Coming Up

Hello, folks! Life has been crazy busy, and isn't about to slow down anytime soon... but hopefully my day job will wind down in the next month or so, and I will have more time for my personal projects!

Some of those projects include you guys! I really want to get down some patterns that I've been working on, as well as a few more tutorials for YouTube - I can't wait to share them with you guys! I've also started using Periscope, and I really like it! Right now it's just WIP updates, but I also hope to provide help and tips, too, so keep and eye out!

In the meantime, I've been dreaming up a learn-to-knit series, using wash cloths to build skills. I will be doing washcloths because they are small, quick, and useful. Because they complete quickly, the new knitter will be able to move on to their own projects sooner than if they learned on a scarf or cowl. I would love to teach the series in person, but I will probably do it through YouTube, first, and see where it goes from there.

Pattern | Simple Cup Cozy (and color work)

A while back I posted the pattern and tutorial for my Dimple Stripe Cup Cozy. Earlier this year I started to make more basic cup cozies so that they could be modified with embroidery and color work, and be a bit less feminine.  I've been walking around with my first one (not pictured) for a while now, and this weekend I got stopped by two women that wanted to know how to make it - this was a sign that it's time to update the blog with this particular pattern. So here it is, another free cup cozy pattern and tutorial!

I love how the knitted 'v' looks like a heart

These make really great little gifts, and are also great stash busters! They fit on regular coffee shop cups, as well as slim personal cups and travel mugs.

Diagonal Baby Blanket, and How To Do a Yarn Over

When I first started knitting I would scour the Lion Brand free patters, because it was pretty much the only brand of yarn I was familiar with and liked, and I didn't know about Ravelry yet. I had found this Diagonal Baby Blanket pattern, which is pretty and simple, but I was intimidated by the yarn over, and just couldn't get it. I was also intimidated by the thought of using circular needles. I guess I was a wimp… And really, I had no reason to be afraid; this is a beginner pattern, and a great way to learn how to make a yarn over, and work diagonally.

Anyway, I recently saw a few pictures of diagonal knit blankets, remembered the pattern, and decided to give it a try. I haven't finished it yet, but I will give you my notes so far, as well as a little video (my first knitting video!) on how to do a yarn over in the knit stitch.

Though this project would be great in a cozy merino wool, I am using Wool-Ease Worsted, because it's affordable in bulk, and machine washable. I found a pretty, neutral grey, which is great for any age or gender. I was able to get six skeins in the same dye-lot, and it seems this thing will probably come out to be about 32"-36". We will see.


Pattern Notes

I don't really like the way this pattern starts out. It's a bit skimpy, going almost immediately into the yarn over (yo) "eyelet," which just looks weird and won't match the other corners very well. So I changed it, twice.

Version 1 (the blanket I'm working, now) and Version 2

The pattern says to cast on five stitches, and then go into the yarn overs in row 2.

Tutorial Thursday: Spring Cleaning Scrubby

Hello! Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday Thursday! The next few weeks are all about Spring Cleaning! Not so exciting perhaps, unless you consider cleaning out your yarn stash equally as necessary as scrubbing down the kitchen, which I do.

So to start with, you can clean out the stash AND clean the house with these lovely scrubbies! One in knit, the other in crochet, depending on your preference. Now you have an excuse to go for the yarn stash before scrubbing!

Tutorial Tuesday: "Swiss Dot"

I really love seed stitch, but depending on the yarn, sometimes it can be a bit much. I wanted a dotted look, but less compressed... Now, I have been playing around with patterns quite a bit, and after doing the striped cup cozy I thought I would apply the same method with dots.


What I came up with were two Swiss dot inspired patterns:

"Swiss Dot" No. 1 is a bit of a closer dot and works well for smaller items, like cozies.

"Swiss Dot" No.2 is a bit more spread out and subtle, and good for scarves or blankets.

Below are both "diagram" patters, as well as written patters, for each.