Amelia's sweater is coming along great! The right yarn made all the difference. I've finished the back and the left side. I have a good start on the right side. I may not finish all of the grandchild sweaters, but I think I will have three or four finished. Cool weather makes it easier for me to want to knit.
My first project in my fashion design class is almost finished. It's a grey wool pencil skirt. I have enough fabric for a jacket, too. I probably should be blogging about what I'm learning in class, but I'm journaling it first. We're putting together a super cool portfolio -- There are few pleasures in life greater than a big binder and lots of page protectors!
Other projects on the front burner: caps for Arkansas Children's Hospital - big ones for the older kids and adults, a cap for Jess, pinning the queen-size quilt -- needing a space big enough and time.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wool and Flannel
The thermometer on the backporch reads 48 degrees this morning, so I'll just sit inside this morning with my first cups of coffee instead of on the porch swing. Saturdays are such a treat, especially those when it's finally cold enough to wear my fuzzy pink bathrobe and quilted slippers and I have no obligations to change into something presentable until at least noon.
I hope this little cold snap finally convinces the last of my hummingbirds to head on to Honduras instead of sticking around central Arkansas. Still, I'll keep red syrup in the containers as long as I see them fluttering about.
My dad feeds hummingbirds in Texas. He has three feeders on his front porch and birds as thick as bees around a hive until late August when they thin out as suddenly as they appear in the spring. His recipe for hummingbird food is 1 cup sugar to 2 cups water instead of the recommended 1:4 ratio. And, yes, there's red food coloring in it. Of course, there's red food coloring in it. They're tough birds; they can handle it. My flock has steadily increased since I've changed to his formula, but it still doesn't come close to rivaling his.
I started over on a sweater that I plan to give my oldest granddaughter for Christmas. She liked the picture in the magazine, but we couldn't find that exact yarn in our LYS. She picked out something else, but as I worked it up, it just didn't seem to be working quite right. So last week, when I discovered it was October, I counted the days to December 25, gave a big sigh, frogged the back, and ordered the yarn used for the model in the magazine. It arrived in the mail Wednesday, and thanks to some significant sitting time Thursday at the volleyball game, I'm almost caught up to where I was before and the sweater is looking great. If our Lady Cat Vballers hadn't taken out their opponent in straight sets, I probably could have finished it. I had plans to make all six grandkids a sweater this year; I doubt that will happen but I have high hopes for Granddaughter #1 having hers.
I hope this little cold snap finally convinces the last of my hummingbirds to head on to Honduras instead of sticking around central Arkansas. Still, I'll keep red syrup in the containers as long as I see them fluttering about.
My dad feeds hummingbirds in Texas. He has three feeders on his front porch and birds as thick as bees around a hive until late August when they thin out as suddenly as they appear in the spring. His recipe for hummingbird food is 1 cup sugar to 2 cups water instead of the recommended 1:4 ratio. And, yes, there's red food coloring in it. Of course, there's red food coloring in it. They're tough birds; they can handle it. My flock has steadily increased since I've changed to his formula, but it still doesn't come close to rivaling his.
I started over on a sweater that I plan to give my oldest granddaughter for Christmas. She liked the picture in the magazine, but we couldn't find that exact yarn in our LYS. She picked out something else, but as I worked it up, it just didn't seem to be working quite right. So last week, when I discovered it was October, I counted the days to December 25, gave a big sigh, frogged the back, and ordered the yarn used for the model in the magazine. It arrived in the mail Wednesday, and thanks to some significant sitting time Thursday at the volleyball game, I'm almost caught up to where I was before and the sweater is looking great. If our Lady Cat Vballers hadn't taken out their opponent in straight sets, I probably could have finished it. I had plans to make all six grandkids a sweater this year; I doubt that will happen but I have high hopes for Granddaughter #1 having hers.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sager-Brown UMCOR Baby Sweater Pattern
The first hint of fall is in the air. I needed a coat and an umbrella to get to church comfortably this morning. Comfort, warmth, plenty of food are things I am fortunate enough to expect in my life. I am blessed and grateful for it. I think I'll spend part of today knitting some hats for Arkansas Children's Hospital or some baby sweaters for UMCOR.
UMCOR stands for United Methodist Committee on Relief. This organization does great work in the United States and around the world when disaster strikes. The Sager-Brown UMCOR Depot is in Baldwin, Louisiana. School kits, baby kits, and flood buckets are just some of the resources they compile and distribute to places of need around the globe.
Here is a pattern for a baby cardigan that goes in the baby kit:
UMCOR Baby Cardigan
Instructions are for size 6 mos. Changes for sizes 1, 2, and 3 years are in parenthesis.
Materials:
1 2-oz. skein of acrylic sport yarn (DK weight)
#4, 5, or 6 needles (gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows = 1" stockinette)
Back:
Cast on 50 (53, 55, 58) stitches and work in garter stitche (knit every row) for 8 rows.
Change to stockinette stitch (alternating knit one row, purl one row) and work until piece measures 5 inches (5-1/2, 6, 6-1/2). Increase 1 stitch at each end of every other row 3 times, 56 (59, 61, 64) stitches.
