Scarf & Hats for Charity

 

 

 Finished on Friday! The beige/gray hat is now completed and ready to be sent with the other two hats and scarf to Knitted Needs in Denver.

The green and red hats are knitted;the scarf and beige/gray hat are crocheted. The scarf is crocheted length-wise with a couple rows of mesh, then shells, then mesh--as many rows to achieve the width you want.

 

 

The beige/gray hat uses a different shaping than I have used on other projects. The hat is worked flat from the bottom edge to the top in single crochet. The shaping for the crown is achieved by crocheting across a row, leaving five stitches unworked and turning to work back across the piece. Then turning and working the next row including the five left unworked, turning and working across. This is repeated until the hat is the size you want. Sew the seam and cinch and fasten the top. I don't know if I'll use this pattern again, but it was interesting for a one-off. It is designed for a beginner and seems to be a good first project.

 

Please don't try to battle your way through my description!! The pattern is here and my project notes are here.

 

 

This pink/red hat is made from bits of Plymouth Encore stash with the crown having a touch of mohair. This photo doesn't show the pretty stitches very well. The details are made with slip stitches. You can see my project notes here and see the pattern too.

 

 

That brings us to this hat that appears to have a basket weave texture. The angle of the light in this photo washes out the neck section, but the texture continues over the entire hat. This pattern is fun and fast. See my notes for details.

 

Do you have any FOs this week? Wishing you a happy and blessed weekend!

 

 

Death of the Party

It's Wednesday! What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!
 

 

 Two...maybe three...years in stash is quite enough for this sad Patons yarn.

"Knit me!" it cried. "Knit me, please!"
 

 

 Knowing that I need a small project when working on DGD's afghan gets too-too hot, Patons wanted to become a simple 2x2 scarf on size 15 needles.

And so, it is happening.
 

 

The final few pages of Death of the Party by Carolyn Hart are at hand. I'll finish it today--hurray! I have interrupted this book to read others, but have been plugging away to finish this. While the author has some clever bits in this book, her wordiness and awkward references to other mystery books and characters are distracting.

With good editing, this book could be a very engaging story.

Tell me about your current book and yarny project!

Crocheted Ruffle Scarf

 

 For a quickie project there's nothing quite like the ruffle (or potato chip) scarf--crocheted version-- done here with some aran weight stash yarn and an I hook.
 

 

 My model, the lovely Lailah, did not want to sit and stay. However, she executed a model's stretch in a most fetching way.
 

 

Pink is obviously her color though maybe not this particular pink item in 90-degree temps!  Good Lailah.

Death of the Party and Knit

It's Wednesday! What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!

This is my along-along project--my Yarn Along and my carry along! The blanket for DGD is too unwieldy for a carry along project in the summer heat, so I started this little garter stitch scarf in alternating rows of moss green and burgundy using two strands of yarn of each color. One of the burgundy strands is slightly redder than the other, so it makes a very pretty blend when knitted. Yes, you guessed it! A stash-buster!

I've just started reading Death of the Party by Carolyn Hart. So we have the requisite death and the gathering of related characters in the manse. I like the way she is introducing the characters.

What are you reading and knitting?

Wibble Wobble One

Here's a free pattern designed by Joann Conklin at http://www.rjconklin.com/keeptalking.htm

Mine is knitted in Noro Silk Garden Lite on size 8 needles, a fast and fun project. The yarn is a dream! The alternating bands of garter stitch and ribbing yield this interesting, wobbly shape. I am sending this off to my dear MIL.

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Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17

Linkin' Lookin' and Blog

While mindlessly knitting and finishing this scarf for charity, I've come across some interesting
web sites to share. How about an advent calendar for knitters? Click in each day to find another free pattern on the Christmas tree at http://www.garnstudio.com/julekalender.php?lang=enI've already printed two patterns that I intend to make, though I do admit to being a pattern stasher like some people are yarn stashers.

Want to build your vocabulary while performing a charitable act? Go to http://www.freerice.com/ Warning!! This is addictive, but for a very worthy cause!

Here is the fantastic stripe site at http://www.kissyourshadow.com/stripe_maker.php After you plug in your colors, a stripe pattern is generated specifically to meet your color scheme. I find it very useful since I can put colors together, but the patterning gets me every time!

How 'bout some levity? This holiday site just makes me laugh at all the garish sweaters that users can create. Of course, some are quite tasteful. Since this type of sweater is not something I'd typically wear, I thought it was hilarious! Allow yourself some time at http://weloveholidaysweaters.wehatesheep.com/ and release your inner designer!!

Here's a simple knitter's ornament to make. Wouldn't it be fun to have a tree with a knitting theme? http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=211860.0

It's a snowy day in the neighborhood--sparkling, bright, and new!

Another couple of inches are predicted to fall tonight. Wonderful stay-inside sort of weather.

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Please pray for the families of the victims of the shootings at two worship centers here in Colorado.

May the glory of the Lord rise among us.***

Snowy Saturday

A bright winter day like today always reminds me of the children's book A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Gently falling snow, icy snow packed roads, truly a day to stay warm and cozy in the house. Silly Squirrel feasted on nyjer seeds clearly not intended for him/her/it.

More mindless scarf knitting while I spent the day online. With some eyelash (that was given to me) and some Mission Falls gray cotton, I used size 10.5 needles to make another scarf for Scarves from the Heart.


Here is a typical pose with the ever-patient Max enjoying his rawhide while Princess Lailah lounges on him. She does keep her Teddy bear nearby. The surgery didn't phase her;she's doing great. Thanks for asking, Donna.

