A couple years ago I wrote a nice Screenprinting Instructable. I'm very proud of it. It's had a couple hundered people comment on it and has sort of become a little community unto itself, with people asking questions and other people offering extra tips and advice.
If you're an instructables member, log in and and vote for me. It's easy to do. I'm right there in the Most Viewed section of the contest page.
If you're not a member of instructables, you should check it out. Erik used it for boat building a couple times, and there are just oodles of projects and ideas there.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Learning Toe-Up Socks
I first was inspired to knit toe-up socks by this Firestarter pattern, which I discovered through the Knitters Unscensored podcast.
I downloaded the free pattern, bought some fancy sock yarn, and took out my needles, but I had no idea how to start the pattern. I read it a few times, looked up short rows in my Knitters Handbook and decided to work a little more on the cardigan I've been knitting for Vigo for the past two years.
When packing up for our move to Berlin, I decided to pack away all my big projects and all my real stash and only keep out the "fond de stash," the bottom-of-the-barrel half-balls of leftover whatnot that it would be healthy to use up. Mostly I've been knitting beer cozies, but this weekend I decided to make a plan to tackle the toe-up sock.
Of course, I've been quietly forming this plan in my head since that day with the Firestarter, so I'd already done a little bit of research.
Step One: Start Simple
Using the magic cast-on (which is dead simple and works like a dream), knit one pair of Wendy's Fingering Weight, Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel. This is a recipe for the most basic toe-up sock
Step Two: Get Fancy
I have a pattern for lace toe-up baby socks to knit next. They're more complicated, but they're small, so I won't have to spend the rest of my summer knitting them
Step Three: Tackle the Firestarters
I started on step one this weekend and was surprised to discover that once I learned the magic cast on, the challenge really isn't that great. I was both relieved and disappointed about this, and I don't know why I was so surprised. It's always like that with knitting. Before you try a new technique, the new task always seems complicated. The way knitting patterns are written really doesn't help, either. But then once you just dig in and do it, it's always really easy. I had the same experience being intimidated by cables.
I downloaded the free pattern, bought some fancy sock yarn, and took out my needles, but I had no idea how to start the pattern. I read it a few times, looked up short rows in my Knitters Handbook and decided to work a little more on the cardigan I've been knitting for Vigo for the past two years.
When packing up for our move to Berlin, I decided to pack away all my big projects and all my real stash and only keep out the "fond de stash," the bottom-of-the-barrel half-balls of leftover whatnot that it would be healthy to use up. Mostly I've been knitting beer cozies, but this weekend I decided to make a plan to tackle the toe-up sock.
Of course, I've been quietly forming this plan in my head since that day with the Firestarter, so I'd already done a little bit of research.
Step One: Start Simple
Using the magic cast-on (which is dead simple and works like a dream), knit one pair of Wendy's Fingering Weight, Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel. This is a recipe for the most basic toe-up sock
Step Two: Get Fancy
I have a pattern for lace toe-up baby socks to knit next. They're more complicated, but they're small, so I won't have to spend the rest of my summer knitting them
Step Three: Tackle the Firestarters
I started on step one this weekend and was surprised to discover that once I learned the magic cast on, the challenge really isn't that great. I was both relieved and disappointed about this, and I don't know why I was so surprised. It's always like that with knitting. Before you try a new technique, the new task always seems complicated. The way knitting patterns are written really doesn't help, either. But then once you just dig in and do it, it's always really easy. I had the same experience being intimidated by cables.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Onesies
I spent most of my weekend finishing up printing projects so I can pack all my supplies. Here's a series of onesies I made for Justine's new baby Sienna, and one for Derrick & Nina whose baby is expected any minute now.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Pattern For Hot Water Bottle Cozies
I wrote up the pattern for one of the hot water bottle cozies I made.
I even made a pdf...
