Shawl KAL anyone?

I'm working on a new shawl that I may offer as a free KAL. The shawl pattern would be offered on Ravelry in my Simply Simple Knits group for a limited time. Charted clues would be posted every week (?) until the project is done.

The pattern is another wing shaped shawl like Wings to Heaven with an all over lace pattern. I'm using 500 yards of fingering weight wool yarn on size 6 needles for the project. I haven't finished the prototype yet to know if this will be enough yarn or not.

I may offer a prize to one lucky person who completes the KAL project and posts pictures of their shawl. More details to come as I finish the project and finalize all the details.

If you would be interested in participating, post a comment here or on my Rav group under the Shawl KAL thread.

Happy dancing!

After 3 weeks of having the viral crud that's been going around, I'm finally feeling like a human being! Honestly, is it me or do these bugs get worse and hang around longer every year?

Some good news...

The Fire Bird Shawl I donated to the recent Pet Refuge auction (March 7) brought in some major $$$ for the shelter. Today, I heard that it sold for $75.00 in the silent auction! Woo-hoo!

Yesterday, I took a roadtrip to Threadbear in Lansing, Michigan. They now are restocked with Simple Knits patterns. I also left all of the items I've knit from those patterns for display. (Excepting Cascading Leaves which both shawls were given away.) I was unwilling to part with all of my knitting as shop samples. Rob asked me if I would consider loaning them to the shop for a month to display as a trunk show. Of course I said yes! (Picture me grinning madly!) And the yarn goodies that followed me home from the shop were icing on that cake.

I'm taking a break from lace and shawl projects for the moment. My current obsession is baby bibs. I've finished one and have started on another one. I also have a felted bag design on the needles.

I know I haven't posted many pictures of my knitting lately. That's because most of it has been items for my niece Amy. Her baby boy is due in April. I didn't post any pictures and ruin the surprise for her by seeing them on my blog. Now that they've been delivered at the baby shower on Saturday, I can give you a peek at what I made. (Psst, more to come after the second baby shower.)

The yarn I used for all three projects is I Love This Cotton! from Hobby Lobby. The colorway is aqua ombre. Two balls of it made a baby cardi, a hat, and a bib. The bib is from my newest pattern Bib-alicious! The hat is called Presto! Baby Hat! by Katherine Vaughan. It folds down flat and then pops up like a top hat. Very cute! The baby cardi is called Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea. The baby cardi especially got lots of ohs and aws at the shower.

BTW, they counted 8 grand- and great-grandmothers at the baby shower. If the huge pile of baby gifts are any indication, this baby will want for nothing. LOL!

A Portuguese Baby Sweater

3/3/09 I've added a few clarifications and corrections to the pattern. Don't try writing up a pattern when you have a virus muddled head. :-(

I saw this baby sweater on Ravelry recently and fell in love with it. There was a problem—it was only available in Portuguese. With the help of online translation sites and a close look at how it was constructed, I was able to figure it out. Regina TTricotar, whose blog the original appears on, has given me permission to post a translation here on my blog.

This baby sweater is worked side-to-side in garter stitch. The picture below shows what the sweater looks like before seaming and adding the sleeves. Knit the sleeves separately as the original pattern directs or knit them in with the directions I give. Seam the shoulders, add a couple of buttons, and you’re good to go!

Baby Jacket by Aldina
Translated to English (with a few additions)
by Vicki Mikulak, February 13, 2009.

Finished size: 6-12 months
(chest 17", sleeve 6.5", body 7.5" long)
[The original pattern was for a 3 months size. Use smaller needles and a fingering or baby weight yarn if you want a smaller size.]

Materials:
U.S. Size 5 (3.75 mm) knitting needles
Sport weight yarn (2.5 oz/230 yards)
I used Sweet Delight Baby - Baby Bee in Crayon Ombre from Hobby Lobby.
A crochet hook
2 small buttons

Gauge: 5.5 sts/5.5 ridges (11 rows) = 1 inch

Use a crochet cast on for matching cast on and cast off edges. This also makes it easy to pick up stitches around the armhole if you want to knit the sleeve into the armhole. (Or use the cast on of your choice.)

With a crochet hook, crochet the stitches over the needle and place the final loop on your knitting needle. Watch how to do it by clicking HERE.

Right Front:
Cast on 8 stitches. Mark the right side (RS) of your work.
Rows 1-4: Knit even for 2 ridges (4 rows).

In this section, Ridge 3 & 18 are buttonhole rows. You will increase on those rows plus work a buttonhole. On the other rows you will only increase one stitch at the beginning of the row until you have a total of 42 sts on your needle.

Next row/Ridge 3: Kf&b, knit 2, k2tog, yo, k3. (9 sts)
Increase 1 stitch (kf&b) in the first stitch of every row until you have 42 sts.

Row 36/Ridge 18: Kf&b, knit 18, k2tog, yo, k19. (40 sts)

Rows 37-38: Continue to increase 1 st at the beginning of these rows. You should have 42 sts/19 ridges.

Right Shoulder:
Knit 12 ridges even. (24 rows).

