Puesta de Sol

I give you a peak at the newest art project.  It is a vessel method three dimensional fish, representing the colours and culture of the Caribbean nations.  The brights remind me of the houses and decorations and whimsical style of the people.  The fun and humour and relaxed attitudes.  The dark is the clear, calm and magical nights.  I can hear the ocean and the music and the sway of the palms.

 The body is worked with a resist inside, and lots of design features.  Nuno felt and hidden pockets that will reveal white fibre underneath.

 I had to fold the piece to work with the tail, as the whole thing was too wide for my table.

 Everything was attached during the initial felting stage, two layers of tail, separated by plastic sheeting, each tail with resist inserts to allow ruffling of the colour over the black fibre.

 Hanging it for photos... 20 inches of snow to climb through on my deck!

 and it was -12C....

 so I came inside to finish.  Here it stays in my Florida room.
Puesta de Sol, means sunset in spanish.  The time when the colourful hot days turn into the warm beautiful evening.

New and Improved Leather Gloves (cuff knitting pattern)

I have always found that my favourite leather gloves, with their soft and warm lining, still leave my wrists a bit chilly with a gap between my coat and the gloves.  I have so much leftover sock yarn, it became a quick and easy fix.  Since I "improved" my leather gloves, I LOVE them even more!

Leather glove CUFF pattern:

Yarn: any sock yarn.  less than 25 grams (half a skein).
Needles:  4 double points 2.25mm.  (gauge is not particularly important, these are really stretchy and that is what you want)  

Cast on 48 sts, divided between three needles (16 per needle).  Join without twisting.
Work k2, p2 ribbing for about 4 - 5 inches.
Cast off LOOSELY.

 With a needle and thread, turn the bottom edge of the gloves over so that the lining is showing.  Loosely and evenly (stretching a bit as you go) sew the cast on edge to the lining only (try not to catch the leather).  Flip back and prepare to have warm wrists!

Such a simple solution, I am surprised I did not think of this years ago.

Wide Wale Corduroy Infinity Scarf

This is a quick knit and easy for those who love knitting on circular needles. The fat ridges remind me of the wide wale corduroys I had as a teenager.  (in the days when we were not allowed to wear jeans to school, they were the "cool" option).  Enjoy!

Wide Wale Corduroy Infinity Scarf

Yarn:  Soft chunky weight yarn, mine is a silk blend in rusty tweed.  Approximately 150 grams.

Gauge: 12 sts to 4 inches on 6mm (US 10).

Needles:  6mm (US 10) circular 36 inches. (or size to get the gauge)  + stitch marker

Scarf:   Cast on 130 stitches.  Carefully join without twisting (place a marker to mark end of row) and knit 4 rows. 

[Purl 4 rows, Knit 4 rows] repeat this 8 row pattern until 9 purl ridges are completed (9 wide wales).  Cast off loosely all stitches.  Weave in ends.

Wash gently to block.

Backpack Felting

Here is a quick photo ride through the making of a felted backpack....
First, start with the cords for straps, and spike details.

 Here is the backpack, showing lots of layers of felt and plastic.  The piece is made all at once (no sewing later) so the inside is made with plastic resists, and pockets and spikes are separated with more plastic so that they do not stick to parts that I don't want them to stick to!

 More loops are added for details to the outside.

 Finished backpack with button closures.  Main opening at top.

 and smaller front pouch can hold glasses or keys.

 see? Nice.  This should be available on my etsy site shortly.... Custom order in a colour you want!

The Christmas Countdown

Of course, this time of year, my knitting is mostly secret.  I have one or two new patterns to post after Christmas, after the gifts are received.  Meanwhile, I can show you the newest baby hat, modeled by my sweetheart, who has mastered the smoldering glare so popular with the supermodels.  Lol.

And some photos of the craft show goods.  These are the new berets, and lots of dryer balls, along with the scarves and coats.  All are available at Pamela's in Jordan Village.  Perfect Christmas gifts!

Cowl Scarf with Sleeves

I love large cowls, and love shrugs.  I wondered if I could make a set of sleeves that could extend into a long scarf that when wrapped around the neck, created a beautiful cowl.  So here it is.

 Cowl Scarf with Sleeves.(two versions, one with no sewing and double points, and one flat with sewing)

Yarn :  500 grams (600meters) of worsted weight yarn.  I used Diamond Luxury Collection - Llama Silk, but most yarns that are recommended on 5.5 mm needles should be good.

Gauge: 12 sts = 4 inches on 6mm needles *** after wet blocking*** please knit a swatch!!

Needles: 6mm double point needles (for flat knitting directions, skip to bottom of this blog entry)... and 6mm circular (for the flat knitting part.)

With double point needles, cast on 30 stitches.  Work in stocking stitch after carefully joining, for 4 inches.  Then increase every 6 rows at 2 points around the sleeve (you can use markers to track these spots) until you have 48 stitches on all the needles.  Work even on 48 stitches in the round for two more inches.
 Now change to circular needles and create a flat piece of fabric by knitting back and forth on all 48 stitches (stop knitting around ).  Continue in stocking stitch (knit right side, purl wrong side) until 85 inches from start of sleeve.
With right side facing, knit back onto double point needles, and work 2 inches in the round.  Place markers at 2 spots and decrease one stitch at each marker there and  every 6 rows until you have 30 stitches again.  Work 4 inches without decreasing and cast off all stitches loosely.

 How to wear.  Like a scarf, wrap around neck to for a loose cowl.  Pick up each end and slide on arms like sleeves.  Adjust any way you want!

 FLAT KNITTING for those who hate double points:

Same yarn and 6mm straight or circular needles.
Cast on 30 sts.
Work 4 inches in stocking stitch.
Increase one stitch at each end of needle here and every sixth row until 48 stitches.
Work even on 48 sts for 87 inches.
Decrease at each end of needle here, and every sixth row until 30 sts.
Work 4 more inches, then cast off loosely.
Sew 12 inches of sleeve at each end of long scarf.

Cotton Sofa Throw

Cotton Sofa Throw

Yarn: 10 balls of Elann Lara (100% cotton DK weight) 50gram ball = 126 m/138yds
Needles:  4mm (US6) circular (not to knit in round, but to hold all the stitches)
Several stitch markers. (13)
Gauge: not terribly important, but approximately 16 sts to 4 inches in wave pattern, or 18 sts to 4 inches in stocking stitch (after blocking!)
Size: 42 inches by 52 inches - *** after wash blocking*** .  This blanket grows and drapes even better after a full machine wash and block to dry (I draped it over a lawn chair and the breeze dried it perfectly).

PM = place marker


Cast on: cast on 1, PM , [cast on 17, PM] repeat 12 times, cast on 1  (206 sts)  You will always have 17 sts between the markers.

ROW 1:   k1,  [ k2tog,  k6, YO, k1, YO, k6, k2tog] repeat 12 times, k1  (slip markers as you go, you may remove them once you get the rhythm of the pattern if you like)
ROW 2:  Purl all.
ROW 3:  Knit all.

Repeat rows 1 , 2, and 3 until you have only about five yards of your last ball of yarn, then cast off loosely knitwise.  Wash and air dry.

To make longer, use more yarn. To make wider or narrower , use less repeats of pattern and adjust 17 for each 4 - 5 inches smaller or larger.