Broken Rib

Lately, I've been obsessed with the Broken Rib stitch. I like the fabric it makes, soft and squishy, and it looks good on both sides.  It's only two rows, cast on an odd number of stitches and K 1, P 1 (end with K1) on the right side and Purl on the wrong side. The same pattern done in the round would be on an even number of stitches and the second round would be plain knit.  Easy.  The blankets and dishcloth in the photo have a garter stitch border. The grey blanket was knit on 71 stitches with size 15 needles and double strand of yarn. I've made three of them for donation to the Veteran's hospital. For the blue blanket I cast on 121 and used 10.5 needles.  I'm keeping that one. Next up is knitting a scarf.

I haven't mentioned this before, but in the interest of working down my stash, I have not bought any yarn this whole year.  Not sure if I can continue for next year - I never seem to have the right color, weight or fiber.

Knitting Warm

My sister has some serious health problems.  And she is always cold.  In a recent stay in the hospital she asked me to knit her a bed jacket without arms.  That sounded like a shawl or capelet to me.  A search on Ravelry led me to a pattern that fit the requirements.  So, in spite of it being very, very hot here lately, I knit Warming a Cold Shoulder.  Instead of using handspun as the pattern called for, I dug into my stash and found some washable Wool-Ease that would work.  I used two strands together to get gauge.  Constructed from the top down like a raglan sweater, it has a seed stitch collar and border.  I like the way it turned out and my sister was happy with it.
Warm is good.

December.  Sadly, my sister has passed away. She was a wonderful sister of many talents who shared my love of crafting. I will miss her.  Rest in peace, sister.

Bigger Beary Easy Sweater

I wrote this  pattern for a bigger bear sweater for charity knitting last year because my knitting guild received a donation of 14 inch bears. It's the same pattern as my Beary Easy Sweater with a couple of minor changes (more stitches are cast on and 3 stitches for the front border).  The skills you will need to know are:  how to cast on, knit and purl, increase by knitting in the front and back of a stitch and bind off.  It is easy for a beginner and provides an introduction to top down construction.

Bigger Beary Easy Sweater

Top down seamless sweater for a 14 inch bear

by OC knitter

Materials: worsted weight yarn about 54 yards,

needles US 8 (5 mm), 4 markers

Gauge 16 stitches = 4 inches

Begin at neck edge: Cast on 38 stitches.

Rows 1 & 2: Knit

Row 3: (WS) Knit 3, Purl 4, place marker, Purl 6, place marker, Purl 12, place marker, Purl 6, place marker, Purl 4, Knit 3

Row 4: (RS) increase row *Knit to stitch before marker, knit in the front and back of that stitch (Kfb), slip marker, Kfb, repeat from *3 times, knit to end of row. 8 stitches increased.

Row 5: K3, P to last 3 stitches, K3

Row 6: *K to stitch before marker, Kfb, slip marker, Kfb, repeat from *3 times, K to end of row.

Repeat rows 5 & 6 six more times. (102 stitches)

Row 19: (WS) K3, P to next marker, K to next marker, P to next marker, K to next marker, P to last 3 stitches, K3

Row 20: K to marker, bind off 22 stitches, K to next marker, bind off 22 stitches , K to end (remove markers as you come to them).

Row 21: K3, Purl to last 3 stitches joining fronts and back, K3. (58 stitches)

Rows 22 - 26 : Continue knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side, keeping the first 3 and last 3 stitches in knit stitch.

Row 27-29: Knit

Bind off. Weave in ends.

Abbreviations: K- Knit, P-Purl, RS- right side, WS-wrong side, Kfb- knit in the front and back of the stitch

Please use this pattern for charity or personal use.

©2014 OcKnitter

Kennel Cozies

I don't have a pet, but I often knit for people who do.  A knitting group that I belong to had a request for snuggles to donate to animal shelters. This is my interpretation, a thick blanket to line a kennel.

I used rug yarn, doubled, and knit a garter stitch rectangle. Then I picked up stitches along all sides and knit in the round, increasing 2 stitches at each corner.  After a couple of inches, I stopped increasing and knit a few more rows before binding off.  You can see where I used up a lot of different colors.  I don't think the animals will mind.

Another Knit I Probably Won't Wear

But I love the pattern!  This shawl  pattern, called "Simply Soft", a free pattern on Ravelry, has everything I like.  It is knit on big needles, looks the same on both sides, is large enough to tie or drape. The pattern is easy enough to follow so  it makes good TV knitting. I used 2 balls of machine washable Patons Lace Sequin with some left over.  I plan to make this again in a different yarn.

I'm Not the Only One...

...who knits something, then hates it and rips it out.

I spent quite a bit of time knitting this cowl - only to realize that I would never wear it.  The pattern is from Knitters Magazine called Sandy Circle.    Although I was using the yarn called for, it was in a different colorway.  The color and the pattern conflicted.  So I ripped it out and knit this:

A double loop cowl.   Pattern is called Downtown Cowl, yarn is Unforgettable by Red Heart in Echo colorway.  This is something I will wear.

What to do with Novelty Yarn?

Knit a blanket!  I have knit enough blankets, afghans and lap robes to put  several in every room in my house and the houses of friends and family.   I have given away  lots to charity.  But it is still the project I turn to most, especially for TV knitting.  I had several skeins of Sirday Kool Kidz chunky that I got from the knitting guild donation bin that I paired with  Rainbow Classic Black from JoAnns  to make this blanket. It turned out soft and warm, but it is not my style.  It  looks like confetti to me.

Starting the New Year...

...by posting a cowl knit last year.    I really like the way the yarn and the pattern came together.  It is a simple 4 x 4 rib pattern done in the round. The stitch count is a  multiple of 8 minus 1 to make the spiral rib.  I cast on using the crochet cast-on, (which is my new favorite), and purled two rows before starting the rib.  I ended the same way and bound off in purl.  The yarn is Ella Rae Latte.  Yes, I gave it away, to a very knitworthy person. I do think I'll make one for myself, though.