JUNE HEAT BUT STILL KNITTING

It's been nearly a year since I last posted my knitting.  I went back to work part time - teaching three periods a day at Elk Creek High School.  So you could say I'm semi-retired.  Had such a good year, I'm going to do it again. Keeps me busy, but doesn't stop my knitting which is so relaxing for me and keeps my creative juices flowing.  But the blog went by the wayside.  I don't want to give it up, so I will make more of an effort to blog at least once a month.  I enjoy sharing what I'm knitting, and I have to confess I spend some time enjoying what others knit on the web sites, Ravelry and Pinterest.

Since the recent announcement of my great-niece's pregnancy, I've been knitting baby things, but can't show them yet.  Will have to wait until November which gives me more time to knit.  But I do have a few finished grown-up things stashed in my bin along with other things that need finishing.  So here goes.

This is a mobius cowl knit in Lion Brand Homespun.  it's basically a very long scarf, knit every row loosely.  When cowl is as long as you want, lay it out, give it a twist or two and sew the two ends together. Save it for winter when you can wrap it around your neck to stay warm watching high school football games. 

By far one of my favorite scarf patterns works beautifully with yarn that has changes in colors or self-striping yarn. I've made several and have one on the needles now in a bulky yarn. Here's where it the pattern can be found: 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 loved knitting the next scarf.  It's pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/absolute-beginners-scarf
It is based on the Fibonacci sequence, and knitters claim if you create stripes in any combination of the Fibonacci sequence, it will be aesthetically pleasing. I had to look this up. The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...

The next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it.

• The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1)
• Similarly, the 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2),
• And the 5 is (2+3),
• and so on!
• If you want to know more, and there is a lot more, especially if you like math, it can be found here: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html

I'm not sure I followed the sequence exactly, but I gave it a shot based on the pattern.  I like the way it turned out - easy straight knitting but the adding of stripes and blocks of color made it interesting to knit.

This pinkish-red short scarf was made from one skein of angora I salvaged from the thrift shop.  It's starts with rows of garter stitch (knit every row) and then continues with the basic cable up the center.  This could be worn around the neck overlapping with a special pin holding it in place. 

To avoid using too much of California's precious water and still have a little garden, we put in a drip system which is working well.  The plants are thriving as you can see by the marigolds - eggplant in the background. We have the basics - tomatoes, squash, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers.  We didn't plant any other annuals but still have perennials and wild flowers coming up.  

One more tomato plant in a pot, perfect backdrop for these colorful washcloths.  Made from cotton yarn, they are the best for cleaning.  

The perfect plants for dry weather are the succulents and cacti.  I've always loved them because they are so easy to care for and easy to propagate. Break off a piece, stick it in some soil, and it will send out roots in no time.  Too much watering will cause their demise since they store water in their leaves. Because of the mild winter, none of them froze, and the ones I thought were dead, came back to life with a little sprinkle of rain and lots of sun.  Couldn't be easier - low maintenance plants and some give the gift of little flowers

So here it is my June blog with hopes for one in July.  Keep on knitting and crocheting or crafting or dancing - what ever makes you happy.  In my Weight Watchers meeting we are focusing on being "mindful" - taking time to empty minds of all the thoughts that swirl around in there and just breathe - be calm - and especially be mindful of what we are eating.  Happy summer sun to you.
    

SUMMER thinking about WINTER

     Yes, it's summer and hot, but knitting never stops.  I'm not fond of summer knits - too hot for me in this Northern California climate.  So I continue knitting winter knits, planning ahead for keeping ears and necks warm when it's chilly outside. This first scarf is my own go-to design.  I love the texture created by simple knit and purls which makes a plain yarn come alive.  I'm not a knit designer, but with some basic math skills (all I have) I can make this work. 

     I start and end with a basic ribbing - k 2, p 2 for a few inches.  When knitting the body keep a garter stitch edging on both sides of scarf - looks finished and keeps it from curling.  The stitches I use come from THE HARMONY GUIDES:  knit & purl - 250 stitches to knit from Interweave Press. I'm sure they or variations of them, could be found in most basic knitting books or on line.  The internet is a terrific resource for knitters. Back to the stitches: the first panel is basic checks; the second panel is Pennant Stitch; the third panel Double Fleck Stitch. Divide panels with a  few rows of garter stitches, repeat panels, and knit until scarf is as long as you like. 

     Most of my yarn has come from a variety of places - given to me, treasures found at thrift shop, some purchased so I'm not always sure of the fiber content.  Most is synthetic - I know purists only like to knit with wool, but it's expensive and hot to wear.  I have a childhood memory of a green wool sweater my mother knit for me that I couldn't wear because it was itchy. It was a short struggle of wills, but I won out with a loud protest and yanking of the sweater off my body.  
I know wool yarns have come a long way toward softness since then and some have been blended with other fibers to even make them washable. 

     So, not absolutely sure of the fiber in this neck warmer but I think it's a brushed acrylic bulky weight. The pattern: Knitted Neck Warmer can be found here:      http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/knitting/outerwear/knit-neck-warmer/12283   This pattern calls for Homespun yarn by Lion Brand and uses size 10 straight needles. 

