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.

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.

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.

First Frost Mittens

My latest pattern First Frost Mittens in ready to you to purchase at all the usual locations (Ravelry, Etsy or Craftsy)

First Frost Mittens are a classic lightweight mitten. Knit in the round from the cuff to fingertips in  fingering weight (4-ply) wool. With four traditional motifs to choose from and endless color combinations, First Frost Mittens will be your go to mitten for the season.

Pattern also includes option for fingerless mitts.

Knit up in Knit Picks Palette in Cream, Black and Hollyberry

I had a freezing cold photo shoot yesterday to get a few last shots of the mittens.  It was about 18 degrees F when I ventured out on our deck with near -20 below wind chills, it was a quick shoot.  And after using the self timer on my camera to get a decent shot of me wearing the mittens, I did a last minute shot of them lying on our deck box and really like it.  

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......

Right blend

A challenge in fair isle knitting can be picking out the right color combination.  The decision making process can bring a project to a dead stop.  I tried about 5 different color mixes before I settled on this one for a test knit of my soon to be released mitten pattern.  I tend to favor the colors of autumn...orange, green, burnt umber, mustard yellow, touches of red. 
 

So what are your go to colors? 

Snowflake Sweater Mitten pattern

Hot of my hard drive my Snowflake Sweater Mitten pattern is ready to download from Craftsy or Etsy. 

 Create a stunning pair of mittens for yourself or whip up a few pair to use as gifts. 

The mitten pattern comes in two sizes small/medium and medium/large and 4 different snowflakes to choose from to embellish the back of the hand.  

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!

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)       

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. 

Easter Eggs

I have been knitting up my Knit-n-Felt Ornament pattern in spring colors to decorate as eggs for Easter. I love this little pattern it is a quick knit and can use up those wonderful scraps of wool that one cant bear to throw away. Pattern is available for free on Ravelry, click here to: download now

All felted up and ready for some embroidery and beads.

How many shoes does one girl need

I don't think I will ever say, Yes today I have enough pairs of shoes. I love shoes. I have more that I should need and find myself always wanting more. I feel the same way about purses. In my perfect world, I would have one pair of shoes and a purse for every outfit I own.

Unfelted Mischief Makers knit up in Patons Classic Wool in New Denim.

I am happily passing this obsession on to my little girl. I am now on my 5th pair of Mischief Makers for her and I have yarn for the next pair waiting in my knitting bag.

Mischief Makers Pattern

I finished my pattern for the knit felt toddler Mary Jane slippers which I have named Mischief Makers (toddlers are certainly good at that)

It is a quick and easy, knit from the toe up in one piece with no seams.

Available on Etsy or Ravelry for $5.50.

Date Night Purse

I have had this pattern in my head for awhile and finally got down to creating it and writing up the pattern.

My Own Bead Embroidery Pattern Booklet on Etsy

Have you always wanted to take a beading class but have not had the time. I have put some of my all time best beading tips and 9 favorite emboridery patterns into a PDF pattern booklet....



Available through my Etsy site as a pdf, Bead Embroidery Stitches contains 9 patterns of my favorite bead embroidery stitches. Each stitch includes a detailed drawing, directions and clear color photos of each stitch.