Look in the extended entry for the pattern
The Coziest Hot Water Bottle Cover Ever
I designed these as gifts for my husband's sisters and parents. Part way through knitting the third one I started to think, "Is this a weird present? Hot water bottles and cozies all around!" But by then it was too late to turn back and everyone loved them. In fact, I got the flu the weekend I gave these gifts and ended up using one of these for the weekend. The cozied hot water bottle just might become your new best friend. These bulky, fuzzy babies keep the water warm for hours and hours and hours.
yarn
One large skein super bulky wool (one skein is enough)
One skein angora
needles
size 10 USA or whatever you need to get gauge
gauge
9.5 sts = 10 cm
(.95 sts/cm)
instructions
combine one thread wool and one thread angora
FRONT
Cast on 12 sts
row 1: P2, K8, P2
row 2: P1, inc 1, K1, P8, K1, inc 1, P1
row 3: K1, P2, K2, put 3sts on a cable needle and hold to the front, K3, K3 from cable needle, K1, P2
row 4: K1, inc 1, K2, P8, K2, inc 1, K1
row 5: K2, P2, K8, K2, P2
row 6: P1, inc 1, P1, K2, P8, K2, inc 1, P1
row 7: K3, P2, put 3 sts on a cable needle and hold to the back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K3
Repeat rows 8-15 four times total--rows 8-39
row 8: P3, K2, P8, K2, P3
row 9: K3, P2, K8, P2, K3
row 10: P3,K2, P8, K2, P3
row 11: K3, P2, K2, put 3 sts on a cable needle and hold to front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K3
row 12: P3,K2, P8, K2, P3
row 13: K3, P2, K8, P2, K3
row 14: P3, K2, P8, K2, P3
row 15: K3, P2, move 3 sts to cable needle and hold to back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K3
row 40: P1, dec 1, P1, K2, P8, K2, dec 1, P1
row 41: K2, P2, K8, P2, K2
row 42: P1, dec 1, K2, P8, K2, dec 1, P1
row 43: K1, P2, K2, move 3 sts to cable needle, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1
row 44: K1, dec 1, K1, P8, K1, dec 1, K1
row 45: P2, K8, P2
bind off
BACK
Cast on 12 sts
row 1: K12
row 2: P1, inc 1, P10, inc 1, P1
row 3: K14
row 4:P1, inc 1, P12, inc 1, P1
row 5: K16
row 6: P1, inc 1, P14, inc 1, P1
row 7: K18
row 8-39 Knit on the knit side, purl on the purl side.
row 40: P1, dec 1, P14, dec 1, P1
row 41: K16
row 42: P1, dec 1, K12, dec 1, P1
row 43: K14
row 44: P1, dec 1, P10, dec 1, P1
row 45: K 12
bind off
FINISHING
Block both pieces
Sew the front and back together along the sides
Turn RS out
Pick up 20 or 24 sts around the top with dpns
Rib K2, P2 around for neck until desired length
Use a piece of scrap yarn to attach the plug to the the hot water bottle
Insert the bottle into the cozy
Using this Pattern as a Recipe for Designing Your Own
You can really use this pattern as a recipe for designing your own Hot water bottle cozy. First, choose whatever yarn you want and whichever size needles. Next, figure out your guage: knit a 10 cm swatch and figure out your gauge by measuring how many stitches it takes to get 10 cm and divide by 10. That number will be your stitches per inch (your gauge).
A standard hot water bottle measures 19 cm at its widest and 12 cm at the top and bottom. Multiply the gauge number you just got by 12 to see how many stitches you have to cast on and by 19 to see how many stitches you need to increase up to. Take some graph paper and draw out your pattern.
Once you have your shape laid out on a graph paper you can pick whatever cable you want to run up the center.
When you measure to see how close you are to the top of the hot water bottle, be sure to pull the material to the right width. Stretch it horizontally across the bottle, or you will end up with a cover that is too short.
When you get to the height where the hot water bottle starts to narrow again, decrease until you have 12 cm again. At this point you will want to knit the back and then sew them together before knitting the ribbed neck of the cozy with double-pointed needles.
You don't need any kind of closure at the bottom. Just slip the hot water bottle in and it will stay fine.
I even made a pdf...
