knitting archive

You’ll need 1 skein each of dark red, Aran (or white), and navy worsted weight yarn. I used “Simply Soft” 100% acrylic yarn for this project. It is machine washable and dryable. You’ll also need a 16” size 4 or 5 circular needle. You will cast on your stitches the same way for a circular needle as you did for straight needles. You will need to have 2 point proctors.

Rows 1-10 With red (K3, p3, k3) repeat until 10 rows have been completed. Cut the red yarn leaving 5 inches from the last stitch.

Rows 11-20 Make your next stitch with the Aran (or white yarn) leaving a 5 inch length of yarn. Tie the red and the white sections of yarn together in a double knot. Continue with white in the k3, p3, k3 pattern until you have completed 10 rows of Aran (white).

Cut the white yarn, leaving a 5 inch strand as before, and start the next stitch with blue yarn. Tie the white and blue strands together.

Row 66 k5 blue, k1 white, k5 blue, k1 white, repeat to the end of the row twisting the two color strands back and forth behind the knitting.

Row 72 k2 blue, *(k1 white, knit 5 blue, k1 white) repeat from * to the end of the row. End K3 blue.

Repeat rows 92 through 95 until you have only 2 stitches remaining. Knit these 2 stitches together and cut the yarn leaving a 5” strand. Pull the strand through the remaining stitch and pull tight. With a crochet hook pull all the loose strands of yarn through the stitches on the back side of your cap.

Tassel - Pull 1 10 inch long strand of each color of yarn through the top of the cap. Braid the strand and tie off leaving a tassel on the end.

When the weather is as nice and sunny as it has been this past week, who wants to think about next winter and cold snowy days? A dyed in the wool knitter, that’s who! It takes time to knit and so planning projects for gifts for back to school and the holidays is especially important. In fact, planning is everything. On Christmas morning no one wants to give a friend or relative an envelope with a note saying, “I’m knitting you a scarf, but I’m not finished yet. I’ll send it off to you as soon as it’s done!”
Knitting a scarf for yourself or a friend is easy. For a warm cozy scarf I use circular needles. By knitting in the round, you provide two lawyers of material making the scarf very warm, but use a lighter yarn, such as sport or fingering. A worsted weight yarn is a little heavy for this project.
For this project you will need:
4 skeins of sport yarn in the color or colors of your choice.
16 inch circular needle in a size 4 or 5.
Cast on 150 stitches to size 4 or 5, 16 inch circular needles. Knit in the round until the scarf reaches the desired length. It’s really that simple. If you would like to practice your knit and pearl stitches you can knit for 20 rows and then pearl for 20 rows. This will give you a wonderful added texture to your scarf and you’ll get a little extra practice in too.
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Patriots Scarf

Cast 200 stitches on to your 29 inch, size 5 circular needle. Starting with red, repeat rows 1 – 60 of the directions for the Patriots Cap.
Change to blue and white yarn and repeat rows 61-66 until the scarf is about 7 inches short of the length you desire.
Starting with white repeat rows 1-60 ending with red.

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Here’s a great idea for Mom or your Grandmother for her Mother’s Day gift. A book mark that you have knit yourself and it only takes a little time to make a wonderful gift. These knit bookmarks were very popular in the late 1800s. I have one that was my Grandmother’s and you can make one too using very small knitting needles, size 0 or the smallest you can find, and a fine mercerized cotton for crochet of any color you choose. If you would like a lacier look for your bookmark you can use a larger size knitting needle.

Cast on 20 stitches, or the number of stitches necessary to make a bookmark that is about 1 ½ “ in width
Knit the first row.
Perl the second row.
Repeat until the book mark is the length you desire.
Cast off stitches.

Now attach three 5” strands of the cotton that you used to knit your bookmark. Braid the strands and knot them about 1” from the end creating a small tassel.

If your mom or grandmother is a crafty person buy her a book about her favorite craft. If she is not a crafter you can buy her a novel by her favorite author. Put the bookmark inside the book and you have a wonderful and personal gift that she will treasure for years to come.

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Here’s a fun idea for the golfing Dad for Father’s Day. Knit a sock for each of the woods in his set of clubs. Use wild colors. Make toe socks. Have them look like hunting socks (grey with red toe and heel). Embroider on animal faces. Here’s a pattern for the basic sock. You add the fun!

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Use any synthetic fingering weight yarn. Takes about 3 oz. of yarn to make 2 socks.

