Mystery Knit Along #3 Week #2

Mystery Knit Along #3 Week #2

Welcome back!!
Not much to this weeks instruction. Just continue on in the same manner till desired length. By now I am sure you have figured out it is a scarf. I am only about half way done, so I will show you the finished photos next week.










I did want to share how I weave in my ends. I hope the photos aren't too confusing. I will put up a better tutorial in our Ravelry group soon. I weave in my ends using duplicate stitch. It is where you follow actual stitches in your knitting, with your yarn needle and yarn.







For a knit stitch you start by bringing your yarn needle up through the base of your stitch as pictured.


You will notice the stitch travels up, over to the left then back down to the base (where you brought your needle up. Now slide your needle under the base of the stitch right above the stitch you are working on now, but on top of the yarn in the stitch you are following.







The yarn now travels back down, where it connects to the yarn below it. You slide your needle into the base of the stitch (where you first brought your needle up), and up through the base of your next stitch to the left.















You continue in this manner. It is much harder to see the body of the stitch in the purl. Feel free to pull on your work a bit the see the stitches better. The duplicate is worked the same way though.


Although you are bringing your needle through horizontal bars up through two, then down through the next two on the left

Mystery Knit Along #3 Week #1

Hello!!!

I am very excited to start another knit along. We have another designer that has let us use one of her patterns. I will share a bit about her at the conclusion of our knit along. This knit along will be 2 or three weeks.

This is a good stash busting project. You need around 200 yards of a main color, and scraps of other colors. Try to keep the yarns around the same weight. Enjoy!
**A note... The designer used the colors stated below. I will show a photo of her finished project at the conclusion of this knit along.

There are two 'mystic' bits about this project. One is how the appearance and intensity and color shadings of the main color change depending on which yarn it is paired with. The background color I chose is a light turquoise. If it is paired with a light blue, it appears a deeper teal, if it is paired with a green, it looks very blue. Each color changes the quality of the main color, producing a visual illusion of even more shades of color than I used. The second mystic bit is how this seemingly narrow project can expand to double its width due to the ribbing.

Size 8 needles (or needles of a size to work with your weight of yarns)

Gauge: not important

with main color, cast on 40 stitches.

row 1: k2, p2 across

row 2: k2, p2 across

row 3: begin new color, k2, p2 across

row 4: k2, p2 across

row 5: using main color, k2, p2 across

row 6: k2, p2 across

row 7: continuing with second (transient) color; k2, p2 across

row 8: k2, p2 across

Work in this pattern, changing between the main color(s) and transient colors, carry the non-working yarn up the side until its turn comes again. When the transient color you chose runs out, add in your next choice of color from the yarn scrap pile, maintaining pattern.

Work up to 30" this week.

Thanks for joining me again :)

Mystery Knit Along #2 Designer Showcase

Thank you so much for joining this knit along with me. I also want to thank April for providing such a sweet and wonderful pattern. I hope you all enjoyed knitting it.

This cute little pattern was provided by April Lowe. Here is the one I made, with my little guy.

I am going to provide some of April's links, and then I will tell you more about her.

April has a couple of stores on Etsy. Lillebarn http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5205516
and, Lillebarn Too
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6860556
Her blog is
www.lillebarn.blogspot.com

Lillebarn is Danish, it means unique and stylish handmade items for tiny babies and kids, including hats, blankets, stationery, wall art, onesies…


April has been knitting for 5 years. She is a self-taught knitter using books and patterns to figure things out. She had a hard time finding patterns for exactly what she was looking for. So April learned how to design her own patterns very early on. Then she decided to start selling her patterns because she couldn't keep up with her knitting Orders.

The three beautiful photos, are some of her products. The hat patterns are 4.50 each. The birth announcements cards are completely customizable.

April comes out with new patterns and products throughout the year, but especially at the start of each season. April is also going to offer us a 15% discount on a first purchase. All you have to do is enter mysteryknit in the notes to the seller, in Etsy check out.

