Hello, everyone.
It's been about 6 months since I last posted! I took a break from the fiber artistry for a while; other things had to occupy my time. The move, setting up house, starting a new job.
The house is fantastic. There is a black wrought iron railing on the upper of the split levels that is just begging to be yarn bombed. The paint scheme is very neutral, so it's a case of anything goes color-wise. I am dragging my crafty friends into the mix, as well. My crochet guru/mentor made a beautiful, bright pink wrap for one post. She added tons of neat geometric shapes and bright colors. It's going to be spectacular when it's finished!
Oh yes, and since I am now a home owner, I have decided to start a small garden. The former owners already have some beautiful flowers planted along the back of the house so I won't be touching those. I am going to add Hostas to the front beds in the spring.
But yesterday I planted bulbs for Tulips (Queen of Night and Rainbow Mix), Snow Crocus, and Grape Hyacinth. There is a half barrel planter on our back concrete patio, and it seemed like the perfect place to put some flowers. I also found two pots and planted some bulbs in those as well. I am hoping to have some beautiful flowers next spring. I started a gardening journal to keep track of what I plant and where, and will be adding pictures as soon as something blooms.
In other news: I started a new job. I am contracting at an insurance agency doing data entry, which is something I'm really good at. Eventually I am hoping to become a permanent employee, but I am happy with my current situation. I am able to listen to my mp3 player while I work, since I don't do any phone work, and I have been listening to Sue Grafton's Kinsey series, and Lilan Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series. Great books!
Last but not least :) I am working on designing my first knitting pattern! I am really excited about it. It all started because I wanted a really simple shrug that I could throw on over a tank top for work, or a strapless top for evening wear. The problem is, there just aren't that many super simple patterns for shrugs; at least none that caught my eye.
Sooooo, I decided to wing it and write down my notes to make a pattern. I am hoping to be finished with it in a week or two and have it blocked out so I can take pictures and finish writing the pattern.
I am hoping that it comes out as nifty and what I have envisioned. And hopefully it will be popular enough that others find it easy to work with and fun to make.
For now, I bid you all adieu, and I promise I will try not to be such a stranger :) I am considering expanding my craftiness, and hopefully that will lend some fodder for my blog as well :)
Have a wonderful week!
Showing posts with label fiber arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiber arts. Show all posts
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Monday, November 19, 2012
Super Simple Fingerless Gloves
Hi everyone. The Birchbark Slippers didn't work out for me. That is entirely my fault however. I made them too big because I was overthinking the whole thing. I try to modify patterns before actually following them and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
The yarn I used is YarnBee in "Lovely". It's a beautiful multi-color yarn. The problem is that it is hard to rip back, so I wasn't able to recover any of the yarn that I used to make the first slipper. Determined to use this yarn for something though, I bravely forged ahead and improvised a fingerless glove pattern which I shall share with you momentarily.
YarnBee First Love, color No. 100 "Lovely", 100% polyester, #5 bulky. As you can see it consists of a fine ply intertwined with a thicker ply. It's easy to slip the hook into that finer thread, and that is what makes it hard to rip back mistakes. I highly recommend this yarn though, it is delicious.
Finished Fingerless glove. Finished piece is about 7" long.
I decided to use this bright scrap yarn to stitch up the sides, because I wanted to make it part of the design. You can also easily turn the piece inside out and make a hidden seam up the side if you wish. This was a personal preference. Normally I hide my seams.
This pattern is also available on my ravelry Designer Page
Yarn: any yarn works for this. A #4 or #5 yarn is best for thicker gloves. If you change yarn size though, be sure to pick a hook that fits the yarn.
I used YarnBee First Love in "Lovely" #5
Hook: K / 6.5mm
Gauge: Mine ended up being 6 sts = 2" and 4 rows = 2" BUT, gauge is not important to this project.
NOTE: after doing a couple of rows of the pattern, try to fit it around one of your hands (or the hand of the person who will wear them) to make sure it will fit. My hands are medium-ish, so if you have smaller or larger hands you may need to re-chain accordingly.
ch2 counts as 1st dc
Making the Square
Ch 26, turn
R1: SC in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st across (25), ch2, turn
R2: Dc in first st and ea st across (25 dc + ch2), ch 2, turn
Repeat R2 until piece is 7" long or however long you wish. Mine ended up being 14 rows total counting the first row of SC, but NOT counting the crabstitch.
When piece is as long as you want it to be, ch 1 and do NOT turn. Reverse SC (aka Crabstitch) along the top of piece. FO and weave in end.
Crab Stitch Tutorial on YouTube (I did not make, nor do I own this video. It's simply linked here as an instructional tool until I can make my own videos)
Measuring and Seaming
Yarn: Any yarn can be used for this. I used UltraPima in teal (I don't recall the color number).
