Knitting again…tips, fun free patterns to get me in the mood, (not to hard)

Photo taken at Blue Grass DNR in Southern Indiana

I been totally out of the knitting spirit. For way to long, I have a load of excuses. Looking back in the times of my life when I’ve not been creative, it seems the especially emotionally draining periods leave me too tired to create, or think of creating!

My husband got me a new knitting bag for my birthday, I think that is a hint. LOL Knitting wife better than non-knitting wife? Bag is a Vera Bradley, tote in the Dogwood pattern, love the inside pockets! I’ve got it filled up already with two projects, which are both shawls/wraps. Simple and fast, I hope. *grin*

New bag and new cover on chairs, need to replace seat foam also, hopefully before two years pass!

If you struggle with lace knitting charts or have never tried them, I found this excellent blog post with videos from Emily ONeal.

I have 3 lace projects going, all are out of a yarn, which I would have never bought, but I was not close to a real yarn store and needed a yarn fix! I bought two skeins of Patons Lace, and absolutely love it! It’s fiber content is 80% Acrylic, 10% Mohair, 10% Wool, 3oz/85 gms = 485 yds/455meters.per skein. It is easy to work with and has a nice feel with a small halo. I have not washed and blocked any item yet, so I don’t know how it will turn out, but I’m loving it so far. The colors are soft and multicolored, with a gentle transition of colors that makes the lace pattern lovely.. This was so unexpected, I returned and bought another color, and then upon returning home yet another.

Photos to follow for projects, *grin*, all pattern linked are FREE! Thanks designers, we love ya!

Projects are: Citron Shawl pattern free from Knitty 2009, I’m knitting that with Patons Lace in the color sachet, which is a greens/lavender/plum mix.

Lala Scarf by Kat Coyle from the book Greetings from the Knit Café by Suzan Mischer, simple pattern yet interesting enough to keep me going, knitting this in Patons Lace in Woodrose colorway.

Third project is still somewhat up in the air, I’m considering the Lonely Tree Shawl by Sylvia Bo Bilvia with a yarn from my stash or I have two more balls of Patons Lace in a blue colorway , (in a bin in the basement so I’ll have to look at that later), that I’m considering for Sommerblau by Halbe Prinzessin. However in trying to locate more of that I ran across this: Patons Lace Sequin Yarn, I’m totally loving that!

Get Knitting!!

Fibonacci and Knitting

Some time ago I learned that Fibonacci can be applied to knitting. If you are not familiar with Fibonacci, he was a mathematician from the middle ages. He figured out the relationship of proportions, now known as the golden ratio (or number), Fibonacci sequence or 1.618 or Phi. This sequence is seen in practically everything. I’ll link to several articles if you wish to learn more. From reproducing animals, to sea shells and galaxies, the human form and sunflowers. (Mona Lisa, Parthenon, and the pyramids of Egypt, just to name a few). This ratio is present in many, many more surprising things. The first time I used this was in my felted bag. I loved the random look of it. This pattern is The Big Bag Pattern (free on Ravelry) by Maia Discoe (link ) Below are a couple of links if you wish to learn more.. Fibonacci Numbers and Nature The Wiki and Fibonacci Mona Lisa -- Da Vinci's Use of Sacred Geometry (you tube link) In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers or Fibonacci...

Hills and Valleys Cowl/Hood (free pattern)

I was searching for the perfect cowl that I had in my mind to knit. Trawling on Ravelry, I wanted one, just the right size around, only once around my neck and not too tight, loose enough to pull up around my face and tall enough to get it around my ears during a windy dog walk, but able to squish it down into my collar of my coat and not be too thick and bulky. About a third of the way into the pattern I decided to make it long enough to pull up as a hood also. I finally just un-vented this one, as Elizabeth Zimmerman would say. Add caption This is a simple stitch textured cowl/hood (you decide the length). Suitable for beginning knitters. Purl ridges make the cowl easy to scrunchy down or pull up. You can wear the ribbed end on top if you are wearing it as a cowl to make it snuggie around your neck or, wear the purl ridges on top if you are pulling it up as a hood. If you have any questions or find an error please let me know so I can correct it! I’ve added some tuto...

Warm Snuggly Cocoon Shrug

This is one of my long term projects that I just wanted to get off my needles. When these types of patterns started showing up I was interested in making one. It looked simple and fast and cozy. What more do you want? Described as a wrap, shrug, bolero, and even sweater, it is just a large rectangle, either crochet or in this case knitted. When the rectangle is large enough. Just fold it in two, sewing the sides together. . Easy concept. I picked out a free pattern, The Lion Brand, Speckled Shrug ( free pattern here ) I always like to look at the finished projects on Ravelry and read the comments everyone has made that knitted the item. Seems like knitters were split into two camps. The make it smaller and more fitted and Bolero jacket like. The other group was to make it bigger. I noticed that the problem with this shape of this pattern is a baggy bottom after sitting. (like once). I had already made another pattern that was a bolo jacket so opted to make mine fairly large ...

Knitting Dragonflies

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