Sunday, August 5, 2012

Itsy Bitsy Cabled Hat

Made this to go with the Bitty Cabled Cardigan before I realized there was already a companion hat. D'oh! But, honestly, I like my hat just a bit better.  

Itsy Bitsy Cabled Hat  

Materials and Tools
30g worsted yarn
Size 7 needles for knitting in the round
Stitch marker
Cable needle
Tapestry needle

Abbreviations
K = knit
P = purl
K2tog = knit 2 together
P2tog = purl 2 together
R = round
st(s) = stitch(es)
C4B = Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; K2 from left needle; K2 from cable needle  

Instructions
Using Twisted German method, cast on 60 stitches.
R 1: P
R 2: K
R 3: P
R 4: K
R 5: P1, (K4, P2)x9, K4, P1
R 6: Repeat R5
R 7: P1 (C4B, P2)x9, C4B, P1
R 8: Repeat R5
R 9 through 32: Repeat last 4 rounds 6 more times
R 33 and 34: Repeat R5
R 35: (P3, P2tog, P1)x10 - 50 sts
R 36: K
R 37: (P2, P2tog, P1)x10 - 40 sts
R 38: K
R 39: (K1, K2tog, K1)x10 - 30 sts
R 40: K
R 41: (K2tog, K1)x10 - 20 sts
R 42: K
R 43: (K2tog)x10 - 10 sts
R 44: K
R 45: (K2tog)x5 - 5 sts
R 46: K

Leaving a 5" length of yarn, cut the yarn and weave through the remaining stitches using tapestry needle. Pull tight. Weave in ends. Block.

If desired, use a size F crochet hook to create a 10-link chain. Fold in half, and thread both ends through top center of cap to create a loop. On wrong side, tie the ends into a double knot to secure and weave in ends.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Plans for 2012

Wow, I sucked at contributing to this at the end of the year.

I'd like to do better in 2012 and use this, along with Ravelry, of a record of all my knitting plans, swaps, projects finished and frogged, and anything else I can think of.

So where do I stand at this point?

1. I've signed up on the CPA stashdown thread on Ravelry. My primary commitment is that I will not spend money on yarn at least until the end of June. I'm allowed to use gift certificates (such as ones claimed in a swap); I'm allowed to participate in swaps (yes, that will involve some postage expense, but that's minor). The ONE exception to the buying ban is if I find more skeins to complete my Bugga motherboard. I'm always allowed to buy them. BUT only one of any color.

2. I've signed up for the favorite colors swap, which is due to ship no later than 31 Jan. (Cyclical Swaps Rav group)

3. I want to participate in all the SG KALs that are anticipated to be held during the year. There are 4 in Q1. (SG Rav group)

4. I want to participate in the Socktopus KAL, to knit one pattern from the book each month. (Socktopus Rav group)

5. I'll run a Dexter-themed swap in early Q1. (Dexter Rav group)

6. I'll run a STCW KAL from mid-Jan to end of Feb. (STCW Rav group)

7. I'll finish the UFOs that are on the needles. There aren't many, so I should be able to finish them. First on the list is the Fronkensteek KAL that I totally flaked on (CPA KAL Rav group).

Sounds good! Over the next few days I'll not what gift certificates I have a what shops, list out what projects I've already got in my for 2012, and any other little housekeeping things that strike me.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Confessions of a Bugga!-holic

Hi. My name is Beth, and I'm a Bugga!-olic.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Bugga! is a wonderful merino/cashmere/nylon yarn from The Sanguine Gryphon. There have been over 175 colorways over the past years that it's been on the market. Over the past month, I've been on a crazy binge attempting to collect as many as possible.

This is my current stash of Bugga! goodness.


There are about 60 colorways. Most colors have only one skein but there are multiples in others.

There are 4 more skeins on the way from pending transactions.

I really really need to stop. BUT... I love them all. And I want MOAR YARNZZZZZZZ!!!!!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Crocheted Baskets

Post is a work in progress. Whatever doesn't look finished will be finalized soon.

