Saturday, August 29, 2009

Cell Phone Cozy



Here's a new free pattern for you guys.
Cell Phone Cozy
By: Christine H. Wilkins
Okay, so I know you’re saying to yourself, “A cell phone cozy, does my
phone really need a cozy and why should I take my precious time to
knit it one?”
Reasons to knit your cell phone a cozy:
Your cell phone works hard for your every day…What have you done
for “it” lately?
The tea pot has a cozy, the Ipod has a cozy, even the coffee mug has a
cozy. All day, every day your cell phone has to know that it’s the only
appliance now without apparel.
Just look how snug and warm the cell phone in the picture looks. You
really don’t want your cell phone to catch any of those crazy viruses
out there.
For less than ten cents a day you can support your cell phone (and
others like it) by taking a few moments a day to knit a round or two
towards helping your cell phone have a brighter and happier future.
Really? I mean, don’t we have enough knitted “things” by now…its all
about the yarn addiction baby, and you know it.
Materials:
Leftover sock yarn (Regia), about enough for one baby sock (2oz.?)
Color “Rio”,
Co 48 sts
K 3 rounds.
*Yo, k2 tog*, repeat to the end of round.
Knit plain stock st rounds to 4 “from co edge or to just a “tad” longer
than your cell phone.
Turn your work inside out and bo off all sts using the three needle
bind off method.
Seam co edge to inside of cozy so that your picoted edge becomes the
opening edge.
Enjoy!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

You Learn Something New Every Day


Atleast I feel like I learn something new every day. A few days ago my mother in law (also a knitter) sent me this interesting "Flat Feet" product. Anyone seen one of these before. Maybe I'm just behind on the times. That wouldn't shock me at all. I had never seen one and can't wait to come up with a pattern for this yarn. I was thinking maybe striped with black yarn? Hmmm. Any ideas?


I had some left over Regia sock yarn I thought I'd use for something little. Here ya go....a cell phone cozy. Its all I had enough yarn for. I'll put it up as a free pattern on Ravelry soon just in case anyone else is interested.

So glad its cooling down some here. This heat is oppresive. I'm thinking next year we'll get the a/c fixed. :-)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Why Is Knitting For Babies So Much Fun?



I can start a new design or something for myself and it seems to take forever, but along comes a cute little baby and the knitting just flies! I was babysitting a cute little bundle this week which also happened to be her birthday. Lucky me! I got inspired by the cute little fat rolls and big blue eyes.

On the other hand I have ripped/frogged about a dozen different designs that started off pretty cool but sorta petered out toward the middle. I dunno what's got into me. I seem to have knitters block or something. I finished the Ribbon Lace Scarf by Veronik Avery last week for a friend's birthday. That was fun. It was actually a relief to knit someone else's design for a change. It was almost like taking a vacation from designing. Have I knitted the heck outta the fun of designing? I hope not. I'll be out in the winter issue of Cast On. I'd like to be in the following issue as well. We'll see.....maybe its the heat? Hmmmm...I'll blame it on the heat. :-)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Its Out!



The waiting is over. My pattern is finally out in the fall issue of Cast On. These are some lousy pictures...but some of my friends wanna see. Right? It isn't a fancy pattern. I know. I'm a little nervous that there will be alot of errors or something lame like that. Thanks for all the input and support you guys!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Mates


I scrapped the last blue cotton sweater. The lattice (I felt) was just gonna be too stretchy for the sleeves. I was concerned that with regular wear it would get all droopy. I am really loving this plaited sleeve though. Tell me whatcha think! Also, gratuitous pic of my Phoebe's new mate. Of course he's gotta get a little older, but ain't he cute??? He is a present for my daughter who cut off ten inches of her hair to send to Locks of Love. We were so proud of her. It was all her idea. She couldn't bear the thought that some little girls didn't have any hair at all.

This apple pie was made by substituting half of the normal white flour for whole wheat. It came out lovely!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

They Just Keep Comin'

I barely finish a garment I've designed and a new pattern pops into my head. I hastily and nervously pick up my pencil and begin sketching a new idea. I get excited about the new design and either put down my current project to see if the new one will work out or finish it with speed knitting in order to move on to the next new design. This seems to be the pattern lately. No pun intended. :-) They just keep coming.

I was reminiscing the other day about how my first project designed in the round consisted of a gazillion yo's. This, due to the misinformation that all increases were yo's. Can I get a big OOOPS!?! Needless to say back then I just filled all those tiny holes in with thread. Duh! Now, these days I much prefer a good lifted increase to any other method. For some reason I'm attracted to the way things fan out with the lifted increases, there are very discreet discrepencies in the knitting and it has a sorta relaxing rythm to it that keeps my knitting peaceful.

These two new projects are a result of some yarn bought for me for mother's day. I don't think I need to tell you they were out of the package and on my needles before anyone could say "what's for dinner mom?"

Thursday, May 21, 2009

And I Thought I Was Taking a Break

Lacrosse season is over and Woo Hoo...I'll miss it though....all those knitted dishcloths during practice.


Usually I take a break from knitting in the spring/summer months. Let's face it, when it gets to the hotter months its just no fun having a lump of wool in your lap especially if you live in humid places. Nevertheless, I just can't stop myself this year. I am getting published again! ....in Cast On Winter issue. So don't forget to buy fall and winter Cast On issues. ;-) I am designing a top down, in the round raglan sweater for myself hopefully to be published at a later date in a book? That's my sorta extravagant idea. Now that my second pattern has been accepted I gotta knit up the garment for the magazine. They sent me this lovely yarn from Kollage so aptly named "Scrumptuous". It is sooooo soft and yummy. I know the price is outta my league, but if you guys can afford it....go for it. The color is so rich and genuine.



Back to the top down raglan for a second....the short rows underneath the armpits really gave me a bother. That is putting it nicely I assure you. I got on ravelry and asked everyone I could bother about it. I searched You Tube for videos explaining short row hole closures. It just wasn't working for what I was trying to make it do. I kept ending up with the dang HOLES. Blast! So, what finally figured out is that it just takes some fiddling with. I did the wrap and turns, but I also on subsequent rows lifted stitches from behind the holes and knit them together with stitches. It ain't perfect. In fact, I think I was hoping for totally invisible short rows. However, in light of it all it does seem to work into the sorta decreases I want to do on the body shaping part so all is not lost. Yea!
Here's a peek at the progress and the short rows.



Just some little remnants. I ALWAYS try to used them. I hate waste.