The Beauty of Winter

Today I was looking out at this

And thinking of this.

It's not too far off! Just think: The beauty of winter is the promise of spring. Hang in there, everyone. Let me hear from you: post your newest craft or just drop me a line to say hi!

My take on "A Blanket for Seriously Cold People``

Thanks and a hat tip to the designer of "A Blanket for Seriously Cold People` that`s on Ravelry. It's from http://softsweaterfibres.blogspot.com/2011/12/blanket-for-seriously-cold-people and the designer is 'Silvia bo Bilvia'. I thank her for her genius and her generosity!
I made this in just a few days. The yarn is a very economical and very machine-washable Bernat Softee-Chunky in Natural, which is listed as a 5 in yarn weight. I used three strands to knit this up. (Hint: to make that manageable,wind three skeins together into balls, then knit from those.)


As in the Blanket for Seriously Cold People, I used a rib pattern of k2, p2, and a size 15US 90mm circular needle.


Gauge: about 9 rows and 7 sts = 4 inch square


Materials: for every foot length you plan on making the blanket, use three skeins of Bernat Softee Chunky or the yarn of your choice that is a 5 weight. For a blanket of five feet long, you will need 15 skeins (100g - 3.5 oz)
size 15 US circular needle, 90mm in length


Note: for the long-tail cast on method, I simply use another ball of yarn for the long-tail. You can cast on without the anxiety of wondering if you have enough of a tail for your stitches!


Directions: Cast on 80 stitches using the long-tail method.
Proceed in k2, p2 ribbing until blanket is the desired length.
Bind-off in Elizabeth Zimmerman`s sewn bind-off, or the stretchy bind-off of your choice. (You Tube is an excellent resource!)

Beware of comfort-seeking pets while making this. They may impose a halt on production.

Thanks to my Faithful Readers - or "checker-inners"

These are easier than they look!

Greetings to all this weekend. I'm sitting at my desk in front of the window watching even more snowflakes fall. Roger is home and aside from venturing out later to ride Bob, we're hunkered down for the day.

I just finished the first of a pair of fingerless gloves from Kimberly, the knitting marvel at The Giving Flower. I modified the pattern somewhat, but the genius behind it remains Kimberly!

My Take on Kimberly's Fingerless Gloves, done on two circulars.

Materials: DK or sport weight yarn

2 circular needles size (It helps if you have circulars that are different from each other, either in colour, manufacturer or length)

set of dpns, size

yarn needle

cable needle

stitch holder or scrap yarn

Gauge: 22sts. (Take time to check your gauge for correct size)

Cable pattern: Rows 1-6 P2, K6, P2

Row 7: P2,

C6B: place next 3 sts on cable needle, place in back of knitting

K next 3 sts

K the first 3 sts from cable needle

P2

Rows 8 - 13 - Repeat rows 1-6

Row 14: P2

C6F Place next 3 sts on cable needle, place in front of work

Knit next 3 sts

knit 3 sts off of cable needle

P2

Repeat rows 1-14 for cable pattern.

Instructions:

CO 40 sts, divide over two circulars.




Some of you may have your own method for doing this, but for those who are unfamiliar, may I offer this technique:

Cast on 40 sts on one circular.

Purl-wise (meaning: as if to purl, going in from the front of the stitch), slip 20 sts onto second circular.

Fold needles together so that they are parallel to each other, the yarn coming from the needle in back. (Needle 2)

On needle 1, push stitches to opposite end of circular and knit into first stitch, pulling yarn snugly from Needle 2.. Continue in pattern according to inst.

Note: I leave the stitches on the "business end" of the back needle until I have made my join. The stitches won't move around so it's easier to keep them from getting twisted. After I have made my join, I then move my stitches to the skinnier cable part of the back needle for the remainder of the project.

Ist Round: Needle 1 Rib stitch *K1P1* to end of row

Needle 2: *K1P1* twice. Cable pattern row 1. *K1P1* twice.

Continuing in ribbing, at the same time working the cable pattern on needle 2 until piece measures 2" or desired length of cuff.

Next round: Needle one Knit all stitches.

Needle 2 Knit all stitches, at the same time continuing pattern for cable over center 10 sts

Continue until work measures 5’ from beginning, or until desired length.

Thumb technique, Left Glove

This is Kimberly’s own technique for forming the thumb and it was a breeze to convert to two circulars:

Round 1 of thumb:

Needle 1 - Knit to last stitch. Place marker. K1

Needle 2 K1, Place marker, knit to end at the same time continuing in cable pattern

Round 2

Needle 1 Knit to marker. Slip marker. M1, K1

Needle 2 K1. M1. Slip marker, knit to end

Round 3

Needle 1 and Needle 2, knit all around, slipping marker.

Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 until there are 16 stitches between the markers on your needles, 27 sts on each needle.

Next round:

Needle 1 Knit to marker

fROM kIMBERLY’S INSTRUCTIONS:
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