So without further ado, here are 5 crochet patterns and 5 knitting patterns for Valentine's Day that I love!
This beginner-friendly Valentine Treat Bag is a stashbuster project using worsted weight yarn. Make one for your kids or grandkids, ponder whether you need to make one for every kid in the class, and make another one as a doll tote!
The Valentine Treat Bags crochet pattern is available for free from A Crocheted Simplicity
This lovely rose ball makes a great Valentine's Day decoration, but how is it functional, you may ask? Well, it can also make a good cat toy or dog toy (providing they aren't a destructo-cat-dog), or you can play catch with your kids or grandkids!
The Valentine Rose Ball crochet pattern uses aran weight yarn and is available for free on Fiber Flux.
What can I say, I love granny squares, and now here I find some gorgeous granny hearts! This pattern uses DK weight yarn in bright and beautiful colours.
The Sunburst Granny Hearts crochet pattern is available for free on Bunny Mummy
These coasters are very appealing to me because of the simple modern look that would tastefully decorate any coffee table in any colour scheme that you like. Change them up depending on the season and they'll still look good!
The Simple Hearts Coasters crochet pattern uses aran weight yarn and is available free from Hooked On Patterns.
Gnomes are cute, and Valentine's Gnomes are cute, so here I present some super cute cuties. Because they're cute.
The Valentine's Gnomes crochet pattern uses an aran weight yarn and is available free from Passionate Crafter.
This gorgeous top-down lace pattern uses fingering weight yarn. You can add optional beading, and variables in the pattern mean you can create exactly what you love best.
The Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) knitting pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.
These very highly rated socks are easy to knit, and the pattern includes stitch counts for different sizes and a chart for the hearts.
The V for Valentine socks knitting pattern is available for free on Ravelry.
This gorgeous fairisle hat will keep you and your loved one warm through this chilly winter. Make a matching hat by reversing the colours!
The I Carry Your Heart hat pattern is available for free on Ravelry.
This super cute dishcloth pattern uses a worsted weight yarn and is described by Kris as "fast and easy, this cloth should knit up in no time".
The Be My Dishcloth knitting pattern is available for free on Kris Knit's Blog.
Keep your coffee warm with this adorable mug cozy pattern using fingering weight yarn. Thaddeus remarks that "with this pattern, you can bring the romance of Valentine's Day to your attempt to drink more coffee than recommended by reasonable doctors". Sounds about right.
The I'd Love Some Coffee knitting pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.
Looking for some Valentine accessories to go with your crafting?
Please let me know if you decide to try one of these projects, I'd love see your work. I have a very friendly Facebook group called Pretty Warm Designs that you are welcome to join and share your creations. Happy knitting and crocheting everyone!
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As you can see in the photos, I wanted to do 4 decreases per round for the top of the hat, so I separated all my stitches into 4 sections. It may not look like much here, but before I started decreasing there were significantly more stitches than I wanted to keep track of by the power of my mind alone.
Every time I came up to a stitch marker, I passed it over to the right hand needle then did a decrease (K2TOG). When I finished and pulled out my cable and needles, the stitch markers dropped off as well.
Advantages to using stitch markers:
This lovely hat was created using the pattern from the North Shore Sweater by Tin Can Knits. I chose four of my Ocean Waters stitch markers to add some bling while knitting.
Expert modelling was provided by Batman Bear, with an owl stuffy bravely volunteering to round out the top of the hat.
Janina Kallio of Woolenberry is a prolific and very popular pattern designer on Ravelry. Her easy one skein shawl patterns have been knitted by thousands of people, who have given her top reviews for these lovely designs.
Janina cleverly makes use of lace stitches which create shawls that drape and stretch, making them much easier to style as well as feeling like they're light and airy. Exactly what you'd want to wear on cool summer evenings or in air conditioned spaces.
]]>These shawls make wonderful summer knitting projects. I've listed a number of the most popular designs here, but it's well worth visiting her designer page to see the whole collection.
Single skein shawl patterns sometimes use garter stitch and other knitting stitches that tend to quickly use up yarn, so they end up quite small and actually don't fit all that well. Janina cleverly makes use of lace stitches which create shawls that drape and stretch, making them much easier to style as well as feeling like they're light and airy. Exactly what you'd want to wear on cool summer evenings or in air conditioned spaces.
I've showcased some of my favourites from her repertoire. Choose a special skein of yarn from your stash and go for it!
Rosewater is described as:
With her soft curves and beautiful lace, Rosewater is a stunning shawl you’ll want to knit again …and again …and again.
