16 posts tagged “knitting”
Meet Loofah!
I made this loomed dolly on the smaller (12 peg) flower Knifty Knitter. The pattern is Lulu the Loomed Dolly, and it's Bev's from Cottage Garden. She loom knits Lulu Dolls for charity.
When I saw her dolls, and I saw the Lulu that American Girl in Italy made, I had to give it a try. I used Lion brand wool (worsted weight) for the head and some left-over medium-weight wool for the body.
I didn't have the 18 peg loom that Bev uses, so I used my brand-new flower loom. Compared to the smallest loom in the KK round loom kit, this one has 12 pegs vs. the 24 peg blue loom; however, it's still large gauge.
It took me awhile to decide what stitch to use, because I knew I wanted the head to look different than the body. After starting four times, I ended up using a 1-over-3 wrapping and just the basic knit stitch. How I do this is I single wrap each peg, and I go completely around four times total. I then knit the bottom loop over the three remaining loops, and I do this for each peg. I then wrap just one strand around all pegs and continue.
I made the head this way by knitting 24 rounds. (If I was using thicker yarn it would have been many fewer times around.) I then switched colors and started the body. I used two strands here, plus I choose the garter stitch. I knitted Loofah's body to be twice as long as her head.
When I neared the end of the body, I decreased by putting one existing loop on the neighboring peg and knitting off. I did this all around so I was left with six loops. I then gathered them all together just like a hat. I stuffed the doll with polyfill, and gathered the head.
When Loofah was at this stage, I decided the garter stitch wasn't exactly attractive. It was, in fact, sorta odd looking. Although I had played around with some cutsie names like Magnolia, in the end, she most resembles a loofah gourd, so that's her name: Loofah.
I knitted a little scarf on my other new KK loom: the spool loom. It makes two different sizes of i-cords. I used the smallest side, and I even added some tiny tassels. I then knitted Loofah a hat, so I went back to the flower loom and knitted about two inches. I decreased the top of the hat and gathered it off. The brim curled up on its own.
Finally, I decided Loofah needed some personality, so I had a try at stitching a face. She has a tiny pink mouth, two blue eyes, and some wild hair. You may notice one of her eyes is crooked--looks like I need some practice!
Because she's wool, I wonder if she'd felt at all if I washed her. I'd have to de-stuff her first, but it may be a cool look. At this point, though, I'm a little attached to her, and I'd hate it if something bad happened to my lil' Loofah.
I think Loofah was a great first doll. She's pretty much a tube with a scarf and hat. Now that I have these smaller looms, it'll be fun to knit her new things once and awhile like a blankie, shawl, and maybe even a couple of snazzy tube dresses!
By the way, it's sure nice to have the kitties nearby. Whenever I need help choosing a color, they're right there to lend a helping paw.
Last night I finished knitting this little shawl on the yellow Knifty Knitter.I used the pattern I listed below in a previous posting, by Rostitchery. Although I had some trouble decreasing, in the end, it turned out. Rowena had instructions to put the last loop on the near peg and KO. Then, wrap that "new" last peg, KO, and continue on down the row. I found this made the edge tight, not loopy like on my increase side. To try to make it match a little more, I would do just as she said by pulling the last loop to the second-to-last peg and KO. Then I would double wrap that final peg, knit 2-over-1, and continue down the row. Because the yarn is bulky and also varies in thickness, it passes just fine.
I used Moda Dea Cache in Tootsie, about 2.5 skeins. This is not a favorite yarn of mine. In fact, I bought it for $1/skein at Goodwill months ago. It makes a cute shawl, though!
My only thought on this shawl is whether or not is should be blocked. It fits snugly around the shoulders, and I like it that way, so I don't think I will, but we'll see.
This is a fast project to knit. I estimate it took me about five hours total.
It's a little bit crooked! And the edge that I ended on looks square instead of rounded. Oh well, here it is in all its glory: my very first knitted-with-needles FO. I enjoyed it, even with all my mistakes. The funny thing is that I see this particular dishcloth pattern everywhere now that I made one. I saw two for sale yesterday, and we even have one in our own house, something that was left behind from the previous owners.
What should I make next on the needles? I've always wanted to make a calorimetry and also a Kitty Pi but both of those take some expertise. We'll see. Maybe another dishcloth!
That's right. I suddenly had an urge to give knitting with needles a try, so I checked out a video from my local library and I started making the first project: a dishcloth. So far, I've learned to cast on, knit in the garter stitch, and increase by leaving a space. I have to admit, I enjoy using needles, especially because it gives a smaller gauge than the Knifty Knitter. I've played around with the idea of buying a smaller gauge loom, but we'll see how it goes!
