Leaf Top

This is the Leaf Top from Bernat. It is knit top down and I love that knitting technique. Most of the sweaters I do without patterns are knitted top down. It is such an easy way to check size and the exciting part of the knitting comes first instead of last. Of course, that may be the reason I have a few UFOs lying around. I'm minimizing. Anyway, I used organic natural color cotton, a really soft slubby yarn. You have to really pay attention to the yoke - not a TV knit, but once you are past that, it is an easy knit. It looks good over a shirt or by itself.

Jacobite Sweater

This is the Jacobite Sweater from MamaZooma Handknits on Ravelry. I wanted to try something different. The yoke design is knit first and then the stitches for the body and the neck are picked up along the yoke and knit. It worked out really well. It looks better on than lying flat. I lengthened the sleeves to 3/4 length mostly because I had the yarn. My only dilemma is to decide the buttons. The light blue ceramic look the best but that will limit what I wear under it to something light blue, so I am leaning towards the brass buttons. I haven't sewn them on for over a week and I think it is because of the buttons. Maybe I will flip a coin.

Steelers Mitts

Again - yea Steelers!!! I didn't want to make a hat for my daughter - she is not a hat person - but she loves mitts. This is just a basic mitt pattern. The pattern stitch is a slip stitch pattern - also basic.

Yarn - Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted

Needles -8 double point - I usually use 4 - use what you are comfortable with.

Gauge - 4.5 stitches per inch

Size - Adult Medium

Cast on 36 stitches and join being careful not to twist your stitches. A neat trick: when joining your cast on stitches, use the tail and the working yarn to knit the first few stitches. You won't be able to tell where you have joined the stitches. Make sure to place a marker at the join.

Knit 2, purl 2 for 2 inches - or as long as you want the cuff to be.

Begin the pattern on the next round. The pattern is a 4 row repeat.

Row 1 - Knit with contrasting color (CC)

Row 2 - Purl with CC

Row 3 - Change to main color (MC) and *knit1, slip 1* repeat from * to * to complete the round.

Row 4 - Continue with MC and *purl 1, wyib slip 1* repeat from *to * to complete the round.

Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern.

Complete 3 pattern repeats and begin the thumb gusset. Decide where you want the gusset - the mitt doesn't have a front or back.

Round 1 - Work pattern, place marker, knit 1, place marker, complete row in pattern.

Round 2 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k1, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 3 and all odd rounds - knit

Round 4 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k3, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 6 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 8 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 10 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k9, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 12 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k11, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 13 - Work pattern, sm, k13, sm, complete row in pattern.

You have 13 stitches between the markers for the thumb.

Next round - work pattern until marker, slip the next 13 stitches on a stitch holder or waste yarn, cast on one stitch and continue in pattern. When bridging the gap where the gusset is, pull your yarn tightly to close the gap. - another neat trick is to pull the first stitch tightly and then pull the second stitch tighter. It works - if it doesn't for you, when you are weaving in the yarn ends, close the hole.

Continue in pattern for the body of the mitt for 4 pattern repeats or the length you wish. Drop the CC and knit 4 rounds of garter stitch (knit 1 round, purl 1 round) and bind off.

Slip the 13 stitches for the thumb onto your needles - divided however you wish. Using the MC yarn pick up 1 or 2 stitches at the base of the thumb where the gap is. The number depends on how close you have managed the gap. Once all the stitches are on (14 or 15) knit 4 rounds of garter stitch and bind off.

Weave in all of the ends - closing any gaps around the thumb. Make another mitt just like this.

Yea Steelers!

Steeler Mania!

Yea, the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl! I am so not a football fan, but I won't irritate anyone with my reasons. I'm glad that the Steelers won and actually hope they win the Super Bowl, but I am sooooo not a fan especially of Big Ben. But that being said, my SIL and my daughter are really big fans. I wanted to make them something for the game and I knit so...



I liked the hat and mitts so much I actually posted the on Ravelry as patterns. My first. I have made my own patterns before - I have been knitting too long not to have, but I have never published any of them. I thought I would try it.