       Another good pattern similar to this is Dear by Holly Peacock  

                        http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dear

Here's a variation made with a nubby, thick and thin yarn in a checks or basket weave stitch.

    This is my fist attempt at an infinity scarf also called a cowl.  I used Lion Brand Homespun and size 15 needles.  The pattern: The Runaround Knit Cowl can be found here: http://smashedpeasandcarrots.com/the-runaround-knit-cowl-free-pattern/  This cowl is about 50 inches long and can wrap around your neck twice.  Nice and snugly warm.

     On to keeping little heads warm.  Look at what self-striping yarns can do for you - like magic stripes appear as you knit.  These three hats were knit with EVERYDAY SOFT WORSTED from the Deborah Norville collection - purchased at Joann's.  You can find the patterns for these hats as follows: the one on the left: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rock-star-beanie; middle: http://www.tanisfiberarts.com/blog/2010/12/grammys-hats-and-mittens-pattern.html; right: basic beanie with rows of garter stitches.  Hats for kids. 

     This baby hat was made with Jiffy yarn from Lion Brand.  Baby Flap Hat pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-flap-cap  You'll find some cute variations with this pattern. 

    These two hats are definitely big people hats.  They are my variations on a pattern called Stashbuster Hat one plain and one with a cable.  I like the longer ribbing which is about 4 inches.  There is plenty of slouch with this pattern which can be found here: http://hattiemylove.blogspot.no/2013/01/striped-light-stashbuster-hat-pattern_28.html

You'll find many other free and unique hat patterns at this site.  

     So that's what I've been knitting lately.  But I couldn't blog with out adding what's going on in the garden.  The flowers, their shapes and colors always amaze me.  The bulb or seed just needs a clean home, some water and food and look what you get for so little human effort.  

We thought we had a peach tree but surprise nectarines. 

 Grape vine carpet - there's a shed under there.  Love it. 

Until next time - keep the creative juices flowing -  knitting goes on.

IT'S A FAMILY THING

     Greetings from sunny northern California.  Still knitting and crocheting in preparation for the winter months ahead. My niece, D, from Vancouver, WA, who had been crocheting baby blankets for friends and hospitals, sent pics of her latest creations.

    Here are photos of my Super Quick Ruffled Scarf (free pattern from Lion Brand; I used Wildberries Stripes) and...

kitchen towels (also free patterns from Lion Brand; I selected a number of bright colors that I liked from their Kitchen Cotton collection). I am making small dish cloths from the leftover cotton yarn. 

                            

    We all know that knitters and crocheters keep left over yarn, called their stash, and can use it in creative ways.  These brightly colored towels will make cleaning the kitchen a little less of a chore.

     Even though, I keep saying I'm going to hone my crocheting skills, I can't stop knitting - so many interesting patterns to try.  A lot of my yarn has been given to me or I've found it at my favorite thrift shop, and it's a challenge to fit a pattern to the yarn.  So far so good, only a couple of failures.

     Our blooming garden has provided a lovely background for my pics.  Thanks again, Mother Nature, and Master Gardener D. who tends it.

     Headbands and ear warmers have become a popular alternative to wearing a hat. They are quick to make and come in a variety of styles and yarn weights. Some are knit in the round and others knit flat with ends sew together or buttoned. I like the way designers have gone back to older styles that resemble turbans. Reminds me of old Hollywood. 

     I found a part of a skein of this lovely pink yarn with little bumps and it was just enough to make this ear warmer. It felt like wool, maybe a wool blend. Love this cable.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/janes-cabled-headwarmer

     I've been wanting to try embroidery on knitting and this headband provided the perfect pattern because the center is smooth stockinette stitch. It's called Maisie's Headband by Ann Bailey.  It can be found here:     

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

     I promised to keep my knitting journal up to date, but I didn't with these next two patterns.  Basically, they are one long (to fit your head) rectangle sewn together with a smaller rectangle wrapped around the seam.  The pinkish red one was knit with a bulky yarn in a knit 2, purl 2 ribbing. 

                        

     This camo-looking yarn was used to knit the whole ear warmer in garter stitch which is just knitting, no purling.  It was made with worsted weight yarn and size 9 needles. Again, knit a large rectangle to fit snugly around your head, sew the ends together, knit a small rectangle to wrap around the seam and gather in the head band.  Add a button or interesting pin if you want. 

   

     Will try harder to keep track of pattern sources. Most have been found on Ravely, and I'm sure I've pinned many of them to my board in Pinterest.

     I've made this ear warmer before in a solid color with a big flower attached. This one looks completely different because of the color variations in the yarn. It doesn't need a flower; it's unique as it is. Calls for knitting worsted weight yarn and size 8 16" circular knitting needles.  It's called A Simple Headband/ear-warmer, and can be found here:

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

     There isn't a specific pattern for the purple headband.  I saw a picture similar to this and used patterns I'd found on the web to create my own.  It's knit with worsted weight yarn and size 9 needles.  It's knitted flat and seamed - seam hidden under the little button band.  Love this color.  The petunias add a sweet touch. 

