Friday, August 30, 2013

cover-ups






Cover up  n.  1. a device or stratagem for concealing;  2. a loose outer garment

Let’s talk about cover ups.  No, no, no… I did not do something I shouldn’t have.  At least I don’t think so!  This month we are embarking on 3 months of small projects that can be made in time for Christmas.  I thought about covering up the fact that I’m already thinking about Christmas.  When you are a knitter you have to think about Christmas early.

So I thought rather than creating some story to cover up the fact that Christmas is on my mind, I would create a knitted cover up!  A baby cover up, to be exact.  Babies are always needing to be covered up for some reason or other.  As cooler weather approaches we’ll start to see moms bundling their little ones under blankets in their car seats and strollers.  And inevitably, as mom happily drives down the road, baby kicks the blanket off in the back seat and is no longer … yeah … covered up.  Or Mom and Baby are out for a brisk fall stroll and suddenly the stroller is rolling over the pretty blanket that baby has kicked off.

Too often moms cover baby with a blanket, then fasten the 5-point harness over the blanket.  There are lots of patterns available that even show you where to place slits for the harness straps to go through.  Neither is a good option.  Did you know that the minute you place a blanket under the shoulder straps of a car seat or stroller, the safety rating is voided?!  If anything were to happen and the strap came unbuckled, the parent would be at fault for improper use of the safety seat. 

So I set out to design a car seat (or stroller) cover up that would stay in place and not affect the safety rating of the device.  A car seat cover up is really just a small blanket, so you could use any pattern stitch you wanted to.  The key is how it attaches to the car seat.

This month’s pattern is a Car Seat Cover Up that has a small strap on the back.  The base of the 5-point harness slips through the loop and holds the blanket in place.   Once this is done, fasten the harness normally then draw the blanket up over baby and tuck in.
  



The Knitting Doodle’s Car Seat Cover Up is made with bulky weight yarn, using the Double Seed Stitch pattern.  It an easy and nice looking pattern stitch; and with bulky yarn this project knits up in no time.  I put a contrasting stripe in the center, but let your imagination run wild for your Cover Up.  Get the needles moving for the baby or toddler in your life – it’s always nice to be able to give a gift that is not some plastic toy!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Cords

 


Cord  n.  long, thin, flexible string or rope made from several strands of fiber




Cords are such useful things.  Without cords, how would you …tie your shoes? … Lower the blinds?  … Hang your laundry?  This month I thought we could explore cords from a knitter’s point of view.  In other words, let’s have fun with i-cords!

Knitting i-cords has to be one of the easiest things you’ll ever knit.  You only need 4 stitches and you only need to know how to do the knit stitch.  No purls, yarn overs, cables … just plain old knit stitch.  Part of my reason for featuring i-cords comes from you, the Knitting Doodle followers.  I have had a number of requests recently for projects that kids could do other than knit a scarf.  I immediately thought of i-cords. 

To make an i-cord you will need yarn and 2 double-point needles. 
For sport-weight yarn use US size 4 or 5 needles.
For worsted weight yarn use US size 6 or 7 needles.

Cast on 4 stitches. 
Row 1:  Knit.  Without turning your work, slide all 4 stitches to the right end of the needle.
Repeat row 1.
Now keep repeating Row 1 until the cord is the desired length. 

Easy!!  Kids like making i-cords because they see progress quickly, which keeps them enthusiastic about the project.

Here are some projects to make with i-cords:



Necklaces:  knit an i-cord 20-24” long. Before you sew the two ends together slip pony beads onto the i-cord and space evenly around.  (This necklace was made with Paton’s Grace – a sport-weight mercerized cotton.)

Bracelets:  knit an i-cord 6-8” long.  Sew the two ends together, then make a “bar” by wrapping yarn over the join for about 1”.  You could also add beads to a bracelet if you wanted.  (These bracelets were made with Paton’s Grace.)

Lanyards:  Knit an i-cord approximately 30-32”.  Lay both ends side by side.  Attach a lanyard clip, then wrap yarn around the cords just above the clip for about 1”.

Headbands:  knit an i-cord approximately 18-20”” long (measure on your head for exact length.)  Join ends together.  For a braided i-cord headband, knit 3 i-cords 20-22” long.  Braid the three cords, then fasten together in a circle.

Earphones:  starting at the plug end, knit the i-cord around the earphone wire by passing the yarn under the wire before starting each row.  Knit to one ear-bud, then pick up stitches and the “Y” and knit to the other ear-bud.