I'm using size 8 needles and a skein of Sugar 'n Spice cotton. There's one huge difference I've noticed so far between loom and needle knitting. Because I'm making smaller stitches, this is taking a long time!
It just figures I'd go and be typical... when it's cold, I knit. When it's warm, I don't. Since we're creeping--no, make that speeding--toward the middle of August, I guess I can admit it! I'm a fair weather non-knitter.
Non-knitting isn't all bad. I have plenty of time to think about knitting, imagine all the wonders I'll create, and yet I don't have the hassle of making mistakes, frogging, and just plain giving up. Of course, I also don't have the joy in finishing a project and all that goes along with it like the excitement of starting, the tiredness of staying up for just one more row...
In short, I haven't given up on knitting but I have decided that a pile of wool in my lap on a ninety degree day is less than appealing. Yes, I considered using cotton, but still, it just hasn't fit into my summer.
So, now that summer's on the wane, although I suspect we have plenty of 90 degree days left, I'm just getting that inkling of interest in starting up a project. Some of my basic ones I may have mentioned before. They're practical: I want to have a "knitting closet" to keep all my bits and bobbles organized, along with my stash (which is still small--I've resisted the urge to even look at yarn until I'm making an actual project); I also need my little knitting corner set up, and it's almost there.
Finally, I'd like to unearth my digital camera so I can keep adding pics to this blog. Sometime during our move it went missing and we've yet to find it.
I'm not wanting to wish the summer away, but I am looking forward to cooler weather. Happy knitting!
BTW, if anyone has tips on making a calorimetry with a Knifty Knitter, please send me ideas!
Can it really be that my last post was from March? Nope, I didn't drop off the face of the earth, nor did I decide to stop knitting--I moved! In mid-March, B and I received notice that our rental was being sold, so we needed to vacate. The past two months have been at times frustrating, exhausting, overwhelming, expensive, and life changing. Did I mention they've also been wonderful? Because...
...we're in our very own house! Yes, we bought a house and moved at the beginning of the month, and that's why I haven't been knitting. In fact, if anyone had suggested I knit something during early spring, I would have probably burst into tears, that's how hard things were. But now...
...we're in our very own house!
Oh, I mentioned that already, did I? My knitting is still safely packed away in a rather large box (I fit it into one!) in the garage, just waiting for a place to call home. I've scouted out a potential location to set up my very own knitting corner in our house, but I'm waiting for a good chair/sofa, yet unpurchased. I also have a great spot in a closet for all my stash and doo-dads that need storing.
But in the meantime, I need to finish unpacking, paint a room, plant a garden, continue to work, buy a chair/sofa, and sometimes even sleep.
I haven't yet taken a picture of a great antique store find--it's a wooden sewing stand with a handle on top. It's really cool and will hold my WIPs. I also know after I get going again, I'd like to consider a few projects for the summer: one of these goofy looking fly masks, good for riding my horse during pesky fly season; there's a super cool messenger bag made out of twine/string I spotted while browsing knitting books at Barnes & Noble, it's in Erika Knight's Classic Knits: 15 Timeless Designs to Knit and Keep Forever; and I'm also interested in socks--whether I need to purchase a loom or needles (yikes! I said needles! didn't mean it, really!), I'm not 100% certain yet.
Someday soon I know I'll be knitting again. Wish me luck with unpacking and finding that perfect knitting nook!
Now here's a little item I'm sure will be "handee" someday--a wool winder. It was just $5.50 at a local antique store. I had just admired three or four wooden ones, all very pretty but expensive, rickety, and too big, when I spied this one still in its vintage box. All the pieces are there (it's metal) and it looks like something I'll actually be able to use. Plus, the gal on the box is super retro cool, don't you think?
Here's what the box says:
Handee Revolving Wool Winder: "From Hank to Ball - In No Time At All"
"The Handee All-Metal Revolving Wool Winder makes it so easy and convenient to wind yarn yourself at any time. Instantly adjustable to take any size hank and any type wool. Rubber cusioned clamp can be fastened to chair or table instantly and does not mar surface."
A week or so ago, I had read a tutorial on how to wind yarn using a swift and an electric hand mixer. No, I'm not kidding. Visit Fig and Plum's blog to learn something new.
I have the swift, I have a mixer. Now, all I need is some yarn!