     There are some people, especially young ones, who look cute wearing hats, so we can't forget them.  Hats are usually knit in the round which can be a daunting task toward the narrow top when double pointed needles are required.  All I can say is, I'm getting little better at using them.  So no turning my back on hats. 

     This pattern is Mock Cable Watch Cap designed by Tanis Gray for Cascade Yarns. It's a free pattern, knit in the round. I used worsted weight acrylic yarn. I like the little flecks of color. Instead of a pom pom, I sewed a button on the top. 

http://www.cascadeyarns.com/patternsFree/W406_EcoCloudMockCableWatchCap.pdf

                             

     Penguin love hat, scarf, & hearts. This pattern caught my eye because the hats were made with bright colors and each had a knitted heart attached.  After knitting them I liked them as is with a multicolored pompom. These were knitted in the round with acrylic yarn and can be found here:

 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/penguin-love

     There's more knitting done, but I will save it for the next blog... neck warmers and scarves. 

     I'm going to end my blog with the most gorgeous sight in our garden.  I'm giving you the extra-large size photo because these are so beautiful. They are Asiatic Lilies, and wow! what colors. 

     Happy knitting and crocheting days ahead.

SPRING - AT LAST -

Spring - at last.  Signs of Spring popping up everywhere now that we've had some rain.  It's been a long, dry winter, and even though it's sunny and warm today, rain is predicted for a few days this week. Ask anyone in California, and they'll say, "We need it." These violets come up every February just in time for Aquarius birthdays - purple is our color.  More of Mother Nature at the end of the blog.  On to the knitting.

My knitting projects have multiplied quickly since I've been making ear warmers.  They don't take much yarn or time to knit, but I love the results. 

I'm thinking I could use a mannequin head with a wig, so I can show these being worn.  I'm going to look into finding one.  Either that, or find someone to model them.  Difficult - I live with two men who wouldn't cooperate.

The Snow Queen Bow Ear Warmer Pattern (Cost: $1.99) was knit with Lion Brand Homespun - a bulky yarn.  It reminds me of the turbans worn in old Hollywood movies.  In fact it's from a designer at "Vintage Visage" through the website Craftsy.  Lots of good patterns there, mostly for sale and few free ones, too.  You can find this pattern at:

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/knitting/accessory/snow-queen-bow-head-band-ear-warmer/39332 

 This next ear warmer is a variation of the ear warmers in my previous blog, called: Groovy Girlfriend Ear Warmer.  It was knit in a bulky yarn with a knitted flower attached.  I haven't yet mastered crochet flowers, but I will.  This ear warmer tapers in the back and is held with another wooden button.  You can find the pattern here for free: 

              http://www.villagestitches.com/groovy-girlfriend-earwarmer.html

The next two ear warmers are narrow versions of the larger turban style.

The Winter Headband with a Twist was knit with worsted weight acrylic yarn and seamed at the back.  You can find it here for free: 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/winter-headband-with-a-twist

The Turban Outfitters Knit Headband with a Twist was knit in a bulky yarn and also seamed at the back.  Both ear warmers would look cute and would keep ears warm in the cold of winter.  You can find this pattern for free here: 

http://sewcraftysofresh.blogspot.com/2012/10/turban-outfitters.html

The Womb Wisdom Headband/Ear Warmers can be knit with either worsted weight yarn as is the multicolored or with bulky as is the brown.  The cable is easy.  These were knitted flat and then seamed in the back, no tapering.  This pattern is free on Ravelry: 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/womb-wisdom-headband-ear-warmer

Still knitting for head warmth is the (Rock) Star Beanie knit in worsted acrylic  yarn.  If you look up the pattern, you will see the knitter has

added embroidery as part of the design.  I'm planning on doing embroidery also on another hat with a solid color background.  On this hat I've added some very small knitted flowers. I found this yarn at Joanns as a sale on self-striping mill ends - I like the outcome.  You can find this pattern for free, also at Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rock-star-beanie

Lastly, my knitting slid down from head to neck with the Hydra Cabled Neckwarmer that is knit in a seed stitch border with a basic twisty cable in the center.  This is perfect for someone that doesn't want the length of a scarf or cowl around their neck.  It was knit in a bulky yarn.  Nice and warm.  This is another free Ravelry pattern found here: 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hydra-cabled-neckwarmer

As promised, a few more gifts from Mother Nature.  I wonder what flower bulbs do all winter, because in the Spring they do this. More to come as the Iris start to bloom, too. 

We also have a hybrid fruit tree that should have fruit this year.  It is grafted peach and apricot.  These are the gorgeous blossoms it produced after a long quiet winter.  A little rain and warm sunshine is all it needed. 

I'm adding a little quote to finish this blog from my Pinterest board titled, Things to Remember. I think it fits me, and probably many others, who know instinctively that creating things was passed to them from their mothers and the generations before her.