I bought way more cotton for that bathmat than I needed, so I've been using it to make some bathroom accessories. So far, I made some little facial cleaning cloths, a body puff, and a bath mitt. Steven particularly liked the puff, so I'm working on a second one so that they can each have their own.

I was looking on Ravelry for something else to make and found a number of containers. I thought I'd take my own stab at designing something. I wrote these out after I did the pieces, so I have not doubt the instructions are wonky. But it should be easy enough to tweak here and there as needed.

After I made them, I found I liked them better when turned down at the triple crochet rows... that makes them more like what I had originally envisioned.

Ivy League Basket Set

Tools and Materials
Peaches and Creme in colorway Ivy League
Size H crochet hook
Tapestry needle

Instructions
Abbreviations
st - stitch
slst - slip stitch
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
scd - single crochet decrease
dc - double crochet
dcd - double crochet decrease

Large Basket
Round 1: Using magic loop, ch 2 (counts as first dc) then 11 dc into the loop. Join to beginning ch with a slst; pull loop tight. (12 st)
Round 2: Ch 2. 2 dc in each stitch around, join with a slst. (24 st)
Round 3: Ch 2. *1 dc in next st, 2dc in next. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (36 st)
Round 4: Ch 2. *1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (48 st)
Round 5: Ch 2. *1 dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in next. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (60 st)
Round 6: Ch 2. *1 dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (72 st)
Round 7: Ch 2. Working in back of st, *1 dc in next 4 st, 1 dcd. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (60 st)
Round 8: Ch 2. 1 dc in each st around, join with a slst. (60 st)
Round 9: Ch 1. 1 sc in each st around, join with a slst. (60 st)
Round 10: Ch 3. 1 tc in each st around, join with a slst. (60 st)
Round 11: Ch 1. *1 sc in next 3 st, 1 scd. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (48 st)
Round 12: Ch 3, sc in same st, *1 sc in next 3 st. Repeat from * around, join with a slst.
End yarn, weave in ends.

Medium basket
Follow first 5 rounds of large basket.
Round 6: Ch 2. Working in back of st, *1 dc in next 3 st, 1 dcd. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (48 st)
Round 7: Ch 2. 1 dc in each st around, join with a slst. (48 st)
Round 8: Ch 1. 1 sc in each st around, join with a slst. (48 st)
Round 9: Ch 3. 1 tc in each st around, join with a slst. (48 st)
Round 10: Ch 1. *1 sc in next 2 st, 1 scd. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (36 st)
Round 11: Ch 3, sc in same st, *1 sc in next 2 st. Repeat from * around, join with a slst.
End yarn, weave in ends.

Small basket
Follow first 4 rounds of large basket.
Round 5: Ch 2. Working in back of st, *1 dc in next 2 st, 1 dcd. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (36 st)
Round 6: Ch 2. 1 dc in each st around, join with a slst. (36 st)
Round 7: Ch 1. 1 sc in each st around, join with a slst. (36 st)
Round 8: Ch 3. 1 tc in each st around, join with a slst. (36 st)
Round 9: Ch 1. *1 sc in next st, 1 scd. Repeat from * around, join with a slst. (24 st)
Round 10: Ch 3, sc in same st, *1 sc in next 2 st. Repeat from * around, join with a slst.
End yarn, weave in ends.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Bathmat for New Apartment


My older son is leaving me. For good. This Friday, he's moving into his own apartment, and I'm so happy for him! I'm making him a bathmat in colors to match his towels. I couldn't find a pattern I like, so I'm just going with all garter stitch on big needles to make it go fast.

Ivy League Bathmat

Materials
1040 yds (590g) Peaches & Creme 100% cotton in colorway Ivy League
Size 10-1/2 circular needles
Size K crochet hook
Tapestry needle

Instructions
Cast on 75 sts.
Knit all rows (garter stitch) until 52 garter ridges are complete.

Cast off until 1 st remains on right needle. Switch to size K crochet hook.

Create edging by making 3 single crochet (SC) sts in each corner and 1 SC in each stitch along long edges and each garter ridge along short edges.

