This Month in Stitches 2.26.14

This month I finished this shawl:

Free Ravelry pattern Here.

I've crocheted dozens of dishcloths this month while experimenting with different patterns.

This Week in Stitches

Over the past week I started, and finished, this shawl:

(being blocked)

It was very easy to knit and came together quickly. This "Tea in the Parlor Shawl" pattern is free from Lion Brand: 

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L30133.html

This Week in Stitches 12.10.2013

Last night I finished the socks that I have been working on for the last few weeks.

These were knit using Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Collection Serenity Sock (color: violas).

I used the pattern on the wrapper (Basic Socks) but wouldn't recommend using that pattern if you haven't knit socks before. The pattern isn't written very well, and had I not knit socks before these would not have turned out.

Anyways, I love them and it's nice to have them done.

I've already started my next project - an eyelet shawl for my mother-in-law.

Last Month in Stitches

Last month was a busy month, and I finished some nice projects. I really did mean to share them here earlier :-)

First, I finished the baby blanket marathon. Here are the last two:

These were done using a twisted knit stitch to really make the texture stand out.

I hope to post the pattern as well as a twisted knit stitch tutorial here soon.

I also finished my new favorite shawl:

The eyelet pattern was really fun to do. You can download the pattern HERE.

I've also been replacing my dishcloths, so I've made several of these lately:

I'm currently working on two other shawls, and hope to have some nice wool socks ready for fall too.

Knitting: Easy Potholder Pattern

You will need:
2 Skeins Kitchen Cotton - this will make 2 potholders
#7 knitting needles
yarn needle for weaving ends
#8/H crochet hook.

Using 2 strands (hold them together and knit like it was one strand), cast on 25 stitches.
Garter stitch (knit every row) 48 rows, slipping the first stitch of every row (See video). This will give you a nice smooth edge. Bind off, leaving last loop on the needle.

To create the loop for hanging the potholders, transfer last loop to a #8 crochet hook and chain 12 stitches. Cut the yarn leaving about 6 inches and tie the ends through the corner of the potholder. Weave in the ends.

Gauge really isn't that important in this pattern. For me this ends up being about 7" by 7.5".

A note for beginners about kitchen cotton: 
Kitchen cotton is a little bit tougher to work with in that it doesn't stretch like acrylic or wool. Don't worry, you will get used to it quickly. Also, it is normal to see black/brown specks in the yarn. This is just the cotton seed. 
My personal favorite is Lion Brand kitchen cotton. It is sturdy, reasonably priced, and comes in a variety of colors.

This Week in Stitches

The potholder project is complete. They are bright and colorful and I am happy.



Next on the list is making a blue version of this:

This week in stitches

This week I finished the baby blanket I've been working on:

I'm happy with how it turned out :-)

This was knit with 2 strands using #13 circular needles.

Jojo (2) found some yarn at a thrift store that he loved so I made him a quick scarf one evening.

He loves it! The yarn was very stretching and uneven in size, so crochet worked much better than knitting.

My current project is replacing all of my potholders.

I made this one last night:

I meant to use a nice block pattern, but the kitchen cotton just didn't have enough stretch to it, so I'll settle for plain ones :-) JoAnn Fabrics had kitchen cotton on sale a few weeks ago, so I stocked up and hope to have several more made in varying colors by next week.

Leftover Yarn Idea #1–Hair Ribbons

Even if you only do a little knitting or crocheting you probably have a stockpile of leftover yarn scraps. I have a whole basket of them, so I’ve been coming up with some easy leftover yarn projects to put these to good use.
This first one is super easy and can be done with a fairly small amount of yarn – hair ribbons.

You can make these as long or short, plain or pretty as you want.

This one was very basic. I did this using worsted weight acrylic and #13 needles.
-Cast on 60 stitches.
-Garter stitch 6 rows.
-Bind off.
That’s it!

Lets Get Stitched - Basket Weave Scarf

Earlier this winter I was planning on making a basket-weave patterned baby blanket. Since I was working without a pattern I decided to knit a small sample before starting the actual project, and it ended up becoming my new favorite scarf.

This was made using Red Heart brand worsted weight acrylic color 374 Country Rose and #7 bamboo needles.

I achieved the raised texture by using a twisted knit stitch, which I hope, Lord willing, to demonstrate here in a future post.

What have you stitched this week? Blog about it and link up over at Blueberry Cottage.