  

       If you need a relaxer, like a massage or cake or a sip of a beverage of choice, most won't say anything.  Maybe try learning with some friends or family members?  Laughter makes things fun.

2.  This is just stick(s) and string.  No one will die or suffer from a catastrophe if a mistake is made.

        Unless you are working with a very sticky yarn (think mohair) your first time through,  you can rip back mistakes.  Mohair will take some convincing and time.  Don't want to take the time?  Cut the yarn and start over.  Sometimes if you are practicing between classes and consistently making the same mistake,  cutting and starting over with new yarn is good.  Show the teacher those snippets and the teacher can see what you are doing.  The other option, after showing the teacher,  is to own what you are doing and call it a design feature.

3.  If you don't like the project,  the yarn, the tool, the whole thing of knitting and/or crocheting, you don't have to continue with it.

       No one has to make something they don't like or actually hate.  No one has to use yarn or tools that they can't control,  don't like, or hurts your hands or eyes.  If you don't like knitting or crocheting,  stop.  The only exception I can come up with is if you hate a particular color or fiber and this is a gift and the recipient asks for it.  But you might come to an agreement about it. 

I will say that even if you hate pastels,  use them at first for practice since it is easy for you and your teacher to see any mistakes being made or how stitches are formed.  Dark colors make learning difficult.

Who enjoys KAL or CAL?

Do you enjoy knit alongs or crochet alongs?  Do you like the suspense of it?  Do you like knowing you are working alongside others doing the same thing but different?

I used to think I would like it.  I even tried some online over the years.  I could never keep up though.  It seemed that when my sons were younger they ate up time, either because they truly needed me to do things for them or during school years, they needed me there to taxi.  As they got older and left home, things never seemed to slow down.  I seem to do better with an in person KAL or CAL.

This says I can commit to those I have to face in person rather than put off and play catch up when I feel like it or when I have time as I see fit.

I have been considering running a KAL/CAL in 2018.  Perhaps on a semi-monthly or monthly basis with clues coming out on the first or last day of the month or the first and 15th.  I'm unsure what type of project to do.  I do know, I would offer a YouTube video of an unfamiliar technique.  Options being considered are an afghan, a cowl/scarf, a shawl, a sweater.

Whatever is chosen will be in worsted weight.  That seems to be universally available.  Color options would be totally up to you.  The only advice I would offer is when a variegated or dark color might be inappropriate.  It's very hard to see things like lace or cables in dark or variegated yarns.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!  Many celebrate some form of this holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US.

Weeks 17 to 33 of A Year in Stitches

I am going to offer a bunch of different charts and stitches in  this post to finish the catch up from the spring to mid summer weeks when I was working on a wedding and a carnival.

The charts will be for both knit and crochet.   There will be color work charts, cable charts, and lace charts. 

There will be written stitch patterns.   These are harder to use universally without a lot of creativity and thought behind them.  However, I'm sure everyone will have fun with at least some of these.

Week 17

For knitting, work in stockinette/reverse stockinette or colorwork.  For crochet, work in fair isle or tapestry.  If you choose color work, you can do bands of colors or keep it 2 colors throughout.

 Week 18

As for week 17, the same applies here.  Have fun with this.  Can you make it a lace?

Week 19

Enjoy the weather with some fun spring/summer motifs.  Color work is the way to go for these.  The brighter the better.

Week 20

This would be great as a pillow, purse, or in an afghan as panels.

Week 21
Lots of fun motifs here for gearing up for the colder weather that is sure to come or simpler items.  All these can be done in texture or color.  Use fingering weight yarns or lace weight and make these into bookmarks or book covers for those books that you read over and over.

 Week 22

Play with tapestry crochet and make change purses, make up bags, pencil pouches.  Play with texture and have even more fun now that you know the charts better.

 Week 23

Week 24

I can see the potential for coasters, mug rugs, cup cozies and napkin/flatware holders in these.  Who wouldn't love a picnic when these beauties are on the table with yummy food.  Don't forget to put the picnic table's feet in bowls of water to deter ants from joining you and hang a red ball covered in sweet smelling sticky in a tree away from you to deter flies and bees.  The bowls of water can be pie tins for wider feet and the balls can be washed off.

Week 25

This could be an early gift made up when we don't even want to dream of hot cocoa or fireplaces.  The markings on the side look like yarn color names.  However, I don't know which company this came from to give credit.  Anyone know?

Week 26

Here is a lovely little block from Japan.  It's Crochet, done in one of the join as you go methods.  For Knitting here's a lovely Russian lace stitch.

Week 27

Here is a granny type square.  Imagine this in the colors of the summer!  That would be one smart tote bag.  This knit stitch pattern on the other hand reminds me of roses in summer.  This could be a beautiful baby blanket or a made into a sweet dress for your little girl.

Week 28

Here are a bunch more square and hexagon motifs.  Mix and Match them unifying them by color choice or pick one or two and go crazy with the patterns.