Secure last stitch; weave in ends.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Temple Fat Cat

A friend of mine has asked me to make a Fat Cat in red and white for her daughter, who will be attending Temple University in the fall. Since I am not a fan of sewing seams, I altered the pattern to knit it in the round. Here's what I did.

Yarn
Main Color (MC): Red Heart Super Saver, Cherry Red
Contrast Color (CC): Red Heart Super Saver, White
Scraps of black and pink yarn

Materials
Size 9 needles (circulars and double points both useful for this project)
Size F crochet hook
Fiberfill

Gauge
I didn't bother.

Stripe Pattern
Knit 9 rows in MC, knit 9 rows in CC

Body
Cast on 102 sts. Join, being careful not to twist.
Rd 1 - 9: K102 MC
Rd 10 - 18: K102 CC
Rd 19 - 27: K102 MC
Rd 28 - 36: K102 CC
Rd 37 - 45: K102 MC
Rd 46: (SSK K30 K2tog) around CC (96 sts)
Rd 47 -49: K96 CC
Rd 50: (SSK K28 K2tog) around CC (90 sts)
Rd 51 - 53: K90 CC
Rd 54: (SSK K26 K2tog) around CC (84 sts)
Rd 55 - 57: K84 MC
Rd 58: (SSK K24 K2tog) around MC (78 sts)
Rd 59 - 61: K78 MC
Rd 62: (SSK K22 K2tog) around MC (72 sts)
Rd 63: K72 around MC
Rd 64 - 65: K72 around CC
Rd 66: (SSK K20 K2tog) around CC (66 sts)
Rd 67: K66 CC
Rd 68: (SSK K18 K2tog) around CC (60 sts)
Rd 69: K60 CC
Rd 70: (SSK K16 K2tog) around CC (54 sts)
Rd 71: K54 CC
Rd 72: (SSK K14 K2tog) around CC (48 sts)
Rd 73: K48 MC
Rd 74: (SSK K12 K2tog) around MC (42 sts)
Rd 75: K42 MC
Rd 76: (SSK K10 K2tog) around MC (36 sts)
Rd 77: (SSK K8 K2tog) around MC (30 sts)
Rd 78: (SSK K6 K2tog) around MC (24 sts)
Rd 79: (SSK K4 K2tog) around MC (18 sts)
Rd 80: (SSK K2 K2tog) around MC (6 sts)
Rd 81: (SSK K2tog) around MC (6 sts)
Rd 82: (K2tog) around MC (3 sts)

Ears (make 2 of each color)
Cast on 10 sts.
Work stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) for 8 rows.
Dec 1 st each end of next and every following alt row to 2 sts.
Last row: P2tog. Fasten off.
With WS facing each other, sew Ear made with MC to Ear made with CC.

Base
With pair of double-pointed needles and MC, cast on 4 sts.
1st rnd: Inc 1 st in each st to end of row. Divide these 8 sts onto 3 needles.
Join in rnd, placing marker on first st.
2nd and alt rnds: Knit.
3rd rnd: *Inc 1 st in next st. Rep from * around. 16 sts.
5th rnd: *Inc 1 st in next st. K1. Rep from * around. 24 sts.
7th rnd: *Inc 1 st in next st. K2. Rep from * around. 32 sts.
9th rnd: *Inc 1 st in next st. K3. Rep from * around. 40 sts.
Cont in this manner to 104 sts, transferring sts onto circular needle when necessary. Cast off.

I crocheted the eyes and nose and backstitched the mouth and whiskers. I think he's rather adorable!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Lookit Me... I iz a designer!

I uploaded the two little pet blanket patterns that I posted earlier (here and here) to Ravelry (here and here). As a result (after I requested them to), they linked my Rav account to my designs. Therefore, I am now officially in Rav's designer database.

Check me out!

Who knows? Maybe I will be daring and design a hat next!

Although, honestly, I feel overglorifying to call it designing. I'm just adapting stitches and techniques that have been developed long before I came along.

But I'll "struggle" with being called a knitwear designer. :) Could be worse.