So I'm the Queen of Procrastination, and when I'm overwhelmed with work/life, I start new projects....doesn't everybody?
Today I reclaimed a skein of delicious
Malabrigo sock yarn, to work on a secret project for a most knit-worthy friend. It told me that it really didn't want to be the socks it was half-knit as, so I unravelled it. Here's a sneak-peek:
(close-up of the 1x1 rib section, I love how the stitches are beautifully curvy, due to the crinkly un-ravelled yarn - it'll smooth out once it's been washed and relaxed)
(this is more accurate in terms of colour - at least on my monitor - lovely, relaxing, teeny-tiny stockinette stitches, knit on 2.5mm square
Kollage needles....)
Yesterday I went to the
beach with my nephews, who are nearly 6 and nearly 4. They'd asked me to make them some fingerless gloves, because by all reports, they help them ride their bikes faster :)
So I did. I also threw a couple of beanies in too, bestest Aunty ever:
Turns-out that fingerless mitts help you swing on monkey-bars better, too. Who'd a thunk it?
Nothing spesh, just cheapo acrylic from Spotlight, 4mm needles, made the patterns up as I went.
In case you're interested (after all, I've made 7 and a half of these suckers, so I remember what I did hehehe):
- cast-on 36 stitches, divide evenly on three needles
- 2x2 rib for about 5cm
- 2 plain rounds
- set-up for thumb gusset:
- knit first needle, then five stitches on the second. Place stitch marker, kfb in next two stitches, place 2nd marker, knit to end of round.
- knit round
- knit to marker, kfb in first stitch, knit to one stitch before marker, kfb, knit to end
- repeat these 2 rounds until you have 12 stitches between the markers (10 of these will be the thumb stitches)
- on the last plain knit round, put 10 of the stitches between the markers onto waste-yarn, continue knitting.
- knit another 2 or 3 plain rounds, then change to 2x2 rib (helps keep the mitt snug around the fingers) for about 3cm
- super-stretchy bind-off (knit 2 together, slip stitch onto left needle, knit 2 together, slip stitch onto left needle, knit 2 together....)
- put the thumb stitches onto 2 needles, pick up an extra 2 from the hand-part of the glove, knit 5 or 6 rounds (till the thumb is as long as you want it), cast-off.
- weave-in ends
Give to a little boy and he'll be able to ride his bike faster than ever before!!!
The beanies? Made-up basic hat pattern...
- cast on 90 stitches (4mm circular needle)
- 2x2 rib for about 4 or 5cm
- plain stockinette (the blue and red one is a simple slip-stitch pattern - knit one round in one colour, knit the next round [knit 1, slip 1]) for about 13cm (if you've got the head that will be wearing the hat available, just get them to try it on)
- crown decreases:
Round 1 - (knit 13, k2tog) repeat to end of round
Round 2 - all even rounds, plain knit
Round 3 - (knit 12, k2tog) repeat to end of round
Round 5 - (knit 11, k2tog) repeat to end of round
Round 7 - (knit 10, k2tog) repeat to end of round....see what I'm doing? Keep doing this till you get to the k2tog round, thread yarn through all stitches, pull tight, secure.
- weave-in ends.
Give to little boy to help his ears stay warm while he's riding his bike really fast :)
Righto. Gotta go - I've been told someone needs an orange and green hat.....
(I've got a tech-post for you coming-up, just got to find a flat place that's big enough to lay-out a blankie)
Happy knitting!