I-cord projects are small, quick and easy – perfect for taking along when travelling.  And it’s never too early to start on stocking stuffers for Christmas!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Flip-flops



Flip-flop  n.    a backless, often foam rubber sandal held to the foot at the big toe by means of a thong.

Flip-flops are a universal symbol of summer.  It’s flip-flop season so that means it’s SUMMER!!
Have you ever thought to yourself, “Hmm.  I would like to try knitting socks, but they seem so intimidating”?  Well, that doesn’t have to be the case and this month’s project is a very basic introduction to sock knitting.


Let’s get the "scaries" out of the way first.  We won’t be…
  • knitting in the round on 4 double-point needles
  • “turning the heel”
  • using Kitchener Stitch to close the toes
  • using super-fine sock yarn

So how can that be?  Easy … we will be…
  • knitting flat on 2 needles
  • working heels in short rows
  • making open toes!
  • using Sport-weight yarn

I know … you’re totally confused, right?  Don’t be!  This month we’re making “Flip-Flop Footies”.


So fun and fast, you’ll want to make a number of them in different colours.  Have some fun and get creative!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

transformations




Transformation  n.  a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance; a metamorphosis


Back by popular demand (and I do mean repeated requests to feature this again) is a project involving dying yarn with Kool-Aid!  Oh… and the project involves felting, too!

First, let’s review dying yarn with Kool-Aid (first featured in July 2012). It’s simple and fun!

What you need:
Yarn
Unsweetened Kool-Aid (do not add sugar!!)
A large pot 
4-cup measuring cup
Bath towel
Rubber gloves and an apron might be useful, too, since Kool-Aid stains!

How to dye with Kool-Aid:
1.      Unwind yarn and form into hanks of 70-80 yards.  Using the back of a chair is handy for this if you don't own a swift.  Or… a willing volunteer! 
2.      Tie the hanks in 5 or 6 places to hold the yarn together.  Use acrylic yarn for the ties so it is easy to find them when you are done.
3.      Wash the yarn in mild soap (don't swish or wring it; just gently squeeze it).  Then let it soak in clean water until you are ready to place it in the dye.
4.      Dissolve Kool-Aid in 4 cups of water.  For a softer mottled look, use one package.  For a more intense colour, use 1-1/2 packages.
5.      Pour Kool-Aid into your pot.  Place yarn in the pot (don't bother to press any water out of it) and add enough water to cover the yarn.
6.      Heat the yarn-filled pot to almost boiling.  Turn off the stove and let the yarn rest in the water for 20-30 minutes.  You'll know the yarn is ready when the water is mostly clear … and it will be!  If it's not, just repeat this step again.
7.      When the water is mostly clear, gently remove the yarn and rinse it in a sink of water that is roughly the same temperature as the dying pot.  Colder water may shock the yarn and cause felting.
8.      Rinse again until water runs clear.
9.      Remove hank gently from the water and press out some of the water.  Place the hank on a clean bath towel and roll it up.
10.   Unroll and hang to dry.
11.      Once dry, the wool can be wound into balls for knitting. 

Here are the colours I used for this month’s project (I used 2 pack of Kool-Aid for each colour):
Now, this is where we take a leap into new territory … this month’s project also involves felting!!

For this project I used Lionbrand Fisherman’s Wool (Natural colour). This can be bought at any Michael’s and works wonderfully for dying and felting.  One skein is enough for this project.  I split it into 85-90 yard hanks. 
I thought it would be fun to make a felted beach bag with the brightly coloured Kool-Aid-dyed yarn. If you’ve never felted before this is a great project to start with. Felting involves shrinking and compressing the wool fibres.  With some hot water, cold water and agitation the magic happens!

To felt this beach bag I dropped it into my washing machine with a pair of jeans.  I used the small load setting on the longest regular wash cycle using hot wash and cold rinse. When the wash cycle was done, so was my felting!  Then I simply took the bag out and laid it flat to dry.  Voila!  A fun, bright Felted Beach Bag.  
Do you know a child who is learning to knit?  Let them use the left-over scraps of Kool-Aid yarn to make some felted coasters.  Just knit a square about 5-1/2”wide by 7” long (the shrinkage in felting is about 40% lengthwise and 25% width-wise using Lionbrand Fisherman’s Wool).  Felt in the same way as for the bag.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Sampler Blanket - Block 3


Building Blocks Sampler Blanket

BLOCK 3 – Grid Stitch
Make 4 blocks.



 
 
 
 
 
 
Cast on 37 Sts.

