Domestic Goddess

For the perfect Mother's Day gift I've decided to make three dishcloths to send my mom. My grandmother has always used hand-knit dishcloths in her house, knitted by her sister in Nebraska. At first these seemed odd, but after using them there I realized they are really nice and soft. Plus it's a fun way to try out a new pattern!

For all three towels I used size US 10.5 needles and cast-on 30 stitches in the cable cast-on method. You can use any 100% cotton yarn and for these I knit with two strands of yarn held together. Most of the yarn is the cheapy Sugar 'n Cream brand (only 1.99!) while one teal-blue color in the first towel was Paton Pure organic cotton left over from Atom's baby blanket.

Checks and Ridges Towel



To get this stripe effect, I pulled from both white and teal-blue yarn for 2 sets of the pattern and then did one set of the pattern with a color that changed from dark teal to lime green. I did this 4 times and then ended with 2 sets of the white and teal-blue colors.

This pattern is a multiple of 4 + 2
My pattern was using 26 sts and I added a border of K2 on either side of the towel.

CO 30 sts
R1 :: k all
R2 :: k all
R3 :: k2, p2 * k2, p2 * repeat from * to * and end with the k2 border
R4 :: k4 *p2, k2 * repeat from * to * and end with the k2 border

When the piece looks like an approximate square, knit all stitches for 2 rows and BO.
Weave in ends.




Ribbed Towel

For this towel I pulled from both a solid blue color and another strand that changed from tealy-greens to lime to light blue.

CO 30 sts
R1-3 :: k all
R4 :: k2 * yo, sl1, k1 * k2
R5 :: k2 * yo, sl1, k2tog * k2

Repeat row 5 until the piece is approximately a square shape.

To end:
R1 :: k2 * k1, k2tog * k2
R2-3 :: k all

Bind-off and weave in ends.

This pattern based on the site here.



Garter Steps Towel



This towel was probably the least successful, but was a great learning exercise for me to try the "pick up and knit" technique. By making the towel a little longer than wide, I could go back in with a solid blue color and add a contrasting edge. A sample of the pattern without the borders can be seen here. If I made this again, I would start the pattern with the solid blue yarn and knit 4 rows as well, then switched to blue and white so that all four sides matched.

This pattern is a multiple of 8 and I added a k3 border on each side.

CO 30 sts
R1 and all odd rows :: k all
R2 + R4 :: k3, * k4, p4 * end k3
R6 + R8 :: k5 * p4, k4 * end p4, k5
R10 + R12 :: k3 * p4, k4 * end k3
R14 + R16 :: k3, p2 *k4, p4 * end k4, p2, k3

Once the shape is more of a rectangle, BO. Go back along the vertical edges, picking up stitches and knitting a garter stitch border for 4 rows. I learned how to do this by watching a video on knittinghelp.com here. The corners are pretty sloppy, but next time I'll have the hang of it!

Obsessed with Hats (Part 3)

For hat number three, I decided to try the warm pom-pom hat pattern I had based Erich's Monkee's Hat from, but sans pom-pom. And this time, it'll be really warm since it's alpaca and kid mohair yarn. For my snowboarding-goddess friend Kate, I wanted to make something warm and cute for her next snowy trip.

Kate's Cute Cable Hat

Kate with her new hat at happy hour

I started with Bernat Alpaca yarn in natural so it would be warm and also used Habu Textiles silk mohair yarn in a sage green. I pulled from both balls of yarn and loosly cable cast-on 72 sts.

First knit round and round in a rib, K2 P2 until the work is 2".

Next you switch to the moss stitch:
Row 1: K1 P1 the whole round.
Row 2: P1 K1 the whole round.
You always knit over a purl stitch and purl over a knit stitch.

Knit 25 moss stitches, then the cable diagram under, followed by knit 26 moss stitches. Continue like this until the work measures about 7.25".

I just recently learned how to read these diagrams. It's actually very easy! You just start with the bottom right corner as your first stitch in the pattern and work left. Once you finish that row, just move to the next one above. So after you knit the moss stitch for 25 sts, begin with the purl in the bottom right corner, moss stitch for 5 sts and then work into the cable pattern portion.

