Winter Neck Cowl

I’m on a knitting spree, as of late, probably because it’s Christmas time and I decided to make everyone on my list a handmade item.  I’ve been busy busy BUSY making things for everyone.  It seemed like a good idea at the time to save money (Michaels had a really good sale on yarn about a month ago) so I got all the yarn for everyone’s projects for under $20!  However, now that I’m up to my eyeballs in different projects, it doesn’t seem like such a fabulous idea.  Oh well, the gifts are only for my dad, mom, step-mom, sister, husband, father in-law and best friend, so it shouldn’t be too bad…right?

I’ve found once I’ve started working on someone’s Christmas package I feel like I need to add more.  I get more ideas of what would be cool or perfect for that person, and then I decide to make that too!  The bad news is that it’s slowing me down on checking off the different projects I have to do on my list, but the good news is that it’s using up a lot of my stash yarn (which I have WAY too much of!).

Anyways, to the point.  One of the extra things I’ve made is a super warm neck cowl for my mom.  I couldn’t find one that I like online, so I decided to just make one myself and I’ll get exactly what I want.  So here it is,

Winter Neck Cowl

Materials:

2 skeins Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice “Linen”

Size 7, 20 inch circular needles

Place Marker

Pattern:

CO 201, join in the round and put place marker on beginning stitch to mark where row begins.

(Hint:  When casting on large amounts I like to put place markers every 50 sts so if I lose count I don’t have to count every single stitch, just the 50 I’m working on).

*K2, YO, P1, YO* repeat to end of row

*K2, P3* repeat to end of row

*K2, P3* repeat to end of row

*K2, P3tog* repeat to end of row.

Repeat these 4 rows until the cowl reaches your desired width.

I made mine to be 4 ½ inches in width.

The length of the cowl is about 52 inches

Happy Knitting!!

Moose!!

Dead Moose in the Middle of the Road

I made this pattern to give to my sister.  I love making her weird things that questions the boundary of normal sanity.  I made up most of this pattern myself, taking inspirations from some other patterns that I liked the concept of, but what wanted something a little different.

This is the first pattern that I have made up that I’m sharing with other people, so if you make it let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  The only thing that I would change is I wouldn’t use black for the tire treads because it doesn’t pop enough from the brown of the body.  I would probably use a more grey black.  But other than that I LOVE how this moose turned out!!

Materials:

1 skein Brown yarn

A bit of tan yarn

A bit of black yarn

A bit of pink yarn

Size 3 double point needles

Tapestry needle

Poly fill

Moose Body:

CO 3, distribute evenly onto needles.  Place stitch marker at beginning of the round.

KFB on all sts (6 sts)

KFB all sts (12 sts)

K all sts

KFB all sts (24 sts)

K all sts

KFB all sts (48 sts)

K all sts

*KFB, K5* across round (56 sts)

K till piece measures 5 ½ inches long (about 42 rows, give or take)

*K2tog, K5* to last 4 sts, K last 4 sts (48 sts)

K all sts

K2tog all sts (24 sts)

K all sts

K2tog all sts (12 sts)

K2tog all sts (6 sts)

Stuff body, not too firmly, since you will be embroidering tire treads on it.

Break yarn, and with tapestry needle thread through 6 remaining sts and pull tight.  Secure and weave in ends.

Moose Head:

CO 5 sts, distribute evenly onto needles.  Place stitch marker at beginning of the round.

Leave long CO tail to help sew it to body when done.

Round 1: *KFB* 5 times (10 sts)

2:  K all sts

3:  *KFB, K1* 5 times (15 sts)

4:  K all sts

5:  *KFB, K1* 7 times (22 sts)

6:  K all sts

7:  *K2, KFB, K1* 3 times, to last 2 sts, K last 2 sts (27 sts)

8:  K all sts

9:  *K3, KFB, K1* to last 2 sts, K last 2 sts (31 sts)

10:  *K4, KFB, K1* to last 2 sts, K last 2 sts (36 sts)

11:  *K5, KFB, K1* to last 2 sts, K last 2 sts (41 sts)

12-21:  K all sts

22:  *K6, K2tog* to last 2 sts, K last 2 sts (36 sts)

23:  K all sts

24:  K all sts

25:  *K7, K2tog*

26:  K all sts

27:  K all sts

28:  *K5, K2tog*

29:  K all sts

30:  *K9, K2tog* to last 6, K last 6 (26 sts)

Sew on eyes or attach safety eyes at this time.

31:  K all sts

32:  K all sts

33:  *K10, K2tog* to last 2 sts, K last 2 (24 sts)

34:  K all sts

35:  K all sts

36:  *K4, K2tog* around (20 sts)

37:  K all sts

38:  *K3, K2tog* around (16 sts)

39:  K all sts

40:  *K2, K2tog*  around (12 sts)

41:  K all sts

42:  *K3, K2tog* to last 2 sts, K2tog (9 sts)

43:  K all sts

Stuff head, not too firmly, and shape it to the way you want it to look.

