Knitting

Christmas Crafts – Day 12

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Wow, I made it. We crafted through the 12 days of Christmas once again.  I had a little help this year from the elves. This final project was made for my husband. He was in need of a new winter hat, and with the recent snow we had here it was finished just in time.

On the first day of Christmas my true loves made for me, an Ornament Wreath.

• On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me, Hot Chocolate Mugs.

• On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me, Plum Wine.

• On the fourth day of Christmas my mom made for me, A Nativity Scene.

• On the fifth day of Christmas a random stranger made for me, Cotton Candy Chemo Cap.

• On the sixth day of Christmas my true loves made for me, Spontaneous Snowmen

• On the seventh day of Christmas my true love made for me, Tiny Knit Scarf Ornaments

• On the eighth day of Christmas my little loves made for me, Reindeer Balls.

• On the ninth day of Christmas my little loves made with me, Dentist approved cookies.

• On the tenth day of Christmas my true love made for me, Beyblade gloves.

• On the eleventh day of Christmas my love made, a Sewn Stocking.

• On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love made…

If you want to make this hat, I got the pattern here.

That’s a wrap. Thanks for reading. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

 

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Christmas Crafting – Day 10

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My kids are both into Beyblades, which are essentially spinning tops. They play them at recess and apparently gloves or mittens get in the way of the fun. My youngest asked if he could cut the tops off his mittens. Instead of that very creative option I have made him finger-less gloves.

• On the first day of Christmas my true loves made for me, an Ornament Wreath.

• On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me, Hot Chocolate Mugs.

• On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me, Plum Wine.

• On the fourth day of Christmas my mom made for me, A Nativity Scene.

• On the fifth day of Christmas a random stranger made for me, Cotton Candy Chemo Cap.

• On the sixth day of Christmas my true loves made for me, Spontaneous Snowmen

• On the seventh day of Christmas my true love made for me, Tiny Knit Scarf Ornaments

• On the eighth day of Christmas my little loves made for me, Reindeer Balls.

• On the ninth day of Christmas my little loves made with me, Dentist approved cookies.

• On the tenth day of Christmas my true love made for me…

Finger-less Beyblade Gloves.

Want to make these too? I got the pattern here.

Christmas Crafts – Day 7

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Our Christmas tree is decorated in ornaments that were given to me when I was a child, some were made and some were bought. Each year I received at least one ornament, and now as an adult (up for debate most days) I have a tree full of ornaments with special meaning.

I have continued to add to the decorations by making one ornament for each of the kids. This year I made them tiny knit scarves in a ball. I saw them on Pinterest and thought they were cute. My husband is questioning my design savvy after seeing the finished product. They do look slightly nicer in real life, but I am siding with him on this one. But you know what, if my kids look at them in 20 years and say I wonder what mommy was thinking when she made these, that’s good enough for me.

On the seventhth day of Christmas my true love made for me…..

 

Tiny Knit Scarf Ornaments.

 

Christmas Crafts – Day 5

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Every once and a while I get the opportunity to use my crafting skills to help others. Crafting skills don’t really come in handy that often so I tend to jump when I can help someone by making something. I follow a local buy nothing group where members of our community trade goods and services instead of buying things. Wednesday is wishful Wednesday where members post something specific that they are wishing for, and others respond.

Two weeks ago I was reading through the Wednesday wishes and I saw a wish for two hats. The woman wishing is starting chemo in January and she was wanting soft hats to keep her head warm during treatment. I jumped at the chance to make her wish come true.

I contacted her through social media and asked what colours she would like. She had specific colour wishes, she asked for a sapphire blue hat to match her wedding ring, and a soft pink hat to match a baby blanket. I hit the craft shop got the yarn and got to work.

  • On the first day of Christmas my true loves made for me, an Ornament Wreath.
  • On the second day of Christmas my true loves made with me, Hot Chocolate Mugs.
  • On the third day of Christmas my true love made for me, Plum Wine.
  • On the fourth day of Christmas my mom made for me, A Nativity Scene.

On the fifth day of Christmas a random stranger made for me… Chemo caps.

The sapphire blue cap was knit with the following pattern by Purl Soho.

The Pink hat I made up as I went along. If you want to make the Cotton Candy Chemo Cap to fit 8 years old and up the instructions are as follows;

Materials

  • approx 80 yds Bulky yarn (I used Loops & Threads Charisma)
  • 9mm (US 13) circular needles and 4 double points

Directions

  1. Cast on 56 stitches onto circular needles
  2. Join for working in the round, place a stitch marker. Be careful not to twist the stitches.
  3. Round 1:*K2P2, repeat to the end of the round
  4. Round 2-6: Repeat Round 1, 6 times
  5. Round 7: K7, P1
  6. Round 8: The following rows the Purl stitch needs to shift by 1 stitch to the left. Round 8 begins P1, *K7, P1, repeat * to end of round
  7. Round 9: begins K1, P1, *K7, P1 repeat *to end of round
  8. Knit until the piece is 6″ from bottom of cuff to working row
  9. Decrease Round 1: following the same pattern knit to the next P1 stitch. Place the marker. *P1, K2TOG, K6 repeat * to end of round ending with a P1 stitch (you may need to shift your marker one stitch)
  10. Decrease Round 2: *K6, P1 repeat * to end of round
  11. Switch to double points
  12. Decrease Round 3: same pattern but P1, K2TOG, K5
  13. Decrease Round 4: *K5, P1 repeat * to end of round
  14. Decrease round 5: same pattern but P1, K2TOG, K4
  15. Decrease round 6: *K4, P1 repeat * to end of round
  16. Decrease round 7: same pattern but P1, K2TOG, K3
  17. Decrease round 8: *K3, P1 repeat to end of round
  18. Decrease round 9: same pattern but P1, K2TOG, K2
  19. Decrease round 10: *K2, P1 repeat to end of round
  20. Decrease round 11: same pattern but P1, K2TGO, K1
  21. Decrease round 12: *K1, P1 repeat to end of round
  22. Decrease round 13: *K2TOG repeat to end of round
  23. Cast off, weave in ends.

