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!"

Deep Shade Blue Scarf

This is one of my favorite scarves. I made it from a wonderful yarn that has been discontinued. It was called Amazing Lace, an acrylic yarn that is so soft that it feels like alpaca. Fortunately, I purchased several of this yarn in several colors before it become extinct. This color is called Cobalt Blue, and all I can say is "No kidding." It is bright, bright blue.

I love doing lace and this is no exception. It comes from the book Scarf Style 2 (yes, I also have Scarf Style 1). This pattern is Deep Shade. Even if I have the book, I use my computer to track the rows. I take a picture of the pattern and using a PDF format, I can 'pencil' out each row when I finish it. 

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 

Is It a Cowl or a Hood? Doesn't matter -- it's free

I don't know why I don't make more hoods because I really like them.

This pattern is a lacy cowl / hood that I made in teal (although it looks blue) and light green.  It's also a fun lace pattern so go for it! I used Lion Brand Amazing Lace and am working on one in Loops and Threads Woolike. Both are perfect for this pattern.

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

 

DC Diva Scarf - Free Pattern

 

When my boys were in high school (they are both in their 30s now), they were very active in theater and band. As band and theater parents, we volunteered for all the activities including feeding the kids, selling tickets, ushering performances, driving kids around, raising money, creating and fixing costumes, etc., etc. One of the best parts was getting to know the other parents. 

After high school, our kids left for college, and then for careers in other areas of the country from New York to Los Angeles. They kept in touch through Facebook, but as their lives filled with other friends, they spent less time with each other. After a couple of years, my friend Linda decided we didn't need the kids to get us together, so five of us started meeting for dinner, movies, and theater performances. We discovered how much we loved each other and supported each other. So now, 15+ years later, we meet about every six weeks, including during Covid by Zoom. I don't know what I would do without these women! We started calling ourselves the DC Divas (DC for Douglas County, the name of the high school)

Every Christmas we have a small gift exchange. A couple of years ago, I made these scarves for the five of us. The colors were purple, red, blue, pink, and maroon. They loved them! The scarves are quick and easy. I am now offering the pattern for free so you can make them for your Diva Group. Scroll down for the pattern and to see a picture of the Divas!

DC Diva Scarf

 

MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds). 
The skeins are long enough that you can make at least two scarves from each.
Size US 11 Needles

Yarn needle to weave in ends.

Gauge: Not really important

Size: As long as you want it!

 

Cast on 60 stitches.

Knit 6 rows (3 ridges on each side).

Begin pattern:

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

Row 2: K3, P every stitch to last 3 sts. K3.

 

Continue these two rows for 72 inches or until you reach the desired length.  You can also make the scarf narrower by decreasing the number of stitches as long as it is divisible by 2.

Knit 6 rows.  Bind off very loosely.

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

L to R: Linda, Susan, Mo, Katy, me

Celtic Scarf in Bright Blue

 Here is more of that Amazing Lace yarn in Cobalt Blue. It is a celtic knot pattern so I have to mark every row as I go along. (And yes, I have yet to block it)  I have two more scarves in this lace in red and purple. The purple is almost done, so you will probably see it very soon.

Overload of Lavendar

This is also a commission of lavender fingerless gloves for my sister-in-law. Flowers and lace for three generations.

 

More fingerless ...

I can't seem to stop!!

Can I call it Knitting-Related OCD?

Whether you call it "on a binge" "going through a phase" or "in a rut", I have recently noticed that I tend to knit the type of garment over and over until the "feeling passes." I have gone through many hat binges, as well as socks, baby booties, scarves, shawls, and baby hats. You can even see it on this blog if you go back through the titles.

Right now, it's fingerless gloves. And this phase has lasted a while. Right now I am making simple, straightforward gloves so I am put an iron-on applique on back of the hand. I have also been toying with lace cuffs to add a bit of flair.

This also includes the purchase of the appliques. I haunted the craft stores for appliques, but they don't stock much, and what they do stock is unexciting. So I turned to the wonderful world of the internet and Etsy. Now I have appliques of cats, unicorns, dragons, sunflowers, flower strays, bluebirds, and music staffs. (I kind of went overboard).

The truth is I can't knit as fast as I can buy appliques, so I hope this phase lasts awhile. These are first of several to come so check back often.