Hook: Any hook to fit the yarn. I used a G hook for this part.
4 stitch markers or safety pins to mark thumb holes.
1. Lay the piece flat with the RS down (either side can be the RS, personal preference)
2. Lay one of your hands at the edge and pull it closed around the top part of your hand above the thumb. Mark through both sides with a stitch marker.
3. Pull the glove closed around the bottom of your hand under the thumb. Mark at the place it feels most comfortable.
4. SL through both sides of the fabric at the bottom and then SC or any stitch you like to the first marker. FO and weave in.
5. SL through both sides of fabric beginning at the next stitch marker and SC or any stitch you like to the top. FO and weave in.
Repeat for other glove using other hand.
Variations:
You can go around the entire border of the square with contrasting or complimentary yarn before stitching them together. The crab stitch is awkward at first, but makes a really neat border for most any project.
Questions? E-Mail or comment below.
You can also find me at Ravelry.com NCC-1701
(This pattern is copyrighted. You may sell products made from this pattern royalty-free, but please link to my blog and give credit where due. You may not reprint and sell this pattern for profit without written permission.)
The yarn I used is YarnBee in "Lovely". It's a beautiful multi-color yarn. The problem is that it is hard to rip back, so I wasn't able to recover any of the yarn that I used to make the first slipper. Determined to use this yarn for something though, I bravely forged ahead and improvised a fingerless glove pattern which I shall share with you momentarily.
YarnBee First Love, color No. 100 "Lovely", 100% polyester, #5 bulky. As you can see it consists of a fine ply intertwined with a thicker ply. It's easy to slip the hook into that finer thread, and that is what makes it hard to rip back mistakes. I highly recommend this yarn though, it is delicious.
Finished Fingerless glove. Finished piece is about 7" long.
I decided to use this bright scrap yarn to stitch up the sides, because I wanted to make it part of the design. You can also easily turn the piece inside out and make a hidden seam up the side if you wish. This was a personal preference. Normally I hide my seams.
This pattern is also available on my ravelry Designer Page
Super Simple Fingerless Gloves
by NCC-1701
Yarn: any yarn works for this. A #4 or #5 yarn is best for thicker gloves. If you change yarn size though, be sure to pick a hook that fits the yarn.
I used YarnBee First Love in "Lovely" #5
Hook: K / 6.5mm
Gauge: Mine ended up being 6 sts = 2" and 4 rows = 2" BUT, gauge is not important to this project.
NOTE: after doing a couple of rows of the pattern, try to fit it around one of your hands (or the hand of the person who will wear them) to make sure it will fit. My hands are medium-ish, so if you have smaller or larger hands you may need to re-chain accordingly.
ch2 counts as 1st dc
Making the Square
Ch 26, turn
R1: SC in 2nd ch from hook and in ea st across (25), ch2, turn
R2: Dc in first st and ea st across (25 dc + ch2), ch 2, turn
Repeat R2 until piece is 7" long or however long you wish. Mine ended up being 14 rows total counting the first row of SC, but NOT counting the crabstitch.
When piece is as long as you want it to be, ch 1 and do NOT turn. Reverse SC (aka Crabstitch) along the top of piece. FO and weave in end.
Crab Stitch Tutorial on YouTube (I did not make, nor do I own this video. It's simply linked here as an instructional tool until I can make my own videos)
Measuring and Seaming
Yarn: Any yarn can be used for this. I used UltraPima in teal (I don't recall the color number).
Hook: Any hook to fit the yarn. I used a G hook for this part.
4 stitch markers or safety pins to mark thumb holes.
1. Lay the piece flat with the RS down (either side can be the RS, personal preference)
2. Lay one of your hands at the edge and pull it closed around the top part of your hand above the thumb. Mark through both sides with a stitch marker.
3. Pull the glove closed around the bottom of your hand under the thumb. Mark at the place it feels most comfortable.
4. SL through both sides of the fabric at the bottom and then SC or any stitch you like to the first marker. FO and weave in.
5. SL through both sides of fabric beginning at the next stitch marker and SC or any stitch you like to the top. FO and weave in.
Repeat for other glove using other hand.
Variations:
You can go around the entire border of the square with contrasting or complimentary yarn before stitching them together. The crab stitch is awkward at first, but makes a really neat border for most any project.
Questions? E-Mail or comment below.
You can also find me at Ravelry.com NCC-1701
(This pattern is copyrighted. You may sell products made from this pattern royalty-free, but please link to my blog and give credit where due. You may not reprint and sell this pattern for profit without written permission.)
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