Ballymurphy Scarf...all done!

A number of ways to wear it

See my Ballymurphy Scarf all finished?  This was started from a kit that I purchased in April 2015 at Vogue Knitting Live in Pasadena, from designer Maggie Jackson.  The linen, multi-color linen and bits of fluffy angora are from Maggie's own line of Irish yarns. The linen yarn is comprised of multiple strands, but was easy enough to work with on the needle with just a bit 'o care. This finished cloth has a beautiful drape, soft to the touch indeed. There's also custom made buttons that came with the kit. All in all a great project that furthered me along in my knitting capabilities, to my delight.

Simple weaving; multi-color scarf

Here is my first multi-color scarf, woven on an Ashford Rigid Heddle Knitter's Loom.  The yarn is from my stash of very inexpensive stuff purchased on sale; Red Heart Heads Up yarn, 80% acrylic, 20% wool.  After putting the yarn onto the loom, the weaving went very quickly.  The finished scarf measures about 8 1/2" x 37".  After taking the woven fabric off the loom, I washed it in hot water and then put it in the dryer.  The fabric came out soft and pliable and will wear well. 

I've been knitting!

Knitting's been in the forefront of what I've been up to.  Can't exactly tell you when this knitting frenzy will end.  I've got quilting to do and I need to get busy sewing, plus there's the garden to tend to.  Oh, did I mention?  I need to feed my hubby; he's generous, multi-tasked, multi-talented, but he does not cook.  Knitting is at the top of my list...hard to stop.  Multiple projects going on here...sigh; is that how it is for other knitters, I wonder.  In the picture, see the rust-colored sweater?  It only needs a few yarn ends woven in and buttons applied to be complete; the capelet (love this pattern, so easy, so quick)...same thing; the little lavender sweater is for Natalie, Size 3T in the making; see the beginnings of puffed sleeves?  I'd say my knitting skills have moved up, probably from advanced beginner to intermediate.  There's been a lot of looking up of stitches and techniques to help me along as I go.  So there you go.

Ballymurphy Scarf in progress (#2)

I simply adore this scarf...the yarn, the pattern.  At time of purchase, the buttons that come with this kit were missing from the bag; they told me they'd mail them along to my home address, and I agreed.  I'm thinking I'll be needing those buttons sooner than later.  It's movin' along!

Ballymurphy Scarf in progress (#1)

Ballymurphy Scarf

 

While at Vogue Knitting Live! in Pasadena, on April 18, 2015, we stopped in at the MaggiKnits booth, where Maggi herself was there to meet and greet.  I was taken by her fabulous, artsy designs and my primary purchase at the show was one of her kits.  The yarn in this kit is a 3-ply linen.  The scarf is knit from side to side, and I am using a US Size 8 straight needles.  I had my doubts that I could handle the knitting required, but so far it's going well; not as complicated as I had feared.  Work in progress...

My Little Toy Dragon, pattern by Susan B. Anderson

This past weekend, Vogue Knitting Live came to Pasadena, California.  In anticipation, I had signed up for a class months in advance.  I chose the Little Dragon Toy Workshop, featuring designer Susan B. Anderson, because I thought it would be a fun project.  Due to a long and tedious drive from Temecula to Pasadena and problematic parking at the Convention Center once I got there, I was late to class by 1/2 hour, the last one to sign in.  Of course, this put me out of sync and I never did settle in and enjoy the class as much as I might otherwise have done.  Still, I was able to absorb most of the tips and insight which the instructor offered for this pattern in her lecture.  I took the written instructions and was able to finish my dragon at home, as there simply was not enough time to complete this fellow in class.  My toy dragon is knit with two strands of fingering-weight yarn (Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn) and Size 5 double pointed needles; a fun and relatively easy pattern that knitted up very quickly.  He's a keeper!
 

Tea Cozy for Pint-size Teapot

See my crocheted tea cozy?  I have been needing a small cozy for my pint-size teapot.  This was fast and easy to crochet, and I love the result.  The cozy was worked sideways with a half double crochet rib stitch pattern, Stitches used:  chain (ch), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), slip stitch (sl st).  Gauge would be approximately 4 sc = 1"
16 hdc = 4", using Size H crochet hook, and worsted weight yarn.  This is what I used, but size can vary depending on your adjustments.

Note:  Ch 2 at beginning of hdc rows counts as a stitch.

Tea Cozy
Ch 26
Row 1:  Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across (25 sc)
Row 2:  Ch 2, turn, sc in back loop only (BLO) of first 5 sc, hdc in BLO of next 20 sc (25 sts)
Row 3:  Ch 2, turn, hdc in BLO of first 20 hdc, sc in BLO of next 5 sc (25 sts)
Row 4:  Ch 2, turn, sc in BLO of first 5 sc, hdc in BLO of next 20 hdc (25 sts)

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until piece measures *half way around teapot; fasten off; this is Side 1 of the cozy.  Make Side 2, following same instructions as Side 1.  Place Side 1 and Side 2 together, wrong sides facing, and join sides together at top and bottom of each side, leaving openings for the teapot spout and handle.  Make a crochet chain or knit an I-cord, to create a drawstring for the top of the cozy.  Weave finished drawstring through row, at 5th sc from edge.  Gather top of cozy and tie into a bow.

*Measure piece against your teapot for a good custom fit.

Knitted Bags; worsted-weight yarn

Pattern reference: https://www.plymouthyarn.com/f171

I have a handful of skeins of white worsted weight yarn in my cupboard, I can't remember why.  One of my goals for 2015 is to make use of the yarn I already have, otherwise referred to as "from her stash."  I collect patterns and found this wonderful free pattern from Plymouth Yarn Company on its website. The pattern offers three knitted varieties of bags, using worsted-weight yarn.  I used a 16" circular as well as double-pointed needles (size 7) as prescribed in the pattern.  Each of my bags measures approximately 6" in diameter and 8" in height.  Of course, size can vary depending with gauge, needle size and yarn used.  I did want to use Plymouth Encore Worsted, but it's not stocked at local stores where I live, so I substituted with Lion Brand Wool Ease (worsted weight) instead.  These bags are knit from the bottom up.  In the purse pictured on the right, I used two strands of yarn for the bottom to provide more body, and then switched to a single strand for the rest of the purse.  The other purse (left) was knit with a single strand of yarn throughout.  For the ties, I twisted strands of yarn as recommended in the pattern for one bag, and for other I knitted a three-stitch I-cord.