A few moments ago, I stumbled upon this lovely shell counterpane from the 1860s. Many thanks to a fellow ravelrer for commenting about a bedspread that she was knitting, since it’s the only way I discovered this lovely counterpane.
The good news is, I’m still only using magic loop for all my circular knitting –yes that includes small objects too. My lovely DPNs are calling my name for small circular projects, but thus far I’ve been firm. Thankfully, I have a long term (work in progress) knitting project that has me using magic loop often.
This new project, a knitted quilt, has me doing the make one left (M1L) and make one right (M1R), although simple, the results are lovely.
Magic loop is a process I learned soon after I purchased my first pair of circular needles in May 2012. I received my first pair of circulars from my local craft big box stores (Michaels and AC Moore.)I’ve since moved on to Knit Picks nickel plated interchangeable needles. And while I found I was quite capable of doing magic loop, I always reverted to using my double pointed needles — I love them.
Besides the DPN love, part of my hesitation for doing the magic loop has been tied to the circular cable… I’ve always been concerned that it could cause them to pull apart from the actual needle, but the more I thought about it, I realized I was just making excuses… after all numerous knitters use the magic loop right? They seem to be doing just fine.
I’ve decided to temporarily set aside my beloved double pointed needles — for now. Similar to how I abandoned knitting (for about five months) when I was learning crochet back in December 2011. Currently I don’t know how long they’ll be taking a break, but I know it’ll be a few months at least.
Sometimes we can become set in our ways, but when it comes to trying new things… or improving myself, I’m always open to trying something different.
But this past Saturday, I got to thinking about stepping outside of my comfort zone, and once again I picked up my circular needles, and before long I’d made a knitted tube dress for Purrsephone (doll wearing purple dress and one of my daughter’s Monster High dolls.)
The dress was made using three needle sizes; 11, 6, and 4, and although my gauge was slightly off since it’s been a while since I’ve worked with magic loop by the time I moved on to my next project they were back to the uniform stitches.
Hmm, so what is this? My daughter wants a blocky type amigurumi monster, but we both agreed that it isn’t looking like a monster at the moment. Just some shapeless thing that sprouted an ear. This will be my first amigurumi project that I will knit in the round, the others like the knitted amigurumi snake were seamed.
Last evening I picked up stitches on each side of the ‘ head’ and made ears. They look like pig ears don’t they? The top of the head was cast off using the three needle bind off method. No pattern was used, I’m just playing with stitches/techniques. I’m using size 4 circular knitting needles for this project.
Ideas I have are usually made into a small project first… because of this my daughter has reaped the benefits with many small finished objects; most of my ideas are made into doll items or some type of amigurumi toy before they’re upgraded to children and adult items.
Tutorial: How to knit in the round using magic loop
If I kept all the crafts I made, you might eventually find me on a show where they help people reclaim their homes, by eliminating their accumulated items.
I create a lot of items with my hands, fortunately I also love to share with others. Shocking I know since I’m a selfish crafter, but as I tell my friends I’m only selfish in that I make what I want, when I want. I do have a fiber worthy list, for people I know, but when it comes to donating to charities… I’m all over that.
I mainly donate to local charities, but I do send items to people in other countries. I crochet bears for The Mother Bear Project. Donated crocheted and knitted bears are distributed to children, with HIV, in third world countries. I’m also a member of my Lutheran churches quilting group the machine sewn quilts we make are sent to the Lutheran World Relief. These lovely quilts are distributed to those in need here in the United States, and also in other countries too.
Hats are my favorite small project to crochet or knit… they tend to work up quickly (unless the pattern is extremely intricate). Recently I started knitting hats for a local hospital. It turns out preemie hats are much appreciated by the families who receive them. I must say, that it felt great reading the responses on my knitted preemie hat posts, and the additional emails from folks who somehow stumbled upon that post. It’s not why I do it though, I don’t need recognition to help those in need.
A few weeks ago, I joined the Chemo Cap Pattern Library on Ravelry, two of my family members lost their battle with cancer within the past five years. I’ll be whipping up stylish hats (for a local hospital) for those cancer patients that have experienced hair loss.
I also joined the For the Children of Pine Ridge Reservation a charity group that donates crocheted and knitted items to Indian children within Oglala, SD. My daughter and I both have Indian heritage, Black, Blackfoot Indian, and Irish from my father’s side, and from my daughte’rs father German, Lumbee Indian, and Irish.
With the amount of patterns I’ve discovered from the Chemo Cap Pattern Library, and the crocheted and knitted books I have, my hooks and needles will be occupied for quite some time.
The past few weeks have been extremely busy completing clients projects, fall gardening, canning, back to school, soccer practice, and numerous other activities that had to be accomplished. But I’ve still managed to weave my fiber arts into my busy schedule.
The featured dress below, was made last evening while my daughter and I were watching Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. It was created for one of my daughter’s Monster High Dolls. Meowlody. Meowlody is one of my daughter’s newest Monster High dolls. Meowlody is sold along with her Werecat twin sister Purrsephone, as a package deal. Since these dolls are new, I haven’t had a chance to make them too many things besides some cable knitted shawls.
Meowlody, my daughter’s Monster High doll, is looking stylish in this This knitted and crocheted ruffle dress.
