Thursday, December 27, 2007

Whew! It's all over....








Until next year. I always find myself a little relieved and a little sad after the holiday madness. It wasn’t too crazy for me this year. We had a budget, and we stuck with it! Nice!
I’ve started a new project! (Go figure.) It’s called “Iceland” from the Rowan magazine #42. I like it. I’m using RYC Soft Tweed, which they currently have on clearance over at Webs. This is some NICE stuff, people. Hey, we all need a little chunky knit sometime! Lucky for me, my brother (wonderful man that he is!) gave me a G.C. to Webs, so I had to go back and spend more $. I got Valley yarns Colrain to make the Ruffled Jacket from Vogue Knittings Anniversary issue (#44). (A gorgeous pic of it in that link!!)

Here’s a sweet stuffed fox I knitted up for Sydney. Yes, he looks so cute showing off my Iceland in progress, doesn’t he? You can hardly even notice the fact that I’m covering him because…he has no legs! Sorry, I tried on Christmas eve but couldn’t finish him. If those fingers weren’t so darn fiddly, I’d be done. Lucky for me, Sydney’s too busy with her 50,000 OTHER toys she got for Christmas. I’ll finish his legs up soon! (And yes, I did finish my Biking Cardigan by Deborah Newton, what a fun pattern!)

I'll leave you with a little after holiday poem I wrote this morning, whilst drinking the java that sustains me. Hope you have an excellent weekend, filled with everything you like!!

Its two days after Christmas, and the presents are done.
There are lots of new games to play, there’s still a lot of fun.

The ‘heart attack in a dish’ is all gone now.
I kind of feel like a big bloated cow!

The house is a mess, I can barely get dressed….
Boy was I a bitch on that night I was stressed!

The kiddo is playing with her new kitty cat.
Could care less about new her mittens & hat.

Hey, I waited almost a week before I spent my G.C.,
To Webs, of course, hooray for me!

Still have some knitting to do for a friend….
I’ll knit some for me, then her, it will get done in the end!

I want to drive to Barnes & Noble, need to return that book,
Oh, but the mall is crowded, I think I’ll stay home and cook…..

Maybe some yarn might find its way into my lap,
I might even take a short little nap.

Bring on the cold! Bring on the snow!
Bring that biting winter wind that makes our cheeks glow!

I’ll stay nice and toasty in my cute little home.
Alone, ‘cept my bunny, my kiddo, my little hanging gnome.

I hope you are all grateful for this coming New Year.
I hope it brings you joy, inner peace, and much good cheer!

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Kid's Candy Hat & Mittens Set











A free pattern for you! I hope you like it.
Kid’s Candy Hat & Mittens Set

This hat and mitten set started on a whim after my daughter was a ‘Candy Fairy’ for Halloween and obsessed with all things candy (well, what kid isn’t!). I had this pretty candy colored yarn is my stash, and I whipped up this little set for her. It fits her little 3 ½ year old self perfectly! In this case, the ‘candy’ is actually a cute little stitch pattern with bobbles. Knits up quickly with worsted weight yarn.

To fit ages 3-4 yrs., hat is sized for an 18” head and is 7” high. Mittens are 6” in total length, with a 1 ½” thumb and cuff.

Requirements:
- Worsted weight yarn 200 yds. – (I used a custom dyed Peruvian wool yarn from Phoenix Fiberworks Etsy shop.)
- Sport weight yarn, 50 yds. or less – (I used Knit Picks Andean Treasure, if you use a worsted weight yarn, be sure to go down a needle size for mitten cuffs.)
Size 6 needles – can be straights or circs

The stitches I used are not my own design, the Acorn Rib is from my Vogue Dictionary of Knitting Stitches, and the ‘Candy’ pattern is adapted from the ‘Bouquet’ stitch in the new Vogue Stitchionary Volume 1.

Bobble: K into front and back of next st. twice, sl 4 sts. back to LH needle, k2tog twice, sl 2nd st on RH needle over first st.