Break yarn and thread through remaining sts and pull tight, thread through again to secure and weave in ends.

Using CO tail, sew onto body in desired position.

Moose Ears (Make 2):

CO 3, work as flat piece.

Leave a long tail on CO end to use to sew ears onto head.

1:  KFB, K1, KFB (5 sts)

2:  P across, and every even row

3:  K1, KFB, K1, KFB, K1 (7 sts)

5:  K2tog, K3, K2tog (5 sts)

7:  K2tog, K1, K2tog (3 sts)

8:  P across

Break yarn thread through sts and weave in tail.

Fold bottom of ears in half and sew onto head.

Moose Antlers (Make 2):

CO 7, distribute evenly on needles, place stitch marker at beginning of the round.

Leave a long tail so you can use the tail to sew the antlers onto the head.

Rounds 1-8:  K across

9:  KFB 4 tims, K to end of round (11 sts)

10:  K across

11:  *KFB, K1* 4 times, K to end of round (15 sts)

12:  K across

13:  *KFB, K2* 4 times, K to end of round (19 sts)

14-15:  K across

Next Round:  K across 3 sts, place 13 sts on waste yarn to be worked later.  Use backward loop to CO 1 over gap, K remaining 3 sts and CO 1 using backward loop (8sts).  Distribute sts evenly between 3 needles, and K 5 round.  Break yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts and pull tight, fasten off and weave in tail.

Next Round:  Put first and last 3 sts on 2 needles.  K first 3 sts, CO1 using backward loop to cover gap, K last 3 sts, pick up and K 1 st to close the gap (8 sts).  Distribute sts evenly between 3 needles and K 5 rounds.  Break yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts and pull tight, fasten off and weave in tail.

Last Round:  Place remaining 7 sts on needles.  K 7 sts, pick up and K 1 st to close gap (8 sts).  Distribute sts evenly between 3 needles and K 7 rounds.  Break yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts and pull tight, fasten off and weave in tail.

Now, you can stuff the antlers lightly if you want, using the non-business end of a pen or pencil to help stuff.  I didn’t stuff mine, but now wish that I would’ve since they are a bit floppy, not too floppy but I would like them to stand up a little more.

Sew antlers onto head.

Moose Tail:

CO 3 sts

Leave long tail to help sew onto butt of moose.

K using I-cord method

*Knit a row. Slide row to other end of needle. Do not turn the work. Repeat from*

Do this till the tail measures around 3 ¾ inches, or your desired length.

Using same color as the antlers, cut a few pieces of yarn about 2 inches long (I cut 2 pieces) and loop through end of tail and cut to the desired length.

Sew onto butt of moose.

Moose Legs (Make 4):

CO 10, distribute evenly between needles, place stitch marker to mark beginning of round.

Leave long tail to sew legs onto the body.

Rounds 1-10:  K across

11:  *K2, KFB* to last st, K last st (13 sts)

12:  K across

13:  *K3, KFB* to last st, K last st (16 sts)

14-16:  K across

17:  *K3, K2tog* to last st, K last st (13 sts)

18:  K across

19:  *K2, K2tog* to last st, K last st (10 sts)

20-24:  K across

Change to black yarn

25-28:  K across

29:  K first 5 sts, put remaining 5 on waste yarn to be worked later.

Divide the 5 sts evenly on 2 dpns.

30:  Back loop CO 1 to cover gap, and K rest of sts (6 sts)

31-33:  K across

Break yarn, thread through sts and pull tight, fasten off and weave in ends.

Next Row:  Put remaining 5 sts on waste yarn on 2 dpns.  K5 sts, pick up st to cover gap.  K 3 rows.

Break yarn, thread through sts and pull tight, fasten off and weave in ends.

Stuff legs and shape accordingly.

Sew onto body using CO tail.

Moose Tongue:

CO 4 sts distribute evenly on 2 dpns, place stitch marker to mark beginning of round.

Leave long tail to help sew to mouth.

Rounds 1-6: K across

Break yarn and thread through the 4 sts, fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew to mouth.

Finishing:

Embroider on tire treads so they look good on both sides of the body (or you can do just one side of the body if you don’t want to make it reversible). 

I embroidered the tire tracks before I sewed the legs on and it made a big difference.  The body shape drastically changes when you embroider the tire tracks so the leg positions would move around if they were on before embroidering.

Tire tracks look like:

\ /           \/

\/            \/

Long Time Gone

So I haven’t been on for a long time, partly because Kaitlin was home and I had to be her photo assistant, partly because of the holidays, and partly because I’ve been working on Christmas gifts (which I’m WAY behind in).  Anywho, I’ve decided to start selling some of my things on etsy (at the urging of my sister).  I haven’t made a site yet or posted anything for sale yet.  I’m trying to make things to put up on there, but that’s easier said than done when you’re as far behind in making Christmas gifts as I am!  I bought really cool vintage kitchen towels at one of the antique stores Kaitlin and me went to last week, and I’ve embroidered a really cool vintage pattern on it.  I’d have a picture, but I changed the pattern a bit, so the pink of my transfer pencil is still on there so I have to wash it before I take photos of it.

