Knitting – Page 5 – LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD

Knitting – Baby’s Ribbed Vest Top and Cap – Free Pattern

My favorite designer is an English lady who offers pages of free patterns, mostly for babies and small children. She also has some items for teenagers and adults along with a few patterns that are for sale. She can be found on ravelry.com under the name Marianna Mel. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=marianna%20mel

This little vest is called Baby’s Ribbed Vest Top. For a 9-months size the pattern calls for DK yarn (baby yarn/sport weight) and #6 needles. I wanted to make a larger size and used #7 needles with #4 worsted yarn to make a size to fit a 3 to 4-year-old child.

It’s very sturdy and warm, good for the cold North Dakota climate where the Pine Ridge Lakota/Sioux children live. Information on this charity is also on ravelry.com under the tab “groups”.

While I was knitting the sweater, I thought it should have some yellow elephant buttons, maybe because of the grey yarn. Now, what are the chances that I could go to JoAnn’s and find reasonably-priced yellow elephant buttons? But I did and I think they are perfect for this little vest which would be nice for either a boy or girl.

I also made a matching hat, using Marianna Mel’s Ribster Baby Hat pattern except I used some stockinette stitching along with the ribbing.

There were enough yellow elephants to put one on top of the hat, too.

I enjoyed making this set. All of Marianna’s patterns I’ve used so far have been suitable for an advanced beginner with very happy results.

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Knitting – Turban Twist Hat – Free Pattern

My younger daughter looks so much better in hats than I do

I follow a Facebook page called Addicted to Knitting which features knitted items that people have made, a lot of question/answer sessions and a very nice group for reading about what others are doing all over the world. I saw one picture of a turban hat that a lady had made of deep purple yarn with a large purple gemstone in the center and was inspired to look up the free pattern by Bernat on Yarnspirations.com. http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/turban-twist-hat.html

I didn’t have any purple yarn on hand but did have some Lion Brand Heartland yarn in the Yellowstone color which was nice and soft and worked well in this project, using #8 needles

It’s basically a long narrow scarf in an easy Seeded Rib pattern …

…which is folded and sewn in place to form the turban. The scarf was easy to make.

Although the pattern comes with a diagram on how to fold and sew the turban, it was confusing to me and I’m showing how I got it together. First mark the center of the scarf and then fold into this shape.

Fold the two ends back to meet in the center and pin in place.

Starting in the center and using a yarn needle with some scrap yarn of a different color, loosely baste each end in place, leaving 4 inch tails to make it easier to remove the waste yarn.

Using another piece of waste yarn, stitch the center section where the two ends meet. Baste as far as where the two pieces cross.

At this point, put the hat on yourself or some volunteer and pin to close any gaps on top of the hat, basting them in place with waste yarn.

Baste and try on the hat as many times as necessary to be sure it is the way you want it. Then, using matching yarn, stitch the turban together, pulling out the waste yarn as you go.

I sewed a big vintage button on the front of my turban.

1/9/17

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Knitting – Isabella Baby Top-Vest

For the past year that I’ve been knitting, I’ve taken advantage of all of the wonderful free patterns available online. This is one of the few patterns I’ve purchased, simply because I thought it was so cute and looked like something I might be able to do. The pattern for this pretty piece was purchased from an English designer, Maybe Baby, in September, 2016, through PayPal at the exchange rate in effect at the time for $2.72. It was an easy instant download and the pattern is very well written. http://www.maybebabydesigns.co.uk/charityvestpattern.htm

I used Bernat Softee yarn with #7 needles and thought the jacket would fit a baby around 3 months old.

I enjoy knitting baby items the most but feel that the charity where my work goes has more need in the toddler and pre-school sizes. My first project for 2017 was a remake of the jacket using Red Heart #4 worsted in the color, Corn Meal. I went to the garter stitch after 7 rows of pattern on each side just to change the appearance a little bit. I think this top would fit a chubby one-year-old.

Since I don’t crochet well, I omitted the crocheted edging in each case.

I used circular needles – Magic Loop (circular needles with long cables) – and am giving a brief outline of how I did the piece using these needles to do the portion where the left front begins and across the neck. I’m not sure this is the way the designer did it, but it worked for me.

After completing the right front, leave the stitches on the cable of the Magic Loop, cut the yarn (leave a 6-inch tail), and just slide the piece down the cable, letting it “hang out” while you complete the left front.

After the left front is completed, do not break yarn and follow directions in pattern to start the back, casting on 12 stitches across to form the center of the neck and knitting across the stitches from the right front that are hanging from the cable.

