On the Needles


solstice

The Final Week of our Holiday Handcraft Countdown!

Numahka says…

This is one of my favorite times of year, and not for the reasons you’d probably expect. The Winter Solstice, regardless of what our traditions are – or how we choose to celebrate this holiday season, is something we can all look forward to. The return of the sun! I’m excited for the days to start getting longer and warmer. There is something about this knowledge (even in the midst of our longest night) that fills me with hope, joy, and the promise of new beginnings. Happy Holidays to all of you!

We have four last minute gifts to choose from this week. Whether you crochet or knit, I think you’ll find these lovely little projects to be gifts one uses year after year.

Crocheted, Lavender Filled Sachet

lavender_sachet

A quick little gift that celebrates one of our local agricultural projects. Each leaf side crochets up fast. You can backstitch on some leaf veins (or leave plain if you are in a hurry), then stitch together until you have a small hole into which to put a bit of fluff and lavender buds. Close up, weave in ends, and you’re done.

Materials:

(suggested, but can use a variety of weights and hooks):

  • 1 skein of Elemental Affect Natural Shetland Fingering (will make about a dozen ornaments)
  • Embroidery floss (for our set, we used color numbers 818 320 352 347 890)
  • Felt
  • Size B crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle

Knitted, Lavender Filled Pincushion

pincushion

Kerri Says…

This was a quick and fairly easy pattern that only took me the course of two movies to knit. The pattern can be made with bigger yarn and needles to really fly.

I made my pin cushion with Swans Island washable wool  – sport weight and size one needles.The pin cushion is knit flat and seamed, so you can use circular or straight needles.

We’ll include a scoop of lavender with yarn purchase if you brave the wind and rain to come see us!

Lavender-Filled Pin Cushion pattern

 

Knitted Ornament ~ Sheep Balls

sheep_ball

We used 4 skein of Elemental Affects, Natural Shetland – Fingering (this will make enough sheep balls to juggle – 3 or 4). We stuffed the ornament with wool instead of using the glass ornaments that the pattern suggests.

Pattern is $2.50 on ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sheep-balls

Crocheted Candy Ornament

candy_ornament

These candy ornaments are a snap to whip up. Just make a magic (adjustable) loop, and create a few rows of increasing circles. Then backstitch on colors of your choice. The pattern as written includes another row of the main color, but I decided that was verging a bit too close to being coaster-like. So I skipped the last row of crochet and went right to the backstitching.

I also would skip the step of punching a hole in the felt backing. In the comments, the pattern-writer notes she likes the light coming in through the un-closed magic loop and hole in the felt. I see her point, but think it’s just a little less fussy (and more candy-like!) to close up the hole.

I used colors to match the ribbon candy felt ornaments, but you could, obviously, use any colors you like! Use all red on a white background if you have a peppermint theme. Or red and green only for more traditional trees.

The ornaments are, like candy, somewhat addictive, and you can get quite a few out of one skein of yarn and one set of colored thread. A quick set stitched up and wrapped in tissue paper (with two twists, candy-style) with a candy cane as embellishment (may I suggest the Hammond candy canes currently at the co-op? Delicious) would make a lovely little hostess present or quick last-minute Christmas party gift.

Materials:

  • 1 skein of Elemental Affect Natural Shetland Fingering (will make about a dozen ornaments)
  • Embroidery floss (for our set, we used color numbers 818 320 352 347 890)
  • Felt
  • Size B crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle

 Pattern: Candy Crochet Ornaments (free on Purl Soho)

Bazaar Girls Holiday Handcraft Countdown:
Week Two!

aden_hat

Robert says…

I learned to knit a little over 10 years ago, while I was working as a welder in the Pacific Northwest. The working conditions were frequently cold and wet, and I needed clothing that kept me warm, and wasn’t flammable. Have you ever looked for a 100% wool hat in a store? They’re really hard to find! I decided to make my own, and this is my pattern.

nu_hat

Simple Ribbed Hat

This is a $4.00 in store pattern, and will soon be available on our website as a downloadable PDF.

gabriel_hat

Crocheted Christmas Cactus Hat

Leslie says…

I am a recent convert to fiber arts (within past few years), which probably explains my current zealotry and fervor. I’m not sure why I never tried it as a young person – I wasn’t opposed to crafts – but part of it might be that I grew up in Phoenix, AZ, where the need for warm knitted goods is…low.

