Knitter's Dilemma

I promised you a new doll, and I am working on it. However, I am afraid I have been sidetracked. I ran across an e book at Knitting Daily that has captured my interest,and I couldn't wait to start on one of the patterns. The book is Knit Kimono by Vickie Square. The book contains the history of kimonos and drawings of different styles as well as eighteen patterns that are simple but will knock your socks off. Well what is one to do? Be responsible and finish the project on which one is working or download the book and immerse oneself in the designs? I, of course, did just that and have even started one of Vickie's lovely patterns.

I have, however, completed the following for the little doll. A dress, shoes and socks, nightgown, slippers, sweater and play suit. She also now has a leotard, tutu and ballet slippers for those trips to dance class. So you see, I haven't been entirely remiss.

New Pattern in the Works

I have been thinking for some time of trying to come up with a little doll and wardrobe. After some experimenting I have designed a doll only seven and one half inches tall. Big enough for little fingers to hold on to but small enough to go anywhere.

She is knit in the round using DP needles. The only sewing is attaching the legs and wig as the arms are jointed. Clothes are next.

I will post when the pattern is available, but I am also working on a wedding afghan for a great-granddaughter so it may be awhile. This afghan is one of those projects that never seems to get any bigger no matter how long you've been working on it.

Three Little Bears

This is my latest pattern. The bears are knit in the round and are only five inches tall. You can find the pattern and a complete description here

Other than working on bears I have been knitting Christmas gifts. Alot of cap and fingerless mitten sets, slippers and scarves. Nothing big but time consuming. Just about made it through my list then on to a new doll I have in mind.

Knitting Mice

I have had several inquiries about the mice pictured on the front page of this blog. The pattern is available at Knit Picks as a download from their site. I designed them to represent three generations of knitters, Grandma, mother and daughter. Since they are a Knit Picks exclusive I put K P in the heart tattoo on the daughters thigh. Of course, the knitter could put in the initials of whomever they wish. To download a pattern you may have to register. Registration is free.

Socks

Over the years as my family got larger I seem to be knitting more and more socks. I like making socks so have not found this a problem. Recently I have been getting requests for flip flop socks from all the younger family members. Since we live in California with another branch in Florida, flip flops are worn winter and summer by many in the family. I've been getting requests for the pattern from people who have seen a family member wearing their socks. So here it is. Good for yoga classes, to show off your pedicure and, of course, to keep your feet warm in flip flops. You will find the pattern listed under "Free Patterns".

New Free Pattern Links

I am currently changing the links to the free patterns. They will be stored in Google Documents and will be accessible by clicking on the name in the menu as before. However, when I am done just the pattern in PDF format will come up. You can then print it or download it. If you download a pattern it will show up in the Adobe Reader you are accustomed to. Save it and print it at your leisure. I should be done with the changes in a couple of days. More free patterns are coming so keep checking back.

Update

Well, once I got going I got done sooner than anticipated. All the patterns currently listed have links to a PDF of that pattern.

New Pattern

Despite a very sore finger I managed to finally get a new pattern ready for listing. Best Friends is a doll you can make up in the face color of your choice. A toddler 10 inches tall when finished. If you would like to take a look and read a detailed description you will find the pattern here

Now I can get back to knitting for Christmas. We just got the news that a granddaughter and her husband had their second child. That makes fifteen great-grandchildren for my husband and me, but whose counting, right?

Time, Time, Time

Where does the time go? With designing, trying to get some things done for Christmas and family stuff, I never seem to have enough time.

I was eighty years old in May. One finds as one gets older that there are household tasks one can no longer do. Anything that requires a ladder is definitely out as is anything that requires one gets down on the ground. Down is easy. It is getting back up that is a problem. As my gift my family decided to come over and do those things we couldn't and were fretting about. The best gift ever. When they left every surface was scrubbed, vacuumed or polished. Every curtain taken down, washed and rehung. Windows washed, shelves and knick knacks cleaned. While all this was going on inside, some of these gallant workers were trimming hedges and trees, removing old ratty plants and replacing them with new. They even brought the food with them. It was a joy to see my family working together , laughing and teasing each other.

