Carmen's Yarn Projects

Addi Express Knitting Machine

2011-04-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

One of my latest toys is the Addi Express. I read some reviews and looked at the product and decided I had to have one. It knits tubes using ww yarn. Mine was purchased at Paradise Fibers because they had the best price. It's very easy to operate as long as appropriate yarn is used. I've tried JoAnn Sensations and leftover bits of different kinds.

I had no interest in making scarves but came up with a way to make fingerless gloves. I knit the tube with scrap yarn at both ends. Then I put each end on needles and did some ribbing. After that I cut 4 stitches where I wanted the thumb, did a row of single crochet which was put on needles, and did 4-5 rows of ribbing.

What I really wanted to make was socks. Then I learned Cat Bordhi had written a book of patterns just for the Addi Express. Paradise Fibers carries Quick Knits for the Addi Express and it includes patterns for socks, a purse, a scarf, and earwarmers. The directions are very clear and I've made quite a few socks. The only thing is that lightweight yarn doesn't work. Since my stash included lots and lots of JoAnn Sensations, that's what I've been using. The socks are very soft and stretchy but are more like house socks than for wearing with shoes. Just like with the fingerless gloves, the Addi Express makes the tubes and rest of the sock is handwork. But I find it much faster than doing the whole sock by hand and it's a nice change.

Bracelet Purses and Shower Puffs

2011-04-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

It's almost time for the Farmers' Market so I've been working on some new items. The handles on these little purses are small bracelets. The metallic bracelets were purchased at Fred Meyer.

The plastic handles shown here were found with the Easter things at the Dollar Store. All purses were knit in the round. I cast on 16 stitches using a size 8 circular needle and just kept knitting until the purse looked proportionate. Then I added 4 row of garter stitch and bound off. A final round of single crochet was added which allowed me to attach the bracelets.

I kept seeing shower puffs and found many patterns for them. I decided to try the one by Lyanna Anderson because it wasn't as large as most of them. These are made of cotton yarn. They work up quickly in bright, cheery colors.

Crocheted Socks and Knit Freedom

2011-02-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Someone in the Ravelry Crocheted Sock group mentioned a pattern new to me. It's called Tullow Socks and has a very different construction. It begins with the heel, adds a strip around the ankle, and goes down to the toes. Then it goes up the leg. I like it better than any crocheted pattern I've tried. On these socks, I added a shell pattern to the leg.

Liat Gat's blog, Knit Freedom, is good for both beginning and experienced knitters. She offers very clear videos of different knitting techniques including magic loop, continental knitting, and making socks. She also sells ebooks that link to these videos. Both of these socks were made with a size 7 magic loop and Cotton Ease yarn using her basic sock pattern. I added patterns to the legs. Using worsted weight yarn wasn't something I'd considered before but they are great for practicing magic loop and continental knitting.

AKB Sock Loom

2011-01-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

After many times of looking at the American Knitting Board Sock Loom at JoAnn's, I finally broke down and bought one. The pegs are pretty far apart for the sock yarn in the craft stores so I wasn't sure how it would work out. Surprisingly, it's okay and I love how easy the short row heels and toes are. My first project was a pair of baby socks. Now I'm working on a pair of footies. My plan is to get a second loom so I can work back and forth on them and have both footies done about the same time. That's the way I do my needle knit socks.

2010 Wrap-Up and 2011 Beginning

2011-01-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

Seems like my crochet hooks were in constant use over the holiday season. One popular item was fingerless mitts. I liked the Punk Crochet Wrist Warmers by Midnight Knitter but it wasn't quite what I wanted. Here are a couple of variations I made based on her pattern.

When I wanted to make some slippers, I found Mary Jane Slippers by Lisa. They're very easy and she has wonderful illustrations. I ended up using a G hook and changing to sc but otherwise followed her design. Here are some of my slippers:

Once the nights began to get colder, my toes froze when I went to bed. So I made some bedsocks for my toes that could be kicked off when they warmed up.

More Berenguer Outfits

2010-08-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

I'm still making doll clothes, using a size 6 crochet hook and #3 thread.

Here's a Girl's Colorful Dress from Itsy Bitsy Babies and Their Bassinet Purses, available from Annie's Attic.

This dress was a variation of the Ladybug Dress .

A friend showed me this Karate Kid outfit. It was so cute I had to make my own. No pattern, just pants and a shirt as done in other patterns.

And here is an 8 in. Berenguer wearing an outfit called Becky's Bed Doll designed by Amy Carrico.

5 inch Berenguer Babies

2010-08-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist these dolls after seeing them in catalogs from Annie's Attic and Mary Maxim. After much experimentation, it was apparent that what suited me best was crocheting clothes with number 3 cotton thread. Here are some of the results:

from Itsy Bitsy Babies and Their Bassinet Purses

Lavendar Rose Dress set from Amy's Crochet World

Hoodie and Jeans set from Amy's Crochet World

Jeffrey's All-Star Romper set from Amy's Crochet World

Capri set from Amy's Crochet World

For those who prefer knitting, there are wonderful patterns available at Creative Knit Designs. And if you're on Ravelry, try My Mini Nursery.

Look Out for Teddy Bears

2010-05-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Interested in crocheting some teddy bears? Here are some patterns I've tried.

Becky's Crocheted Teddy is made in a flat piece, starting with the legs, working up the body to the head, and going back down the other side. Then it is sewn together and stuffed.

These two were made from a pattern called Crochet Teddies and Bunnies and are made in pieces. The legs and arms are attached as the body is made. The muzzle and tail are made separately and sewn on. The ears are crocheted onto the head.

These colorful teddies are Jelly Beanz Bearz by Christal Friend. The green one came first. The muzzle seemed a little short so I added a row on the rest of them. These are crocheted in pieces, but the legs and arms are crocheted on as the body is made.

Mini Key Ring Purses

2010-04-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a cute way to use up sock yarn scraps. Look here for the free pattern. It shows 4 variations and includes the directions for all.

Knitted Lip Balm Cozy

2010-04-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick project that uses scraps of yarn. These were all made with bits of sock yarn. Click here for the pattern.

Bias Cup Cozy

2010-04-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

I've been playing with ideas for cup cozies. I wanted something heavy enough to protect fingers from a hot drink and sturdy enough to stand up so it's easier to get the cup in. Here is my result. I really like it in variegated yarns.

Directions for Bias Cup Cozy

size G crochet hook
worsted weight acrylic yarn (doesn't take much)
Crochet in the back loop through out to create the ridge.
Row 1:
Chain 12 Work 2 single crochet in second chain from hook, then crochet one single crochet in each chain across
to last 2 chains. Crochet the last 2 chains together. Chain 1 and turn. (11 stitches)
Row 2:
Single crochet the first 2 stitches together, then crochet one single crochet in each stitch across to the last stitch. Work 2 single crochet in the last stitch. Chain 1 and turn. (11 stitches)
Row 3:
Work 2 single crochet in the first stitch, then crochet one single crochet in each stitch across to the last 2 stitches. Single crochet the last 2 stitches together . Chain 1 and turn (11 stitches).
Repeat rows 2 &3 for a total of 21 rows. Slipstitch the ends together.
Single crochet around the top, doing a pattern of 1 sc in two rows, then 2 sc in third row. Do a second row with 1 sc in each sc. Join, cut yarn, and weave in end. Do the same on the bottom of the cozy.

