Tweed Stitch Hat

I made this hat for a relative who is going thru chemo for breast cancer using the tweed stitch.

Pattern: multiple of 4 (using a circular needle) I knit tight so I CO 88 sts with a size 9 needle. I did a ribbing for about 1 1/2″ then continue with the following:

Tweed Stitch Hat

 Round 1: *K1, yfwd,sl 1 purlwise, ybk; repeat from * to end of rd. Round 2: Knit [if using straight needle, purl this row]  Round 3: *Yfwd, sl 1 purlwise, ybk, k1; repeat from * to end of rd. Round 4: Knit [purl if using straight needles]

Repeat these four rounds til desired length (about 5-6″).  Decrease on the knit rd, work even the next round. Continue to decrease til there are 8 or 10 stitches left, cut yarn & pull thru remaining sts to secure tightly.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

After almost a year, I finally made it out to the ballpark again. With Barry’s race towards his record breaking homerun, and the Second Annual Stitch N Pitch Night, who can resist? Ron & Nate came with me to the game and they let me keep their goody bags.

I was always skeptical of people who said they can knit at a ball game so I thought I’d try it myself since I had so much company.

I did 3 rounds of my Monkey sock and decided that the stitches were too small and too dark to be doing in a situation where I’m supposed to keep your eye on the ball. So, I switched over to the bulky yarn spiral rib hat. Doing bulky projects from time to time gives me a sense of accomplishment since everything goes so fast and I can knit on for minutes at a time without looking down at my work.

The Giants went scoreless until 2 outs at the bottom of 9th when they tied the game went on to extra innings(more knitting time for me). We finally left at the top of the 13th inning when they fell behind 6-4. Listening to radio, on the way home, they were still playing the bottom of the 13th and finally lost 7-5.

I’m so glad we didn’t get shut out and watching all those last minute rallies were great fun. The downside is that I would put away my knitting whenever the Giants were up just to find myself taking it out again when inning’s over and the game is still tied.
Here is a picture of some of the items that came with the Stitch N Pitch goody bag and the progress I made on my hat.

Although they were several rows away, I saw many of my BobaKnit and LYS friends and their families. There were happy husbands, kids, & friends of knitters seated with the knitters cheering on our team. After 12 and a half innings I concluded that it is possible to knit at a ballgame AND if more families can do what the Stitch N Pitch families did last night, the world would be a better place.

Lined Knitted Bag With A Pocket

I wasn’t able to make to make it to the grandest knitterly farewell party ever for Kristi, Cookie’s co-blogger. It looked like really great fun. See Abigail’s or Cindy’s blog for some really great pictures and videos. Since I couldn’t be there to send her off, I made her a little sock knitting-related present to give to her at her last BobaKnit.

It’s the perfect size for a ball of sock yarn, needles, a sock in progress, and a tape measure. It’s basically the charming Spiral Rib Bag from One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit & Crochet with a few embellishments. I added a contrasting single crochet border to the top edge and used the same yarn for the i-cord and the bottom of the bag.

But every bag that holds knitting needs a lining to keep needles from poking through and a pocket to hold little things that tend to wander.

So, I found some fabric in my stash and measured out the sides of the lining and added a half inch seam allowance.

Then I computed the diameter of circular bottom, since I know its circumference:

diameter = circumference/pi

Since the bag measured 7.5 ” across flattened, the circumference of the circular bottom is 15″, making the finished diameter of the bottom of the lining about 4.75 “. Adding a half inch seam allowance, the circle of fabric needs to have 5.75” diameter. I found a bowl in my kitchen that was about the right size and used that as a cutting pattern.

Here’s all the pieces cut out, including a pocket!

Next, I fold down the top edge of the pocket and sew hem. Then the remaining three sides are folded under and sewn in place. This is where I wished I had one of those sewing machines that can embroider letters! Since I don’t have one, I stitch in my name and the year by hand.

I then sew the side seam and pin the bottom in place, distributing the fullness evenly.

I sew the bottom in place, slip it into the bag, fold the top edge under, and pin the lining into the bag. I machine sewed the lining in place, all the way around, right through the folded lining and the top edge of the knitted bag.

I really liked the way this turned out and it fits my sock knitting perfectly. I hope Kristi enjoys it.

Yarn: MC – Lily Sugar & Cream – Potpourri Hombre

CC – Lion Brand Cotton Ease – Lime
Needles: US size 8

Sarcelle Shawl

I was so intrigued by Kristi’s Sarcelle pattern. I started it last night and it is turning out beautifully.

It starts in the corner and eventually looks like Kristi’s

I have a long way to go but it should be fun.

HAWK on Knitting

Here are my entries for Kristi‘s ___ on a ____ contest:

Hawk ( Happy Asian Women Knitting mascot) on knitting

Now for one with a real live animal:

Parakeet on a Chair

Hiding Yarn

Whenever Pauline has a day off, and I’m not working, we try to have a “DWWDWP” which stands for “do whatever we…….” Activities are varied but always include some kind of knitting theme. Before I left for my jaunt to Shanghai, we were on such an outing on a Friday, thinking that I would be leaving the following Tuesday. We looked for potential knitting projects to bring safely onto the plane, etc. and had a wonderful time even though my gout was on the mend and had the wonderful side effects of the meds. That evening our other sister, Doreen called and told me that we were going to move the trip up to Sunday for take off. I dumbfoundedly agreed and off we went to Shanghai. Upon return, I was a major jet lag victim, but because Pauline had a Friday off, we went out and spent money on yarn, looked for sales on yarn, went up to Stoneridge and bought Origins stuff and came home. I totally forgot about the bag of yarn and back to school goodies I had purchased 2 weeks before when we had a DWWDWP day. So the challenge is great these next few days to alleviate the guilt of purchased yarn and forgetting what we had intended it for. It was intended for good and cute, I’m sure, but getting old is the pits – can you imagine how much we could accomplish if were energetic 7 year olds? mrsekc still jetlagging (planning to use this excuse for the rest of the year) P.S. I finished the scarf – turquoise surprise for Doreen immediately while riding up to Napa to see Joanie.

Got Lace?

Being such a lace newbie, everything I come across is soo exciting!

Photographing lace:

It’s so breathtaking when you can look through it and have light peeking through the little holes.

I am just starting to appreciate all the littel comments Margit made during her shawl knitting adventures.

Mini Projects -hat and scarf

I made the baby hat with the baby yarn, because that yarn caught my eye and I said, “I think I need to make something with that.” The scarf is one that was promised to Rebekah because I had made one for her sister last school year. It’s floofy and hairy and fun. Beckah likes blue and she’ll be a senior this year at Valley Christian Dublin.

First post! First post!

hawky the HAWK hawky hawk hawk.

Entrelac Swatch

Here’s my entrelac swatch, finished and blocked. I don’t know what to do with this yet. I’ll probably add it to one of the Project Linus blankets.

Entrelac is fun to do. I learned to knit backwards in the process!