Storm Fingerless Mittens (free knitting pattern)

Storm Mittens 

This is a pattern for fingerless mittens, knitted in the round on a circular knitting needle using the  magic loop method. 

Materials: 

2x Rowan Kidsilk Haze (25g each) in contrasting colours (knit with each colour held double)

3.5mm circular needle

Set of 4 3.4mm double pointed needles for the thumb

waste yarn

darning needle

scissors

Pattern: 

Divide each ball of Kidsilk Haze into two equal balls. These mitts are knitted with the yarn held double in stripes of two rows.

Cast on 50 stitches and using magic loop divide the yarn into two halves of 25 stitches. Join and...

Row 1: K1P1 rib in the round for 7 rows in colour A (I used the darker colour for the ribbing at the top, bottom and thumb)

Row 8 & 9: Knit 2 rows in the round in colour B

Row 10 & 11: Knit 2 rows in the round in colour A

Continue in stripes until you've knitted 21 stripes

Row 52: Change to colour B, Knit around

Row 53: K10, Knit into the front and back of the next stitch (KFB), K3, KFB, K35 (colour B)

Row 54: Change to colour A, Knit around

Row 55: K10, KFB, K5, KFB, K35 (colour A)

Row 56: Change to colour B, Knit around

Row 57: K10, KFB, K7, KFB, K35 (colour B)

Row 58: change to colour A, K10, slip 11 stitches onto waste yarn, knit to the end of the row

Continue to knit in stripes for desired length for fingers

Ribbed top edge: K1P1 rib for 5 rows.

Cast off in K1P1 pattern.

Thumb:

Pick up the stitches on the waste yarn over two double pointed needles, and with the yarn (I used the same colour as the ribbing) pick up an additional 3 stitches across the top of the thumb with the third double pointed needle. Join in the round and knit for 7 rows in K1P1 rib. 

Cast off in K1P1 pattern.

Weave in all ends with a darning needle and enjoy!

Copyright KnittingPony. For personal use only. Please do not sell any wrist warmers you make from this pattern, or distribute or sell this pattern. Please contact me for any other information or for any errata submissions.

Another Owl!

I made this owl for a friend's baby. Here he is before he fluttered off to the new nursery:

He was really simple to make, just a couple of squares stitched together with the ears constructed by sewing the middle of the top of the head a few rows lower down to create the dip! I used 2 balls of Sirdar Indie - very good for owlish cushions.


Here are the other results of my post-Christmas startitis... two Ysolda Teague patterns to begin with. I absolutely loved knitting the Damson shawl - so simple and perfect for knitting whilst watching tv. The yarn is stunning; a gorgeous blend of alpaca, cashmere and silk. 

Damson shawl in Juno Alice Sock yarn (Canopy)

These flip-top mittens are the first proper mittens or gloves I've made. I really enjoyed them, although I made so many silly mistakes because I was not concentrating or didn't quite understand some parts the first time. They knitted up really quickly, and the pretty cabling is satisfying to watch as it grows.

Snapdragon Flip-top Mittens in Dream in Color Classy yarn (Gold Experience)

I also knitted this Orchids and Fairy Lights hat by Tiny Owl Knits. It is a really lovely knit and I would like to make another... This hat kept me cheery on the day we were without running water, a flushing loo and heating for most of the day due to a partially frozen pipe. Can't beat a cable and bobble pattern for taking your mind of things!

A very productive week - 2 hats!

There's nothing like knitting a hat to make you feel productive. These two followed me everywhere this week. I cast on Rose Red, by Ysolda Teague, on Sunday last weekend and finished it this Saturday. 
Ravelry link to the pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rose-red

My only question is which colour to knit next. The yarn (Orkney Angora St Magnus DK) is gorgeous, warm and lightweight, making it perfect for most of the year in the UK. I think I'd like one in bright red, cream or silver next.

I was a bit lazy and didn't swatch properly or block the swatch because I wanted to start immediately. Lazy and impatient. Thankfully the medium turned out to be the perfect fit! 

I really enjoyed knitting this hat. I love the design and it was fun to see it emerge, with a series of beautiful cables in place of the usual ribbed band. I adore the combination of the rose petals and twisting cables. I feel this hat will look great with a heavy winter coat or a lightweight spring jacket. Hence wanting more!


While I was knitting away, though, the weather turned colder and I had a sudden urge for a heavier non-beret shaped hat. So I found a wonderful free pattern called Hineri by Olga Buraya-Kefelian: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hineri-hat

I had some Rowan Coccon hanging around waiting to be used for the perfect project, and so I cast on! This is the modified version of the hat, details are on my Ravelry project page. I went up to a 7mm needle size (from a 5.5mm) as the cables make the hat quite tight - cable 12 is quite a lot of stitches to cable :)

It's nice and slouchy and very warm. And only took 2 days to knit. Perfect when you just want to knit and watch tv without having to pay too much attention to a complex pattern. I like that it's not too girly but is not too simple. Very very lovely hat .

