Trendy Tween
My April’s Project Yarnway challenge has changed slightly from my original concept. My daughter is a social butterfly and always on the go, so instead of a bag for all of her electronics, I made a less specialized bag for all her carrying needs (as well as one for her American Girl doll who often accompanies her on her escapades.)
She loves bright colors and wanted a roomy bag to toss her stuff in when going over a friend’s house. The whimsical embroidery fits her personality and I incorporated her requests for an attached change purse, adjustable strap and matching bag for her doll.
I don’t have a pattern written out for this bag yet, but I think I’ll be able to come up with a formula for the construction so that you can make the same bag in any size you want. In the meantime, why don’t you stop by the Project Yarnway group and vote for your favorite bag? Voting will be open May 1-15.
Spiral Legwarmers
OK, I’ve been making legwarmers as gifts for my daughter’s dance teachers, so I have for you here another legwarmer pattern. They are worked in the round with a simple spiral lace pattern which wraps up the legs in opposite directions.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft (Worsted / 10 ply)
Needle: size 8 – 5mm(circular or DPN for your preferred method of working in the round) I used 2 circular needles, but 2 at a time (on 1 circular with Magic Loop or 2 circulars) doesn’t work because of the lace pattern.
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in stockinette
Sizing: Average adult woman [infant and child sizes below]
CO 48 and join to work in the round
Work in 2×2 rib for 4.5 inches.
Knit the next round
For Right Legwarmer work chart “Spiral A” 4 times (after round 13 you will have to move your stitch marker one stitch to the left). Worked over 14 rounds, all even rounds are knit. I have also written out the lace pattern for those who do not prefer charts:
Round 1: k6, k2tog, yo (repeat to end of round)
Round 3: k5, k2tog, yo, k1 (repeat to end of round)
Round 5: k4, k2tog, yo, k2 (repeat to end of round)
Round 7: k3, k2tog, yo,, k3 (repeat to end of round)
Round 9: k2, k2tog, yo, k4 (repeat to end of round)
Round 11: k1, k2tog, yo, k5 (repeat to end of round)
Round 13: k2tog, yo, k6 (repeat to end of round)
For Left legwarmer Work chart “Spiral B” 4 times. (after round 13 you will have to move your stitch marker one stitch to the right)
Round 1: yo, ssk, k6 (repeat to end of round)
Round 3: k1, yo, ssk, k5 (repeat to end of round)
Round 5: k2, yo, ssk, k4 (repeat to end of round)
Round 7: k3, yo, ssk, k3 (repeat to end of round)
Round 9: k4, yo, ssk, k2 (repeat to end of round)
Round 11: k5, yo, ssk, k1 (repeat to end of round)
Round 13: k6, yo, ssk (repeat to end of round)
Work 2×2 rib for 4.5 inches.
Cast off using sewn bind off (or your preferred stretchy bind off method) and weave in ends.
Infant/toddler (child) size
CO 24 (36), join to work in the round
10 rows ( 3 inches) of 2×2 rib
For right legwarmer work “Spiral C” twice (4 times), for left legwarmer work “spiral D” twice (4 times)
10 rows ( 3 inches) of 2×2 rib
Finish with sewn bind off – http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/howto/archive/2008/05/15/sewn-bind-off.aspx
Weave in ends
Project Yarnway – Bag it & Tag it challenge
The April Project Yarnway challenge is in full swing (and voting on the March entries is open until the 15th!). I’ve dyed my yarn with kool-aid and started knitting.
The task is to create a bag for a specific client. My client is my daughter who is looking for that perfect bag to carry around her netbook, camera, i-pod and a notebook and pencils. She has a bright and cheerful personality and so I dyed the yarn a bright orange with some yellow and pink/red. The base will be slightly felted with some foam for protection, and the pockets will be knit in black with some kind of lace pattern, I think, so that if they are empty the bright color will show through.
Eyelet Rib Legwarmers
Worsted weight superwash merino
US8 needles – 5mm (circular or DPN for preferred method of knitting in the round)
Sizing: These legwarmers fit my 8.5” ankle/13” calf, but the ribbing pulls in a lot and would fit smaller legs. If you add a full repeat, you will add about 4.5” at the widest point (when stretched. again, the ribbing pulls in a lot and will fit smaller) You can also fiddle with the ribbing in between the eyelet sections to get the size you need. If you knit this, I would love feedback.
M1: I used the nearly invisible increase found here: http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/05/very-nearly-invisible-increase.html
When it came to increasing in the purl section, I used the same method, but purled the stitch instead of knitting it. (I looked at the back of the work to find the stitch I needed to place on the left needle)
CO 42 and join to begin working in the round
Lace pattern over 4 rounds
Rounds 1-3: [K5, p3, k3, p3] 3 times
Round 4: [K2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k3, p3] 3 times
Repeat these 4 rounds until the legwarmer measures 9 inches from cast on edge
Increase round: [k5, p3, k1, m1, k2, p3] 3 times
[k5, p3, k4, p3] 3 times
[k5, p3, k4, p3] 3 times
[k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k4, p3] 3 times
Rounds 1-3: [K5, p3, k4, p3] 3 times
Round 4: [K2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k4, p3] 3 times
Repeat these 4 rounds for another 2 inches
Increase round: [k5, p3, k1, m1, k3, p3] 3 times
[k5, p3, k5, p3] 3 times
[k5, p3, k5, p3] 3 times
[k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k5, p3] 3 times
Rounds 1-3: [K5, p3, k5, p3] 3 times
Round 4: [K2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k5, p3] 3 times
Repeat these 4 rounds for another 2 ½ inches
Increase round: [k5, p3, k5, p1, m1, p2] 3 times
[k5, p3, k5, p4] 3 times
[k5, p3, k5, p4] 3 tmes
[k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k5, p4]
Rounds 1-3: [K5, p3, k3, p4] 3 times
Round 4: [K2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p3, k3, p4] 3 times
Repeat these 4 rounds to 18” or desired length (from cast on edge). End with 3 rounds of [k5, p3, k5, p4]
Finish using sewn bind off (see link below) and weaving in ends.
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/howto/archive/2008/05/15/sewn-bind-off.aspx
Snapshot of Spring
With the warm weather came outdoor fun with the kids and some great photo opportunities. I just wanted to share my favorite photo of the day.
