05.31.07
Posted in gifts at 4:11 am by pauline
Reading Abigail’s post about hippie soaps and wash cloths inspired me to whip up a last minute gift for a house-warming party I went to on Memorial Day.
I used some leftover Cotton-Ease yarn and size 8 needles and casted on 36 stitches, using a picot cable cast-on.
After joining it into a round, I purled a row, knit a row and then purl a row to make a garter stitch trim on the top. Then I did some 6 row sections of stockinette separated by rows of purling. The rows with the holes are:
k4 yo k2tog 6 times.
The staggered rows are
k2 yo k2tog k2 6 times.
After enough repeats to accommodate a bar of soap, I knitted one more row and then grafted the bottom together with the Kitchener stitch.
I slipped in a bar of blueberry scented soap, threaded some organdy ribbon though the top row of eyelets, tied a bow and off I went to the party.
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05.18.07
Posted in baby stuff, booties, sweaters at 2:18 pm by pauline
These PPBB ( Pom Pom Baby Booties ) went to Todd & Kim’s brand new baby girl. They were also the recipients of PPBB #9 back in the days when they didn’t know the gender of their expected baby.
So, finally we know, it’s a cute little girl and she needs some pink booties!
Yarn: Lion Brand Babysoft Yarn
Needles: size 7 DP INOX
Pattern: It started out as Girls Booties from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms, by Louisa Harding, but I modified the sole so that it is flatter(so I can pose them for pictures?) I put in fewer lazy daisies (because I’m lazy?) and added pom-poms, so that they can be #10 of the PPBB series.
I started OZ Vest from the same book, using Lionbrand Cotton Ease. Baby clothes are so quick to knit!
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05.11.07
Posted in FO sightings, plants, socks at 11:19 pm by pauline
My hand-dyed yarn is now hand-dyed socks! Considering how I painted the yarn without any plan at all, it amazes me how the striping all worked out. They are really happy, warm, and friendly socks. Although the picture can’t really do it justice, the brightness and radiance of the green make me smile.
Smiley Socks
Yarn: My very own hand-dyed at Margit’s
Needles: US #1 DPs – 2.25mm (set of 5 works out nice but can be done with 4)
Size: Small (size 5-6 shoe or a very slim size 7)
Gauge: 6.5 st /inch
Cast on 64 with 2 needles to make a nice stretchy cuff. Join into a circle, being careful not to twist.
Cuff: k2 p2 for 12 rounds – about 1″
Leg: k until overall length 6-7″ long
Heel: knit your favorite heel flap, back and forth over 32 stitches until it’s 2.5 inches long. Slipping the first or last stitch of each row will make a nice column of chain stitches which makes it easy for picking up gusset stitches later.
Turn heel: With RS facing you,
row 1: K17, ssk, k1 turn,
row 2: sl1, p4, p2tog, p1 turn,
row 3: sl1, k until 1 st before the gap, ssk, k1, turn
row 4: sl1, p until 1 st before the gap, p2tog, p1, turn
repeat rows 3 & 4 until all the stitches on the heel flap has been worked.Knit to the upper left corner of the heel flap with RS facing you. Pick up and knit stitches on the chain stitches along the right edge. Knit the instep stitches which have been on hold while the heel flap was being worked. Pick up and knit stitches on the chain stitches along the other edge of the heel flap.
Gusset: round 1: K to within 3 stitches of the instep, K2tog, K1, K the instep stitches, K1, ssk, knit to end of round
round 2: K
repeat rounds 1 & 2 until there are 64 stitches left
Foot: K until foot is 6.5″ long, or 2 inches less than the length of your foot. Knit around until just before the instep.
This is now the beginning of the round. The instep stitches are now the top of the toe and the rest of the stitches is the bottom of the toe.
Toe:
round 1: k1, ssk, knit to the last 3 stitches of the top of the toe, k2tog,k. Repeat for the bottom of the toe.
round 2: k
repeat rounds 1 & 2 until toe is 2″ long. Graft with Kitchener stitch.
How I Didn’t Kill My Orchids This Year
Every single one of my orchid plants (yes, all 4 of them) are blooming right now. This has never happened before. I nearly gave up on them just about 2 months ago. No matter how I watered and fed them, none of them were blooming. I stopped watering them and the leaves started shriveling up. All of a sudden, I noticed that one of the plants had a flower spike! With renewed interest, I started watering them again. Then one by one they grew spikes and now they are all in bloom! Anyone who has known me for a while know that I am not known for keeping plants alive, let alone get them to bloom. I think they must like that spot on the window sill.
Sheldon Sighting
Sheldon the Turtle settled in his new home last Sunday. Here he is with Kalyssa, his new owner.
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05.04.07
Posted in baby stuff, notions, toys at 12:34 pm by pauline
This has got to be the most endearing toy I have ever made. The pattern is Sheldon from Knitty.com. I just couldn’t stop snapping pictures of him, in and out his shell. It was a pretty fast knit and lots of fun watching him evolve.
I’ll be giving Sheldon Turtle, knitted amphibian, to Kalyssa this weekend.
Needles: US #3 DPs, tapestry needle for sewing on legs and weaving in ends
Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun, Lime Green
& some left over acrylic green worsted weight yarn for his shell
Notions: 12mm Safety Animal Eyes — great for children’s toys.
Polyester stuffing — soft & squishy
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