The hat is a basic hat pattern.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
Needle: 9 circular 16"; 9 double points
Size: Adult - 22"
Gauge: 4 stitches to an inch

Cast on 94 stitches, join in the round being careful not to twist, place marker at the join and knit 2, purl 2 for 6 inches - This is really up to you. The brim can be as wide as you wish. I was knitting for a big guy so a 3 " brim seemed good.

When the brim measures 6 inches, change to straight knitting - knit every round for 2 rounds.

Change color and knit 1 round. Change back to main color and knit 1 rounds. Decide where you want the XLV and change to contrasting color. Using a stranded fair isle technique:

Row 1 - Knit 3 MC, 2 CC, 3MC, 5 CC, 2 MC, 2 CC, 2 MC, 2CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 2 - Knit 2 MC, 4 CC, 1 MC, 5 CC,3 MC, 4 CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 3 - Knit 1 MC, 2 CC, 2MC, 2 CC, 4 MC, 2CC, 4 MC, 1CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 4 - Knit 2 CC, 4 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 4 CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 5 - Knit 2 CC, 4 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 2 CC, 2 MX, 2 CC, 2 MC, 2 CC, Complete round with MC

Carry the yarn all the way around the hat as you work the rounds. Every 4 or 5 stitches twist the main color and the contrasting color to carry the yarn. Always knit with the main color once the letter stitches are done for the row. The contrasting yarn will only show on the right side of the hat in the letters but on the inside of the hat there will be floats all the way around. Make your floats loose so the hat doesn't pull in.

Complete the letters/chart and knit 1 round in main color. Then knit 1 round in contrasting color.

Knit until the hat measures 8 inches from the cast on edge - or until you think it is big enough.

Next round - *knit 10, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round. 88 stitches remain

Round 2 and all of the even numbered rounds - knit

Round 3 - *knit 9, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 5 -*knit 8, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 7 -*knit 7, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 9 -*knit 6, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 11 -*knit 5, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 13 -*knit 4, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 15 -*knit 3, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 17 -*knit 2, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 19 -*knit 1, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 21 -*k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round. 8 stitches remain.

To finish the hat, cut your yarn leaving a 10" tail, using a yarn needle thread the yarn through the remaining 8 stitches. Pass the yarn through the hole in the top of the hat and draw the hole closed tightly. Weave the ends in.

If I would have been making the hat for my daughter, I would have added a pom pom but not for my SIL. Pom poms just don't seem like a guy thing.

I'm sorry for those of you who were hoping for a chart - I tried, I really did but couldn't get it to post to the blog.

If anyone has any questions or finds a problem with the pattern, please let me know.

The pattern for the mitts will be posted later today.

Go Steelers!

It's Been Awhile!

It has been a long time since I have posted. I have some New Year resolutions - I'm even late on that - and for once they have nothing to do with weight, exercise or health. Those are major concerns of mine, but you know, talking does nothing. I am just doing. Not well, not even close, but better than ever.

That's all I have to say about that. KNITTING!!!!! Since I have retired, I have done nothing but knit - not true but I am really knitting up a storm. The Yarn Harlot posted about "startitis" - a condition that I am evidently really suffering from. I just finished a sweater - my second of the new year. To be honest, I started them both in December. And I started 2 more yesterday with a third ready to be started and I am planning a fourth. Oh, and I have 2 almost finished. I have been knitting and watching paranormal shows in my office on the computer and knitting while watching TV in the evening. I must have gained 4 plus hours of knitting in the day and I am loving it.

My resolutions are to actually post to this blog and to document my projects on Ravelry. I am on that site every day, searching for patterns and looking at everyone else's projects. I thought I would share since I am learning so much from others.

My first project completed was this vest from Knitting Green, the Eco Vest. I really liked this vest. It was featured on the cover of the book and pretty much the reason I bought the book. It was an easy pattern - knit from the bottom up. Not a bad way to work a pattern especially with cables, but I wish more designers would work from the top down. That seems to be my favorite way of knitting. I know it won't work with every design, I just seem to prefer it. I didn't put the button on it because I wasn't wild about the loop closure. I think I need a pin or stick to close it. I will have to look for that. Over all I am really pleased with this sweater!

A Really Good Day!

Yesterday was a really good day!