Startitis didn't stop at two hats this week as I cast on a Snapdragon mitten too! Another Ysolda Teague pattern:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snapdragon-flip-tops

I'm using Dream in Color Classy yarn in Gold Experience. It's sooo squishy. 

2012: Year of the Shawl?

I finished my second Ginkgo shawl this weekend. I bloomin' love knitting that pattern. It's interesting and simple, and you can see where you are with the lace. Perfect for TV knitting. Mainly in the evenings while I watch Dog the Bounty Hunter. Can't stop watching that programme! 


This time I made the larger version, and out of DK weight Rowan Baby Alpaca. It is rather large...
Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ginkgo-shoulderette-shawl

It turned out to be the perfect size when worn as a scarf. It has fantastic drape and is super-warm. Phew! 

Very pleased with how it turned out. And no mistakes. Which is largely due to the pattern - so clear to see what you are doing. 


On to the next shawl of 2012 (my knitting Year of the Shawl!). Damson, by Ysolda Teague. It's from the gorgeous Whimsical Little Knits - 2 book, which I received for Christmas. There are so many patterns I need to make from that book. 

I am knitting this Damson in Juno Alice Sock, a mixture of baby alpaca, silk and cashmere. It's gorgeous. And all the colours the yarn comes in are so wonderful.


The next shawl will probably be Annis (from Knitty.com). And then I shall see. I'm not planning a shawl a month as that would be madness*  (*amazing). 

Cabled Wrist Warmers (Free Knitting Pattern)

Pattern is for medium size - 21cm circumference X 26cm length.
This is the size after blocking. As knitted wrist warmers will stretch with wear, I have knitted these to be very snug before blocking; after blocking they fit perfectly.


Gauge after blocking: 10 stitches and 13 rows = 4cm x 4cm
Yarn used: Rowan Cashsoft DK in Tape (colour 515)

Materials:

4mm circular knitting needle 
Cable knitting needle
DK yarn (stretchier yarn with a good twist is best)
Scissors
Yarn needle for sewing in ends
Some cardboard e.g. from a cereal packet to cut to size for blocking the wrist warmers (cut to 10cm x length required, with rounded edges). Ensure ribbing is not blocked on the cardboard but left to block naturally.

Skills required: 

Knitting in the round on a set of 5 double pointed needles or magic loop knitting on a circular knitting needle
Beginner level cabling


Both these skills are suitable for a knitter with a little experience. YouTube is the best source to find out how to knit in the round or cable

K= knit
P= purl
C4Forward = slip two stitches knit-wise from the left needle onto the cable needle. Keeping the cable needle at the front of the wrist-warmer, knit the next two stitches from the left needle onto the right needle. Next, knit the two stitches from the cable needle onto the right needle.

Pattern:


Cast on 40 stitches and join in the round without twisting the stitches.
Rows 1 - 6: K2 P2 rib 
Cable pattern is knit over four rows:
Row 7: *K2, P2, K4, P2*  knit four times from * to *
Row 8: as row 7
Row 9: as row 7
Row 10: *K2, P2, C4Forward, P2* knit four times from * to *
After 16 cable pattern repeats, or when you have the length you like, repeat rows 1 - 6 for ribbing.
Cast off in K2 P2 rib, cut yarn and sew in the ends and block.

Copyright KnittingPony. For personal use only. Please do not sell any wrist warmers you make from this pattern, or distribute or sell this pattern. Please contact me for any other information or for any errata submissions.

Owl Wrist Warmers (Free Knitting Pattern)

Owl Wrist Warmer

Keep your wrists and hands warm in autumn with these sweet owl wrist warmers! Work in different colour combinations for a variety of looks.


Pattern is for medium size - 20cm circumference X 20cm length.


