Multi-Striped Infinity Scarf

I am obsessed with stripes.They can be bold; they can be fun; they can be whimsical; they can be stately. I've been playing around with stripes and I thought I'd try my hand at creating an infinity scarf that has different widths of stripes. I also decided to use a variegated yarn so that some of the stripes transitioned. In this pattern, the stripes in the first half are four rows by four rows.  In the second half, the stripes are two by two.

I created this infinity scarf using my Brother KH-260 knitting machine.  This project took a few days to complete since switching colours every two or four rows can be time consuming.  In addition, I used Diana Sullivan's two-prong tool method of creating a non-rolling edge to prevent the dreaded stockinette curl.  That too took extra time. That said, I'm very pleased with the result and I'm excited to give it to my friend Clare for her birthday.

By creating two patterns, Clare can wear it a couple different ways - with the thicker blue and oatmeal stripes showing or the thinner variegated stripes showing. To make this scarf, I used a combination of worsted weight yarns: (A) Loops and Threads Impeccable (variegated in Luxury), (B) Bernat Super Value Worsted (in Grey Ragg), and (C) a shade of blue in Bernat Super Value Worsted. 

Instructions
Gauge: 15.5 stitches x 24 rows
Tension Dial: 7
Finished Measurements: 17" x 61"
Special Techniques: Diana Sullivan's No-Roll Edge - 2 prong

Note: This scarf has 368 rows.  The stripes for the first 184 rows are 2x2 with alternating yarns A and B.  The stripes for the second set of 184 are 4x4 alternating yarns B and C.

1. Using waste yarn, provisional cast-on 56 stitches (or amount to reach gauge)
2. Set Row Counter to 0.  Starting with yarn AWork stripes switching every two rows incorporating the no-roll edge technique on every even row.  End at row 184. Carry the unused yarn up the side.
3. Work stripes switching every four rows incorporating the no-roll edge technique on every even row.  End at row 368. Carry the unused yarn up the side.
4. Release stitches and transfer onto a spare knitting needle.
5. Remove waste yarn from provisional cast-on and transfer stitches onto another knitting needle.
6. Connect the two ends using Kitchener stitch.
7. Block. 

 

Last Minute Variegated Cowl

This morning, thanks to Facebook, I discovered it was my friend Lindsay's birthday. I wanted to make her something special but knew I didn't have much time. I whipped up this cowl on my Brother KH-260 knitting machine - from start to finish it took about an hour.

I had intended to make an infinity scarf that could be wrapped around the neck twice but I thought the striping would be better served by being crossed over the front.  I'm very pleased with the results!

To avoid the dreaded stockinette curl and to save time from having to add a crocheted or hand knit garter border, I used tuck stitch with punch card #1.  I love how the right side looks like a hybrid between stockinette and a rib pattern.  The wrong side looks like a hexagonal waffle pattern.

I used a bulky variegated yarn that I found in my stash.  It didn't have a label, but by feel, it has a similar gauge to Cascade Ecological.  The finished project is a rectangle with the dimensions of 9" by 37".  Once finished, I sewed each short edge to the end of the opposite long edge.

Pattern
Yarn: Bulky weight 
Machine: Brother K-260
Punch Card: #1
Tuck Stitch

1. Do a sample gauge swatch using tuck stitch and punch card #1 to figure out how many stitches you need to cast on to get an edge of 9 inches. (Note: my gauge worked out to 30 stitches using tension level 10) 
2. Cast on 30 stitches (or equivalent for your machine).  Work one row to the left.
3. Set up punch card #1 in tuck stitch (refer to your manual) and move carriage back to the right. Needles should be selected.
4. Work in tuck stitch until the cowl is approximately 37" in length. (I completed 292 rows)
5. Work one row in stockinette then cast off.

Cross one end over the other end (as shown in the picture).  One short edge should be on top of the end of the opposite long edge.  The other short edge will be under the opposite long edge.  Use clips (like my favourite Knit Klips shown in the picture to the right) to hold in place.  Hand stitch the edges together. 

Fair Isle Hat on the Brother KH-260

I love knitting for Christmas gifts and last night I decided to try my hand at making a hat.  That's right, I made this last night!  This hat would have taken me about a week to complete by hand.  Oh, how I love my knitting machine!  I'm having lunch with a friend today and I'm going to gift this to her.

