Unexpected Surprises: Monkey or Panther?

I grew up watching the Carol Duvall Show, which aired on HGTV and DIY network, but was unfortunately canceled in 2003. Carol Duvall, in case you have never seen the show, always showcased different crafts in all kinds of mediums. On every show it seemed like Ms. Duvall had a sock monkey dressed according to the day’s theme, whether it be Fourth of July or Christmas. Old episodes of the Carol Duvall Show can still be seen online at HGTV.COM, DIYNETWORK.COM, and YOUTUBE.COM.

I loved the sock monkey and always wanted to create my own, but unfortunately still haven’t gotten around to it. Anyways, I loved the monkey design and decided to model my niece’s present off of her monkey. My niece is turning one next week and so this will be her birthday present. Thankfully she is still too young to read a blog and so her present will still be a surprise.

I had a little bit of difficulty with the actual knitting of the monkey because the needles I used were size US 3. Besides the size of the needles, which can be changed, the project worked up really quite easy. I chose to spread the project out over two days, but there is no reason why you wouldn’t be able to finish it in a day.

A typical stuffed monkey is usually two colors: cream and brown, but I decided to have a little fun with this monkey and instead used peach and white. All of the monkey’s body parts are worked separately thus making it a great project to start, stop, and start again. These types of projects are especially popular with busy knitters and those of us with short attention spans.

I was definitely eager to see the finished project, but was honestly surprised at the turn out. As I looked into the monkey’s eyes, I sighed deeply, realizing that the monkey looked more like Pink Panther, that adorable sneaky cat, in the old time cartoons. Old episodes of Pink Panther can still be seen on YOUTUBE.COM and HULU.COM. So you decide: is it a monkey or a panther?

That is the great part of knitting children’s toys. You have complete creative control. By changing the colors of a monkey to pink and white, I ended up creating something entirely new. Not to mention that children are going to invent their own stories so feel free to foster their creativity. I even added a dress to the monkey because it was going to a little girl. So there is no limit to the creative possibilities.

Inspired To Knit

Every design begins with inspiration. Knitwear designer Michele Rose Orne shares her secrets in Inspired to Knit, a collection of 21 patterns arranged by season. Michele finds inspiration in her surroundings and translates that inspiration into beautiful, original knitting projects. Her book is designed to help the reader find inspiration too. Four workshops allow you to gather ideas, create color patterns, sketch silhouettes to incorporate in future patterns. Envisioning a design is a wonderful place to begin any project, but having a sketch to look at is even better.

I personally have a sketch book in my knitting bag, my purse, and scattered throughout my house. A teacher, I had in elementary school, encouraged me to keep sketch pads around because you never know when you’ll find inspiration. Besides the sketch pad I also have a collection of inspiring photographs. These photographs can range from a sail boat to a swatch of fabric. Inspiration is everywhere.

Using the techniques in Michele’s book I created a collage of inspiration, sketches, and final design. My design is a top inspired by the feel of a sail boat on the water. It was easy to be inspired by this project. My readers will find that my sketches are far from artistic, but I hope that they will also find that the sketches don’t need to be anything special, just a general idea of the design. Getting started knitting is slightly trickier because you must decide stitch pattern, sizing, etc. But once you have decided all of this, with a little bit of planning, you can begin to try out your pattern.

I encourage you to obtain a copy of this book and allow it to feel you with creativity. I really enjoyed my nautical themed tank and I hope you will enjoy your own creations just as much.

Charmed, I'm Sure

I am so excited to be finally leaving the city for awhile. I am going to the beach for the weekend, which is why I have been too busy to post the last two days and probably won't be able to post again until Monday or Tuesday.

I have many new things to write about so we shall not be short on topics, but they unfortunately have to wait.
Yesterday I received some knitting books, all of which will be mentioned in future blogs, after I have had a chance to try out some of the projects.

However, I do want to spotlight one of these books now because it is absolutely amazing and I will be coming back to it after I have made a few of the patterns.

Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter, by Alison Hansel, is a paperback knitting book published in May 7, 2007. Alison Hansel became a Harry Potter fan while she was on bed rest with her twins. When her twins were born she was inspired by Fred and George (from the books) to design knitting projects about the series. Just as J.K. Rowling was inspired by her daughter to write, so to was Alison Hansel inspired to blog by her sons and then to go on to publish a book.

