NEW PATTERN: Winter Wheat Hat

Click on over to Ravelry or Etsy to pick up my latest pattern, the Winter Wheat Hat. 

Featuring a stylized wheat pattern, the design was inspired by the planting of fields that occurs in the late fall in colder climates. Winter wheat was introduced to the US in the late 1800s by the Germans from Russia, and is planted throughout northern Great Plains in the late fall. The seeds sprout before the ground freezes and then becomes dormant until early spring when the sun warms the soil and spring rains bring forth the fields of golden grain.

The Winter Wheat hat is the perfect knit to keep your head warm throughout the freezing winter. With a slight slouch fit, the hat is knit bottom up in worsted weight yarn. Winter Wheat knits up quick showcasing two or three colors, topped off with an optional pom.

Handknit Christmas Cards

I nearly forgot to share my handmade/knit Christmas cards I created using the sweaters I knit up from my free pattern.  I knit up little sweaters like crazy,  in just about every color of Knit Pick Palette yarn I had on hand.  

Then I attached to a card with a couple of staples and added a bit of doodles.....

to create the perfect combination of a card and a gift.

The Joy of Wine - Merlot Santa

I am addicted to tiny knits.  I found a pattern for Tiny Christmas Mitten on Ravelry and just had to knit them up....

Adorable, aren't they.  So what to do with some tiny mitts,  well dress up a wine bottle.....

First, I had a nice evening polishing off the entire bottle of wine.

What you need...

• Fingering weight yarn,  I used Knit Picks Palette in Cream and Hollyberry
• Size 1 (2.25mm) DPN
• Wire (I used floral stem wire)
• Tapestry Needle
• Wine Bottle 

Knit up two mittens using the Tiny Christmas Mitten pattern. 

For the scarf cast on 18 stitches  and knit in the round for 2 inches then decrease by 4 stitches.  Continue knitting in the round for 10 more inches then increase 4 stitches and knit 2 more inches.  About 5 rounds in, I added a row of cream, then again toward the end of the scarf as well.

Once you are finished with the arms, insert the wire in the the scarf tube,  I happened to have some floral stem wire on hand. I used my fingers to create a hook shape on each end (so the pointy end of the wire would not poke through the mittens).
Then I attached the mittens to each end of the scarf using the cast on or off ends.  Any excess ends I just threaded through and stuffed into the mittens and scarf.

For the Hat cast on 40 stitches in a cream color and joined in the round.  Knit a 2x2 rib for 1 1/2 inch then switch to the red yarn and just knit around for approx 1/2 an inch.  To decrease I divided into 5 sections of 8 stitches each.
R1: (Knit 6, K2tog) repeat around (35 sts)
R2 & 3: Knit
R4: (Knit 5, K2tog) repeat around (30 sts)
R5 & 6: Knit
R7: (K4, K2tog) repeat around (25 sts)
R8 & 9: Knit
R10: (K3, K2tog) repeat around (20 sts)
R11 & 12: knit
R13: K2tog around (10 sts)

Cut yarn and use tapestry needle to thread yarn through remaining stitches. 

To finish off the hat, I added a finger pompom.  Just wrap some yarn around two of your fingers about 30 times, remove and tie some yarn around the center.  Then clip all of the loops and fluff up and attach to hat. 

Holiday Sweater Ornament

I have been on a mission to find the perfect knit ornament to make for friends and family this year.  What I had in mind was a tiny sweater with a snowflake and the year.  After several hours searching Ravelry and a few false starts I knit up the Tiny Holiday Sweater Ornament a free pattern from Knit Picks.  It is truly a lovely little sweater, but much too time consuming to make in mass quantity.

Not really finding what I wanted on Raverly,  I came up with my own 

Knit Picks Palette in Hollyberry and Cream

Holiday Sweater Ornament

What you will need:

•  About 30 yards (will more than get the job done) of fingering weight wool and about 3 yards of contrasting color to embroider the snowflake and year.
• Set of 5 Double Pointed Needles in size 1 (2.25mm)
• 2 large safety pins or waste yarn
• Tapestry Needle

Finished measurement:  2 ¾ inches long and 2 inches wide at the body of the sweater

Directions (sweater is knit top down) 

CO 20 sts on 4 DPNs  (placing the stitches as follows:  Needle 1: 6 sts Needle2: 4 sts Needle 3: 6 sts Needle 4: 4sts)

Join and knit a 1x1 rib (K1, P1) for 3 rounds.

Knit one round

Increases

Round 1:  (K1, kfb, knit to next to last stitch on Needle, kfb, k1),  repeat on each Needle.

Rounds 2 & 3: Knit

Repeat the 3 increase rounds three more times. 

Sweater Body

Knit across Needle 1 and cast on 3 stitches, place stitches on Needle 2 on to a safety pin, knit across Needle 3 and cast on 3 sts (you will need to split the stitches on to 2 Needles) , place stitches on Needle 4 on to a safety pin. 

The stitches on the safety pins will be the sleeves and the ones on the needles will make up the body of the sweater. 