Parade of Spring Hats

2010-04-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that postings have been a bit sparse lately. Therefore, here are some of the hats I've been making. All linked patterns are free downloads. And all of them are pretty easy to make.

Here we have a Crocheted Shell Stitch Preemie Hat. It's a stitch I haven't used with a hat before and I like the way it looks.

And this is the Mock Cable Baby Hat. It is very easy to make and does not use cable needles.

Here is a basic crocheted beanie with fdp's to add interest.

I've done this type of design on the Knifty Knitter but not on needles. The Simple Hat Pattern gave directions for this variation.

It's getting close to the time the local Farmers' Market will open so I've been looking for some new brimmed hats to sell.

The Beanie Brim Hat is a free pattern available on Ravelry. It really isn't flat on top; that's just the shape of my flower pot.

The Nubby Brim Cloche is another pattern from Ravelry.

The last hat is a Crocheted Brimmed Hat. It is fuller and looks like it will let your head breathe.

All of these hats were made with acrylic yarns. I'm planning on making the last three with cotton yarns as we get into summer.

Winter Olympics 2010

2010-03-05T14:39:00.000-08:00

Rather than joining any of the Olympics groups on Ravelry, I decided to do my own thing. My project was to see how many pairs of socks I could crochet during the Olympics. All were made in my size and done the same way: F hook, hdc foot, afterthought heel, v-stitch leg, and 3 rows of "ribbing" (fpdc and bpdc). The final count was 9 pair --- woo hoo!

Crocheted Socks

2010-02-22T09:42:00.001-08:00

Recently I decided to crochet a pair of socks. Ravelry has a group for that and I got some helpful information there about good basic patterns.

For my first pair I used the Ultimate Crocheted Socks pattern. It calls for an F hook so the socks worked up very quickly. With the esc stitch, they were also soft. The pattern has a nice explanation of a short-row heel.

Next I tried Vee Socks for Me. For this pair I used Sockotta yarn, an F hook, and a short-row heel. The foot of the sock is hdc and the leg is the v-stitch.

Here is a variation of the Vee Sock for Me. Again it is sockotta yarn and an F hook. On these socks I did hdc on the sole of the foot and the v-stitch on top of the foot and on the leg. The heel is afterthought. I love the way the heel looks. I wasn't quite sure about the afterthought heel and found a very clear explanation here.

For me, crocheting a pair of socks is much quicker than knitting them. They are a little bulkier but not uncomfortable to wear. I like using an F hook because it's faster and the sock fabric is a little looser. I like using hdc instead of sc for the same reasons. I think I'll make some more.

Mostly Hats

2010-01-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

I can't seem to stop making the Short Rows Wavy Hat . It's so easy and really shows off the colors in the yarn because of being knit sideways.

James C. Brett makes Marble Chunky yarn in gorgeous colors. The skein is 200 g and an adult hat takes only 1.85 oz.
This hat is made from MC8.

I made this hat by following the directions but using size 8 needles instead of 10. When the hat measured 19 inches along the brim, I stopped and kitchenered the seam. This is the same yarn but a different colorway. An adult hat from this skein had sharp divisions of color but this size sort of blends from one color to another. This color is MC3.

I've been wanting to try slipstitching with 2 colors and found this pattern. The slipstitching is supposed to extend from the brim to the crown but I stopped early.

And here is another pair of Sockotta socks. I lost the band when I wound the yarn into 2 balls a few years ago so can't identify the yarn. This is the basic toe-up fleegle-heel sock I've been making lately.

Hat Frenzy

2010-01-10T12:09:00.001-08:00

It all started with the idea of making a masculine hat. This is one of Vanna's Choice yarns. It's okay but nothing special.

Then I used the same yarn and needles but did a baby hat. What a difference in the way the yarn looks. I think I was using size 9 needles. Guess I need to use smaller needles on the adult hat next time.

That got me back into making baby hats. This is Bernat Baby Jacquards - I'm a Big Boy. I used size 7 needles instead of the recommended 6 so the pattern isn't quite as defined.

Here I used Baby Marble by James C. Brett.

The colors in sock yarn are so tempting but my stash is out of control. So I bought one skein of this yarn and made a baby hat. It's Paton Kroy Socks - Mexicala Stripes.

My latest craze is shortrowing. This hat is a combination of patterns and is made with Sensations Rainbow Classic Pattern - Turquoise Rainbow.

I ran across this pattern on Ravelry. It's called the Short Rows Wavy Hat and looks great with variagated yarn. Here is a pink and green hat made from Bernat Softee Chunky - Summerset Ombre.

And this hat is made from Red Heart Super Saver - Peruvian Print.

Yarn Scraps Hat and Socks

2009-12-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist trying this when I read about it. The idea is to make a magic ball of yarn scraps. Cut pieces of yarn from 1 - 3 feet long and tie them together. Be sure to mix up the lengths when tying them. Knit a hat and pull all of the knots to the outside. Trim the ends so they are relatively even.

Finally had a chance to finish the socks that were put aside while bazaar items were in the works. Unfortunately, by the time the socks were finished I'd forgotten what the yarn was.

These are from my Sockotta stash and have a fleegle heel. This is a new technique for me and I really like it.

Same with these. My Sockotta stash has been around for awhile. When I got my yarnwinder, I pulled out the skeins of Sockotta and divided them into 2 balls each so they were ready to be knit up two at a time. It didn't occur to me to keep the labels. So now I can show them off but can't identify them.

More Bazaar Items

2009-11-25T10:56:00.001-08:00

Lately I've been working on little purses and I've come up with a basic recipe and some variations.

Theses are made with Red Heart yarn and have fun fur-type flaps.

These are a combination of a fancy thin yarn and Red Heart yarn. When possible, I used a button to close the purse.

When I didn't have the right color button, I chained a tie and threaded it through eyelets.

Basic Little Purse

Size 10 circular needles

Whatever yarn you want

J crochet hook if crocheting the strap

Using Judy's Magic Cast-on, cast on 18 stitches per needle. Knit in the round until the purse is 4-1/2 inches long. Bind off the stitches from one needle on the next round and cut yarn. Attach fun fur (or whatever you are using for the flap) and do garter stitch until flap is desired length. (I make an eyelet in the middle of the flap a couple of rows before I'm going to bind off. This acts as a buttonhole.) Bind off.

The strap can be a 3 stitch i-cord or you can chain the length you want and slip stitch back along chain. Attach strap to sides and add a button to the front to secure the flap.

Variation:

Using both a fun fur-type yarn and a basic ww yarn, follow the directions above until the purse is 3-1/2 inches long. Cut the fun fur and continue to knit. On the third round, make an eyelet in the center of the front for a buttonhole. Knit 3 more rounds and bind off. Make a strap, attach it, sew on a button, and you're done.

