Sunday, September 30, 2018

October 2018 KAL Snowflake Lace Gift Bag


We are doing something a little different this month.  I wanted to give you a chance to knit something that could be used as a gift bag for Christmas for either candies, or lavender or whatever you would want to share with someone. If you fill it with lavender or other scents you can place in a drawer, if you decide to use for candy it works great, I put Hershey Mini Candy Bars in mine.  You can also line it if you like. I didn’t go the lining route, but it is up to how you want to finish it.



If you prefer to do this as a cloth, just cast on 37 and work as the pattern is stated OR cast on 45 and use 8 stitches for the border, 4 stitches on each side.

The two photos below are as follows: one is of the completed bag and the other shows what it looks like when filled.




1 skein cotton yarn, I used red, #5 US Knitting Needles.

Size: 5 ½ X 4 ½

Notes: SSK=Slip 1, Slip 1, K2tog; K2Tog=knit 2 stitches together. The instructions for SL2, K1, P2SSO are just like the S1 1, K1, PSSO you are just doing it with two stitches instead. I past my stitches over one at a time.

Cast on:   45

Row 1:        (RS) K1, *K3, SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2Tog; repeat from * to last 4: K4.
Row 2:        (WS) Purl
Row 3:        K1, *K4, YO, SL 2, K1, P2SSO, YO, K1;  repeat from * to last 4: K4.
Row 4:        Purl
Row 5:        K1, *K3, SSK, YO, K1, YO, K2Tog; repeat from * to last 4: K4.
Row 6:        Purl.
Row 7:        SSK, *YO, K1, YO, K2Tog, K3, SSK; repeat from * to last 3: YO, K1, YO, K2Tog.
Row 8:        Purl.
Row 9:        K1, *YO, SL 2, K1, P2SSO, YO, K5; repeat from * to last 4: YO, SL 2, K1, P2SSO, YO, K1.
Row 10:      Purl.
Row 11:      SSK, *YO, K1, YO, K2Tog, K3, SSK; repeat from * to last 3: YO, K1, YO, K2tog.
Row 12:      Purl.

Repeat the above 12 rows for pattern. I repeated the 12 rows 2 more times. For larger bag, repeat the 12 row set 2 more times and you can enlarge by adding more stitches to cast on in increments of 8 stitches.

Finish: I finished off by doing a Picot Bind off after completing the repeat rows 1-12 (make sure to end with a Purl row). Next row: Bind off 2 stitches, * slip that stitch back to left hand needle, cast on 2 stitches using cable cast on method. This cable cast on can be found by googling the term if you are not familiar with it.  Now bind off 5 sts; repeat from * to end. Cut yarn and draw yarn through last stitch on needle. 

To complete, fold in half (wrong sides together) join sides and bottom. Thread ribbon or yarn through holes in lace, pull and secure after filling the bag. I put Hershey mini bars in my bag.

Janet Nogle














































































Saturday, September 15, 2018

September 15 Challenge KAL: Mom's Favorite Circular DishCloth

Rosie says:  Happy September!
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September 2018 Challenge KAL:

            Circular Dishcloth, “Mom’s Favorite”

Dedicated to my mom:   in memory of Helen ~ July 1925 – August 2018


My mom was a crochet artist – I didn’t learn to crochet, but I learned to knit – so she gave me this pattern that a friend of hers had made – and she loved the result so much, she kept buying me yarn to keep making them! And over the years I have knit hundreds of these circular cloths!  I hope it will become a favorite of yours too.

1 skein Cotton yarn, solid or variegated [I used a variegated, 'Jewel Ombre', from the original Peaches & Creme yarn]

1 pair # 6 straight needles [or your usual size needles that you are comfortable with]

Note:

We will be knitting a circular design pattern, but using straight needles!

This can happen because you will be doing what is referred to as “short rows” – the direction will be given as ‘Turn’ –

To ‘Turn’ you simply turn your needle around, same as you would whenever you get to the end of any knit row – yes, it will leave some stitches on that needle, but that is the way it works! [When you turn your work, you will be simply knitting back to the start of your project, the outside edge.]

There is also a YO – Yarn Over ~ you simply bring your yarn around the needle and knit your next stitch – this adds a stitch, and also leaves an eyelet-lace-space within your cloth

Bind Off = as you generally do for a bind off, knit 2 stitches, pass the first over the second and knit onward as directed

BUT---As my mom always said, “Just do it… don’t try to second-guess what’s next!  Don’t read ahead, just follow the pattern as it goes!”





Ready? Let’s knit!

First:  Cast on 15 stitches

Row 1 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 1 stitch at end of row, Turn

Row 2 – Knit to end of row [this brings you back to beginning, so proceed to row 3]

Row 3 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 2 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 4 – Knit to end of row

Row 5 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 3 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 6 – Knit to end of row

Row 7 – BIND OFF  3 stitches, and then knit to within 4 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 8 – Knit to end of row. This has formed your first ‘point’.

Row 9 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 5 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 10 – Knit to end of row

Row 11 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 6 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 12 – Knit to end of row

Row 13 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 7 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 14 – Knit to end of row

Row 15 – BIND OFF 3 stitches, knit to within 8 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 16 – Knit to end of row. This forms another ‘point’

Row 17 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 9 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 18 – Knit to end of row

Row 19 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 10 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 20 – Knit to end of row

Row 21 – Knit 3, YO, knit to within 11 stitches at end of row, Turn

Row 22 – Knit to end of row

Row 23 – BIND OFF 3 stitches, knit to end of row. Another ‘point’ formed

Row 24 – Knit to end of row. This will bring you back to the outer edge of the circle. This forms ‘1 Section’

-      You now have 15 stitches on your needle, as at the beginning.

Repeat the 24 rows, until you have made 7 sections.

[3 'points' in each section, 7 sections total = 21 points finished]





Bind off.  Sew seam.

Admire your Mom’s Favorite Dish-cloth!

And drop a note to our group, telling us what color you chose to knit with!

Post a photo in your Yahoo Album for us to see!