Little Bo Peep Layette

My brother is going to have a cute baby boy.  I crocheted a blanket from a pattern called Little Bo Peep Layette. The designer is Michele Thompson.  The cover of my leaflet fell off, and was lost long ago... But it was published by Coats and Clark in 2000.  Today I will review the pattern, and share some photos.

 I used denim blue, light blue, and white yarn.  I chose Lion Brand, Pound of Love.  I purchased one Skein of each color, and I have enough left over to make a baby sweater and hat.   I used sizes U.S. F, and U.S. G hooks.

I did make this blanket years ago, and made a mental note to never make it again.  I remember that it just seemed to take forever to make.  This was before I learned to knit though....  and acquired a much greater degree of patience.

This afghan starts with a checkered section.  The directions were well written, and easy to follow.  I started this while my boyfriend and I were driving to Vegas.  I forgot to repeat the rows 3-8 that the pattern had clearly written out for me to repeat, and completed a light blue section before realizing I made the mistake.   What a rookie thing to do!!!  I refused to rip out the 30 rows of sc that I just completed.  I would normally rip it down to the repeat, but I find doing rows of nothing but sc extremely tedious. I ultimately decided that I would leave the 3-8 repeat of rows off the last section of the afghan.       

 
Everything in the pattern (of the body of the afghan) is correct. It was fun to complete the checkered sections, but I found myself having to bribe myself with various treats to finish the sc sections.  

The sheep were fun to make.  it involves making a loop stitch.  Very interesting doing it over the first row, but you will get the hang of it by row three if you haven't come across it before.  The pattern directions for the sheep are written correctly. The original pattern uses tiny buttons for eyes, and ribbons around the necks of the sheep.  For safety reasons I made french knots for the eyes, and omitted the ribbon bows around their necks.   I also made eleven sheep instead of twelve, and placed three sheep (instead of four)  in the middle section.   A quick note... being left handed, my sheep face left instead of right.

Overall I enjoy the pattern..  It is well written, yardage requirements are accurate, and the finished afghan looks the way it should.   After spending many years knitting, it wasn't nearly as tedious as I remember it being from years back.   I love the way it turned out, and hope that Eric and Amber like it as well.    I would suggest this pattern to anyone, advanced beginner and up, this pattern uses sc, and dc.  Then loop stitch is introduced in making the sheep, which are sewn in place after completing them.  Although a bit of patience is required. 

Note:  if you sew through the top half of the sc you wont have any of the sewing yarn showing on the back side at all.  

I know that this pattern was also published in a thicker book by leisure arts.  I would have mentioned it before, but it was a book have given away, and forgotten the name of.   I would be happy to answer any questions about this pattern, if any of you decide to make it and need help or want to complain through sc sections :).

Heather

A Slipped Cable Hat

During the 2010 winter Ravelympics, I decided to make baby hats for charity.  It was also another way for me to use up some stash.  Here is a cute hat that I created.  The hat is based off of a cable that I found in "A Second Treasury of Knitting  Patterns" from Barbara G. Walker. As a friendly reminder, if you want to share this pattern please print it from this blog.

Materials:
1 skein of Sport weight yarn: Examples: Patons Beehive Baby Sport
U.S. 5/ 3.75 mm needles
Gauge: 10 Stitches, and 9 rows per inch (Without stretching)

Sizes: 0-3 mos (3-6 mos, 6-12 mos, toddler)

Note: You can also use size 3 or 4 U.S. needles, if you wanted to make any of these a bit smaller.  For the crown shaping to turn out nicely, you must have a multiple of 20.

Slip St Cable: Drop slipped st off needle, and leave in front of work, slip next 3 stitches to the right needle, drop next slipped st.  place the first slipped stitch on left hand needle, slip 3 stitches from right needle back to the left needle place remaining slipped stitch back on left needle then knit these five stitches.

Pattern dec:  Slip next stitch to right needle, place next stitch on a holder, slip next stitch on right needle, place stitch from holder onto left needle, slip two stitches from right needle back to left needle.  Knit these three stitches tog.