As I said earlier I haven't had the pleasure of knitting any of her patterns, but I have already fallen in love with the book. I have been charmed by Harry Potter and I know many of my readers have been too. Being a Harry Potter fan I have browsed through several people's interpretations on many of the knitwear shown in the movies, but have usually always come up slightly disappointed. No one seemed to catch the style and magic of the outfits in the movie. Everyone seemed to have the knit graphs for the Hogwarts logo, but no sweaters or cloaks to put it on. This is where Alison Hansel is different. Her book actually replicates many of the outfits worn by the characters. From quiditich sweaters, to house scarves, and even Harry's golden snitch socks. Each creation looks like it was taken straight off the set of the newest Harry Potter movie.

Alison Hansel even designed an owl to sit on a child's shoulder. The patterns are easy to understand and each project has several beautifully taken photographs. It is easy to imagine your own interpretations of her work as you flip through the pages. Alison Hansel even lists the projects in terms of wizarding levels. A beginning knitter becomes a level 1 or 2 wizard. Each project has an introduction describing either the place it first appeared in the series or the inspiration for the design from the movie. These projects are sometimes like a walk down memory lane, especially if you haven't watched the first few Harry Potter movies in a while.

I think I have gushed about this book long enough as I want to leave some surprise for when you open the book for the first time. I encourage you to buy it as $10.19 is an excellent price for a knitting book, especially compared to the $30 list price of some. Enjoy your weekend, enjoy your purchase, and I will see you back here after I take my own spellbinding journey to the beach.

God Bless.

Childhood Is Calling

I have been busy making arrangements for my family and haven't had much time to knit. However, I am planning on seeing the new Toy Story movie, which has finally made it to theatres. Yay!

The premiere of Toy Story 3 is great because Disney is great, but also because childhood is a magical place. I recommend spending this week, and many more, on the magic of children. Remember your own childhood, re-watch old movies, and start knitting that magic into your children's clothes and play things.

Fairy Tale Knits, but A. Stewart-Guinee is a remarkable book that incorporates the magic of children's play into their clothing. And when you buy from Amazon.com you are sure to get a good deal.

Just thinking about this book and Toy Story 3 has already given me so many ideas. I cannot wait to get knitting and to share my creations with you.

And hopefully I will have time to post a new pattern tomorrow. :)

Basic Stitches Finale

Today is the last of the 12 basic stitches being shown. All of the previous stitches have been archived on this website. The stitches shown today are not as complex as stitches 7-9, but are still excellent stitches to incorporate in your knitting.




Stitch 10 –Shadow Box Pattern

The finished pattern looks exactly as the name sounds, there are indeed little boxes, and the pattern is worked in multiples of 5.

Row 1: knit.

Row 2: * knit 1, purl 4. Repeat from * across row.

Row 3: * knit 3, purl 2. Repeat from * across row.

Row 4:: *knit 3, purl 2. Repeat from * across row,

Row 5: *knit 1, purl 4. Repeat from * across row,

Row 6: knit.

Repeat these 6 rows for pattern. Work to desired length and bind off in pattern.



Stitch 11 – Seed (Moss) Stitch

Worked with any multiple of an uneven number,

Row 1: * knit 1, purl 1. Repeat from * across row, ending knit 1.

Repeat this row to form pattern, work until desired length, and bind off in pattern.



Stitch 12 – Double Seed (Moss) Stitch

Worked with number of stitches.

Row 1: *knit 1, purl 1. Repeat from * across row.

Row 2: repeat row 1,

Row 3: * purl 1, knit 1. Repeat from * across row.

Row 4: repeat row 3.

Repeat these 4 rows for pattern. Continue until desired length and bind off in pattern,



While these stitches may not seem as complex it is still a good idea to practice these as well as all of the stitches featured before adding them to any project. It is important to feel comfortable with a stitch before using it in a larger project. All of the stitches mentioned are just simple variations of the knit and purl stitches.



More complex stitches will be featured in upcoming blogs and they are sure to be award winners. I understand that these basic stitches are a lot to take in if you are a new knitter, which is why I have assembled a Getting Started knitting pamphlet, which will be posted in the Free Pattern section. This pamphlet is also a great reference guide for experience knitters so be sure to check it out.

