Tag Archives: knit

Easy Ribbed Wrist Warmers

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These wrist warmers are super easy and knit up quickly – perfect for making for yourself of gifting to others!

Easy Ribbed Wrist Warmers
Supplies:

  • 4.5 mm circular needles (US size 7)
  • worsted weight yarn
  • stitch markers
  • stitch holders or scrap of yarn
  • darning needle for weaving in ends

Make 2 (I highly recommend knitting two at a time)

Cast on 40 stitches

Join in round, marking the beginning of your round and making certain not to twist stitches.

Rows 1-42 *K2P2* 10 times
Row 43           *K2P2* 3 times, *KFB* 2 times P2, *K2P2* 6 times (42 stitches)
Row 44          *K2P2* 3 times, K4P2, *K2P2* 6 times
Row 45           *K2P2* 3 times, KFB K2 KFB P2, *K2P2* 6 times (44 stitches)
Row 46           *K2P2* 3 times, K6P2, *K2P2* 6 times
Row 47           *K2P2* 3 times, KFB K4 KFB P2, *K2P2* 6 times (46 stitches)
Row 48           *K2P2* 3 times, K8P2, *K2P2* 6 times
Row 49           *K2P2* 3 times, KFB K6 KFB P2, *K2P2* 6 times (48 stitches)
Row 50           *K2P2* 3 times, K10P2, *K2P2* 6 times
Row 51           *K2P2* 3 times, KFB K8 KFB P2, *K2P2* 6 times (50 stitches)
Row 52           *K2P2* 3 times, K12P2, *K2P2* 6 times
Row 53           *K2P2* 3 times, K1, place 11 stitches on stitch holder or scrap yarn, cast on 1 stitch via backwards loop, P2,  *K2P2* 6 times (40 stitches)

Row 54-75    *K2P2* 10 times

Bind off in pattern.

Slide 11 stitches from stitch holder or scrap yarn onto needles.
Pick up an additional 3 stitches from around the top of the thumb opening.

Knit 8 stockinette rows in the round and bind off.

Weave all ends in.

 

Click here for a printable version.

Sheldon, the Knitted Turtle

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My decision to knit a turtle last Fall was followed a couple of days later by my 4 year old’s announcement that turtles were cool and he wouldn’t mind having a toy turtle. The idea grew in my mind but it wasn’t until the week before Yule that I finally got around to knitting this cute little guy. He stretched my fiber skills, as the pattern called for some crocheting to attach the pieces of the removable shell together. My traumatic childhood memories of my grandmother trying to teach me to crochet at the age of 4 with her giant rings on my fingers were quickly combated by a simple online tutorial. Who knew? Then, because I didn’t want to buy DPNs (double pointed needles) and running my long cable needle through each time to make a decorative I-cord around the shell was taking forever, I improvised with a decorative crochet sticth which may or may not exist in the rest of the world. I think he turned out rather well, and he has been a popular hit with the kids.

You can find the pattern for Sheldon for free on Knitty. Patterns on Ravelry also show cute little accessories such as a cowboy outfit, a pirate outfit, superhero shell, and more.

Flying Key Harry Potter Ornament

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Every year we buy special ornaments for our Yule tree – one for us and one for each of our children. The intent is that when the kids are grown, they will have some holiday decorations to take with them. A few years ago, I realized that in a short span of time some years down the road, our tree would go from having a lot of these special ornaments to very few, as our children head out on their own. That was the year I began making ornaments.

This year (well, 2010), after participating in our local attachment parenting ornament swap, I thought it would be fun to do themed ornaments. Our family always has fun with Harry Potter themed ideas, so I thought I would begin there. It is my intent to make at least 12 Harry Potter themed ornaments throughout the year. When we signed up for the Harry Potter book and movie challenges, I decided to combine my ornament challenge with them.

So, January’s official ornament is a flying key. I found a free knitting pattern and decided to make it – modified, of course. I think a real skeleton key with added wings would be fabulous, if only I had a real skeleton key. Looking online, they have gotten to be quite expensive in their novelty instead of the numerous keys homes used to have lying about.



Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out how you can participate in the next Families, Create! Carnival.

Our February theme is “Heroes and Heroines” – what can your family create this month to celebrate the heroes and heroines in your lives?

