Category: Knitting

A new post on knitting

Knitting

Technology and Those Vest Sleeves

Iris Rose

I didn’t blog last week, sorry. I consider myself reasonably competent with the use of technology but, and here is where the competence is lacking, I don’t understand how website security works. I have one type of website security with my host and another, which I thought was a good thing, with an addon through my host. Nuhuh, not good at all.

I called the addon guys as I was told last time my website went down for lack of a security application, that the addon was the problem; it didn’t play well with my host’s security software. Man, you would have thought that I had insulted their family and everyone they knew! I was steered back to my web host with a snippy not our fault and they don’t know what they are talking about.

On to the web host then to get this solved because it was their fault, right? Nuhuh again. The kind lady on their chat line explained exactly what was wrong and why it was the fault of the addon. She promised to fix it right away and to disable the addon so that it doesn’t happen again. I tell ya’, sometimes I feel like I just need to send everyone to their room’s for a time out when I am dealing with technology.

      

Right side of the work is the first photo, the wrong side is the second.  Hard to choose, no?

Thanks for listening! I didn’t get very far with my sleeves for the pretty vest but, like a lot of us, I did start a few new projects. I keep getting sucked back into the machine knitting vortex! Anyway, I did work out a pattern for the sleeves and got started. I can’t decide which side I like the best as both are different looking and quite unique.

             

Here is what I have so far. I am going to push through and try to get both of the sleeves done for next (heard that before?) week and have them sewn in as well. If I don’t finish then I will show off my latest machine knit projects!

Happy crafting this week may all of your projects turn out just as you imagined they would. (That almost never happens for me so wish it back will you?)

Knitting

Closet Find Now In Rehab

Iris Rose

There are two things that I hate about cleaning my closet. The first is cleaning my closet. The second is deciding what to get rid of.

Once I get going, however, I can be ruthless. In fact, I am so ruthless with discarding clothing that I find myself with more empty than full hangers at the end of the clean. I also end up with a pile of clothes that are new, near new, loved but don’t fit quite the way that I would like them to, and clothes that I just know can be redeemed from the discard pile if I can just somehow fix them.

I have been good about keeping up with the closet every six months but, for some reason, I find I am putting back the same few redeemable clothes over the last couple of purges. I think that these pieces are like the single skeins of yarn that I buy, just too pretty to be tossed but why keep them if they are never to be used?


One such piece is a very pretty quilted vest that was given to me as a gift. It is very well made, soft and does fit but, and here it is, I just don’t feel right in it. We live in a cold climate. I need sleeves.
I tried to pass this pretty vest along with other new cast offs to DDs last weekend but no dice. DD1 liked it but said “my arms will be cold”. I confess that I donated the rest of the bag but took the vest home. I just like it!

I have been stewing over keeping this odd piece of clothing ever since Saturday. This is just an example of my peculiar way of thinking of fibres; I really want to keep this soft, quilty, cozy vest but have no idea when, more likely if, I will ever, ever wear the thing.


Yesterday I had a light bulb come on; why don’t I knit or crochet sleeves! With sleeves it won’t be a vest any more and my arms will be warm. If the sleeves are tightly crocheted or knitted the vest can double as a light jacket. I am dying to get started but I need to stash dive for a complimentary yarn and decide on which craft I will use.

I am putting all of my WIP’s aside this weekend and devoting my crafting time to sleeves. I hope to have a finished vest with sleeves that will then be known as a jacket, done by Monday. Bet you can’t wait for next week’s blog to see how this project turns out!

Happy crafting!

Knitting

Easy Bunny Pattern, Free Of Course!

Iris Rose

For any one in the Calgary area who is interested in dropping by, I will be selling my wares at the Etsy Spring Fling in Okotoks on Saturday, May 5th.  We will be at the Elks Hall, #31, 58 Elizabeth St from 10AM to 5PM.  I would love to meet you!

I posted a photo of my newest bunny creation last week and, because it is just such an easy (and cute) make, I thought that I would share the pattern with you today. This little rabbit is made without too much in the way of complicated shaping making it an ideal quick gift for a baby, kid or even your BF. Does anybody say BF or BFF anymore? I am sadly out of touch!


