ODW: Bottle Gift Bag

I want to apologize for not posting on  Friday, but my niece was kind enough to share her cold with me and so I have been a little out of sorts the last few days. However, to make it up to you I am posting a One Day Wonders pattern for your last day of the weekend.

But before I post the project, I want to recommend a knitting magazine for all of you to check out. I picked up Simply Knitting at my local Joann's store a few days ago and was quite impressed with the UK magazine. However, the magazine was a little pricey for me, $10.00, although it was the same price as some American magazines. This magazine has a lot of great patterns and every issue comes with a free gift. The issue I bought came with free 5 mm (US 8) bamboo knitting needles, which I used to make the bottle gift bag. I understand if the magazine is a bit pricey, but I recommend buying at least one in your lifetime. I actually used a stitch pattern from the January 2011 magazine as the border along the bottom of the bag.

As I mentioned earlier, I used my free knitting needles for this bottle gift bag project. I made the bag pictured out of recycled yarn from an old project. I actually found a discarded shawl project, but I couldn't find the pattern to match so I decided to reuse the yarn. I do not know the brand, color, or weight of the yarn, which is why knitting a tension square is important. This was a last minute project so I actually skipped a tension square. If you decide to skip a tension square then make sure you have a bottle handy for measurements.

BOTTLE GIFT BAG

Materials

• 1 Skein of yarn – good time to use yarn from your stash

• Size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles

• Yarn needle

Directions

1. Cast on 40 stitches

2. Knit

3. K1, *K2tog, repeat from * until last stitch, k1

4. K1, *kfb, repeat from * until last stitch, K1

5. Purl

6. Continue in Stockinette stitch until piece measures 7.5” from beginning

7. *K2, P2 repeat from * across row

8. *Yarn in front, k2tog, P2 repeat from * across row

9. *K2, P2 repeat from * across row. Continue in K2, P2 ribbing until piece measures 9” from beginning. Cast off.

Making Up: Fold the knit piece in half, vertically, making sure the right sides of the piece are facing each other. Then sew the open side seam and the cast on edge shut. Turn the bottle bag right side up and your gift bag is ready to be used.

Click on Bottle Gift Bag to download your own copy of the pattern.

Yes, it is really that easy to make. The first 4 rows of the pattern are the little clusters stitch featured in the January 2011 Simply Knitting. I considered making the whole bag in this stitch, but the fibers in my yarn were unraveling and making a mess. Alternatively you could make this bottle bag using double pointed needles, which I recommend if you do not want a seam down the middle. This bag is pretty basic, but I will be posting much more complicated bags in the future so stay tuned.

 

Happy Knitting!

Viking Color Graph

In the last blog I had mentioned the Viking Color Graph, pictured left, would be available for purchase. I had hoped to post this sooner, but I was busy working on another project, which unfortunately took up most of my weekend. :/

However, I am now ready to post up the information for purchasing this color graph:

Viking Color Graph           $1.00

No shipping and handling required. Email me at smokethedog42@yahoo.com to begin transaction and I will email you the color graph in either a PDF or JPEG format, you choose, as soon as payment has been confirmed.

WA: Men's Sports Beanie

I want to start this blog by offering my sincerest apologies for not posting my Weekend Adventure project last weekend. Life has been hectic lately, but I vowed this year I wouldn't let that be my excuse. I cannot guarantee that I will post twice a week like I had originally planned, but I will post as often as I possibly can.

Afraid to knit for men? Well check out Bruce Weinstein's book, Knits Men Want, for 10 rules every woman should know before knitting for that special man in their lives. His book provides help and insight to women every where and should help you break that boyfriend curse. :)

This weekend, for those of you who don't know, is Martin Luther King Jr's weekend, which means a 3-day weekend for many people. I actually have been fortunate enough to have a 4-day weekend and celebrated with a manicure. My hands are feeling silky smoothly and I am ready to post this weekend's project.

I have a fantastic sport's beanie, designed for men, for this weekend's project. I actually designed this beanie for my uncle's birthday. Since I already gave him the beanie I can officially post the project. His beanie was customized for his sport's interest, but I am posting the basic beanie project.