Christmas Bazaar Projects

2009-11-19T11:14:00.001-08:00

I've been working on projects for a bazaar.

Here is Olivia's Butterfly. It is a free pattern and a quick project. I used Vanna's Baby Yarn.

This hat is Bow-licious Babe. It is one of Connie Haney's patterns and includes information for making different sizes. The yarns are Vanna's Baby Yarn, Red Heart Melonberry and Seagrass.

And this is Connie Haney's Iced Coffee Sweat-R. When not needed, it can be tucked into a ball.

Scrubbie Dots

2009-10-21T10:38:00.001-07:00

These little scrubbies are for washing dishes. The pattern is by Doni Speigle and is available on Ravelry. They are cute and very easy to make. Mine are doubled, meaning I made two and joined them with the single crochet edging.

Fpdc hats

2009-10-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

Just basic beanies but I enjoy playing with different looks. Both of these are made with the fpdc stitch.

Fluffy Knit Purse

2009-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

Michael's had a Learn-to-Knit kit that made a very cute purse. It seemed like a nice, simple project for practicing my lever knitting. The purse turned out so cute I had to make another one.

Loomed Scarves

2009-10-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

My friend has recently begun looming and selected scarves as her project of choice. We have found that using a single strand of yarn on the blue Knifty Knitter and knitting a flat panel works nicely. A skein of Red Heart or Homespun makes a scarf that is 18 stitches wide and 60 inches long. There is usually a little left over so I've been crocheting hats to go with her scarves.

Elena is modeling a set made with Red Heart Fiesta.

Here the scarf is made with Homespun that has a gold thread in it.

And this set is made from JoAnns Rainbow Classic Pattern yarn.

WoolEase Cup Cozies

2009-09-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

Lately we've been having very warm weekdays and drizzle or rain on Saturdays. It's been quite the adventure showing off projects for prospective customers without getting us or the goods wet. Almost as important has been trying to keep my mocha warm. Finally I remembered these cozies and found my directions here on the blog. They're crocheted with 2 strands of woolease. That makes them stiff enough to be able to insert a full cup without spilling and thick enough to protect the fingers. The wool part of the yarn keeps the drink warm and they are washable. My original pattern was 13 rows because I was buying ventes. These cozies are 10 rows so they work on smaller cups.

More Tams

2009-09-03T18:35:00.001-07:00

I'm still crocheting tams. These first two were made with Sensations Rainbow Classic Pattern yarn from JoAnn's. The color is Green Rainbow Classic and it is self-striping. The yarn is very soft.

Just beginning from a different place in the yarn gives a whole new look to the hat.

This tam was made with Sensations Rainbow Boucle Multi (also from JoAnn's) and the color is Black Rainbow Boucle Multi. It is also extremely soft.

Here's my variation of the basic tam again. This hat was crocheted from Homespun Regency with a blue yarn as the contrast.

And this one was made with Homespun Harvest with yellow for the contrast. It was very exciting to see how the Homespun created rings of different colors.

If anyone wants to know how to make this variation, let me know.

Tams

2009-08-30T14:11:00.001-07:00

After all of the cotton projects this summer, I'm ready for something different. This is a Tofu Cutie's basic tam made with Tudor Homespun. This hat was made according to the pattern but with an I hook.

The Mediterranean Homespun used on this hat seemed a little blah so I dressed it up with a contrasting color and some stitch variations.

Sock Summit

2009-08-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Living in Portland and being a sock knitter, I just had to attend the recent Sock Summit. I was lucky enough to get a class (one out of the six I wanted) and really enjoyed it. People I saw and met were very friendly. Most people, when observed sitting around resting or eating, were knitting.

I saw Stephanie (the Yarn Harlot) a few times and even got a picture with her (taken on a cell phone so don't try to enlarge it). This was taken on Registration Day before everything got nuts with knitters.

And I was able to attend the book signing and have her sign my copy of Knitting Rules. She was very relaxed and friendly. The woman ahead of me brought in a dishcloth of South Dakota, which Stephanie didn't have. She was very excited and willing to pose for a picture. She even suggested a second shot because she could tell her expression wasn't good on the first one. This was during the first 15 minutes. I read on Ravelry that later on she was so tired she wasn't sure what she was writing.

The Market Place was amazing and fun to visit but definitely overwhelming. Lots of gorgeous colors and socks on display and all kinds of patterns and tools and accessories available for purchase.

Fancier Summer Hats

2009-07-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

These two hats are my basic bucket hat with a white band containing coordinating beads.

And this hat has a simple chain at the top with beads that match the hat. The colors remind me of sherbet.

This is the Textured Child's Spiral Hat with an added brim. It's very eye-catching with colorful yarn and the contrasting spiral.

Two New Cozies

2009-07-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

My newest product at the Farmer's Market was a real hit. This is a Chapstick/Lip Balm Holder. It has a keychain ring attached and holds a lip balm. I took 4 of them today and sold 5.

Last week a lady asked me to make cozies for the handles on her refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. Her appliances are stainless steel and she was tired of cleaning up the handprints left by her husband and son.

Here is one of them. It is long enough for a man's hand.

And here it is on my refrigerator door. It's not something I would have thought of but I think it will do the job.

Masa Bag

2009-07-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

While looking for simple purses to make for the Farmer's Market, I came across this bag. It's called the Masa Bag. The pattern is written for a full-size bag for an adult. My version, for a child or teen, is smaller and takes about 1 skein of Sugar 'n Cream.

The bag is a simple crocheted rectangle and the fun comes when you fold it into the bag. This second bag was made of 4 colors to give an idea of how it's folded.

Red, White and Blue

2009-06-19T12:12:00.001-07:00

Since we're nearing the 4th of July, I've been working on appropriate hats. (The funny shape is due to the ceramic bird underneath the hats.)

My personal challenge has been to make each hat different from the others.

I'm liking the addition of stripes.

Sizes range from toddler to youth to adult.

The unusual settings are thanks to my neighbor Carol. She has an amazing assortment of things in her garden.

WWKIP Day

2009-06-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

A customer at the Farmer's Market challenged me to make a hat with a smiley face. I found the smiley pattern and then made a minor adjustment to my usual hat pattern.

These small purses were my new additions last Saturday. One small girl lit up when her mom handed her the middle one with the purple flap. I started the day with four and sold four so it looks like I need to make more. It's a great way to use up yarn left from my cotton hats.

A week ago I started Caroline on a purse using the blue loom. She had 3 inches completed when the market ended. She continued knitting on the purse at home until it was 6-1/2 inches long. On Saturday she learned how to remove it from the loom and sew up the bottom. Then she learned how to do an i-cord and made her handle. I chained a loop for the closure and sewed on the beads she chose and her purse was done!

Here are Nan and me and Caroline showing off our work on World Wide Knit in Public Day. Nan is making golf club covers, I'm working on a small purse, and Caroline is wearing one of my hats and holding her purse.

