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 of Stitches Week 52

Well, we made it to the end of the year.  Here is our last post in 2017 for a year of stitches.  Let's use these.  There should be something fabulous to meet your fancy here.  Enjoy these.  They offer a variety of looks.  The traditional winter and Christmas specific motifs and then things that can stand the test of time for the whole year.  Done in heavier yarns, there are afghans and pillows.  Done in finer yarns, sweaters or accessories.

This is only a quarter of the pattern.  Mirror image in each direction to form the whole.  This would be stunning worked in silver or gold thread in filet crochet or as a pillow.  For the pillow, sew the pocket for the stuffing in line with the points where the two scallops meet.

My sweater pictures

I promised pictures of what I'm working on.   Here is the first installment.  I'm really working to get this finished but things at my day job are complicated and I'm having to work longer hours than usual.  I know pictures of the rest of my projects won't happen until this is done.

I have finished the back.

I have finished the 2 fronts.  The wishbone cable goes to the center on each side.

 

 

I'm working on the sleeves.  I have finally reached the sleeve caps.  That part is not shown in the picture below.

 

Left to do? A collar, wrists and body hem, and button band must be added once all the sewing up is finished.  Buttons must be chosen.  As you can see, I am a user of stitch markers.  I put them in on the beginning of the rows when I increased.  I keep track of my row counts for the cable twists.  I have markers on the needle to remind myself (in the beginning) where the cable went.  I am doing the sleeves both at the same time to ensure they are the same length and have the same number of cable twists.  Nothing worse than being the same length but lopsided.

Also left to do is translate the mess of notes I have been making to write a pattern for this. 

 





Christmas in July day 22

Sweaters are a main focus for many.  They use a majority of knit and crochet skills.  There are tons of neat patterns out there.  Sizes range from micro preemie to 5 and 6 XL.  They can be matching sweaters for the whole family or all different.  Holiday themes or something for the whole winter's wear is the next choice.  Colors are also important to pick carefully.  What looks good on one might not on the next in line.  You can also use knitting graph paper and take a plain sweater and put your own graphic on it.

Here is a raglan baby/child crochet cardigan

Here is anne's spencer

here is emily's sweater

one piece baby pullover

outdoor-sweater

Simple Shapes

I've been giving a lot of thought to simple shapes.  You know the kind, square, rectangle, triangle, circle.  There has been some small controversy over some projects offered for demos and classes and the like.  Some things are boring.  This could be true.  But then again, it might not.

As I've been going about my daily routines, my mind has been free to think on this.  The basic drop shoulder sweater is 4 rectangles (front, back, and both sleeves).  Kitchen linens are rectangles or squares.  Bath linens are rectangles or squares.  Basic fingerless mitts are rectangles.  Scarves are really really long rectangles or a series of squares or small rectangles.  Simple hats can be wide and short rectangles.  Long stocking caps are very long, thin triangles.  Coasters can be any shape to protect your furniture or floors.  Socks in their most basic profile are two rectangles with a square.  Skirts are usually rectangles but could be squares, depending on length.  Purses, bags and most other mundane things are rectangles or squares.  Circles can be almost anything but hats (tams) and skirts (circle with a hole in the middle) come to mind first with purses a close third.  Trapezoids, or triangles with one point cut off straight across, are great for A-line skirts and more importantly sleeves.

The purpose for these is making straight sides and ends, or if your aesthetic is asymmetrical, a straight slant that is consistent (but that is not a simple shape).  The real artistry lies in the patterns you choose to execute, the stitch pattern you choose to use once you have the basics and the embellishments you add to your projects.  Everyone starts with the same basics when learning to knit, crochet, quilt, sew.  It just needs broken down no matter what skill we are learning.  Sewing requires accurate cutting, straight seams and even hems to avoid the homemade look as opposed to a handmade look.  Quilting needs consistent seaming and straight cuts.  Knitting and crochet work need to have straight lines so you know that you are not increasing in unexpected places or a "perfect" circle so you know you are consistently increasing.

 How many shapes that are simple can you see in your life?

Fair Isle Sweater

Well, it appears as if I will have quite a bit of frogging to do.  Our son came over for lunch Sunday and so I could measure him.  It seems he has grown a bit since he was in 10th grade.  Who would have thought such a thing could happen?

Here is what it looks like right now before frogging.  I'm really sad about this too.  I felt like I had such a good start.  However, if it won't fit, it won't fit and better to frog and restart now than later.  Also, these yarns are wool.  When I questioned him, he wants something he can toss in the washer and dryer.  He knows he doesn't have room to lay flat to dry clothes.  He also doesn't want to be hand washing things.