An inspiring and enjoyable knit, Rosewater looks more complex than it really is. Worked from the top down, it knits up quickly and flies off the needles in no time.
The signature lace incorporated in this shawl is a unique combination of dropped stitches, eyelets and fishnet lace. Beautiful, versatile, and fully reversible, Rosewater is a joy to knit and wear.
Janina writes about this wildly popular pattern:
Some patterns are so addictive and entertaining to knit that it’s impossible to put down your needles. While the shawl starts growing quickly under your eyes, the only thing you want to do is keep on knitting.
Alternating the garter stitch and lace sections with an interesting rhythm so you never get bored, this asymmetric triangle shawl is an incredibly fun knit.
It’s no surprise Antarktis has been a knitters’ favourite for years. Cast on yours and you’ll soon find out why!
Parasol is described as:
Parasol is a lovely little shawlette with a fun twist on decorative eyelets. It is worked top down with just one skein of fingering weight yarn.
Janina writes:
One skein of fingering weight yarn is all you need for this effortless and simple shawl. Drops of Joy is a beautiful one skein crescent shawl that is worked top-down from the neck.
First, you knit the body of the shawl in an airy eyelet pattern decorated with fishnet stripes. Finally, the fishnet lace border gives this delicate beauty a light finishing touch.
Ardent is described as:
Ardent is a simple and chic one skein wonder for those treasured single skeins in your stash.
You knit this shawl on the bias for a slightly asymmetric triangle shape. The alternating garter stitch and eyelet sections make it a fun just-one-more-row project that grows quickly on your needles.
Janina writes:
Summer Sky’s beautiful lace pattern is worked in open star stitch. You’ll enjoy knitting it and watching the richly textured surface grow. The garter stitch stripes punctuating the lace give the shawl a vibrant and dynamic look.
Summer Sky is worked diagonally from one tip to the opposite side of the triangle. The slightly asymmetric shape is created by increasing on one side and decreasing on the other. This shawl is a perfect project for those precious single skeins in your stash.
Lightweight Tree of Life Stitch Markers for Shawl Knitting
These super lightweight Tree of Life stitch markers come in a set of 6 with a handy storage tin to keep them safe. If you are a shawl knitter like so many of us are, you will love to use these useful tools. The smooth silver rings slip easily across your needles and the beautiful charms are practically weightless.
I hope you've enjoyed this collection of pretty one skein knitted shawl patterns. If you're looking for an easy summer project, one of these may just be the perfect knit. Happy creating everyone!
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A variety of yarn weights are used including lace, fingering, sport, DK and worsted weight. I've listed the patterns in alphabetical order.
This top-down sweater pattern comes in both long and short sleeved versions. Check out the project pages for many lovely short sleeved examples. Done in laceweight yarn, Adelaide would be light as a feather. Perfect for layering over a comfy little tee.
Adelaide has an outstanding overall rating of 4.9 and a clarity rating of 4.8. Sizes 38¼ to 57¾”. The pattern is available both from Brooklyn Tweed's Wool People Vol 12 as well as a Ravelry download.
Alanis
by Elizabeth Smith of elizabethsmithknits.com
Elizabeth describes her worsted weight design as "a cozy sweater tee/vest that’s perfect for layering, is an easy knit yet still features a few fun details, such as an icord edge split hem and an inset pocket (with contrasting color pocket lining!)." Hundreds of knitters agree!
This pattern has an overall rating of 4.8 with a clarity rating of 4.7. Sizes from XS to 5X. Ravelry download.
Anker's Summer Shirt
by Mette of PetiteKnit
Aside from being an adorable photo, isn't this a pretty tee? Mette describes her DK weight design as follows: "Anker’s Summer Shirt is worked from the top down. The yoke is worked in sections of rib with increases in the round, followed by classic raglan increases when the stockinette stitch section begins. The sleeves are worked at the end, either on double-pointed needles or on circular needles using the Magic Loop technique. Anker’s Summer Shirt has no finishing other than weaving in ends."
With an overall rating of 4.7 from almost 400 votes, it's clear that this pattern has resonated with knitters. Sizes XS to 3XL. Ravelry download.
Breezeway
by Laura Aylor of FogboundKnits
I just love the simplicity of this fingering weight tee. Laura writes, "A simple, body-skimming tee knit seamlessly from the top down with yoke and then raglan increases and an elliptical hem. You can choose to wear either the stockinette or reverse stockinette side facing out." Sounds perfect!
