Life is Sweet

Dad’s Cabled Scarf

Finally, a new pattern! I’m making this scarf for my Dad for his birthday. I’m using Alpaca with a Twist “Highlander” which is very soft and yummy. I bought it at Yorkshire Yarns. Great shop! Check it out, if you haven’t already. Okay, here is the pattern for this very easy, soft and yummy scarf!

Dad’s Cabled Scarf

Materials: 3 balls of Alpaca With a Twist “Highlander”
45% Baby Alpaca 45% Merino 8% Microfiber 2% Viscose
-or- approximately 435 yards of a worsted-weight yarn

Needles: Size 9 (us)

Other: Tapestry needle or crochet hook for securing ends.

Abbreviations/Patterns
Seed Stitch (SS): *K1, P1, repeat from * across row. On alternate row, knit the purls and purl the knits.

K: Knit P: Purl

C6B: “Cable six back,” slide the next 3 stitches onto a cable holder, hold to the back of work, knit the next 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from cable holder.

C6F: “Cable six front,” slide the next 3 stitches onto a cable holder, hold to the front of work, knit the next 3 stitches, then knit the 3 stitches from cable holder.

Pattern

Using size us 9 needle, cast on 40 stitches.

Work in seed stitch for 10 rows. Then, begin pattern as follows:

Row 1 (and all odd-numbered rows): SS 5, K2, P6, K2, P10, K2, P6, K2, SS 5

Row 2: SS 5, P2, C6B, P2, K10, P2, C6F, P2, SS 5

Rows 4, 6, 10 & 12: SS 5, P2, K6, P2, K10, P2, K6, P2, SS 5

Row 8: SS 5, P2, C6F, P2, K10, P2, C6B, P2, SS 5

Repeat rows 1-12 until scarf is about 1-1/2 inches from desired length, or until yarn is near the end of last ball.

Finish last 10 rows in Seed Stitch. Cast off loosely in pattern. Secure all ends and block lightly.

Download printable pattern (Microsoft Word doc)

Tussock Purse

Sorry there is no picture to accompany this pattern. You’ll just have to take my word for it that it’s super cute! Perfect for a little girl who really wants her own purse. Enjoy!

Materials
* 1 skein of “Tussock” by Naturally New Zealand Yarns (pattern uses about 150 yards of worsted-weight wool that will felt)
* Needle size 10.5 (us) in 16″ circular or DPNs and 2 double-pointed needles for handle
* Tapestry needle or crochet hook for securing ends.

Gauge: (Pre-felted) 14 stitches = 4″

Pre-felted measurements: 8″ width at bottom x 8″ height (6.5″ width at top)
After felting measurements: 6.5″ width at bottom x 5.5″ height (5″ width at top)

Abbreviations:
PM=Place Marker
K2tog=Knit two stitches together
K2togTBL = Knit two stitches together through the back loops
BO=Bind off

Pattern
Cast on 60 stitches. PM, join into round, being careful not to twist stitches. Knit even in rounds for 5″.

Begin decrease rounds as follows.

Round 1: *K2tog, K26, K2tog, repeat from *
Rounds 2-4: Knit even
Round 5: *K2tog, K24, K2tog, repeat from *
Rounds 6-8: Knit even
Round 9: *K2tog, K22, K2tog, repeat from *
Rounds 10-13: Knit even

Begin applied I-cord for top edging:
Cast on 3 stitches at beginning of next round. (New stitches should be on the left needle tip.)

*Knit 2, K2tog TBL. Slide three stitches from right needle back to the left needle tip and repeat from beginning *.

When only three stitches remain, bind off as normal. Darn in ends.

Make strap: Cast on 4 stitches to double-pointed needle. Work 4-stitch I-cord until strap is about 24″ long. Sew handle to bag before felting using the Tussock yarn.

Making I-Cord:
Instead of knitting into the first stitch on the needle like you normally would, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle and knit, pulling working yarn from opposite end of the needle along the back.

Repeat this for every row, so you are always pulling the working yarn from the opposite end of the needle on the first stitch.