Basic Stitches From An Activist

I intended on starting this blog with a message about human rights, but as I went to find the link about the Iranian woman, I found out that protesting has worked and she will not be stoned to death. I realize that some readers might not know about what is going on so here it is:

An Iranian woman was convicted of adultery at the same time two men were on trial for killing her husband. Another court, separate from the murder trial, convicted her of having an extramarital affair with the suspects in her husband's murder trial. She was convicted despite any evidence of an affair. She has already spent 5 years in prison and suffered 99 lashes (also known as flogging), but was still sentenced to be stoned to death. Stoning is a slow, gruesome punishment. The prisoner is shrouded is a cloth, reminiscent of a poncho, stuck in a hole, and buried up to their waist or breast before having stones thrown at them by the men surrounding their hole. Men are buried up their waist and women up to their breast. If the prisoner is able to break free from their hole then there death sentence is commuted, but women never break free.

The innocence of the woman resounds in the evidence, but mostly in the fact that her own son risked his life to save hers. He was able to sneak a letter out of Iran asking the world for help. The world responded in protests and it seems to have worked because the Iran Embassy in London says the stoning will not happen. However, that is all that has been said. There does not seem to be any more information. It is unclear if she will be set free or executed in another manner.

I urge each and every one of you, my readers, to be knowledgeable about the world around you and to do what you can to help a poor soul in need. That is all I am going to say about this manner and I thank you for taking the time to allow me to express my opinion. Now on to knitting. :)

The stitches spotlighted in today’s blog, while still considered basic, are much more complex than the first 6 stitches featured. Today we will learn a 3 color pattern stitch as well as too cable stitches.




Stitch 7 – 3 Color Pattern Stitch

The finished piece resembles a checkerboard pattern, but with 3 colors instead of 2, and is worked with multiples of 2,

Row 1: with color A only, * with yarn in front, slip 1 purl wise; with yarn in back, knit 1. Repeat from * across row.

Row 2: with color B only, * with yarn in back, slip 1 purl wise; with yarn in front, purl 1. Repeat from * across row.

Row 3L with color C, repeat row 1.

Row 4: with color A, repeat row 2.

Row 5: with color B, repeat row 1.

Row 6: with color C, repeat row 2.

Repeat these 6 rows for pattern and continue until your knitting has reached the desired length. Bind off continuing pattern.



Stitch 8 – Simple Cable

Cable knitting contains a twisted structure that appears as if someone had stopped mid-braiding and is worked in multiples of 16.

Row 1: (wrong side) * knit 4, purl 8, knit 4. Repeat from * across row.

Row 2: (correct side) *purl 4, knit 8, purl 4. Repeat from * across row.

Row 3: repeat row 1.

Row 4: repeat row 2.

Row 5: repeat row 1.

Row 6: (correct side) * purl 4, slip 4 to double-pointed needle (or a needle specifically designed for cabling), hold in back, knit 4, knit 4 from double-pointed needle, purl 4. Repeat from * across row.

Repeat rows 1-6 for cable pattern and work until desired length. Bind off in pattern.



Stitch 9 – Horseshoe Cable

There will now be two cables seen instead of the single cable seen in the previous stitch. This stitch is also worked in multiples of 16.

Row 1: (correct side) * purl 2, knit 12, purl 2. Repeat from * across row.

Row 2: * knit 2, purl 12, knit 2. Repeat from * across row.

Row 3: repeat row 1.

Row 4: repeat row 2.

Row 5: * purl 2, slip 3 to double-pointed needle and hold in back, knit 3 from double-pointed needle, slip 3 to double-pointed needle and hold in front, knit 3, knit 3 from double-pointed needle, purl 2. Repeat from * across row.

Row 6: repeat row 2.

Row 7: repeat row 1.

Row 8: repeat row 2.

Row 9: repeat row 1.

Row 10: repeat row 2.

Repeat these 10 rows to form pattern and continue until desired length is reached. Bind off in pattern.



These stitches will give you plenty to practice, but are definitely worth the extra time. Don’t forget to check back to tomorrow, as the last of the basic stitches will be shown. these last stitches include two types of seed (moss stitches) and a shadow box stitch.

Basic Stitches From A Stressed Knitter

Today is a prime example of why I need to stay at my apartment until my sister moves out of the house. She is 17 years old but still cannot be talked to when she is tired because she gets cranky and WILL cry like an infant. If ever there were a poster child for discipline it would be her. She is spoilt beyond belief, constantly in trouble, and a nightmare to live with. I only come home because I am still in a transition stage with half my stuff at home and half at my apartment. I am not bothering to move the stuff yet because the apartment is in no way permanent. It is just a temporary residence while I am going to school. Not that any of this is relevant to readers. Although it is a strong reminder of why it is nice to have your own space to work in. If you can I heartily suggest turning a spare bedroom or walk-in closet into a craft room/ office. It is always nice to have a space that you can retire to when you need some alone time or just want to get some work done. Regardless of my location, knitting is the one constant, and provides shelter when I cannot stand my loving situation any longer. Knitting allows for the passive release of thoughts and stress.