Here is where I am in the knitting.  I found a pattern after a long search for a top down raglan that is seamless.  I am working the pattern stitch he had made for me to follow into this sweater and really the increases are easy since I'm "outlining" them in the black.  I started the neck area in black as well and did probably 6 or 7 rows before picking up the Fair Isle patterning.  Tonight as I counted rounds in the dark I have 50.   I need 55 before dividing for the sleeves.  Pics will be added soon.

For now, I will be knitting this in the light and awaiting the hurricane to come.  We have battened down every hatch, stocked up the pantry and then hubby added more, gassed up, and checked on family that needed checking on.  Now that the work is done, the extra storm work is done, I can concentrate on two projects, this sweater and making my display for Warm Up America.  I need to keep on track because I have a second sweater to do for a present for Christmas and want to have that done on Thanksgiving weekend.  Then all I have to do is a blue jean quilt for a third present by Christmas.

My Class WIPs (Works In Progress)

For those of you new to knit and crochet, you might well wonder why anyone would have more than one work in progress and how anyone keeps them straight.  I used to wonder that myself.  Now I just try to keep the unfinished things to a "manageable" number.  There is no set number, by the way.  Manageable means to me what doesn't feel overwhelming.

When I was a kid and just starting with knit and crochet, my parents didn't invest in it because it could be a phase.  Most parents didn't get their kids every last thing they wanted back then.  I used the same skein or two of yarn I had to knit and re knit different things.  I knit and crocheted that yarn until it was a mass of knots.  Then I got new.    With only one pair of needles and one hook, I couldn't start a whole lot.  I also didn't care for the patterns in the one book I had.  So scarves and I were "good friends".

So how did I get to this point of having more than one thing going?  As I had kids and they got older, they wanted sweaters in something out of the ordinary, I would start something for son A.  Son B would also want something for himself.  Thus was born 2 or 3 projects on the go.  I would also be working on Christmas gifts and afghans during this time as well.  Also my interests in what was going on around me necessitated some quick start to finish items.

Then the kids got older and started doing after school activities and sports, there was a need born for portability in my projects.  I took things with me to sports practices, drama practices, music practices.  I knit and crocheted through concerts, plays, sporting events.  My prerequisite was that it could not have too many pieces or be complicated.  Basic stockinette, garter and granny squares went everywhere with me.  When something was too big, complicated or had too many pieces, it stayed home to be finished when I had the time.  Thus was born the multiple projects.  Many got finished.  Some languished in drawers or cabinets for a while, a long while in some cases but none at this moment are more than 10 years old.

I have finally gotten a handle on my works in progress, or WIPs, as they are commonly referred to.  To date, I only have a Fleur lace scarf/necklace to knit for class, a sweater for Son B (started when he was a sophomore in high school.  He's 23 now), a dishcloth, a cabled cardigan for myself, a red and tan cardigan for myself that needs frogging (rip it, rip it, rip it), two pairs of socks for myself, a pair of socks for Son B and a broomstick lace shell for me.  If there are more, I don't want to know about them.

During the past year, my projects spiraled out of control.  It was almost overwhelming.  I was working hard to get class samples finished for my students to see, feel and learn from in class and during Open Houses or demonstrations.  I also had quite a few swatches and projects that needed to get done for my class.  On top of that, I had gifts I wanted to make.  You can see how things take priority at times.  My home projects got pushed aside to get small things for class done.  Larger projects for class were scaled down to something manageable but still had the techniques that needed to be seen.

At this time, I keep one small project in my purse.  I have tote bags with one project in each ready to go with me at a moment's notice or sit beside me as I watch TV or scroll through stuff on the computer.  Large projects live life beside the sofa and never see the outside world until finished.

When do I find the time to do all I do?  This is something a lot of family and friends ask me.  My purse projects are for just such occasions now.  Am I sitting waiting for a train to go through the middle of town, waiting in line at the grocery store/post office/bank?  Did husband and I go out to eat and wait for the waitress to take our order/bring our food after ordering/bring the check after eating?  Am I waiting for an appointment, either in the waiting room or in an office?  All these are prime knitting or crocheting opportunities.  Just a couple of minutes here and there add up to hours of time during the week.  Is there less time now that the kids don't have sporting events and plays and such?  No.  We all have the same 24 hours in a day.  I just live mine a little differently than I used to.

So the next time you are in a restaurant or home improvement center or any other kind of store, and you see a woman knitting or crocheting, stop by and say Hi!  It's probably me.

Christmas in July

I'm planning to do a link a day to something I think might be fun to knit or crochet for a Christmas present or two.  The links will mostly be items that are already out there but might have been overlooked.