Row 1:  (RS) *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 2:  P1, *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to end of row.
Row 3:  Knit.
Row 4:  Knit.
     Repeat rows 1-4 until piece measures 8” long, (approx. 12 times).



BLOCK 2 – Seersucker
Make 4 blocks.

Cast on 37 stitches.
Row 1: (RS) *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 2: P1, *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to end of row.
Row 3: *P1, K3*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 4: *K1, P3*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 5: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row.
Row 6: P1, *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to end of row.
Row 7: K2, *P1, K3*, repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches, P1, K2.
Row 8: P2, *K1, P3*, repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches, K1, P1, K1.
     Repeat rows 1-8 until piece measures 8” long. 

 

BLOCK 1 - Broken Rib
Make 4 blocks. 

Cast on 37 Stitches.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1
     Repeat these 2 rows until piece measure 8” long, (approx. 48 rows in total).

 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Sampler Blanket - Block 2



Building Blocks Sampler Blanket

BLOCK 2 - Seersucker 

Make 4 blocks.

 

 

 

 
 
Cast on 37 stitches.
 
Row 1: (RS) *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 2: P1, *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to end of row.
Row 3: *P1, K3*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 4: *K1, P3*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Row 5: *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * across row.
Row 6: P1, *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to end of row.
Row 7: K2, *P1, K3*, repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches, P1, K2.
Row 8: P2, *K1, P3*, repeat from * to * to last 3 stitches, K1, P1, K1.

Repeat rows 1-8 until piece measures 8” long. 

BLOCK 1 - Broken Rib
Make 4 blocks. 

Cast on 37 Stitches.

Row 1:  (RS) Knit.
Row 2:  *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1

Repeat these 2 rows until piece measure 8” long, (approx. 48 rows in total).



 
 

 

Monday, April 29, 2013

Samplers


Sampler  n.    1. A piece of needlework worked in various stitches as a specimen of skill.  2.  A representative collection or example of something.

Making an afghan or knitted blanket can be a daunting project.  Too many beginning knitters think, “I’ll do a blanket – no seams, no increases or decreases – that’s a good place to start.”  And then reality sets in!  You’ve got 200+ stitches on your needles, only 7 inches done and you’re thinking, “I’ll NEVER finish this.”  Guess what ... lots of experienced knitters have the same reaction!


A Sampler Blanket is the perfect solution.  It is also an excellent learning project for beginners.  A Sampler Blanket involves knitting a number of 8” squares, then sewing them together.  You get to learn some fun, interesting stitch patterns and you get some invaluable practice at stitching knit pieces together.

  

A Sampler Blanket relies on the stitch patterns to create the overall pattern and texture of the finished piece.  Choosing the right yarn to showcase that is the key to a beautiful finished project.

Yarn Colour:  Yarns NOT to choose include variegated or multi-coloured yarns and dark colours.  The pattern stitches will not show up in either of these choices.  A good yarn choices for the Sampler Blanket are medium-to-light solid colours.  You can make the entire blanket of one colour, or vary colours from block to block.

Yarn Type:  Acrylic?  Wool?  Cotton?  I have a preference for washable wool, sometimes called “superwash” wool.  Part of a successful project is blocking.  Acrylic and other man-made fibres do not block as well as natural fibres, so they are not on my preferred list.  Plant fibres, such as bamboo, corn, linen or silk are soft and luxurious, but don’t necessarily wash easily.  You want to be able to wash your blanket.  Cotton is durable and natural, but it shrinks and compresses when washed. So that brings us back to wool.  “Superwash” wools are made by most of the mainstream yarn manufacturers: Lionbrand, Bernat, Patons, Berrocco, Cascade, Impeccable, etc. so they are easy to find.

Over the next 2 months, I’ll be posting a new stitch pattern every other week.  You’ll have two weeks to make four 8” squares of that particular stitch pattern.  

Materials for the project:
1800 yds of knitting worsted yarn
Size 9 knitting needles (or size needed to make each square 8"x8")

The first block will be done in the “Broken Rib” stitch.  


Make 4.
Cast on 37 stitches.
Row 1:  (RS) Knit.
Row 2:  *K1, P1*, repeat from * to * to last stitch, K1.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 8" long.  (approximately 48 rows in total).

Not interested in making a blanket?  All of the blocks I have chosen for the project will also make excellent dishcloths or facecloths.


