The next scarf

And I have started another scarf. This one, I think, will be for my stepdaughter. I'm making it in Bernat Softee Baby in Baby Denim Marls.



It is so soft.

I will put the pattern up later in the week. Right now I'm bored with the computer and I want to get back to my projects.

(Pattern)

Fantasy sampler

I worked on it at lunch again this week. When compared to last time, there is a wee bit of progress being made.

To prove it, here is the BEFORE picture . . .


. . . and here is the AFTER picture.


Those funny spots on the AFTER picture are the flowers on my sheets. I laid the project out on my bed since the cats were terribly interested in helping me with my needlework today and I really didn't want them snagging this.

Washcloth #4 Pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R - Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 6 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 6 stitches plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * K6 *, R

Row 2: R, * P2, K4 *, R

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: Repeat Row 2

Row 5: Repeat Row 1

Row 6: R, * K3, P2, K1 *, R

Row 7: Repeat Row 1

Row 8: Repeat Row 6

This completes the 8 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 6 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 6 as you'd like plus 2 extra stitches. I worked two rows of knit stitches across before I began the pattern. Work the eight rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 4. To finish, knit two rows of stitches across. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 44 stitches wide and 64 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth #4

The fourth washcloth is done. It will go to my brother and his family. My cat Mouse is helping model the washcloth.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends. I think this and the first are my favorites.

(Pattern)

Washcloth #3 Pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R - Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 10 + 1 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 10 stitches plus one ending stitch to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * P1, K9 *, P1, R

Row 2: R, * K2, P7, K1 *, K1, R

Row 3: R, * P3, K5, P2 *, P1, R

Row 4: R, * K4, P3, K3 *, K1, R

Row 5: R, * P5, K1, P4 *, P1, R

Row 6: Repeat Row 4

Row 7: Repeat Row 3

Row 8: Repeat Row 2

This completes the 8 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 10 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 10 as you'd like plus 3 extra stitches. I worked two rows of knit stitches across before I began the pattern. Work the eight rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 8. To finish, knit two rows of stitches across. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 43 stitches wide and 60 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth #3

The third washcloth is done. It will go to my brother and his family. My cat Mouse is helping model the washcloth.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends. I'm not as pleased with this one as I was the first or even the second.

(Pattern)

With a little help from my friends

I wiped down the coffee table so I could lay out my various projects for update snaps, and Heru and Mouse decided the clean table was the perfect place for them to wrestle. I'd already laid down the latest two washcloths to photograph when they started.



I finally gave up and moved the washcloths so they could play for a bit. I took several snaps of them going at it before Heru got bored and moved off. Mouse refused to leave so I finally gave in and let her model the washcloths.

Went shopping

As I mentioned in my other blog, I received some money for participating in several surveys, so I took my ill gotten gains to Hobb Lobby to see what I could spend it on. Not only did I spend the survey cash, but I racked up a bit more to get all the stuff I wanted.

Firstly, I picked up a copy of this mitten book 'cause I've never knitted mittens before and it looked to be simple enough to understand.






And then I picked this book up because it looked nifty and it explained all those knitting codes I never learned because my mum taught me to knit and we always worked things out for ourselves.





So then naturally I had to pick this book up as well because one must always have one's bible to work from.






I also picked up American School of Needlework leaflet 1359: Knit Socks Whatever the Yarn!, Annie's Attic leaflet 873692: The Ultimate Book of Knit Socks, and Lanarte by Leisure Arts leaflet #3698: Butterfly Fairies. The Lanarte leaflet is two cross stitch projects I'm thinking of working up for my granddaughter.

Washcloth # 2 pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R – Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 3 + 1 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 3 stitches plus one ending stitch to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * P1 K2 *, P1, R

Row 2: R, * K1, P2 *, K1, R

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: R, * K3 *, K1, R

This completes the 4 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 3 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 3 as you'd like plus 3 extra stitches. I worked three rows of knit stitches across before I began the pattern. Work the four rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 4. To finish, knit two rows of stitches across. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 42 stitches wide and 53 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth # 2

The second washcloth is done. I think it will go to my brother and his family as well. There are four of them and I think they should have four washcloths.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends. I'm not as pleased with this one as I was the first. And the nifty thing about my picture taking - and the yarn which does not show up patterns well - is that you can't really tell what the pattern looks like. Oh, well.

