Knitting Dragonflies

 I made a series of Christmas stockings, and needed something small and fun to knit as a palate cleanser. I have always looked at the little sweater ornament patterns and thought they were so adorable. So I decided to give one a try. I saw that Berroco yarns had their yearly ornament patterns out,   Minutia 21 , they are free and looked so cute! It is just knitting a little sweater, just like a life size one! So cute.....I did all of mine one dpns, but I found a girl on YouTube knitting them on magic loop. She is the KnitYorker,  video link here.  They were fun and didn't take too long to make.  If you want to look at some more, I'll link their other little sweater ornament patterns of the past years... Minutia 20  , Minutia 18,   Minutia 16, and Minuti 15 . After my first two tiny sweaters that were knit. I wanted to find a crochet sweater pattern ornament. I found one on Ravelry from Melissa Mall. ( pattern link rav)  Miniature sweater orna...

 I wanted to try some fingerless mitts or arm warmers and thought that I would try a crochet pair. The pandemic has gotten me into crochet in a serious way. I love knitting and that is my primary love but crochet has really gotten me excited. It also helps me switch in between projects and keep my hand stress down. Crochet is so much quicker than knitting. I've had fun comparing them and trying out all kinds of crochet patterns. I found this one that was cute and had the cable detail but not too difficult. Pattern is free ( rav link )  from Julie Fort. Thanks Julie, it is called the Cable Wrist warmer. The pattern is well written and I didn't have any trouble trying to figure out what to do as someone newer to crochet. They fit very well. I love that they have an actual thumb shaping and this is specific for the right and left hand. I used worsted weight yarn, Lion Brand Wool Ease and I'm definitely going to make another pair, the pattern is fairly quick to make and would b...

Holiday stocking number 4 done. I think this will be my last one. I saw this pattern & decided I had to try it. Well written & I love how it turned out. The pattern is from Rachel Brockman, and called the Gingerbread stocking. ( rav link) . I did delete the first part of the pattern and substituted the name in that area, and then continued as written. Used scrap yarn that I had in my stash. I have decided after several stocking that I like the look of the afterthought heel, and the toe that is more like a regular sock toe. Some have a round toe that has equal decreased all around. Ready for the heel here. Adding the dpns and cut out the waste yarn. I watched a video on YouTube the first time and this one was the one I understood best. From The Chilly Dog ( youtube link ). It really is a quick way to add a heel. Left out the first pattern area and added a name. Just simple block letters.  May your needles fly as fast as dragonflies

 I started making Christmas Stockings and am still making them. The first one I made was a free pattern from Marly Bird, the Love Light Gleems stocking. I made it slimmer. Only doing two repeats instead of the three of the patterns. rav Link I quickly started modifying the patterns on the designs, and had a lot of fun. I added an area to put simple block letters for the name. I also found another stocking pattern that had more designs and was free also. It is the Cascade Christmas stocking. I used the designs for this one but kept the top picot edging and Latvian braid from the other pattern. pattern link Now I'm on another stocking. This one has cables on the top. The pattern for this one is from Rachel Brockman called The Gingerbread Stocking (rav link)  When I saw this pattern I loved the rustic look of the colors and colorwork.  I think this will be my last one, I need to move onto other items. Are you knitting any gifts? May you needles fly as fast as dragonflies.

I finished the first one and was pleased with it. So decided I would try again. Pattern is from Marly Bird, free pattern. It is the Love Light Gleems Stocking (rav link ). She also has a video on her YouTube channel you can find and it shows how to make the whole stocking.  This is the first time I've made the Latvian braid and her video showed how to do it. I did modify the pattern to only 2 repeats of the design. It makes the stocking thinner. I added some stocking net area in-between the braid and the main design to include the last name. For the heel I used 28 stitches and used the afterthought heel. It makes it quick to make the body of the stocking. I used the afterthought heel from Knitty Natty ( you tube link ) I'll add a pic of my first stocking I made. Enjoy and may your knitting needles fly as fast as dragonflies.