Breezeway has an amazing overall rating of 4.8 and a clarity rating of 4.9. Sizes from XXS to XXL. Ravelry download.
This is the second top 10 summer tee patterns from Isabell that made my list. Edie is a fingering weight sweater, described as follows: "a simple tee worked with raglan increases from the top down. First you have to work back and forth until V-Neck shaping is complete, then in the round to the end. Textured stripes will help to compensate the yarns tendency to bias. Short-row shaping for the rounded bottom gives a casual finish. Stitches for short sleeves are picked up after body is complete, to work the sleeves top down in the round. An optional neck finishing is provided."
This sweater has an overall rating of 4.8 from 692 votes (!) and a clarity rating also of 4.8. Sizes are XS to XXL. Ravelry download.
Mount Pleasant
by Megan Nodecker of pipandpin.ca
This little cutie is knitted with fingering weight yarn. Megan writes "Mount Pleasant is a light cropped top with a lacy hem. It is knit in the round from the bottom up with a bit of waist shaping, has dropped shoulders and a nice, wide crew neck. This top is perfect for wearing with high waisted jeans or skirts, or or over-top of longer tunics or collared shirts."
I particularly love the lace hem, so pretty!
Mount Pleasant has an excellent overall and clarity rating of 4.8 from hundreds of knitters. Sizes range from XS to 5X. Ravelry download.
Rift
by Jacqueline Cieslak of jacquelinecieslak.com
Rift is a super popular sport/DK weight tee on Ravelry. Jacqueline describes it as "Rift cracks open all your assumptions about what a “basic tee” pattern should be. This lightweight, bottom-up knit includes instructions for two necklines, optional bust darts, short or long sleeves, and a custom fit bicep. The design features a slightly cropped body and a split high-low hem in twisted rib, giving it enough detailing to be interesting while maintaining a timeless simplicity."
The project page has over 800 entries. You can use wool or linen and cotton yarns depending on how warm you want to be.
Rift has an outstanding overall rating of 4.9 and a clarity rating of 4.7. Sizes are inclusive, ranging from 40" to 72". Ravelry download.
Saona
by Natalie Pelykh of Knit for Sweet
Saona is a lovely summer tee knitted in lace or fingering. Happily, Natalie has included childen's sizes as well as adult. She writes: "The Saona girl’s top is worked top down from the neck entirely seamless. A stunning lace pattern decorates the circular yoke of this light, delicate top worked in stockinette stitch in the round. Matching lace parts can be found along the sides and the hemline."
It's gorgeous! The lace makes this pattern slightly more challenging than others in this list, but still rated quite easy on Ravelry.
Incredibly, the overall rating for this pattern is 5.0 from 77 knitters with a clarity rating also of 5.0. Sizes range from 12 months to 12-14 years for children, and adult 32" to 50". Ravelry download.
Tegna
by Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks
Tegna takes the prize for the most knitted tee in this list! At the time of writing, it was in almost 5400 projects. Caitlin describes it as follows: "Tegna is knitted seamlessly from the bottom up, starting with the slightly flared lace hem, then working up to the armholes, where you separate your work and work the front and back flat. Knit in fingering weight yarn, this design works equally well in wool, a wool/mohair blend or linen. Instructions are given to customize the body and sleeve lengths to your preference."
I love everything about this - the lace hem, the customizable sleeve length and the a-line shape.
Overall rating is 4.7 with a clarity rating of 4.6. Sizes from XS to 3XL. Ravelry download.
Walk Along
by Anke of Ankestrick
Walk Along has a simple shape jazzed up by the contrast colour. Anke writes "The summer tee is worked seamlessly top-down in one piece in stockinette stitch. Start shaping the neck by working short rows and then the yoke is joined to work in the round with raglan increases. Then the sleeve sts are placed on hold and the underarm sts are cast on and you continue to work the body in the round with a bit of A-shaping to the ribbing and first bind off. Pick up the stitches again to join the “second” shirt (color) to the second ribbing and bind off. After the body is completed the sleeve stitches are picked up again to work the sleeves top down in the round to the end."
Clever, and I love the surprise of the under shirt! This longer design would look great with leggings or jeans.
Overall rating of 4.7 from almost 300 votes, and a clarity rating also of 4.7. The contrasting bottom hem adds slightly more complexity, but the pattern is still rated fairly easy by knitters. Sizes XS to XXL. Ravelry download.