Look in the extended entry for the pattern
The Coziest Hot Water Bottle Cover Ever
I designed these as gifts for my husband's sisters and parents. Part way through knitting the third one I started to think, "Is this a weird present? Hot water bottles and cozies all around!" But by then it was too late to turn back and everyone loved them. In fact, I got the flu the weekend I gave these gifts and ended up using one of these for the weekend. The cozied hot water bottle just might become your new best friend. These bulky, fuzzy babies keep the water warm for hours and hours and hours.
yarn
One large skein super bulky wool (one skein is enough)
One skein angora
needles
size 10 USA or whatever you need to get gauge
gauge
9.5 sts = 10 cm
(.95 sts/cm)
instructions
combine one thread wool and one thread angora
FRONT
Cast on 12 sts
row 1: P2, K8, P2
row 2: P1, inc 1, K1, P8, K1, inc 1, P1
row 3: K1, P2, K2, put 3sts on a cable needle and hold to the front, K3, K3 from cable needle, K1, P2
row 4: K1, inc 1, K2, P8, K2, inc 1, K1
row 5: K2, P2, K8, K2, P2
row 6: P1, inc 1, P1, K2, P8, K2, inc 1, P1
row 7: K3, P2, put 3 sts on a cable needle and hold to the back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K3
Repeat rows 8-15 four times total--rows 8-39
row 8: P3, K2, P8, K2, P3
row 9: K3, P2, K8, P2, K3
row 10: P3,K2, P8, K2, P3
row 11: K3, P2, K2, put 3 sts on a cable needle and hold to front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K3
row 12: P3,K2, P8, K2, P3
row 13: K3, P2, K8, P2, K3
row 14: P3, K2, P8, K2, P3
row 15: K3, P2, move 3 sts to cable needle and hold to back, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K3
row 40: P1, dec 1, P1, K2, P8, K2, dec 1, P1
row 41: K2, P2, K8, P2, K2
row 42: P1, dec 1, K2, P8, K2, dec 1, P1
row 43: K1, P2, K2, move 3 sts to cable needle, K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1
row 44: K1, dec 1, K1, P8, K1, dec 1, K1
row 45: P2, K8, P2
bind off
BACK
Cast on 12 sts
row 1: K12
row 2: P1, inc 1, P10, inc 1, P1
row 3: K14
row 4:P1, inc 1, P12, inc 1, P1
row 5: K16
row 6: P1, inc 1, P14, inc 1, P1
row 7: K18
row 8-39 Knit on the knit side, purl on the purl side.
row 40: P1, dec 1, P14, dec 1, P1
row 41: K16
row 42: P1, dec 1, K12, dec 1, P1
row 43: K14
row 44: P1, dec 1, P10, dec 1, P1
row 45: K 12
bind off
FINISHING
Block both pieces
Sew the front and back together along the sides
Turn RS out
Pick up 20 or 24 sts around the top with dpns
Rib K2, P2 around for neck until desired length
Use a piece of scrap yarn to attach the plug to the the hot water bottle
Insert the bottle into the cozy
Using this Pattern as a Recipe for Designing Your Own
You can really use this pattern as a recipe for designing your own Hot water bottle cozy. First, choose whatever yarn you want and whichever size needles. Next, figure out your guage: knit a 10 cm swatch and figure out your gauge by measuring how many stitches it takes to get 10 cm and divide by 10. That number will be your stitches per inch (your gauge).
A standard hot water bottle measures 19 cm at its widest and 12 cm at the top and bottom. Multiply the gauge number you just got by 12 to see how many stitches you have to cast on and by 19 to see how many stitches you need to increase up to. Take some graph paper and draw out your pattern.
Once you have your shape laid out on a graph paper you can pick whatever cable you want to run up the center.
When you measure to see how close you are to the top of the hot water bottle, be sure to pull the material to the right width. Stretch it horizontally across the bottle, or you will end up with a cover that is too short.
When you get to the height where the hot water bottle starts to narrow again, decrease until you have 12 cm again. At this point you will want to knit the back and then sew them together before knitting the ribbed neck of the cozy with double-pointed needles.
You don't need any kind of closure at the bottom. Just slip the hot water bottle in and it will stay fine.
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