These are the only two places in the pattern that I found a little confusing.

I think it’s a very cute jacket that could be used with various designs and stitch patterns.

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Knitting–Easy Neckwarmer–Free Pattern

There are so many free patterns available online and one of my favorite sources is Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days. A lovely lady in England provides a large file of free patterns, most of them for babies and pre-schoolers, but also has an occasional pattern like this Warm Tweedy Neckwarmer in sizes for child, teenager and woman. This is a very easy pattern that turns out especially pretty. It’s basically a long rectangle that is folded back on itself and held together by buttons only or, in my case, some stitching along two edges. There are no buttonholes in the design – the neckwarmer just slips over the head.

Instructions are clear and accurate and I would rate it a “beginner” pattern. It’s also a nice way to use some pretty buttons.

This past week, I made this one for an adult using double strand worsted yarn and a size 8 needle…

…and this one for a child, using single strand worsted and a size 8 needle to do a garter stitch.

https://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/warm-tweedy-neckwarmer.html

I’ve previously made these neckwarmers for the Pine Ridge Lakota children’s group:

I like to think that these are providing some warmth for the children in the bitter cold of South Dakota.

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/for-the-children-of-pine-ridge

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Dorm Boots/Slippers for St. Nick–Free Pattern

On December 6th, our family celebrates St.Nicholas with the exchange of small gifts, candy and homemade cookies. This year, my two daughters will receive dorm boots/slippers instead of stockings. I found a wonderful pattern on Needle Beetle called Aunt Alm’s Dorm Boots.

http://www.needlebeetle.com/free/aadb.html

Instructions are given for various sizes and I started out making children’s slippers for the Pine Ridge Lakota children in South Dakota. Their Sacred Shawl project which helps young mothers and children in abusive situations, particularly asked for warm slippers for their very cold winters.

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/for-the-children-of-pine-ridge/3293728/1026-1050#1050

I consider them suitable knitting for an advanced beginner and made two more sets for my daughters. I made these with Lion Brand Wool-Ease (80% acrylic, 20% wool) which makes them easy to wash and dry. I tried one on to be sure they were close to the size I wanted.

The ssk stitch (slip, slip, knit) forms the “V” shape on the front of the sock, which I like a lot. See the YouTube link below for a tutorial on this stitch. The pattern is written for double-pointed needles but I work better with circular needles and I found the pattern easy to adapt and the slippers easy to knit.

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Easy Slippers–Knitting–Free Pattern

The difference between learning to knit in this era versus the many times I tried and failed in the past is all of the help that is available on the internet. The free tutorials and patterns are wonderful, especially for a new knitter. I found this pattern for Simple House Slippers on a site called Temple of Knit.

I wanted to share the pattern because these are good for an advance beginner to knit in a short amount of time and make nice gifts. I made three different sizes by changing the size of needle and yarn while using the same pattern – Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear slippers.

The Papa Bear slippers were made with double-stranded thick worsted yarn and #9 needles …

…the Mama Bear slippers were made with double-stranded thin worsted and #9 needles …

…and the Baby Bear slippers (sized for a 4-5 year-old child) were made with single-strand thin worsted and #7 needles.

The pattern mentions a CDD (centered double decrease) stitch which I never encountered while following the pattern. It also mentions an SSK (slip slip knit) stitch which is shown in the video below from YouTube.

Note that the pattern is written for circular needles but can be easily adapted to double-pointed. I’m not good with double-pointed needles, so everything I make is on circulars and the Magic Loop (circulars with a long cable).

I understand that Swedish grandmothers have been making slippers of this type for years. I really enjoyed making them.

http://www.templeofknit.com/simple-house-slippers/

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A Blog Post Update

Several of my blogging friends have kindly asked if I am OK since my blog posts have been few and far between this year. I’m happy to report that I’m doing pretty well but moving very slowly and not getting too much done. I have spinal stenosis issues which have forced me to give up quilting (except for very small items) and experimental cooking (which I’ve always loved) but I’m doing fine for an octogenarian, I think.

One thing I’ve been able to do comfortably is to continue my newfound hobby of knitting. About 95% of the knitting is for charities and one of my newer ones is the Pine Ridge Children’s group in South Dakota. I found them through Ravelry – http://www.ravelry.com/groups/for-the-children-of-pine-ridge They need and appreciate everything that is warm and comforting which gives me an opportunity to make a variety of clothing. I especially enjoy knitting for babies and preschoolers. These are some of the items I finished in the past couple of weeks which will soon be on their way to a home for mothers and children who have escaped abusive situations.