Market Friends

2009-06-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, we saw
Hannah (10) and Caroline (5) handing out samples of fresh-roasted nuts for their parents. Nan talked them into wearing my hats and sending people to our booth. They were so helpful and friendly we invited them to come over for a looming lesson when they got a break. We all had a great time looming and chatting.

After thinking about how the hats bulged around their ponytails, I made a modification to leave an opening. Hannah was busy last week but Caroline graciously agreed to model another hat for me.

Caroline had gotten a green loom so she could make something for herself. Here, Nan cast on a project for her.

Caroline worked very diligently on her project. She wanted something she could finish during the Market so we settled on a headband. She knit 8 rows and I took it off the loom for her.

We let the headband roll and attached a flower I made. She was justifiably proud of her accomplishment and happy to model it for the camera.

My hats are selling well. Seven-year-old Elizabeth bought one a couple of weeks ago and came back to get more colors. She chose a green hat but kept eyeing the red, white and blue self-striping hat I was working on. She finally asked how long before it was finished. On hearing it would only be a few minutes, she sat with us and bought it also.

Nan has a couple of returning customers (elementary and middle-school ages) who have each bought 2 hats and are anxious to buy more. The older boy asked her for a rainbow hat with fun fur and dreadlocks. She came up with some great hats for him (pictured on her blog). They didn't make it last week but the hats are ready. Last week she taught the lady in the booth next to us how to loom-knit. They both worked on a hat during the Market, then Nan did some more at home. Next week she'll show the woman how to take the hat off the loom.

Summer Hats

2009-05-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Our local farmer's market opened a couple of weeks ago. Nan got a table and drafted me to help supply projects. She wanted to see if her loomed acrylic hats would sell. We were excited when 6 of them did. Of course, we can't expect people to go on buying warm hats as summer comes, so we've both been busy coming up with other items. I decided to try crocheting cotton hats. It wasn't hard to find some great ideas on Ravelry.

This hat and the two in the next picture are from the pattern Gulf Shores. If you haven't been to this site, there are lots and lots of good patterns.

Then this Crochet Rolled Brim Hat caught my eye. On this first hat, I actually followed the pattern. But then, as you can see, I began improvising. All were fun to make; here's hoping customers like them!

And still more hats

2009-05-03T11:51:00.001-07:00

Playing with designs on this loomed hat.

I found this yarn last year and finally tried it on the green loom. The color is Peruvian Print by Red Heart. The yarn forms the patterns as it is knitted. Nan made a hat with it on the red loom that looks completely different.

Nan came up with this variation for the brim. It's done in garter stitch with 2 colors used in alternating rows.

This hat is needle-knit. The pattern is a variation of Candy Dots, found in the book Kids' Knitted Hats. I used size 9 needles and more stitches to make the hat larger.

And this pattern was found on Techknitting.com. The entry is called Gaugeless, guaranteed-to-fit MAGIC LOOP SKI HAT with a TKIO. My hat was done with size 11 circular needles and doubled yarn. It was fun to try something so different. Even though the hat folds flat, when it is on a head it looks like a regular round hat.

Still Looming Hats

2009-03-26T11:06:00.001-07:00

At first my idea was to make some hats and use some of the cute beads in my stash. This one has jungle animals on it.

This one has fish.

Simple stripes can be so striking. Then I started getting ideas for designs using color.

This hat uses the same colors as the one above.

On this one I did a rolled brim, 3 rows of purl, some diagonal stripes and a couple of solid sections.

What a fun hat to make.

Hats Again

2009-03-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

Another hat on the KK loom. This one is extra long, almost like a stocking cap. The center is a combination of Homespun and Red Heart. The top is shaped with short-rowed sections that were sewn together.

On this needle-knit hat I was using up scraps of yarn.

Puffy Brim Hats

2009-03-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

I saw a hat on a stranger the other day and really liked it so, naturally, decided to try to make one like it.

This was knit on needles. The brim is K 1 row, P 3 rows, K 2 rows, P 3 rows, K 2 rows, P 3 rows and K 1 row. Then I changed to the variegated yarn and did a basic hat. The one I saw had slightly larger puffs, maybe 4 or 5 rows of purl, but I was pleased with this.

Then I wanted to make the same hat on the loom. On this hat the brim is K 1 row, P 6 rows, K 2 rows, P 6 rows, K 2 rows, P 6 rows, K 1 row. Then I switched yarn and finished the hat. This time the puffy brim was larger than I wanted but it still makes a nice variation.

Simple Loomed Mug Cozy

2009-02-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

After looking at various mug cozies on Ravelry, I came up with my own version.

Simple Mug Cozy

Using the blue Knifty Knitter and 2 strands of worsted weight yarn, cast on 9 stitches. Purl the first row. After that, skip the first peg, knit the next 5, and purl the last 3. Continue until the cozy measures 10 inches when stretched slightly. Purl the last row and bind off loosely. Attach the top stitch from one end to the top stitch of the other end. Repeat with the bottom stitch on each end. Weave in ends.

Homespun Hats

2009-02-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

I've been making hats with Homespun lately.

Both of these hats were made with Homespun Tudor and a solid green Red Heart.

These three hats were made with Homespun Sierra and a variety of solid yarns.

The last three hats were made from Homespun Barrington. In the first hat, the solid color is a purple. In the other two hats, the solid color is a softer lavendar.

Knick Knack Boxes

2009-02-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

Isela posted this pattern on her blog. It is an incredibly easy project to loom. The basket in back is done in Red Heart yarn. The two in front are Lion Brand wool. They all started the same size but the wool baskets were felted. Mine ended up being 5-1/2 in by 3-1/2 in. This is a fun way to use up scraps of yarn and an easy project for those new to felting. Thanks, Isela!

Nan's Noro Hat

2009-01-30T18:29:00.001-08:00

Neighbor Nan made a Noro hat for a friend. She alternated a soft orange with the same orange and white. I think it's gorgeous.

Noro Hat

2009-01-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

While browsing through hat patterns on Ravelry, I came across this Noro Hat. It seemed like a good way to use up leftover bits of yarn. Mine was done on the loom, but other than that I followed the pattern. Pretty easy to do and something different.

More Easy Projects

2009-01-18T12:35:00.001-08:00

I'm still working up easy projects as ideas for my new-to-looming friends. Using Sugar and Cream yarn (doubled) and the blue KK round loom, I made this basic dishcloth. I was pleasantly surprised at how soft it is. It was begun by doing 3 rows of garter stitch. For the body I worked a row of 3 purl, knit across, and ending with 3 purl. The next row was straight knit. These two rows were alternated until the cloth was almost a square. It was finished with 3 rows of garter stitch.

The red round loom was used to make this little girl's purse. It's made in the round just like a hat. After removing it, the live stitches are seamed shut. Then a simple icord handle and a large button to keep it closed.

This little drawstring purse was made on the blue round loom. It has a flat bottom. When it seemed almost long enough, I moved every other stitch to the next peg and knit a row, making eyelets. Then I continued knitting all pegs for another couple of rows. An icord was strung through the eyelets before sewing the ends together.