I will also be figuring out what I'm doing for Christmas gifts this year and posting pictures of finished presents.  Things that will need to be done before all this knitting and crocheting?  Do I have the correct needles, hooks, knook, cro-hook for anticipated project?  Do I have enough yarn in the desired fiber and color?  If not, can I get more?  Will I need a complementary color?

Can I think of ways to keep presents from becoming covered in dog/cat fur?  What are the best ways to de-fur presents?  Will I have the stamina to complete big things in the dog days of August?

Let me know your thoughts on what you are planning?  Do you have ways to keep your projects free from "contaminants"?  For those allergic to animal dander, this could be of real interest.

Time to start thinking about Christmas

It's time to start thinking about what gifts you are going to make for family and friends.  Does Mom need a new pair of fingerless mitts?  Maybe Dad or Husband needs a new hat to stay warm while working on snow removal.  Warm socks would find a welcome home with anyone on your gift list.  Does someone need an afghan in a drafty house?  Classes that teach the techniques for these ideas and more are going to be starting up in August.

What is your knitting or crocheting gift list looking like?  Are you doing anything for coworkers?  Do you create for charity?  Let the me know in a comment.

Are there techniques you would like to learn that I have not offered?    Let me know of interests you have.  I'm always interested in what others might want to learn.

Do you have a wish to see matching hand crafted stockings to hang by your fireplace?  A Granny pentagon or an elongated sock design can both help fulfill this wish.

How about a knit tree skirt?  Crocheted snowflakes or icicles?  A nice crocheted popcorn garland to wrap around the tree?

Have you had a desire to knit a sweater for a gift?  Pattern ideas will be coming in the future.  Check with yarn companies for patterns for a start.

         www.lionbrand.com  www.caron.com    http://www.patonsyarns.com/       www.redheart.com
           http://www.michaels.com/Yarn-Needle-Crafts/projects-yarnandneedlecrafts,default,sc.html

Granny Square Baby Cardigan

I have had several requests for one of the baby sweaters I use in my classes.  Here is the pattern.  The basic granny square pattern is not mine.  It is one of those things that is out there that everyone seems to know.  I would welcome everyone to make one to check the directions I have here.  Please let me know of mistakes or things that are not clear.  Please send pictures of yours.  I'd love to see them.  This pattern as written will fit a newborn under 10lbs.

Materials needed:
      2 colors baby yarn or sock yarn, 6 oz each A and B
      size 7 steel hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)
      yarn or tapestry needle

Gauge:  Finished Granny square should be 2 inches.

Stitches used in project:  Chain, Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Decrease

Abbreviations:  Dc = double crochet, R = Row, Rd = Round, Sc = Single Crochet, Sl St = Slip Stitch, Ch = Chain, Prev = previous, Rep = Repeat, Dec = decrease, Sk = Skip, St = Stitch

Granny Square (Make 64)

With A: Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.
R1:  Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 1, * 3dc in ring, ch 1.  Rep from * 2 more times.  3 dc, ch 1 and sl st in top of ch 3.  Fasten off.
R 2:  With B, join in any ch 1 sp.  (Ch 3, 2 dc,  ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as join, * 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1.  Rep from * around.  Fasten off.
R 3:  With A, join in any corner sp.  (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as join, * 3 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1).  Rep from * around, end 3 dc, ch 1 in final side ch 1 sp and sl st in top of ch 3.  Fasten off.

Half Square Triangle Granny (Make 4)


With A, Ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring.
R1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), 3 dc in ring, ch 1, 3 dc in ring, ch 1, dc in ring. Fasten off.
R2: With B, join yarn around the ch 4 of prev rd, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1) in same sp. (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 sp (corner), 3 dc in last ch 1 sp. Fasten off.
R3: With A, join yarn in sp between ch 3 and dc of prev rd. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in ch 1 sp of prev rd, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in corner ch 1 sp, (3 dc, ch 1) in last ch 1 sp, 3 dc in sp bet 2nd and 3rd dc of prev rd. Fasten off.

Assembly

       Join the squares with a whip stitch or overcast stitch, making sure all the squares are showing right side up (whichever side you decide is right). Use the yarn that you used for the last round of granny squares (A)

         Make a panel that is 4 blocks tall by 5 blocks wide.  Now add for the shoulder and neck shaping.  At the top left corner sew across the top 1 whole block, a half block to make a slide from the top of the block just added to the row below, skip the next block, a half block in mirror image of the first and finally a whole block.  See the pictures for help.  (22 whole squares and 2 half square granny triangles)  Now add the sleeves.  Make two panels 2 blocks high and 3 blocks wide (6 whole squares for each sleeve back) and sew on each side starting at the shoulder.