The passive release of stress, today, took place in the beginning of a cardigan for my step-sister’s baby. This is not the same sister living at home. This is the sister, previously mentioned, pregnant with her second child. As previously mentioned, the baby is a little boy, who will be here in late October/ early November. This cardigan is designed with a preppy feel in bind and is a mix of white and blue. I even incorporated two of the stitches mentioned yesterday, the garter and the ribbing stitch. I am eager to finish this cardigan and am excited to see the final product on him.



I want to finish this blog with 3 more stitches for my readers to try. I hope you will enjoy these next stitches and will not be afraid to incorporate some of them in your own knitting.



Stitch 4 – Reverse Stockinette Stitch

This pattern reminds me of horizontal rows of zig zags and can be worked using any number of stitches.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until the piece reaches the desired length. Bind off in pattern.

***The difference between this stitch and the traditional Stockinette stitch is that in the reverse stitch the Purl side of stitch becomes the correct side of pattern.



Stitch 5 – Reverse Garter Stitch Rib

The finished product produces much more pronounced ribbing than with stitch 3 and is worked in multiples of 4.

Row 1: *knit 2, purl 2. Repeat from * across row.

Row 2: knit

Repeat rows 1-2 to produce pattern and continue in this manner until the desired length. Bind off in pattern.



Stitch 6 – Ribbing, Part II

This pattern creates a wider ribbing than seen with stitch 3 and is worked in multiples of 4.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: *knit 2, purl 2. Repeat from * across row.

Repeat rows 1-2 until desired length is reached and bind off in pattern.



Check back tomorrow for 3 more stitches and don’t forget to practice the stitches you learned today.

Basic Stitches From Awful Writer

I feel myself an awful blog writer because I have not been writing as often as I should. This is mainly because I am in a different living situation then I was previously and do not have nearly as much access to the Internet and for that I am sorry. But I also have been trying to finish a project for every blog, but I cannot seem to make my fingers work fast enough for a project completed every day, well not when I have other things to do as well. So I am going to devote the next several blogs, with a few exceptions, to outlining pattern stitches you might come across or would like to try, as well as spotlighting new things in the knitting community.




There are 12 basic pattern stitches used, but I will only be introducing 3 of them today. These first stitches are commonly used and are probably well-known with many knitters. I am not trying to insult anyone’s intelligence and mean for this blog to be purely a technical reference to new knitters.



Stitch 1 – Garter Stitch

Finished knitting appears in several horizontal rows and can be worked using any number of stitches.

Row 1: knit

Repeat row 1 until knitting has reached the desired length, Bind off in pattern.



Stitch 2-Stockinette Stitch (st st)

This pattern creates a series of valleys or v’s and can be worked using any number of stitches.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl

Repeat rows 1-2 until knitting has reached desired length. Bind off in pattern. The knit side of st st is also known as the right or correct side of pattern.



Stitch 3 – Ribbing

This pattern creates a ribbing effect by mixing knit and purl stitches together throughout your pieces and is worked in multiples of 2.

Row 1: knit

Row 2: *knit 1, purl 1. Repeat from * across row.

Repeat these 2 rows until knitting has reached the desired length. Bind off in pattern. This pattern also has a right and a wrong side. The right side will be the knit side, where the pattern can be seen, while the wrong side will resemble garter stitch.





As you can see, none of these stitch patterns are hard to make. If you are new to knitting then I would encourage you to first practice these stitches in a tension square before attempting a pattern that calls for these stitches. For those knitters, who do not know, a tension square is a swatch of yarn knit up in order to test gauge and can also be washed in order to see how any knitting projects would fare before knitting. This is good to know because some yarns will shrink up in the wash. A tension square can be any size but gauge is usually checked using an area of 4 x 4. You can always undo these squares after you have finished them. I recommend, if you are planning on undoing the square, to take a quick snapshot so you can recall what a particular stitch looks like later. Although with the popularity of knitting today you can probably find pictures of these stitches online.