Knit in the round for 10 rounds.

Knit 3 rounds of a 1x1 rib and then cast off.  I like to cast off in the stitch pattern meaning, I knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches when casting off.

Sleeves

Put the 12 stitches from the safety pin or waste yarn on to 2 needles.  Pick up 3 stitches in the arm pit area of the sweater and then knit the 12 on the needles.  (15 sts total)

Knit in the round for 5 rounds.

Round 6: K2tog, knit around (14 sts)

Knit 4 more rounds  

For the cuff: Knit 3 rounds of a 1x1 rib and then cast off.  I like to cast off in the stitch pattern meaning, I knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches when casting off.

Use tapestry needle to sew in ends and embroidery the snowflake and year. 

I don’t really weave in the ends,  I just tidy up the exterior of the sweater, then stuff the ends to the inside of the sweater. 

Embroidery

You can make up your own snowflake motif, but here is how I did mine. 

Find what looks like a stitch in the center of the sweater, and toward the top.  The center of my snowflake is 1 inch from the top of the sweater and I stitch the snowflake in the following steps. 

1.  Stitch 4 dashes 
2.  Add the point to each dash, bring yarn up on one point,  loop it though the dash and then down at the other point.
3. Stich an X over the center.
4. Add small dashes to look like dots.

 

For the numbers, I simplified each number to just straight lines and just went for it,  took me a few tries to get it somewhat even. 

Now to see how many of these babies I can crank out by the holidays!

Happy Knitting.

Off the needles - Argyle Mittens

Finally, finished the set.  The right hand has been done for several months because I made it to test my Argyle Mitten Collection pattern.  I just got around to finishing the left hand.  And I am working out the final touches on a hat pattern to match. 

Knit up in Knit Picks Palette in Shoal and cream. 

Well the knitting is finished,  just need to sew in the ends.

Argyle Mitten Collection

I have a new pattern ready to knit up that is perfect for the spring snow. 

The Argyle Mitten Collection are a classic lightweight mitten perfect for the chilly spring days.
Knit up here in the wonderfully soft Knit Pick Cappretta, they are knit in the round from the cuff to fingertips in a fingering weight (4-ply) yarn.  The pattern offers six charted designs you can mix and match to create your own unique pair of mittens.

Pattern also includes option for fingerless mitts.

Blaithin Cardigan

I have been on a Kate Davies knitting kick, first the Scatness tam and now a Blaithin cardigan.  As soon as I saw it,  I knew I had to knit it.   Full of 'new to me' techniques, crochet steeking, i-cord bind off, pockets it was a satisfying knit all the way through. 

The main color is Brown Sheep Lambs Pride superwash worsted in Golden Bronze,  just love the color.  Mixed with Cascade 220 in Natural, Sapphire and Lichen for the colorwork 

Knit bottom and and in the round,  after I cut the steek,  my husband  said he was impressed that I did not have a mess of yarn and frayed edges.  I had a few moments of some of the steek letting go,  but with some delicate handling all went well and the button band made such a nice finish to the cardigan.  

Tea Time Stripes

I may be a little bias,  but I just love knitting up my Tea Time Slipper Pattern.  They are quick and easy with no seams and just a bit of weaving in the ends.  Then toss them in the wash to felt up (takes about 3 cycles in my top loader)  Shape and let dry.  Check out he pretty pair I made for my mom for Christmas...

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted

With my slippers from last year wearing thin, it was time to dig through the stash and see what colors I could knit up.  I have always made them in one color but have been mulling over the idea of using multiple colors. 

I had just finished a pair of slippers for my mom in purple,  but did not have enough leftover to make a pair for me,  so I dug around and found a partial skein of grey that again, was not enough to make a pair of slipper for me.

Now to figure out the pattern,  stripes seemed like the easy answer and after searching around and looking at other multi color felted projects  I decided to try a fade in fade out stripe pattern. They knit up quick and I had to do a bit more weaving in ends but check out the results. 

I was a bit worried that the stripe would be distorted in the felting process,  but for the most part they stayed true. 

I love them and cant wait to wear them, but first I need to sew on some leather/ultrasuede soles so this pair will last a little longer.

On my needles

Spent Tuesday this week home with a sick kid, enjoying getting started on a new pattern...

Scatness Tam by Kate Davies.  Love her patterns. 

Heartfelt Cuteness...

Don't you just love this ring?  It took me less than 15 minutes to whip up and hand felt. 

The Heartfelt Ring is a free pattern from Tiny Owl Knits. 

Basic colors

I am in the homeward stretch of preparing my latest knitting pattern, First Frost Mittens.  Should be in the next few weeks, but to tease you a bit I thought I would share the latest colorway I am knitting up cream with black and red.  Not my usual palette but I love it......

Colorwork mitts...

Here is a little something I have on my needles, some colorwork fingerless gloves.  My hands always get so cold when work on the computer, especially my pinky fingers.  I have tried to work and type with a few other fingerless mitts I have knit,  but they are too bulky and seem to hinder my typing. 

