January 16, 2007

Grey Scarf

Here's the pattern for the Grey scarf I mentioned in my first post. The pic shows the front (the top of the pic) and back. I made this pattern up. I don't know if it's a "real" pattern in the knitting world, but when I sat down to play with my string and sticks, this is what was born!

CO a multiple of 4 +2

Row 1 (WS): *K2, BYF as if to purl, slip the next two sts as if to purl, BYB* Repeat across ending with K2.

Row 2: Knit across

Repeat these two rows until scarf is as long as you'd like. It makes a nice ribbed look without pulling in or having to purl

Today's a busy day for me. I am teaching my first beginning knitting class to a group of moms at the nearby Waldorf school where my granddaughter is in kindergarten. The Waldorf students are taught in school to flat knit in 1st grade and knit in the round in 6th grade. (Their first projects are socks or gloves. Neither of which I've made a pair of yet!) These moms wanted to keep a step ahead of their kids!

January 14, 2007

Double Rolled Brim Hat

As far as I know, there is no on-line pattern for this kind of hat. This is the one I made up after seeing a picture in an on-line retail store.

Supplies: 1 - 3 colors of WW yarn. Two sets of appropriate size for your yarn 16 inch circular needles

With Color A, CO a multiple of 11 sts (about 88 for a kids hat and about 99-110 for an adult) We'll go with 99 for the purpose of this pattern. Join.

Knit around for ten or so rows.

With 2nd set of needles CO 99 sts with Color B. Join and knit around for ten rows or so.

Hold the "left" needle of both circles in your left hand and with one of the right needles, knit off a st from both needles at the same time. Insert your needle as to knit in the Color A loop and then in the Color B loop. Finish knit st. You are knitting one st of Color A and one of Color B at the same time. You can do this with the yarn hanging of Color A, Color B or bring in Color C.

Knit around so that when you get to the beginning of the round you've knitted the two pieces together. Cut unused yarn(s) once you've finished the round. Weave in later.

Continue knitting around until the hat is about six inches from the bottom of the lower roll.

Decreasing rounds:

1.-*Knit 9, K2tog.* Continue * to * to the beginning of the round.

2.-Knit next row without any decreases

3.-*Knit 8, K2tog.* Continue * to * to the beginning of the round.

4.-Knit next row without any decreases

Contine pattern around decreasing one st on each odd numbered row and knitting even on the even numbered rows. Switch to DPNs or use the two circulars at the same time (see small diameter knitting) until there are ten or less sts left on the needles. Cut yarn with a 6 - 9 inch tail, weave it through the remaining sts and fasten off.

Regular Round Hat

Again, with appropriate yarn and needles, CO a multiple of 11 sts. We'll use 88 in this example.

Join the sts and knit in your favorite rib pattern (mine is K2 P1) or garter st (K 1 row, P 1 row) for ten rows or however deep you want the ribbing/edging to be.

Knit until hat measures about 5 inches.

Begin decrease rounds.

K6 sts, K2tog around

Knit a round even

K5 sts, K2tog around.

Continue as described above.

January 12, 2007

Here's a pic of the child's gauntlets I made for EGD. There were made with Red Heart Strata self-striping yarn.

I'm teaching a knitting class at my EGD's school next week. Hopefully it will become a knitting group eventually. Several people have asked if we can make the gauntlets. Although I don't plan that as a first project because I don't plan on teaching purling right away, it's definately on the burner for being a future project!

I started a new project last night.... I have so many small balls of left overs from my Christmas knitting, so I decided to make a log cabin blanket/afghan....big thing. We'll see how long my resolve lasts on making a large project. I don't expect it to be done till next winter as I know how boring it'll be, but it's a great project for when I want, what I call, no-brainer knitting. I do them when visiting with friends, watching TV, at the movies, traveling, etc. My Strawberry Shawl without the strawberries falls in that category.

I'm thinking of making knitting needles for the participants of the class. If I have time today to go get wooden dowels, I'll do it. Otherwise, as I'm without a car all weekend, it'll be too late to do it. They won't be as fancy as the ones Dawn made on her site, but..... it's the thought that counts, right?