Honey Bee Stitch Markers by Pretty Warm Designs
These ring markers are my personal ode to the importance of these amazing little workers. After all, if we didn't have bees, there would be no chocolate-covered almonds. The set includes a honeycomb charm that makes a perfect beginning-of-round marker, as well as 5 different bee charms. Fits needle sizes up to 5mm (US 8).
Buy these stitch markers to mark the important places in your summer sweater projects!
Here is a short list of a few more summer tee patterns well worth looking at:
CineCittà by La Maison Rililie
Este by Justyna Lorkowska of Lete's Knits
Sugar Maple by Carina Spencer of CarinaSpencer.com
Vaara by Sachiko Burgin of Needle Leaf Knits
Please let me know if you decide to try one of these projects, I'd love see your work. I have a very friendly Facebook group called Pretty Warm Designs that you are welcome to join and share your creations. Happy knitting everyone!
]]>I'm going to demonstrate how I block lace or cabled hats. You will need one round balloon, a flexible measuring tape, and the head circumference size for whom the hat is intended.
]]>I'm going to demonstrate how I block lace or cabled hats. You will need one round balloon, a flexible measuring tape, and the head circumference size for whom the hat is intended.
Wash your hat with a fine yarn soap like Soak or Eucalan. Click here for great information on washing your knitted or crocheted garments. If the yarn dye bleeds into the water, click here for my previous blog post on using Dr. Beckmann's Colour & Dirt Collector sheets.
Blow up a balloon slightly, and fit the wet hat over the balloon. Blow it up a little more, then wrap a flexible measuring tape around the edge to measure the circumference (while still holding the balloon end - do not tie yet!).
You want the finished size of the hat to be approximately 2" less than the actual head size to allow for a good fit. A friend or family member might be useful to help, although I do this on my own.
Tie the end when you have enlarged the balloon to the desired size. Allow to fully dry.
Cut the end of the balloon to deflate and remove it. The hat will be blocked perfectly!
The pattern is the Bloom Hat by Irina Dmitrieva. Click here for a link to my Ravelry notes. I've knitted this hat a few times now and it's one of my faves.
I created these Number Knit Stitch Markers especially for knitting lace and cables. They work beautifully by placing them between each pattern repeat, to keep track of the stitches and catch errors quickly. And trust me, I know ALL about knitting errors ;)
Thanks for visiting my blog!
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Dye bleeding is a fairly common issue with hand-dyed and occasionally commercially dyed yarns. Click this link for an excellent explanation by knitcrate.com on why it happens.
I've discovered Dr. Beckmann Colour & Dirt Collector sheets, and they've completely solved the problem. Here's a recent example of my experience.
I knitted a hat with red worsted acrylic/wool blend yarn, and when I tried to wash it, the sink was full of red dye. Not acceptable, as it could transfer to someone's collar or other clothing when damp from snow or rain.
I use Scentless Soak for all my projects. I fill the sink with tepid water (neither hot nor cold), add a cap full of Soak, and push my garment down into the water until it's fully immersed and the air bubbles are gone. Here you can see the red dye that bled into the water.
This is a photo of my box of Dr. Beckmann's Colour & Dirt Collector.
I only used one sheet for this wash. If a huge amount of dye ran, I would have used 2 or even 3.
Place the sheet in the water, swish it around the garment, and let sit for 15-20 minutes. The dye still looks like it's there, but the magic happens in the rinse water. I removed the sheet, squeezed the water out of the hat, and refilled the sink with tepid clean water. Although Soak instructions say that you don't have to rinse, I always do. This photo shows the rinse water colour and the used Colour Collector. This water still has a slight tint of red, so I would probably repeat the process with a new sheet.
The instructions on the back of the box:
I found these at my local drug store in the laundry detergent aisle. They are also available on Amazon:
I keep a few boxes on hand for this situation. I have no affiliation with this product and will not make any money promoting it. I just love a useful product - in fact, I include them in my Not Just Socks Yarn Box if you're interested in trying them out and getting some yarn and other goodies!
]]>Leonardo of Pisa was a 13th century Italian mathematician who came up with the Fibonacci sequence to solve a hypothetical question asking how quickly rabbit populations can grow. The sequence is a very simple one, where each number is the sum of the previous two numbers:
0 + 1 = 1
1 + 1 = 2
1 + 2 = 3
2 + 3 = 5
3 + 5 = 8
5 + 8 = 13 and so on... Add the last 2 numbers together to get the next number.
November 23 (11/23) is the first four numbers of the sequence.
