Tip for the day--Frogging two stranded knits

If you have knitted a pair of fingerless gloves and discovered you didn't like them (I really didn't), and you decided to frog them; but they're double stranded. If you've encountered this before I now have a solution.

1. remove all pets, kids and partners from bedroom.
2. have at the ready your favorite lotion for your hands, a beverage of choice, chocolate and a yarn ball winder.

My winder is attached to a small piece of shelve from a cabinet. I hold it on my lap and wind the yarn. If your lucky to have a Knit Pick model, it have an attached handle.

To explain part 1, you will need space to throw the yarn (not really, but if it gets tangled who knows) on both sides of you. Having the partner in there..well like I said you need space and this would be the time he would want to take a nap and take up half the bed, then slowly creep towards you and take up your half and I'm speaking from experience. And if you have pets especially cats, they will make a bed out of anything that looks comfy, and a pile of yarn is comfy. Having the kids in the room making noise is distracting and if you've ever knitted with a toddler around, it can funny one time and terrible the next. I have knitted with both cats and kids and when the yarn suddenly become damp, and you look up to see your yarn passing through the mouth of either one...the beverage of choice could be a strong one.

On to part 2, the lotion is for your hands to get rid of any dryness that may catch the yarn and if it have a great scent it's aromatherapy too. The chocolate just the hell of it and the ball winder as mention before. Now to frog.

If the said item is small like the fingerless gloves you can hold it between your knees. But should it be larger, then you'll have to get your feet involved. With good lighting and Patience find the beginning if you've already seamed and tucked in the tails (yes I did) and un-seam, pull out the bonded off edge and undo two rows.

Now while sitting in the middle of the bed, take a strand in each hand and pull gently out to arms lengths right and left at the same time. Toss or drop the yarn on the edge of the bed (to find the ends make a slip knot and place a stitch marker or safety pin in the loop). It helps to hold the knitting with your knees or feet, because as you unravel the knitting it will comes to you. Now continue separating the yarn and dropping it on either side until you get to the end. PLEASE DO NOT DROP THE ENDS YET Make another slip knot and place a stitch marker of safety pin in the loop and lay it where you can put your hand on it. Now take on the strands of yarn and place it in the yarn winder and start winding, if you don't have a winder just make a ball. Everything should go smooth of nothing have been disturbed.

My first yarn on the spinning wheel

My first yarn on the spinning wheel
Originally uploaded by Mamapooki

This is the other thing I've been making. Yarn, the colorway is Atlantis Blue faced Leisincher wool hand dyed. It is now is single ply and I plan to ply it with white. I won't know the yarnage until after the pling.


Here is the wheel: The Babe Fiber Starter (thanks Cindy)

What I've been making

Needle felting has crossed my path and I'm hooked. The flickr moasic shows my first attempt. It' a bunny and carrot and I posed them with a real mushroom (at lease I think it's a mushroom), it was growing in the front yard and I placed it on the hedge with bunny. The pics are blurry and I don't understand why, the camera is ok, but somehow the wool bouched the flash back. The shroom was pure white.

No new patterns for now

I have been thinking about the knitted dress I made and possibly making another one. I have ideas but I lack the energy.

Cane Handle cover

Due my knee pain with OA I began using a cane. The grip on it is rubbery and I don't like the smell of rubber. I have 4 crank knitting machines and the good old Barbie/Mattel one with 16 needles is just right for making a sleeve to cover the handle. I use fun fur and the results are a funky handle. I didn't take pictures of the St. Patrick Day cover, it was a hoot. I used the bright green fun fur and covered it have way down. I was my Sheleighy(sp) for the day. Afterward I reclaimed the yarn for another project. I have a stash of fun fur and I'm having a ball picking out different colors for the handle.



The instructions are for a crank knitting machine with 16 needles. Knit as many rows you want to cover the handle and part way down the cane. (I didn't count how many rows unfortunately)so you will have to quessimate it.

Re: Ribbed hat

I finally got around to taking a picture of the hat and now I can't find the hat. I put up the winter stuff and can't put my hand on it. Duh!!

A ribbed hat

Ribbed Knit Hat knitted flat and seamed up the back


Materials:
Yarn used:
Lion Brand Wool Ease

Needles:
24 inch # 4 Circular or db pt
Yarn Needle to sew up back seam and gather top

3 x 3 Rib Hat

Rib Pattern: Knit 3 st, Purl 3 sts

CO 84 sts on #4's and begin ribbing by knitting 3 sts and ending with 3 purl sts.
Knit until cap is 5 inches from the beginning.

Note: At this point there is no wrong or right side; however, the decreases may make a difference in which side you want to wear as the right side. The decreases will make what looks like a little cable stitch on the knitted stitches.

First decrease row:
Knit 3 st. purl 2 st together . Repeat this to end. [14 sts decreased] 70 sts remain.
Knit 3 rows in ribbing taking note that the pattern is now 2 x 3 rib.
Second decrease row:
Depending on which side is facing you. You either knit/purl the 2 st rib together and knit/purl 2 sts together on the 3 st rib. The end results is you will be knitting the next row on a 1 x 2 rib.
Knit 3 rows
Final decrease row:
Knit 3 rows then knit 2 together on all remaining stitches. Leave long thread tail 15 inches and cut yarn.

Finishing:
Thread yarn into yarn needle, and slip the remaining stitches on to yarn needles and gather the top. Secure the yarn and stitch the back seam together. Weave in yarn ends.


2 X 2 Rib Hat

Rib Pattern: knit 2 sts, purl 2 sts

Material:
Yarn used: Bernat Worsted weight – 3 strands held together
Needles: #15 Circular
Yarn needle
 
CO 44 sts and knit 2, purl 2 across,
Continue rib knit until piece is 6 inches long
 
Shaping the crown:
K 2 tog, P 2tog across, Knit 1, Purl 1 across for 6 rows
Cut yarn leaving a long tail.
 
Finishing:
Thread yarn into yarn needle, and slip the remaining stitches on to yarn needles and gather the top. Secure the yarn and stitch the back seam together. Weave in yarn ends.