Despite that low need for knitted goods, I’m undeterred this year in my plans to make warm presents for my mom and dad, who still live in AZ. My mom will get a scarf, which she might only wear during her idiosyncratic winter ritual of sitting in bed, cozily dressed, with coffee, with the windows open to let in the cold morning air. (You really can only appreciate warmth if you get cold.)

My dad is getting a hat for his hikes. Last Christmas morning, we went for a short hike on a nature trail near their home in AZ. Something was sparked and he’s spent much of this year hiking other trails in Phoenix, working towards a goal of 365 miles this year.

Most of the time, he wears a brimmed hat to keep out the sun (there isn’t a lot of shade on scrubby AZ hiking trails). But I am sure that at least once a winter in AZ, he will want a warm knit cap that can cover his ears on a hike.

And this hat will definitely keep him warm on that one very cold AZ day. It’s crocheted from two strands of Perfectly Posh Sport for extra thickness and warmth, while still retaining softness from the cashmere, silk, mohair and wool. (I also like that the color with the ribbing make it looks sort of like a little barrel cactus. Very AZ-appropriate.)

Because I doubled up on a lighter weight yarn, I did need to use more than one skein (it’s on sale so now’s the time to indulge in this super soft yarn!). However, if you use the worsted called for in the pattern, you’ll probably just need one skein.

gabriel_hat2

What’s nice about this pattern is it includes overall measurements, not just row count, so if you do choose to use different yarn, as I did, you can just work to the measurements and the pattern will still work. (You might, as I did, need to do a few extra rows of single crochet/single crochet decrease at the crown to get the top to close.) It also includes for adult and kid sizes.

Materials:

Variable! As mentioned above, it’s possible to make a variety of sizes, with/without brim, etc., and use different yarns/hooks. For this particular Cactus Cap, I used about 1 ⅓ skeins of Perfectly Posh Sport in Shiny Moss. I doubled up the strands and used a G hook. You could use the remaining yarn to make matching mitts!

PatternBasic Ribbed Hat (free on Ravelry)

Holiday Handcraft Countdown: Week Three!

This week’s knitting project is matching mitts for
‘This Year’s Hat’.

kerri_mitts

This set is made from Little Gidding Farms’ Suri Alpaca

nu_mitts

This set is made holding a strand of Debauchery (lace) from Spincycle
held together with Jorstad Creek’s mohair and silk – Isle of Sky

Materials:

  • Set of US size 3 dpn
  • 200 yds fingering weight yarn (This is approximate. The yarns we suggest will make both the hat and the mitts)
  • Stitch holder

Pattern:

CO 36 stitches and distribute them evenly so you have 12 sts on each needle. Join in the round being careful not to twist.

Knit 6 rnds

K1, P1 rib for 6 rnds

K every rnd until mitt measures 4 inches from cast on edge

Thumb gusset:

Rnd 1 K2, M1R, K1, M1L, Knit around

Rnd 2 Knit

Rnd 3 K2, M1R, K3, M1L, K around

Rnd 4 Knit

Rnd 5 K2, M1R,  K5, K around

Rnd 6 knit

Rnd 7 K2, M1R, k7, M1L, K around

Rnd 8 Knit

Rnd 9 Knit 2 M1R, K9, M1L, K around

Rnd 10 Knit

Rnd 11 K2 backwards loop cast in 5 sts put 11 sts on holder for thumb, continue  to K around

Rnd 12 K1, sl1, K1, psso,K3, K2tog, K around

Rnd 13 K1, sl1,K1, psso, K1, K2tog

Knit around until mitt reaches 1/2 inch less than desired total length

K1, P1 rib for 6 rnds

K 6 rnds

Thumb K across 11 thumb sts
Pick up 4 sts atop of thumb for a total of 15 thumb sts

crochet_mitts

For those of you that would rather crochet ‘ Faded Lace Mitts’  is a free ravelry download that pares nicely with the ‘ Twisted Flapper hat’.

crochet_mitts2

Faded lace mitts

Bazaar Girls Holiday Handcraft Countdown:
Week Four!

a&i_scarves

Crochet: Sportsball Scarf

(Chimacum Cowboys Edition)

a&i_scarves2

Leslie says…

My sport appreciation is really just an appreciation of other people’s good time. When the Seahawks are doing well, I’m happy that everyone else is happy. (When the Seahawks are doing poorly, I’m bummed that everyone else is bummed.)

I like the sound of a football game on TV in the background while I do something else (it always sounds cheerful and lively, and brings with it positive associations of fall and winter holidays), but I don’t actually have to watch or follow the game in the slightest to get the positive effect.

