Monday, October 31, 2005

Fingerless Glove Update

No, it still isn't done but I did get a few more rows completed this weekend. I even removed the waste yarn for the thumb opening. Here it is and this time you can see the color better:



Monday, October 24, 2005

More Peaceful Palms Patterns

MJ from http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/ recommended even more patterns for the Peaceful Palms Knitalong! I visit Knitty.com all the time but didn't think to check out their archive section for gloves/mittens. Great thanks to MJ! I love the Broad Street Mittens which look similar to MagKnit's Urban Necessity but it doesn't get that cold down here. I really like the Voodoo Wrist Warmers and have bookmarked them for future knitting. I think they would be a great accessory to wear while blogging!

Peaceful Palms Update:
I'm still poking along on my first fingerless glove from Weekend Knitting. I've gone back to using DPNs and I gave up on perfecting the garter stitch cuffs. It looks like I've seamed it up the side even though I'm knitting in the round. I tend to believe that the problems is I'm purling looser than I'm knitting. I got so tired of starting over that I'm ignoring it and moving on. I'm just a few rows away from the thumb gusset, hooray! My father is heading north on a trip. If I had made him the gloves with the camouflage yarn then he would have put them to good use. Sorry dad! :(

My progress with cuff problem:

With glove on, cuff problem still shows but the knit stitches look fine:


Shana's blog has made me jealous! She's actually using her Ultimate Sweater Machine where I just stare at mine and make swatches. She's making a new sweater and I can't wait to see the finished pictures! Here's a sweater that she completed earlier this month. I printed some Bond patterns from this site today (to add to my collection of printed patterns knit soon).

For Hr, who was having problems removing the scarf from the Knifty Knitter Loom, please check out the comment section for two bind-off links that show the Gathering Method and the Flat Removal Method.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Ultimate Sweater Machine Halloween Patterns/Motifs

Here are USM links with Halloween patterns for pumpkins and motifs for black cats, witches, and more to use on your own knitting projects. I'm really miffed that Bond-America did not have one Halloween project. Why do they have so few projects for their knitting machine?

  • About's Halloween Items: includes black cats, a bat, a ghost, pumpkins, and a witch.
  • Pumpkin from the Ahren's Family.
  • Pumpkin Purse another cute project from the Ahren's Family.
  • A pumpkin ornament for your pumpkin tree?
    Pumpkin Ornament from Knitted Threads.
  • Apparently this is an older episode (pre Urban Knitter days) and my TIVO can't find a replay listing for it but take a look at Lily Chin with her knitted Wonder Woman costume on this page! Now if I only looked like her!


    MONSTER WREATH: This pattern is not written for the Ultimate Sweater Machine but I can't pass it up (plus I'm sure two donut shapes on the USM in a novelty yarn would work). Check out this Monster Wreath by callakat.

    Click here for more Ultimate Sweater Machine information.
  • Monday, October 17, 2005

    Peaceful Palms Patterns

    I spent more time flipping through knitting magazines and books than knitting over the weekend. Here are the patterns I found:

  • Family Circle Easy Knitting Holiday 2005 - Wristlets (Lion Brand insert)
  • Big Book of Knitting - Gloves (page 208)
  • Interweave Knits Fall 2005 - Creative Focus Chunky Fingerless Mitts (page 7)
  • Weekend Knitting - Fingerless Garter-Cuff Gloves (page 104)

    Since this is my first pair of gloves, I chose the Weekend Knitting pattern using Red Heart's Luster Sheen in Persimmon on one size 6 circular needle (Magic Loop). My gauge is close and if anything they may be a little large which to me is better than too small. I do have a ladder on each side so I may switch over to nonaknits' two circular tutorial.


    It is more of a peach than pink color.


    UPDATE: I just found this link for fingerless gloves on the Ultimate Sweater Machine. When I finish the gloves above, I'll use this pattern for the Red Heart Camouflage yarn. HOORAY!
  • Thursday, October 13, 2005

    Peaceful Palms Knit-Along


    I'm joining the Peaceful Palms Knit-Along as motivation to start and finish a pair of fingerless gloves for my father. Once I pick a pattern (probably from Weekend Knits), I will use two circular needles instead of DPN. See nonaKnits for an excellent tutorial. Another good tutorial is for the Magic Loop Method, using one circular needle, located on this page.

