Knitting & Crocheting

EDIT: Okay... this is probably going to tell you more about my personality than anything else I've ever done before... I couldn't live with the dark photos and I re-shot them! (If you didn't see the post earlier, here is the note I included. You can see one of the nasty photos down below:

NOTE: Yes... the photos are rather dark. Took the photos last night, went to crop them this morning, and let's just say, after my early morning rant, ALL the pups were ready to give up their morning naps and go outside! Decided not to re-shoot, so imagine everything a little brighter, a little cleaner ;)

So, yes, it was gnawing at me, and I HAD to re-shoot. I often get accused of being a perfectionist. I usually don't see it. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure this even qualifies since the other photos were soooooo bad. Anyway, I couldn't leave it alone, even with an apology. Now, you really can see what the sweater looks like, and I can go back to my day as planned :) 

Last night I finished the lovely sweater for Little Lady. It really was a very simple little thing. The free pattern is available HERE from Purl Bee. I love, love, love the roll up sleeves! 

I decided she needed a beret to go with it. I found a free pattern HERE. It is the sweetest little hat from Sarah Grieve, and it is called the Ava Beret. She used a stitch called the brioche stitch pattern, which is lovely, but for the main body I used a seed stitch since that was the stitch used in the sweater. I had to fudge a little, since the seed stitch required an odd number of stitches, so I did 1 less decrease. Also, Sarah sewed a button on the beret which is adorable. A girl needs a little bling, right? I'm thinking instead of a button, I may make a small fabric flower from the material I will be using to make her pants. Of course, I'll share a photo when I decide :)

I love it when I get to use the technique where you create a hem by knitting it in. When you are done, the hem is already finished, no handsewing and no loose ends to weave in. Neat and lovely!

Anyway... done and done! Today, if I get a chance, I'm going to start on her reversible pants from Anna Maria Horner's book Handmade Beginnings. YAY! It's been too long since I sat at my sewing machine.

For those of you that didn't see the old photos... I saved the one below. I'm not crazy, right? It was worth re-doing the photos... at least it was for me ;)

Last day of January already... yikes! It's been a busy week, but I have made time to work on the new sweater for the Little Lady. I shared a link to the pattern last week... a lovely sweater knit in 1 piece. I've finished the back, one sleeve, and half of another. Cruisin' :)

I was going to make a skirt to go along with the sweater, but Michelle suggested I make the adorable reversible pants found in Anna Maria Horner's book Handmade Beginnings.

Aren't these sweet?

It's hard to see in the photos, but the yarn I'm using in the sweater has flecks of brown and green. I hit my stash and was able to come up with fabric to make 2 pairs of reversible pants that will look wonderful with the sweater.

So, the plan... finish the sweater this week... sew the pants next week... then I'll be taking to train to Wisconsin for a week of playing with the Little Lady. Can hardly wait :)

We will be heading out to Madison, WI in another week for a long overdue visit with the Little Lady and her mommy and daddy. I saw this sweater at The Purl Bee and knew I had to knit it! (Photo from Purl Bee.)

We have already learned the Backwards Loop Cast On method. That is a great technique to know if you need to cast on stitches in the middle of a project but it isn't generally the method you will want to use to start a project. It tends to create a loose cast on edge that is difficult to work with on the first row. It also does not stretch much... stretch is good especially on any type of cuffs (mittens, hats, sleeves, etc). I taught it first just because it is easier to teach and to get everyone knitting quickly.

Now I'm going to teach you a more versatile, more commonly used method of casting on called the Long Tail method. The Long Tail method creates a much nicer finished, stretchy edge. The trick here is just figuring out how long of a tail you need when you get started.

For this method of casting on, you need start by estimating how much yarn you will need to cast on all your stitches. For worsted weight yarn on size 8 needles 12 inches of yarn will give you approximately 20 stitches. Be sure to give yourself a little extra for a tail too.

There is nothing so frustrating as casting a couple hundred stitches for a blanket and realizing that you didn't give yourself a long enough tail and have to start all over. On the flip side... no one wants to waste yarn leaving a super long tail. You will get better at estimating tail length over time. One tip is to try wrapping the yarn around your needle and measuring how long of a strand of yarn it takes to make 20 wraps.

Once you have estimated how long of a tail you need, create a slip-knot (or you can just cast on the first stitch). Place it on your needle with the tail yarn closer to you, the live yarn in the back.

Hold the needle in your right hand. With your left hand, slip your index finger and thumb in between the yarn strands. Use your two or three other fingers to hold the yarn strands in place in your palm.

Spread out your thumb and index finger to make a Y shape. Tip the Y back slightly so you can see the yarns easier.

Slide the needle along your thumb under the yarn loop in an upward motion (the blue strand).

Reach the tip of the needle back and hook the yarn (from right to left) that is laying on the front of your index finger (the purple strand).

Slip that index finger yarn loop (purple), under the middle of the thumb loop (blue).

Slowly drop your thumb down and let that yarn fall free, creating a loop around the index yarn (the purple stitch).

Tighten your new stitch by tugging slightly on the yarn tail. Do not drop the yarn tails.  Slip your thumb back between the yarn strands. Tip the Y shape back and you are ready to cast on another stitch.

It is now time to focus on our family's wondrous holiday events, so we will be tucking Wee Folk Art in until January 2, 2012. No matter how you celebrate the season, we hope you are surrounded by those you love.