On an unrelated note, after getting all my embroidery stuff from my mom’s house, and also getting more yarn from my mom’s that she gave me; I’ve decided that I have way too much crafting stuff and need a better way of storing it.  Right now I’m just using those plastic open filing creates and putting same colored yarn in them.  That worked for about a month before my Missy cat decided if she takes some of the yarn out of the crates they would make a really nice and comfy bed for her.  So now I need a new idea.

Thoughts on Thursday

A thoughtful thought for Thursday.  I am getting worse and worse news everyday about the strike, and now lock out, of the nurses union at Sparrow.  As my mom is a case manager and part of that union at Sparrow, it’s not a good time for our family, especially so close to the holidays.  I have cut myself off from any news sources because they just raise my blood pressure with all of their one sided reporting.  Instead I turned my attention to what makes me feel better at these times, and the answer is family and really good food.  Well, since Kaitlin is coming home either today or tomorrow we have the family part covered, so now we are on to really good food.  I decided to make a really good chocolate fudge pie, which I am calling “Lock Out Pie”.  I’ll admit, I had mildly ulterior motives, I really wanted chocolate and pie sounded good, that and I don’t get to make a pie for Thanksgiving, just potatoes.  So I made two!  Well, I’ve decided to share this deliciously good pie with everyone! 

“Lock Out Pie” aka Delicious Fudge Pie

1 Frozen deep dish pie crust

½ C butter or margarine, softened

¾ C packed brown sugar

3 eggs

1 – 12 oz bag of semisweet chocolate chips, melted

1 tsp Vanilla

½ C All-Purpose Flour

1 C coarsely chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Partially bake crust 5-7 minutes.

In large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Melt chocolate chips in microwave with a dab of butter.  Add melted chocolate and vanilla; mix well.  Stir in flour and walnuts.

Pour mixture into partially baked crust.  Bake 25-30 minutes or until set.  Cool on cooling rack 1 ½ hours. 

WIP...Or Not

I’ve decided to make Wednesday “Work In Progress (WIP) Wednesday”.  I was excited to make today WIP day because I was working on a neck cowl that I had been working on for about 5 days.  I had been making it for myself to see how it worked out, and see if I wanted to make more for Christmas gifts.  I had been all happy to post pictures of it being worked up, and had even taken the pictures!  However, I finished it, and it did not work, at all!  I was very disappointed, and even sulked about it for a while.  It was 5 days of work down the drain!  After setting it aside and going out to have dinner, I decided to rip out the yarn and try something new.  So this is what my 5 days of work has gotten me!

Once that got settled, and out of spite of it not working I decided to work on a different project, Kaitlin’s gift for Christmas.  However, this project didn’t work out either!  I’ve tried 3 different ways so far on how to make this thing (sorry, not giving away what it is since Kaitlin might read this, but we’ll all figure out what it is soon enough) and ripped all of them out.  I have a photo to inspire me on what to do, so hopefully 4^th times the charm!

Hopefully this crafting block that I’ve had today will lift and I’ll be able to get these done!

Coolest Baby Basket Ever!!

A recent thumb injury has slowed down my knitting projects, and at the height of the holiday season!  I decided that while slicing potatoes it would be a really good idea to slice my thumb too.  No worries, everything is ok, no stitches, no loss of fingers or digits.  However, it does make things challenging, but knitting isn’t too affected since I don’t use my thumb that much.

Since I don’t have pictures of recently finished projects to post I’ll post a picture of the baby basket I just finished the other day for Luke’s cousin.  Luke’s cousins Sara is having her first baby! A baby boy named Vaughn.  I really enjoyed making everything in here, and am now ready to not use blue for a very long time!
Not going to lie, I'm pretty damn proud of this basket!  It's probably the coolest thing I've made in a long time!

I have individual photos of everything I made that's in this basket (since both Kaitlin my sister, and Mary my best friend don't live in Michigan I had to e-mail them photos).  However, I figure most people don't want to see 6 individual photos, so I decided to just post the overall picture of everything all put together.  Look for the individual photos on Fridays, which I've decided is going to be Past Project Fridays.

Thoughts on my first blog

To everyone out there (if there are people out there that care to read my blog) this is my first ever blog!  I know, I'm late in the whole technological advancing thing.  I guess the idea I have for this blog is to share with everyone the patterns I make, the things I knit/crochet, and the thoughts I have about everything.  As a knitter I do a bit of everything, the traditional, the more modern, and the wacky (which is usually reserved for my sister or close friends).  I can't wait to see what my blog evolves into!