Hats and Jogless Joins

Fresh off the needles is the second hat using Purl Bee's great 70's Ski Hat pattern. I really enjoy this pattern and could continue knitting them well into the new year. They feature a soft half lining with a wool outer cap, are knit in the round in one piece. The use of a provisional cast-on, started on one edge of the lining, allows you to fold and connect the hem inside the hat. The white lining on this one is a Rowan cashmere blend, just right for the little grandbaby for which it's intended.



One feature worth learning is Meg Swansen's jogless join, which was introduced by Meg in her Knitters article (issue 45, Winter 1996).

Knit the first round of a new color as usual. Before you start the second round, find the old color stitch below the first stitch in the round and lift it up on the needle. Knit the old color stitch with the first new color stitch.

It's really very easy and produces a smoother transition between color bands. Here's a look:


It virtually disappears at a distance. And that's "A Good Thing" to quote Martha!!

All hemmed up

I love my Grandbabies. I love knitting. I love fair isle patterns. I love knitting sweaters. So of course, not much could be better than knitting a fair isle sweater for my grandson. It's a Dale of Norway pattern from the 2006 Olympics. I've changed a few things up, but basically it's a designed.





It has a little stitch pattern row tucked into the colorwork at the hem that really stands out nicely.

Like most grandma's I know, I too have a nickname given by the babies early on. This house hold calls me "Maga Barn", as in the Maga who lives on a farm with barns. The other daughters kids call me "Baah", short for grand-ba, I think! Don't you just love that?

Anyway, I knit a little memory into the hem of this sweater. One side says "Mikey 2008" and the other says "Maga Barn". The rest of the bank is circled with hearts of love.






So, now off to start the top colorwork. This is really the best part of any project I think. Just can't wait.

He Who Looms

Well, I had a great weekend!! My grandson came over to stay and learn how to knit. I really wanted to see him succeed and decided loom knitting might be the way to go. So off to the store to buy the Kniffty Knitter Loom Set.



He took to knitting this way right off the bat, and finished one gift hat for his sister.



I was amazed at how fast his hands worked.





Here is the 2nd project. A set of slippers for sister #2.



Just one more to go!! Yippee!! One funny note: You can tell his moms knits! His biggest concern was that he would need to frog the hat. Honestly, I think he WANTED to be able to frog it. Got to love little ears and what they remember.

Show Me How: Knitting Storybook & How-to-Knit Instructions

I love Books
I love Grandbabies
I love to Knit

There, I've confessed and confession is good for the soul. When I found this knitting book in new releases, I marveled at the timing. I'm getting ready to launch a new knitter and found this book's description perfect. It almost sounds like it could be his journal entry following our weekend session. It goes like this:

Meet Mary Ruth—she and her brother Jacob are going to Grandma’s house for the weekend. There’s nothing Mary Ruth likes more, because Grandma has a wonderful crafts room full of cool things. And this visit, Grandma has promised Mary Ruth a special surprise: knitting lessons! At first, Mary Ruth is afraid it might be hard. But she discovers it’s fun…and easy too. The accompanying book features Mary Ruth’s knitting instructions written “just the way Grandma taught me,” with all the basic techniques and directions for four projects: a Barkley Ball, Hotsy-Totsy Hat, Tasseled Skinny Scarf, and Kitty Comforter.

Now, obviously his name isn't Mary Ruth...... but the rest is spot on. I do have a cool craft room, complete with a fireplace.

So take my lead, gather the babies near and teach them your craft. Here's a new book to get you started. BTW, the authors, Susan Levin and Gloria Tracy, are the the owners of K1C2 yarns. They also released a similar title for Show Me How:Quilting.

Knitty Gritty Camo Earflap Hat

The weekend is all set. One new knitter will join our ranks and I'll be responsible, and I can't wait. I hope he is excited too! That's right, I said HE... as is a new young male knitting grandson. I've got a project all lined up, a bright colored Camo Earflap Hat intended as a gift for his sister. Here is a peak at the original DIY Knitty Gritty version.



I'm going for a bright pink trim and camo body. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Girl-y Wristlets

I really appreciate the generosity of bloggers. Here is a sweet little pattern I knit up for one of my granddaughters. The original pattern design was shared by KT on her blog. I changed the pattern up a bit by adding a little fringe yarn on the final two rows, just to increase the girlie factor.




I made a great discovery during the photographing of these though. They would make great little anklets, sort of a short leg warmer. How cute is that!!