Week 29

Here's a fun little crown for the prince or princess in your life.    It's crochet.  Try in worsted weight yarn and you can do fewer repeats.  Glue "gems" around the band for a really regal look.

The Knitting stitch reminds me more of a flower I see growing along roadsides, Queen Anne's Lace.  But this isn't the name of the stitch.

Week 30

Architecture has given us some beaurtiful knit and crochet patterns.    This arches pattern is crochet.  I can see it as a pillow cover, afghan, baby gift.... What can you see it as?  Meanwhile the seersucker knit stitch pattern just sounds like summer.  Done in a light weight cotton, linen, hemp or silk yarn it could be a beautiful shell.

Week 31

Interlocking crochet has fascinated me for quite a while.  It shows a different stitch to each side.

Meanwhile the knit stitch below it is a fake Entrelac stitch pattern.  This is done with a trick of the eye and is in a fair isle type of knitting.

Week 32

Mitered, Ribbed, handy as can be for dish cloths, hot pads, potholders.  Do them in cotton for good heat protection.  Chain an odd number of stitches plus 1 for turning or cast on an odd number of stitches.  Mark the center stitch.  Using Garter stitch or single crochet, work to the stitch before the marked one.  Dec3tog or k3tog.  Continue to the end.  Turn.  If you are crocheting, crochet in the back loop only. Work even to the stitch before the marked one.  dec3tog or k3tog.  Continue to 1 stitch.  Bind off.  Weave ends.  Can be done in 1 row stripes, 2 row stripes with unused color carried up the side or almost anything.

Week 33

One of my other loves is quilting.  I happen to live on the outskirts of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, which has a rich history in quilting and frugality.  This is the Trip Around the World Quilt Pattern Or Sunshine and Shadow Quilt Pattern.  It depends on what you do with it.  Trip Around the World uses a variety of colors, where the Sunshine and Shadow uses shades of one color similar to what is shown.  The trip around the world is symbolic of travel. something most Amish don't do.   However, the Colonials, way back when, would trade fabrics or sometimes piece a quilt top for a friend who was leaving to pioneer either in the New World or out West.  One ring of fabric or even just a quarter of a ring symbolized that friend.  

In Sunshine and Shadow, the colors are kept to 3-5, going from a very pale to very dark (black or as close to as you can get) and starting over or fading back to very pale.  It symbolized that we can't appreciate the sunshine without the shadows, just as we can't appreciate life without death or separation.

Choose to do these in granny squares, mitered squares, or something completely different.  Start at a corner and work one block. Working in the join as you go, continue adding blocks in the colors your choose.

If you don't like the color choice given below, get your own 4 squares to the inch graph paper and a box of crayons or colored pencils and draw out what you want yours to look like.  Just remember, the colors need to be in concentric rings for this pattern.

Update on Christmas

I have changed my mind yet again. I know that's nothing new. 

For quite some time I had been planning to make 2 granny square jumpers (American not British) for my granddaughters.  They are 6.  Probably the ruffled skirts would not be appreciated by them.   I have chosen instead circle vests.  We've all probably seen them on ravelry.

My younger son is living with and talking about marrying a young woman. She has 2 children previously.  So I'm thinking of them and what might be appropriate for them.  One of the children is 4 and the other is less than a year.   They are boys.

Then there is my daughter in law.  I thought of a clapoti.  I thought of finishing one of the several things I started for her.  None of them are close to finished.

Finally there's the mystery young woman.   Because of the long hours she works, we don't get to see her and the kids to get to know them.  I know basic sizes and favorite colors for her.  I was wondering about a comodo possibility. 

I also considered something for each son.  A number of years ago, I knit a fair isle pattern raglan sweater for one son.   The other son has me completely baffled.  Maybe a knit tie?  Better still a knitted bowtie!  Now to find a kit from Franklin Habit for this.......

Pictures will come after Christmas for obvious reasons.  With a lot of luck, I will have pictures of all recipients wearing AND enjoying their creations.

A year of stitches week 35

For this week,  let's mix it up.

The knit sample is a fair isle pattern.

Fair isle is best done from a chart that is either color coded or, like some cross stitch charts, symbol based.  A few more complex charts are both color and symbols.  Depending on the quality of the printing,  the colors are too hard to tell apart and symbols can differentiate between them.  Fair isle is done in all stockinette stitch. It is easiest done in the round and then steeked.

The crochet sample is also a fair isle pattern.  Like the knit fair isle,  it is best done from a chart that is either color coded or symbol based.  Crochet fair isle charts follow the same color and symbol based rules of knit charts.  The yarn is always carried on the wrong side in either case.  Crochet fair isle is done in single crochet.  Again this looks best done in the round.

This chart is for both.  One repeat in knit and one repeat in crochet.

Try this pattern in both and see how they look the same or how different they look.  Choose one band and add it to a hat or mittens (around the hand).  Or go really crazy and add this whole panel to a sweater.  Choose different colors if you don't like these.