You will be starting at the top.
Cast on 60 sts. Divided evenly among three needles. Be careful not to twist the sts.
Work in ribbing of k 2, p2 for 4 inches.
Now work in stocking knit stitch (K each round ) until the total length is 6 inches from the start.

Heel
K 15 sts of the first needle and turn; slip 15 sts
From the third needle onto the needle with the 15 sts just knitted. This needle holds the heel of the sock. Divide the remaining 30 stitches evenly on the two remaining needles. These sts will be knitted later for the instep of the sock.
Work back and forth over the 30 sts on the heel needle as follows:
Row 1 – P all sts
Row 2 - *Sl 1 as if to purl, k1. Repeat from * across.
Repeat the last 2 rows for 24 rows, ending with the second row.

To turn the heel
Row 1 - P 19. P2tog., P1, turn.
Row 2 - Sl 1, K9; Sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o**., k 1 turn.
Row 3 – Sl 1, P 10, p 2 tog. P1, turn.
Row 4 – Sl 1, K11, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o.; K1, turn.
Row 5 – Sl 1, P 12, P2 tog., P1, turn.
Row 6 – Sol 1, K 13, sl1, k1, p.s.s.o.; k 1, turn.
Row 7 – Sl 1, P 14, P2 tog., P 1 turn.
Row 8 – Sl 1, K 15, sl 1, k 1, p.s.s.o.; K 1, turn
Row 9 – Sl 1, P 16, P 2 tog. P 1, turn.
Row 10 – Sl 1, K 17, Sl 1, K 1, p.s.s.o., k 1, (there are 20 sts. remaining.
With the heel needle pick-up and knit 12 sts. along the side of the heel. There are now 32 sts. on the heel needle. Using a spare needle, K across the next 2 needles and in doing so you will bring the instep sts. onto 1 needle. There are now 30 sts. on this spare needle. With a second spare needle, pick-up and knit 12 sts. along the other side of the heel and with the same needle K 10 sts. from the heel needle. There are now 74 sts. all around.

The foot
Row 1 – K around.
Row 2 – K across the first needle to the last 3 sts. K 2 tog., K 1. K across second needle. On third needle, K1, sl 1, K1, p.s.s.o., knit across.
Repeat the last 2 rounds alternately until 60 sts. remain on the round.
Now work evenly in rounds of K stitch until the foot measures 2 inches less than the total length desired for back of heel.

Toe –
Row 1 -
First needle – K to within 3 sts. of the end of the sts. on the first needle, K 2 tog.
Second needle – K1, sl1, K1, p.s.s.o., K to within last 3 sts., K 2 tog., K1,
Third needle – K1, sl 1, K1, p.s.s.o., K to end of needle.
Row 2 –
K all the way around.
Repeat these 2 rounds until 16 sts remain on the round.
With the third needle K 4 sts. from the first needle.
There should now be 8 sts. on two needles.
Tir off and leave enough yarn to sew the toe closed.

** p.s.s.o. – Pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch . Creates 1 Stitch decrees.

These instructions are for a basic sock. You can add color or decorate any way you choose.

An Easy One Piece Sweater

Here are the directions for an easy one piece sweater that you can knit up in no time and enjoy all year long. You can also add decorations to create a holiday sweater.

Directions are for a size 14-16 sweater. To make a smaller sweater use one size smaller needles for a larger sweater use one size larger needles.

Needles:
One each: Size #8 - 29 and 16 inch circular needle. #8 double pointed needles.
Yarn:
Worsted weight yarn of your choosing.

The body: Work Back and forth in rows.
Cast on to the #8 – 29 inch needles, 236 stitches.
Row 1 - K15, P1, K1, to within 15 stitches of the end of the row, K15.Turn your work.
Row 2: P7, sl1, P7, K1, P1, to within 15 stitches of the end of the row, P7, sl 1, P7. Turn your work.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until your work measures 1 ½ inch.

Buttonholes:
Place a double buttonhole here, and every 4 inches thereafter, as follows.
Knit 3 stitches, K1, slip the stitch behind it over the stitch you just knit, repeat 2 more times, K4, K1,slip the stitch behind it over the stitch you just knit, repeat 2 more times. Knit to end of row. Turn your work and purl to the spot where you began your buttonholes. Cast one three stitches, purl to the next decrease and then cast on three stitches again. Purl to the end of the row. Remember to repeat this process every 4 inches for your buttonholes.