Cast on 120 (140, 160, 180) and evenly divide on dpns, be careful not to twist, join in the round

Rnds 1-5:  *P2, K5, P2, K1.  Repeat from *around.
Rnds 6-7:  *P2, Wyib Sl1, K3, Wyib Sl1, P2, K1. Repeat from * around.
Rnd 8: *P2, Work slip st cable, P2, K1. Repeat from * around.

Repeat these 8 Rnds, until piece measures  3.5"( 4", 4.5", 5") 

Shape Crown

Rnd 1:  *P2, K5, P1, work pattern dec, P1, K5, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 2:  *P2, K5, P1, K1, P1, K5, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 3:  *P2, K5, work pattern dec, K5, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 4:  *P2, K11, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 5:  *P2, K4, work pattern dec, K4, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 6:  *P2, K9, P2, K1. Repeat from * around
Rnd 7:  *P2, K3, work pattern dec, K3, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 8:  *P2, K7, P2, K1.  Repeat from *around
Rnd 9:  *P2, K2, work pattern dec, K2, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 10: *P2, K5, P2, K1. Repeat from * around
Rnd 11: *P2,   K1, work pattern dec, K1, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 12:  *P2, K3, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 13:  *P2, work pattern dec, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 14:  *P2, K1, P2, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 15:  *P1, work pattern dec, P1, K1.  Repeat from * around
Rnd 16:  *P1, K1. Repeat from * around
Rnd 17:  K2tog around

Cut string and pull through remaining stitches.  Weave in ends. 
Hoped you liked this hat pattern!!   

Hello everyone,  : )
Thank you all for participating in the blog contest!

I the bunny pattern in the photo, is from The Knitted Teddy Bear, from Sandra Polley.  It is the bear on the cover of the book, I will discuss what changes I made below.

The winner of the yardage contest was lil bean,   She guessed 2100 yards.  The actual yardage was 1,993 yards.   I hope that you can make something nice with the yarn!

This bunny's pattern name is Thomas.  I made 300 yards of yarn by using 1 yard increments from the left over yarn from the blanket.  I think that this is another fun way to use up stash yarn. I used a size U.S. 2 needle to knit him up.  I followed the bear pattern exactly.  I decided to knit up bunny ears instead, tommorow  I will be updating this blog, to add the ear pattern, and tell you about a type-o in the pattern itself.


Thanks

Heather

Completing The Afghan

Today the contest begins.  At the bottom of this blog there will be a photo of my left over yarn.  If you would like it, post a comment stating how much yarn you think there is.  You can guess in yards or meters.  The person who guesses closest wins!  I will announce the yardage, and winner in my next blog.  April 15.

Yarn 29:Smooth
Second Treasury of knitting patterns.

Yarn 30: Ribbon                                      Yarn 31: Slightly textured

Anny Blatt Victoria                                   Seed Stitch

2 rows Reverse stockinette

Yarn 32: Smooth                                        Yarn 33: Smooth

2 rows Garter                                             Baby Alpaca

                                                                   Second treasury of Knitting

Yarn 34: Ribbon                                  Yarn 35: Trendsetter
Linen Stitch                                           a ruffle yarn, 1 row stockinette

Yarn 36: Arabesque (Trendsetter)         Yarn 37: Smooth
Stockinette                                            Stockinette

Yarn 38: 1 strand arabesque, 1 strand eyelash
2 rows reverse Stockinette

Yarn 39: Smooth                                      Yarn 40: Baby Alpaca
Knit 3 Purl 5 rib                                        Stockinette

Yarn 41: Smooth                                      Yarn 42: Eyelash
2 rows reverse stockinette                         2 rows reverse stockinette

Yarn 43: Slightly textured
Stockinette, then bind off!!!

All done yea!!

Now here are the photos of the yarn that will be given away.  To enter the contest, post much much yardage you think there is in the photos.  I will announce the winner on the 15th of April.  Good luck to you all.  

