Workin on More Stuff

Well dang, I got the baby sundress done. Now I just have to see if it's ok for me to post it because I was inspired by a lace pattern on http://www.knitting-and.com/. It's the "double rose leaf lace" It sure did turn out kewl. I will post pics as soon as I get them downloaded from the camera. Mechelle sure does look cute in her new little dress (she's almost two now).

I am now working on a tank top for one of the other girls, Dani. She's sorta into goth and metal music. (can't say I blame her I like my music with a little menace to it). So I think I found the perfect lace pattern for her. It's a "skull and crossbones" lace pattern I also found at knitting-and. It'll be kewl when I get it done. I hope I can get permission to at least link to the lace pattern for the tank top. If not though, I will post a pic of it on my daughter and get to work on more stuff.

Shawl Collared Shrug

Here is the second pattern I am adding to my blog. This one I also made for one of my girls. I have to get some pics of these finished things so my blog doesn't look so empty. Sheesh, but you know how it is, ya gotta share the score ya know...........Right now it kinda looks like blah, blah, blah.... but I am workin on it ya know. So here is the pattern. I haven't found a guinea pig (oops I mean test knitter) to double check this for me, so if there are any things that you don't understand. Please let me know. O by the way, the yarn I used for the finished garment is no longer available so I did some research and found this one from KnitPicks to be a suitable substitute.
Hopefully they don't discontinue it before you get to make this kewl looking lacy shrug.

Shawl Collared Shrug
one size fits most
Materials:
4- 50g balls of "KnitPicks" 'twist' use color of your choice, the shrug is pink.
(I have to figure out the gauge so will get back to you on this, but as long as it doesn't look like it'll fit the arms of a gorilla you should be fine.)
US size 6 knitting needles

Special Notes and Abbreviations:
k= knit; p= purl; sl = slip a stitch; ssk = slip one stitch and the next stitch as if to knit, return to left needle and knit the two together throught the back loop); k2tog= knit 2 stitches together; skp= slip one stitch, knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over; yo= yarn over; st(s)= stitch(es); RS= right side; WS = wrong side; k4tog= knit 4 stitches together

This pattern uses two different lace patterns and will be referred to each other as "lace pattern #1 and lace pattern #2"
Starting at the cuff of the sleeve in "lace pattern #1"
Cast on 79 sts. K next 2 rows. Start "Lace pattern #1 (keep first and last stitches in garter st (k every row)
Row 1: k1, k to last st, k1.
Row 2 & 4: k1, purl to last st, k1.
Row 3: k1, k2, *k4tog, (yo,k1) 5x's, yo, k4tog, k2; repeat from * across, k1.
Repeat these four rows 5 times. End with WS row. Change to "lace pattern #2 Continue as instructed.
Row 1: (RS) k
Row 2 and all WS rows: k1, purl to last st, k1.
Row 3: k3, *yo, skp, k6: repeat from * to last 4 sts, yo, skp, k2.
Row 5: k1, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, skp, k3: repeat from * to last 6 sts, k2tog, yo, skp,k1.
Row 7: Repeat row 3.
Row 9: k across.
Row 11: k7, * yo, skp, k6: repeat from * to end.
Row 13: k5, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, skp, k3: repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2
Row 15: repeat row 11.
Row 16: repeat row 2.
Repeat rows 1-16 of lace pattern #2 for 10" or til desired length of sleeve (from knuckles to elbow) End WS row. (79 sts).
Keeping in lace pattern #2, conotinue by increasing at the beginning and end of every RS row keeping increased sts in garter stitch (knit every row) until there are 6 increases (91 sts)
End WS row.
Next row: Continue in garter stitch borders and lace #2 as established. Work increase at the END of lace pattern rows 1 and 9 til there are 15 garter sts at the end of the RS rows (105 sts).
Work even, keeping garter st edges and lace pattern as established for desired measurement (measure from knuckles to center NECK with arms at the sides) Finish on plain knit row 1 or 9 of lace pattern. Place sts on holder. (105 sts)

Make second side same as first except reverse garter st shaping.
Place sts on two needles (one for each piece) and graft together using kitchener st. Or if you prefer, Bind off all sts and sew or crochet together the back seam (bound off edges).
Fold piece in half lengthwise and sew sleeve seams together from cuff to beginning of garter sts shaping being careful to keep lace matched and garter st matched.
Weave in ends and block if necessary.

The larger of the two garter stitch borders is the "shawl collar" and the bottom is well just the bottom.
Well here's to next time we meet in some dark alley comparing notes on yo's and stst. And yes pictures will be coming shortly. (I hope!!)

Sunshine Halter Top

Well here it is...........finally. My first pattern on this here blog. Hope you like it. If there are any problems with it, shoot me an email and let me know where the confusing parts are.
I designed this for my girls (I do have 4 of them ya know). They are all young ladies who like those daring fashions. So here is one I designed just for those young at heart.
I will post pics as soon as I can. Have fun gettin knotty..............

SUNSHINE HALTER TOP

Materials Needed:
Lion Brand MicroSpun (any DK or light weight worsted yarn will do as long as it isn't fuzzy)
2 balls
Knitting needles; US size 5 Crochet Hook; US size G

Gauge: 23 rows x 17 stitches in lace pattern 4"x4" square

Special Notes and Abbreviations:
RS = Right side K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
WS = Wrong side K2togtbl = Knit 2 stitches together through the back loop
StSt = Stockinette Stitch st(s) = stitch(es)
knit right side rows, purl wrong
side rows.
YO = yarn over k = knit p = purl

Starting at the Bottom of the "skirt"
Cast On 96 sts; k 2 rows.
Begin Lace Pattern:
Row 1: (RS) k across.
Row 2: k2, purls to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: k3, *(k2tog) 3x's, (yo, k1) 6x's, (k2tog) 3x's; Repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-4 for patterns for 8". Keep first 2 and last 2 sts in Garter st (knit every row). End with WS row.