The above dress has a knitted body, and I added a crocheted ruffle trim to the top and bottom part of the dress. Years ago, I designed and sewed a dress similar to this. It was featured in a local fashion show. Meowlody’s twin won’t be left out of the fiber creations, since I’ll be making something for Purrsephone later today. Since I didn’t have an appropriate lightweight yarn, this dress was done with worsted weight yarn, and I used my size 4 Knit Picks circular needles.
In the future I will knit outfits with a lighter yarn, and nothing above a size 0 knitting needle. I was planning on going to a local yarn store, after church today, but I’ve opted to stay home. Later this week I’ll purchase an appropriate lighter weight yarn for her Monster High dolls. I most likely will purchase the items online. The one drawback of purchasing yarn online is you can’t touch the yarn, because of this, I always rely on others reviews before purchasing.
When I first heard about The Lost Boy Project, I thought it had something to do with the movie, The Lost Boys, starring Cory Feldman and Cory Haim. Ok don’t laugh…
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the project focuses on the First World War, and explores the numerous young lives that were lost during that period. World War 1 was supposed to be the war to end all wars, wishful thinking…
I liked that The Lost Boys Project includes knitting to tell the history of those who fought in this particular war.
From the site… Artists Michèle Karch-Ackerman and Barbara Pratt standing in front of Karch-Ackerman’s The Lost Boys, May 13, 2012. Photograph by Janine Frenken.
Michèle Karch-Ackerman’s Lost Boys is part of a nationally-touring installation ongoing since 2003. It explores the loss of young lives during the First World War and in particular, the Newfoundland regiment who fought in the battle of Beaumont Hamel. It weaves together the story of James Barrie’s Peter Pan with the stories of so many lives lost in the First World War, and expresses loss, remembrance and consolation.
Knit your own Lost Boys Project (WW1) Sweater
If you’re feeling crafting, you can knit your own Lost Boy Sweater. This Lost Boys Project is in Canada, but if it ever makes its way to our area, here in the USA, I’d attend. In Canada, over 68,000 people were killed during WW1.
I must say that this project has me thinking about the Civil War, especially about underage boys that fought during the war. As a child, I’d read accounts of young boys that lied about their age, so they would be able to fight. You also had women who lied about their gender to fight during the Civil War. They disguised themselves as men. I didn’t read about it in history books. I found that out on my own. Back in the 1970s (and 1980s) I had to do most of my research at the library.
In 1861, Sarah enlisted as a private in the Second Michigan Infantry. She used the name Franklin Thompson. Sarah deserted on April 19, 1863. She had malaria, and feared that hospitalization would reveal her gender.
Both the Union and Confederate armies forbade the enlistment of women. Women soldiers of the Civil War therefore assumed masculine names, disguised themselves as men, and hid the fact they were female. Because they passed as men, it is impossible to know with any certainty how many women soldiers served in the Civil War. Estimates place as many as 250 women in the ranks of the Confederate army.
I really love history, and have always been fascinated with the Civil War, and so I’m especially thankful for resources such as Mikes site, Daily Observations of the Civil War, that focuses on the Civil War.
You’re so busy that it can be hard making time for yourself. The past few weeks have been like that for me, but somehow I still managed to squeeze a few minutes to work on some craft. That usually occurred a few minutes before my bedtime. And even though I haven’t had too much time for crafting during those few moments I’m able to get the creative juices flowing, and set aside time for myself.
Here’s the left side panel of my Lacy Fern Afghan.
Recently my creative time has been focused on knitting this Lacy Fern Afghan. I’m almost completed the left side panel. I still have the center panel, and the right side panel to complete. Because of my schedule, some days I only manage to do one repeat, or even a few small rows… but I cannot complain, I’m able to do many things I enjoy — even if (sometimes) it’s only in small doses. The left side panel of this afghan works like this; one repeat = 12 rows; each row has 36 stitches. That adds up to a lot of stitches.There are 17 repeats that make up the left side panel. I’m just starting repeat 14.
This is another shot of the left side panel. I really love the simple lacy design of the Lacy Fern Afghan. Although it’s a large project, it knits up quickly.
This afghan measures 45″ (114.3 cm) so I’m almost completed the left side panel of my Lacy Fern Afghan. If I’m not thrilled with the length at 17 repeats, I’ll go up to 20 repeats.
Since my skin is sensitive to most animal fibers I’m making this afghan with cotton yarn. The yarn is incredibly soft, and I’m looking forward to snuggling in this afghan during the cooler months.
The Lacy Fern Afghan can be downloaded for free. Depending on where you look, you might see it called another name; Hawaiian Lacy Fern Throw. The only error seems to be with the center panel, so be sure to check out the errata page for the Lacy Fern Afghan aka Hawaiian Lacy Fern Throw.
Of course I saw this on Ravelry, the original poster posted about it, and also displayed a knitted QR code!
When you print it out it’s like a chart. Make each block a four stitches (2 high 2 wide) and you are set. I was amazed when it actually worked. Had to share it with my Raverly community.
Thanks for the knitted QR tip Lisa! Naturally I find this appealing, and am thinking of ways to add it to a few of my knitting (and other crafts too). Oh by the way, you can make your own free QR code at Kaywa QR Code. It’ll be cool to see what some crafty folks make, so I’m off to check out the Ravelry thread.
In other news…
Soccer season has started for my daughter. They’ve had several practices, and her team has their first game tomorrow. It’s about to get busier around these parts…