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

  • What’s the perfect way to snuggle up on a cold winter night? Acacia at Fingerpaint & Superheroes knows the answer: make the perfect soup!
  • The ArtsyMama teaches us how to create a no sew fleece throw inspired by your favorite snuggle time book.
  • Movies made from books are often pretty poor representations, but this family-made movie from Dionna at Code Name: Mama is monster-ific!
  • Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes created a cozy for her Kindle, to protect it from little hands that think they need to cuddle with it.
  • What better way to cuddle and get cozy than in new jammies made by Mama G @ Z everyday things?
  • Inspired by her family’s love of the Harry Potter series, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to make a series of ornaments based on the theme.
  • Laura at Nestled Under Rainbows shared a reflection on and a celebration of snuggies, lovies, cuddlies and specials.
  • Little Hedgehog got a wonderful idea when his red hat from Father Christmas didn’t fit, and Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias got a wonderful idea to knit a sweet hedgehog!
  • Monster-inspired artwork by a monster-clad kid. Despite the growling, he really is cuddly! Monster love courtesy of Dionna at Code Name: Mama.
  • Arpita at Up, Down & Natural shares a quick tutorial on how to make your very own Pippalily inspire pouch sling, with zippered pocket & key ring, and a matching nursing cover to boot!
  • Amy at Anktangle finally completed something cuddly and warm for her son Daniel: his very own afghan, crocheted with love by Momma.
  • Who’d want to cuddle with a cuttlefish? Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes thinks you might want to cuddle up with this sweet plush cuttlefish!

Join us in February to create something with (or for) your own family. Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out more about February’s “Heroes and Heroines” theme.

Process Knitting

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The idea of knitting has been a romantic one for me. I so often see others knitting, relaxed and calm in their craft. The reality for me, however, was nothing of the sort. I first tried knitting when my oldest was three years old. I wanted to learn how to knit in case he wanted to try in a a few years. I did knit, but I didn’t enjoy it.

I tried again last year when my then five year old daughter wanted to try her hand at knitting. Her interest was short-lived, and as I still didn’t enjoy it, I put down my knitting needles after churning out a few hats and scarves for my family. Last month, in a conversation about knitting, I shared my romantic ideas and teh fact that I was very much a product knitter. As I sat there knitting, I would imagine how I could easily have drafted a pattern, cut out the pieces, and sewn the completed project. Knitting wasn’t for me.

As the end of 2010 came closer, I decided to give knitting another chance in an attempt to slow down and relax. After all, the third time holds the charm. Amazingly enough, that held true. I began to enjoy knitting. I sat down with yarn and knitting needles with no project in mind.

After that, I sought to knit cozies for our cell phones and Garmins. I half-jokingly asked my husband if anything else around the house needed cozies.

Since then I’ve completed quite a few small projects. It is relaxing, to an extent. I like that I can take my knitting to wherever the kids are playing or working on projects. When we go somewhere as a family, I can knit in the front seat. I do wonder if I am merely finding more ways of multi-tasking, though.

Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out how you can participate in the next Families, Create! Carnival.

Our February theme is “Heroes and Heroines” – what can your family create this month to celebrate the heroes and heroines in your lives?

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

  • What’s the perfect way to snuggle up on a cold winter night? Acacia at Fingerpaint & Superheroes knows the answer: make the perfect soup!
  • The ArtsyMama teaches us how to create a no sew fleece throw inspired by your favorite snuggle time book.
  • Movies made from books are often pretty poor representations, but this family-made movie from Dionna at Code Name: Mama is monster-ific!
  • Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes created a cozy for her Kindle, to protect it from little hands that think they need to cuddle with it.
  • What better way to cuddle and get cozy than in new jammies made by Mama G @ Z everyday things?
  • Inspired by her family’s love of the Harry Potter series, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to make a series of ornaments based on the theme.
  • Laura at Nestled Under Rainbows shared a reflection on and a celebration of snuggies, lovies, cuddlies and specials.
  • Little Hedgehog got a wonderful idea when his red hat from Father Christmas didn’t fit, and Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias got a wonderful idea to knit a sweet hedgehog!
  • Monster-inspired artwork by a monster-clad kid. Despite the growling, he really is cuddly! Monster love courtesy of Dionna at Code Name: Mama.
  • Arpita at Up, Down & Natural shares a quick tutorial on how to make your very own Pippalily inspire pouch sling, with zippered pocket & key ring, and a matching nursing cover to boot!
  • Amy at Anktangle finally completed something cuddly and warm for her son Daniel: his very own afghan, crocheted with love by Momma.
  • Who’d want to cuddle with a cuttlefish? Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes thinks you might want to cuddle up with this sweet plush cuttlefish!

Join us in February to create something with (or for) your own family. Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out more about February’s “Heroes and Heroines” theme.