Celebrating the Holidays with Fingerless

When my boys were in high school, they were very active in marching band and theater. I was definitely involved in my kids' activities as a band mom and theater mom. I met several wonderful friends through these activities. 

The DC Divas: Me, Katie, Mo, Susan (standing) and Linda

When our kids graduated, went to college and basically left us, we moms decided that we didn't need our kids around to keep our friendships going. So every couple of months, the DC Divas (Douglas County Divas) get together to catch up. We have become even better friends over the years. (That's me in the maroon shirt). Tonight was our Christmas gathering, the one in which we include our husbands, although we didn't take any pictures of them. 

I made fingerless gloves for my friends and we had a touching of fingertips to show them off.

Felted Poinsettia Pin for your Fa-La-La-La-la Fa-La-La-La Holiday Party

Felted Poinsettia Brooch

I had to go to a holiday party today in which the theme was ugly Christmas sweaters. Now I would like to think that I am way too fashionable to own an ugly Christmas sweater, so I got out my trusty needles to make my own. I used a simple leaf pattern that I have used so many times that I don’t remember where I even got it.  So I thought I would share it with you.

I still don’t think it made my sweater ugly.

PATTERN:

Scraps of 100% wool yarn in red, green and gold.

Sizes 8 and 5 needles

Six gold beads

Spools of thread in matching colors

Bar Pin

Gauge: Not critical

Leaves (Make 6):

With green yarn and size 8 needles, cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1: K all stitches

Row 2 and all even numbered rows: P all stitches

Row 3: K 1, kfb*, kfb, k 1 (6 stitches).

Row 5: K 1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1 (8 stitches).

Row 7: K all stitches.

Row 9: K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, k1. (6 stitches)

Row 11: K1 SSK, K2tog, k1 (4 stitches)

Row 13: SSK, K2tog (2 stitches). Cut yarn. Thread yarn with needle and pass through remaining 2 stitches.

    *Although most knitters use a knit in the front and back of one stitch to increase, I use a little method that creates a stronger line. I knit 1 stitch.

Then I pick up yarn from in front of the stitch I want to increase and knit it.

Then I knit the main stitch. This slants the increases to the right.

For the left slant, I knit the main stitch first. Then I pick up the yarn from the side and put it on the needle and knit it.

Flowers (Make 6):

With red yarn and size 5 needles, cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1: K all stitches

Row 2 and all even numbered rows: P all stitches

Row 3: K 1, kfb*, kfb, k 1 (6 stitches).

Row 5: K 1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1 (8 stitches).

Row 7: K all stitches.

Row 9: K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, k1. (6 stitches)

Row 11: K1 SSK, K2tog, k1 (4 stitches)

Row 13: SSK, K2tog (2 stitches). Cut yarn. Thread yarn with needle and pass through remaining 2 stitches.

Center (Make 1):

With size 8 needles and gold yarn, cast on 2 stitches.

Next Row: K1. In next stitch, k, p, k, p, k, p.

Next Row: K all stitches. Cut yarn. Thread yarn with needle and pass through all stitches and pull them together. Make a knot with the two ends.

Felting:

Put all piece in a lingerie bag or pillow case. Felt in machine on hottest cycle. I just put it in with my regular wash. Once the pieces are felted, trim the ends.  No need to weave in the ends. Felting secures them. Lie each piece flat to dry. I put a cookie sheet over the pieces to keep them flat.

Finishing:

With sewing thread, insert the needle through the bottom corner of a green leaf and then down through the other corner. Repeat sewing until all six are joined in a line. Attach the last leaf to the first leaf to form a circle. Draw the thread up to tighten. Knot ends.

Repeat the same technique with the red flower leaves.

Put the red circle on top of the green circle, placing the circles staggered. Tack the two circles together. 

Place the gold felted ball in the center and tack it down. 

Add beads around the gold ball.

Sew a pin bar to the back.

Attach your poinsettia pin to your ugliest sweater and wear to your next holiday party.

Neko in his Santa Hat -- free pattern (please excuse the blood)

 Neko’s Santa Hat

I made a cute little hat for my cat for the holidays.  However, he just doesn't seem to like it as much as I though he would. I guess Neko just doesn't have the Christmas spirit. 

Materials:

Small amount of red and white yarns, such as double knit or sock yarn.  Don’t worry about the strength of the yarn. No cat will wear it for very long anyway.

Waste yarn
Crochet hook size F
Size 4 (3.5mm) double pointed needles
Size 6 (4mm) double pointed needles
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

Gauge: 2” = 12 stitches

With the smaller needles and white yarn, cast on 48 stitches using waste yarn and the provisional cast on. (If you need instructions, there are several good YouTube videos, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfCEWhaaOsk­) . Join being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit every row for 2 inches.