Finishing/Felting
Be sure to weave in any loose ends before felting. Following are my tried and trued rules for felting.

Place your purse in a laundry bag or zippered pillow case. Put in washing machine with a pair of old jeans, or something similarly sturdy (not towels, as the fibers will shed onto your felted object). Set water temperature on hottest setting. Add just a small amount (like a teaspoon) of wool wash or gentle laundry soap. Set agitation setting to highest available.

Begin cycle, stopping after first five minutes to check progress. (Shrink to desired size or until stitches are no longer visible.) You may need to set the machine back to an agitation cycle until object is desired size.

Before the machine goes to the rinse cycle, remove the felted object from the washer. Rinse by hand under cold water. Gently ring out excess water. Roll in dry towels to remove water. Set object on a bed of towels to allow it to dry.

A note about front loading machines: One of the beautiful things about front loaders is that they are very gentle on your laundry. Unfortunately, this is the exact opposite of what you want to felt something. Agitation is very important in the felting process. I’ve heard that putting tennis balls, or a tennis shoe, in the front loader will help things to felt. Feel free to try what you will, but realize that it will take a lot longer to achieve the desired effect in a front loader. If you can, use the top-loading machine of a friend or family member.

Download a printable version of this pattern [Microsoft Word doc]

Jungle vines scarf

Jungle Vines Scarf
Materials: 3 balls of Crystal Palace “Cameo”
Size 10 knitting needles

Gauge: 16.5 stitches = 4″ in stockinette

(Scarf pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches, plus 2)

Abbreviations
K=Knit, P=Purl, YO=yarn over (bring needle forward as if to purl)
K2tog=Knit next two stitches together
SSK=Slip one as if to knit, slip another as if to knit, put left needle tip through two slipped stitches on right needle (from left to right), knit two stitches together
P2tog tbl=Purl next two stitches together through the back loop

Begin scarf
Cast on 32 stitches

Row 1: K1, * YO, K8, K2tog, repeat from *, end K1
Row 2: P1, * P2tog, P7, YO, P1, repeat from *, end P1
Row 3: K1, * K2, YO, K6, K2tog, repeat from *, end K1
Row 4: P1, * P2tog, P5, YO, P3, repeat from *, end P1
Row 5: K1, * K4, YO, K4, K2tog, repeat from *, end K1
Row 6: P1, * P2tog, P3, YO, P5, repeat from *, end P1
Row 7: K1, * K6, YO, K2, K2tog, repeat from *, end K1
Row 8: P1, * P2tog, P1, YO, P7, repeat from *, end P1
Row 9: K1, * K8, YO, K2tog, repeat from *, end K1
Row 10: P1, * YO, P8, P2tog tbl, repeat from *, end P1
Row 11: K1, * SSK, K7, YO, K1, repeat from *, end K1
Row 12: P1, * P2, YO, P6, P2tog tbl, repeat from *, end P1
Row 13: K1, * SSK, K5, YO, K3, repeat from *, end K1
Row 14: P1, * P4, YO, P4, P2tog tbl, repeat from *, end P1
Row 15: K1, * SSK, K3, YO, K5, repeat from *, end K1
Row 16: P1, * P6, YO, P2, P2tog tbl, repeat from *, end P1
Row 17: K1, * SSK, K1, YO, K7, repeat from *, end K1
Row 18: P1, * P8, YO, P2tog tbl, repeat from *, end P1

Repeat row 1-18 for length of scarf

Bind off loosely knitwise. Secure ends.

To block, soak scarf for 10-20 minutes in Eucalen or wool wash. Gently squeeze out excess water. Lay flat on a towel to dry.

Printable version of pattern [Word doc]

Seed stitch baby booties

Another pattern for all of you knitters! This is one of my adaptation of a popular baby bootie pattern. It is knit in one piece, in seed stitch. I used a novelty yarn called “Coral” on the top & tie. If you leave off the novelty yarn, you shouldn’t change needle size on the cuff. Happy knitting!

Coral Dreams Seed Stitch Baby Booties

Materials needed
1 ball of Plymouth Yarn “Dreambaby D.K” (183 yds.)
1 ball of Universal Yarn “Coral” (142 yds.)

