Monday, July 31, 2006

Sweater

The editor for my upcoming book Learn New Stitches on Knitting Looms wanted some modifications to this sweater, so I had it visiting me at home for a couple days. Here it is, just before being shipped back.



This is a child's sweater; the book will have instructions for adult sizes also.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Bead Stitch

This stitch was inspired by something one of my students did last fall. I finally had a chance to play with the idea the last few days. I think it looks like a small bead on each knit stitch, so for now I'm calling it the bead stitch.



It's made by e-wrapping the peg, but knitting off in the purl method. The result is that the first loop ends up staying on the peg, and the second loop is wrapped around the first loop. I'm sure there is an equivalent in needle knitting, but I'm not sure what it's called. Anyone know? It works best when the background is twisted stockinette (e-wrap) stitch.

Friday, July 21, 2006

4-H donations

A while ago, I was given some yarn that didn't have labels. At the time, I decided to use some of it to make projects to donate for the Henenpin County 4-H silent auction fundraiser. My 11 yo daughter, Allegra, is very involved in 4-H, and since the projects could be made at no cost to me but my time, it seemed like the right thing to do. Well, the County Fair is in two weeks, so I'm working on those projects now!

This is a "magic scarf" -- one of those scarves that stretches long and skinny to be used like a regular scarf, and stretches short and fat to be used like a hood or cowl or turban hat or ... Lots of ways to wear it! This was knit on the yellow Knifty Knitter loom using three balls of fun fur. The pattern is free at LoomKnitting.com, and there are pictures of many ways to wear the scarf, modeled by... my daughter!



The skein of boucle yarn cried out to be made into a shawl. Allegra and I both heard its pleas. So I designed the Summer Nights Shawl. The pattern for this will be posted in a day or two. It was knit on the yellow Knifty Knitter loom using 41 pegs. It's soft and lacy and lightweight, and just warm enough! It looks great with jeans. I want to make another with a glittery yarn to be more dressy, and I'm sure it would knit up just fine with a worsted weight yarn or even a mohair.