Crocheting a sportsball scarf as a non-sport-follower is similar: I might not have a deep connection to the team colors, but someone else will and that’s great!

This pattern was quick and simple. This would be an excellent beginner project if you are new to crochet. Just chain 200 and off you go!

I did make a modification by making the center blue row twice as thick as the pattern called for. I like a little bit of a wider scarf and wanted to use more of the blue to make the white more of an accent. If you do this, you will use up almost an entire skein of your main color.

The version we are showing is fringe-free, but if you’d like to add fringe, with the above modification, you’ll have plenty of your secondary color to make fringe. If you would like to make fringe with both colors, follow the pattern exactly as written (it will be narrower and all your main color rows will be the same width) in order to have some of your main color leftover. (If you are a beginner and would like some help learning how to make fringe, this is a good video.)

Materials:

  • 2 skein worsted weight yarn
    • Suggested yarn
      • For the team coach (your kid is playing a lot this season): Kraemer Perfection (We used cobalt and Snowflake to make Chimacum Cowboys colors.)
  • Size H 5mm crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle 

Pattern: Color His [or Her!] World Scarf – free Ravelry download

a&i_scarves3

Knitting: Sportsball Scarf
(Port Townsend Red Hawk edition)

Kerri says…

The only sportsball that’s watched at my house is grand slam tennis.  Should Roger Federer decide to assign himself colors, I would be happy to knit with them. My husband has given up trying to explain the scoring to me. You cannot tell me it is not  the worst scoring method in all of sportsball. I don’t  need to understand the scoring in order to look up from my knitting and occasionally appreciate Roger’s shall we say “form.”

Materials:

  • 2 skein worsted weight yarn
    • Suggested yarn
      • Kraemer Perfection (We used Onyx and Crimson to make Port Townsend Red Hawk colors.)
  • 40” size 13 needle

 Pattern:

With main color cast on 180 sts

K 8 rows

Change to contrast color Knit 2 rows contrast color

Knit 2 rows main color

Knit 2 rows contrast

Knit 2 rows main

Knit 2 rows  contrast

Knit 2 rows main

Knit 8 rows contrast

Knit 2 rows main

Knit 2 rows contrast

Knit 2 rows main

Knit 2 rows contrast

Knit  2 rows main

Knit 2 rows contrast

Knit 8 rows main and bind off loosely

Bazaar Girls Holiday Handcraft Countdown:
Week Five!

boot_cuffs

We’re already in week three of our Holiday Handcraft Countdown. Week one was neck-wear, week two ladies’ hats, and this week it’s boot cuffs, the dickey of the lower leg.

A boot cuff really couldn’t be a simpler or quicker gift project, but for whatever reason, both of us (Kerri and Leslie) were weirdly challenged by our initial attempt. You can benefit from our struggles as the patterns we have for you below will NOT be as taxing.

boot_cuffs2

Crochet: Rib Boot Cuffs

Leslie says…

Normally I’m kind of smug about my ability to pick good patterns or recipes but when it comes to boot cuffs, I was a good girl going after bad boys and being baffled when things don’t work out. I tried and abandoned THREE patterns before I just decided to make my own (which worked like a charm). I had a visitor in town during this time and she threatened to take the project away from me if I started it over one more time. The discarded carcasses of unsuccessful toppers were batted under my couch by my cat, and I don’t care if I ever see them again. But the pattern below is solid, I promise! You will be spared the frustration and wasted effort and time (crucial as the weeks continue to tick down to the holidays.)

Materials:

  • 1 skein worsted weight yarn
    • Suggested yarns
      • For your favorite sister: Malabrigo Worsted
      • For your other sister: Lamb’s Pride (we used Persian Peacock)
  • Size I 5.5mm crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Buttons (optional)

 Pattern:

  • Chain 27
  • DC in 3rd chain from hook and DC across chain
  • Chain 2 and turn
  • DC in back loop in 2nd stitch from hook and in each stitch across
  • Repeat until fabric measures desired length*
  • Join row 1 and final row with slip stitches
  • Weave in ends
  • Fold over
  • Sew on buttons

*This cuff is crocheted flat and joined into a round, so you can easily make it shorter or longer as you like! Just measure as you go along (as above, 12-13 inches is a good medium-sized cuff) and when it’s as long as you need, join the first row to your final row. The back loop stitches give it a lot of stretch, so err on the side of being a little snug.

knit_bootcuff

Knitting: Farrow Rib Boot Cuffs

Kerri says…

I know we’re supposed to be knitting gifts, but my little red boot cuffs are for me! Thank you me! You’re welcome.

