sweet Leia bonnet

I’m so excited to be headed up to northern California tomorrow to attend my niece, Hailey’s baby shower and visit with family. I’m hoping that there is a bit of a chill in the air as it has been way too summer like this winter in southern Cali…(seriously what is the point of making cozy knits if ya don’t get the chance to use them?) I’ve completed her gift, a Leia Bonnet along with a pair of matching booties. 

The hat Pattern is from designer Mel Clarks book, Knitting Gifts forBaby. I used the suggested yarn, The Fiber Company; Terra in the color way Acorn.  It is 40% baby alpaca/40% merino wool/20% silk.  And oh, it is so soft, perfect for a babys precious skin.  It is a quick knit and the construction is really unique in that it is knit in two pieces then kitchener stitched together before the final edging is completed. I did watch a youtube video on kitchener, to make sure I got it.    Since we know Hailey is having a girl, we are decorating in pinks and having a baby bird themed shower.  So sweet!  I also completed the basket weave blanket that I promised a ta-da for in a previous post...

...Hope she likes her gifts!

Mitts

  Like many of us knitting obsessed folks, I follow Stephanie the ‘Yarn Harlot’ blog on a regular basis.  I’ve attempted to make a few of the projects that she herself has made and blogged about.  Most recently, the Sakura fingerless mitts. (Oct 9th post)

  I'd been looking for a pattern to make a pair of mitts to go with a scarf I completed using Noro yarn and when I saw the Sakura mitts, I thought, perfect!

  The free pattern is by designer Kate Atherley for Estelle yarns.  It knits up quickly except for the matchy thing…it made me a bit crazy. Stephanie had even warned about this in her write up, but I didn’t know how much it would bug me till I was in too deep! 

  I do love Noro yarns super long color ways most of the time but after almost completely unwinding the remainder of the ball of yarn, I rewound it to try and start at the same point of the color way I had originally started with on mitt number one…and after a couple of false starts, I just decided to ‘go with it’ and completed mitt number two, close enough…

  I don’t know if my sister Diana, the recipient noticed that they are not exactly matchy, and I didn’t ask, but she does wear them and that’s good enough for me!

Cheers to 2014!

I know, I know, where the heck have I been?  It has been way too long since I've checked in here at Knitalatte to let you know what I've been up to.  Since my last post, I learned that the baby I've been making the crochet star blanket for is a GIRL!  So down with the stars and up with the basket weave knit blanket in pink (more on that later)...

Can you believe it?  2013 is coming to a close.

I love this time of year, when we allow ourselves to reflect on past accomplishments and failures.  To let it go of it all and look forward to the New Year.

I’ve had such fun with the knit and crochet projects that I worked on (completed, ufo’s and frogged items too).

I’ve bought way too much yarn, I mean seriously, do I think I can really produce mass quantities of knit objects within the timeframe that I’m not working, taking care of things or sleeping?  Jeeze!

I thought it would be fun to share with you the books that have peaked my interest and I plan on diving into in 2014.

Woodland Knits by Stephanie Dosen

Stephanie has been one of my favorite knit designers for some time.  I was so excited to see that she put together a collection of her patterns into one book.  I want to make the Dragon Watchers hood, and can’t wait to get started.

Knitting Gifts for Baby by Mel Clark

Who can resist baby knits?  I love Mels patterns and baby knits work up so quickly. The finished product is well received by the proud parents to be, a win-win in my book!  I’m crazy for the Leia Bonnet and have already gotten the yarn to make this up for a special baby.

  

The Yarn Whisperer by Clara Parkes

I’ve read such good reviews about this little book and I’m sure it will be a quick, satisfying read for a Sunday afternoon by the fire.

Knitting Yarns by a collection of writers and edited by Ann Hood

I’ve already read the Knitting Circle by Ann Hood and loved it, so I thought I’d give this a go.

And for pure inspiration; Running with Nature by Mariel Hemingway & Bobby Williams. My sister suggested this read and I’m glad she did!

So I’m wondering what is on your reading list for next year?