This vest is the largest size piece of clothing I’ve made so far – will fit a boy age 6-7.

This poncho is for a little girl about 4 or 5 and I hope she likes the doggy buttons.

I have some more projects ready to launder and, of course, a couple of things “on the needles”. I’m grateful that I can be doing something useful that I enjoy.

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Knitting for the Children of Pine Ridge

This summer, my younger daughter and I discovered a charity which accepts all kinds of cold weather items for their children on a Lakota Indian reservation in South Dakota. They have very severe winters and say they are under-served at this location, grateful for anything hand-knit or crocheted that will help keep the children warm. Unlike most of the charities we support, they accept not only acrylic but also wool and wool blend items and are currently trying to get enough scarves and mittens to supply each of their children in grades K-12. In August, we mailed some items I had made…four hats, four pr. mittens and two scarves.

In addition, my daughter contributed 11 hats, 12 pr mittens and 10 scarves.

As of this date, they have collected enough hats but still need lots of scarves and mittens. Today, I’ll be mailing 5 beautiful pairs of mittens from my daughter …

I contributed 3 scarves …

…one scarf/mitten set ….

…two neck warmers ….

…and one neck warmer/hat/mitten set.

We’ll continue to work on items for this project until they reach their goal, hopefully by November 1.

This is the link through Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/for-the-children-of-pine-ridge/3461082/651-675#665

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Knit-Your-Bit – Scarves for Vets

Last Christmas, I asked my younger daughter (an experienced and avid knitter) to gift me with a box of knitting supplies so I could try once again to knit and make some useful items for one of the many charities she supports. She gave me a wonderful package of instructions, needles, markers and a good supply of red, white and blue yarn. The yarn was specifically for Knit-Your-Bit, a program at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. http://www.nww2m.com/2016/09/knit-your-bit-celebrates-10-years-50000-scarves-for-veterans/

They collect hand-knit scarves for veterans and one event I especially admire is the gift of a scarf to each veteran who comes to the museum on November 11. My first projects were scarves for this cause …

…and I later made some in different colors ….

My daughter usually makes one scarf a month for this cause and a week or so ago packaged up all of the scarves we had made this year and shipped them to the museum. Imagine my delight when a picture appeared on their Facebook page showing a gentleman holding one of my scarves!

Photo used with permission of the National WWII Museum

A close-up of the tag that’s on the scarf reveals that it was part of our large group of scarves – how amazing is that?

I love thinking that a veteran will be wearing one of our scarves or one of the hundreds that have been donated from across the country.

http://www.nww2m.com/2016/09/knit-your-bit-celebrates-10-years-50000-scarves-for-veterans/

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My Knitting Projects for March

I’m a little late reporting on the knitting I completed in March (since it’s almost time for April’s projects), but here are my completions.

I spent a lot of time struggling with a personal project – knitting two pair of socks from the toe up and knitting both socks at once on circular needles. I bought a wonderful video tutorial from Knit Freedom (www.knitfreedom.com) but had a difficult time, mostly because I didn’t switch yarn at the right time and had to unravel many, many times. I thought it would be better if I tried a pair of slipper sox in heavier yarn with bigger needles and as I made mistakes and corrected them, would continue on to a pair in light fingering sox yarn and would do a much better job on them. That didn’t necessarily happen, but I did get both pairs of socks completed. They’re far from perfect but wearable and comfortable.

As a future family member gift, I made a scarf of soft sport weight yarn in a pretty shade of pink. This started out as a washcloth and since it was going well and was the right width, I just kept going, adding a section of plain knitting in the center. I like this scarf very much.

For Easter, I made each of my daughters a tiny basket that would hold one Cadbury egg.

For charity knitting, I tried an easy mitten pattern link (Basic cuff-up mittens on Ravelry.com) and made one pair for Scarf It Up, a group that supplies scarves, hats and mittens to the homeless in northern Kentucky, and the silver/tangerine pair for the Arkansas Special Olympics.

I finished another pair of booties (http://bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-baby-set1.html) for a hospital near Columbus, Ohio (http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/ )

And, of course, more nests for the Wildlife Rescue group (https://www.facebook.com/wildliferescuenests/). I always have one of these going on a spare set of needles.

I’m still enjoying my newfound hobby, although I get discouraged at times with my lack of progress. An old dog can learn new tricks but it’s a much slower process than it would be for a young dog.