To Make Hat:
Cast-on 87 sts, using long tail cast-on method.
Link: http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on
Work Acorn Rib as follows:
Row 1 & 3: *P2, k1, rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2 & 4: K2, *p1, k2; rep from * to end of row.
Row 5: *P1, (p1, k1) into next st, (k1, k1tbl) into next st; rep from * to last two sts, p2.
Rows 6, 7 & 8: K the k sts and p the p sts.
Row 9: *P2, sl.1, k2tog, psso; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 10: K the k sts and p the p sts. (See note below.)
Note: In row 10, you want to increase two sts spaced apart from each other, to get a total of 89 sts.
Now you will start the “Candy” pattern:
Row 1 & 3 (RS): K1, *wyif sl 5, k7; rep from * , end last rep k1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 5: K3, *insert RH needle from below under 2 loose strands on RS of work and k next st (hook 2 strands), k11; rep from *, end last rep k3.
Row 7: K3, *MB, k11; rep from *, end last rep k3.
Row 9: K2, *[MB, k1] twice, k8, rep from *, end last rep k1.
Row 11: Repeat row 7.
Row 13 & 15: *K7, wyif, sl 5; rep from *, end k7.
Row 17: K9, *insert RH needle from below under 2 loose strands on RS of work and k next st. (hook 2 strands), k11; rep from *, end last rep k9.
Row 19: K9, *MB, k11, rep from *, end last rep k9.
Row 21: K8 *[MB, k1] twice, k8, rep from *, end last rep k8.
Row 23: Rep row 19.
Rows 25-36 – Rep rows 1-11.
Rows 37-40: Work in stockinette, ending with WSR.

Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail to sew up top and side seam of hat, using mattress stitch. Make 2 tassels for each corner of the hat in contrasting color, sew on to hat.
Tassel links: http://serendipity.gpvm.com/tassel.html - http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3213109


To Make Mittens:
Cast on 26 sts, using long-tail cast on method.
Start Acorn Rib as follows:
Row 1 & 3: *P2, k1, rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 2 & 4: K2, *p1, k2; rep from * to end of row.
Row 5: *P1, (p1, k1) into next st, (k1, k1tbl) into next st; rep from * to last two sts, p2.
Rows 6, 7 & 8: K the k sts and p the p sts.
Row 9: *P2, sl.1, k2tog, psso; rep from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Rows 10-12: K the k sts and p the p sts.
Switch to main yarn and work two rows stockinette.

Start thumb gusset and Candy pattern
For Left Mitten
Row 1: K12, place marker, m1, k1, m1, place marker, k to end (13 sts.).
Row 2 and all even rows: Purl.
Row 3: K 12, sl m, m1, k3, m1, sl m, k4, wyif sl 5, k to end.
Row 5: Rep row 3, inc. 2 sts between markers – you now have 7 sts between markers.
Row 7: K to marker, sl m, m1, k7, m1, sl m, k6, insert RH needle from below under 2 loose strands on RS of work and k next st, k6.
Row 9: K27, MB, k to end.
Row 11 (work thumb): K12, remove marker, k8, kfb of next st, turn, p across 9 sts, pfb of next st, turn, work 6 rows in stockinette on these 11 sts.
Dec Row 1: [K1, k2 tog] 3 times, k2.
Dec. Row 2: P2 tog, k1, p2 tog, k1, p2 tog. Cut yarn and pull through remaining 5 sts, leaving enough to sew up thumb seam.
With right side facing you, pick up and knit 2 sts at the base of the thumb and continuing with Row 11: k5, MB, k1, MB, k5.
Row 13: K17, wyif sl 5 sts, k4.
Row 15: Rep row 13.
Row 17: K19, insert RH needle from below under 2 loose strands on RS of work and k next st, k to end.
Row 19: K19, MB, k to end.
Row 21: K17, MB, k1, MB, k to end.
Top Shaping
Row 23 – Decrease Row 1: K5, k2tog (twice), k6, MB, k2, k2tog, k2. You now have 23 sts.
Row 24 – Decrease Row 2: K4, k2tog (twice), k5, k2tog, k5. You now have 20 sts.
Row 25 – Decrease Row 3: K3, k2tog (twice), k4, k2tog, k5.
Row 26 – Decrease Row 4: P10, p2tog, p6.
Row 27 – Decrease Row 5: K2, k2 tog, k6, k2tog, k5.

Finishing
Draw yarn through remaining 14 sts and pull tight. Leave enough to sew up side seam of mitten. Weave in ends and give to child!

For Right Mitten: Reverse shaping, you will have 13 sts on your right side instead of the left when you place markers. You will start the candy pattern after k4.

Please let me know if you have any issues with the pattern or find any errors. Enjoy!!