December 19 - One down, how many to go?? Christmas presents...

I've finished one more pair of socks. Nothing real special about this (except of coarse, they're hand knitted), cuff is 2x2 rib, simple reinforced heel and a plain toe. These were knit with Online Supersocke 100 Sport Color #1022 on size 2 needles. These should fit up to a size 5 womens (shoe size).  I wasn't sure about the orange and teal together but my daughter thinks they look cool.

I love making socks, they're one of the few knitting projects I can take anywhere. I even took this pair with me to the movie theater on Saturday.  I stood in the lobby and knitted while waiting for my daughter's friends to arrive. I had a few people look at me strangely and a few asked me about them. 

Now, to see if I can get two more pairs of socks finished by Christmas eve. 

December 15 - Night Cap

As usual, I didn't finish the previous project (the scarf) before starting a new one.  This one is for a night cap.  The pattern can be found in The Knitting and Netting Book by Miss Watts (which can be found on the Project Gutenberg. 

Original Pattern

Night Cap.

With moderately fine cotton and 5 needles.

Cast 2 stitches on each of 4 needles; increase 2 stitches on each needle; in the next round, increase 1 stitch on each needle; make a seam in the middle of each needle and increase on each side of it every other round, until you have a sufficient number of stitches for the size of your cap. Leave off seaming the middle stitches and knit round until your cap is 3/4 of a yard long, then finish the end like the beginning, decreasing where you before increased.

Here's what mine looks like so far.

Mine is knit with Brown Sheep Co. Cotton Fine (3 skeins) on size 2 needles (I started with 5 DPNs then switched to a circular needle. However, if you're doing this at an event, you'll want to keep it on DPNs). If you switch to a circular needle you'll want, at least, 4 stitch markers, these will be placed between the increase stitches and left in place till the end).You may want an additional 4 stitch markers to keep track of the "seam" stitch in the middle of each needle.

Gauge: 32 sts x 40 rows (4"x4")

Cast on 8 sts (divide onto 4 needles) join into circle being careful not to twist the stitches.

Set up row:

 

Knit into front and back of the first stitch on each needle (you should have 3 stitches on each needle now).  The middle stitch will be the "seam" stitch (you will purl this stitch in every row).

Pattern Rows for Crown (increasing): 

 

 *Knit into the front and back of the first and last stitch, repeat from * for the other 3 needles. (remembering to purl the middle stitch on each needle).

Knit 1 round.

Repeat these two rounds until you have enough stitches to make the cap fit the recipient (you will want the cap to be 1-2 inches smaller than the recipients head. (On my cap it was 47 stitches per needle).

(Note:  You can weave in the tail at the beginning after you've knitted a couple of inches.)

From here you will knit every stitch (if you switch to a circular needle you will need to knit the first 47 stitches, pm, knit 47, pm, continue until all stitches are on the circular needle) until your cap measures 27" long. You will then repeat the Pattern rows except decreasing where you increased, don't worry, it's supposed to look like a really long football. When you get back to the original 8 stitches, break yarn off (10" or so), weave in ends. Now, take the one end and tuck it inside the other (basically, your folding the cap in half). Congradulations, you now have a double layered hat! 

It's not the fastest thing to knit. I'm about 2/3 done with mine (and running out of yarn - definitely need 3 skeins of Cotton Fine). , started it on December 8th and have 17" done on it as of this morning.

I hope that someone finds this useful. If you make this cap, I'd love to see it.  

Knitting 1840 Scarf - Miss Watts

Okay, so I decided to start a new knitting project (not that I don't have enough stuff on needles), its a scarf pattern from Miss Watts, THE LADIES’ KNITTING AND NETTING BOOK, second series (this book can be found on Project Gutenberg). I discovered this book when I was looking for a pattern to make and 1840s infant sweater. I've been knitting it exactly as written.  However, I've found that a couple of people on Ravelry have made this scarf and mine doesn't look quite like some of theirs. But like I said, I've been knitting mine EXACTLY the way the instructions are written (every row is the same).

I'm knitting this on size 5 needles (if I were working on this at an event I wouldn't be using a circular needle) and using Brown Sheep's Top of the Lamb sport weight.  It is a single ply yarn which will felt if not carefully cleaned (I used what yarn I had). So far I like the way it's turning out. The pattern can be found here.  If your uncomfortably with the YO (yarn over) as the beginning stitch, you can cast on an extra two stitches and start with a K1 (knit one) and ending with a K1.

Let me know if you make this scarf.  I'd love to see your pictures.  If your on Ravelry, I'm MorganAside.



 

New Blog -

Okay, so I've decided to start a blog for my knitting and crocheting projects.  Hopefully, I can update this more often than I do my regular blog.  Today, I'm posting a knitting pattern from Peterson's Magazine.  This is for a pair of "shooters" mittens (they have a finger and thumb like gloves but have a "mitten" for the other three fingers). I'm not sure what year they are from.  I will find out and post the year with the mitten. This pattern doesn't give yarn weight, needle size or gauge.  I have not made these yet.  If you do (or if you have), I'd love to see your pictures.

Directions to Knit Mittens.-- Cast twenty sitches on each needle knit twent-five rows of ribbing, and twenty rows plain. Then take the twenty stitches that are upon one nieed and knit sixteen rows, backward and forward. this is for the beginning of the thumb. Then take these twenty stitches on three needles, and knit round for sixteen rows, after which narrow gradually until the thumb is finished.

Take up twenty stitches at the lower part of the thumb. There will then be sizty stitches on the three needles. Knit twenty rows. Take the twenty stitches nearest the thumb, join them on three needles, and knit twenty-two rows. Then narrow gradually until the finger is finished. Take the remaining forty stitches on three needles and knit twenty-two rows. Narrow gradually till finished.