Crow potholder free pattern

 

Another double knitting pattern; this time the crow. Looks good with the black bird on one side and black background on the other. I use cotton yarn in contrasting colors; the spooky sunset yarn is especially . I put markers every 10 stitches to help keep the pattern straight.

I use size 5 needle. I add two stitches on each side and two rows on the top and bottom and knit those in a contrasting color. Probably going to have make a few more of these. The chart is 30 stitches (the green area) so add four stitches for a total of 34 stitches.  

For instructions on double knitting, use this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQKZR-2TwCA.

Kitty Potholder Free Pattern

 

 This is another double knitting pattern of a cat. I use cotton yarn in contrasting colors. I put markers every 10 stitches to help keep the pattern straight.

I use size 5 needle. I add two stitches on each side and two rows on the top and bottom and knit those in a contrasting color. Probably going to have make a few more of these. The chart is 32 stitches so add four stitches for a total of 36 stitches

For instructions on double knitting, use this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQKZR-2TwCA.

Is it a Bigfoot or a Yeti? And a free pattern too.

I admit it. I have never seen a bigfoot, but I hope they are real. I don't think I want to see one, though, unless I am safely driving away in a vehicle. I understand that they might be here in Colorado. So I had to design a potholder to get my own bigfoot. This is done in double knitting, so it is a Bigfoot on one side and a white Yeti on the other. I think he turned out really cute. 

Here is the pattern I designed of this guy. Feel free to use it to make your own. Use cotton yarn to make the potholder oven-safe. Using size 5 needles, cast on 64 stitches to make a potholder 32 stitches wide. If you are new to double knitting, this YouTube video will help you out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXmgdIUANP4 

In fact, just up the mountain from us, there is a Sasquatch Museum in Bailey, Colorado. We have actually been there twice. Even if you don't believe, it is a nice drive and a fun little place to explore for an afternoon. It tells all about the stories, evidence, pictures, and legends of the cryptid. To find out more about the Sasquatch Outpost, go to their website https://www.sasquatchoutpost.com/.

 

Wookie and Omi Forever in a Potholder - Free Pattern

 I adore my kitties and now they pictured on a potholder!

 

Omi with her yellow eyes.

Wookie with her green eyes (her eyes didn't show up very well).

This is a Ravelry pattern called Cat Playtime. It is done in double knitting, which I love doing. You can 

find the pattern at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cat-playtime-potholder 

No More Paper or Plastic, Part 2

 We went to the grocery store this morning and I am tickled pink! (or beige or yellow or green, depending on the bag). My shopping not only worked great, but held more than any plastic bag. The clerk asked me where I got them, and when I said I made them, she called other clerks over to see them. I was so honored. Ken's only comment is that I should made the handles shorter. No problem! I thought I was making them too short. So now I am doing one in lime green and another one in shades of blue. Stay tuned!

No More Paper or Plastic in Colorado

 As of January 1, Colorado started charging for plastic bags at stores, including the grocery store.

I have a big bag of cotton yarn that I collected in anticipation of this. However, I really didn't like the feel of knitting with cotton, so the bag just sat in my craft room for the past several years (yes, years). So I finally decided to start using it up. I am on my third bag now. I seem to like the feel of it better now since there is a necessity. 

I am using a basic pattern. There are several free patterns on Ravelry for shopping bags, and they are very similar.

I cast on 24 stitches with size 9 circular needles and knit back and forth in stockinette (or garter stitch, your choice) until it is close to a square. Then I pick up stitches along the sides and bottom. I don't really count the stitches because exact numbers don't matter. 

I continue knitting in the round, increasing two stitches at each corner two or three times. Then just knit in stockinette for a couple of inches. 

I change to a larger needle, in my case size 11 and start the lace pattern:
Round 1: YO, k2tog for the entire round.
Round 2: Knit

I continue these 2 rounds for 12 to 14 inches. I then go back to stockinette for another couple of inches. 

Divide for handle. This is the first time (and only time) I actually count the stitches. I take the total stitches and subtract 24 stitches (handle is 12 stitches wide). I divide that total in half. 

Such as:

  136 total stitches
  - 24 
  112
/    2
   56

Next round: Knit 12 stitches. Bind off the next 56 stitches. Knit 12 and put those stitches on a holder and remove from needles. Bind off the next 56 stitches.

