Log Cabin Knit Blanket

This Log Cabin Knit Blanket also known as Brick Blanket is an easy knit project. This blanket is entirely made with knit stitches using leftover yarn. We love how colourful the blanket turned out. It livens up the space and makes a beautiful addition to any room. 

Lacy Ripples Blanket

This lacy ripples blanket measures 122 x 131 cm using 4 ply medium wool and a 5.5 mm crochet hook. Our completed blanket measures about 150 cm by 140 cm, as it depends on the type of wool and the tension. We can use any combination of wool, I used 2 balls of each of these three colour. The wool I used was the Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo 14 oz 744 yards. This design is from Bernat yarn.

Cable Stitch Knit Scarf

I love knitting cable stitch! It is easier than it looks. All you do is simply catch the knit stitches according to the pattern onto the cable needle and hold it either in the back or front then knit the stitches on the knitting needle, then knit the stitches you put on the cable needle. I find the knitted projects using cable stitch add elegance and a beautiful texture. 

Knitted Cozy Slippers

These handmade knitted slippers are beginner friendly. I used Phentex Slipper and Craft Yarn that makes these slippers feel durable and warm. With this pattern we can personalize each of the slippers by choosing different colour combinations. The slipper stretches, so keep this in mind when you are casting on. 

Knitted Cowl using Circular Needles

This cowl is fun and easy to make. I used one ball of yarn and circular needles to knit this cowl. I find knitting the cowl using a multicoloured ball of yarn makes it interesting and unique. 

Craft Books: Homemade Interiors and Let's Knit

I love getting inspiration for crafts from colourful books. The DK Craft Boutique has lots of fabulous books that are inspiring to get us started. Since I love to do a variety of different crafts and always challenge myself to learn new one, I enjoy books that are easy to follow with step-by-step pictures and instructions. I also encourage my children to not only use their imagination to be creative, but also be observant on the variety of different material that they can incorporate for their arts and craft projects.

Knitting Needle Holder

I made this knitting needle holder to keep my knitting needles and other knitting tools organized, so I can easily find what I am looking for. This allows me to store all my knitting tools in one place without it taking up lots of space. 

Benefit from DK Book Sales and Win Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Book

This month DK is having two fun boutiques Best for Baby and Earthly Pleasures in honour of Earth Day 2014, which will happen on April 22nd this year. The Baby Boutique has a selection of titles that will answer many questions parents have in topics such as pregnancy and birth, newborns to toddlers, baby health, nutrition, and more. The books are 30% off for a limited time and perfect to give as gifts for parents since we all know as exciting as it is having a baby, it can be overwhelming and we all need some advice on unfamiliar topics. 

Knitted Rose

I made this knitted rose project by following the instructions on the Stitch-by-Stitch book written by Jane Bull. Although this book is recommended for children between the age of 5 and 8, even adults will enjoy learning from it. The book shows the projects beautifully with detailed zoomed pictures, so we can easily follow it. There are lots of cute projects in this book that are made with felt, wool and cloth.  

Striped check stitch knitted scarf

To make this striped check stitch knitted scarf you will need... 
4 ply worsted weight yarn 
4 1/2mm needle 

Photo Guide to Beading

I am always fascinated by the fabulous things we can do with beads and have bought lots of beads for no reason :)  When I buy the beads I am full of ideas on how I can use them, but never really end up using it because of time, short of materials and tools to finish the project.  

When I saw this fabulous Complete Photo Guide to Beading by Robin Atkins, I was excited to see the creative ideas on how I can use the beads that I have been collecting :)
This book is an ultimate reference to beadwork for novice and expert beaders.  The detailed instructions in the book are separated into three parts; stringing, weaving and embroidery.  There are about 28 projects with colourful clear pictures that teach beading techniques.  
Some beading work shown in the book include

• stringing beads on elastic thread and wire to make beautiful jewelry
• peyote stitch, brick stitch, net weaving and many different stitches
• crochet and knitting with beads
• stitching beads to fabric and embroidery
• using beads in fringes, bezels and for edge stitches
• explains about other tools and materials we need for the bead projects.

A little bit about beading and beads...
Beading has always been a human fascination and used for adornments.  Beads are and have been a part of every culture and land.  They were once used for barter and trade because of their portability and durability.  The value of the bead was based on age, uniqueness and material.

The author explains the variety of beads in detail and on how to care for them.  To test if beads will fade leave it under direct sunlight, and test it by washing with water and detergent to see if the colour stays the same compared to the original.  
Don't leave pearls in plastic bags, as it will release chemicals causing pearls to loose their luster.  To store the pearls leave it in a soft cloth bag or glass jar.
I would recommend this book if you are into beads or want to learn the skills.  This book is available in bookstores and amazon.  

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Knitted Pinnacle Poncho

Morehouse Farm has a beautiful collection of kits for us to knit fabulous items for babies, bags and purses, hats, scarves, home accessories, ponchos and many more.

I am making this beautiful poncho following the directions in the kit.  It is easy to follow even for a novice knitter.  This is my first time using circular knitting needles.  This kit has made it easy for me to start using this needle, which I thought would be impossible for me to learn :)

I like the choice of the vibrant colour and the quality of the Morehouse yarn that came in this Pinnacle Poncho knit kit.

The finished poncho measures adult triangular shape 5" from side to side and 30" from neck to tip.  