(Pattern)

Washcloth # 1 pattern

I still don't know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to just put up the instructions for the pattern.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
R – Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The pattern is worked over 5 + 1 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 5 stitches plus one ending stitch to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * K5 *, K1, R

Row 2: Repeat Row 1

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: R, * K1, P4 *, K1, R

Row 5: Repeat Row 1

Row 6: Repeat Row 4

Row 7: Repeat Row 1

Row 8: Repeat Row 4

This completes the 8 rows that make up one iteration of the pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 5 stitches of the pattern.

To make the washcloth, cast on as many multiples of 5 as you'd like plus 3 extra stitches. Work the eight rows of the pattern for as long as you'd like the washcloth to be. End the pattern on Row 8. To finish, repeat Row 1 twice. Bind off on the next row.

My washcloth was 43 stitches wide and 58 rows long.

(Photo)

Washcloth # 1

The first washcloth is done. I think I will gift my brother and his family with it. They live on a farm now and I suspect that washcloths and dishcloths will come in handy.



I didn't do any fancy finishing on it. Just knit it up and worked in the loose ends.

(Pattern)

XFIL scarf final update

It's done! Fourteen iterations of the cable pattern. I probably should have done another iteration or two, but I'm bored with it so it will just have to do.




I have almost an entire skein of yarn left. I think I will turn it into dish clothes.

(Pattern)

The XFIL's scarf

I worked on the scarf last night. It's up to 11 iterations. This is a picture of my six foot tall Prodigal Son holding the scarf up to get a perspective on how long it is.



And as a special treat for all those people who wonder what I look like, I've included a snap of me holding the scarf.



~ giggle ~

That photo was an accident. The Prodigal Son handed me the scarf and the skein of yarn while I was holding the camera and I snapped accidentally.

Fantasy sampler

I worked on it at lunch again yesterday and today. You still can't tell much difference between what I'd already had done when I pulled the project out of my stash and today. I've stopped working on the pegasus and switched to stitching on the leafy inner border.

To prove it, here is the BEFORE picture . . .


. . . and here is the AFTER picture.


Not much difference, huh? Here's a slightly better picture of the section I've actually worked on.


When I started this project all those many, many years ago, I was still basically a cross stitch virgin. I didn't know about separating the threads and letting them twist out. I didn't know about railroading. And I certainly didn't pay much attention to tension. Looking at what I'd done before putting the sampler away, I can see all sorts of mistakes I don't make today.

Oh, well. Despite how much I hate working on jobelin, the project is too far along to just discard. It may take me another ten years to finish, but, by golly, one of these days I will.

I worked on the fantasy sampler

I packed up all my cross stitch supplies this morning and carted them to work with me so I could work on the fantasy sampler during lunch.


I didn't take a picture of the actual stitched piece since you couldn't really see much difference between what I did today and what I'd done last time, so I took a picture of the pattern that I'm marking off as I go alone instead. It's much easier to see what I did. Today's stitching encompasses the bits colored dark green.

There and back again, an XFIL scarf's tale

I'm back from my little holiday. I was gone helping my best friend celebrate her birthday.


I actually took my knitting with me to Austin and the XFIL's scarf is now ten iterations long.


I picked up some knitting magazines and one crochet magazine while I was there since I appear to be the only person in Lake Jackson who knits, crochets, and cross stitches. On the way home, I stopped at WalMart to pick up a few necessaries and there are no knitting, crochet, or cross stitch magazines to be found there.

XFIL scarf cable pattern

I had a particularly unproductive weekend. I was in serious need of an attitude adjustment so I did a lot of nothing including NOT cleaning, NOT working on craft projects, NOT reading, and NOT being sociable. (Ask the Prodigal Son about that. He can tell you about me grunting in response to questions.) I told one of my Shadowmarch amigas I would put the cable pattern for the XFIL's scarf up this weekend, but I very obviously didn't. Not doing it was part of being unproductive. So I'm going to try getting the pattern up now. I don’t know what acceptable, traditional 'pattern speak' is so you'll have to bear with me and ask questions if I give an instruction that is incomprehensible. I'm going to start out by just putting up the instructions for the cable pattern and not the scarf which is just two side by side iterations of the cable.

