Fun Fingerless Gloves (FFG)

A couple weeks ago I decided that I have really missed knitting and crocheting. I checked around the internet for a simple, yet cute pattern for fingerless gloves (free pattern here).

It was an easy knit pattern and helped used up scraps of yarn from other projects.

What makes the pattern so darn easy is that is in knit flat and then simply stitched up the side - leaving a hole where you want your thumb.

It was fun getting the knitting needles moving again.

Tree Yarn Bombing

I know it's crazy. I know it's nuts. But it just makes me smile when I see some of the fun yarn bombing that folks do.

Check out this article about a little bombing in a town in Iowa. And...they even give instructions on how to do your own tree bombing (I have to say I've always wondered how a person just "starts" knitting for a tree!).

BFF Cowls

Isn't this the cutest? (The look is great - and I love the color combo and textures as well.)

You knit a flat cowl, swap with a friend, then unite them together for the funnest look!

Check it out!

Here a Bomb, There a Bomb

I love yarn bombing. It's strange. It's odd. It's interesting. It's fun. It's playful. And it often makes me smile.

But this is one yarn bomb I certainly never expected to see. A plane....bombed.

Knitting for Penguins

It's so sad and so cute all at the same time!

These little (fairy) penguins on New Zealand's coast need our help. An oil spill has left their environment unclean and dangerous. Volunteers are working hard to save them and take care of them - but they are asking for little knit wool sweaters for the oil-soaked babies. The sweaters help keep them warm and also prevent them from ingesting oil while trying to clean their feathers.

I understand there is a new need for more sweaters - so if you're interested in getting your knitting needles moving (I know mine will be!), here's the pattern. More information can be found at Skeinz, a New Zealand yarn store. Also, look here for more information about fairy penguins who were saved after a 2000 oil spill).

Penguin Jumper in 8ply - Must be 100% Wool Yarn

1 pair 3.25mm , 1 pair of 3.75mm needles , 1 set of 3.25mm dpn’s or circular

• Cast on 36 stitches using 3.25 needles.K1, P1 to end of row. Repeat this row 7 times. Change to 3.75mm needles and K2, P2 rib. Work 4 rows increasing at each end of every row. (44 sts)
• Continue until work measures 15 cms.
• Decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 28 sts remain.
• Decrease 1 st. in middle of next row (27 sts.)
• Leave on needle.
• Make second side the same.
• Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows.
• Cast off.
• Stitch up sides to decreasing to 27sts (opening for flipper). Add elastic to the top and bottom to prevent the penguins getting out of them. Top: 15cm of elastic; bottom 17 cm (knots allowed).
• Flat elastic ok to use.

Warm Up America

If you're in the midwest, you'll notice a big change in temperature when you wake this morning. It's gone from quite-warm to chilly-toes weather overnight.

I personally love the cooler weather (note: I did not say COLD weather!) and it must be in God's plans to give today a little nip in the air because today happens to be Stitch and Pitch Day - where during a Mets baseball game, there is a special event happening where folks will gather and knit or crochet scarves and hats to help Warm Up America.

How fun! I hope all who attend and participate in this great event have a stitching-good-time!

Felted Slippers: Steps One, Two, Three

A couple weeks ago, I bought a pattern for knitting and felting wool slippers. They are actually called "slipper clogs" because they are similar in style to a clog-type-shoe.

I decided to use some wool yarn that I already had a home. (What?? Extra yarn at home?? Never heard of such a thing!) So, if you look closely, the bottom of one slipper is dark brown and one is gray. I ran out of gray yarn but didn't want to buy new yarn until I tested my ability to correctly follow the pattern.

Please pay no attention to the model's unattractive legs. Photos are only intended to show slippers, not skin.

Slipper one:  I kept hearing the old saying "three strikes, you're out" over and over in my mind - but I chose to ignore it. It was actually on the fourth time of starting over that I finally was able to follow the pattern without getting totally lost. I'm glad I took the time to start over - but at the time, I wasn't quite sure I was happy about it.

Slipper two: Slipper two went fine. I developed what I thought was a rather smart way of having a "guide" that helped me keep my place while following the written directions. It consisted of moving a paperclip and a piece of paper. Who would have thought?

Washing machine: Two washes through the "whites" cycle while inside a small garment washing bag and the slippers were felted nicely. I washed some wool sweaters at the same time - killing two felting projects with one stone...er...load. A little stretching in each direction pulled the slippers back into proper shape. I also slipped them on my feet for about 5 minutes to help shape the right and left difference.  Then I air-dryed them on my back porch. (Back porch is not required.)

Slippers one and two: Done and ready for winter in Wisconsin.

Sorry for blurriness. For some reason, I can't hold the camera steady while looking at my feet!

Patriotic Knitting

I just started knitting some slippers with a size 13 needle.  I thought that was big enough. . .

Knit One, Chat Two

Today we started what we think is the “official” day of our Every-Second-Saturday-Of-The-Month-Knitting-Gathering. We met promptly (ok, I wasn’t prompt but only missed it by about 10 minutes) at 9:30 am at a local yarn/coffee/bookstore.

This morning gathered six of us. We all either brought our own beverage or purchased a hot cup of something from the shop while enjoying their cozy fireplace, couches and rocking chairs. One generous knitter even brought just baked gingersnap/gingerbread bread. Yum – a perfect addition to a fresh November morning.

Several of the knitters have been enjoying the craft for many years. One knitter is a little newer to the art – having started her knitting adventure with a lovingly made dishcloth for her husband last Christmas. She playfully described her dishcloth journey which started her in the knitting world and reported that somehow her finished dishcloth ended up with a slightly distorted shape. Luckily, we all are very aware that a free-form shape works just as well as one with a mathematically correct outer parameter. Thank goodness!

The same member of our group was even able to complete a scarf project this morning that was started last winter (it's around her neck in the photo to the right)! Whoo Hoo! We all love a happily completed project.

After two swift hours of drinking, eating, chatting, shopping, laughing and, oh ya, knitting, we said goodbye for the day. A morning well spent.