Earthworm in Winter?

My daughter decided to make some concept sketches for me to use in upcoming patterns. Here's one that I'll be developing as a free pattern.

This is George. He's quite shy. You'll see more of him once the pattern is ready.

Very Cozy Mittens

I loved Grumperina's Shifting Sands Scarf from the first time I saw it. And since Christmas knitting is in full swing I needed a quick project for a special recipient. With only 3 balls of Knit Picks' Andean Silk in Lettuce, I knew it wouldn't be enough for a scarf. So I thought mittens and a neck warmer.

Here are the mittens! They are sooooo warm, it must be the alpaca!

I knit very loose, you may need to go up a needle size. Using 3.25mm dpns I cast on 44 sts for the cuff and knit in k1p1 for 3 inches. Then I increased evenly to 55 sts (11 pattern repeats). On the first row of the pattern, work in pattern for 55 sts, place marker, m1, place marker. This begins the thumb gore. Continue working in pattern, and making one stitch just before and just after the marker on the knit-only rows.

On the next knit-only row (once you have 15 sts between your markers) slip the thumb stitches to a stitch holder and continue knitting in the round. I didn't cast on any extra stitches in place of the thumb stitches as it would mess up the stitch pattern. Once a total of 13 pattern repeats have been completed (or less/more depending on your size) beginning decreasing for the tip, beginning with row one of the pattern.

Mitten Tip Rows: (see Grumperina's pattern for stitch definitions not shown here)
1/3LC = slip 1 st to cn and hold in front, k1, k2tog, then k1 from cn.
1/3RC = slip 3 sts to cn and hold in back, k1, then k2tog, k1 from cn.
Row 1: *1/3LC, k2**, 1/2LC, k1* repeat from * to * 4 more times, then work from * to ** once.
Row 2: knit
Row 3: *1/2RC, k1**, 1/3RC, k1* repeat from * to * 4 more times, then work from * to ** once.
Row 4: knit
Row 5: *1/3LC, k1**, 1/2LC* repeat from * to * 4 more times, then work from * to ** once.
Row 6: knit
Row 7:*1/2RC**, 1/3RC* repeat from * to * 4 more times, then work from * to ** once.
Row 8: knit (33 sts)
Turn mitten inside out and work a 3 needle bind off. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Transfer thumb stitches back to dpns. Pick up 5 sts in the gap and work in pattern for 15 rows. 16th row: K2 tog to end of row. Cut yarn, thread tail on to a darning needle and pass it through the remaining sts. Pull tight and weave in ends.

It took one ball each for the mittens, so with only one ball to go I don't know whether the neckwarmer will be large enough. I plan to use 6mm dpns to give the neckwarmer plenty of drape, so the yarn should go a bit further.

Monday Night Knit Night

before...

I'm going to attempt to work on my spinning on Mondays. Not quite a "Mondays are for Spinning" thing, but just to work through the fibre I have.

Fibre:
Midnight Magic 80% Merino Colour Blend / 20% Silk roving from Aurelia Wools
Singles WPI: 24-30 (it's a bit uneven)
Twist angle: 25 - 30%

Box of Fluff

I predrafted this roving. When I have a shoe box full of fluffiness, I spin. I'm finding it a bit difficult to find just the right amount of twist for this particular roving. It's frequently breaking at underspun points. But after an hour of spinning this evening, it's breaking less often.

How much I spun, while helping friends learn to knit and spindle spin

Micah's Baby Blanket

Micah’s Baby Blanket pattern gives two sizes: a baby sized and a sofa sized blanket. This blanket was initially knit in a cozy cotton, but a soft superwash wool would be an excellent choice too. This pattern is not difficult, but does require counting and an ability to recognize the developing pattern. This blanket is worked in "patches" joined by vertical and horizontal bands of garter stitch. Each "patch" is 24 stitches wide by 30 rows tall. The vertical bands are 3 stitches wide and the horizontal bands are 6 rows tall.

SIZE (approximate)
baby size: 30 inches x 40 inches
sofa size: 40 inches x 52 inches

MATERIALS
10(16) – 50 gram balls Knit Picks Swish Worsted
14(23) – 50 gram balls Knit Picks Shine Worsted

1 US #7/4.5mm, 32 inch/80 cm long circular needle

notions required: darning needle

GAUGE
16 sts/28 rows = 4" in moss stitch


Available as a Ravelry download or through my Etsy store.