To make the sweater fronts

         Each front is 2 blocks wide and 5 blocks high with one exception.  The other half square granny triangles are placed to open the neck up in a V shape (9 whole blocks and 1 half square granny triangle for each side). The sleeves are 2 blocks high and 3 blocks (6 whole squares for each sleeve front) long. Sew  them to the fronts at the top on the opposite side as the half square granny.  See the pictures for help.  Place the sweater back wrong side up, put the fronts over the back, properly aligning the sleeves and the sides.

 Join the squares with a whip stitch or overcast stitch, making sure all the squares are showing right side up (whichever side you decide is right).  Seam along the top of the sleeve/shoulder on both sides and bottom edge of sleeve and side seam.  Leave the bottom square on sides unseamed for a vent feature.

Finishing into a cardigan

Note:  The button bands will fill in the space between the fronts.

R 1:  With B, join at the bottom left corner of cardigan, ch 2, hdc in each stitch up the front center, around the neck (work 2 hdc dec in each corner at the back neck) and down the other side of front center.  Turn.

R 2:  Ch 3, work dc in each st as the prev row, keeping the dec in line.  Turn.

R 3:  Rep R 2. Turn.

R 4: Dc in each st on button side of the cardigan and around the neck and along the V neck on both sides.  Tr in each st on the button hole side and evenly space 4 buttonholes (ch 1, sk the next st) along the left side for boys and right side for girls.  Work the button holes at the same level as the seams.  Option:  Work a button hole 3 sts from the bottom edge if desired.

R 5:  Working along bottom edge of cardigan, sc in each st and 2 sc in each dc or ch 3 along the fronts.  Fasten off.  Weave in all ends.

Sleeves:  Sc in each st along edge with B.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

Sew 4 buttons on the opposite side to match the buttonholes.  As of 6/12/12 I have no buttons on this sweater.  You can just make out the buttonholes as dark spots on the left front at the edge.

I'm updating this pattern to include this chart for seaming for added clarity.

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{     }

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Sleeve

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{     }

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Fold in half

across the center

Left Front

Right Front

Back  <> show sleeve

Make 2

placement

{} show side seam

* show shoulder seaming

New Classes Scheduled

Well, Lent and Easter are over.  I hope everyone had a nice holiday vacation.  I know I did.  Even though I cooked for the family like I do every year, I got to spend a lot of time with my husband and son that I don't normally have due to work conflicts.

Festival season will be starting soon.  I co-chair my church's festival each year.  During that time for set up, festival week, and clean up, I will not be running classes.  You will notice a gap in the class line up from the middle of June until the end of July.  This is why there is a gap.  I look forward to doing more blogging in the future.

Here is a schedule of my beginner knit classes.  Below you can find the advanced knit classes and both beginner and advanced crochet classes.  I look forward to each one of these classes.

Discover Knit Stitch Class

May 24  6 – 8:30 pm

July 26  6 – 8:30 pm

August 23  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Purl Stitch Class

May 31  6 – 8:30 pm

August 2  6 – 8:30 pm

August 30  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Pattern Stitches Class

May 10  6 – 8:30 pm

June 7  6 – 8:30 pm

August 9  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Cables Class

June 14 6 – 8:30 pm

August 16  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Single Crochet

May 21  6 – 8:30 pm

July 23  6 – 8:30 pm

August 20  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover the Tall Stitches of Crochet

May 29  6 – 8:30 pm

July 30  6 – 8:30 pm

August 27  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Textured Stitches

June 4  6 – 8:30 pm

August 6  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Granny Squares

June 11 6 – 8:30 pm

August 27  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Baby Knits Class

May 25  6 – 8:30 pm

July 31  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Mitered Knitting Class

June 1  6 – 8:30 pm

July 27 6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Fair Isle Class

June 8  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Advanced Knitting Classes

May 11 6-8:30 pm Intarsia

June 15 6-8:30 pm  Beaded Knitting

August 3 6 – 8:30 pm  Socks Pt. 1 – Example sock

August 10 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 2 – Cuff, Leg and Heel

August 17 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 3 – Foot, Toe and Graft of Toe 

Discover Baby Crochet Class

May 23  6 – 8:30 pm

July 25  6 – 8:30 pm

August 22  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Throws and Wraps in Crochet Class

May 30  6 – 8:30 pm

August 29 6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Crochet Gifts Class

June 6  6 – 8:30 pm

Discover Advanced Crochet Classes

June 13 6-8:30 pm Beaded Crochet