I want to thank each and every one of you who have stopped by for a visit, left a sweet comment and allowed me to be apart of your blogging adventure this past year.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.  Cheers to 2014!

a bit of summer knitting

Want to make some cool washcloths?  Yes, I do…I was visiting the Yarn Harlots blog back in August and read Stephanie’s post about knitting up some washcloths and it sounded to me like the perfect summer knit.  Holding cotton in lieu of wool during this heat, how refreshing!

After stash diving I found my Sugar n cream yarn and started in on a very simple yet satisfying knit using the Bee-Stitch pattern.  Our really hot spell starts late August and goes till about the middle of October.  Another 6 weeks, oh boy. I imagine I can make up a pile of these...

As Stephanie suggested, cast on 31 stitches, knit 6 rows, then on the next row follow the 4-row Bee Stitch pattern, leaving the 1^st 3 and the last 3 stitches as knit. When almost square, finish up with 6 rows of knit before bind off.  Give this pattern a try if like many of us, you need a break from wool. 

The Bee-Stitch gives such a nice puffy texture, perfect for soap and water to mix into a nice lather before using, sweet as honey! Thank you Stephanie i.e. Yarn Harlot for such a great idea.

a bit of cozy for the girls

I found an adorable little bed frame that came with a mattress and pillow inserts on the bay and I thought they’d be perfect for a makeover.

Zoe and middie girl hanging out

After a good cleaning and light sanding, I spray painted the bed frame off-white.

Then once I had the dimensions, I made a dust ruffle out of a bit of stash cotton fabric.

The mattress and 2 pillow covers are sewn from a set of cloth napkins I purchased from the Rachel Ashwell collection (love the little flowers). The accent pillows are knit with crochet trim out of bits of Noro left over from the bedspread.  

The bedspread is crochet, single crochet using Noro silk garden sock yarn.  The fringe was added for a bit of whimsy. 

 Zoe seems to like sleeping on her new bed way more than the box she was put away in. haha… Such a fun little project and I’m glad to see that she is willing to share too! 

he is a diver boy…

I’ve completed the Dustland mitts for hubby, and I think he must like them,

as he let me take photos. 

It was a really fun photo shoot.  We went down to the boat at Oceanside harbor and I posed him in various positions. He turned out to be a very cooperative model, which I wasn’t expecting, haha…I think he will like these mitts because they are so lightweight and warm. 

Brooklyn tweed yarns, both shelter and loft are, in my opinion, the best for these qualities. Loft yarn along with this pattern by Stephen West are a great combination.

I’ve asked my diver boy to put them to the test this week and report back if they are doing the job I’d envisioned for him, warm hands after a cool dive in the beautiful pacific blue.

cuffs

Zoe is back from her spa vacation.  She spent a week in beautiful Idaho with Sarah Glahe of Kalidescope Kustoms.  Do check out her site to view some of her outstanding custom work with Blythe dolls. Sarah made sure that Zoe got lots of rest and sent her back to sunny southern California feeling refreshed and well, down right beautiful!  Thank you dear Sarah for taking such good care of her.  Now all Zoe wants is for me to make her new clothes and take pictures of her wearing them.  Lucky for her, I thinks it is so much fun to do...

I made her this little pair of blue knit boot cuffs to wear with her 'I'm heading outside' boots. Really easy to make and only takes but a bit of stash to whip up.  Enjoy…

Pattern below;

Blythe boot cuffs

Construction

Knit with sewn edge

Abbreviations

k…Knit

p…Purl

co…cast on

Gauge

10 st = 1”
Finished Size 2-/2”

Difficulty

Easy

Material

Sock yarn- stash is good!

Equipment

Needles size 0 and size 2

Darning needle (for sewing in ends)

Pattern (Make Two)

Using size 0  needles, CO 10 stitches

Row 1 knit

Row 2 purl

Row 3 KFB, K8, KFB 12 stitches

Continue in stockinette  till piece measures 1” from CO edge

Next row KFB, K10, KFB 14 stitches

Continue in stockinette until piece measures 2” from CO edge, ending with wrong side row

Change to size 2 needles

Right side row (K1, P1)*

Next row  (P1, K1)*

Repeat the last two rows two more times

BO in stitch pattern

Finishing

With darning needle and starting at the top stitch slip stitch sides on down to the cast on edge

Fold over top of cuff. 