I am doing these up in fingering weight yarn, Knit Picks Palette in Navy and a Frog Tree Alpaca in Mustard.  The pattern needs a few tweaks,  but so far I like what I have going on. 

Car Knitting Affection

Over the long 4th of July holiday we had a grand family trip to visit both sets of grandparents.  Adding it all together I think it was about 16 hours of car time.  I spent the week prior to the trip carefully contemplating what knitting I should take along.   I wanted an easy to follow pattern, a little visual interest and something that I just might wear. (extra points if it used some of my stash yarn).  Enter Color Affection shawl. All knitting, no purling and a bit of color perfect. 

Although I did not knit nearly as much as I though I would in the car (two kids will do that to you),  I did knit through the first set of stripes on our trip. I had the mustard and the red sock yarn in my stash and picked up the grey to throw in the mix.  It will be a marathon of knitting as each row gets longer and longer, I hope I have the knitting stamina.  And I hope that I will wear it, I have not decided if I am the shawl wearer type.

Embellished Tea Time Slippers

I have been knitting up pair after pair of the Tea Time Slippers,  partly to test the pattern and partly because it is such a fast easy pattern.  If you don't like knitting separate pieces then sewing them together to felt,  this is the pattern for you.  The Tea Time Slippers are knit up all in one piece, just weave in the ends and felt.  Between working on the women's sizes and the soon to be published Tiny Tea Time Slippers,  I have about 10 pair of these slippers, all blank and sitting in a box.

Here is the latest pair I finished.....

Knit up in Knit Picks Full Circle worsted colorway Denim.  I love the way this yarn felted up, just perfect for a pair of slippers.

And even better with some needle felted sunflowers on the toes.....

Pick up the pattern today....  Ravelry, Craftsy or Etsy!

Fightin' Words

Could there be a more perfect pattern for a boy? 

Pattern: Fightin' Words by Annie Watts knit up in Black and White Knit Picks Palette yarn

I knew I just had to make these fantastic fingerless mitts for Alex as soon as I saw them. 

I had to size them down a bit and Raveled about the mods here.
 

So do you have any favorite knitting patterns for a boy? 

Tea Time Slippers

I am excited to share my newest knitting pattern Tea Time Slippers.  My feet are cold all of the time especially in the winter,  my toes turn in to little ice cubes.  So slippers are a must and nothing is better at keeping them warm than felted wool.  This is a super quick knit with a unique toe up design.  The slipper is knit all in one piece so there is no sewing once your are done.   

 

Tea Time Slippers

Knit toe up all in one piece felted slippers

 Some days all you need is a hot cup of tea and warm feet

by

Amy Munson

 PDF Pattern is available for $6 via

 Ravelry, Craftsy or Etsy 

Colorwork Ornaments

Hot off the keys of my computer,  my newest knitting pattern is ready and loaded to be purchased on Etsy and Ravelry. 

Colorwork Ornaments offers 18 different patterns to create eye catching and intricate knit ornaments
in contemporary and traditional Sanquhar knitting designs.  I have written and charted all of the patterns.  I hope you find them as addictive as I do.....

Each finished ornament measures an 7 ¾ inch circumference (about 2.5 inch diameter)

Materials

- Yarn: fingering weight wool in two colors (approx. 25 yards of each color)

I have used the following Knit Picks Palette yarns in various combinations:
White
Cream
Oyster
Doe
Black
Currant
Hollyberry
Delta
Navy

- Needles: 5 Double Pointed Needles in Size 1 (2.5 mm)
- Stitch Markers (4)
- Stuffing
- Crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Hemostats (optional, used for stuffing the ornament)       

Off the needles...

This tunic lagged on my needles forever.  I started it while visiting my family over the long New Years weekend.  Got a good start, finished the skirt and when I hit the yoke I had a few idea I wanted to try out,  all of them were duds and ripped out. Until I found the pattern for the Impress Dress on Ravelry that uses a woven stitch for a super cute yoke. 
Completely confused by the directions on how to do the woven stitch.  It took me several tries to get it just right, but check it out......

knit up in Bamboo Ewe colorway Grape and some Andes Alpaca in Peacock.

Love the contrasting dots created by the woven stitch.

On the needles

While I ponder over my Alliance for American Quilts entry that I shared yesterday, I knit up a few more ornaments....

Nearly off the needles....

Most of the ones I have finished so far..

Testing

I have started working my way through test knitting all of the patterns I came up with for the Traditional Colorwork Ornaments.  Last night I cast on the Midge and Flea to knit up in 3 colors.  The color combination was inspired by another project (Sipula Bag in warm tones) in which I just loved how the colors worked together.  Knit Picks Palette in Marsala, Sweet Potato and Brindle Heather.  Working in 3 colors is a tad bit of a tangled mess, but worth the result.  I love that Sweet Potato but it is a very bright color and needs a few dark tones around it to calm it down. 

Also, stay tuned quilters,  I have started working on this year's entry to the Alliance for American Quilts Contest, Home is Where the Quilt Is and should have most of it finished by the end of the long weekend and should have a few photos to share.