Having only had my knitting machine for about 6 months, I have worked mainly on projects with stockinette knitting, playing around with bands of colour.  A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to play around with the punch card contraption.  After all, one of the draws of purchasing the Brother KH-260 was that it can automate fair isle.

I don't have a ribber so for this hat, I completed all the colour work on the knitting machine and then I finished the crown (decreases) and the ribbing by hand on circular needles.  I love the result and I'm thinking that I'm going to make another one today!

I used Loops and Threads Impeccable Yarn (worsted) and I have enough left over to make another hat, possibly two.  This hat fits my head perfectly, but my cranium is on the generous size (23" circumference).  The hat, unstretched, has a 20" circumference.  To take it down a size (18.5" circumference), you can cast on 84 instead of 90.  To make it one size larger, cast on 96 stitches.

Machine Knit Fair Isle Hat

Materials:

• Loops and Threads Impeccable Yarn - 1 skein of each colour.  
• Main colour (MC) will be the colour of the ribbing and crown. 
• US 6 (4.0 mm) knitting needles 
• US 8 (5.0 mm) knitting needles
• Punch Card #2
• darning needle

Gauge: 17 stitches x 24 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch.  

• tension dial 5 on my Brother KH-260

Instructions:

Please note that the hat is first worked flat on the knitting machine.  The live stitches are then transferred onto knitting needles and are worked flat then seamed

SET UP: 

• Using the provisional cast-on method of your choice, cast on 90 stitches in waste yarn (84 for a smaller adult sized hat, 96 for a larger adult sized hat). 
• Note: I increased the tension dial to 7 for the provisional cast-on to make it looser and easier to transfer later.  If you do this, remember to switch the dial back to 5.
• With the main colour (MC), knit one row.  Carriage will be on the left side.
• Set up punch card #2 and set the Change Knob to the KC position.  Move the carriage from left to right so set up needles.  Set Row Counter to 0.
• Follow your instruction manual to set up the fair isle function on the knitting machine.  Thread in the contrast colour.

Rows 1 - 10: Fairisle

Rows 11 - 12: Switch back to normal mode and knit two rows of MC

Rows 13-14: Knit two rows of CC

Rows 15 - 16: Knit two rows of MC

Rows 17-20: Switch back to fair isle and knit 4 rows

Rows 21 - 26: Repeat rows 11 - 16

Rows 27 - 32: Switch back to fair isle and knit 8 rows

Row 33: Switch back to normal mode and knit one row of MC 

CROWN:

Release all of the stitches from the knitting machine and transfer onto US 8 (5.0mm knitting needles) to hand knit the crown.

• Work one row in stockinette, placing a marker after every 10 stitches. (If making the smaller or larger size, place a marker after every 12 stitches.
• For remaining knit-side rows: work in stockinette and K2tog before each marker and k the last 2 stitches together.
• For remaining purl-side rows: P2tog, then work in stockinette and P2tog after each marker
• Continue until 8 stitches remain.  Cut yarn and thread through the last 8 stitches.  Pull together and tie off.

RIBBING:

Remove the waste yarn from the provisional cast-on and place loops onto US 6 (4.0 mm) knitting needles.  

• K1 P1 ribbing for two rows.
• Bind off in ribbing

FINISHING:

Sew up the seam.

Knitting for a Cause

How is it already the 19th of August?  A couple weeks ago, I volunteered to knit some door prize donations for Victoria Zumba Fitness' annual Cops for Cancer fundraiser.  In my mind, I had all the time in the world and then it dawned on me last week that I had to start knitting, and FAST!

I'm proud to say that I managed to donate three items: Gina's Brioche Cowl (Purl Bee), Julie Tarsha's Thermal Boot Cuffs (Simply Notable), and a machine knit variation of Xandy Peter's Color Theory Cowl.


I made the boot cuffs and color theory cowl last week.  Both were fast knits.  The brioche cowl, however, was knit almost two years ago.  I was fascinated by two colour brioche knitting and had to give it a try.  I ended up making two and gifted one to my friend Karina.  I honestly forgot about the second cowl and only rediscovered it two weeks ago when I was doing a deep clean of our closets.  So it was meant to be! I hope the lucky winners enjoy using the items.

