Tag: poncho

Knitting

Finished! and Shawl Part Two

Iris Rose

I have a few photos for you this week as well as part two of the Shawl in Parts that I started last week.

I finally blocked the two little swonchos that I made and declared as finished last week. They really are finally, finally finished now. I really like them and will definitely be making more. I think that I like the length of the peach and the neck of the teal one more. I guess I should combine the two and have the best of both in one. I am going to develop a size range too.


I spent some evening time this week working on a cat hat and scarf set. It is sized for a kid from six to ten maybe and was fun to make. What do you think? Should I make more of these with different animals?

Here is part two of the shawl pattern that I started last week. It is easy mesh lace and is mirrored to slant downward on each side of the centre spine which stays in stocking stitch. Have fun with this part and let me know if you need help; I am available here on the contact page or on Ravelry as bluechicken.

Shawl part two:
You should have sixty five stitches between the markers on each side of the centre spine and side borders. Make sure that you have ended the first section by completing a wrong side row and are ready to work on the right side next.  K2tog means knit 2 stitches together and SSK means slip two stitches onto the right needle knitwise, slip them back to the left needle and knit them together.  This makes the pattern slant in different directions on each side of the shawl to mirror the lace.

Row 1: Work the border stitches as before, slip marker, YO, K1, YO, (K2tog, YO) over the next 64 stitches, slip marker, K5, slip marker, YO, (SSK, YO) over the next 64 stitches, K1, YO, slip marker and work border stitches.

Row2: Work the border stitches, slip marker, P all stitches, slip marker, work the border stitches.
Repeat these two rows another 11 times for a total of twelve repeats.

Wow, this section is easy! Don’t worry the next section is easy too.

Have a great yarny week! Now I need to get knitting fast to have a new section ready for you next week!

Knitting

Swonchos and the Nation’s Capital

Iris Rose

I hope that you all enjoyed the biscotti recipe that I posted last week and are already imagining some great combinations for next time that you make them. I confess that I put mine in the freezer so that I wouldn’t have to buy bigger pants. I do love cookies.

DH and I went to our nation’s capital this weekend for a music festival. I have never been that far east in our country so was quite excited to see all of the sights. I particularly wanted to see where our government meets, and all of the big decisions are made or at least argued about. I feel very lucky to live in Canada, in my opinion one of the best countries in the world, at this time, to be a citizen of.

  

Needless to say, I did not get much done in the way of crocheting or knitting this week. I have been working on some little popover swonchos for the small folk. I found a photo of what I wanted to create and experimented from there. Both are made with dk weight yarn on a midgauge machine with hand knit or crocheted finishing and still need a bit of blocking.

This little peach one was my first attempt and, although I thought that it was too long at the time I knit it up on the machine, I am now really liking the almost finished piece. I am on the last cuff and need to complete the bottom crocheted edging with a row of crab stitch to match the collar trim. I think that I will stitch the collar up a little too so that it holds it shape a little better. No button band on the shoulder of this one as the neck is a little wider, maybe too wide. I worked six rows of two by two ribbing by hand to bring the neck in and still leave some stretch before grafting the collar on. It was a little more work than I needed to do but I didn’t leave the shoulder open for a placket so there you are.

The green one (teal?) is the second one that I made. I knit the body on a midgauge machine and hand knit the edging, cuffs and collar. I created a shoulder placket to make it easier to get on as the neck is smaller than the peach one.  I just need to finish sewing up the last seam, add the shoulder buttons and we are done. All in all I am quite happy with the almost finished swonchos.  I think I feel a new pattern coming on.

My yoke sweater is in time out as I just can’t get inspired to work on it. I really want to start something new again, that chronic problem that I and, I am sure, millions of others have.

I’ve got other ideas cooking that I will share with you next week so until then, have a wonderful week full of yarny delight!

Yarn, Knitting and Crochet

Coupon Code and Pattern Roundup

Iris Rose

It is raining and cold outside. I am feeling whiny and a little bit like I need a batch of cookies. I haven’t thought about posting all week so I am still stuck on what to offer you today.

I know, how about a 50% off coupon code for all of the paid patterns that I have on Ravelry? Does that make you (and me) feel better or do we still need to break out the butter and get to work on those cookies? Tell you what, you knit or crochet and I’ll take care of the cookies for you. I might even make you a nice cup of coffee or tea to go with them!

Here is run down of the patterns with links to my Ravelry store. The coupon code is 50OFF that you will need to enter on the checkout page. Have fun!