And here is a scarf made on the purple loom with a matching hat. The scarf was made by following Isela's Bongo Blues pattern, but I used plain Red Heart yarn. The scarf is knit using a single strand of yarn but is very soft. The hat is a basic style with a roll-up brim. Fun Fur was knit into the brim.

Nan's Hats

2009-01-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

My neighbor Nan learned to loomknit just before Christmas. I started her on a hat one afternoon and she brought it back the next day to learn how to take it off the loom. Since then, there has been no stopping her. She looked at pictures of my hats and couldn't wait to make them all. The picture above shows some of her creations; many others have been given away. She likes bright colors, variegated yarn, fun fur, pompoms, purled ridges...and the list goes on. The idea of putting a photo on a blog and having people all over the world look at it really intrigues her. So, I am sharing some of Nan's creations with the world!

Back to Loomed Hats

2009-01-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

Recently a couple of friends learned to loom and made hats for their grandchildren for Christmas. In both cases, all recipients were impressed and their parents also expressed interest in receiving hats. I've dug out my looms and begun making hats again to give them some ideas for variations.
Here are some of the hats with explanations for anyone who is interested but not sure what to do. All of these hats were made with the green Knifty Knitter. My local Dollar Store has had a great selection of novelty yarns.

Fun Fur is an easy way to dress up a hat. When you're ready to use it, just add 2 strands of it to your regular yarn. Since the fibers tend to collect on the inside, I turned this hat inside out and added a pompom.

The type with bobbles never seems to go as far so this hat has a band. Try using a toothbrush to pull the fur through to the outside of the hat. Most of the bobbles will have to be pushed through individually. I kept a little of the fancy yarn to put in the pompom.

In this hat I alternated 3 rows of of the novelty yarn with 4 rows of the regular yarn. There was only enough for 2 sections of the novelty yarn with a little left over for the pompom.

This hat was removed (without decreasing stitches in the last row) on waste yarn. Then I laid it flat and seamed the top.

Instead of a brim, I knit 4 rows of garter stitch (k, p, k, p). The body of the hat is in the knit stitch. When long enough, it was removed on waste yarn and seamed closed. The corners were gathered to look like ears. I made the earflaps following Isela's directions in Loom Knitting Primer , added pompoms, and attached them last.

A simple way to dress up a hat is to put in a few rows of purl stitch. On this hat, I knit 4 rows, changed to white yarn and purled 2 rows, changed back to the colored yarn for 4 more rows of knit stitch, put in 2 more rows of purl using the white, and then finished off with the colored yarn in the knit stitch.

The basket-weave look shown here was done by knitting 3 stitches, purling 3 stitches, and repeating all the way around. When doing the purl stitches, I dropped one strand of my basic color and picked up a strand of a coordinating color to make the pattern stand out. After completing 4 rows, I reversed the pattern.

Here's my attempt at a cap with a bill. I started with the bill by wrapping 13 pegs back and forth until there were 3 wraps on each peg. The first row was done by pulling the bottom strand over the other 2. On the next row, I purled but pulled the yarn up through the 2 loops on each peg. Then I repeated the first two rows. The next step was to wrap all the way around the loom until each peg had 3 loops. Again, on the first row I pulled 1 loop over the 2 above it. After that it the regular knit stitch for 12 rows. The top was shaped by dividing it into 4 sections of 9 stitches. Each section was short-rowed and the top was sewn together.

More Socks

2008-11-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Mermaid pattern by Lucy Neatby seemed like a good choice for this wild Sockotta yarn. I like the way the colors swirl but think a softer yarn than Sockotta would show the design better.

Red Heart's Heart & Sole yarn kept calling to me from the yarn section at Fred Meyer. I couldn't find a matching place in the yarn so the socks are not identical. The yarn was soft and easy to work with. These are made with Razzle Dazzle - pretty wild but fun. The pattern is Broadripple from Knitty.

Fingerless Mittens

2008-11-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

My sister really liked the flip-flop socks but wanted a pair for her hands. So I made a couple of alterations to the pattern and got the results shown. Instead of casting on 34 stitches, I did 36. After setting aside the 12 stitches for the toe (thumb), I knit 5 more rows before doing the ribbing at the top. And I used size 4 dpns so the finished product was a little looser and softer.

Flip Flop Socks

2008-10-15T14:41:00.001-07:00

I saw these on Ravelry and just had to try them. The pattern is called Arizona Flip Flop Socks and it really is very easy. The only change I made was to shorten the length by 5 rows. I used Sassy Stripes yarn left over from some socks. Even though my toes and heels weren't covered, my feet felt surprisingly warm and comfy.

Little Boy Blue Socks

2008-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

Another pair of socks made with Sockotta yarn. The yarn is from my stash and was wound into two balls months ago, which means I no longer remember which Sockotta it is. The colors are soft enough that I thought a pattern in the leg would show. This pattern is called Little Boy Blue (or Little Girl Pink) .

Playing with Dishcloths

2008-09-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

This cute little cabled owl dishcloth was on someone's blog (sorry, I was wandering on other people's links and have no idea where I first saw this). It has just enough cabling to be fun.

While playing around with Sugar'n Cream Stripes, I came up with these dishcloths. The first is just a rectangle. I can't remember now what stitch I used to make the diagonal lines. But the striping really looks nice.

Here is a simple mitered square with self-striping Sugar'n Cream.

Here is a simple basket weave with the same yarn.

And, finally, here is a hotpad made from an i-cord. I used the small end of the Knifty Knitter spool loom to make a cord from 2 strands of Sugar'n Cream yarn, and then I sewed it together.

Domino Knitting by Vivian Hoxbro

2008-08-31T11:39:00.001-07:00

I was looking for some potholder patterns on Ravelry and came across these patterns from Vivian Hoxbro's book. Knitting with mitered squares sounded so intriguing I ordered the book from Amazon so I could try the patterns.

These are 3 of her designs. They turned out a little large for my taste so I left off the loops and use them as hotpads instead.

Since I prefer small projects, I really
enjoy doing small squares and knitting them together as I go. There are patterns for garments like hats and shawls and sweaters in the book also, but I haven't tried any of them.

Baby Surprise Sweater

2008-08-27T16:12:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Sweater was my Knitting Olympics project. I missed the deadline for signing up for the Ravelympics but found the Slacker Olympics group on Ravelry. That seemed appropriate so I joined it instead. The sweater was started the day after the opening ceremonies. I finished it the day before the closing ceremonies. It was knit with 2 strands of TLC Baby yarn (Laddie Print and white). The pattern was pretty easy to follow and I'm pleased with the result.

Sockblocker Keychains

2008-05-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

Since January I've basically been making socks. Another pair (number 9 for 2008) was on the needles when I just felt the need for a break. These little sockblocker keychains were purchased from Scouts Swag a couple of months ago and have been waiting patiently to be dressed. After a few experiments with short-row heels, I finally went back to my Crazy Toes and Heels book and was able to turn the heels without holes. I've made 6 successfully. These have been a nice break (love the small projects) and now I'm ready to return to my regular socks.