Beginning of my first stocking! I'm enjoying it so much I'm planning on doing more. I did add some stocking net stitch to add a name and just made simple letters to fit on the cuff. I did make the stocking more slender and kept it to 2 repeats. Only cast on of 56 stitches.

Jodi and my Oversized Hoodie on the porch.  Yarn is scarfie, from Lion Brand, I did modify the arms & I added slash interior pockets. I'll add the details of my modifications in another post. I have plans to add a zip to it. So far I'm loving how it turned out!! I really love her patterns and highly recommend them. Pattern is Oversized Hoodie from Carrie Chambers (crochet with carrie) blog link May your needles fly as fast as dragonflies.....

  I'm working on the AnyTime cardigan pattern by Dora Does, it is a free pattern, ( blog link ) I love her designs and I've knit top down sweaters, but haven't seen a crochet one. I'm loving the aspect that I can try it on as I go. It really helps get the fit/size correct. I decided to add ribbing on the edges & planning the same for the button placket.   I'm just going to use a single crochet in the back loop and slip stitch it on as I go. May your needles fly as fast as dragonflies.

    Pattern from Taylor OBrien. I saw her tutorial on YouTube (link)  and had to make this. It was fun and fast!  I highly recommend you giving it a try.

Got my Kayleigh cardigan done. Pattern is from Ruby Webbs, I purchased it from her etsy shop ( etsy link )  The pattern was easy to follow, I used Big Twist Tweed yarn. The cardigan turned out good, but I had gauge issues from my original swatch. It turned out quite a bit smaller/tighter. (I think due to me switching hooks mid project) I ended up trying to not rip the whole thing out so I added room on the arms by adding ribbing to the top shoulder area, and then adding short rows in the arm pit area to make it a little dolman sleeve like. I like how the shape turned out. I would make it again and use the correct sizing.  I also had to add rows around the cuff to get the sleeves long enough. Here you can see the original dimensions of the sweater. And here you can see the added area of short rows  in the under arms.

  Free pattern from Dora Does, pattern is the AnyTime Cardigan, instructions are very clear! Pattern Link (designers blog)

  This is my Kaleigh Cardigan, pattern is by Ruby Webbs, she has an Esty shop. I had gauge problems, I got gauge, and then just started like a fiend and kept crocheting! Well, I had changed hooks and somehow my gauge got quite a bit tighter. I should have frogged it. But I decided to try and salvage it. This pic, is how the pattern is intended to be done. I was really drawn to the horizontal ribbing.  Well I ended up making it work, I'll include those pics in another post. But I would like to try and make one as written & see how it goes! May your needles fly as fast as dragonflies.

  Another pattern from Bodhi life crochet or Taylor Obrien (Wittke) I found this on her YouTube Channel. Fun and fast with options on how to wear it! Check out her video. (youtube link ) I think it would make a good gift for any occasion. I used a worsted weight yarn, her pattern calls for a bulky weight.  I adjusted the pattern by chaining 75, and using a 5 mm hook. For the next one, I would probably chain 80 and maybe use a slightly larger hook if using worsted again. . May your needles fly as fast as Dragonflies......

Finished my Cable Vest ! Pattern is by Lisa Carnahan, free pattern ( link ) I used Scarfie yarn by Lion brand. This pattern actually calls for a very bulky yarn. Thicker than scarfie. I would like to make it again trying two strands of worsted or maybe three to see how it turns out. Buttons are vintage. May your needles fly as fast as dragonflies.

 Just need to pick out some buttons and finish this up. I love how it looks, yarn is scarfie from Lion brand yarn. Pattern is free.

  Got this cropped hoodie done in time for my nieces birthday. The pattern is the Hooded Fall Cardigan from Crochet with Carrie, she has a YouTube video also. It was simple and clear, I love the look of it and added toggle buttons. Pattern is free. Pattern link ( designers blog ) I'm really pleased with how it turned out & my Niece says she loves it! I used 8 skeins of  Wool Ease worsted weight yarn or about 1600 yards. For the size medium, cropped.

 I used to post this years ago and decided to revive it! Enjoy looking at lovely places, even if we cannot visit them right now Photo from Gary Hewitt on Flickr ,   Meteor and Milky Way over the Mournes