JANUARY/FEBRUARY KNITS

Greetings.  The winter months are zipping by so I had to add February to my post title.  Even thought I've been very busy with settling my sister, H, into her new place, I still found some time for knitting.  I take it with me when I sub in Elk Creek so now kids will ask, "Did you bring your knitting today?"  I always do even if I don't have much time to work on it, and they like to see what's on the needles.  We share the love of hand made items since some have grandmas who knit or crochet cute things for them to wear. 

I'm thinking, with the encouragement of K,  of selling my knitting at the Eagles Christmas Bazaar in November.  I've been working on small items like ear/head warmers and neck warmers.  Several were in the last blog and a few escaped to Washington without getting photographed, but you get the idea.  My family  there appreciate the extra head warmth without the hair crushing of a hat in their cold, blustery weather. I have two more ear warmers on the needles for them.  There is a wonderful variety of patterns available that lend themselves to creative changes and additions.  I will give credit to the designers of the following patterns since I'm now keeping a knitting journal, with photos, to remind me of what I've made.

This headband is knit in the round using circular needles in a worsted weight yarn.  The pattern shows a large knitted rose along with the leaf.  I have yet to master knit and crochet flowers and go to the flower pattern that works for me, which is "East Elegant Flower Knitting Pattern By The Createry Shop": 

http://www.thecreateryshop.com/2011/02/easy-flower-to-knit-free-knitting.html 

The headband pattern with its gorgeous red rose can be found here: 
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/american-beauty-rose-headband

This green ear warmer is the same pattern shown in gold in the previous blog: "Begonia Headband" - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/begonia-headband
This pattern has a cost of $6.00.  It makes a dense, warm fabric using bulky yarn or worsted yarn held double, which is what I used.  Instead of a flower, I made two leaves and added a unique button.

"Antho Inspired Cabled Ear Warmer" is next.  Love this.  It's made with bulky roving yarn which is soft and snuggly on your head.  It has a button closure on the back.  This pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/braided-3

Every once in a while, I come across a vintage pattern that I like.  This is one, and it seems appropriate for the times since we've been watching ice skating during the Olympics.   This ear warmer is so cute, I couldn't resist and will make more.  It's called "Vintage Skating Ear Warmer" and can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vintage-skating-headband.  Love the pom poms on the sides.

Head warmers can often be worn as neck warmers, too.  I made this one for my sister, H, who likes it to keep her head warm at night.  It's made with a soft bulky yarn and is called "Waffle Stitch Ear Warmer." It was knit flat and then seamed at the back. From Creations by Caroline, 2012:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waffle-stitch-earwarmer

Little people get cold ears, too, so this little head band works for someone like B who is about a year and half old. When I saw her, she was wearing it around her neck, already fashionable as a neck warmer.   It's called "Flower Power Headband"  It was knit flat with worsted weight yarn, narrowed at the back and has a lady bug button closure to match the buttons in the posies. I'm definitely going to make more of these in bright colors.  You can find this pattern here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-power-headband-3 

I have a wealth of patterns and other interests saved on Pinterest.  Love this site - when ever I pin (save) a pattern, it's shared with everyone else and can be pinned by them on their own pin boards.  Naturally, I can do the same. It's a feast of ideas.  Check it out!

Until next time keep knitting or crocheting or dancing, drawing, painting, singing, cooking, etc. -  what every keeps your creative juices flowing. 

Autumn/Winter Warmers

     Greetings.  Autumn/Winter Warmers is the theme of this posting.  Even though winter hasn't officially arrived, it's felt like winter with freezing temperatures and snow all around us.  I'm not complaining - I know what the mid-west and east are going through right now with blizzard conditions, and I can look out and see blue skies. The knitting I've done lately has been for my niece who lives in wet and cold climate - Vancouver, Washington.  She wanted something to wear to keep her ears warm, other than a hat when going out. So the search was on for ear warmer patterns and this is what I came up with.  She is pleased with these and has been wearing them.  Happily, they're doing the job. 

     This first ear-warmer was made with two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, size 9 needles, which created a thick fabric. Of course I tried it on, and it was soft and warm.  It buttons in the back for a snug fit.  

                                     The pattern, Begonia Head Band can be found here:

                               http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/begonia-headband

This next version was made with a bulky roving yarn.  Super soft.  Size 10 needles.  I lost track of where I found this pattern and have since been keeping a journal so that doesn't happen again.  I've include a link to ear-warmer patterns with flowers, but there are many ear warmer patterns on line.  Look for them on Ravelry and Pinterest.

http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/07/knit-ear-warmers-wflower.html

    This, love the color, ear warmer is knit in the round without any tapering at the back.  I used worsted weight acrylic yarn and size 8 circular needles.  I'm not sure how I accomplished the flowers, since my crochet skills are not the greatest - persistence, I guess. Lots of flower patterns on line, also.