April also enjoys photography, piano, SCUBA diving, traveling, cooking, and nutrition. She has two sons, ages 2 and 1.

April loves to design knits for her boys, and some of her friends baby girls. It gives her joy to be able to share the patterns she writes.

I did want to share something great about the pretty grey and white hat.... The pattern includes yarn suggestions, size variations from newborn to 4 years and up. I will probably be making one for Genevieve (my daughter) she is 8

Good night. I appreciate you all
Thank You again for joining me in this knit along.

Heather

Mystery Knit Along #2 Week #2

This pattern was provided by April Lowe. I will be sharing more about her in the designer showcase.

Here are the rest of our pattern instructions.

1. Using the long tail method, co 4 st
2. Knit across the top of the first ear flap
3. Using the backward loop method, co 7 st
4. Knit across the top of the second ear flap
5. Using backward loop method, co 3 st
6. Join round being careful that no stitches are twisted and work in garter stitch for 4
rows. When knitting in the round, make garter stitch by knitting one row and then
purling the next row. So for this part you will knit a round, purl a round, knit a round,
and then purl one more round.
7. Now knit every row (shows stockinette st when knitting in the round) until hat
measures 5 in from cast on edge.
8. Begin decrease sequence as follows:
1. *k5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
2. *k4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
3. *k3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
4. knit onto 3 dbl pointed needles as follows: needle 1; k 5st, needle 2; k 5 st, needle
3; k 6 st
5. *k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round
6. knit
7. *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 8 st remain.

Cut yarn, leaving 8 in tail. Thread tail onto yarn needle and pull through remaining st.
Turn hat inside out and pull yarn through center of the top hole and pull to close tightly.
Tie knot at top of hat and weave in end.
Making up:
Weave in ends on ear flaps

Make 3 pom poms (approximately 2 to 3 inches) and attach to top of hat and bottom of 2
scarf ear flaps, weaving in ends. Pom pom can be left off the top of the hat if desired.
© April Lowe / Lillebarn 2007
To be used for PERSONAL USE ONLY. This pattern not to be used for resale of this
pattern or the finished knitted hat without written permission

Mystery Knit Along #2 Week #1

Mystery Knit Along #2

This pattern is provided by another talented designer. Next Monday after giving the next instructions, I will share some beautiful photos of more designs she created.

YARN: Thick and Quick in color of
your choice or other yarn of the same
super bulky weight. You need 2 skeins
of yarn.
TOOLS: Size US 15 16” circular needles
Scissors
Yarn needle
Pom pom maker or something to
make pom poms
4 Size US 15 Double pointed needles
Sizes: 1-2 years

Using 2 of the double pointed needles, co 2
st and work in garter stitch.
1. knit into the front and back of the first stitch and knit 1 stitch (3 st)
2. knit all st (repeat for all even rows)
3. k in front and back of first st, k 1 st, knit in front and back of last stitch (5 st)
4. repeat row 2
5. repeat pattern of row 3, k in front and back of first and last st of this row (7 st)
K all rows (garter st) for 40 rows and leave on one dbl pointed needle and set aside.

Make one more of these and set aside.


I followed these instructions exactly. I made no allowances for using a size 13 needle.

Heather

Mystery crochet Along #1 Showcase

We just finished our first crochet along. The pattern's name is Bobby blue, and was shared with us by Amy. She is a designer that sells her patterns on Etsy. Amy's shop is called Melbangel Crafts. You can also find her on Ravelry as melbangel. Here is her store link. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=87376


After telling you a bit about her, I will share my plans with these cute little guys we made these past two weeks... Very cool! Your kids will love them.

Amy has been crocheting for 6 years. She also enjoys knitting, making plush fabric, cross stitching, quilting, and plastic canvas.

Amy believes that crafting is a never ending learning process, and that passion
and patience are key. Amy has been designing for 3 years now. I have included some photos of some patterns she sells in her Etsy shop. Her patterns start at $2.50. There are 76 items for sale in her shop. My fave is the banana split. Just looking at it makes me hungry. ;) She has a great variety of fun stuff.