More Sockotta Socks

2008-04-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Another pair finished. Most of my Sockotta yarn was purchased a few years ago when self-striping yarn was so popular. By now I no longer remember how the yarn forms patterns, so every pair is a surprise. These stripes were so big I just made plain socks.

After completing so many pairs of socks using Crazy Toes and Heels, I'm needing fewer reminders of the steps. That feels good.

It's nice to see the stack of completed socks growing but I can't say my stash looks much smaller!

Sockotta Socks

2008-04-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

Here are the first socks from my extensive stash of Sockotta yarn. I don't remember if this yarn is a recent purchase or has been hiding for a few years but the colors really inspired me. It felt like spring was finally arriving after an unusually cold March here in Oregon. (Parts of Portland got snow during Spring Break --- an extremely rare occurence.) And, to top it off, I finally managed to make a pair that truly match!

Panda Jaywalkers

2008-03-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm finding Panda yarn to be comfortable to wear but difficult to knit. The color of this pair is called sable and it doesn't feel at all like the last socks I made (picnic). This yarn feels more like rayon and besides splitting it also had a tendency to slide off the needle when I was trying to reunite strands that belonged together. Consequently, they took longer to complete. I really like the color and think they will be comfortable to wear, but I really had to pay attention while working on them.

Spiral Rib Bag

2008-03-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is one of the patterns from the book Oneskein by Leigh Radford. The book has quite a variety of projects to choose from, but this one really caught my eye. I like the way the purls and knits twist around the bag. It was a very easy pattern to follow and took less than a skein to complete.

Panda Broadripple Socks

2008-03-02T09:44:00.001-08:00

The first pair of socks using Crazy Toes and Heels I've made that are for me. These are made of Panda Cotton (the color is Picnic). The sock pattern is Broadway Ripple, although the colors of the yarn don't show the nice ripple design. This is my first project with Panda Cotton. I splurged on my birthday and bought enough for several pair because the yarn is mostly cotton and feels so soft. The yarn is really splitty to work with, so I guess it's a good thing I knit slowly. All in all, they feel good so are worth the extra care needed to produce them.

Stitch Markers

2008-02-29T19:19:00.000-08:00

After seeing some of the pretty stitch markers other knitters have made, my little plastic rings purchased at JoAnn's didn't seem so nice. So I decided to make myself something cooler. My first effort involved getting out my beads. They turned out fine and were very nice to use on my almost-finished socks.

Then I made the mistake of looking at some of the sets for sale on eBay. There were all kinds of neat charms and elaborate beads and even photos. So I went to Michael's and browsed in the jewelry department. I still wanted something simple because I'd rather be spending my time on my socks. I was able to find 4 sets of charms that were small and very lightweight. With the addition of some jump rings, I now have a very large assortment of stitch markers for very little money and very little effort.

The biggest problem facing me on the next pair of socks will be choosing which markers to use!

Sassy Stripes Jaywalker

2008-02-18T10:22:00.001-08:00

Another pair of knitted socks has been finished. I used the pattern for Jaywalkers from Knitty. With finer yarn there would be twice as many zigzags, but even so this shows off the striping of the yarn nicely.

Fingerless Mitts

2008-02-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

This pattern is from Isela's book, Loom Knitting Primer. It is an extremely easy and quick pattern to do, and the mitts are soft and warm.

Sassy Stripes 4

2008-02-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Another pair of socks are done. The legs are knitted in the Basic Chevron pattern from the book I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks. (Since buying the book, I've found several free chevron-type sock patterns on the web.)I bought this yarn for a friend. She thought it was too dull so I made them to fit my wider foot. One look was all it took to change her mind about them!

Loomed Hotpads

2008-02-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

I wanted to loom a hotpad. Not a potholder, but the pad you put hot dishes on. I was thinking about something similar to the crocheted origami hotpad but I wanted to make it on a Knifty Knitter.

On my first attempt, I didn't cast on enough stitches. After knitting a flat panel square, I removed it from the loom and crocheted around the edges until it was 12 inches on each side. Then I folded all four corners to the center and stitched the edges together. Here's how it looks on each side.

On the second attempt, I cast on 24 stitches and knit until it was 12 inches on each side. This time I did one row of single crochet around it just to make the seaming easier. Then I finished it the same way as before.

Both hotpads are soft and thick.

Furry Hats

2008-01-27T10:56:00.000-08:00

It's been really cold here lately so I've been making hats. This one is Caron's Allure combined with a matching worsted. The Allure has a soft, silky feel on both the inside and the outside. The hat was done with 5 rows of e-wrap followed by 2 rows of purl.

Fun Fur now comes in self-striping yarn. The hat on the left was done with 2 strands of that and 2 strands of worsted. It's a little stiff so I think I'll try just a single strand of worsted next time. Most of the fur was on the inside of the hat so I turned it inside out. Then I fluffed it with an old toothbrush. The hat was done on the green KK and the Fun Fur ran out with the top row of pink. I had to add some blue to complete the hat but it was worth it to see the hat so fluffy.

Sassy Stripes 3

2008-01-20T19:07:00.001-08:00

My third pair of Sassy Stripe socks. These two aren't fraternal twins like the other socks were. They are made from different dye lots (purchased at different times and locations) so they're more like cousins. My feet don't care if they match and this yarn is great for practicing.

I love the Crazy Toes and Heels method. On these socks I tried a different pattern for the legs. It doesn't show much due to the stripes but I enjoyed learning it and plan to use it on other socks. This stitch design came from the Lace Top, Toe Up Regia Color Sock pattern found at http://www.woolandwood.freewebspace.com/lace_top_regia.htm .

Cabled Hat

2008-01-13T11:26:00.001-08:00

Yarn Harlot had this free pattern posted on her blog. She called it the Unoriginal Hat. Her directions called for yarn I didn't have so I used 2 strands of ww yarn and changed the needle size to 10 -1/2. As you can see, it came out just a little long. The pattern was very easy to understand but I had to really pay attention to the cables for the first half of the hat. The hat stretches nicely.

Sassy Socks 2

2008-01-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

A second pair of socks done with Sassy Stripes is done. Again, I used Queen Kahuna's toe up and short row heel methods. The cuffs of these socks are done in a K2 P2 pattern. Two rows were done and then the pattern was shifted over one stitch. If the sock is in the right light, you can see the slant in the ribbing.

Hats and Socks

2007-12-31T10:44:00.001-08:00

My arm said it was time to take a break from looming so I've been crocheting lately. This is called the Chunky Brimmed Winter Hat. I had some variegated yarn in pretty fall colors I wanted to try and think it turned out nicely. The free pattern is located at http://www.yarnsandmusings.com/2007/01/chunky-brimmed-winter-hatchapeau.html .

Lion Brand published a book called Just Hats, Favorite Patterns to Knit and Crochet. It has basic hat patterns for both techniques as well as variations and more complicated patterns. This hat is called The Kiss and was as easy as the pattern promised. It's the first time I've used double point needles and they turned out to be quite manageable.