Yarn Give Away

Thank you all for continuing to read my blog.  I hoped you liked this project.  Sadly this blanket will be completed in the next post.  If you liked the color combination Please read my next post titled Completing The Afghan.  At the close of my next post, I will run a contest.  The winner will receive the rest of  the afghan yarn.  There will be a large amount.  Here is how it will work.

 300 yards will be reserved.. divided evenly among the yarns I used (for a matching teddy).  This is a blanket for my little guy.  Then I will hank all partial skeins (so yardage can be determined).  At the end of the next post there will be a couple photos of all the yarn someone will win.  To enter the contest simply post a response to the blog guessing how much yardage (you can guess in yards or meters)  there is in the photos.  The person that guesses the amount of yardage closest, gets all the yarn.  I will take responses while the teddy is being knit (should be about 10 days)  When the teddy is finished, I will post a photo of him, and announce the winner.  

Note:  Additionally a few full skeins will be sent to the winner.  These skeins were intended to go into the blanket but I ultimately decided against them.. The full skeins will also be included in the photos so you can calculate that yardage into your guesses.

Good Luck!!!
Heather

Yarns 15 Thru 28

I wanted to start today's blog with a quick notes.

First I want to mention something you might have noticed already.  I tend to have thick and thin sections.  This is an intentional decision I make as I go along.  I do this because I think is makes the afghan more appealing, and more textured to look at.  I often decide this as I go, if I have a couple of wide bands I will add a small band or two.  The only exception is furry or flagged yarns, when I only do 2-4 rows at most.  The reason for this is that a little fur adds a nice texture, a lot will often be too much.  The nice thing about doing this is that you can use the same furry yarn a few times in the afghan.  

The other thing I wanted to mention is choosing the next stitch.  The placement of my yarns have already been decided.  I will start with the simplest..Furry or flagged are always reverse stockinette.  Slightly textured yarns are very simple (non-detailed) patterns such as stockinette, garter, seed, or ribs.  Smooth yarns are the only yarns I give much thought to for stitches.  When my next yarn is smooth I look at my entire piece.  I pay attention to the last several stitches that have been completed, if they have a vertical feel like cables, ribbing, or stockinette.. I usually look for patterns that have a horizontal, squared  or diagonal feel.  I like changing the textures often, to keep your eyes moving along the peice, rather than getting drawn in to any particular area. 

Yarn 15

Slightly textured (175 stitches)

after completing the color change row (knit if RS is facing, purl if WS is facing) 

3 rows of garter stitch

Yarn 16 and 18  (it frames yarn 17 nicely)

Muget (Anny Blatt)-doubled

Stockinette stitch  4 rows

Yarn 17

Super Angora (Anny Blatt)- doubled 

175 stitches

Stockinette this time I went till I ran out of this yarn - 14 rows

  Yarn 19

Wool Ease (Lion Brand) doubled

I used one strand each of two different heathered brown colors

Pie Crust Basketweave (Vogue Knitting Stichtionary)  Multiple of 8+10  (178 stitches)

Yarn 20

1 Strand muget, 1 strand papi, 1 stand scarce eyelash

two rows garter stitch

Yarn 21

smooth  (Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns)

Slip-Cross Open Cable  180 stitches

Yarn 22

Muget doubled 180 stitches

3 rows reverse stiockinettes

Yarn 23

Seduce doubled 180 stitches

stockinette stitch

Yarn 24

textured with spares eyelash 180

2 rows one is color change row, the othe reverse stockinette

Yarn 25

Fine Kid (Anny Blatt)

180 stitches  stockinette

Yarn 26

Smooth 170

Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (corded stitch)

Yarn 27

Ribbon, 175 linen stitch 2 rows

Yarn 28

Victoria (Anny Blatt) doubled

175 2 rows reverse stockinette

Yarns 5 thru 13

Hello every one!  Hope you are all doing well.  Today I will focus on the next few yarns, stitches, and the method of increasing and decreasing for your next stitches.