***Bobby Blue Remake. Do you remember that old carnival game where you try to knock over stuffed creatures with bean bags? This pattern is just perfect for that!!! But you can have sooo much fun with the different colors you can make them with to customize them.

I did them in two tone colors, but there are many options. You can make a little figure for each person in your family. You can make holiday ones. For Halloween make Frankenstien, a ghost, a jackolantern, or just in Halloween colors, etc... Christmas.. Make Frosty, Santa, or just red -white - and green combos. Or make this a fun thing to make and give a new one each holiday to add to the collection. Embroidery thread is stiff enough to be sturdy, has many colors, and will cost between $2-2.36 for each little guy. I am pretty busy but I do hope to make some holiday critters with the bobby blue pattern we just used. My little girl is horrified that I created little bean bags to knock them over, hopefully I can convince her to give it a try.. But she wants to use the mini bean bags as pillows for them to sit on.

I will put the patterns I wrote for the bean bags, in the page section of our raverly group.
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/cliodhna
Thank you so much for joining me again in this Mystery Crochet Along.

Heather

Mystery Crochet Along Week 2

Welcome Back!!

This week we finish this project. Before getting to the pattern, I wanted to share what I did differently. After finishing last weeks pattern, I made hair for these little guys. That is it. The original pattern includes crocheted feet, hair and eyes. The first photo is of the original pattern as written, then there are photos of the ones I made. There are great possibilities for these little guys. I will share what I am doing with them in the designer showcase for this project, I will also share some super cute ideas for other color possibilties.

Pointy Locks ( make 5 pieces)
With dark blue yarn and leaving a
length of yarn for sewing later, make 5
similar pieces as follows:
Working in rows,
Row 1 : Ch 5. Sc in 2nd ch from hook
and in each ch throughout. (4 sc). Ch1,
turn.
Row 2 & 3 : 4 sc. Ch1, turn.
Row 5 : [ dec 1 sc over next 2 sc]2
times. (2 sc). Ch 1, turn.
Row 6 & 7 : 2 sc. Ch 1, turn.
Row 8 : Dec 1 sc over next 2 sc. (1 sc).
Ch 1, turn.
Row 9 & 10 : 1 sc. Ch 1, turn. Fasten
off.
Thread the beginning length of yarn
through a tapestry needle and sew each
piece of lock around the circumference
of the dark blue patch on the top of the
head.

Feet ( make 2)
With orange yarn and leaving a length
of yarn for sewing later, make 2 similar
pieces as follows :
Working in rows,
Row 1 : Ch 7. Sc in 2nd ch from hook
and in each ch throughout. (6 sc). Ch1,
turn.
Row 2 : 6 sc. Ch1, turn.
Row 3 : [ dec 1 sc over next 2 sc]3
times. (3 sc). Ch 1, turn.
Row 4 : 3 sc. Ch 1, turn.
Row 5 : Dec to 1 sc. Fasten off.
Thread the beginning length of yarn
through a tapestry needle and sew each
foot to bottom of body, aligning them
next to each other. (Please see pics).

Eyes ( make 2)
With off-white yarn,
Rnd 1 : Ch 2. 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
( 6 sc)
Rnd 2 : Work 2 sc in each sc around.
(12 sc)
Sl st to beginning sc and fasten off,
leaving a length of yarn for sewing eye
onto face.
Sew 2 big french knots using black
yarn into the centre of the off-white
eye patches.
Finishing
Thread neon pink yarn through a
tapestry needle. Embroider a heartshaped
mouth (or any other shape that
you prefer) onto the face.
Sit back and enjoy the finished toy!!!
-

My hair is just short lengths of my yarn tied in. I also made mini pom poms and tied them onto a couple. I hope you enjoyed this project!! As always, contact me if any of this is unclear.
heather_n_wells@yahoo.com
Heather