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Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. Psalm 97:11

One Day One-der

A friend and I decided to have a knitting afternoon yesterday. In need of mindless knitting --since we tend to do a lot of talking and laughing-- I grabbed a ball of Jo Sharp worsted wool and a small spool of Spice by Knitting Fever. Armed with my size 8 needles and a simple garter stitch, I managed to finish this cheery scarf for Scarves from the Heart. Now, back to the Argosy Scarf. I'm still plugging away!

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Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Psalm 119:1

Of Misaligned Merchant Ships

argosy -- laden merchant ship: a large richly laden merchant ship, or a fleet of such ships

Just wondered what the word meant. I thought it meant "rip out 12 inches even though you tried to fudge stitches to keep the pattern and it didn't work".

In other news, after my initial excitement about the Hot D blanket and several changes of needles and yarn combos, I concluded that I did not enjoy working with the huge -- size 19 and 35-- needles and the bulkiness of the knitted fabric. Hot D turned to Cold D after about three days.

Now Argosy with its simple, repetitive pattern is beating me down! Perhaps, this is why I am a process and not a product knitter!! I'm not getting anything done!

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I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!Lamentations 3:24

Holey, Wholly Scarf

Its nice to have a Christmas gift completed! This scarf was made with red Plymouth Encore. Since I had only one ball of yarn, the scarf is not of the long, wind-it-around a few times variety. It is just right to wear tucked in or hanging out of a coat. I know my dear friend will be thrilled since knitting is a complete mystery to her. The YOs make it holey and it is wholly complete!

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Christmas, my child, is love in action. ... Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. --Dale Evans Rogers

Green on Green

Some left-over yarns went into this garter stitch scarf. Knit on size 17 needles, this scarf is made of chenille, ribbon, and Encore worsted weight in shades of green. It will be part of a package for charity.

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Rox 'n' Sox

World Series 2007

GO ROCKIES!!!!!

Blue on Blue

Leftover DiVe mohair and ww Encore went together nicely for this diagonal scarf. This soft blue shade is so pretty and soothing. My pictures don't show the diagonal lines of stitches. Should have shot from a different angle!
The pattern for the Diagonal Scarf is available at http://www.patterncentral.com/ I used a 10.5 needle which yielded a rather tight fabric. I would try an 11 on another one with this combination of yarns. It is a fun quick knit. I'm thinking of using some stash yarn to make another diagonal scarf or a baby blanket using the diagonal pattern.

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Not afraid of heights...afraid of widths.

Finishing and Food

I finished this quickie, little garter stitch cotton scarf for our 3-year-old DGD who wanted to watch me knit...also completed a tiny yellow stockinette fringed scarf for her monkey. Alas, no pic of that one!

...finally put some small crocheted squares together to make a blankie for the Dulaan Project (See sidebar). The squares are double crochet and were slip stitched together. The border is improvised.

DH made this scrumptious meal! Ricotta cheese with some added ingredients is in the center with a piece of baguette on top. It is surrounded by slices of tomatoes. Two are topped with pesto, two with chick pea slather, and two with calamata spread. A light sprinkling of bacon pieces top this absolutely scrumptious meal.

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Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.---Philippians 3:8

Triangulating

This triangular scarf is garter stitch with ribbon in fuchsia and purple.

It will soon be on its way to "Scarves from the Heart". (See side bar.)

 

I don't mind going nowhere as long as it's an interesting path.

Sweet? Tart?

Here is a finished scarf for "Scarves From the Heart" (See sidebar.). I did 2-4 garter ridges, then a row of dropped stitches with fB Fashion "Granada" and size 15s over 11 sts.

The fiber is cotton and nylon and reminds me of the colors of "Sweet Tarts" candy. I didn't lick it, but I really don't think the fruit flavor is there. I bought this ball from a sale basket at a LYS because it is unusual and would be fun to use for a scarf. Just something different to work with...don't think I'll use it for any other projects though.

At some point --- who knows when? --- I want to use this Kureyon to make a B4 bag for one of my sisters. This B4 is just her style---I know she'll love it! Decorating the bag will be fun-fun-fun!! Look at all the variety here: http://b4bag.blogspot.com/

God bless all the children and teachers beginning a new school year!

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Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach. ---Aristotle

In the Back Yard

Here's another scarf for the Red Scarf Project made with Plymouth Encore and size 11s. Forgive its ratty appearance. Lailah did a couple of laps around the house with it before I snatched it out of her mouth and posed it for picture! The pattern was devised by Penny http://pennyknits.blogspot.com/ and is available in her post on August 16. She regularly completes projects at an amazing rate! You'll love looking at her blog!!

I'm using my "rowsary" from my SP10. This is the first time I've used it and it is very handy!! It's a beaded row counter made with beautifully shaped sterling silver flower balls. Just gorgeous! And functional too!


Let's play "Find the Puppy"!! Lailah is searching the redwood mulch to find a nice, big hunk for her chewing pleasure!

As Lailah inspects the little butterfly bush, I think it might be a good idea to wrap that hose back around the holder!

OK, kids, now let's play "Find the Teeny-Tiny Tomatoes" that make my heart sing!! See them?? Look again!! These are planted in a large pot on our deck. I'm not really a gardener, so I attempt to simplify things as much as I can. My heart sings with memories of my Nonno and Nonna's large vegetable gardens, flower gardens, fruit tress, strawberry patch---so I do make a meager attempt in the summers to do a little. My Nonna would NOT be impressed!! :)

Sad. Plain, ol' sad.

And the sun sets through the Rose of Sharon in our back yard.

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What is impossible for people is possible with God. Luke 18:27