Pattern Copyright © Karen Case

For personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern.

Any questions? Contact Karen kace520@cox.net

Karenlcase.blogspot.com

No place like home

It's so nice to be back home!  I was away on a trip up to northern california for a family event.  Here is a picture of me with my lovely sisters.  It is a rare treat for us all to be together, loved spending time with them!

I'm always so excited to get away but then so happy to be back home to my own routine. Also, I’ve been busy getting Zoe ready for her spa vacation. She is headed to stay with a talented customizer this summer for a bit of rejuvenation, lucky girl! She needs sleepy eyes, new pull strings, eyelashes and maybe a surprise or two! 

Zoe is pictured here wearing a cozy little outfit that I knit up for her. The top is knit with lace weight and sparkly yarn held together. Her pants are made with Swan Island finger weight, and they are the softest, I want a pair! Perfect for travel. I will write out the pattern for the pants soon and post over on ravelry.

I want to wish all of you sweet ladies a Happy Mothers day!

Hugs and Flowers to you all…

Frothy mohair dress for Libby - Blythe doll

What is small, fun, and a quick knit?  Why doll clothes of course!

I found this really cute dress pattern by designer Natalie Scrimshire on ravelry and made modifications to suit my girl. See my ravelry page here or below.

I have to admit I’m over the moon smitten with my little Blythe doll, Libby.

She has the sweetest smile, the prettiest hair color and those eyelids are amazing!  Who wouldn’t want to make a few custom outfits for her to wear? She especially likes hanging out with her bff’s, who are also in need of some new things to wear.  More later…

Sweet Libby

Frothy Dress - my modified version

Supplies;

4 stitch markers

Yarn; Rowan kidsilk haze

Needles; size 1 and 4 - 12” circulars

Darning needle

Abbreviations;

Sm; slip marker

Kfb; knit front and back of stitch

M1; make one

Co; cast on, backward loop method

Using size 1 needle cast on 24 stitches

Row 1; k6, pm, k2, pm, k8, pm, k2, pm, k 6

Row 2; purl

Row 3; knit to one stitch before maker kfb, sm, kfb, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before maker, kfb, sm, kfb, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to end (32 stitches)

Row 4; purl

Row 5; knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker kfb, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, knit one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to end (40 stitches)

Row 6; purl

Row 7; knit, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, knit to marker, sm, kfb, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, sm, knit to end (44 stitches)

Row 8, decrease row - purl to marker, drop marker, bind of in knit to next marker, drop marker, purl to next marker, drop marker, bind off in knit to next marker, drop marker , purl to end  (28 stitches)

Row 9; k2, m1, repeat to bind off, co 2, k2, m1, repeat to bind off, co 2, k2, m1 to last 2 stitches, k2 (46 stitches)

Row 10; purl

Row 11; *k 2, yo* repeat to last to stitches, k2 (68 stitches)

Row 12; purl

Row 13; change to size 4 needles and knit all stitches

Row 14; place marker and join for in the round and knit (can use double points if not using 12" circular)

Continue knitting in the round to desired length (Libby's is 4" from shoulder to hem)

Bind off in purl and weave in ends

Slip ribbon thru yarn over holes created in row 11 and tie a bow as desired

Sew in small snap closure at rear neck opening.

Ok, yes, I am having way too much fun!

Love her!

Hofsos Mitts - Westys-besties KAL

Designer Stephen West of West Knits

Yarn; Brooklyn Tweed Loft in fossil, woodsmoke and barn owl

Knit holding two strands together thru-out

Size eight needles, I used both double points and straight for this project

What I love about working with Stephens’s patterns, is their diversity.

What I like about this pattern in particular is that it has six distinctive parts,

which is interesting and rewarding in and of it self.  Each time I’d finish

a section, I’d feel a sense of accomplishment.  (Take a mini break for a cuppa tea, etc. ohh plus a scone or two!) Its diversity lies in that each section is made using a different stitch pattern. So once again I learned a few things along the way.  The forth section consists of knitting one thru the back loop and purling one and I really like how the knit stitch stands out and uniquely away from the purl stitch.  