 

Gryffindor Scarf

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I am having one of those “where did the time go moments”. Today is my son’s 8th birthday, and it seems like yesterday that I was swaddling a newborn. I enjoy the independence that he now has, but I miss the baby cuddles. I have traditionally made my kids gifts for their birthdays (and every other holiday known to man). I don’t get many crafting requests from the boys, but this year a certain someone is enthralled with Harry Potter and he requested a Gryffindor scarf.

I have knit a few scarves in my day, but usually they are not worn. It’s a great easy project but when it comes down to it, scarves are not needed here. It doesn’t get cold enough. They do however become handles, bridges, leashes for stuffies and various other tools of creativity. But in Making A Life fashion, if there is a request for a crafty project I jump on board. Plus I sent my son into my craft closet to search for the colours of yarn needed and he returned immediately with the exact right colours, so how could I say no.

Should you need to whip up a scarf, and you are a muggle without magical knitting powers here is the pattern;

This pattern is knit in the round on either US 10 – 6mm circular needles or 4 double points. I started it flat and it started to roll so I switched to knitting in the round. The yarn is Lion Brand Vanna’s choice in Mustard and Cranberry. Also needed is a 6mm or larger crochet hook for the fringe.

CO36 (divide 12 stitches per needle if using double points)
Join for working in the round, and place marker
Knit 20 rows Cranberry
Knit 20 rows Mustard
Repeat Cranberry and Mustard rows until there are at least 11 squares in alternating colours, ending with cranberry
Using a crochet hook add fringe

 

Yoga Socks

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yoga-socks-4_making-a-life

With every new year comes resolutions and I seem to make at least one similar resolution every year. Last year I resolved to listen to more music, and be more active. These resolutions went well together, and I did become more active while listening to music. This year I resolved to become a better listener, and to continue to be more active.

My resolution to be more active required the making of Yoga socks. I have been doing yoga in my living room but I end up with little people crawling under my downward dog. They also like to participate with me (really really close) by holding hands or sitting on me. My workout space is in my garage and it’s chilly, so I am thinking that if I wear socks maybe it won’t be so bad, and I won’t get interrupted by my little people. If you happen to have the same issues here is a pattern for yoga socks.

I was asked “what are yoga socks and why would I want them” by a follower the other day. In case you don’t know what, they are, they are socks designed to do yoga in. They come in a variety of forms but the main objective is allowing your toes to separate, and prevent you from slipping. You might want some if you are doing yoga in a cold space, or you really like to wear socks. I have a little issue in that my toes are attached, and the toe version of yoga socks will not work for me, so this is my solution.

Materials:

  • Fingerling weight #1 yarn – 3 stitches per inch
  • set of 4 double points and or 22″ circular needles – US 3/3.25 mm
  • large needle

Pattern:

  • ROW 1: CO64
  • ROW 2: Join and K2 P2* repeat to end of row
  • ROW 3-15: Repeat ROW 2
  • ROW 16-38: Knit desired length depending on the size of your feet (24 rows for my size 10 feet)
  • ROW 39: K2 P2* repeat for 32 stitches, K32
  • ROW 40-45: repeat row 39 5 times
  • ROW 46: K32, Cast off 32 (heel opening)
  • ROW 47: K32, Cast on 32
  • ROW 48: K64
  • ROW 49-63 : K64 – 15 times
  • ROW 64 : K2 P2* repeat to end of row
  • ROW 65-103: repeat row 64 38 times or desired length
  • ROW 104 – Cast off
  • Cut yarn leaving a long enough tail to weave in ends with a needle

This pattern is intended for personal use only. I offer this pattern for free but I request that you do not sell it or any product made from it.

Christmas Crafting – Day 12

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On the last day of Christmas Crafting my sister made for me…a Messy Bun Hat. Right now there is quite the knitting trend happening, with the creation of the messy bun hat. My sister sent me a message a few weeks ago hinting not so subtly that she might like me to make her a messy bun hat. So I did. There are a few patterns floating around on Ravelry (a knitting pattern site) but not many. When I can’t find what I want in the gauge or size I need I make it up. Here is my messy bun pattern if you wish to whip one up.

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Christmas Crafting – Day 11

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I have been on a knitting binge recently, which means lots of leftovers. I haven’t been feeding my family leftovers because of my knitting obsession, but rather I have a lot of leftover yarn. What do you do with the little scraps of leftover yarn? This is one project that uses leftover sock yarn. If you don’t have big feet then this one is for you. On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love made for me…Knit Ornaments.

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Christmas Crafting – Day 8

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For a while I was on a sock knitting kick. When I determined that I had enough pairs of knit socks, I moved on to finger less gloves. Same yarn different body part. On the eighth day of Christmas my true love knit for me…Fingerless Gloves. If you want to make some, the pattern can be found here. I shortened the pattern a little bit based on the amount of yarn I had. If you want to buy these, click here.

 

Christmas Crafting – Day 7

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We are in the midst of a cold spell on the island, and I am struggling to stay warm and cozy. The wool socks, and sweaters just aren’t cutting it. I am sure that I am not alone, so I made a few hats for the kids teachers. On the seventh day of Christmas a parent made for me a …Wool hat.

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