The Fibonacci sequence is found everywhere in nature. It describes the whorls of seeds in the sunflower, the branching of trees, the flowering of artichokes, the scales of a pinecone. We are naturally inclined to appreciate the beauty of these numbers that surround us. They just look aesthetically pleasing to us.
Now, how do we use them for knitting, crochet, quilting, weaving, and other design?
The most simple way is to use the numbers as units of measure. For example, 1", 2", 3", 5", 8". You can design stripes for scarves, sweaters, hats, any knitted item with combinations of these. I'll show you two sweaters where I did this.
This is my grandson, sporting the sweater I knitted him last year. He chose the colours and I added the stripes to the original Zippity Raglan pattern by Elizabeth Sullivan: lime green - 1" wide, purple - 3" wide.
The original pattern by Caitlin Hunter doesn't use stripes at the bottom, but I wanted to bust some stash so I added them. My Ravelry pattern notes detail the colours and width of stripes, but basically I used 1", 2", 3" and 5" stripes at the bottom of the sweater body and the sleeves.
Stripes don't have to be in the same sequence, you can mix the numbers up. For example, at the end of a scarf you can add some stripes as follows: 3" | 1" | 3" or whatever width of Fibonacci numbers you prefer.
The following is a Protection Quilt I made for my sister who was very ill at the time. I wanted to create something for her to hang over her bed and help keep her safe at night.
The quilt is full of imagery that is meaningful to her, and uses old lace handkerchiefs that belonged to our great-aunt, a nurse and healer. Notice the buttons at the left and top edges. They came from a button box I inherited with three generations of button collecting by the women in my family. I sewed the buttons in Fibonacci numbers - sets of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8.
You can use Fibonacci numbers to design quilt borders too. If you have 2 border fabrics, try using a 3" inner border and an 8" outer border. If you have 3 border fabrics, use a 5" inner, 2" middle and 8" outer border. Or any other combination that gets you the quilt size you need.
The next example I have is a tea towel that I wove following the Jane Stafford Online Guild classes. Jane teaches the Fibonacci sequence in depth for weaving design. One of the projects is called Asymmetry, and this is one of my samples:
The wide stripes are divided into 5 sections, 2 green and 3 purple. The vertical stripes are 5, 1 and 3. Easy, right?
And lastly, just for fun, this is a link to a blog post I wrote way back in 2008 on how I used Fibonacci numbers in landscape design (my former profession).
How will you use this wonderful design tool?
]]>All of these patterns are available on Ravelry as downloads. Some are free and some are available for a very reasonable fee. Patterns and photos are shared with permission by the designers.
Mini Christmas Stocking Ornaments
by Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits
These little fingering weight socks feature a variety of Fair Isle patterns, so each is unique and totally adorable! To make things easier, the pattern gives directions for knitting flat (if you prefer) and seaming afterwards.
You can knit them with many colours like in the photo, or choose a traditional vibe of red or green. They would work well as tree ornaments, gift wrap decorations or garland ornaments.
Bear Christmas Tree Decorations
by Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits
Julie Williams has created some of the most beloved stuffy patterns on Ravelry. She has designed bunny, cat, bear, fox, mouse, elephant, pig and monkey patterns that have been knitted by thousands of us.
These little DK weight bears are relatively simple and quite quick to make. Decorate them as much as you want. I would add beads and more embroidery, maybe even a bit of sparkly trim! Available as a free download.
Balls Up !
by General Hogbuffer
General Hogbuffer is a popular sock designer on Ravelry. I have knitted several of his sock designs, and I love them all. For these pattern there are 2 free PDFs with several designs available; some Fair Isle and some stripes. Make them as easy or complicated as you like!
The photo of the ball ornaments in the main blog header is also from this pattern. I've purchased the clear plastic ball ornaments from a craft store to insert into the knitted spheres but if you are a champion stuffer, you can use Poly-fill or some other soft stuffing material.
Winter Animals Knit Christmas Ornaments
by Amy Gaines
These are the sweetest little softies, each with their own little scarf. Can you imagine how kids will react to these? I've included this November 2019 release pattern because I just couldn't resist them!
They require worsted weight yarn, and will measure between 4.5" - 5" without the hanging loop. Fantastic for Christmas ornaments, but also the nursery. Grandma alert!
Scintillation
by Hunter Hammersen of Pantsville Press
These pretty stars can be knitted in any weight of yarn. As Hunter describes on the pattern page, there are no seams to work when you’re done, no stitches to pick up, and only two ends to weave in! I would add beads along the ribs to give them some bling (use a backstitch to secure each bead so they stay snug). This is a 22 page pattern, chock full of information.