1 pair of size us 3 double-pointed needles (DPNs)
1 pair of size us 4 DPNs
Spare needle size us 5

Other materials needed: Crochet hook size F (optional), tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: 6 stitches = 1″ in seed stitch using size us 3 needles.

Abbreviations
BOR=Beginning of round
K=Knit, P=Purl
P2tog=Purl two stitches together
P2togTBL=Purl two stitches together through back loop
M1=Make one by picking up loop from row below & knitting into back of stitch.
K2tog = knit next two stitches together
YO= yarn over

Begin sole
Using one strand of Dreambaby D.K. and smaller needles, cast on 7 stitches. Knit back and forth on these 7 stitches for 30 rows (15 garter ridges).

Begin sides
Next row: (you will be moving in a counter-clockwise path)
With second dpn, pick up and knit 14 stitches along next edge.
With third dpn, pick up and knit 7 stitches along cast-on edge.
With fourth dpn, pick up and knit 13 stitches along other long edge.

Place safety pin or locking marker here to indicate BOR.

Round 1: *K1, P1, repeat from *, ending with K1
Round 2: *P1, K1, repeat from *, ending with P1

Repeat rounds 1 & 2 for a total of 7 times, ending with round 2.

Begin instep
Seed stitch across needles 1 & 2 (as round 1 above)

On needle 3: [P1, K1] 3 times, then slip last stitch onto needle four and P2tog onto needle 3.

Turn, working back across needle 3, repeat this row. Except when you slip the last stitch onto needle 2, you will P2togTBL back onto needle 3.

Repeat these two rows, working back and forth across needle 3, decreasing one stitch on needles 2 & 4 each row for a total of 5 times. (8 stitches will remain on needle 2 and 7 stitches on needle 4)

Begin cuff
Move safety pin or locking stitch marker here to indicate new BOR.

Seed stitch back across needle 3. M1 (between needles 3 & 2), putting new stitch onto needle 2. Knit across needles 2, 1 & 4. M1 between needles 4 & 3 (putting new stitch on needle 3).

You will now be knitting every round.

Knit two rounds even.

Make eyelets
*K2, YO, K2tog, repeat from * all the way around

Knit one round even.

Next round: Change to size 4 needles and add one strand of Coral to the Dreambaby. Knit every round until cuff measures 2″. Using spare size us 5 needle, cast off all stitches.

Finishing
Weave in ends. Make I-cord for tie or crochet chain for ties. Lace through eyelets.

Download printable version of pattern (MS Word)

Leaf Stem bookmark

If you have lots of small scraps (and I mean small! Like 10 yards or less) lying around that you want to use up … and you need to create some quick gifts, here is a pattern you will love.

The Leaf Stem Bookmark

Uses approximately 7 yds. of DK-weight yarn
Needle size: Two double-pointed needles (DPNs) size 4 or 5

Begin stem
Cast on 4 stitches. Work in I-cord for 7″. On last row of I-cord, increase 1 stitch (K1, KFB, K3)

Begin leaf
Row 1: K2, YO, K1, YO, K2 (7 stitches)
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12: Purl
Row 3: K3, YO, K1, YO, K3 (9 stitches)
Row 5: K4, YO, K1, YO, K4 (11 stitches)
Row 7: SSK, K7, K2tog (9 stitches)
Row 9: SSK, K5, K2tog (7 stitches)
Row 11: SSK, K3, K2tog (5 stitches)
Row 13: SSK, K1, K2tog (3 stitches)
Row 14: Slip 1 (purlwise), P2tog, PSSO

Fasten off & weave in ends.

Abbreviations

K= Knit
P = Purl
KFB = Knit into front & back of same stitch (increase)
YO = Yarn over (bring yarn forward as if to purl)
SSK = Slip one knitwise, slip another knitwise, put left needle tip through two slipped stitches & knit together as one
K2tog = Knit two stitches together
P2tog = Purl two stitches together
PSSO = Pass slipped stitch over & drop off needle

Download printable version of pattern [MS Word document]