dimanche 20 janvier 2013

Bulky Scarf





Whenever I go outside, I’m greeted by hundreds of bulky scarfs in the streets.  This is the fashionable style now, and I really wanted one for myself.  I went into a shop and looked around, but they all cost a fortune!  So I thought to myself, why don’t I just re-create one?  The pattern didn’t seem complicated, and after a few minutes of looking around, I had a pattern in my head. 

It’s connected in a round, and will keep your neck very warm!  It’s not very wide so that you can wrap it around your neck 2-3 times without it getting too bulky and hard to breathe or fit under a coat! 

This is a scarf that can be worn with any style of winter coat, and even goes well with a light jacket or a shirt. The best part about it is that it’s knit with a bulky yarn, so it knits up quickly and is very easy.  Good for beginners.  So if you’re looking for a scarf that costs less than buying one in the shop, but wont give you a headache trying to knit, you’re in the right place! 

Yarn Recommended:

A bulky or super bulky yarn is the best for this project.  You’ll probably need 2 or 3 skeins. 

What You’ll Need:

-2 Size 13 US (9 MM) either straight needles or circular.
- Scrap yarn
-tapestry needle

Dimensions:

Length : 63.5 in (5 feet 3 inches or 184cm) around or 32 in (92cm) when folded in half
Width : 3.5 in (9cm)

Abbrivations:

C/O = Cast on
B/O = bind off
K = Knit
P = Purl
Sl 1 yb = slip one stitch with the yarn in back
Sl 1 yf = slip one stitch with the yarn in front

Instructions:

1.   C/O 13 stitches using a provisional cast on.  (If you’ve never done this, here’s a good video that shows 3 ways to do a provisional cast on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSwG6SJ1z2I)
2.   Work in k1p1 ribbing across the 13 stitches (starting and ending on a knit stitch).
3.   Turn work
4.   Sl 1 yf and continue in k1p1 ribbing (starting on a k st and ending on a p st)
5.   Turn Work
6.   Sl1 yb and continue in k1p1 ribbing (starting on a p st and ending on a k st)
7.   Turn work
8.   Repeat steps 4-7 until scarf is desired length.
9.   Pick up the 13 stitches from the provisional cast on and put them on a needle. 
10.      Cut a 7-8inch tail of your main yarn.
11.      Use the kitchner stitch to sew the two ends together.


Kitchner Stitch:
1.     Break off yarn leaving a 6” tail.
2.     Thread yarn through tapestry needle.
3.     Hold needles parallel (each has 8 st on it)
4.     Pull needle through 1st st on front needle as if to knit, and pull the stitch off.
5.     Pull yarn through 2nd st on front needle as if to purl.  Leave on needle.
6.     Pull yarn through 1st st on back needle as if to purl, and pull the st off.
7.     Pull yarn through 2nd st on back needle and leave on.
8.     Repeat steps 4-7 until one st remains.
9.  Pull remaining yarn through the loop and weave in ends!






jeudi 17 janvier 2013

Country Home Tea Cozy


Country Home Tea Cozy





Tea cozies add a fancy/chic aspect to any tea party!  This cozy really hits the home run with it’s simple and elegant style. This pattern is fairly simple, and took me about a day to construct and knit.

Yarn recommended: 

Either cotton or wool yarn works here, but you might opt for cotton, because it’s easier to wash. 

This project does ask for a double strand of yarn, so don’t use anything too chunky.  I used worsted weight wool/acrylic mix (I don’t have the name because I used some leftover yarn I had lying around).

What you will need:
-5 size 4 US (3.5 MM) double pointed needles.
-1 stitch marker
-tapestry needle

Dimensions:

I made this for a teapot that, at it’s largest, measures 14,5 inches (37cm), and at it’s tallest measures 4,5 inches (11cm), although the belly is a bit big and can stretch to fit a fatter pot. 

Abbreviations:
C/O = Cast on
B/O – Bind off
K = Knit
P = Purl
PM = Place Marker
K2tog = Knit 2 together
Inc 1 = increase 1 stitch by knitting front to back
Sl 1 = Slip one stitch from left to right needle (ALWAYS AS IF TO PURL!)
YO = Yarn over
YF = Bring yarn to the front
YB = Bring yarn to the back

Instructions:
11.     C/O 9 st.  Knit one row as if on straight needles and then join in the round, spreading evenly over 3 dp needles.
22.     PM
33.     K1, inc 1, K1 over each of the 3 needles (12 st)
44.     Knit 1 row even, dividing the stitches evenly over 4 needles (3 st per needle)
55.     K1, inc 1, k1 over each of the 4 needles (16 st)
66.     K1, inc1, inc 1, k1 over each of the 4 needles (24 st)
77.     K1, inc 1, knit to 2 before the end of the needle, inc 1, k1.
88.     Repeat step 6 until there are 20 stitches on each needle (80 st total)
99.     *k1, yf, sl 1, yb * repeat * to * until the end of the round.
110. Knit 1 row
111.  *yf, sl 1, yb, k1 * repeat * to * until the end of the round
112.  Knit 1 row
113. *k1, yf, sl 1, yb * repeat * to * until the end of the round.
114. Purl back [This is now the start of the opening for the handle.  Instead of working in the round, the piece will now be worked as if on straight needles.]
115. *yf, sl 1, yb, k1 * repeat * to * until the end of the round
116. Purl 37 stitches
117. With a piece of scrap yarn, purl 6 st. (this will be used at the end like an afterthought heel.)
118. Slip these 6 st from the right hand needle to the left hand one. 
119. Purl over these 6 stitches again, but with the main yarn, and purl to the end of the round.
220. *k1, yf, sl 1, yb * repeat * to * until the end of the round.
221. Purl 1 row
222. *yf, sl 1, yb, k1 * repeat * to * until the end of the round
223. Purl 1 row.
224. Repeat steps 20-23 (4 rounds knit)
225. Repeat steps 20-22 (3 rounds knit)
226. Re-join the work in a round and knit 1 row.
227. *k1, yf, sl 1, yb * repeat * to * until the end of the round.
228. K1, k2tog, knit to 3 before the end of the needle, k2tog, k1 (18 st per needle)
229. Repeat step 28 until 10 st remain on each needle (40 total)
330. B/O using Jenny’s Super Stretchly Bind Off
a.     YO, K1
b.     Pull YO over K stitch (1 st on right hand needle)
c.      YO, K1
d.     Pull YO over K stitch (2 st on right hand needle)
e.      Pull right hand stitch over stitch that was just made (1st on right needle)
f.      Repeat steps c-e until one st remains on right hand needle.  Cut a long tail and thread through loop.
331. Pick up the 12 stitches on the scrap yarn.  (if you’ve never done this before, here’s a good video to help you out!  Start at 0:37)
332. K6, pick up 1 st from the gap
333. K6 pick up another stitch from the gap (7 st on each needle)
334. On the top needle (the one that is closest to the lid of the teapot) K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1 (5 st on this needle)
325. Knit straight across the second needle (7 stitches on this needle)
336. Do the same B/O here that you did for the underbelly of the cozy.
337. Tie in ends.  To let the top handle of the teapot through, I simply did not pull the yarn through the 9 st I initially cast on.  If your teapot is different, you can, of course, close the hole.  
338. If you think blocking will help, go for it!  If not, make yourself a nice cup of tea J