By the way, I will be listing these on my Etsy page myself, and I will be writing up the patterns I use to makes these too. You can check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/KniceKnittiesShop

Free Lacy Scarf Pattern -- the Diva Scarf

The DC Divas and Hubbies.
Back row left: Tom and Susan Littman,
Paul Sanzo, Me and Ken.
Middle row, Katy Hoxworth,
Mo Sanzo
Front row: Tom and Linda Pelo

When my sons were in high school, they were very active in both music and theater. Since we were active parents in our kids' lives, we fed marching band kids and sold theater tickets. I even went to Scotland with Lorne's high school theater group to play the piano for their musical when they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They made life-long friends, but as with all of us, once they went to college and lives as adults, they didn't always keep in touch.

While they were making life-long friends, so were Ken and I. I became friends with parents of my sons' friends as well. However, even though our kids scattered to the winds (from New York to California), we, the mothers, decided we enjoyed each other so much, we were going to stay connected in spite of our kids.

That was several years ago. Now, about every six weeks, our group, which we call the DC Diva (Douglas County Divas), get together for a potluck at one of our homes. We celebrate all the weddings and personal accomplishments of our kids but are also intricately entwined in each other's lives. There are five of us, with a combined number of 8 kids.

So I wanted to make special gifts for my friends. I started in August and finished five of them by November. It is a wide scarf so it would be a shawl as well. I used Loops & Threads Woolike yarn and in several colors. The Divas got to pick their colors. Mo took the the purple, Katy took the red, Linda the blue and Susan the rose. I kept the maroon for myself.

So here's the pattern:

Mo modeling the purple scarf

The Diva Scarf

A couple of things about the scarf. I used 72 stitches because the yarn I used is lace weight. You can use any yarn in your stash but you will need to adjust the number of stitches and the length of the scarf. The only thing you need to have is a number divisible by 3. 

MATERIALS
2 skeins Loops and Threads Woolike (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds))
Size US 9 (2.75 mm) circular or straight needles

Yarn needle

Gauge: Not applicable

Size: Not applicable

Cast on 72 sts.

Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows.

Row 1: K3 (Edge), *YO, K1, YO, k3tog* to last three stitches. K3.

Row 2: K3, P to last three stitches. K3.

Row 3: K3 (Edge), * k3tog, YO, K1, YO, * to last three stitches. K3.

Row 4: K3, P to last three stitches. K3.

Continue Rows 1-4 for desired length (I consider a good length the height of the person who will be wearing the scarf)

Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows.

Kelsey Lace and Spiral Hat

Kelsey Lace and Spiral Hat

I recently did a spiral hat (posted April 12, 2017) and enjoyed doing the stitch enough to make a second hat. However, to add a little interest, I did a small leaf lace pattern just above the brim. Now I am thinking I need to make an entire hat of the lace pattern now. It is beginning to look like I will have more hats than I have cold days, even in Colorado, to ever wear them. (Don’t worry; I will sell many of them at holiday craft fairs)

MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike in Gray (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds))
Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Circular Needles

Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle

Stitch markers

Gauge: 16 stitches in pattern to 2”

Size: Fits most medium (22-23”) to large (23-25”) sized heads since pattern is very stretchy. To make a smaller size, reduce the number of cast on stitches by numbers divisible by 2.

Pattern Stitch:

Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.

Round 2: Insert the tip of your right needle knitwise into the second stitch (which is a knitted stitch) on the left needle and pull up a loop. Do not remove from the left needle. Knit the 1^st stitch on the left needle. Put both stitches onto the right needle.  Continue to the marker which is the end of the round. Remove the marker, k1, place the marker. It is important that the first stitch of each round is a stitch that was purled

Lace Pattern Stitch:

Round 1: K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, k1. Repeat to end of round.

Round 2 and all even numbered rounds: Knit.

Round 3: YO, K3, YO, S2KP2. Repeat to end of round.

Round 5: YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, k1. Repeat to end of round.

Round 7: K1, YO, S2KP2, YO, k2. Repeat to end of round.

						8
		O	B	O		7
						6
	O	/		\	O	5
						4
B	O				O	3
						2
	\	O		O	/	1

	Knit
/	K2tog
\	SSK
O	Yarn over
B	S2KP2: Sl 2 sts as if to k2tog, k1, pass 2 sl sts over

Hat Pattern:

Cast on 136 sts. Place marker and join.

Work the two rows of the pattern stitch for 2 inches, ending with round 1.

Begin Lace pattern: Work the lace pattern 4 times, ending with round 8.

Return to the two rows of the pattern stitch until the hat measures 10 inches from the cast on edge, ending with round 2.

Crown:

Switch to double pointed needles when appropriate.

Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.

Round 2: K2tog to end of round.

Round 3: K all stitches.

Round 4: K2tog to end of round.

Round 5: Repeat Round 4 until you have about 10-15 stitches left. It doesn’t have to be exact.

Break yarn. Thread yarn thread and draw through the remaining stitches.  Weave in ends.