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KallieMairi

a juvenile cephalopod

When my little niece turned two, I wanted to knit her something unique to match her intelligent personality. This simplified octopus is the result of playing with yarn and ideas for a few weeks. Kallie Mairi is suitable for children under three or as old as you like.

SIZE
one size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Head Diameter: 4 inches
Height with Tentacles Extended: 6 inches

MATERIALS
Knit Picks Swish Superwash Worsted; Ballerina: less than one skein
A few yards of each for the embroidery:
Knit Picks Swish Superwash Worsted; BubblegumKnit Picks Swish Superwash Worsted; Black
1 set(s) US #4/3.5mm double-pointed needles

notions required: darning needle, stitch holders, waste yarn, poly stuffing, ribbon.

GAUGE 22 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

Kallie Mairi is knit in stockinette on considerably smaller needles than suggested for Swish Superwash Worsted. This gives her a bit more structure and prevents the poly stuffing from poking through the knitted fabric. Each tentacle is a separate knitted tube. These are grafted together to form a ring of tentacles. The live stitches from the inside and outside of this ring are then worked separately in the round. A worsted weight cotton yarn would also be a suitable choice for Kallie Mairi.

Available as a Ravelry download or through my Etsy store



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Francois & Mimi

a French mouse couple

SIZE
one size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Head Diameter: 2 inches

Height: 5 inches(not including limbs)

MATERIALS
miscellaneous worsted weight – color of your choice
· 20 g main color for each mouse
· scrap yarn for beret, scarf and dress
· A few feet of black for the embroidery: Black
1 set(s) US #4/3.5mm double-point needles

notions required: darning needle, poly stuffing, 12 inch piece of chenille stem.

GAUGE
22 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
This pattern is suitable for someone who can knit on double pointed needles. Other skills required are increasing and decreasing, embroidery, making I-cord, and seaming.

Available as a Ravelry download or through my Etsy store.

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Opie

a cuddly crustascean with odd claws

SIZE
dependent on yarn weight used

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Worsted Weight
Head Diameter: 3.0 inches
Width from claw tip to tip: 7.25 inches

Fingering Weight
Head Diameter: 2.25 inches
Width from claw tip to tip: 3.25 inches

MATERIALS
Wool yarn in a color and weight of your choice.
A few feet of black yarn for the embroidery
1 set(s) US #4/3.5mm double-pointed needles if using Worsted weight yarn
1 set(s) US #0/2.0mm double-pointed ndedles if using Fingering weight yarn
notions required: darning needle, row markers, stitch holders, poly stuffing.

GAUGE
not important – in fact, you can use any weight yarn you’d like to adjust the size of your Opie

PATTERN NOTES
Having watched far too much of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, I decided that this cute cuddly crustacean is named Opie. Although Opie’s appearance gives only a passing nod to the anatomy of the Atlantic Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio), Opie still shares the name. The Opie’s show were knit with 0.7 ounces/20 grams Lana Grossa Meilenweit “Bosco”, and 1.0 ounce/30 grams Patons Classic Wool “Rich Red Tweed”.

This pattern is suitable for someone who can knit on double pointed needles. Other skills required are increasing and decreasing, embroidery, making I-cord, and seaming.

Available as a Ravelry download or through my Etsy store.

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Beth's Kitty

My daughter has finally caught the knitting bug. She came up with an idea for a cat with long I-cord limbs. Here’s our combined inspiration. Knitting Kitty was knit with inexpensive 100% wool from W*lM*rt. Kitty is working on socks with “Sunshine Yarns” cherry blossom colorway

SIZE
one size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTSHead Diameter: 2 inchesHeight: 5 inches(not including limbs)

MATERIALS
miscellaneous worsted weight – color of your choice

20 g main color
A few feet of black for the embroidery:
Black
1 set(s) US #4/3.5mm double-point needles

notions required: darning needle, poly stuffing, 12 inch piece of chenille stem.

GAUGE
22 sts/28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
This pattern is suitable for someone who can knit on double pointed needles. Other skills required are increasing and decreasing, embroidery, making I-cord, and seaming. My 10 year old daughter was able to knit the I-cord and body with minimal help. She needed help with the seaming and with learning how to increase. She already knew how to k2tog.

Available as a Ravelry download or through my Etsy store

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