First, I fit into a pair of pants that I haven't been able to wear all summer and they were loose!!!! Yea, Me!!!!!

Then my walk was really nice - no leg cramps or hurt toes, although I ran over my big toe with my suitcase last week and it is showing black and blue under the polish. It just healed and started to look like a regular toenail again. I have lost the nail on that toe, at least, 3 times and I really don't want that to happen again.


I had some energy and went through my yarn stash and culled some yarn I am selling on EBay. So far so good on that.

My printer didn't survive an electrical outage and I had some Amazon gift certificates I hadn't used, so that worked out. I got a new printer for less than 1/2 of its price. Of course, I didn't really want a new printer - I just bought ink for the old one - but at least I didn't have to spend a lot of money. Nothing else was damaged and I don't know how the printer was - it was plugged into the same surge protector that the computer and shredder were.

I finished a sweater that was inspired by a sweater I saw in Knits To Be Noticed. What I did was change the construction of the sweater. I used the same lace stitch and style - hoodie, but knitted it in the round. I hate finishing so I knitted top-down. It worked really well. It even fits me. I was knitting on it at the beach and everyone commented on the color. It is made out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece seconds that I got on EBay. The color is uneven but I liked it - it sort of looks worn already.






I also finished the Fair Isle vest I designed for my youngest grandson. His mother commented that it was beautiful when we were at the beach, so maybe he will wear it.

We went to Barnes and Noble around 6PM which was probably a mistake in timing. I found 3 new knitting magazines and sat in the cafe with a chai latte to look at them. Then I couldn't fall asleep last night until after 3AM. Danny came downstairs to find me and then he couldn't sleep and ended up canceling his run with Joe. I guess I owe him one for that. I think the chai had something to do with it, but I also think that it was a chance for me to be alone in the house. Since he has retired, he is always around. I used to come home from work and have about 3 hours to myself. I didn't do anything I can't do now, I could do it when I wanted and for how long I wanted. Now it seems I am subject to his schedule. That is not really a bitch, just something I am getting used to -or trying to.

Work went well this week. I didn't talk much in Treatment Team. As usual, it was a waste of time and I have decided not to add my 2 cents and prolong the agony. T. seems to have kept her cool - although I usually find out after the fact.

I gave everyone the first chapter of Catching Fire. They were all so excited. I found a pin that is the symbol of the books - a mockingjay - at Borders in Virginia Beach and wore it all week. The kids recognized the symbol. It was such a teacher thing to do.

I finally was able to order library books and videos with the N&D money this week. D. and T. commented on the Black History videos I ordered. Evidently I spent too much money on Black information - never mind that most of our kids are Black and the rest wish they were. And they are both good Christians - who hate gays and don't believe in Global Warming and I don't know what else because I try really hard not to bring up any topic they don't agree with. That is actually pretty difficult, since I am constantly surprised at what "good" Christians believe. Like that Baptist minister who preached a sermon "I Hate Barack Obama."

My 4 year old grandson went to pre-school this week. We called him to see how his first day went and he told us all about it. I think he is too young, but the expression of that opinion created a problem with his father when we were at the beach. Enough said.

Reading back over my post - I am really not bitching although I was in a bitchy mood at times this week. I think I had a really good week. And today is beautiful!

I Have Been Busy!

I am still sticking to my diet - haven't weighed myself though. We were in Virginia Beach for the Labor Day weekend and we ate out every meal. That makes it tough - I don't think I ate more than 1 serving of fruit the whole time. i did find an interesting book about food - Eat This Not The Supermarket Survival Guide I actually do ok with my food choices. I was pleasantly surprised.

I knitted all the way to Virginia Beach and back - an 8 hour drive. I am close to finishing my lace sweater. I finished a vest for my youngest grandchild - pictures later.

I am in the process of getting used to working 8 hour days again. I get used to it and then I go on vacation - I know, poor me. But this week it is really kicking my ass. And of course, school has been really busy. And the tension is obvious - T is such a bitch and so negative. I had to run for supplies today and usually I ask if she wants to go, but today I thought I just didn't feel like playing nice for the time it would take to get there and back. I think it pissed her off, but I really don't care. How is that for being bitchy?