Knitted hat in Bamboo stitch

My first finished knit project of the year is this hat using the bamboo stitch.  I had never heard of this stitch and when I came across this video by Jacq Knits, I had to give it a try.

It is an easy pattern to follow and memorize and of course the video tutorial with additional tips is a bonus!  I cast on the hat in the largest size, in mid-December, and knit on it intermittently, finishing it a few weeks ago.  Tools and supplies:

Yarn:  Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted weight (80% easy-care acrylic and 20% lamb's wool)

Yarn color #:  151 Grey Heather

Circular Needle:  Loops & Threads 16" (40cm) aluminum - US 8 (5mm)

Double pointed needles:  Clover (Takumi) 7" (18cm) bamboo - US 8 (5mm) 

 

Happy knitting!

Berroco Mystery Blanket Knit Along - January blocks

My first two blocks for the Berroco mystery blanket knit along are finished.  It took some time to get them done (didn't get to knit each day) but it's not a race.  Working at my own pace is fine.  Also, they haven't been blocked, and my plan is to do that after all blocks are knit.  More details below.

Block 1

Yarn color:  Mochi

Needles used:  4.5 mm (US 7) [aluminum]

Unblocked size (approx.) 10 1/2 x12

CO 1/18/2025, BO 2/9/2025

Block 2

Yarn color:  Rye

Needles used: 4.5 mm (US 7) [aluminum]

Unblocked size (approx.) 10 x 11 

CO 2/10/2025, BO 3/18/2025

 

Next cast on is the February block.

Happy knitting. 

Berroco Mystery Blanket Knit Along

Today is the day that I will cast on for the Berroco Mystery Blanket Knit along!  This is a year-long project with one or two patterns being released per month for a total of 20 squares.

There were several bundles of five colors of Berroco Vintage yarn suggested and I chose the Neutral Comfort colorway. 

This made it an easy decision to join this KAL because I didn't have to worry about choosing my own colors (although you can) and I would have all the yarn needed to complete the project! 

For this month, there are two designs to knit up.  Now off to cast on!

Happy knitting!

 

  

Knitting project - Goldenrod towel

Last year some time, Lion Brand was having a sale and I purchased yarn of various fiber content to try out.  One skein that I bought was a Touch of Linen, which is part of the Touch of Luxe yarn collection, in the color stone.  This is a plied yarn and can split but I was careful to make sure the needle was inserted under all plies of the stitch.  It's made of 51% cotton and 49% linen and feels nice and soft.

I read somewhere that linen is absorbent and dries faster than cotton so I thought knitting a small hand towel would be a good project and a way to get familiar with the yarn.  I had the pattern Goldenrod Towel in my craft file for quite a while and although it calls for Chenille yarn, I used the Touch of Linen yarn.

I started this project in January and worked on it as time allowed and finished it last week.  I used size 7 (4.5 mm) needles [made of bamboo] which is the suggested needle size listed on the yarn label.  I followed most of the pattern as written except I knit a shorter length of the body pattern stitches.  I knit approximately 13" of the body pattern before adding the ending border stitches.  The finished size of this project was approximately 19" long x 8 1/4"-8 1/2" wide.  I could tell the width was off a little in some areas of the length so my tension must have been off.  However, it still turned out nice and not too noticeable.

The knit fabric produced by this yarn feels nice to the skin and I now want to try knitting my first garment with it.  So with that idea, I decided to experiment and try the blocking technique to see how the yarn would react.  I soaked the towel for about 20 minutes, squeezed out the water and set it out as evenly as I could and pinned to the blocking boards to dry overnight.  The dried size was approximately 18" long x 9 1/2"-9 3/4" wide.  After that, I took it a step further and machine washed and dried the towel.  Always double check the yarn label for directions.  The Touch of Linen yarn is machine washable and indicates to lay items flat to dry.  Since I'm experimenting and this project is a hand towel (a machine wash and dry kind of item), I wanted to see the effects of machine drying the yarn.  Well, the towel may have shrunk a little more but is still soft and looks fine after its first machine wash and dry cycle!  The final finished size is about 16" long x 9"-9 1/2" wide.      

Mittens - easy/flat knitting

With it being the winter season and although it has been mild, I wanted to make something warm and cozy.  When I saw this video, How to Knit Mittens on the channel americanknitter, I decided knitting my first pair of mittens would be the project!

I started the project on Dec 26, 2022 and I finished it on Jan 22, 2023.  I'm stash busting and used more of the Red Heart super saver yarn in the color soft navy.  The pattern calls for two needle sizes and I used US 8 (5.0 mm) and US 10 (6.0 mm).  The mittens are knit flat and seamed together so it's quite a quick and easy project to create!

Happy knitting!

 

 

 

 

Yarn pumpkins and acorns

Over the last several months I had been admiring pictures of various Autumn decor items and recently made these knit and crochet pumpkins and acorns.  In the picture, the knit items are on the left and crochet on the right.

 

Pumpkins:  I watched multiple crochet pumpkin videos and winged it using a few techniques from those videos to make my own version (I chained 21 and used a half double crochet stitch).  After I finished it, I was very motivated and I searched for a knit pumpkin pattern.  I found this pumpkin pattern by Studio Knit and followed the instructions for the medium size.  The circumference of the pumpkins are approximately 16" for the crochet and 15" for the knit and a height of about 5-5 1/2".  For the stem of the knit pumpkin, I knit two 5 stitch I-cords and sewed together for a bit more thickness.  I used Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn in the colors hot orange and warm brown.  I added a bow made from a piece of the Lily Sugar'n Cream ecru yarn to bring in the color from the acorns. 