I did manage to work up a free pattern for you, however. It is a dragon hand puppet. You will find the pattern listed in the Free Pattern Menu. Enjoy.

Playing With Yarn

Been laid up with this bum knee for weeks. Only one thing to do, knit. I haven't designed a new pattern in awhile as I have been busy with knitting Christmas gifts. Now that I am finished with the gift knitting I can take up my needles and play with yarn, that is, design a new toy. I find it such fun to make an idea come alive in a 3 D representation. This time it is Ballerina Bear, a little bear in her tutu and tiara. She has evidently advanced pretty far in dance class as she is on her toes. Had a heck of a time getting her tutu full enough without having it too stiff and heavy. Finally got that problem solved, and the rest went along without a hitch. Love it when that happens. It is almost like the toy was meant to be. So I would like to introduce you to Ballerina Bear.

You can find her at my Etsy site or on Ravelry. Both have additional pictures. Let me know what you think. Also I would love to hear from you what kind of toys you would like to see available in patterns. Remember, it is illegal to come out with a pattern for a character that is copyrighted or has a trademark. Anything generic is fair game.

Child's Back Pack

This back pack is not meant to replace the school backpacks of which the kids are so fond. It was designed for younger kids to use on those long car trips or similar excursions. It will hold a snack, a box of juice and a toy or two to keep them amused. For a sleep over or a trip to Grandma's, jammies, toothbrush, and a comfort toy will fit just fine.

Materials:
2 balls Lion Brand Jiffy
16 “ circular needle size 8
2 double pointed needles size 8 (optional)
crochet hook size J
one ¾ inch button

Gauge: About 17 stitches to 4 inches. Gauge is not critical. Just be sure your knit fabric is firm enough the contents do not poke through the finished backpack

Designer notes: This back pack is designed with adjustable straps so it should fit most young children.

Backpack:

Cast on 34 stitches. Knit back and forth in garter stitch ( knit every row) for 22 rows. Base should measure about 8” wide by 2 3/4” long.
Next row: (Right side) Knit across 34 stitches, pick up and knit 10 stitches down short side of base, pick up and knit 34 cast on stitches, pick up and knit 10 stitches of short side. (88 stitches) Put marker on needle. From now on you will be knitting in the round.
Knit until bag measures 8” from last ridge of garter stitch..
Eyelet row: (K 2 together, yarn over) Repeat around..
Knit 6 rounds even. Bind off.

Loops for straps: (Make 2)

Cast on 20 stitches leaving about a 4” tail.. Bind off all stitches. Cut yarn leaving a long tail to sew loop to bag. Fold piece in half fornimg loop. Overcast ends together.. Sew loop to back corner of base. Sew securely going through all thicknesses to inside of bag. When loop is secure put tail ends through to inside of bag and tie in a knot. Weave in ends and trim. Repeat for other loop.

Strap: Preferred method is 6 stitch I cord.

On one double pointed needle cast on 6 stitches. Do not turn. Slide the stitches to the end of the left hand needle, pull yarn across back of work and knit stitches. Again, slide stitches to the end of needle, pull yarn across back of piece and knit stitches Keep knitting in this way until the strap measures 38 inches or desired length. Tug at the strap now and then as you work to align stitches. Bind off.

Alternative method: Cast on 6 stitches. Knit back and forth in garter stitch until strap measures 38 inches or desired length.. Bind off.

Pocket:

Cast on 21 stitches. Starting with a purl row, stockinet stitch ( Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row) for 4”. End with purl row.
Next row. Knit 10 stitches, yarn over. knit 2 together, knit 9 stitches. Stockinet 4 rows. Bind off.

Finishing:

Sew pocket to center of front about an inch up from last garter stitch ridge of base. Sew button under buttonhole.
Fold strap in half to determine center. See Fig 1 Pin to center back about three fourths of an inch down from eyelet row. Have straps pointing up toward top of bag. Whip stitch for about an inch down the outside edge of one strap, around the bottom fold and up the outside edge of the second strap for about an inch. Finish off your little triangle of stitching by back stitching across both straps (indicated by solid line). Finish off. Weave in all ends. Put strap end through loop at bottom. Adjust length to fit child and tie in knot. Repeat for other strap. With crochet hook make a chain about 36” long. Starting in center front, weave through eyelets. Pull up to close backpack and tie in bow.