Change back to size 9 needles. Work in garter stitch back and forth (knit every row) until you have the length you want for the handle. Use a three-needle bind off with the stitches on the needle. Weave in the ends.

As you can see, it is pretty much "seat-of-your-pants" knitting. It's pretty forgiving and after you have made a few, the pattern is "in the bag!"

Cable back fingerless

Sometimes, I just want to do mindless knitting. We may go for a drive and I need something to knit while in the car. I don't want an intricate pattern but rather one I can just move my needles, sometimes without even looking at them. This is one of those patterns. I use double-pointed needles which I understand many people do not like. But you have to remember I learned to knit very young, so it was never an issue of liking or not liking; it was just what you needed to use. 

The only problem with using double-pointed needles in the car is if you drop one, it usually goes under the seat. Then we have to pull over so I can crawl under it to retrieve it. Anyway, I made these gloves while we were driving through the mountains to see the aspens changing. It has a simple cable stitch up the middle. They fit very nicely so they are on my list to do again. 

The free pattern is in Ravelry. You can find it by searching fingerless gloves called Claws by Tera Johnson. I made these a bit longer than the pattern called for.

Celtic Fingerless Gloves in Teal

 More fingerless gloves. This pair have a Celtic design on the back of the hand, made in a soft teal yarn. I ended up giving this pair away to a friend of mine as well. One of these days, I'll keep some of these gloves for myself!

This is a free pattern available on Ravelry, link below. It is a German pattern but it is translated well. It is a great pattern if you have never tried cable knitting before. It is a great pattern for those of us who love Celtic designs too.

 

 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-gloves---stulpen

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-gloves---stulpen?set=&_rfoff=1

Lacy Hoods

Every year, I tried to make gifts for the wonderful women in my "Diva" group. We are a group of mothers whose children were in high school theater and became friends. Then our kids all went off to college and jobs all through the US. (Mine became a CPA in Fort Collins, CO and a film editor in Hollywood.) Although they may be scattered to the winds, we stayed together and meet about every six weeks or so. They are my dearest friends. 

Last Christmas I made each of them these cowl/hoods, mainly because one of my friends doesn't wear hats. They can keep the cold out from their neck and head with this delicate hood. I made hoods in beige, rose, light blue, and dark blue. One of these days, I'll make a purple one for me. 

This is a free pattern on Ravelry at this link. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jennylous-lace-cowl 

Colorado Hats in a family of sizes

 

I live in the beautiful state of Colorado. Our home is south of the Denver area in the foothills. So here is my Colorado hat in three sizes. One of my best friends recently became a grandma. Her son is a friend of my son's so I have known him for a long time. When I heard they were having a baby, I knitted a family of Colorado hats for them, as well as some Denver Bronco booties (to be featured in the future). I was hoping to get a picture of the entire family in the hats soon, and when I do, I will post it.

Meanwhile, I included a free pattern for the infant hat. Enjoy.

Colorado Ski Hat – infant size

Worsted weight yarn in blue, red, white and yellow.  None of the colors need a full skein

Size 5 (5.0 mm) needles

Size 6 (5.5 mm) needles

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 8 sts and 12 rows = 2” in Stockinette

 

With smaller needles, cast on 52.  Work ribbing as: K2. P2 for 2 inches.

 

Switch to large needles and knit 2 rows.

Row 1: Knit --. Work row 1 of the chart. Knit remainder of the row.

Row 2: Purl --. Work row 2 of the chart. Purl remainder of the row.

Continue working the chart with the solid color on each side, remembering to change to white at row 5 and back to blue at row 11. Knit with blue

Crown:

Row 1: SSK, knit 11, k2tog six times (78 stitches).

Row 2: Knit and all even-numbered rows.

Row 3: SSK, knit 9, k2tog six times (66 stitches).

Row 4: Knit and all even-numbered rows.

Row 5: SSK, knit 7, k2tog six times (54 stitches).

Row 7 SSK, knit 5, k2tog six times (42 stitches).

Row 9: SSK, knit 3, k2tog six times (30 stitches).

Row 11: SSK, knit 1, k2tog six times (18 stitches).

Row 13: k3tog six times (6 stitches).

Cut yarn. Thread yarn with tapestry needle and yarn through remaining stitches. 

Sew back seam, matching the color of yarn to the hat.  Weave in all ends.

 

R

R

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13

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12

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Y

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To purchase adult size, go to this site: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/colorado-adult-hat