Now here is the tricky part. The pattern says to: Knit one row while you’re decreasing every third stitch = about 56 stitches left then Knit two rounds. But I didn't want to switch from the moss stitch so early since I thought it may look weird without the pom-pom. Instead I fudged the moss stitch and then went right back into it for 2 rounds.

After that, you decrease in three different places to avoid decreasing in the cable pattern, as it would look terrible.

Start the round by knitting two stitches together. K 10, 2 stitches together, knit until you’re 10 stitches past the cable diagram, knit 2 stitches together.
Continue to decrease in the same spot 10 times in total (10 rounds).

Cut the yarn and pull a needle through the rest of the stitches. Tighten!
To view the original pattern click here.

Obsessed with Hats (Part 2)

After the Monkees hat I was feeling a little more confident and decided to try one for myself this time. It's a bit girly, but oh so soft and comfy. This knits up quick (one episode of Lost and a couple hours) and would be fun in lots of color combinations.

Stripey Hat

I used a really soft bamboo blend for this hat; Bernat Bamboo Natural Blend in both Linen and another more taupey color. I'm not sure if bamboo is the best material for hats, but again, I had some laying around from a previous project.

Jerilyn modeling the stripey hat

Start by loosely casting on 64 stitches using circular US10 needles. I used the cable cast-on to give the edge a clean look.

Knit in the round.

Knit the rib, K2, P2 for about 2”.
Start knitting stockinette, and knit 6 rounds of the linen and the 2 rounds of taupe 3 times in total. Knit 5 rows of the linen and on the 6th row, start decreasing like this:
K 6, knit stitch 7 and 8 together. Repeat 8 times to complete the round.

Knit 2 rounds in the contrasting stripe color.

Switch back to the linen and finish decreasing the top of the hat:
K 5, knit stitch 6 and 7 together. Repeat 8 times to complete the round.
Knit 2 rounds.

K 4, knit stitch 5 and 6 together. Repeat 8 times to complete the round.
Knit 1 round.

K 3, knit stitch 4 and 5 together. Repeat 8 times to complete the round.
Knit 1 round.

K 2, knit stitch 3 and 4 together. Repeat 8 times to complete the round.

K 1, knit stitch 2 and 3 together. Repeat 8 times to complete the round.

Knit two and two stitches together.

Use a needle to get the strands through the rest of the stitches and pull through.
Assemble the ends.

This was based on a pattern I found here, but made it less long/baggy.

Obsessed with Hats (Part 1)

So I never understood how to make a hat before. Lucky for me, my knitting guru-friend Amy was able to teach me this weekend. And now I'm completely obsessed! Somehow knitting in the round makes it even harder to stop because you can just keep going and going and going... In two days I've made two hats, and after doing the first, the second seemed much easier.

Erich's Monkees Hat


Remember that guy in the Monkees that never took off his green beanie hat? Well, ever since I made this hat for Erich it's been like that. I know it's getting to be a joke (last night he slept in it!) but it sure looks cute on him!

For this hat I used US 10 circular needles and some Lion Organic Cotton yarn. I would have liked something other than cotton, but this is all I had around and it doesn't get that cold in San Diego anyway.

Cast on 72 stitches and knit in the round.
Knit a rib, K2 P2 until the work is approx 2".
Row 1: knit 31 sts, P2, and then slip 3 sts onto a cable needle. Knit the next 3 sts and then K3 off the cable needle. P2 and then K31.
Row 2-3: knit 31 sts, P2, K6, P2 and then K31

Repeat this pattern until the desired length (about 6-7") and then start decreasing:
Knit one row while you’re decreasing every third stitch = about 56 stitches left.
Knit two rounds.
Start the round by knitting two stitches together. K 10, 2 stitches together, knit until you’re 10 stitches past the cable diagram, knit 2 stitches together.
Continue to decrease in the same spot 10 times in total (10 rounds).
Cut the yarn and pull a needle through the rest of the stitches. Tighten!

This pattern is based on a pattern I saw online here.

New Ways to Cast-On

I had never really thought about new ways to cast-on at the start of a project. But then I got my Knitting Daily dose and realized there are endless ways aside from the usual long-tail technique I had gotten so comfortable with.

This technique below, called the Cable Cast-On is great because you don't have to estimate your tail length and it gives a very polished, twisted look on the edge of your project:



Begin with a slipknot and one knitted cast-on stitch if there are no established stitches. Insert right needle between first two stitches on left needle (Picture 1). Wrap yarn as if to knit. Draw yarn through to complete stitch (Picture 2) and slip this new stitch to left needle as shown (Picture 3).