The Math!
I mentioned before that I have 175 running stitches.  What I meant by that is, generally speaking the afghan will have 175 stitches on it.  Sometimes increasing or decreasing is needed in order to make an upcoming stitch work out.  So I will try to explain how to do it now.  If you are already familiar with how to do this, feel free to skip past this part. 
Often times when choosing a new pattern you will see something like this  (multiple of 10 + 3)  the multiple is referring the amount of stitches you will be repeating in order to knit the pattern.  The number after + usually centers the pattern, or acts as a natural border. 
Say I have 175 stitches, and I need to increase or decrease in order work a stitch that is a (multiple of 10 + 3).  To work this out I start by dividing 175 by 10 the answer is 17.  I then multiply 17 by 10 which equals 170 then I add 3 to this total giving me 173.  Since I have 175 stitches on the needle.. I would dec 2 stitches in the first round of the next color.
A special note:  There are other factors you may consider when deciding whether to round the stitches up or down.  If you are using a thicker yarn for the stitch you should decrease instead of increasing.. If you are using a thinner yarn try increasing.  if you are making a rib, or working cables increase you stitches, because ribbing and make cables will naturally pull your work in.  If you have any problems, just email me.  I can help you with the math.

Yarn 5  Smooth texture
Diagonal purl (multiple of 6 + 1)  Top yarn in above photo
I had 175 stitches   174 is a multiple of 6... I add 1 so I needed 175
I will tell you how many stitches I used for each stitch here on out.
Row 1: *Purl 1, Knit 5.  Repeat from * across. End with a Purl 1 (RS)
Row 2: *Purl 5, Knit 1.  Repeat from * across. End with a P1
Row 3: Knit 2, *Purl 1, Knit 5.  Repeat from * across ending with Purl 1, Knit 4.
Row 4: Purl 3, *Knit 1, Purl 5. Repeat from * across ending with Knit 1, Purl 3.
Row 5:  Knit 4, *Purl 1, Knit 5. Repeat from * across ending with Purl 1, Knit 2.
Row 6:  Purl 1, *Knit 1, Purl 5. Repeat from * across.
Repeat rows 1 through 6 for desired length.

Yarn 6 
1 fun fur strand (Lion Brand), and 1 strand of arabesque (Trendsetter) held together
I stayed at 175 stitches.
I ended with my RS facing me, so I knit my first row.. then I did another knit row (Reverse Stockinette).
Reverse Stockinette really give textured yarns a nice pop in this project.  Typically I only do a couple of rows when doing anything furry.

Yarn 7:
Selene (Anny Blatt)
175 stitches
Stockinette stitch

Yarn 8:
Seduce doubled
175 stitches
Stockinette Stitch

Yarn 9:
Intermezzo (Trendsetter Yarns)
175 stitches
This is a very interesting yarn that can create a fun ruffle.  It has holes on one side.  I stuck the needle straight through the hole, while knitting the last row of seduce.  I skipped two holes for every single stitch, otaining this fun ruffle.

 Yarn 10:
Big Baby  it is Alpaca can remember the manufacturer
A wide rib  (multiple of 16 + 10)   I decrease 5 leaving me with 170
Row 1: *Purl 10, Knit 6. Repeat from * ending with Purl 10 (RS)
Row 2:  *Knit 10, Purl 6. Repeat from * ending with Knit 10
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for desired length.

Yarn 11:
Slightly Textured
Increase to 175
Seed Stitch

Yarn 12
Smooth
Two rows Reverse Stockinette

Yarn 13
Handspun?  (Ozark)
175
Stockinette

Yarn 14
Mohair ruffle
Okay, this one took a very long time!   I made a ruffle seperately on o size 5 needle then attached it by knitting it on to the afghan.  It was 700 stitches.. after knitting an 1 1/2" on the size five I decreased across then after a couple more rows I decreased again.  Then I took a very thin yarn called Muget(Anny Blatt)
and Knit it to the blanket with the muget.

We will get to the next several yarns in the coming week!