Life is Sweet

Putting to rest Sweet Stitch

For those of you who frequented my web site sweetstitch.com, I have news for you. As of the second week of June, sweetstitch.com will be no more.

Because one of the most popular areas of the site were the free patterns (even though there were only two!), I’ve decided to begin offering free patterns here on my Blog. I hope this will give you reason to visit and keep in touch!

Thanks to everyone for making sweetstitch.com such a success. At times we had over 45,000 hits per month with page views in the thousands. Wow! That’s more than I ever would have imagined. I kept the site up for four years. It will be sad to say good bye.

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]

New yarn and more

Made a little trip to the Allyn Knit Shop on Thursday with mon amie and got some new funky sock yarn. TOFUtsies from SWTC not only is 50% Superwash Wool, 25% SOYSILK (made from TOFU) brand fiber, 22.5% Cotton, but also includes 2.5% Chitin (made from shrimp and crab shells). Chitin apparently has anti-bacterial qualities, perfect for socks! I’m so excited to try out this yarn. But I’m going to be a good girl and finish my husband’s STEP socks first.

Had my first knit night (kind of) at my house on Friday. I wanted to invite tons more people, but I worried about space. So I just invited a very small group, and it was very comfortable. Made me realize I could easily have more, too. I really want to start a Sunday group. We’ll see.

And so it begins…

It’s time to have a blog. A real blog. Not just a LiveJournal that I only update once a year.

I recently closed my business of three years and have joined the ranks of the unemployed. With Washington State experiencing its lowest unemployment rate since 1983, I am a little worried about job hunting. I feel like I have a rich and varied employment background, and I know I am a great employee. I’m just wondering how long it’s going to take my next employer to realize this!

While this is all at the forefront of my mind, I am managing to enjoy the heck out of the time off. I haven’t had a break like this since I was a junior in high school. Thanks to my wonderfully supportive husband, I can take it easy, get things done around the house, and enjoy lots of quality time with our elderly dog, Grandma Abby.

On the needles

Since I am a knitter, I should be writing about some knitting!

I am currently working on two projects. My “big” project is the Artists Coat from Rowan Classic Yarns, using their Luxury Cotton DK. I have the fronts and back done. I’m planning to seam the shoulders and do the neck/front finishing before starting the sleeves. This isn’t exactly the usual order of things, but I really enjoy a break from the knitting, also I know for sure that I’ll have enough yarn and not run out before the neckline is done!

My other project is a pair of socks for the hubby made from Austermann’s STEP yarn which has aloe and jojoba oil for yummy softness and foot nourishment. They claim the nutrients stay in the yarn for up to 30 washings. I really love the colors. More pictures to come!