Saturday, March 30, 2013

April Showers



April Showers   n.  1)  an oft-quoted poem by an unknown author.  Specifically:
April showers bring May flowers,
That is what they say.
But if all the showers turned to flowers,
Oh!  What a colourful day!
And if all the showers turned to flowers
On that rainy April day,
Would all the flowers turn to showers
In the sunny month of May?



Did you know there are 6 degrees of separation between the words “April Showers” and “spa” - the theme of this month’s project?  True!

April Showers – Shower Head – Head Cold – Cold War – War Games – Game Day  - Day SPA!! 

Six Degrees of Separation is just a fun game to play and I wanted something to tie the project to April.  I know ... a bit of a stretch!  You have my permission to laugh at me!

I recently spent a day at a “day spa” being pampered to no end!  In thinking about that day, there were a few things I thought would be fun to knit for a day at the spa – soft, luxurious spa cloths and a soft headband to keep my hair away from my face.  The result?  A Spa Set!



For this project I chose a lighter weight yarn (size 3 – lightweight worsted) made from bamboo rather than cotton.  A corn fiber yarn would also be an excellent choice.  Both corn and bamboo are quite absorbent and soft on the skin.

The pattern stitch I used is a subtle grid stitch that is very pretty and delicate.  The cloths are especially soft on your skin after a facial treatment.  Everyone has knit dishcloths at some time, but you can also make wonderful face cloths by using lighter, softer yarn. My knitted face cloths are my favorite ones.

Pamper yourself or get a jump on Mother’s Day gifts by knitting a Spa Set.  

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Easter Fun


Back in the ‘70s my mother owned a craft store and I spent summers between college semesters working there.  I loved the job, learned all sorts of skills and gained a lifetime of hobbies. 
 
A few weeks ago I was going through some old binders looking for a specific pattern.  I didn’t find the pattern but I came across a hand-scribbled pattern for knitted chickens that fit over plastic Easter eggs.  I remember knitting some samples for the shop.  They were so cute!
 
I decided to knit some up and in the process changed the pattern a bit.  I decided to change the first 6 rows of the pattern to look like a nest or basket that the hen is sitting in.  Then I decided to make a smaller version in yellow for a chick.  It was a lot of fun and now I’m offering them to you.  I don’t know the original source of the pattern so I can’t credit it.   I hope you have some fun with my revised pattern for Easter Hens & Chicks.
 

 

 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Security


 
 
 
security   n.   1. Freedom from doubt, anxiety, or fear; confidence.  2. Something that gives or assures comfort and safety 

 

Everyone wants some security.  Maybe you want financial security, security for our property, internet security, etc....  all somewhat complicated.  Security concerns are everywhere we turn and in new forms every day.  Twenty years ago we hadn’t even conceived of the concept of “identity theft” or “your Visa card has been compromised” or that you have to remove your shoes to go through airport security.  No matter where we turn, security issues bombard us creating a sort of paranoia for our daily existence.

I think kids have the corner on security!  They don’t worry about locking the doors or changing their passwords regularly.   No ... when a child wants some comfort he or she simply reaches for a favorite stuffed toy or blanket.  

With Easter coming up this month why not give your little ones some comfort in the form of my Bunny Security Blanket.  

Bunny Security Blanket

I knit this little project in a soft cotton yarn to make it extra cuddly.  It’s knit from the top down in one piece and lots of fun to make when that special little person is in your thoughts while you work.  Find some pretty spring-coloured cotton and knit up some security for a special little person you know. 


Thursday, January 31, 2013

...warmers



 

 

 




warmer    n.    something that generates, conserves or maintains heat.  
 

There are hand warmers, bun warmers, bottle warmers, food warmers, plate warmers, and bed warmers.  
 
 This month, however, we're going to talk about Leg Warmers.  Leg warmers, so popular in the 90’s, are finding favour in fashion again. They can be long, stretching up from ankles to knees, or even over the knees.    You might fold them over boot cuffs or cover ankle boots with them.  My favourite leg warmers could more aptly be called ankle warmers because I like shorter ones that hug around the lower leg best. 

 This month I’m offering my “Mock Cable Leg Warmers” pattern.  For less experienced knitters this is a great pattern.  The finished project looks like true cables, yet the pattern stitch doesn’t actually involve true cabling.
 


Though the pattern is knit flat, without any increases or decreases, it is knit from the top down.  A cast-on edge is more flexible and therefore more suitable to the calf or knee end of the leg warmer.  The process of binding off stitches is less elastic so it is better to have that end of the leg warmer around the ankle. 

With Valentine’s Day around the corner why not show a little love to your legs!