These socks have consumed much of my time lately. They are made of Moda Dea Sassy Stripes and were done on two circular needles. I used Queen Kahuna's methods for the cast-on, general directions for size, and short row heel (http://www.queenkahuna-creations.com/). I really like her technique. I've done other socks on circular needles but never quite got the sizing correct and hated the heelflap. The ribbing is a pattern of K2 P2 for 5 rows, then P2 K2 for 5 rows.

Fancy Fur Hat Brims

2007-12-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

The Dollar Store near me had Fancy Fur. Here are a couple of the hats I made with it. The first hats had regular brims and a complementary color for the top. They were just okay. Then I made some with the same color as the fur and let the brims roll. I think these are much prettier.

Krystal's Afghan Project

2007-12-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

Krystal makes afghans which are donated to charity. She has created this pattern and shares it freely. Her only requirement is that you agree to send her a completed square. Above are two of the squares I'm sending her. There are pictures on her blog of squares sent to her from all over the world and of some finished blankets. She has even started a Yahoo group to help people with the pattern. If you crochet, you might want to check it out at http://krochetkrystal.blogspot.com/ .

Row Counter

2007-11-06T15:18:00.001-08:00

I saw a row counter similar to this on YouTube and decided to make one for myself. This one has 7 beads on it so I can use it while making mini socks and hat brims. I place the counter on the arm of the couch next to me. The Scottie bead at the top helps it to balance without falling off and the beads slide easily in either direction.

Mini Sock Bookmarks

2007-11-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a good way to use the mini socks. I crocheted a chain 22 inches long, attached the sock to the center of the chain, and threaded the ends of the chain through a pony bead from opposite sides. The chain is long enough to fit around a large book. Pulling the ends of the chain snugs the pony bead up to the book so the bookmark keeps its place. By attaching a small metal ring to the sock and to the chain where the sock is attached, the sock hangs freely.

Mini Set from Mini Loom

2007-10-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

Using Isela's Mini Sock Loom, this set was made with Paton's Grace. Leftover sock yarn was recommended but I have to knit some more socks before there is any leftover yarn. If you're not part of the Yahoo Loom Class group, you can find the patterns at http://decoraccentsinc.com/looming_instructions.html .

Fruit Hats

2007-10-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

These hats, done from Sara's pattern, have received lots of complimentary comments from my friends. They're a nice change from the traditional style I usually do and work up just as quickly. The patterns for all of Sara's designs are available at http://www.loomknit.com/ .

Felted Bags

2007-10-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

After seeing a friend's felted purse, I decided it was time to try the process. The first attempt was needleknit. Turns out my washing machine's very gentle agitation makes it worthless for felting, so I tried doing it myself in the sink. The purse ended up being 10 in wide by 6.5 in high.

Next I made one on the yellow KK. It was made in the round like a hat but I seamed the bottom flat instead of gathering it. This went through the neighbor's washing machine. In my attempt to removed the ridges, it shrank more than was intended. The final size is 7 in wide by 6 in high.

The third attempt was done as a flat panel on the yellow KK. I knit down the front, did 2 inches of garter stitch for the bottom, knit up the back and made the flap. After seaming the sides, it was ready for felting. Now that I knew what to expect, this one came out better. The final size is 9 in wide by 7 in high and the bottom is an inch wide.

Crocheted Cloths

2007-10-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

I found a couple of crocheted goodies on people's blogs that I just had to try. The first is a dishcloth. It was an easy project but I haven't wanted to actually get it wet and dirty yet. Shortly after finishing it, I saw that Janice on the Looming Dishcloths group posted the directions for it there. Here is the link to the pattern I used: http://www.jimsyldesign.com/~dishbout/cpatterns/crodress.html .

The other projet is a hot pad that is two thicknesses. It is crocheted in one continuous piece with no shaping. To finish it, just fold it properly and close the seam. This link will take you to the pattern and some nice pictures of the work in progress: http://www.mielkesfarm.com/diagonal_hotpad.htm

A Circular Knit Dishcloth

2007-09-10T12:46:00.001-07:00

I spotted this dishcloth on someone's blog. It looked so intriguing I just had to try it. It is shaped into a circle by shortrowing. The first one was done exactly as the pattern said. On the second one, I eliminated the edging.

This is a needleknit pattern and I found the pattern several places, including here (http://www.mielkesfarm.com/dishclth.htm ) . Some suggested knitting the two edges together to finish it and others suggested sewing them. One suggested using the kitchener stitch and that's what I did.

Crocheted Mug Cozy version 2

2007-09-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

The first cozy I made was done with yarn that was too soft. It loosened up so much it would only fit an extra large mug. This version is made with WoolEase. It has loops and buttons to keep it together, which are less bulky than the ties. Also, I ran a thin piece of elastic around the top to help hold the shape. After constant use for a few weeks, I hear it's doing its job well.

Two-color Hat

2007-08-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've done many hats with two different colors but usually they are simple patterns in the band above the brim or in the whole top portion of the hat. With this hat, I just played around with different patterns until I liked the design and the hat was long enough. It was a lot of fun but I can see the advantage of planning a design to avoid ripping out ideas that don't work! This is definitely something to try again.

Woven-Top Hat

2007-08-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Another project that was fun to complete is this hat from Learn New Stitches on Circle Looms by Anne Bipes. The weaving was very easy to do even though it looks intricate. What a great pattern!

Strata Yarn

2007-08-09T09:32:00.001-07:00

While at WalMart one day, I found some yarn by Red Heart called Strata. First I tried using one strand of the Strata and one of a coordinating color. The hat was pretty. But then I wound the yarn into two balls and matched the colors on the two strands. This is the result with no help from me. It was such fun watching the stripes form on their own. I'm definately going to try some of their other color combinations.

Isela's Arellis Bracelet

2007-07-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

It was a lot of fun learning how to use a bead spinner and choosing the beads I wanted. Making an icord with a string of beads is pretty different.

As usual, Isela's directions were clearly written and easy to follow. My biggest problem was
fastening the two ends together in a way that didn't show. You can find the pattern at http://www.loomknit.com/arellis-bracelet.html .

Crocheted Mug Cozy

2007-07-06T23:04:00.000-07:00

A friend asked for a cozy to keep his coffee warm while he's busy on his computer. After doing a search for patterns and comparing the features, this is what I came up with. It is open on the side for the cup handle. To keep it on, he fastens the ties over the handle.

Crocheted Espresso Cup Sleeves

2007-06-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

I made these cup sleeves with leftover WoolEase. They are a fast project and can be varied in many ways. And they can be washed if your drink spills --- always a possibility in the car.

Supplies:
small amount of WoolEase

G crochet hook

Note:

The completed sleeve is 13 rows of single crochet. At the end of each row, join to the first stitch of the row with a slip stitch and chain 1.

Pattern:

Using 2 strands of yarn, chain 30 stitches and join with a slip stitch. Chain 1.

Work 4 rows of single crochet.

On row 5, sc 8 stitches, dec, sc 8 stitches, dec, sc 8 stitches, dec.

Work 3 rows of single crochet.