So, what brought yarn kitty and yarn dog out of the house on a winter day? In the past week we've had 30" of snow, and yet there they were, both staring at something.
Could it be? Could it really be that they spotted Big Bubba, the harbinger of spring?
The kitty peered cautiously through an icicle. The dog bounded, but Bubba was too fast and got away! And least I think he got away.
Okay, enough silliness! What I really wanted to say is knitting bunnies is a good way to trigger spring. Even with all the snow, the sun is shining and the ice is melting the day after a winter storm. So, never again doubt the power of a pink, knitted bunny named Bubba.
I made this bunny using the same pattern as before, only this time I made him much bigger. I cast on 24 stitches on the blue loom and knit back and forth to create an 8.5" square flat panel. I used the flat stitch and two strands of yarn--one Bernat Softee and one Moda Dea Dream. Because this bunny is so much larger than the other two, I had to guess how much bigger to make his ears. I cast on pegs 1-6 and purled the two middle pegs. I added two additional rows, and that's all it took to make the ears. I did sew them on backwards so they had a floppier look.
Bubba is a little bit big, and although he's cute, he's no where near as cuddly as the little bunnies. Plus, his back legs look a little distorted.
But if Bubba can bring about spring, who can complain?
And what does yarn dog think about it all? Can she complain? "Nope," she told me. "Bubba was delicious!"
(Just kidding.)
I started a scarf using the ziggy zag stitch. (You can find written directions for this stitch in the Yahoo Decor Accents Group. Go to Files, and then Stitches. Isela Phelps has written them up.)
To make this scarf, I'm using one strand of a beautiful blue wool blend. (Yarn Bee Mosiac Twist, Color: Moody Blue) and the red loom. This stitch needs an even number of pegs, so I cast on 12 pegs using the crochet cast on. Then I knitted one row and purled one row. This gives the scarf a non-curling edge. I then knitted back and forth for six rows using a stitch that's described in Isela's pattern. It's a lot like the mock crochet stitch but instead of knitting three pegs at a time, you only use two. It's an easy stitch to learn so I won't describe it here.
Then, I started doing the ziggy zag stitch. This is a fun, pretty stitch but it can be a little complicated, so I'm posting some pictures of how I interpreted it. Please let me know if I've made a mistake.
STEP ONE: To start, you flat stitch two pegs. In this picture (ziggyzag1) I'm doing the flat stitch on Peg One and Peg Two. Knit Peg One and then Peg Two. Don't pull your yarn too tight. After you knit over Peg One and Peg Two, your yarn should be between Pegs Two and Three.
STEP TWO: Bring the yarn BEHIND Peg Two, and then pull it in front of Peg One. Purl Stitch Peg One (ziggyzag2). Now, the yarn should be to the right of Peg One.
STEP THREE: Bring the yarn BEHIND Peg One and in front of Peg Two so your yarn is now between Pegs One and Two. Purl Stitch Peg Two (ziggyzag3).
Now, you're ready to move onto Pegs 3 and 4 and repeat Steps 1-3. Continue this pattern until you reach the end of your row. Then head back the other direction. (Check Isela's pattern for clarification.)
This is a really pretty stitch. It gives a zig-zagged edging, too, so you may want to include a border on either side of your project.
What better way to spend a snowy weekend than knitting a couple of cute bunnies? We may have had 20" of snow this weekend, but these little, cute, pink, fluffy bunnies didn't seem to care. I used the blue loom and the free pattern (PDF) from the Loom Knitting store. These bunnies knit up in about an hour. You start by knitting a flat panel using 15 pegs. Then, you knit two ears, a tail, and you sew it and stuff it.
For my first bunny I used two strands of Bernat Softee Chunky. When I started the ears, I accidently read the pattern wrong and knitted at least two rows too many, but it looks sort of cute that way, more like Amigurumi than a bunny. For this bunny, I kept the "knit" side facing out.
I then did another one using two strands of Moda Dea Dream (Color: Blush). It's very soft and fluffy. I probably should have used three strands because they were so skinny... Next time, maybe. This one I followed the ear pattern more closely and they turned out pretty cute. This bunny has the "purl" side facing out.
These bunnies are very small--no more than six or seven inches long. I'd like to knit a bigger bunny, maybe using the blue loom but instead of just 15 pegs, I'd use all 24 pegs. I'm guessing I'd have to knit at least 40 rows. If it keeps snowing, maybe I'll do just that!
P.S. Hey, all you Vox-ers. Did you know you can now customize your banner? B designed this new one of my yarn lovin' cat!