Fig 1


Copyright 2005 Yvonne Boucher

This pattern is for your personal use only. It may not be reproduced for sale, to conduct classes or to make backpacks for sale.

Felted Purse

I made a bunch of these one year as Christmas gifts. The pattern I came up with is simple and can be embellished in any way you wish. I have included directions on how to felt. Everyone has their own little secrets, but this is the way I do it.

Materials: 2 balls Paton’s Classic Wool Any 100% wool yarn will do. Do not use a superwash wool as it will not felt. Colors matter. Light colors, white, aran, natural do not felt as well as darker colors.

16” circular needle size 10 ½
2 double pointed needles size 10 ½

4 markers, 3 of one color and 1 of a different color.

Purse: With two strands of yarn held together, cast on 34 stitches. Knit back and forth in garter stitch for 34 rows. Break and finish off one strand of yarn. Now with remaining strand of yarn continue by picking up 16 stitches down short side of piece. Place one of the 3 same color markers on needle. Pick up and knit 34 stitches along long side of piece. Place another of the same color markers on needle. Pick up and knit 16 stitches along remaining short side of piece and place last of the same color markers on needle. Knit across remaining 34 stitches. Place remaining marker. This marker marks not only the corner but the row. From now on you will be knitting in the round. Knit 56 rows.
Next round: *Knit 3, bind off 3, knit 4 (includes stitch on needle after bind off), bind off 3, knit 3 ( includes stitch on needle after bind off) Slip marker.*
**Knit 7, bind off 3, knit to last 10 stitches before marker, bind off 3, knit 7 (includes stitch on needle after bind off). Slip marker.**
Repeat * to * for next short side.
Repeat from ** to ** for remaining long side.
Next round: Knit around casting on 3 stitches over every 3 stitch bind off of previous row. Leave the row marker on your needle, but remove the other markers as you go. Knit for 8 more rows. Bind off. Weave in ends on wrong side of work.
Handles: Make 2. Handles are made in 5 stitch I cord. Cast 5 stitches on one of the double pointed needle Do not turn. Push stitches down to working end of needle. Pull yarn across back of work and knit. Continue in this way, pushing the stitches down to a working position at the end of the needle and pulling the yarn across the back of work. Never turn work but always have the right side facing you. Make each I cord 36” long. Bind off.

Felting: Put your finished pieces in a pillow slip or net bag. Note: This is highly recommended as it will keep your I cord from tying itself in knots as well as keep lint from clogging your filter. Set washing machine for the smallest load, hot water wash and cold water rinse. Add a bit of detergent. Put the bag in the machine and run through a complete cycle. Some recommend putting towels, jeans or some other heavy items in with piece to be felted. The friction of items rubbing together during the process is suppose to facilitate felting. I have never found this necessary. At the end of the cycle check the purse. If properly felted the fabric should be thick and firm. You should not be able to see the individual knit stitches on the sides of bag. (The ridges of the garter stitch bottom will still be visible.) If purse does not meet those standards return to machine and run through another cycle. This time, however, check the progress every five minutes. When the purse meets your criteria, advance the machine timer to rinse and complete the wash cycle. Remove purse. Begin to shape with your hands. Pull and stretch the wool until you are satisfied with the proportions. (Note: It is not possible to give definitive measurements as felting is not a precise process.) Hold the ends of the I cord and pull, stretching them to be sure they are the same length. Place pieces on a towel away from direct sunlight. Allow pieces to dry thoroughly.

Finishing: Thread I cord through eyelets. Tie ends on each side in overhand knot. If necessary, adjust knots to insure handles are even. If you have used a yarn that got very fuzzy during the felting process you can trim the fuzzy ends if you wish.
Decorating: You can leave your purse as is or decorate with applique, flowers, or whatever strikes your fancy. You can use one of the many striped or print wool yarns that will make a pattern as you knit.

Copyright 2006 Yvonne Boucher

This pattern is for your personal use only. It may not be reproduced for sale or to conduct classes. It may not be used to make purses for sale.