Once you get this mastered, go ahead and try the cute and decorative Picot Cast-On:
1. Cast on a total of 5 stitches using the above Cable Cast-On method.

2. Bind off two stitches. (You'll have 2 stiches on the left-hand needle and 1 stitch on the right-hand needle.)

3. Slip the stitch on the right-hand needle onto the left-hand needle. (You'll have 3 stitches on the left-hand needle, with a space after the first two stitches, which is where you bound off the two stitches to make the picot. The stitch you slipped off of the right-hand needle counts as the first stitch in your next group of five.)

4. Use the cable cast-on to cast on 4 more stitches so you have 5 stitches after your last picot.

Repeat steps 2 through 5 until you have the required number of stitches cast on.

For more information on this (although you have to be a free member of Knitting Daily), visit: Picot Cast-On

Atom's Birthday Blanket

Since baby Atom got my very first (and the very worst) baby blanket when he was born, I decided to make it up to him for his first birthday next month.

He is turning one and since he's obviously bigger than a newborn, the blanket had to be larger as well. The final size of this ended up being approx. 30" x 23" which will be big enough for him to nap under in his car seat or crib.

I know I've posted this blanket before with different yarn, but here is the pattern again. This time I used Patons Pure 100% Organic Cotton in three shades of colors (Sea 2 balls, Beige 1 ball and Taupe 1 ball) on size 11 needles. This pattern goes fast and is really fun.

Start with the Sea color and cast on 77 stitches, or any multiple of 11. Then knit the next 4 rows, or garter stitch. Follow that with the pattern below for 3 sets:

Row 1: K2 together, K2 together, YO, K1, YO, K1, YO, KI, YO, K2 together, K2 together.

Row 2 - 4: Knit the garter stitch.

Switch to the Beige color and follow the pattern for 2 sets, then the Taupe for 1, and Beige again for 2. Now go back to the Sea for 3 sets of the pattern. To make the center brown stripe, follow the pattern with the Taupe for 2 sets, Beige for 1 set and Taupe again for 2 sets. Once again, repeat the pattern with Sea for 3 and repeat the first stripe pattern once more. Finish with 3 more sets of the Sea color and then end with four additional rows of garter stitch before binding off.

Use the colors as you like if you don't want to follow this stripe pattern, but make sure that you always start knitting the new color on row 1.

I know it is taboo to knot in knitting. But let's be honest. Sometimes, especially with patterns this open, it's pretty hard to weave in the ends all that well. So I confess... I cheat. When I switch colors I end up going back and knotting them off and twisting the knot under into the first stitch so it's not as visible. This way, when baby Atom makes a mess and it needs to get washed, it isn't a big deal.

Hopefully he'll love his new birthday blanket!

Lucky 13 Reversible Scarf

We're back from our amazing trip to New Zealand and Australia! More on that later...

This pattern is for a scarf I named Lucky 13 because of it's 13 row pattern. I came up with this scarf pattern while trying to figure out a way to make a reversable rib that wouldn't curl up along the whole edge. This solution creates a bit of a scalloped edge, but I love the way the overall texture turned out.

I used GGH's "Bel Air" yarn. This yarn is super soft and is made in Italy from 90% Merino and 10% Nylon. The color selection is great, with some subtle shades and other brights. I used 3 balls, but you could probably get away with 2 if you made a shorter scarf. Check out the yarn here:

http://www.yarnmarket.com/yarn/GGH_Yarn_Rebecca-Bel_Air_Yarn-2999.html

Essentially this scarf follows the Cartridge Rib pattern found in Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, but with Seed Stitch rows mixed in to make it reversible.

Using #10 needles, cast on 32 stitches.

Rows 1-5 ~ Seed Stitch (K1, P1 for border)

The rest of the scarf is as follows:

Row 1 ~ K3, *P1, K4* end K3

Row 2 ~ *P2, K3* end P2

Repeat for 10 rows.

Then:

3 Rows ~ Seed Stitch (K1, P1)

Repeat until desired length. Finish with 5 Rows of Seed Stitch and bind off.

I added fringe on mine, although it is optional. Enjoy!