Men's Sport's Beanie

 Materials:

• Size 8 circular knitting needles - 16"
• Size 8 double pointed needles
• 1 skein Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in black
• I skein Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in purple
• Yarn needle

Gauge:

4" x 4" square = 17 stitches x 23 rows

Circumference = 23" Length = 8 3/4 inches

Directions:

1. Cast on 92 stitches using black yarn. Join, being careful not to twist.
2. Knit 2 rows. Switch to purple yarn and knit 18 rows.
3. Switch to black yarn and knit until piece measures 8 inches from beginning or length to fit your head. Begin to decrease:
4. *Knit 2, k2tog. Repeat from * across row.
5. Knit all stitches.
6. * Knit 1, k2tog. Repeat from * across row.
7. Knit all stitches.
8. *K2tog. Repeat from * across row.
9. Knit all stitches.
10. Repeat row 8. 12 stitches remain on needles.
11. Thread yarn tail through remaining stitches and pull tight like a drawstring purse. Weave in all lose ends.

Notes, Embellishments, Etc:

• You will switch to the double pointed needles during the decrease rows when the stitches become too strained on the circular needles.
• Change the colors of the beanie to reflect your favorite sport's team. This beanie was designed for a Minnesota Viking's fan.
• Add a sport's logo color graph to the front of your beanie. I used the Minnesota Viking's logo, designed by me, which will be available for purchase. I will make another post with purchase information later.

My uncle loves his beanie and I encourage all of you to knit your own sport's beanie. I am hoping to offer more sport's color graphs at a later date so stay tuned. I made this beanie over the span of two days, but it took approximately 6-7 hours to complete. If you make this beanie remember to post pictures because I would love to see your ideas.

Happy Knitting!

Interlude

Quick Note:

Finally feeling better after a week of being bed-ridden with the flu. I am finishing up on a project, which I will be posting later on today. It will be a weekend project to get you ready for this weekend. I also have something special planned for Martin Luther King Jr's weekend as well.

I won't be able to post pictures of the baby blanket with ribbon border until next weekend as well. So stay tuned for more projects.

Happy Knitting!

Sorry I haven't posted. Just started school again. Will post soon.

WA/CJ: Homespun Baby Blanket

Today is New Year's and I am happy to announce that I have my first pattern to post of the new year. I would have posted earlier, but sleep deprivation finally caught up with me. This pattern is classified as a Weekend Adventure (WA)/ Commitment Junky (CJ) project. It took me roughly three days to finish this blanket, but I had a bit of a deadline to finish. I would suggest spreading the work out over a week or two (20 rows a day = 13 days to finish) to keep knitting enjoyable and to save your fingers! Anyways, here is the most-anticipated pattern:

Homespun Baby Blanket

This is a crib blanket made from LionBrand Homespun yarn in Blue Sky. Crib blankets measure 36" x 52", but a regular baby blanket is typically 34-36" x 34-36". The finished size is really up to you, but the directions are written for the crib blanket size of 36" x 52".

Materials:

• 4 skeins Homespun yarn in Blue Sky
• Size 10 circular needles
• Yarn needle

Gauge: I used the gauge listed on the yarn, which is 14 sts by 20 rows for a 4" x 4" tension square using size 10 needles.

Directions:

1. Cast on 126  stitches onto a size 10 circular needles. Do not join stitches.
2. Knit until the entire piece, measured from beginning to end, measures 52". This is approximately 260 rows or 13 sets of 20 rows each.
3. Bind off all stitches.
4. Weave in ends and enjoy!

This baby blanket is really versatile and easy to make. This blanket can have a few different looks without changing the pattern too much. I have included the various options, with instructions:

1. The instructions above can easily be converted to a crochet pattern. Using a size K-10.5  hook, cast on 126 stitches. Single chain in each stitch across the row. Chain 1, turn, and repeat until the entire piece measures 52". Slip the working yarn through the last stitch, pull, and weave in the ends. The crochet version is pictured left.
2. Knit the blanket according to the pattern above and crochet a border around the entire blanket using a size K-10.5 hook. The crochet border can be single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, or even triple crochet all the way around. The choice is yours.
3. Follow the instructions in the previous step, but use a double crochet stitch along the border. Take 1/4" wide ribbon in a complimentary color and weave throughout the border. Then form a bow with the ribbon ends. You will need a little more than 5 yards of ribbon. To keep the bow from coming untied, sew the middle pieces together. I will actually be posting pictures of this example in the next blog post, as soon as I finish the ribbon addition.