Returning to the cast on row, remove the waste yarn stitch by stitch and place on the larger double-pointed needles. With the purl side facing out, use a three needle knitting technique to make the brim.  (Also shown on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0L9HPvFrn8)

Go ahead. Take your picture
 ... and sleep with one eye open .  -- Neko

Change to red yarn and keeping the larger needles, knit every row for 2 inches. 

Next round: *Knit 6, k2tog.* Repeat * to * to the end of the row.

Knit 6 rounds.

Next round: *Knit 5, k2tog.* Repeat * to * to the end of the row.

Knit 6 rounds.

Next round: *Knit 4, k2tog.* Repeat * to * to the end of the row.

Knit 6 rounds.

Next round: *Knit 3, k2tog.* Repeat * to * to the end of the row.

Knit 7 rounds.

Next round: *Knit 2, k2tog.* Repeat * to * to the end of the row.

Knit 8 rounds.

Next round: *Knit 1, k2tog.* Repeat * to * to the end of the row.

Knit 8 rounds.

Cut yarn. Thread a yarn needle and through all remaining stitch.

Weave in ends.  Add a white pom pom

Now try to place it on your cat’s head and take a picture before s/he runs and hides under the bed, or, as my cat would, hiss and scratch your hand.

I just don't think Neko gets me.

Someone needs to take her needles away before
she causes more damage.

I'll get you my pretty -- and your little
double point needles too.

Quick Christmas Gifts: Timothy Broken Rib Fingerless Gloves - Straight needles

Yesterday, I posted this pattern using double-pointed needles.  I understand that no everyone is comfortable with DPNs and to make this as quick and easy as possible, this is the pattern on straight needles. It is still quick, easy and cute!

Timothy Broken Rib Fingerless gloves

Materials:

·        1 skein Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted

·        US #9 needles

·        Yarn needle

·         

Knitting Gauge: 16 stitches/20 rows  = 4" – Gauge is not critical because this pattern has a lot of stretch.

Size: One size will fit some adults. 

Cast on 40 stitches..

Work the broken rib stitch as follows:

Round 1 – Slip 1 stitch purlwise. k1, p1 to end of the row. 

Round 2 – Slip 1 stitch purlwise, p3, k1. *K1, P3, K1* to end of row. 

Broken Rib Panel

-		-		-
	-	-	-

Continue the broken rib pattern until the gloves measures 10½ inches.

Bind off loosely in pattern. 

Using whip stitch, sew up 6 inches up the side from the bottom. Break yarn. Sew 2½” from the top; break yarn. This will leave 2” for the thumb hole.

Weave in the ends.

Make second gloves the same way. Wear in warmth!

Quick Christmas Gifts: Timothy Broken Rib Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless gloves are very popular right now. This pattern is quick and easy and can be made in a few hours. Get those needles going and make several for gifts in these last few weeks before the holidays.

I used a 100% acrylic yarn for this pair, making in bright orange (this is Bronco land, after all), and this worsted is particularly soft. A perfect yarn for those with wool allergies (Oh, I feel so sorry for them!)

Timothy Broken Rib Fingerless gloves

Materials:

·        1 skein Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted

·        US #9 double-pointed needles

·        Stitch marker

·        Yarn needle

·         

Knitting Gauge: 16 stitches/20 rows  = 4" – Gauge is not critical because this pattern has a lot of stretch.

Size: One size will fit some adults. 

Pattern:

Cast on 40 stitches. Place a stitch marker and join, being careful not to twist the row.

Work the broken rib stitch as follows:

  

Round 1 (over 5 stitches) – *P1, k3, p1.* Continue to end

Round 2 – P1, k1, p1, k1, p1.

-		-		-
-				-

Continue the broken rib pattern until the gloves measures 6 inches, ending with round 1.

Thumb hole:

Leave the stitch marker and turn your work.

Round 2 – Slip 1 stitch purlwise. k1, p1 to end of the row (at marker). Turn work.

Round 1 – Slip 1 stitch purlwise, p3, k1. *k1, p3, k1* to end of round. Turn.

Continue with these two rows for 2 inches, ending with row 2.

Hand:

Join at marker. Return to the Broken Rib stitch in the round:

Round 1 (over 5 stitches) – *P1, k3, p1.* Continue to end

Round 2 – P1, k1, p1, k1, p1.

Continue broke rib stitch for 2½ more inches. Bind off loosely in pattern.  Weave in the ends.

Make second glove the same way. Wear in warmth!

Where have all the turkeys gone?

The rafter of turkeys came by our house again this week. However, instead of 19 turkeys, they were down to 12.  I have a feeling that some of turkeys have been make into dinner plans for other local wildlife.  I am highly suspicious of that fox in our yard wearing a pilgrim hat.

Have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving day.

Neko and the Turkeys

We enjoy the turkeys; Neko is saying "Dinner!"