You can use these little beauties for all sorts of decorating, but I can imagine an entire tree strung with these on a garland, or attached to a huge front door wreath. Wouldn't that be lovely?
These gnomes are small (one 4" high) and yet embody everything we love in these magical beings. In Susan's description she writes: "The Gnomes are knit completely in one piece starting from the bottom to the top of the hat. The beard, ears, arms and pointy feet are picked up and knitted directly on. There is no stitching together of tiny parts required." To keep them this size, use fingering weight yarn.
Make a party of gnomes and use them as table centrepieces or fireplace mantel decorations. If you use DK or worsted weight for a couple them, you could turn them into a family!
Tiny Sweaters
by Miriam L. Felton
These tiny sweaters have inspired many knitters! Check out the many creative ideas in the Project section of the Ravelry pattern page, as well as Miriam's Instagram @mimknits where she's just put up a post sharing other knitter's tiny sweaters.
Using only 24 yarns of yarn for the body, you can stash bust like crazy with this adorable project. There is also a 2nd page of the pattern with embellishment techniques and tutorials. Use them as bottle toppers, ornaments, or garland decorations.
Aren't these the cutest? This set also requires a plastic ornament from a craft store. Fingering weight yarn makes a ball 2 5/8", and sport weight makes one 3 1/4".
Check out the many colour combinations in the Project section of the pattern page. This would make a really special gift if your knitting group does a Christmas exchange.
Half Pint Mittens
by Susan B. Anderson
I love these tiny 2" mittens for ornaments or a garland. They would make wonderful fingering weight stash busters as they only require 3 grams of yarn. Use leftover sock or shawl yarns and have fun with the colours! They're also perfect for gift wrap decorations. Maybe embroider little snowflakes on them? Use your creativity!
Christmas Balls Knit Ornament Pattern Set
by Amy Gaines
So much cuteness in one pattern! It includes worsted weight instructions for a Santa, Penguin, Elf, Polar Bear and Reindeer. You'll need black safety eyes with washers, or use tiny black buttons or embroider the eyes if you don't have access to the safety eyes. Stuffing could be Poly-fill or craft store plastic ornaments.
Amy did a lovely job designing this cast of Christmassy characters. They're are a little more involved than some of the previous patterns, but oh so worth it!
And finally, some sweet little stitch markers to join in the holiday preparations. The knitting ring markers are all snag free and fit on needles up to 5mm (US 8). The locking stitch markers fit yarn up to chunky/bulky.
Christmas Stitch Marker Duo: Santa & Stocking
Christmas Stitch Marker Duo: Mitten & Snowflake
Happy creating, and Happy Holidays to everyone!
]]>All these patterns are available on Ravelry as downloads. Some are free and some are available for a very reasonable fee. Patterns and photos are shared with permission by the designers.
Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Dishcloth
by Lainetree Creations
I love this pumpkin orange dishcloth, so cheery for the kitchen! These would also make great gifts for friends and family. We all need dishcloths, right?
Jack Skellington Wreath
by Love To Be In Stitches
Show your neighbourhood kiddos that you're a fun place to be! This front door wreath design is perfect for welcoming all the littles (and their parents). I especially love the black and white colour choice.
Halloween Skeleton
by Pink Pumpkin Studio
Speaking of skeletons, this pattern was one of my favourites from Ravelry. I would probably hang this bony dude from a tree or railing near the front door. You could even add more sugar skull details to the head for some extra colour. The articulated body could be posed in all sorts of fun ways!
Faded Pumpkin
by Alexandra Halsey
There are many pumpkin crochet projects on Ravelry, but I fell in love with this recent addition. These home decor pumpkins could also be crocheted in decorative gourd colours. The cinnamon stick stems and twine bows really add some pretty country rustic elements. Love them!
Mrs Witch would make a great addition to the candy bowl table or fire place mantle. She's a friendly witch, ready to join in the season's festivities. Notice her hoop earrings? This little gal has style!
Halloween Sampler Scarf
by Heidi Yates of Snappy Tots
This is such a fun scarf for your kids. Can you imagine them showing up at school with this delight? All the other kids will want one! Also a great stash buster. The instructions include the scarf and individual motifs to use as treat bags.
Halloween Amigurumi Set
by Stringy Ding Ding
This delightful pattern includes many designs of softies, as well as a Ghost Advent Calendar. I'm in love with the little Pumpkin, Bat and Candy Corn! Their small sizes would also work as really gorgeous wreath decorations.