    Yarn to use is Red Heart's Classic Camouflage #971. I have 3 skeins to get rid of use.


    Item of the Day
    Did you know that it is National Knitting Week in the UK?

    Tuesday, October 11, 2005

    Knifty Knitter Hat

    Okay, I'm finally getting around to posting my completed projects. The Knifty Knitter has kept me busy and even inspired me to get my Ultimate Sweater Machine out of the closet.

    Here is my first finished hat(completed 2/23/2005)!

    The pattern is pretty close to the one described in the Knifty Knitter instructions. My mom loved the hat and has worn it several times. Also, I made her a matching purse and one skinny scarf on the Ultimate Sweater Machine . The purse needs to be seamed and the scarf has been completed!
    In case you are wondering, this is what it looks like on the green Knifty Knitter loom:

    It looks like a lot of work but it is very easy and the rounds go quickly. I'm still clumsy with knitting needles so this has been great for me to use! And look at a close-up of the stitches...

    Since February, I've made 2.5 hats, 2 scarves, and a pair of slipper socks. I have trouble using Fun Fur, Eyelash, Cha Cha, and other such yarns on knitting needles. It is so much easier to use them on the Knifty Knitter looms.


    Click here for more information on the Knifty Knitter.

    Monday, October 10, 2005

    Knifty Knitter Links

    I have a set of these for almost a year now:



    Get your Knifty Knitter!


    PATTERN LINKS:
    You'll find several patterns and helpful loom hints at www.loomknit.com.
    Ben Franklin Crafts has some cute pumpkin patterns.
    http://www.bfranklincrafts.com/CraftIdeas/CraftIdea-KnifKnitterPumpkins.html
    Also, they have photos for those of you learning to use your Knifty Knitters:
    http://www.bfranklincrafts.com/KniftyKnitter.html

    Of course you'll need a spider to go along with your pumpkin so check out Provocraft's site for Samuel the Spider:
    http://www.provocraft.com/projects/projects.php?prdindex=kniftyknitter&dsp=weeklyproject
    Provocraft has many more patterns on their website including a Shrug pattern that looks promising. Others include: several shawls, patriotic tree, mittens, washcloths, hair scarf, United States flag, hats, scarves, backpack, poncho, purses, slippers, booties, and even a neck pillow.
    http://www.provocraft.com/projects/projects.php?view=20&dsp=list&prdindex=kniftyknitter

    KNITTING WITHOUT NEEDLES
    There is a new web ring for loom knitters! Click here for the main page or Click here for a list of websites in the ring. Are you feeling wild and crazy? If so, click here to visit a random website in the Knitting Without Needles web ring! If you're looking for inspiration or motivation to start a new project. I highly recommend blogs. They show you what others have made, the colors they have used, and start you thinking that "Hey I can do that, too!". Make sure you read A Stitch in Time. The 11/29/2005 post has some beautiful purses that were made on the yellow loom and then felted.

    Yahoo has a great group for Knifty Knitters. Check out the Files folder for patterns and the Photos folder for ideas!


    Click here to join kniftyknitterlooms

    Click to join kniftyknitterlooms


    Don't miss out on the patterns by Carrie. She can be found at the Knifty Knitter Yahoo Group, too! http://cputzier.tripod.com/id8.html

    You can also find several loom patterns and instructions at Bev's:
    http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/how-to-loom-knit.html#patterns

    Michael's carries a $1 pattern book for the beginner. I noticed this weekend that Wal-Mart has a book as well. Happy Knifty Knitting!

    AMAZON.COM UPDATES
  • Amazon.com is partnership with JoAnn Fabrics is selling the Knifty Knitter Pamphlet (instructions and a few patterns). The shipping is more than the cost of the book (and the book is only $1 at the stores) but if you're already thinking of placing an order, you may want to add the pamphlet. If you're giving a Knifty Knitter set for the holidays then you may want to get the Knifty Knitter Pamphlet.

  • Amazon.com is also offering the Knifty Knitter Long Loom. I haven't seen a book/pamphlet for it. There are websites with instructions. If anyone has one, I'd love to see the projects you've created with it. Please post a link to your pictures or blog in the comment section.

  • Are you tired of using your round looms alone? On your next order at Amazon.com, you can throw in an extra Loom Hook.
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