Work the body of the sweater as follows:
Row 1 – Knit.
Row 2 – Purl 7, slip 1, purl to within 8 sts. of the end of the row and slip 1, purl to end of row.
Repeat these 2 rows until your work measures 15” from the bottom.
Set aside your needles and be sure to put needle caps on the end of your needles so that you don’t lose any stitches.

The sleeves:
Cast on to the #8 – 16 inch needles, 36 stitches.
K1, P1, in the round for 1 ½ inches. This will be the cuff of your sleeve.

The body of the sleeve: Knit in the round.
Row 1 – K4, K2 in the next stitch, K4, K2 in the next stitch, continue for one round.
Rows 2 thru 7 – Knit.
Repeat rows 1-7 until you have 87 stitches on your needle.
Knit in the round until the sleeve is 19” long from the beginning.

Attaching the sleeve to the body of the sweater.
Knit 59 stitches of the body of the sweater.
Place the neat 8 stitches on a holder.
Place 8 stitches of the sleeve on a holder.
With the right side of the body and the right side of the sleeve facing you, knit the stitches of the sleeve onto the needle holding the stitches for the body of the sweater. Now knit 118 stitches of the body of the sweater. Your first sleeve is now attached to your sweater.

Repeat the directions for knitting sleeve #i and attach the second sleeve at the place where you ended knitting the 118 stitches.

Yolk:
379 stitches total.
Continue to:
Row 1 - P7, sl 1, at the beginning of each purl row and to purl to within 8 stitches of the end of the purl row, then sl 1, purl to the end of the row.
Row 2 - Knit across the row.

Every 7th row - Knit 15, K 4, K2 together, repeat to within 15 stitches of the end of the row and knit these 15 stitches.

Repeat rows as above, decreasing every 7th row until there are 87 stitches on your needle. Switch to the 16 inch needles when necessary.

When yolk measures 13 ½ inches knit as follows:
Right side – K15, P1, K1, repeat to within 15 stitches of the end of the row, K15.
Wrong side – P7, sl1, P7, K1, P1, to within 15 stitches of the end of the row, P7, sl1, P7.

Repeat until neck measures 1 inch. Cast off.
Sew small seam at the underarm closed.
Fold over and sew either side of the front edges of the sweater closed being sure to align the 2 sides of your buttonholes. Whip stitch around the buttonholes.

If you choose you can decorate your sweater for any holiday by adding small 1/8” ribbons to the yolk in the color of the season.

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I went with a friend to a reading of Irish poetry one night. A man sat in front of me wearing the most interesting sweater I had seen in a long time. It was an optical illusion in wool! When viewed it looked like rows of diamonds and yet….. rows of squares. Fascinated, I took out my pen and worked up the pattern on the back of my program. When I had finished I could hardly wait to get home and get started on the sweater!

This sweater is knit in the round on circular needles using a sport weight yarn.

Using a #3 US needle (3.25 mm Euro.) that is 29 inches long (73.50 cm Euro.), Cast on 364 stitches.

To resize - This will create a sweater that is 42” around. Each square is 1 ½ inches wide (14 stitches). If you want to increase or decrease the width of the sweater significantly, you can add or subtract 14 stitches adding or eliminating one or more squares. If you only need to make a small change in the size of the sweater make a small vertical ribbing pattern on either side of the sweater. Thus you can adjust your sizing by adding three or five stitches in a knit one, purl one, knit one pattern at either side of the sweater while maintaining the pattern.

Using a #3 US needle (3.25 mm Euro.) that is 29 inches long (73.50 cm Euro.), Cast on 364 stitches.

            Starting at the bottom of the sweater knit the border pattern “A”.
            Knit two rows.
            Knit body of sweater following the main pattern “B” until 10 rows of squares have been completed.
            Divide your stitches in half for the front and the back of the sweater. If you used a vertical ribbing to increase your divide will be at the middle of your ribbing.
            Continue to knit the front of your sweater until you have completed seven more squares.

Front neck – Continue to knit the front of your sweater until you have completed seven more squares. Knit 56 stitches, in pattern, and place these stitches on a holder. Knit the next 70 stitches and place on a holder. Knit the next 56 stitches, in pattern, and turn your work. Continue to work in pattern, decreasing 1 stitch at the neck edge, for 14 rows. Bind off the remaining stitches. Repeat for the left shoulder.