Here's the link to Simple Headband Ear-warmer.

http://devinlikestoknit.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/a-simple-headbandear-warmer-knit-pattern/

       The Red Scarf Project is part of Foster Care for Success - America's College Fund for Foster Youth.  Red scarves are accepted from Sept. 1 through Dec. 15.  The scarves are given to foster college students during February, you guessed it, Valentine's Day, as part of care packages.  If you are interested in donating  here is the address for more information.

Scarf for Red Scarf Project.http://www.fc2success.org/how-you-can-help/red-scarf-project/  

    I made the scarf with Lion Brand Homespun and size 15 needles.  It went together quickly since it's a mix of knitted and dropped stitches.  Very please with how it looked and felt...soft and airy, but warm.  I was worried I couldn't meet the deadline, but this pattern did the trick.  It's in the mail on it's was to someone who I hope loves it.  Here's where it find the pattern:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chunky-drop-stitch-scarf

     I made these next two hats because I wanted to try knitting in the round with bulky yarn.  I liked the results and have plans for more knitting with this type of yarn.  These hats were intended to be part of my Christmas Bazaar stash, but I ended up giving the one without the pom pom to my sister in Redding.  She loved it.

       This hat, called "The Super Bulky Ribbed Hat for Kids" was made with Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in the color Fleece.  The yarn is 50% wool and 50% acrylic.  I used size 15 circular needles.  I know this because I have the info in my journal.  Smart me, I should have started a journal a long time ago.  Here's where to find this easy and quick pattern:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-super-bulky-ribbed-hat-for-kids

     This hat, also knitted in the round, is called "Vanilla by Jen Geigley."  I made it with the roving I used on the ear-warmer.  It's so simple but makes a warm slouchy hat.  I love the simplicity of this type of knitting that shows off the texture and pattern of the simple garter stitches and the 2 x 2 ribbing. Here's where to find this pattern: 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanilla-9

     I couldn't post a blog without showing something from Mother Nature which always amazes me.  Our backyard  tree adorned itself with red-orange persimmons just in time for the holidays.  

Until next time - keep knitting and crocheting or doing something creative, it soothes the soul. Have a peaceful and warm holiday season. 

LATE SUMMER

Greetings, everyone.  I should title this post LATE SUMMER & EARLY FALL.  The sky today is gray and rain is predicted tonight and tomorrow.  We're getting the edge of a much larger storm raining on the Pacific Northwest.  Our family in Oregon and Washington are getting it's full force.  Our garden has no problem with a few rain showers, and after tomorrow the sunny days will return for awhile.  My kind of weather.  The flower pictures were taken earlier this summer by Master Gardener D and me when the weather was good and hot, also my kind of weather.  So I'm sharing the gorgeous roses we had, and still do, just not as many. These close-up pics remind me of Georgia O'Keeffe paintings. 

Other varieties of flowers from the garden. Some still blooming in the fall weather.

On to the knitting.  I'm working on items to be sold at the Eagles Christmas Bazaar held in November, so I still have some time to get a few more things done.  Love these mitered coasters and wash cloths.  Easy to knit and I learned something new. The web sites with instructions are below each photo. 

http://www.to-knit-knitting-stitches.com/mitered-coaster.html

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mitred-square-dishcloth

I couldn't resist the Christmas hat made from bulky yarn - I have a stash.  Easy pattern.  Will probably make a few more.  This was made from Red Heart's Lite and Lofty yarn.  Big needles and fast knitting. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ho-ho-hat-3

Have made these sachet or small gift bags before.  I've saved the two page pattern from the Creative Knitting magazine - hope they don't mind if I pass the pattern on to you. These are knitted flat then seamed - no struggling with double pointed needles to knit in the round which I try to avoid.  Haven't mastered them yet. 

Creative Knitting March 2005 

Basic Sachet Top

Beg at top edge, cast on 30 sts.

Row 1 - 4: Knit

Row 5 (eyelets): K1, *yo, k2tog; rep from *to last st, k1.

Row 6: Knit

Garter Stitch Sachet

With desired color, work Rows 1-6 for top, then work even in garter st for 34 rows. (17 garter ridges)

Bind off, or work 3-needle bind off. 

Finishing

Using tapestry needle, sew side and bottom seams.

Crochet cord about 12 inches and thread through eyelets. 