Right Armhole (RS):
Bind off 18 sts, knit to end of row (24 sts).
Knit across row.
K2tog, knit to end of row.
Knit across row.
K2tog, knit to end of row.
Knit across row.
Kf&b of first st, knit to end of row.
Knit across row.
Kf&b of first st, knit to end.
Knit across row and cast on 18 sts at the end. (42 sts)

Back:
Knit 36 ridges (72 rows).

Right Armhole:
Repeat armhole instructions above then go to left shoulder instructions.

Left Shoulder:
Knit 12 ridges (24 rows).

Left Front:
In this section, K2tog at the beginning of each row as you knit the row.
Continue decreasing each row until you have 8 sts left.

Knit 2 ridges/4 rows.
Cast off all sts. Body of sweater complete.

Sleeves:

Option 1: Cast on 40 sts. Knit 35 ridges (70 rows). Cast off all sts. Sew shoulder seam and sleeve seam. Sew sleeve into armhole. Weave in all ends.

Option 2: Pick up 40 sts around the armhole. Knit 35 ridges in garter. Cast off. Cut yarn leaving a 12" yarn tail. Fold sleeve and jacket front matching edges. Thread the yarn tail through the needle. Sew the garter stitches at the edges together by picking up a bump on the right side and then on the left side of the seam. This makes a fairly invisible seam. Weave in all ends.

Option 3: Sew shoulder seam. Pick up 40 sts around the armhole on dpns or 2 circulars. Knit in garter stitch for 35 ridges/70 rows (knit one row and purl one row). Cast off. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Sew two buttons onto the front matching them to the buttonhole locations.

Key:
kf&b - knit in front and back of stitch (increase)
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together (decrease)

Original pattern found on this blog in Portuguese:
http://tentandotricotar.blogspot.com/2008/07/casaquinho-atravessado-da-aldina.html

Bib-alicious!

I'm finally beginning to feel like a human being again. A friend of mine took her daughter to the doctor with the same bug I've had. His diagnosis: a viral sinus infection. I've never heard of that one before. The doctor gave my friend a prescription for an antibiotic and told her not to fill it until the weekend if she needs it. So now I have a name for what I've been suffering from. Though I knew this wasn't a cold nor the flu.

My niece, Amy, is having a baby in April. I've been busy knitting and crocheting baby gifts for her upcoming baby shower. Here's a baby bib pattern I came up with recently. Bib-alicious is a quick and easy garter stitch bib that's knit from side to side. It has a few short rows thrown in to keep it interesting and give it a bit of a flare. You can knit two bibs out of a ball of Sugar & Cream on size 8 needles. I love fast and cute projects like this!

For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Nasty bug!

Hey everyone,

I've been sick with some bug for over a week now. My sense of taste and smell are finally returning and my head and chest are decongesting. For several days I felt like something the cat dragged in. Though I'm getting better, this bug is leaving too slowly for my taste. I haven't picked up my needles in a week. My concentration and energy have been in the minus zone. Does that tell you how sick I've been?

Hubby has a touch of it but nothing like what I got plastered with.

Several days ago I lost my balance as I was taking a desperately needed shower. One second I was on my feet and the next I was sitting down in the tub! My guardian angel must have been working overtime that day as I seem to have suffered few ill effects. Of course, since I already felt like someone had run me over several times and stuffed my head full of cotton wool, I just may not have noticed. :-)

I can usually function when I have a cold or virus. This bug has made my head so muzzy, that I can't concentrate.

Meanwhile, our weather has gone downhill again. We've gotten 10 inches of snow since yesterday with more lake effect predicted. It won't last long. About Wednesday the temps are supposed to warm up into the 40's and rain. That should get melt most of this off.

Our garden seed orders are in. We'll be starting plants inside soon. I'm so ready to start thinking about gardening season and spring.

A question about patterns

I've been pondering how to handle my free patterns. I'm in a bit of a quandary of what to do. All of them have pros and cons for both me and you (ease of download and printing foro you and more work for me). Might I ask for some feedback from you?

Here are some things I could do:

1. Continue to post my free patterns only here on my blog. (Fourteen are only available on my blog.)

2. Post my free patterns only as pdf downloads through Ravelry. (Three are available only on Ravelry---Swirl Baby Blanket, SquiddyCat, and A Funky Wave Scarf.)

3. Post my free patterns on my blog and on Ravelry. (Only one--Dishsoap Apron--is available in both places. Though posting these patterns in both places is not something I want to do. It's more work for my already time pressured day. :-)

4a. Gather my 28 free patterns together into a booklet and place it on Ravelry as a downloadable pdf. (There would be a small fee charged as it would require some work for me to do this or 4b.)

4b. Format two booklets for sale---one with 18 knitting patterns and a second with 10 crochet patterns.

If I chose option 4a or 4b, how much do you think I should charge for a pdf compilation of my these patterns?

Give me your thoughts by posting a comment(s) on this post.

A Dishsoap Apron to crochet

BTW, this pattern was featured on Lime & Violet on Sunday, February 8.

Worked from the neck down. This apron fits squatty dishsoap bottles. A loop fits around the neck of the bottle and ties button in the back.

Finished size: 7" tall x 9" wide at ties

Materials:
Worsted weight dishcloth cotton yarn (about 15-20 yards)
Crochet hook size H

Click here for a download on Ravelry.