Knitting & Crocheting

My mom has this thing for scarves and shawls. Once the temperature dips below 70 degrees (not kidding) she starts layering them on. She can be seen wearing 2 or 3 at a time... in the house. Mocking aside... for Christmas a couple years ago I bought her a beautiful, hand carved wooden shawl pin. I found it on etsy at a shop called South4th. Although it was stunning it felt too small to wrap up by itself... I was fearful it would get lost under the tree. So at the last minute, I designed this neck warmer/scarf as a quick project (very quick… one movie knit) to use as a carrier for the hand carved Butterfly Shawl Pin.

This scarf was designed not to be tied but to be closed with the shawl pin. If you do not have a shawl pin you can easily add length in the neck portion to make it a full scarf. But I do encourage you to go check out South4th's shop.

Butterfly Diamond Scarf Pattern
(add to your Ravelry queue)

Use size 10.5 and a homespun type yarn (less than 1 skein)

Gauge is not important

cast on 2 sts
First Diamond:
k to last 1 then k into front and back of last st
repeat increase rows until there are 19sts
k to last 2 then ssk
Repeat decrease rows until there are 9 sts remaining

Second and Third Diamonds:
K to last 1 then k into front and back of last st
repeat increase rows until there are 19sts
k to last 2 then ssk
Repeat decrease rows until there are 9 sts remaining
(Repeat diamond pattern)

Main Neck Portion:
K to last 1 then k into front and back of last st
repeat increase rows until there are 19sts
K until Main neck portion (the 19 sts wide section) measures 12” long (or add length here if you would like to tie your scarf)
k to last 2 then ssk
Repeat decrease rows until there are 9 sts remaining

Forth and Fifth Diamonds:
K to last 1 then k into front and back of last st
repeat increase rows until there are 19sts
k to last 2 then ssk
Repeat decrease rows until there are 9 sts remaining
(Repeat diamond pattern)

Last Diamond:
K to last 1 then k into front and back of last st
repeat increase rows until there are 19sts
k to last 2 then ssk
Repeat decrease rows until there are 2 sts remaining
Cut Yarn and pull through the last two sts

Weave in ends.

It seems like all things knit these days are being done from the top down... or at least I'm drawn to all the patterns that have been done that way. My Ravelry Favorites list is packed with top down projects. I've even been tempted to purchase a few patterns... but can't actually bring myself to buy something I feel like I should be able to figure out on my own... and would probably tweak anyway.

So instead, I've spent some time with Barbara Walkers' book, Knitting from the Top, although to be honest, I think the book itself needs a bit of a face lift. The information in the book is not hard to grasp, and I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but really... crafters are drawn to ascetics and textures and this book is seriously lacking in layout department. It is in desperate need of a make-over. But if you are willing to look past its gawky, awkward presentation a wonderful world of knitting freedom awaits you inside. This is a book that should earn a place on any knitter's shelf. Top down knitting is a great technique for the free form knitter. The ability to try the garment on as you go really allows you to just get some sticks and string and start with very little fanfare.

So where am I going with all this... I wanted to share a couple Scrappy Style Shirts I've been working on for my girls. Fairy was gifted with the first one and I am now sizing and tweaking my pattern for Pixie. These scrappy shirts come together so quickly and are easily customizable... I'm in love and see many more in my future. I will be sharing my pattern and notes shortly... stayed tuned.

 

 

On the 23rd of December I finished up the last of my Christmas knitting and wanted something super simple to work on while visiting with family. This little shawl is what I made over those festive days. I followed the simple pattern Traditional Icelandic Three Cornered Shawl available from Ragga Goes on About Knitting. It show cases my first couple skeins of Noro yarn (Aya a super soft silk/cotton/wool blend with an amazing texture) which were a treat I got as a birthday gift. The two skeins didn't make a shawl that was big enough for me (sigh)... well, I can drap it over my shoulders while working at the computer but it really isn't long enough. Of course finding the perfect owner wasn't a problem... it looks amazingly cute on Fairy girl (or Pixie but I think Fairy won it for now). Due to the wonderful blend of colors, my kids have dubbed it Joseph's Coat of Many Colors.

I was hoping to get a pattern up before the holidays for the sweet pea sleepers I made for the girl's dolls. Unfortunately, it seems that all 12" knit dolls are not the same. Every time I make a sleeper, I have to make them different because the sizes and shapes of the doll are greatly affected by how much they are stuffed! I simply don't have to time to write up a tutorial on crafting individual patterns to accommadate the difference in sizes right now. If you have made the 12" knit dolls and are looking for a pattern, try this one at  BellaOnline.

Perhaps after the holidays I'll visit this again. In the meantime, take a look at BellaOnline's pattern. If you have any other links online for FREE doll patterns, please share them here with our readers. Thanks.

So awhile ago I made a Twirl and Tie hat for my little niece... while we were eagerly awaiting her arrival. The hat seems to be getting a lot of use and I heard through the grape vine... oh it would be so nice to have a pair of thumb-less mitts that matched. Hint, hint... sure no problem. Well... maybe a problem. I no longer have a newborn in the house myself, so sizing on the fly can be a bit tricky. I made some guess-timations, used some left over yarn and came up with these thumb-less mitts to match the Twirl and Tie Hat. Apparently they fit perfectly. Yeah! So here is a super simple, one sitting project if you would like to make thumb-less mittens to match the hat. The combination would make a lovely newborn set. FYI - I do not currently have plans to make regular mittens with this pattern.

Materials
size 7 DPNs to be denser (the hat pattern calls for 8s)
small amount of Cotton Ease yarn

Cast on 24 sts - join to work in the round
K2, P1 ribbing for 12 rows
(SSK, K2, YO, K2) Repeat to end... work in this twirl pattern until the mitten measures 2.5inches
SSK around until only 3 sts remain
Cut yarn, pull through the 3 sts and tie off

Add this project to your Ravelry Queue.