K# - knit specified number of stitches
P# - purl specified number of stitches
L#F – lift number of specified stitches to cable needle and hold in front
KL#F – knit number of specified stitches from cable needle
L#B – lift number of specified stitches to cable needle and hold in back
KL#B – knit number of specified stitches from cable needle
R – Randmacshe (first / last stitch)

NOTE: The cable pattern is worked over 22 + 2 + 2 stitches. This means the pattern covers 22 stitches plus two ending stitches to finish a multiple iteration row plus one beginning stitch and one ending stitch. In German, the first and last stitches are called Randmaschen and that is how I always think of them. The Randmaschen are never part of the pattern.

Row 1: R, * P2, L1B, K1, KL1B, P2, K12, P2, L1F, K1, KL1F *, P2, R

Row 2: R, * K2, P2, K2, P12, K2, P2 *, K2, R

Row 3: R, * P2, K2, P2, K12, P2, K2 *, P2, R

Row 4: Repeat Row 2

Row 5: R, * P2, L1B, K1, KL1B, P2, L3B, K3, KL3B, L3F, K3, KL3F, P2, L1F, K1, KL1F *, P2, R

Row 6: Repeat Row 2

Row 7: Repeat Row 3

Row 8: Repeat Row 2

Row 9: R, * P2, L1B, K1, KL1B, P2, K3, L3B, K3, KL3B, K3, P2, L1F, K1, KL1F *, P2, R

Row 10: Repeat Row 2

Row 11: Repeat Row 3

Row 12: Repeat Row 2

Row 13: Repeat Row 9

Row 14: Repeat Row 2

Row 15: Repeat Row 3

Row 16: Repeat Row 2

Row 17: R, * P2, L1B, K1, KL1B, P2, L3F, K3, KL3F, L3B, K3, KL3B, P2, L1F, K1, KL1F *, P2, R

Row 18: Repeat Row 2

Row 19: Repeat Row 3

Row 20: Repeat Row 2

This completes the 20 rows that make up one iteration of the cable pattern. The asterisks (*) in the pattern rows indicate the 22 stitches of the cable pattern.

AJ, my Shadowmarch friend, thought the cable pattern might be called tree of life. I have no idea if it is or not. It doesn't look like any of the patterns I found that purported to be called tree of life. The book I used was published in 1989 in Germany and it does not list any pattern names as far as I can tell. The book is in German and I remember just enough to translate most of the instructions. It also doesn't hurt that my mum taught me to knit using German terms so a knit is a 'rechts' stitch and a purl is a 'links' stitch.

(Photo)

XFIL scarf update

I've worked at bit on the scarf this week. I have it up to seven iterations of the cable pattern although I took the photos below while it only had six. I'm limiting myself to one complete iteration per knitting session. I still can't get a decent picture at the right angle to show off the cable pattern.

Fantasy sampler update

I remember why I stopped working on this sampler. I hate stitching on jobelin. But, I have persisted and stitched a bit every night so I am happy to report the lion in the upper right corner is done and the pegasus in the upper left corner has been begun.





And for once, neither Heru nor Mouse had any interest in helping me either cross stitch or knit. They were busy looking out the window and ignoring me.

Fantasy Sampler

Fantasy Sampler
Dreamscape Leaflet #97
Teresa Wentzler, Designer

This is a project I started more than 11 years ago. Between one thing and another, I haven't touched it in six or seven years. I've decided to dig it out and finish it. I'll post periodic WIP pictures as I struggle along. It's being worked on a 28 count white jobelin.

I'll be trading between this and knitting the scarf for the time being. I've done so much knitting the carpal tunnel is setting in in my right hand so I need to take a little break.

Scarf for the XFIL

I've tried to get a good shot of the cable pattern I'm using for the scarf, but the pattern is really difficult to see even in real life. I've completed three iterations of the pattern and it is working up really quickly.



I am using Coats & Clark Red Heart Fiesta yarn in 6661 Meadow. I'm using US number 6 needles but I think they might be too small.



The cable pattern runs over 20 rows and 22 stitches. I'm using two side by side repeats of the pattern for a total of 48 stitches. The extra four stitches are the first and last stitch, which my mother taught me never count, and two stitches at the end of the row to mimic the first two stitches of the pattern.

Another scarf

. . . though you can't tell it quite yet. This is the very first picture of my next project - a scarf, in a cable pattern, for my XFIL for Christmas.

Completed scarf

This scarf is definitely for my XMIL for Christmas. It's not quite as long as I would have made it for myself and it doesn't have as much fringe as I would use, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

It needs to be washed and shaped and boxed up in tissue for Christmas. Washing and shaping I can do, but I don't have any boxes or tissue paper so that will have to wait a bit till I make it to the store.