Sunday Morning Knit Wit ~ Diagonal Rib Stitch

When one of my daughter's friends told me she was going to have a baby, I felt like I was going to be a grandma again!  Jenn was my daughter Sara's friend since elementary school and they remained life-long friends to this day.  They both will turn 27 this March / April (their birthdays are a week apart!).  And Jenn's baby boy is due in 2 days.  I can't wait to see the little guy.

I used the diagonal rib pattern to make a blanket, bib and newborn hat and I really love the end result of this pattern.  But I will caution you to pay close attention to the rows.  Although they are simple K2, P2, there are some variations to each row.  I ended up ripping the blanket out 3 times  until I really got the hang of it.

The Diagonal Rib Stitch is repeating 8 rows and is made in multiples of 4. 

Row 1: *K2, P2; repeat from * to end
Row 2: same as 1
Row 3: K1, *P2, K2; repeat from * to last 3 stitches, P2, K1
Row 4: P1, *K2, P2; repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K2, P1
Row 5: *P2, K2; repeat from * to end
Row 6: same as 5
Row 7: same as 4
Row 8: same as 3


I have the patterns available in my etsy shop as follows:

Knit Baby Blanket Pattern $3.50  This pattern uses diagonal rib in the center with  classic cables along the sides.  Perfect for the car or stroller.

Knit Baby  Hat Pattern $3.00 This pattern is worked in the round on double pointed needles and is sized perfectly for newborns  - soft and cuddly!

Knit Baby Bib Pattern $3.00 This pattern is a quick knit to use up your left over yarn and makes a lovely bib for baby to wear on special occasions.

Complete set - Knit Bably Blanket, Hat, Bib Patterns $6.50

 
 
If you have a baby coming along in your family, consider knitting up this set.
 
That is is for February!  Next week we will start March out with some very pretty lacy stitches, so be sure to check back next Sunday.
 
Until then ~ Stay warm and keep the knitting needles clicking!

Coffee Cup Cozy

I was playing around learning a new stitch and this coffee cozy was the result ~  I am very pleased with it!

Have yours to-go!

Sweet Blue Bowl

Putting some of my vintage button collection to work on this sweet blue felted wool bowl.  It may be small, but it's very functional (and cute!)

Check out the details on the buttons:

Snow

I don't mind the snow.  Really, I don't. 

But there comes a day each year when I say, "Ok, that's enough."  That day usually happens sometime in February.  I'm ready to hand in my boots and coat for a garden rake. 

That day has come and gone for me this year.  I'm ready for spring. I'm thinking ... tulips and daffidols. Chirping birds.  Blossoming apple trees.  Bees humming. Warm sunshine.

And this is what we woke up to today ~~

I guess I wear my boots awhile longer this year

Lavender and Teal

Simplicity ~

This lavender and teal felted wool bowl would look beautiful on a dresser filled with jewelry.

Felted Wool Bowl ~ Flower Power

My newest felted wool bowl ~  Flower Power!

I couldn't have wished that this bowl turn out any better than it did and I couldn't be more excited.

Sunday Morning Knit Wit ~ Woven Stitch

This weeks feature stitch is the Woven Stitch. 

The possibilities for this stitch are endless ~ scarves, afghans, sweaters...  Because this stitch is suitable for so many different projects, I was really undecided as to what I would make for this blog entry.  I finally decided on a basket because I felt that was the most obvious choice.  This was my first time knitting with cotton so I think my gauge may be a little too loose, but I like the way it turned out after all.

I simply crocheted the basket bottom with single crochet stitches and then added the piece to a circlular knitting needle and knit the pattern rows to the top of the basket.  I did a few rows of just knit before the bind off so the rim would curl and then tacked it in place with a darning needle.  Easy- peasy!  And now the fun part - filling it with Easter goodies for my grandson!

Here's the magic formula for this fun stitch ~ 

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K2, *P2, K2; repeat from * to end
Row 4: P2, *K2, P2; repeat from * to end
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Same as 4
Row 8: Same as 3

Repeat these 8 rows

*** Note - when working on a circular needle the front is always facing, so all the even rows will be opposite from the instructions above ***


Next Week ~~ Diagonal Rib

Felted Wool Bowl

One of my most recent bowls is by far one of my most favorite.  The simple design and perfect shape is what makes this one special for me.

I started by crocheting a simple brown bowl with fishermans wool in a rich dark brown.  Then I crocheted another bowl, just slightly smaller in natural fishermans wool.  Using lemongrass wool I connected the two bowls at the rim and processed in the washer for 3 cycles.

The result is stunning with a super thick felted wool bowl. 

 Click here to see my entire collection of felted wool bowls

Sunday Morning Knit Wit ~ Ridged Rib

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day

This weeks featured stitch is the Ridged Rib stitich.  It is super easy and is a great stitch for flat work such as scarves, blankets or placemats.  It is worked with 4 repeating rows that is easily memorized and it is easy to tell where you left off so it is a great portable project.  It has great texture and try mixing up colors for some really fun stripes.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: P1, *K1, P1; repeat from * to end
Row 4: K1, *P1, K1; repeat from * to end

Repeat these 4 rows


Here I've used this stitch in a fun book jacket and is one of very few projects that I am actually keeping for myself.  I love reading and this cover just makes reading so much more enjoyable!

Be creative and have fun with this one!

Have you been tuned into the olympics?  What and amazing opening ceremony that was and I'm just amazed at how beautiful Canada is. 

I am determined to start my own little knitting olympics and while watching the real athletes do their thing, I will be finishing up all my projects that are half done and just waiting for me to pick up again.  I currently have a baby blanket, a scarf and a pair of fingerless gloves started and put aside.  My goal:  by closing ceremony they will all be done!  And hopefully I won't have more than one new project started!

Are you with me?  Let me know how many projects you hope to finish up while watching the games.

Till next week ~  Stay Warm and keep you needles clicking! 

Next weeks stitch -- Woven Stitch

Sunday Morning Knit Wit ~ Lattice Stich

It's February already and as I look out my window, I see a storm is brewing.  Not the nice fluffy snow, but the icy snow that comes with harsh wind.  What a nice day to stay in and knit by the fire!

We spent our time in January learning some great new cable stitches.  I though I would change it up for February and concentrate on some really fantastic textures.  This week is the Lattice Stitch.

This is a fun and easy pattern that gives what ever you are making some depth and intrest.  It is worked in multiples of 6 + 1 stiches and repeating 6 rows.

Try a swatch by casting on 25 stiches and working the rows as follows:

Row 1: K3, *P1, K5; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, P1, K3
Row 2: P2, *K1, P1, K1, P3; repeat from * to last 5 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P2
Row 3: K1, *P1, K3, P1, K1; repeat from * to end
Row 4: K1, *P5, K1; repeat from * to end
Row5: same as 3
Row 6: same as 2

I used this stitch to make a fun and useful clutch that is large enough to hold check books, passports, train tickets and perhaps a cell phone.  It is a fast and easy pattern that could be completed and finished in just a couple hours.  And if you live in an area like I do with snow coming at us in every direction, it's a perfect day to knit it up! 

Here is a link to the lattice stitch clutch knitting pattern  available in my etsy shop.  This pattern has been tested for accuracy and includes a grid to keep track of your rows for perfect results every time.  You will use this pattern over and over again to make gifts for your friends or stock up for your next craft fair. 

I hope you stay warm today and are surrounded by soft warm yarns!  Enjoy~~

Next week  - Ridged Rib stitch - a great filler for in between cables!