Beginning Bodice:
Next row: Decrease 24 sts evenly across (k2, k2tog) (72sts) at end of row Cast On 60 sts for the ties. (132 sts).
Next row: k 60 (these are the cast on sts), k2, p2 to end, cast on 60 sts. (192)
Next row: k 60, k2, p2 next 72 sts, (begin seed stitch) k1, p1 next 60 sts.
Next row: Seed stitch (k the p sts, and p the k sts) next 60 sts, k2, p2 next 72 sts, (start seed stitch)k1, p1 next 60 sts.
Next row: Seed st next 60 sts, k2, p2 next 72 sts, seed st next 60 sts.
Repeat this row until 1.5" of ribbing (k2, p2) End RS row.
Next row: Bind off 60 sts, purl 72 sts, seed st next 60 sts. (132)
Next row: Bind off 60 sts, k 72 sts. (72)
Next row: k2, p 68 sts, k2.
Next row: k2, k2tog, working in stst (stockinette st: knitting RS rows purling WS rows)to last 4 sts, k2togtbl, k2.
Next row: k2, p to last 2 sts, k2
Repeat these 2 rows 2x's more (66)
Next row: k across
Next row: k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Next row: k2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, k2togtbl, k2.
Next row: k2, p to last 4 sts, k2.
Repeat last 4 rows until 50 sts remain, end WS row.
Next row (eyelet row): k3, (YO, k2tog), repeat to last 3 sts, k3.
Next row: k2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Next row: Bind off, weave in ends and block item if necessary.

Tie for Neck:
Using crochet hook (size G), make a chain to length desired for tie. Weave through eyelets at the top.

Ahh, the Joys of Tryin to Figure It All Out.

Awww, the joy of writing patterns, sheesh. No one told me it was just such a pain in the ol' tuckus. O well, the urge is just too overpowering to ignore though (ya'll understand that). So far I have three patterns that I actually took the time to write down. Well, two are written down and the third is just a bunch of scribbles at this point. One is a "Shawl Collared Shrug" and another is "Cables and Shells Drawstring Tote" (it's crocheted by the way). The third is a (I think I'll call it...)"Sunshine Lace Halter Top". Whaduya think?
Man people, I have a whole lotta stash I have to get rid of here. Any ideas would be good. Sorry guys, I am not totally enamored with afghans. I'll leave those to the experts. I love getting them I just am not totally thrilled about doing them. LOL!!!
But that's ok. Each of us is addicted to a different form of our drug of choice "yarn". If you wanna leave a link to your fav yarn site hangout, that would be great. I do ask that it be blogs n such n not vendor spots. Well enough for one day, gotta finish that halter top ya know n get it all written down. (Dang where did I hide that tapestry needle, sheesh, I swear, sometimes gettin old sux.)

"Feels like the first time"

Hiya guys,

This is my first post here and I hope that we can share in our addiction.

"I am a fibrenut". I'll let you all know about kewl sites I've lurked at and some of the powerful, addictive fibres I've come across. What kind of projects are placating my addiction. And what kind of ufo's I have in progress at the moment.

If you're addicted to any form of string then you are more than welcome to come into my "Yarn den". I don't care if you are a dyed in the wool knitter (who needs hookie thingees) or a "hooker" with attitude. Ya'll are welcome here.

I happen to be addicted to both sides of the skein. I learned how to knit from my mom whose favorite past time was knitting aran sweaters in wool. Then when I was sixteen I (now if this ain't addictive behaviour I dunno what is) whittled my first crochet hook to make my then boyfriend (now ex hubby) a horrid brown n orange single crochet afghan. (Well at the time I thought it looked kewl) no accounting for taste sheesh.

I quickly burned through that hook n got others but then one day I had an epiphany (sounds of a chorus singing "ahhhhhh"), I got turned on to (gasp) doilies and lace crochet through this foreign mag (o the horror) a french crochet magazine called "magic crochet".

I fell in love with the beautiful diagrams (making getting a fix all that much easier) and I went out n got myself some new tools. I had also inherited a double ended crochet hook with an ivory handle from my grandma. O boy I was in business. I cranked them puppies out like a columbian drug lord. Everyone on the ol gift list got one. My couch cushions were covered.

Then...........I rediscovered knitting. I had ordered these books from Torstar and they had all kinds of magical potions in them for creating more stuff. I took the books to heart and started my journey to another addiction (o man, I am in bad shape now). I knitted things for the kids (I have seven by the way), knitted things for my sisters, knitted things for my mom n dad, and no didn't knit anything for the ex, (well he wasn't n ex yet) He (o the shame, the horror) didn't want anything. So I said, "Ok, suit yerself then." I had plenty of other enablers to choose from.

Suffice to say, I am hopelessly addicted and have been knitting and crocheting (a little plastic canvas thrown in there for good measure), for a very long time now. There is no cure (unless sheep all of a sudden drop off the face of the earth) and truth be told, I don't wanna be cured, pppbbbbtttt, so there.

I am now happily married to a fibrenuts enabler, he lets me have a fix and doesn't get mad when I add to the stash. I have knitted him things and have knitted and crocheted things for his mom (she passed a couple months ago, sigh, but I did inherit her stash and I hope to do a fellow addict proud). Man, I miss her (sigh, again).

O, by the way the white sweater is one I knitted (ya think lol)