As you can see there are several different options for customizing your own baby blanket. And of course, you could always just change the color. LionBrand's Homespun yarn has several color choices available. The complete selection can be seen at LionBrand Homespun Yarn on the website's homepage. Homespun can be a bit pricey, $6.99 a skein on LionBrand's website, but has a rich, warm texture that is great for blankets. Michaels and Joann's has Homespun for approximately $5.99 each, while Walmart has it listed for $4.99 each. I encourage knitters to keep their eyes open for store coupons and special deals to save a lot of money. At Michael's this past week, I was actually able to get each skein of Homespun Blue Sky yarn for $2.49 each! I ended up saving $14 on 4 skeins!

Happy New Year's and Happy Knitting!

New Year's Knitting Resolutions

Happy New Year's Eve!

In honor of today I thought I would take the time to think about some new year's resolutions for my knitting and my blog. I also want to encourage you to think about your own new year's resolutions for your own knitting. Is there a stitch you always wanted to learn? Do you have unfinished projects that have been cast aside? Is there something you have always wanted to make? If you answered yes to any of the following questions than this is the blog for you and the year to make a knitting resolution. There is so much I have wanted to accomplish with my own knitting, but I always seem to be able to find an excuse for why now is not the time. I think we can all relate to making excuses, but I want this year to be our year, we WILL come out on top.

For 2011, I am making two New Year's Knitting Resolutions, or NYKR for short. As I mentioned in the last post there is so much that I hope to accomplish for this blog and its readers. I was hoping to already have everything worked out and to just be able to blog away at a regular interval, but life always seems to happen. This year there will be no more excuses. I will transform this blog into everything I had ever hoped it to be. However, until then please excuse the scrambled mess of everything. Hopefully I will have everything worked out by the end of January. I will post more about these changes in a little while, but first my second NYKR.

My second New Year's Knitting Resolution is to knit more charity projects. I subscribe to many charity knitting websites, blogs, etc, but I have to admit that I have not done my part. I have started a few projects, but always ended up on a project for a friend or family member.  But after all the knitting I did for everyone in 2010, I am making 2011 about those who really need it. Specifically I am looking into charity knitting for the military and for various ages at the local children's hospital. These are two charities that personally touch my heart the strongest, but they are not the only charities I intend on helping this year.

I know some of you have been wondering what 2011 has in store for this blog, especially in light of all this transformation talk. I am really excited about some of the changes I am going to make. First I will be posting many more patterns up that will be available for download. I will also be re posting the Getting Started booklet for beginning knitters and the Inside My Knitting Bag graphic, which will hopefully help new knitters. I will also readdress various pattern stitches and post written instructions for them as well. I am also going to change pattern identification as well.

Patterns will be listed according to three categories: One Day Wonders (ODW), Weekend Adventures (WA), and Commitment Junky (CJ). Projects are not included in the sections based on physical working time lapsed between beginning and end. I have found that most people are unable to knit for more than a couple of hours at a time. Thus, the sections are divided according to how much one can accomplish while also doing other things. One Day Wonders are projects that take a  day or less to complete. These projects will typically be projects that you can complete in a few hours. Weekend Adventures take a little more time, but are not necessarily more complex, just longer. Commitment Junky projects are projects that you have to commit to, which may be anywhere from a week to a couple of months. I understand that all knitters knit differently, but these projects are divided according to the theory that you will only be able to knit a few hours a day.

There are two more changes I would like to make to the blog, but I am not 100% sure if I will actually make the changes. First, I am looking into recording some video tutorials that will feature One Day Wonder projects as well as stitch explanations. I do not know if I will have enough time to record, edit, and post these videos, but it is something I would like to be able to offer. I also would like to extend this blog to include all crafts, not just knitting, because I know many of us are crafty in all parts of our life. Personally I do many crafts and I would like to make it available to other people as well.  Anyways, I better get back to work, but I wanted to include you all in this process. I should hopefully be able to post a project up later on today or tomorrow.

So, how about you? What are some of your NYKRs? Please feel free to post them in the comment section listed below. I believe knitters, as all people, should encourage and help others accomplish their goals.

Happy New Year's and Happy Knitting!!!