In any case, dig through your stash for that fuzzy yarn that you couldn’t resist buying and now don’t know what to do with and get started. I estimate an hour or two of knitting and about the same for sewing up and you will have a sweet addition to the family!

I have included my pattern for crocheting toy eyes that allows you to securely sew and tie the eyes on so that they are baby proof. The large size only is in the bunny pattern but, just because, I have added the complete pattern at the end of the post. If you want a knitted pattern for eyes and or a crocheted pattern for a nose, you can download both with my Monsters pattern which is free on Ravelry.

Happy crafting this week!

Easy Bunny

Materials: Pipsqueak or similar fuzzy yarn held double, 90m plus about 12m for ear contrast. Dk or sport weight yarn, held double, 30m, polyester filling, safety eyes or a crocheted or felt circle for eyes.

Tools: 6mm knitting needles, 4mm double point knitting needles (2) or a short circular needle, large eyed tapestry needle for sewing.

Body: using your fuzzy yarn held double, cast on 40 stitches. I used a cable cast on. Knit 30 rows in stocking stitch.
Divide your stitches in half on two needles, wrong (purl) side out, or both ends of a circular needle for a three needle bind off. Use a crochet hook and bind off the two sets of 20 stitches together to close the end of the square. This will be the top of the head. Put this piece aside and make the other pieces.

Ears: You will make four pieces, two in the main colour and two in a contrasting colour for the inside of the ears.
Cast on 7 stitches and knit 14 rows of garter stitch.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end on the next row (knit 2 together).
Knit 1 row.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next row (knit 2 together).
Knit 1 row.
Knit 2 together, knit 1. Cut a long tail for sewing. Take off these stitches with a tapestry needle and pull tight. Sew a main colour piece to a contrast piece along the long edges from the wide cast on base to the point and back down to the base. Set these completed ears aside.

Legs: Using your fuzzy yarn, cast on 7 stitches and knit 1 row.
Purl the next row, increasing 5 stitches across by knitting into the front and back of every second stitch.
Knit 5 rows of stocking stitch, starting with a right side or knit row.
Purl 2 together across. You will end up with 6 stitches.
Change to your dk yarn held doubled and, using a 4mm double point needle or circular needle, start a 6 stitch icord for the leg. Knit 15 rows, cut a long end for sewing the leg to the body, thread the stitches with a tapestry needle and pull tight. Make a second piece.

Arms: Using the dk yarn held double, work the hand as the foot and leg. You only need to work the icord for 10 rows. Make a second piece.

Nose: Using the dk yarn held double, cast on 3 stitches. Starting with a knit row, work 2 rows of stocking stitch.
Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any increase that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any increase that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any increase that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Work 4 rows of stocking stitch.
Decrease 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any decrease that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Decrease 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any decrease that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Decrease 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any decrease that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Cut a long end and thread the remaining 3 stitches with a tapestry needle. Draw tight. Thread the yarn around the outside of the piece with a running stitch and gather up. Stuff the nose lightly and pull the thread tight to close. Fasten off but leave a tail remaining to sew the nose to the face.

Crocheted Eyes: 4mm hook needed.  With sport or dk yarn, ch 2. Make sure that you have at least a 10cm, 4” end from your starting ch as you will use this to secure the eye to the face.
R1: 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with slip stitch. For small eyes, fasten off and leave a 20cm or 8” tail. Thread this tail on your needle and, working in the back loops, gather the edge to form a ball. Do not cut this tail and do not trim the shorter end as you will need it to secure the eye to the face.
R2: (sc in sc on last round, 2 sc in next sc) twice, 2sc in last sc, join with a slip stitch.
R3: sc in each sc around and finish as in R1.
Fasten off and leave a 20cm or 8” tail. Thread this tail on your needle and, working in the back loops, gather the edge to form a ball. Do not cut this tail and do not trim the shorter end as you will need it to secure the eye to the face.

Making Up: Centre the nose on the body piece and sew it down securely. Place eyes to your liking and attach by the appropriate method to whichever eyes you use.
Sew the side of the body piece from top to bottom. Leave the bottom open for stuffing later.
Sew the feet closed, stuffing lightly before you sew the opening completely shut. Sew the legs to the bottom edge of the front of the body.
Sew the hands closed, again, stuffing lightly before finishing. Sew the arms to each side of the body about half way up the side.
Sew the ears to the top of the head.
Sew about half way along the bottom piece with a mattress stitch. Stuff to your ideal squishiness and sew the remaining half closed. Give your bunny a shake to fluff it up.