  

A Wrap For Spring                     Delphinium Shoulder Scarf 

    

Gradient Cable Poncho               Knit and Sewn Kid’s Dress

  
Little Lovely Lacey Cardigan               Lovely Lacey Cardigan

  
Northern Rose Shawl          Pink Ice Cream Jumper

  

Simple Stripes Wrap                        Sweet Doll Bed

   

Toddlers Pretty Crocheted Cardigan     Twisted Stitches Scarf and Hat

Vine Lace Wrap

Roses and Lace Cardigan

Have a wonderful week with sunny days ahead (or at least cookies) and don’t forget 50OFF!

Travel

Weekend Off and My Dream Machine

Iris Rose

I got a little sidetracked this week. My computer crashed at work and DH has been really wonderful about getting me up and running again but was using my home desk and monitor for the work. He is all done now so this is better late than never!

We spent the weekend, a wonderful weekend by the way, at Nakiska, a ski resort in Kananaskis here in the Alberta Rockies. The weather was great, cold and sunny, perfect for skiing. I don’t ski; I know how but hate the feeling of sliding down a steep hill so DH skied to his heart’s content and I did what I love best, crafting with a little hot tub time thrown in. We do really live in a spectacular country, so scenic and friendly too!

         

I worked on my mystery crochet pattern. It is almost done and would have been if not for the computer crash and other life distractions. I seem to be on a better late than never trend, don’t I? I did finish the basic piece, however and just need to complete the embellishments. I can’t wait to see if the reality matches my imagination.

While we were away, I spotted an ad for a used knitting machine that I have been lusting after since I first saw this beauty in the early 90’s. I bought myself a little used and in great shape Singer 580 with all of the bells and whistles for a great bargain price. I am one happy lady! I just need to finish up the cleaning (only the ribber to go) and I will be digging into my cone yarn stash.

In order to fit everything new into my tiny craft room (6’ x 9’), I did a major cleanup and rearranging. I really have got too much stuff and I mean that in a big way. I have managed to stick to my no new yarn policy for two and a half months and have made some inroads but not enough by any stretch on the imagination. I just need to craft faster or sleep less!

         

Don’t forget about my 50OFF coupon code for my Gradient Cable Poncho, which will look good in any worsted yarn and for my Northern Rose Shawl patterns, knit in worsted or sock yarn, that you can use for both of the patterns at half price in my Ravelry store.

Knitting

Machine Knitting and a Crochet Teaser.

Iris Rose

Wow, the week sure has flown by!  I have been busy with my knitting machine this week. 

These were made with self striping sock yarn with a little sacrificed cause I love matchy, matchy.

I have a bunch, okay a ton, no actually about a few hundred skeins of yarn from an ebay binge that I went on a couple of years ago.  You may have recognized the labels from my hat post two weeks ago.  I have to seriously purge my stash before it takes over the house and, as most of the yarn that I bought is sport or finer, the machine just called out to me!

The hat is lined for warmth!

I have had some problems in the past with static that these yarns hold.  I am not sure why but they are way more electric than any other yarn I have used.  It doesn’t seem to matter about the type of fibre.  I normally rewind the skeins into a cake for machine knitting to suss out any knots or imperfections before they hit the tension mast or the carriage and cause a major patterning fail.  Plus, it hurts like crazy when the weights hit your feet as the knitting drops off the needles!  I held a damp wash cloth in my hand and let the yarn run through it while tensioning and, voila, no static!  Why didn’t I think of this years ago??

I am working on a pattern for a toddler’s cardigan, machine knit, with a hand crocheted edge.  The sample turned out really cute, so I am experimenting with sizing now.  I always like to offer a pattern in multiple sizes and, although I know how to do the math from gauge for hand knits and crochet, machine knitting is a little different.  As the samples are quick to knit and can be added to my sales inventory, I am making one in each size to ensure that the pattern is correct.  It will be written out and on sale next week.

Samples ready for blocking and finishing.

I am also working on a hand knit version in worsted weight as I liked the machine knit one so much.  That pattern is going to take just a little bit longer.

I am also working on a crochet pattern for you.  I have a vision of a shawl that I have been cooking in my brain for the last ten months.  I made a sample over the summer but didn’t like it enough to finish it.  I have been mulling over the best stitch pattern to achieve the look that I want and have arrived at a winner I think.  I will let you know how it goes!  Here is a teaser.

Don’t forget about my half price offer on the Gradient Cable Poncho and Northern Rose Shawl patterns, coupon code 50OFF in my Ravelry store!