The 4 skeins of Variegated Morehouse 2-ply yarn and pattern was included in the kit.  I had to buy 2 #11 circular needles as instructed in the pattern.  The pattern is written in an easy to understand manner, not knitting language :)

Cast 3 stitches and purl the first row.
Then for the rest of the rows we have to knit and knit increase by 1 and then knit to the end of the row.  
Then knit increase by 1 and purl to the end of the row
Knit increase by 1 and knit the rest
Knit increase by 1 and purl the rest
These steps will be repeated until the needles have 130 stitches, it will be a V shape.  
The kit explains us how to do this.  
And after we do 2 of the same we have to put the triangles parallel to each other, wrong side facing out and bind off the shoulders using the three-needle bind (this is also explained).  45 stitches are bind off to the middle from both sides.  
Then we have to knit the neckline stitches that the kit explains in detail.

I enjoyed this kit and I think you will too.  These kits makes it easy for us to start and finish knitting projects that could be kept for ourselves or given as handmade gifts.

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REAL educational magazine and pattern for knit slippers

R.E.A.L which stands for Read Everything And Learn is a Canadian kids' magazine written and printed in Canada. It has 2 editions, one targeted towards elementary students from kindergarten to grade 3; and a Junior edition targeted to students from grade 4 to 6.

This magazine is colourful; and it is beautifully written and illustrated. There is no advertising in the magazine. The children's literature is levelled on the table of content the same way it is taught in Canadian schools.

It is definitely an interesting media for children to read during their spare time at home, school or while travelling. The magazine has lots of poems, fiction, non-fiction, folk tales, funny stories, short stories, word puzzles and cross word puzzles.

Here is a funny example of a short story from Vol 8 Summer 2011 Tamara's toes.

This story is about a little girl who wanted to learn tap dancing. Her mother said that she will buy Tamara the dancing shoes on her birthday. But the dance lessons were starting before her birthday. So Tamara was in a dilemma, and decides that she will practice the dance moves with her fuzzy slippers so she would know how to dance when she gets her dancing shoes.

My daughter inferred this story to her own slippers, that I just knitted for her as it looks like the one in the illustration; and she is quite like Tamara :) The pattern to make the silly slippers is in the bottom of this post.

The attractive pictures and creative writing kept my children excited as they looked through the magazine several times. As a parent, I like this type of media has it opens up many topics to discuss with the children. It is also handy and perfect when travelling to keep the children entertained.

Here is the pattern to make these silly slippers from the book Quick knits.

Knitted with 8 mm needles using eyelash novelty yarn or fun fur and chunky weight yarn.

Measure the bare feet and subtract 1" and make the slippers that length.

Use both the yarns at the same time, hold the ends together make a slipknot about 40" from the end and cast 14 for small leg or 18 for large. You will need the long yarn tail to sew it up.

Knit every row (garter stitch) for up to 2/3 rd the length of the finished slipper.

Then Purl one row and Knit one row (stockinette stitch) until it measure the length you need.

Cut the yarn 20" tail and thread the yarn needle. Slide the stitches from the knitting needle to the yarn needle catching all the double loops.

With the slippers inside out pull the yarn to gather the stitches into a toe circle and stitch the hole with the yarn needle.

Stitch the top of the slipper from the toe to just past the end of the stockinette stitched area. Then finish the stitch, weave in and trim the yarn.

Use the other yarn tail to stitch the heel together, weave in and trim. Turn the slipper right side out. Stitch a button or anything decorative on top of the slipper (optional). Make another slipper and enjoy or give it as a gift.

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Knitted phone and Ipod cover

Cast on 20 sts using 3 1/2mm needles and work 4 rows in garter stitch.

Row 1 K4, P12, K4

Row 2 P4, K5, P2, K5, P4

Row 3 K4, P4, RT, LT, P4, K4

Row 4 P4, K4, P4, K4, P4

Row 5 K4, P3, RT, K2, LT, P3, K4

Row 6 P4, K3, P6, K3, P4

Row 7 K4, P2, RT, K4, LT, P2, K4

Row 8 P4, K2, P8, K2, P4

Row 9 K4, P1, RT, K6, LT, P1, K4

Row 10 P4, K1, P10, K1, P4

Row 11 K4, P1, K3, RT, LT, K3, P1, K4

Row 12 P4, K1, P4, K2, P4, K1, P4

Row 13 K4, P1, LT, PT, P2, LT, PT, P1, K4

Row 14 P4, K2, P2, K4, P2, K2, P4

Row 15 K4, P2, RT, P4, LT, P2, K4

Row 16 P4, K12, P4

Repeat these 16 rows four times or to fit. Work 4 rows in garter stitch and cast off.

Pattern is from Simply knitting magazine.

LT: Left twist

take the right hand needle behind the first st on the left hand needle and knit the second st, then knit the first st, slip both sts off the needle.

RT: Right twist

take the right hand needle in front of the first st on the left hand needle and knit the second st, then knit the first st, slip both sts off the needle.

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Knit hat

I used 4 1/2 mm needles.

Cast on 100 stitches for an adult, If you want it smaller cast on less stitches.

Pattern

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl

Row 3: K1, P1

Row 4: purl

Repeat these 4 rows until it measures 8", I did till it measured 11" end with the Purl row.

Once it measures 8" or 11"

Next row: K1, K2 together, end with K1

Next row: purl

Repeat these two rows one more time.

Cut the yarn 15" or 20" long and weave it through the last stitches.

Pull it together and sew the top and sides from the wrong side of the hat. Turn it over to the right side.

This hat makes it own roll up brim. Knit and keep yourself warm with this cute hat :)

The pattern is adapted from here.

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Crotchet cowl

To make the cowl colourful use a thread with different colours. The cowl should be easy to put and remove over the head, and remember it will stretch a little. So the length can be adjusted.

It is easy to make this cowl, chain 45 and single crotchet every line to measure 26". Then attach the sides together.

This can be done the same way knitting and then attach the short sides together by stitching with a needle or crotchet.

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