I am really pleased with my new Mason Row self-inking knitting stamp. My sister found a Groupon deal and we both ended up ordering 3-in-1 stamps.  I ordered a plate for knitting, one for my home address, and one for my work.  All three designs have an artsy twist to them.  I think they are a stylish upgrade to my previous stamp (which was more cute than stylish).

So what to knit next? Well I stocked up at Michaels' last week, although I didn't get the discount that I went for.  It's a long story....  Short version: I made the mistake of going to Michaels' with my 2 and 5 year old.  After an exhausting 20 minutes of chasing them around the store and repeatedly telling them, "Don't touch that!" we finally got back to the car.  I was literally sweating and angry at the kids.  It wasn't until they were strapped into their car seats when I noticed that I had only received a 15% discount instead of 30%.  Arghhh....  I couldn't bear the thought of going back inside with the boys and it was too hot to leave them in the car for a few minutes.  So, we drove away. 

So having knit the boot cuffs, I'm thinking I want to make leg warmers.  Or fingerless opera length gloves.  It's time to design!

Lining the Hudson's Bay Inspired Blanket

Full disclosure: I often cheat when it comes to blocking projects.  If I can get away with it, I will skip blocking. What can I say?  I'm impatient and always ready to move on to the next project.  But in the case of this HBC inspired blanket, I ended up blocking it... twice.  Ugghhh...

First, I wet block the blanket.  I carefully soaked it and then rolled it in towels and drained out the excess water.  I even lay it out flat and let it air dry for an afternoon in the sun.  However, I didn't take the time to pin it in place.  I halfheartedly looked for my interlocking foam mats but could only find two of them.  So, I let the blanket dry naturally and it ended up a wonky shape.   

I was really tempted to accept the not-quite-rectangle and gift the off-kilter shape of the blanket.  Would my sister really care?  But then I decided to line the blanket with a chenille micro-fleece.  That's when I realized the dimensions of the blanket had to be more exact so that I could align the fleece to the knit blanket.  

For anyone else, I wouldn't have bothered with lining it.  But this blanket is special. I made this lap blanket especially for my sister who is starting 6 months of chemotherapy treatments this week.  She is only 35 and she recently discovered that she has breast cancer.  I wanted to make her something that would provide comfort and coziness during a tough time.

So, I re-blocked the blanket.  This time I pinned it to my sewing cutting board to get exact measurements and sprayed it with water.  Next came preparing the fleece.  

The chenille fleece was tricky because it was both slippery and stretchy.  I had a heck of a time trying to align it to the blanket and I didn't want to mess up.  So this is what I did:

1. To be safe, I cut the fabric much larger than I needed.  
2. I machine stitched a 1/2" hem on two sides (one long and one short, mitered at the connecting corner) 
3. I hand stitched the hemmed sides of the fleece to the blanket.  I referred to TECHknitting for how to hand stitch a lining to knitting.
4. Laying the blanket and lining flat on the board, I trimmed down the third side (long edge) leaving about an inch allowance, folded it over and machine hemmed the lining, being very careful not to accidentally run the knitted blanket through the machine.  
5. I hand stitched the third side.  
6. Finally, I trimmed the final edge leaving an inch allowance and hand stitched it to close off the lining.  I did not machine hem the fourth side.

I certainly won't be winning any awards for efficiency - the whole process took 4 hours but the final product was beautiful.  My sister loves it and it for that, lining the blanket was totally worth it.

The Bay Blanket - Made with Love for My Sister

I decided to keep it simple for my first project on my knitting machine - a blanket.  After all, it's just a rectangle - no shaping involved.  Easy peasy, right?  Of course, because I am who I am, I had to make it much more complicated.  Enter Purl Bee's Hudson's Bay Inspired Crib Blanket.  My grandfather had an original heavy wool HBC blanket and the Purl Bee pattern inspired some nostalgia.  The design is so simple yet meaningful.  My sister is starting a lengthy bout of medical treatments this week and I'm hoping that this cozy lap blanket will provide her some comfort during a potentially unpleasant process.

