Addi Express Knitting Machine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.