As previously promised you will not see decorations or hear Christmas music at the shop until after Thanksgiving, but you might see me in my boot cuffs. Is there a more perfect accessory with which to kick off the season? I think you know the answer.

I’ve only finished one, and can already hear Johnny Mathis and taste schnapps.

Let’s make a date: Nip’n’Knit December 3rd,  I’ll bring the peppermint schnapps, cocoa and Christmas music, you bring your super cute boot cuffs that you may or may not give to a friend. Is that shortbread thumbprints I smell? I think you know it is.

Materials:

  • 1 skein DK weight yarn
    • Suggested yarns
      • For your daughter: Baah DK Sonoma (we used Burmese Red)
      • For the second cousin you got for Secret Santa: Kraemer Perfection
  • Size 5 16-in circular

Pattern:

  1. Cast on 60*
  2. Rnd 1 K2, P1 repeat around
  3. Rnd 2 K1, P2 repeat around
  4. Repeat rnds 1 and 2 until cuff measures 4.5 inches.

 

Bazaar Girls Holiday Handcraft Countdown: Week Six!

Sabi_hat

Modern Twist Flapper Hat

Leslie says…

This hat is a cute twist (pun unavoidable) on the simple crochet beanie. It starts with a basic beanie pattern crocheted in a spiral, then transitions to a row section for the cloche brim. The top portion increases in such a way to create the subtle “twist” spiral at the crown, and the cloche section is stitched in the back loops only to create texture on the brim. These details, along with your choice of cute buttons, add a little extra something-something to a quick and simple beanie.

 
One note from my experience:

I think the pattern is written for a loose crocheter. I tend to crochet pretty tightly, so I found I needed to add an extra increase row or two, then crochet more rows in the rest of the spiral and brim section. These were easy adjustments to make, so keep them in mind if you also feel like the hat is crocheting up small. Also be aware this might mean you use up more of the skein than the pattern called for; I ended up using about 75% of the 100 gram skein of America’s Alpaca, instead of 50% as the pattern indicated.

 

This hat work up quickly. I liked the store sample so much, I made another spontaneously for a visiting friend and it only took me some concentrated time over two days from start to finish. She loved it and started wearing it right away! The first was in America’s Alpaca rose with a cool translucent beige button, the second in charcoal with a silver button. Picking out the buttons is part of the fun of working on this pattern!

 

Materials:

  • Approx 50g of Any DK yarn  (see note above)
  • Suggested yarns:
  • For your favorite sister:
  • For your favorite aunt:
  • For your favorite second cousin:
  • 4mm Crochet Hook, US(G/6), UK(8)
  • 1” or larger Button
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Stitch Marker

Pattern: Modern Twist Flapper by Natalie Bates (buy online or at the shop)

k&k

This Year’s Hat

Kerri says…

I lose hats. If I can hold onto one for a whole season before it disappears, I don’t beat myself up too much.  I made the first version of this hat couple of months ago. I was so pleased with it, I started wearing it well before the weather deemed necessary, and lost it on maybe its fourth outing – along with my notes on the pattern.

 

I know better, nothing exists until it exists in a Google doc. I’ve lost significantly more scraps of paper and notebooks than hats. I’m relatively good with hats, especially if I only wear them when it’s actually cold.  If you step out of the Rose Theatre and it’s 40 degrees out, you immediately know you left your hat. If you were just trying to look cute in 63 degrees, you may never see your hat again.

 

“How do you lose a hat?” Someone asked from our knitting group. I didn’t understand the question.

k&k2

Thankfully my pattern notes surfaced:

With Size 3 16in circular needles and a skein of sock yarn or lace weight yarn held together with a lace weight mohair.

 

Cast on 108 sts, place marker for beginning of round, join for knitting in the round.

Rnds 1-6  K

 

Rnds 7-12  K1, P1 rib

 

Rnd 13 K

 

Switch to size 4 16in circular needles

 

Rnds 14-19 K

 

Rnd 20 K5, pm, K1, pm  *(K11, pm,K1,pm) repeat from *to* 7 more times

K 6

 

You know have 18 new markers. Center marker stays the same and always denotes beginning of round.

 

Rnd 21 K to first new marker, m1r, sm, k1, sm, m1l, repeat 8 times, k to end of rnd. 18 sts increased (126 sts)

 

Rnd 22 K

 

Repeat rows  21 and 22 five more times. You will have a total of 216 st.