Materials:
3mm circular knitting needle 
4ply yarn in different colours
Scissors
Yarn needle


Skills required:
Intarsia
Magic Loop


K= knit
P= purl


Pattern:
Cast on 56 stitches on circular knitting needle and divide in order to knit using the magic loop method
Rows 1-8: work in K2, P2 rib
Rows 9-13: knit in main colour
Rows 14-16: work flower chart (7 times, giving you 14 flowers in total)
Rows 17-18: Knit in main colour
Rows 19-27 work owl chart (8 times, giving you 8 owls)
Rows 28-29: knit in main colour
Rows 30-32: work flower chart (7 times, giving you 14 flowers in total)
Rows 33-40: knit in main colour
Rows 41-57: knit in main colour back and forth, not in the round as this will create the thumb hole
Rows 58-66: re-join and knit in the round in main colour
Rows 67-69: work flower chart (7 times, giving you 14 flowers in total)
Rows 70-74: work in main colour
Rows 75-83: work in K2, P2 rib
Cast off in K2, P2 rib


Charts:

Copyright KnittingPony. For personal use only. Please do not sell any Owl Wrist Warmers you make from this pattern, or distribute or sell this pattern. Please contact me for any other information or for any errata submissions.

Sleepy Owl Cushion (Free Knitting Pattern)

Sleepy Owl cushion, waiting to be knitted and snuggled onto a sofa near you!

Sleepy Owl is a sofa or armchair dwelling companion for the knitter, reader or viewer of television. Sleepy Owl is unsure of his status re: whether he is a cushion or a toy. Sleepy owl is about 25cm by 25cm, excluding ears.

Materials:

For the owl:

Chunky or bulky yarn and corresponding needles. I used Paton’s Shadow Tweed. One 100g ball made an owl cushion.

6.5mm knitting needles

Fiberfill for the owl stuffing

Yarn needle

Contrast yarn for embroidery of eyes and beak (you could also use embroidery floss or buttons for eyes)

Scissors

For the embellishments:

4ply yarn in however many colours you would like to use (I used 3 complimentary tweedy colours)

3.5mm crochet hook

Yarn needle

Scissors

Abbreviations/knitting and crochet techniques:

K2tog – knit two stitches together

Treble crochet in this pattern (for the owl tummy feathers) refers to UK treble crochet, equivalent to US double crochet.

Magic loop cast on for crocheting in the round – the tummy feathers are crocheted in rows but the magic loop is the perfect beginning as it’s for a semi-circle.

Pattern:

Body (make two)

Using 6.5mm needles, cast on 34 stitches.

Knit every row for 50 rows (or more if you would prefer a tall owl!)

Row 51: K2tog, knit to the last two stitches, K2tog (32 stitches)

Row 52: Knit (32 stitches)

Row 53: Knit 2tog, knit to the last two stitches, K2tog (30 stitches)

Row 54: Knit (30 stitches)

Row 55: K2tog, knit to the last two stitches, K2tog (28 stitches)

Row 56: Knit (28 stitches)

Row 57: K2tog, knit to the last two stitches, K2tog (26 stitches)

Row 58: Knit (26 stitches)

Row 59: K2tog, knit to the last two stitches, K2tog (24 stitches)

Row 60: Knit (24 stitches)

Cast off

Ears (make two)

Using 6.5mm needles, cast on 12 stitches

Knit 10 rows or however many rows needed with your gauge to make a square.

Cast off.

The two pieces each of owl body and ear.

Crocheted Owl tummy feathers (make 9, 3 in each colour or all in same colour – what ever you prefer!)

Using the magic ring to begin, make 3 stitches and close the loop

Row 1: Chain 2, 3 treble crochet into the first stitch, 2 treble crochet into the middle stitch, 3 treble crochet into the third stitch, turn

Row 2: Chain 2, 3 treble crochet into the first stitch, 2 treble crochet into each stitch until the final stitch, 3 treble crochet into final stitch.

Cut 20cm tail of yarn from your crocheted semi-circle (feather!) and draw through the loop on the crochet hook to cast off.

Alternatively semi-circles of fabric, ribbon or knitted semi-circles could be used as tummy feathers and of course you can use more than 9 and layer them together.

Assembly

Stitch the 2 sides of the owl body together with mattress stitch beginning with the sides and bottom of the owl. Leave the top open so you can attach the ears to the slopey side bits of the top of the owl head area.

Before attaching the ears to the owl body, fold them in half and seam down one side of the ear like this to make a triangle:

Seaming one side of the ear to make a triangle.

Attach the ears to the sides of the owl’s head with mattress stitch.

All stitched together ready to be filled with squishy Fiberfill goodness!

Sew up the owl’s head neatly so the seam doesn’t show. I did a kind of mattress stitch however I’m sure kitchener would also work.

Mattress stitch the top after stuffing with Fiberfill.

Attach the tummy feathers by stitching them to the body of the owl with the 20cm tail and weave in the cast-on end.

Embroider the eyes and beak in a contrasting colour.

Settle your owl onto the sofa for a relaxing nap!

Copyright KnittingPony. For personal use only. Please do not sell any Sleepy Owl cushions you make from this pattern, or distribute or sell this pattern. Please contact me for any other information or for any errata submissions.