Back Sleeves:
At the beginning of the next 2 rows, cast on 20 (25, 30, 35) stitches using knit-on method. Working first and last 4 stitches in garter stitch and stitches in between in stockinette, work even on 96 (109, 121, 134) stitches for 2 inches (2-1/4, 2-1/2, 2-3/4). Next row, work across first 34 (40, 46, 52) stitches in pattern, place marker and knit 28 (29, 29, 30) stitches, place another marker and work across the last 34 (40, 46, 52) stitches in pattern. Continue in pattern for 8 rows, working garter stitch on all stitches between markers and on the 4 edge stitches.
Shape neck:
Work across to marker, knit 4 stitches, bind off next 20 (21, 21, 22) stitches, knit 4 stitches, slip marker, and work to end. Continue only on left side of neck or attach a second ball of yarn and work both sides at one time, reversing shaping.
Front Sleeves: Work for 1 inch, keeping in pattern, ending at neck edge. Next row, cast on 10 stitches (10, 10, 11); knit 14 stitches (14, 14, 15) before marker, work to last 4 stitches, knit 4. Continue for 8 rows, keeping garter stitch at cuff and neck edges. Then contiue for 2 more inches, keeping only the first and last 4 stitches in garter stitch and all other stitches in stockinette stitch, ending at sleeve edge. Next row, bind off first 20 stitches (25, 30, 35).
Front Sides:
Work across next 28 stitches (29, 30, 32). Continue on remaining stitches keeping 4 stitches at front edge in garter stitch and decreasing 1 stitch at arm edge every other row 3 times. Continue in pattern on remaining stitches until front measures the same as the back from underarm to garter stitch border. Work 8 rows in garter stitch. Bind off. Complete right side to match left front.
Finishing:
Sew sleeve and side seams. Attach yarn at neck edge and, using a small crochet hook, work chain stitch for 5 inches. Fasten off. Repeat on other neck edge. Make another pair of ties 2 inches down from the neck. I-cord or ribbon may also be used for ties. Weave in ends.
UMCOR stands for United Methodist Committee on Relief. This organization does great work in the United States and around the world when disaster strikes. The Sager-Brown UMCOR Depot is in Baldwin, Louisiana. School kits, baby kits, and flood buckets are just some of the resources they compile and distribute to places of need around the globe.
Here is a pattern for a baby cardigan that goes in the baby kit:
UMCOR Baby Cardigan
Instructions are for size 6 mos. Changes for sizes 1, 2, and 3 years are in parenthesis.
Materials:
1 2-oz. skein of acrylic sport yarn (DK weight)
#4, 5, or 6 needles (gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows = 1" stockinette)
Back:
Cast on 50 (53, 55, 58) stitches and work in garter stitche (knit every row) for 8 rows.
Change to stockinette stitch (alternating knit one row, purl one row) and work until piece measures 5 inches (5-1/2, 6, 6-1/2). Increase 1 stitch at each end of every other row 3 times, 56 (59, 61, 64) stitches.
Back Sleeves:
At the beginning of the next 2 rows, cast on 20 (25, 30, 35) stitches using knit-on method. Working first and last 4 stitches in garter stitch and stitches in between in stockinette, work even on 96 (109, 121, 134) stitches for 2 inches (2-1/4, 2-1/2, 2-3/4). Next row, work across first 34 (40, 46, 52) stitches in pattern, place marker and knit 28 (29, 29, 30) stitches, place another marker and work across the last 34 (40, 46, 52) stitches in pattern. Continue in pattern for 8 rows, working garter stitch on all stitches between markers and on the 4 edge stitches.
Shape neck:
Work across to marker, knit 4 stitches, bind off next 20 (21, 21, 22) stitches, knit 4 stitches, slip marker, and work to end. Continue only on left side of neck or attach a second ball of yarn and work both sides at one time, reversing shaping.
Front Sleeves: Work for 1 inch, keeping in pattern, ending at neck edge. Next row, cast on 10 stitches (10, 10, 11); knit 14 stitches (14, 14, 15) before marker, work to last 4 stitches, knit 4. Continue for 8 rows, keeping garter stitch at cuff and neck edges. Then contiue for 2 more inches, keeping only the first and last 4 stitches in garter stitch and all other stitches in stockinette stitch, ending at sleeve edge. Next row, bind off first 20 stitches (25, 30, 35).
Front Sides:
Work across next 28 stitches (29, 30, 32). Continue on remaining stitches keeping 4 stitches at front edge in garter stitch and decreasing 1 stitch at arm edge every other row 3 times. Continue in pattern on remaining stitches until front measures the same as the back from underarm to garter stitch border. Work 8 rows in garter stitch. Bind off. Complete right side to match left front.
Finishing:
Sew sleeve and side seams. Attach yarn at neck edge and, using a small crochet hook, work chain stitch for 5 inches. Fasten off. Repeat on other neck edge. Make another pair of ties 2 inches down from the neck. I-cord or ribbon may also be used for ties. Weave in ends.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)