Last, but certainly not least, we have spooky stitch markers ready to join the party and help with your crochet projects. Order yours today to receive in time for Hallowe'en.
Hallowe'en Crochet Stitch Markers
I began with The Sunburst Granny Square from my Pinterest Crochet Granny Squares Board. My plan is to make enough squares to put together into a lined project bag, something like this Squares Bag on Ravelry. I also used The Crocheter's Companion to help figure out the stitch techniques.
Michael showed me how to start, crochet in the yarn ends as I went along, and how to change colours. He also helped with the yarn tensioning and how to properly hold the crochet hook.
My first (left), second and third square in order. You can see I improved with each new piece. I think I've got it now!
If you don't have a Michael in your life, Craftsy has two classes that are rated for beginners: Crochet: Basics and Beyond and Classic Crochet: The Granny Stitch.
I'm working on my 4th square now. I'm thrilled that I finally feel comfortable doing this very useful skill. I'll share my bag when I get it done. I've fallen in love with granny squares, as you can see if you visit my Pinterest page. Everything old is new again, amiright?
]]>Tin Can Knits' The World Simplest Mittens.
They published a great blog post called Let's Knit some super simple mittens that I highly recommend.
I'm using Joma Yarn Mashmellow Rino, a 100% Superwash Merino worsted called Valley Girl. And the purple, turquoise, gold and green bits certainly fit the name! This yarn is a lightly spun hand dye that will make gorgeous mittens. It's super soft, thick and warm - the perfect thing for crisp winter days.
I used a cast-on that is stretchy enough to easily fit over the hand.
For the thumb gusset increases, I used the Lifted Increase method because it leaves a nice decorative edge which doesn't leave a hole for those cold winter winds to creep through. The one modification I did was to pick up two stitches at the thumb instead of one. I knit them together on the next round. This reduces the chance of a hole developing.
Here are some cute little stitch markers to mark the two thumb gusset increase sections. They're small so they won't get in the way of your needle.
The mitten top is a set of straightforward decreases.
The pattern has 5 different sizes from toddler to adult large, and instructions for yarn weights include fingering, DK, worsted and chunky. Pretty much everything to fit anybody!
It's time to start knitting some quick projects for the season. And these would make great gifts for your whole family. I know what my wee grandson will be getting under the tree :)
]]>Erica has written the pattern for top-down sock knitting, but I'm a complete convert to toe-up. So I use her stitch pattern in my 64 stitch personal sock pattern, and it works beautifully. The stitch design breaks up stripey yarns and softens the variegation.
The yarn for the main body of the sock is Hedgehog Fibres Sock, in the Kimono colourway. I love this yarn's variegation - no pooling of colours!
I used up bits of this and that sock yarn to knit the toe, heel and ribbing. The heel is done in the Eye of Partridge slip stitch pattern, which I think is prettier than the traditional slip stitch heel.
And finally, I use Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (often known as the JSSBO) for my sock ribbing. I bind off in pattern, and it makes a fantastic stretchy cuff that doesn't slide down the leg.
I can't wait until the weather cools down a bit to wear these!
]]>I bought a skein of Diamond Luxury Foot Loose from 88 Stitches yarn shop in Langley, BC Canada a couple of months ago. I'm knitting the Lacy Ribs Socks pattern from Wendy D. Johnson's Socks From the Toe Up book. It's an easy 4 stitch/4 row pattern that really works beautifully with variegated yarns.
And I've totally fallen in love! This hand dyed yarn is soft, doesn't split, has great colours with some speckles (speckles!) and gives nice stitch definition in a lace pattern. It's a 75/25 split with Superwash Merino and Polyamid, so it will wear well. I've learned over my decades of sock knitting that I just won't hand wash socks. Life is too short. So Superwash is key for me. Here's a close up of the variegation - no pooling!
Soooo, I went back to 88 Stitches this week and bought more. Because the 3 huge totes of sock yarn in my closet aren't enough ;) Aren't these pretty?
I can't wait to get started with these. Do you have a favourite sock yarn? I'm always looking for new ideas :)
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This is a photo of me from 1976 (!). As a university student, I was working during the summers for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Northern Ontario, Canada as a Timber Resource Technician. We lived in tents or old forest ranger cabins, doing natural forest regeneration studies. We were in remote areas, totally off grid, so evenings were spent by the light of Coleman lanterns doing our own thing. My thing in the summer of 1976 was finishing a latch hook rug that my father bought when I was born.