Acorns: Even more motivated I thought a few acorns would be fun to add to the collection.  I followed the Little Acorn Crochet Pattern video by Jayda in Stitches and the How to Knit Acorns video by Studio Knit. Also, instead of adding a hanging string on the crochet acorn, I finished the top just like the knit acorn.  The finished acorn sizes are 2" (crochet) and 3" (knit).  I used Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn in the colors ecru and warm brown.

Happy crafting!

Knit slippers - a Phentex pattern

I've had a skein of Red Heart super saver acrylic yarn, in the color soft navy, for quite some time and I only recall making one project out of it and I recently decided it's time to use it up!  I first attempted to make a wall hanging but didn't like how it was looking so I ripped it out.  I then pulled out my file of knit and crochet patterns, that I've collected over the years, and found the knit slipper pattern from Phentex.  I don't know how old this pattern is but I'm sure I've had it for more than 5 years; it was a freebie flyer on display at the craft store.  And here are the slippers.

 

 

The pattern sheet has two designs, a cuff and short version and I chose the latter.  It was an easy and quick project and I used size 8 knitting needles to knit them up last month.  I do question if there was an error in the beginning of the pattern but I just did what made sense which didn't matter in the design.  While it was an easy knit, the only part I didn't like was that for each slipper, you had to knit two pieces and sew together.  (It says make 2 pieces alike and me thinking, yes, two slippers so you're making two alike.  Uh no, each slipper has two pieces.)   I didn't want a seam on the bottom of the foot but oh well, it was a free pattern and a good practice project!   I will remember to read through a pattern first before starting!  

This is what remains of the skein and I will be looking for more ideas to use it up!

 Happy knitting!

 

    

Knitting - Heart Baby Cloth

Wow, it's the last day of February and the project I have to share fits in with the occasion that is celebrated in this month.  Last night I finished knitting this Heart Baby Cloth pattern from Knit Picks.

I had intended on using this as a dish cloth but, well, it turned out a little larger (8 3/4" wide x 10" tall) than I wanted but that's not a problem.  I already thought of knitting several more in other colors and making a wall hanging or some other craft project.  I mean if you don't use the suggested needle size and yarn or do a swatch, the final product will differ.  The majority of the time, I like to wing it and use yarn from my stash and because it's not a garment, I don't worry about measurements for this type of project.  And I haven't blocked it either but I should since it's not completely flat.  I just have fun with it to see my end results and I can always knit it again with the recommended supplies.

So for the supplies, I used size 7 US (4.5 mm) needles and Lily Sugar'n Cream 100% cotton yarn in the color red.  Another item I used were stitch markers which I highly recommend because it helps to track the beginning and ending rows of the heart pattern section. 

Well, that it's for now, happy knitting!

Knit dishcloths and coaster

Hello there! Today I wanted to share a few knit projects that I've completed over the past few months.  I like to make dishcloths which I use daily for the dishwashing, and if you're new to the craft, dishcloths are great projects to practice your skills and learn new stitches.  I also knit up a mini item, a coaster.  I've stitched the coaster before and used it at work for my drinks which is cuter than a paper towel to catch that condensation!  And, for that instant gratification of completing something quick and crafty, I also put some scrap yarn to use.  And that's another good thing about small projects; it's a great way to use up some leftover yarn!  For all three projects, I used Lily Sugar'n Cream, a 100% cotton yarn.  For the photo shoot, I used an Azure Home frame that I got from A.C. Moore during their closing sale.  I was having a hard time capturing a good picture with the pieces laid flat and decided to try the frame; I was pleased to get a few decent pictures to post.  

This is the coaster.  It measures approximately 4"x4" and is a basketweave pattern.  The yarn color is named just as it looks, Yellow!  The coaster pattern can be found on the Simple Knits blog here.

Next is the Sailor's Rib Stitch Washcloth but I'll be using it as a dishcloth.  It was designed by Sara Louise Greer and is a free pattern from Red Heart.  The Red Heart patterns are now on the Yarnspirations website.  The pattern calls for a different yarn but I'm trying to use up my stash and used what I had on hand.

It measures 6 1/4" x 8 1/4", a little different than the pattern but I used size 7 US needles.  Also, for this project I didn't worry about gauge.  I should block it to smooth out the edges but I don't think the dishes will notice, LOL!  And considering I've never done the blocking technique, I'll wait for a larger more special item!  The yarn color is Hot Purple.

Finally, this is the basketweave dishcloth and it measures about 6" x 6".  I also used size 7 US needles to knit it.  Unfortunately, I don't know where I got the pattern but it uses a cast on of 28 stitches and starts with K4, P4 with an eight row pattern repeat.  Try searching for a free pattern online and there will be tons options!  The yarn color is Hot Blue.

Happy knitting!

Knitting in the round with DPNs

Wow, it's 2016 and I'm just now getting around to finishing this post that I started last year; well, better late than never!  So several months ago, I completed my first pair of fingerless gloves (or mitts) using double pointed needles (DPNs)!  I followed the Easy Fingerless Mitts tutorial by Staci Perry of Very Pink Knits which has great instructions if you've never used DPNs.  Not only was it my first time using DPNs, but also my first experience with knitting in the round.  But, with the tutorial, I didn't have any difficulty and finished the mitts within several days.  It's a quick item to knit up which could most likely be finished in a day if you wanted.  I used Red Heart Soft yarn in the color "Jeweltone".