Crocheted Eyes: 4mm hook needed.  With sport or dk yarn, ch 2. Make sure that you have at least a 10cm, 4” end from your starting ch as you will use this to secure the eye to the face.
R1: 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with slip stitch. For small eyes, fasten off and leave a 20cm or 8” tail. Thread this tail on your needle and, working in the back loops, gather the edge to form a ball. Do not cut this tail and do not trim the shorter end as you will need it to secure the eye to the face.
R2: Medium eyes only: sc in each sc around, join with a slip stitch and finish as in R1.
R2: Large eyes only: (sc in sc on last round, 2 sc in next sc) twice, 2sc in last sc, join with a slip stitch.
R3: Large eyes only: sc in each sc around and finish as in R1.

Knitting

Done Dollies!

Iris Rose

Last week my subject was undone dollies. This week, tada, they are almost finished! I only have two little mermaids left to sew up and I am all done with this portion of my sale stock.  I went from this

to this

in just five days!  The little babies are about 15cm or 6″ tall and the little kids are 10cm or 4″ tall.

I had a good time putting these together. I usually have fun knitting these little toys; so much fun in fact that I keep on working on the knitting part with no regard as to how long the finishing will take. I normally regret my knitting impulse but this time it was different. I didn’t hurry through the process last weekend. I took my time with the faces and hair and really enjoyed myself.

  
I confess that I do like all of them but one. I am just not happy with the face on one little one but have a plan to redo the eyes and I think that it will make a huge difference. A couple of the little mouths are crooked but, as in real life, I am just going to accept them as they turned out. Someone will find them huggable I am sure.

  
I need to get back to reducing my stash and knitting little toys is definitely not the way. I see a blanket or two or at least a couple of bulky sweaters in my future project pile. Now if I can just get to it.

Have a happy week and enjoy whichever craft you decide to work with.

Crochet, Knitting

Undone Dollies

Iris Rose

Well, another week has zipped by and I seem to be amassing more UFO’s! I actually have a couple of topics this week, but I will start with the UFO problem that seems to be growing again.

I am setting up at an Etsy craft sale in early May (May 5th in Okotoks at the Elks Hall for any of you that live in the Calgary/Okotoks area) and, as I was reviewing my stock, realized that I am woefully short of babies. I always think that little knitted dolls won’t sell and they always are the first to go.

     

I like to knit or crochet while watching TV in the evenings so this was a project that fit the bill to a T. Look at what I have done! I have created a monster pile of dollies to finish and I can’t watch or read while I am doing it. Oh well, I had better dig in and start sewing. I have all the needed pieces made including the wigs (fuzzy stuff at the top of the photo) and found two elephants and a hippo with their dresses that I knit on vacation over a year ago and forgot about. I am on a roll, just don’t know where to!


I joined a machine knit KAL to make a rainbow yoke sweater last month and finally got around to making it last weekend. The pattern was great, thanks Claire Djuve, and I really like the finished sweater. It was my first go at a yoke and found it surprisingly easy even without the garter bar that I was too chicken to use. I will make the first row of the yoke in the body colour next time to minimize the jogs from the short rows.  The small size (4) was a good way to start as well. Fun stuff and I will be making more as this style seems to be a current fashion trend.


The next topic that I want to discuss is patterns. I have talked about this before and really am still stumped. Why do you download free patterns? Is it simply because they are free and you can’t resist free even if you will really never make them? Do you buy patterns that you never make? I am guilty of both of these. What makes a pattern more appealing than other, photos, recommendations, posting of finished projects?

These stats are from my Ravelry store:
Another Cake Shawl
Added May 26, 2017
8205 unique downloads       111 projects

If you have completed a pattern, free or paid, that you downloaded from Ravelry, please, please post your finished project. It means so much to designers to see that someone has liked their pattern enough to not only choose it but to actually make it.

Thank you, I will step down off of the soap box now.
Have a wonderful week and I hope that all of your yarn is untangled and every needle and hook is right at hand when you need them.