Back neck – Continue to knit the back of your sweater until you have completed eight more squares. Bind off the first 56 stitches. Knit and place the next 70 stitches on a stitch holder. Bind off the next 56 stitches. Sew the right front shoulder and the right back shoulder together. Do the same for the left shoulder.

Neckband - Using a circular #3 (3.25mm) needle that is 16inches (40.5 cm) place the 70 stitches from the front needle on the circular needle. Pick up 18 stitches along the left side of the neck. Place the 70 stitches from the back holder onto the circular needle. Pick up 18 stitches along the right side of the neck. Knit one row. Knit border pattern for the neckband. Bind off.

            Sleeves - Pick up 200 stitches, on your #3/29 inch circular needle, along the arm opening.
            Row 1 - Starting at the center of the underarm knit 1 round.
            Row 2 – Knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one (rib pattern), and then continue around in main pattern “B”.
            Continue rib/main pattern, decreasing one stitch, just before and after the rib, every third row, until 196 rows (14 squares) have been completed. Switch to a 16 inch needle when you need to. You should now have 116 stitches on your needle. Knit one row and then knit the border “A” pattern. Cast off your stitches when border pattern is completed. Repeat for the other sleeve.

Headbands have become very popular and this is a great project for the beginner as well as the accomplished knitter. Take your scrap yarn and cast on 16 stitches. Work in stocking knit stitch for 5 inches. This will be the back of the headband, the part that is under your hair.

Now, for the top of your headband you can choose a small textured pattern, a small cable, a multi-colored pattern or continue in the stocking knit stitch. Make your headband long enough so that it will fit your head. Sew the ends together.

When you knit a sweater you might like to take a few minutes and make a matching headband. What a nice addition to any wardrobe!

To make one pair of Hairy Feet you will need:
One pair of knitting needles, size #5. I prefer the metal needles and not the plastic as the stitches slip more easily from the metal.
3 skeins 3-4 oz. each. 4 ply worsted weight synthetic yarn. Red Heart and Lion are just two of the many yarns available to you.

Cast on 50 stitches. K each row until you is equal to the length of your foot. Cast off the stitches. Repeat for a second square. Fold in half and sew up one side. Sew up theopposite side andhalf the distance across the top. Turn right side out. Do the same for your second square.

To make the fringe you’ll need to cut hundreds of pieces of yarn 12“ long. To make this very fast and simple, I just wrap the yarn around an old DVD case (the short way around) and then cut through the bundle of yarn while it’s still on the case. Take a crochet hook and insert it into one of the loops on the slipper.

Place the middle of a 12” piece of yarn over the crochet hook and pull the yarn part way through. Pull the loose ends through the loop and pull tight. Keep going until the upper part of the slipper is covered in fringe. You now have a pair of Hairy Feet!

These bags are great for a handbag, but if you make them just a little bit bigger they can also be great for the beach or the pool. Be sure to use cotton yarns as they are washable and dryable.

3 or 4 skeins of cotton yarn. Always make sure yarn is returnable, buy extra (especially if there is a dye lot), and save your receipt.
1 yard matching solid or print washable fabric.
Matching thread
One large snap for a closure

Following the instructions on the paper yarn sleeve figure the size of the needle and the number of stitches needed to make the size purse you would like to have. I use a size #4US needle and 80 stitches. This gives a nice close knit bag that will be sturdy.

With 80 stitches on a #4 US needle you will knit each row back and forth until your knitting measures 36” in length.
**Cut your washable fabric to the same size as your knitting.
With right sides to right sides sew around the edges of the two fabrics leaving a 6 inch opening.
Turn right sides out and stitch the 6 inch opening closed.
Press flat with an iron.
Fold 1/3 of the way up and stitch the sides together. Stitch a second seam just inside of the first for strength.
Fold the flap over and sew the snap in place.
If a strap is desired, you can take a piece of your fabric and fold into several layers about 2” wide and about 48 inches long. Sew the ends of your strap inside the lining of your handbag stitching 2 rows, one inside of the other.

Variations –
1.         With 80 stitches on a #4 US needle, knit one row, purl the next row and continue in stocking knit for 4 inches.
            Following the alphabet chart work your initials in the center of the next rows maintaining the stocking knit stitch.
            Finish as for the first 4 inches. Continue from **.

2. With 100 stitches on your #4 US needle, Work your favorite cables patterns for the entire 36 inches and finish as for**.
Remember to keep your cable patterns symmetrical.

3. With 80 stitches on your #4 US needle knit in stocking stitch changing color every 10 rows.