More Lite and Lofty yarn to make my favorite hat - The Meathead Hat.  This pattern is in the knitting book, knitalong - Celebrating the Traditions of Knitting Together. A lot of good information and patterns ... especially, examples of inventive Meathead Hats by a variety of knitters.

Also for the bazaar is a basket of small teddy bears.  Have all ready given the striped one away to a friend's grand-daughter.  These a fun to make, again knit flat and seamed then stuffed.  I've made them before with embroidered faces, but I seem to like them plain this time- they're so colorful and cute.  Depending on the size of yarn and needles, these bears can be made small or large, smooth or fuzzy.  I've included the web sites for the patterns which are basically the same. 

http://cuddles-uk.org/patterns/teddy.html

http://www.squidoo.com/EasyKnitting-Patterns

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-bear-pattern

Couldn't resist this pic of Master Gardener D and my dog, Orson getting his flea-good-riddance bath with Dawn detergent.   He's not enjoying it - tolerating it.  He's an obedient doggie and much more relaxed when he's not scratching all the time. Woof!

I hope this blog finds everyone well and enjoying the beginning of fall.  I have more projects completed and more photos on my camera - will post them soon.  I have a four day stint as the substitute English teacher at Elk Creek High School this week which will be enjoyable.  Catch up time with students and staff.  As always, keep knitting and crocheting - enjoying colors and texture. 

SPRING FLOWERS

     Greetings.  It's been a long seven months since my last post.  I think commuting two hours a day and school work got to me, and I didn't have much left over for writing.  The last eight weeks I've spend mostly sitting with my left foot elevated after bunion surgery.  But I'm mending nicely and no longer have to wear the post-op boot.  I'm in my slippers and Birkenstocks for awhile as the swelling goes down in my foot and toes. I've been knitting mostly wash cloths - something almost mindless, since the pain meds made complicated thinking difficult.  Much better now. Since Spring, I've been accumulating photos from the backyard gardens.  Some plants, especially the cactus and succulents, have a very short blast of showy flowers so we took photos as soon as they opened. 

     The two cactus below are about the size of your thumb and without their flowers, are very plain and look like small rocks.  However, they bloomed spectacular flowers. We were amazed, since this is our first time growing these plants. 

     This pastel pink and yellow bloom is from a round cactus about the size of a softball, a gift to Master Gardener D.  Not only did it produce beautiful flowers, you can see the baby cactus it is producing, too.  These can be (carefullly with gloves) pinched off and replanted. 

What a color. This little, very prickly, cactus produced  the most vibrant flowers.  

This picture is on my computer desktop, saved so I can see it daily, since the blooms are long gone in the garden.

Here's the rock garden up against the wall of the house that gets the hottest blast from the sun.  Since succulents and cacti are desert plants, they love this spot and quietly grow, reproduce, and fill in the area.

And finally, cacti and red blooms up against an old water pump at the Boschi Ranch where Master Gardener D works and pinches cactus.  The new fence in the background is one of his projects.

     Master Gardener D took the following photos - these are just a few of the flowers in the rest of the garden.  Mother Nature is outdoing herself this year.  

And the knitting goes on.  Having foot surgery gave me a good excuse to sit and knit, although being house bound got old very fast.  This is a scarf I made for my sister C who lives in LA where she can use a light weight scarf when the weather isn't "Sunny California."  The yarn is unknown, probably something I found at the thrift shop, but it is beautifully variegated orange and yellow and has the feel of a cotton blend. Unfortunately, this pattern is no longer available.  It was published on Ravelry by Sosae Caetano Handmade Designs. 

        Wash cloths for the Eagles Christmas Bazaar.  I will put some of these together in bundles tied with Christmas ribbon.  Still working on these and have learned a nice crochet edging as seen on the next photo. 

Two bulky knit hats for cold winter nights of watching high school football games or taking to the ski slopes near Tahoe or Mt. Shasta.  These will be going to the Bazaar, also.

          And lastly, a gift for myself.  Love, Love this scarf and it's so easy with yarn that self stripes: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/283/SkinnyMiteredScarf.pdf  I used Lion Brand "Amazing" yarn which is worsted weight - wool / acrylic blend ... lots of wonderful color blends. 

I hope this post finds everyone enjoying their summer.  In this area, school will be starting in a few weeks.  I'll be substitute teaching a few days a month at my favorite school in the foothills, Elk Creek Jr/Sr High School.  Special kids and staff there that I enjoying seeing. I'll be posting more garden pics and knitting in the upcoming blogs sooner than seven months. Stay cool.