 

Rnd 33-37 Knit

 

Rnd 38  K to 2 sts before first marker ssk, sm, K1, sm, K2tog repeat 8 more times, K to end of round.

 

Rnd 39 Knit

 

Repeat rounds 38-39 five more times.

 

Rnd 50-53 Knit removing all markers except the beginning of round marker.

 

Top decrease

 

Rnd 54 K16 K2tog repeat around

Rnd 55 K

Rnd 56 k15 k2tog repeat around

Rnd 57 K

Rnd 58 K14 K2tog repeat around

Rnd 59 K

Rnd 60 K13, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 61 K

Rnd 62 K12, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 63 K

Rnd 64 K11, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 65 K

Rnd 66 K10, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 67 K9, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 68 K8, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 69 K7, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 70 K6, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 71 K5, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 72, K4, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 73, K3, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 74, K2, K2tog, repeat around

Rnd 75, K1, K2tog,repeat around

Rnd 76, K2tog, repeat around

6 sts remain.  Break off a long enough tail to thread thru remaining sts and weave in.

 

You will have enough yarn remaining to make a matching pair of mitts ! Pattern to come.

k&k3

k&k4

This week, the project theme is:  Neckwear!

Knitting: Lovely Scarf for a Man or a Woman

Kerri says…

For planned downtime, knitting and feel-good television counts as therapy. I woke up an hour early this morning to knit and watch Jane the Virgin and I feel good! Happy stories, pretty colors, physical flow: not a bad way to start and end your day.
 
This is a four row pattern that is easy to memorize. Mark row one as the right side with a movable stitch marker  (so you can bring it up as it gets farther away).

The beauty of this pattern is that the row below is always your guide. On the wrong side, if you see a knit, knit, see a purl, purl. On the right side, do the opposite. Do this for the first two stitches in each row. then just relax into a soothing K2,P2 rhythm.

Some TV series suggestions: Call the Midwife, 30 Rock, Derrick (all on Netflix). Derrick will make you cry and slow your knitting, but they’re happy tears and those aren’t  easy to come by. Ok they’re easy for me, but I’m a premenopausal woman with a sun and moon in Pisces. Do you have a favorite series for your handcrafting time? Leave your suggestions on Facebook!

 
Materials:

  • 2 skeins worsted weight yarn (actually 1.5 so for 3 skeins you can make two or save your second half for a later post holiday season project.
    • Suggested yarns
      • For your cute UPS man: Kraemer Perfection
      • For your favorite baby sitter: worsted Malabrigo superwash
      • For the one you love: Swans Island worsted weight naturals
  • US seven needle circular or straight

Pattern:

  1. Cast on 34 sts.
  2. Row 1: K2, *P2, K2* rep from *to* to end
  3. Row 2: P2, *K2, P2* rep from *to* to end
  4. Row 3 P2, *K2, P2* rep from*to* to end (or repeat row three not sure which is better)
  5. Row 4 K2, *P2, K2* rep from *to* to end
  6. Repeat rows one thru four until desired length bind off loosely.

Crochet: Seed Stitch Cowl

Leslie says…

Normally, I’m with Kerri (in spirit if not physically) in enjoying my handcraft projects while watching some Netflix, but this quick cowl (modeled here by Heather) was almost entirely made while catsitting and listening to podcasts.

My neighbors were away for a few days, and since their dog tends to eat their cats’ food, I needed to hang out for about a half hour each morning to make sure the feline contingent had a chance to eat their food before Bean, the pup, stuck her nose in.

I am not a morning person, so this simple project of alternating front- and back-loop crocheting was ideal for me sitting there as the sun rose, listening to the BBC Global News podcast and drinking Earl Grey tea. If my attention wandered, I only needed to go back to the last stitch to figure out where I needed to be. Was the last stitch a back-loop stitch? Then this one’s a front one. Simple enough for a sluggish morning mind or during holiday distractions.
 
I really enjoyed the feel of the Misty Alpaca yarn I used; its soft smoothness was a pleasure to work with and also made the early hour slightly more bearable.

Materials:

  • 2 skeins of Bulky weight yarn, about 110 yards (100 meters) per 100 grams
    • Suggested yarns
      • For your lifelong BFF: Misty Alpaca Handpainted bulky
      • For your work BFF: Misty Alpaca Natural Dyes bulky
      • For your newest BFF: Misty Alpaca standard bulky
  • 7 mm hook
  • Tapestry needle and scissors

Pattern: Seed Stitch Cowl by Katya Novikova (buy online or at the shop)