Andrea's Knits -- The Patterns

Tip for the day--Frogging two stranded knits

2009-11-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

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.

Dishcloth - Red Cloud

2008-07-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Materials:
Peaches and Cream 100% Cotton - Red
Needles: #8, finished size 10” x 10 1/2”
Crochet Hook: “G”

Pattern:
Knit every row (Garter Stitch), rows are counted by the ridges.

CO 10 sts.
Row 1, Knit 6 rows (3 ridges each side)
Row 2, *CO 5 sts, knit across, CO 5 sts [20 sts]
Row3, Knit 6 row (3 ridges each side)
Row 4, Repeat “*”CO until you have 40 sts, (20 rows 10 ridges each side.
Row 21, Knit 20 rows, (10 ridges each side)
Row 41, *Bind off 5 sts, knit to end turn, at beginning of next row bind off 5 sts, knit 4 rows, 3 ridges each side
Row 43, Repeat “*” BO until there 10 sts remain. Knit until there are 3 ridges each side.
Bind off.

Finishing:

Single crochet around edge, make 2 or 3 sc in corners, skip sts in indented corners to retain shape.

Weave in ends.

Strapless Camisole or Bandeau top pattern

2008-05-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

I discovered I don't have the fullness to hold a deep "V" neck top or dress in place, (no cleavage). I realized all I needed was a Strapless Cami under the "V". This Cami fits from underarm to top of the hip. The Cami will cover both strapless and strapped bras when worn with a top or dress that covers the straps.

NOTE: The hem casing to enclose the elastic can be made at the top and bottom, 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 ribbing at both ends or crochet the edges by picking up one stitch at a time and single crochet it. With this method a crocheted lace embellishment can be added to the front edge.

Length: 15"

Bust: 40+

Yarn: Herrschners 2-ply Afghan yarn, 100% Acrylic

Yarn color your choice, I choose Brown to go with a cream beige top and brown pants.

KM: Bulky, Tension Dial #4, Mast Tension #5

ISM/USM Keyplate 2.5 or 3

Circular Needles: #4

1 Stitch marker

Elastic: 1/4 inch wide

Yarn needle

Gauge: 20 sts, 28 rows = 4" -- [5 sts =1", 7 rows = 1"]

Check gauge and your own measurements. You may want to make the Cami shorter or longer, or more form fitting to your body style. A form fitted Cami could be knitted entirely in ribbing by manually manipulating the stitches.

MAKE 2 panels front and back.

CO in waste yarn 80 stitches, and knit 6 rows

Change to main yarn.

For hem casing, knit 8 rows hook up first row of live stitches on needles making sure to get all stitches. This will leave an opening to insert the elastic through afterwards.

Knit until you have 88 rows. (Reset row counter to "000" and knit 8 rows for hem casing if you want to have elastic at the bottom, hook these stitches on needles, knit one row and bind off loosely). Otherwise change to waste yarn and knit 6 rows.

[NOTE: I crocheted the bottom and made the casing on the top. I will seam the sides last]

To knit the ribbing,

Pick up stitches on both panels halves held by waste yarn, and knit one row. Check for any dropped stitches and recover them, remove waste yarn. Place marker to mark starting point. You now have both the front and back on the circular needle (160 sts). At the side seam edge decrease 2 stitches, knit 1 x 1 rib to the other side seam and decrease 2 stitches (156 sts).

If the sides are seamed first the total number of stitches will be less then 156. Adjust the stitches so your ribbing will be even 1 x 1 or 2 x 2. Continue in ribbing to the desired length needed then bind off in ribbing stitch.

Finishing the hem casing:

fter you have seamed the sides, measure the elastic to fit snugly around your chest and/or waist cut and insert it into the casing with a bodkin or a safety pin. Pull it gently through the panels and tie it off securely so the elastic does not slip loose. With the yarn needle and a length of yarn, stitch the casings close around the elastic and not through it. Block if needed.

The Cami looks like a micro-mini skirt, (this is just an observation).

The Halfdome

2008-04-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

Albert and his hat
Originally uploaded by Mamapooki

I finished the hat from Knitty.com Summer 2006. I used DMC Senso, cotton/acrylic in Denim Blue. It knitted up quickly to my surprice and I'm not use to working with small needles. This started with #3's and ended with #5's. It's a great hat, and Al looks good in it.

It started out as a sweater and turned into a nice Tam-O-Shanter

2008-03-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

I made an attempt to knit this:

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But it turned into this instead: A Tam..How?

I realized as I was knitting along, I have increased to a lot of stitches, When I reached the part to make the armholes I had more stitches then required, and not enough length. What?? I read the pattern, and then I it hit me. I was using the wrong size needles! I was using #4's instead of #10's, and the spiral is going in the opposite direction. I was making the increase on the opposite side of the stitch markers. Well it does go with my Mrs. Weasley Sweater.

This was fun!

2008-01-17T06:11:00.000-08:00

This is my version of Mrs. Weasley's sweater seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber or Secrets.
I machine knit the body and as you can see I crocheted the sleeves.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007-12-23T20:47:00.000-08:00

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

2007-11-20T12:31:00.000-08:00

I plan to knit, eat and knit this long weekend.

Loomed knitted Brimm hat

2007-09-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

I first knitted the brim hat on the knitting machine (thanks go to my knitting buddie Doris), I was looming a hat when it occurred to me to try making a brimmed one. To my surprise, it works. Here is my version, if you have question contact me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Loom Knit Brimmed Hat – Adult size

Materials:
Ex-Large loom 41 pegs & tool
Crochet Hook – G
Large Safety Pins or Plastic hair roller pins
Yarn needle
Plastic Canvas, Side of large Ice Cream container or the Lid

Yarn:
Bulky yarn, 2 strand held together

(I use Paton Pebbles Chunky weight)

Brim:
The brim is 7 1/4" wide at the tips by 4 1/2" deep,

Using the brim template, trace around it on plastic canvas or ice cream container with a fine line marker, and cut out brim. With the plastic canvas trim the jagged edges as smooth as possible. (A hot soldering iron rubbed around the edges will also smooth it out and fuse the plastic, be very careful).

Cast on:
E-wrap all pegs and knit for 4 inches.
Purl one row, this row is where the edge of the brim will lay.

Knit 4 more inches. You should now have a deep enough hem to lay the brim inside.
Now place the cast on stitches on the pegs, leave a wide enough opening to insert the brim. Use a pin to hold the brim in place while you finish closing the gap. Knit these stitches first before e-wrapping. Continue to knit a few more rows; with more pins work the knitting around the brim and pin it in place. After you have the brim placed with pins, use a length of contrasting yarn and with the yarn needle, baste the brim in place. The brim can be crocheted or stitch down with match yarn after the hat is finished and off the loom Continue knitting the hat until it is about 9 1/2" from the bottom edge. Cut the yarn leaving about 15 inches and gather the stitches off the loom and tie off.
Finish by stitching or crocheting the brim down making sure to stitch off the edge of the hat to secure the brim. Weave in the ends

.

The Loomed Hat

The Machine Knitted Hat

Andrea's Knits -- The Patterns

2007-08-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

I will begain posting my patterns here. I plan to share my joy with other knitters and crafters-alike.