On row 9, sc 7, dec, sc 7, dec, sc 7, dec.

Work 2 rows of single crochet. Fasten off.

Attach yarn to the top of the sleeve and work 1 row of sc. Fasten off. (This gives the top a finished edge.)

Weave in yarn ends.

Camera Bag

2007-05-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Another variation on Crystal's pattern. This is a small bag made to hold the supplies for my camera. The camera itself has its own case and will fit in my purse. I wanted something to hold the cords, charger, and mini tripod. The pocket on the inside of the flap holds an extra memory card. The bag can be stored in my dresser and takes up much less room than the box. It also keeps everything together in my suitcase when traveling.

Flat Bottom Bag

2007-04-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

On her blog, Crystal posted directions for a small, flat bottomed bag which she was going to use for a cell phone or pda. Since I've been playing with purses lately, I wanted to see how her directions would work on a larger scale. This bag took me two afternoons and one evening. It was done on the green KK with 3 strands of yarn and a 1 over 1 stitch. It is 7 in. across, 3 in. deep and 6-1/2 in. high. There were small spaces along the bottom of the sides so I wove in some yarn to fill them. Crystal's pattern can be found at http://crystalkini.blogspot.com/ in her February 2006 archives.

Woven Bottom Bag for LoomClass

2007-04-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Made on the red loom, this bag measures 7 1/2 inches in height. It was done with 3 strands of 4 ply yarn in a 1 over 1 stitch. The woven bottom is more solid than just normal knitting would be. Thanks, Laura, for another great project.

Loomed Purse

2007-04-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

This simple purse was made on the yellow loom. I used 3 strands of ww yarn and did a flat knit stitch. It turned out nice and firm. The purse measures 9 inches across and 8 and 1/2 inches high. I seamed the bottom twice to make it more secure.

Adult Bootie for LoomClass

2007-04-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

s; I made two pairs of slippers. This first pair follows the pattern as posted. They are finished off with a crocheted ruffle and a pompom. The recipient chose the colors, although when she saw them she said she needs a clown suit to wear with them. The lightest color is a soft yellow.

I saw this variation in Jo Ann's Project 150 photo album. She calls it her EZ Slipper. When I asked for directions, she suggested I wrap 22 pegs so the slipper would stop at the ankle. I just continued to knit the 22 pegs until I got to the row where the top is shaped. Other than that, I followed the original pattern. These are finished with a row of single crochet and a pompom made from all three colors in the slippers.

Thanks for sharing the pattern, Jo Ann. With the 1 over 2 stitch, these slippers should last longer than my others have.

Baby Hat and Booties for LoomClass

2007-04-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Laura Campion's pattern was easy to follow and would make a nice gift. People have finished them off in a variety of ways (using ribbons or yarn flowers). Mine have a crocheted edging in yellow.

Some more hats

2007-04-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the Child's Earflap Hat from Isela's book. I've been wanting to try earflaps and found her directions clear and easy to follow.

Another style I've wanted to make is this one with the straight top and the tassels.

Working with variegated yarn is always fun because you never know how the pattern will look. On these hats after bringing up the brim, I attached one strand of variegated yarn. Cutting one strand of the solid left the usual two strands of yarn. I did 5 rows, then replaced the brim color with cream for 5 rows. Each of these sections was repeated making a total of 20 rows for the crown. I like the way the variegated pattern continues while the solid colors change. For both of these hats, the variegated yarn contains the color used in the brim.

Back to Hats

2007-03-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

After receiving Isela's book from Amazon and seeing some of the creative hats posted on the groups and on individual blogs, I'm ready to return to making hats. What a great excuse to visit JoAnn's and stock up on yarn. Of course, I will be making lots of basic hats like those in my photo album. But it's fun to make fancier hats too. So here is the beginning of season 2007.

This first hat started out from Isela's book. I like her cable hat and the cables were easy but all those flat stitches were more than my neck could handle. So the cables became an accent instead.

Here I was experimenting with accents other than pompoms. This is a loopy flower someone posted on one of the groups some time ago.

The flower on this hat was posted by the same person. It's a little large for this hat but I think some little girl will like it.

More Toys

2007-03-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

Bev Qualheim had a pattern for this crocheted bunny and links to the bear and a doll on her blog(http://www.bevq.blogspot.com/). The patterns include a vest and pants and shirt for boys. The size when finished is 6 inches from head to toe. Very fun to make and a nice change. My bunny does have a nose and mouth but the yarn is too pale to show.

Here are a couple more bears modeling the other clothing options

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Loom Bunny

2007-03-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

This little guy was made from a pattern posted by Ann Bipes on her site(http://loomknittingblog.blogspot.com/). The head and legs and body are all from one loomed rectangle. His little face is so small I didn't give him any eyes or nose. He worked up very quickly and could probably be changed into different animals just by modifying the ears and tail.

Another Dog

2007-03-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

t Using fun fur makes a difference. This guy has more character. And I attached his legs closer together so he can sit better. Most of the strands from the fun fur seemed to be on the inside (purl side) so I made that the outside of his body. I'm using buttons for the eyes --- not good for young children, I know --- but it's what I have and I like the eyes shiny.

Knit Kitty

2007-03-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

The kitty was an earlier project posted in the Loom Class before I joined the group. It was fun doing something so easy, although I didn't read the directions for binding off the head until after I did it so the shape is off a little. Someone posted a picture of a puppy done with this pattern using fun fur that was very cute. I do like seeing what other people have tried and getting ideas from their pictures.

Toby's Turn

2007-02-28T09:42:00.000-08:00

Maltese Toby has been very cold lately. Sometimes he curls around the furnace vent on the floor and sometimes he asks to be covered with a blanket. This morning I put Emma's second sweater on him (not the pink one). It fits Toby much better than Emma but he's not any happier about it than she was. After sitting for his picture, he stayed in the chair while I ate breakfast instead of curling up in his bed next to me under the table. When I moved to the bedroom and turned on the computer, he slunk his way after me and hid under the bed. So will he accept the sweater and begin his regular activities or will I give up and remove the hated straightjacket?

Follow up: I left the sweater on him for a couple of hours but then he began leaving a room from the opposite side I entered it. So the sweater was removed and now we're best buds again. My little white shadow is happily following me everywhere. Oh, well, it was a good idea.

Tubby Puppy

2007-02-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Tubby is based on Scruffy (made by Kathy Norris and posted on her blog http://knittingmuse.blogspot.com/). She posted directions in one of the loom groups. Her Scruffy turned out much cuter because she used fun fur. Since I didn't have any, I used a veriegated Homespun combined with Red Heart for the body and just the Red Heart for the rest of him.

My poor little guy is so stocky he can barely stand or even sit. I've crocheted many toys but this is my first loomed one.

Newborn Bonnet for LoomClass

2007-02-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

My bonnet is finished. The pattern was very easy to follow and I think it makes a cute hat. It's hard to see, but there is a white edging on the brim.

There are no lifesize dolls at my house to model my bonnet so Shelby graciously agreed to help. She's a little small but I think pink is her color.