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!!!

Bring on the New Year

It is only a few days before everyone rings in the new year. The year 2011 promises to be many things, but for me I hope 2011 is the beginning of something new and wonderful. As a part of the new year I am reinventing this blog and I hope to make the content accessible to more people.

Part of ringing in a new year is remembering the past year in all its glory and pain. This year has seen many ups and downs in both the world and my personal life. I have had to part ways with a few loved ones and watched a few more struggle to survive. I have also had the pleasure of witnessing the birth of new life, which is always a wonderful blessing.

This year has also been a big year for my knitting and other crafts. I must have lost my mind because I decided this year I would knit almost all of my Christmas gifts and crochet a few others. I knit four scarves for my boyfriend's family, with a special cheerleader pocket scarf for his sister. I also made a wonderful pair of slipper socks for his grandpa. I still need to sew the leather soles on the bottom, but I wasn't able to get the leather tools until a few days ago. For my own family, I knit an afghan for my mom using various shades of purple Homespun yarn and crocheted a pair of matching slippers. I also crocheted a pair of white slippers with hot pink fur interior soles.

This might not seem like a lot, but combined with being a full time student at UC Davis I have been very busy. Plus I made an afghan for my boyfriend on our second year anniversary back in April. This year has def finitely been a very productive year in knitting. I still have several more projects to complete. Such as finishing the right hand on a pair of gloves, baby booties for my cousin's baby, and a baby blanket for an old friend. Not to mention finally putting some more of my ideas into work.

My number one piece of advice for the new year? PLAN!!! I cannot say it enough: PLAN!!! Planning is the best thing a person can do, whether they knit or not, to relieve stress and keep knitting a relaxing experience. I started my Christmas knitting in late June/early July, which eased my stress tremendously until I abandoned my planned pace and waited until a week before Christmas to finish all of my knitting projects. Fortunately I had finished 3 of the scarves during the summer and most of the afghan and slippers. It was not the quantity of work that proved to be stressful, but the emotions of trying to rush to finish.

My biggest regret of Christmas knitting? Not taking pictures of my work. I have been trying to document all of my crafts because I would really like to be able to expand my crafting business. But I was so busy knitting and rushing to finish so I could wrap them up and give them away that I never took the time to stop and take pictures. Live and learn I guess.

I hope next year is the start of my crafting success and proves fruitful in expressing both my recorded ideas and desire to use my knitting for good. I started knitting gloves for the serviceman, but I hope to extend this to include the neonatal unit at my local hospital as well as many others.

Best of luck in the next year! Happy Holidays and Happy Knitting!

Been MIA 4 awhile but have lots of new ideas & cant wait 2 start posting again on a regular basis. Need needles quick? Substitute pencils 4 needles in a bind.