I eventually learned how to quilt, and began a decades long love affair with making quilts of all kinds. I was fortunate enough to teach workshops across Canada and the United States, lecture at conferences, judge quilt shows, publish my own designs and write a number of magazine articles. This is a photo of me with my Alaska Nasturtium Quilt, after winning a Judge's Choice Award at the National Juried Show at Quilt Canada 2014.
I'm a passionate weaver, in love with my two Ashford Rigid Heddle Looms and trying to find the time to start a whole bunch of tea towels on my brand new Ashford 38" Jack Loom! The following photo shows large knitting project bags I wove and sewed for friends in 2015.
I also learned to knit when I was 23 years old. During my seasonal lay-off, I walked past a yarn shop one day and decided to check it out. I knew nothing about knitting or crocheting but the yarns were gorgeous and it was cold outside! So I asked the owner if I could take lessons and learn how to knit. She agreed, helped me choose some yarn, needles and a pattern. I sat in her shop once a week that winter and she taught me how to knit my first 2 sweaters. I’ve been knitting ever since. Here is a 2015 photo of me in my Hedgerow sweater, pattern by designer Ann Kingstone and knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed DK.
For those of us who spend our time on creative stuff, an enamel pin that celebrates us!
Make. All. The. Things! It's therapeutic, it fires up the brain, it's a lovely respite from our crazy schedules. It doesn't matter how your creativity expresses itself, it only matters that you give yourself permission to spend some precious time making things. We are all healthier and happier as a result. From my hands and heart to yours... :D
]]>The stitch markers above were made with jump rings that never quite close, therefore creating an open edge that catches on yarn.
My business was born when I began to make my own snag free stitch markers. It takes more time, care and materials to ensure these pretty markers are snag free, but in my opinion it's absolutely necessary to protect the yarns.
Another issue occurs when stitch markers have a crimp at the end that hasn't been covered with a crimp cover. Crimps prevent the beads from falling off the wire. Crimp edges are sharp and will shred your yarn. This is an example of one of a stitch marker (on the left) before I've applied the round crimp cover. The Multi-Colour Flower Bead Stitch Marker on the right has the silver plated crimp cover attached over the crimp bead. Many sellers unfortunately skip this step.
Knit with snag free stitch markers and enjoy your beautiful work without worry.
Life's too short and yarn is too expensive!
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Ingredients:
5 tea bags (I use decaf Pekoe tea, but any tea will do)
1/2 cup white sugar or substitute
1/4 cup lemon juice (juice of one lemon or use prepared lemon juice)
Optional: lemon slice and fresh mint for garnish
1. Place tea bags in a large juice jug.
2. Boil enough water to fill juice jug and allow to steep overnight.
3. Remove tea bags, add sugar and lemon juice. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
4. Garnish with mint and lemon slices in the jug or your glass.
5. Sit back, relax and enjoy the weather!
What are your favourite summer recipes?
]]>My current fave is the Sarsons Shawl from Knox Mountain Knit Co. Designers Willow and Sasha hail from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada and their designs are inspired by the stunning landscapes of the Okanagan Valley.
This is my shawl in progress. My main (lace sections) yarn is the very soft Merino Slim fingering weight from the National Parks Collection from Fleece Artist. This is the Sirmilik colourway, inspired by the shimmering glaciers and ice fields in Nunavut, Canada. Icy yarns for hot knitting days!
The garter stripes alternate between the vibrant Tosh Sock Button Jar Blue by Madelinetosh, and white 100% Merino Sandnes Garn Babyull Lanett.
I use Small Heart Ring Stitch Markers to divide the lace sections so I can check the stitches before I move to the next section, and to keep proper count for the increases. I love these stitch markers because they fit small needles, and don't change my tension as I'm knitting (and sometimes unknitting LOL). I'm placing a stitch marker every 20 stitches for this shawl.
As I knit the increases on the outside edges of the shawl, whenever I complete 20 new stitches on the edges, I'll add another stitch marker. You can see here that I have a few more increases to go!
Thanks for visiting my Knitting Chair News. If you would like to show off your summer knitting, please do join me on my Facebook Group Janet Rice-Bredin. I would love to see your creative stuff.
And, for reading my first blog post I have a treat for you :) Here is a one-time 10% coupon off your entire order: BLOG10. Add your items to the cart, type in the coupon code, and you're good to go. Hey, it's summer. Happy days are here!!!
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