On knitting needles, making this blanket is a breeze.  It's pure garter stitch.  On the machine, I had to make some changes.

First, my knitting machine cannot do garter stitch.  But, that's o.k. because I actually prefer the look of stockinette stitch.  I love the uniformity of the perfectly aligned columns of little "V"s (I'm such a knitting nerd).  But stockinette stitch poses problems as well - the dreaded curl...

After watching a number of videos on YouTube, I discovered a clever trick posted by Diana Sullivan (a generous guru of machine knitting).  Her lesson on decorative no-roll edges provides an easy yet visually appealing solution to stopping panels of stockinette from curling. In the picture of my blanket (left) you can see how the direction of the border is 45 degrees offset from the stockinette stitch.  I used a three-prong transfer tool every second row to achieve this effect on both edges.  The technique itself is not difficult to master.  However, it was my first time ever using a transfer tool, so perhaps not exactly the best starting point for me.  A note to others: start by learning how to use a single-prong transfer tool before a multi-prong tool.

The second challenge I faced was the curl at each end.  There is a way to do ribbing on the machine by undoing stitches and then using a latch tool to do the reverse stitch.  That proved much too onerous for me.  So, I hand knit a garter border on each end.  I have discovered that I quite enjoy using a provisional cast-on and finishing projects by hand.

The third challenge was learning how to switch colours on the knitting machine.  I learned a difficult lesson while making this blanket.  If you forget to put yarn into the yarn feeder and run the carriage across your work, all the stitches will be released and your project will fall to the ground.  Sadly, this happened to me four times and I was forced to restart this project each time.  I did attempt to reattach the stitches to the machine but it looked sloppy and I could tell where the join was.

When I finished all the knitting, I was quite pleased with the look of the blanket.  The iconic stripes were striking.  However, once the knitting was complete, I spent quite a bit of time completing the finishing touches.  Why does the final 10% of a project always take the longest?  And of course, I decided to line the blanket with micro fleece.  More about that in my next post.

Here is the modified pattern for a knitting machine:

1. Using a provisional cast-on technique of choice (I crocheted a chain and then used a transfer tool to place it on my needle bed), cast-on the number of stitches to get your desired width.  For the Brother KH 260 (a chunky gauge machine), I cast on 110 stitches of worsted-weight yarn.
2. Note: On the even rows, use the three prong tool to create a decorative no-roll edge.  See video for Diana Sullivan's instructions.

• knit 30 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of blue
• knit 12 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of yellow
• knit 12 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of red
• knit 12 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of green
• knit 48 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of green
• knit 12 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of red
• knit 12 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of yellow
• knit 12 rows of cream
• knit 12 rows of blue
• knit 30 rows of cream
• using waste yarn knit two rows and then release stitches from the knitting machine - do not bind off

Working one end at a time, pull out waste yarn (or crocheted chain) and transfer live loops to a long circular knitting needle.  Knit 8 rows and bind off.   Tuck in all the loose ends and block.

December Stripes - Time to Start Christmas Projects

This summer, we've experienced an exceptionally hot summer.   Victoria (the city in which I live) is normally fairly mild in the summer and rarely sees temperatures in the high 20s low 30s. But this summer, the sun has been relentless. This heat has made it difficult for me to plan out Christmas knitting projects but now that it is August, it is time.

Even more motivation, the Michaels flyer this week is offering a 30% coupon on an entire purchase for all regular priced items. I've been waiting for this coupon and it is finally here. 

One of the projects on my long list is Elinor Brown's December Stripes hat (published in Exercise Before Knitting).  I made one for my nephew James (pictured above) two years ago and it was his favourite.  He has long outgrown it, but I'm planning to make James and his younger brother, matching hats this year.

The pattern is a phenomenal stash buster and I used left-over bits and pieces of worsted weight yarn.  Knit in the round, what makes this pattern particularly special is the braided edge. It is a sophisticated change from a garter border or a rolled stockinette border.

Although it's hard to think about cozy hats and scarves this time of year as we are all donning tank tops and shorts, these sweet hats will definitely be a welcome staple once the weather changes.

Now off to make my Christmas projects list and make a trip to Michaels!