One of the wonderful things about living the foothills of the Rockies is the wildlife that visits us.  This morning we were visited by a rafter (yes, a group of turkeys is called a 'rafter') of wild turkeys. They roost in our Russian olive trees while Neko keeps an eye on them. They "roost" in Roxborough so they won't "roast" in the oven.

The animal on the right in the tree is actually a squirrel.

I'm Too Old for this!

I really am not made to work hard any more.  Jobs are so overrated. I miss my share time to knit and to play with my kitty.  I miss finding time to write in my blog and create patterns.

But today, I have a day to myself, so I am going to knit. I have Christmas gifts to make and yarn to use up. So here are some pictures of projects of Christmas past just so you guys don't forget I'm here.

Back to the needles. I don't want to waste this day!

Kitty Gloves -- My new favorite project

Last years, it was an obsession with socks; it appears this year it will be an obsession with fingerless gloves.

I love this pattern and I love these fingerless gloves. It's not surprising that it involves cats. The only difference is that it is not a black cat.  It would be hard to create a pattern with black because there just wouldn't be enough contrast.  I see that enough with photographs of Neko.  He just blends into a solid block of black in most pictures.

It's a good thing because I am going to have to make two pairs.  I accidentally made two left hand gloves and didn't realize it until I was nearly done with the second one. So I finished it and made a right hand glove. I plan to start working on a second right hand glove in the next week or so. I am sure I have some friends who would love this as a Christmas present.

No, this is not my original pattern. It came from the pattern book "Woodland Knits," a truly delightful book with more playful patterns. There are a few more projects  that I plan to make from this book.

Back to the needles.

Christina’s Ribbed Lace Scarf

This is a very simple yet elegant scarf. The air in the lace is created with two yarn overs on the right side and a purl and knit in the yarn over on the wrong side. I finished it once, but before I bound off, I decided it had to be longer. So I ripped out the end and continued with the pattern. However, I didn't want to wait to post it until it was done.

Christina’s Ribbed Lace Scarf

MATERIALS:
1-2 skein Mirasol Nuna (40% Merino wool,

           40% Silk, and 20% Bamboo. 50g/191 yd. 175m)
Size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles
Yarn needle

Gauge: Not really important

Cast on 72 sts. Knit 6 rows.

Abbreviations:

K = knit

P = purl

Rep = Repeat

Sts = stitches

Ssk = sl, sl, k. slipped sts together

Yo = yarn over

Begin pattern:

Row 1: K3, * ssk, k, yo twice, k, k2tog*. Rep from * around to last 3 sts. K3.

Row 2: K3, *p3, k1, p2.  Rep from * around to last 3 sts. K3.

/		O	O		\
			•

  □ Knit on right side; purl on wrong side

• purl on right side, knit on wrong sid

0 Yarn over

\ ssk

/ k2tog

Continue these two rows for 72 inches or until you reach the desired length. I am using more than one skein so it will be longer.  You can also make the scarf narrower by decreasing the number of stitches as long as it is divisible by 6.

Knit 6 rows.  Bind off very loosely.

Weave in ends.  Block aggressively. Lace easily stretches so you can make the scarf longer and wider.

And of course, Neko had to add his very unique touch to the scarf.

Fingerless Gloves for Christina

It has been a incredibly busy summer. This working for a living is really interfering with my knitting! I finally got some knitting done last week because we went on vacation and I was able to knit in the car (no, I wasn't driving; Ken was). I didn't finish anything, but I am a good day away from finishing a shawl.


Meanwhile, I did finish a set of fingerless gloves for my son's girlfriend. The pattern was in Lace One-Skein Wonders and it was a really quick knit.

I plan to put some vacation pictures (we went to Yellowstone) up in the next few days and hopefully get back to blogging more often.

Summertime Fingers and Toes.

I am such a girl.

One of the few things I like about summer is pedicures. Remember, I am the one who hates summers -- heat, bugs, sweat, allergies, and of course, the heat (maybe I already mentioned that, but it needs to be repeated).  I love my hand-knitted socks but I rarely wear them in the summer.

I have this wonderful sundress full of sunflowers, so I had to have toes to match. These are my toes against the print and you can see they turned out great. I almost feel like I am dancing through a sunflower field with such abandonment that you can hear the flutes playing in the background, see little bunnies waving at me beside the path, and birdies scoop down to drape a delicate shawl around my shoulders. The image falls apart when I starting sneezing, sweating, and wheezing with a fog of pollen surrounding me. I rush back into the house to down a glass of wine. Alas.

And while getting my toes done, I get my nails done. This is my tribute to my little black kitty Neko, also known as Hannibal Lector. And this little kitty doesn't even want to scratch or bite me. I did show them to Neko; he just hissed at them.  Well, maybe he was hissing at acetone-scented nails pushed in his face.


Painted fingers and toes are a passing fancy for just a few weeks until a whim changes them again.

Well, I have a day with no plans, so back to the needles.