These mitts are cozy warm and after their bath, the yarn puffed up to perfection.  Now, I’ll tuck them away till next winter to wear along with my Kvosin hat.

(Iceland anybody?)

Front section

Back side

the payoff...

photo by LynneaY13 on Flickr.

Remember the middy sweater?

Well, dear little Charlotte is now old enough to wear and model hers
Her mama, Lynnea, took a photo of her for me to share.
Isn’t Charlotte the cutest model ever?

I can’t think of anything more rewarding than seeing something I’ve made being worn. This just made my day…

Honey Cowl the 3rd

There is something quite therapeutic about this pattern and yes, I’m in love with it.  (Free on the Madelinetosh site or on Ravelry) It continues to captivate and hold my attention. Even though I’ve completed three versions of this project, I will probably make another.  This particular incarnation is intended for my dear mothers birthday.  She recently moved to Northern California, where it can get a bit chilly during the winter. I thought she might like to have a Honey Cowl of her very own to snuggle in. I used about 2-1/2 skeins of Madelinetosh worsted in the color way Isadora. This yarn is so soft, squishy and warm! The slipstitch honeycomb style stitch pattern is hypnotic and really easy to remember for great TV viewing-type knitting.

Hope mama likes her gift this year…

my kvosin

This has been such a fun project...

What I loved;

Knitting an object that has interesting and new experiences to offer. The kvosin pattern fit the bill perfectly.  Each of the four sections offered a unique challenge including fair isle, cables, stockinette, garter stitch, joining and picking up stitches.

Crown full of cables

What I learned;
-Knitted kitchener stitch (grafting)

Via this youtube video by Kathleen of wipinsanity.

I really took to the knitted version of kitchener, it makes so much sense, after all it is knitting, why sew the piece together for petes sake?

-Bind-off by knitting two together thru the back loop. The brim is super stretchy. This hat is so soft, warm and light as a feather. Sweet!

 Yarn used

Brooklyn Tweed – Loft

 -Colors

Hayloft (yellow)

Fossil (cream)

Barn Owl (brown)

Foothills (pale green)

love my kvosin

What next?

I want to make another in darker colors!

Thank you Stephen West for a great pattern and Jared Flood for such beautiful yarn…

kvosin

kvosin hat pattern by Stephen West

West knits has done it again.  Designer Stephen West has created yet another set of gorgeous knitting patterns via his latest KAL; Westy’s Besties featuring Brooklyn Tweed yarns Loft & Shelter.  All 12 patterns are available thru Ravelry.  BTs Jared Flood photographed these beauties in Iceland and the pictures are downright spectacular!  Such a great collaboration.  There is also a group on Ravelry for this KAL, sweet…

Brooklyn Tweed Loft

I decided to start with the hat pattern, Kvosin, using Loft yarn. It is worked in four parts. Mine is still in progress and I’ve completed two sections thus far.  It is so challenging and engaging due to its multiple construction methods.  Part 1 features a section of multi colored fair isle, what me? fair isle?  I can’t believe I’ve been so intimidated by the thought of this technique.  The directions and chart made it easy to give it a go. Once I completed this section, I was over the moon happy!

Section 1 - Fair Isle

I then knit section two in a single color to form the body of the hat with alternating blocks of stockinette and garter ridges. 

Section 2 Stockinette and Garter stitch rows

I’m currently working section three, the brim, featuring cable work.  Finally, I’ll move on to the last section for the crown shaping in cables. 

Beginning - Section 3 Cable Brim

Kvosin is such an interesting knit and with its infinite possibilities of color choices, it has had me enthralled from the moment I set eyes on it.  I can’t stop thinking about it or wait to get back to it. This project has helped me to once again appreciate Loft yarn, especially now that I 'get' that it requires a gentle touch and loose handling while knitting.  I’ve learned to relax my hands and grasp of the needles while knitting its stitches. I'll have my Kvosin finished soon so I can share it as a fo.  Stay tuned...