knit face mask

How to Make a Knit Face Mask

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My husband requested a knit face mask that would cover his nose and mouth while he went snowboarding but the tricky part what that he wanted to be able to push it up when not going down slopes and removing it completely when it’s not necessary. I asked Reddit about how to carry out this and they suggested finding a calorimetry pattern on Raverly. That is exactly what I did.

I decide on the Calorimetry Pattern by Kathryn Schoendorf, Knitty.com directions. I attempted this many times and I found myself being too concerned about the pattern. I didn’t even know if it would even work and it was way too long. I made many changes, and simplified the pattern throughout my attempts. After I figured out my pattern, it only took me a couple of hours to knit.

This is what I ended up doing:

  • 1 skein of bulky weight yarn, the one shown is acrylic, with lots of yarn left over
  • size US 8 knitting needles
  • 2 stitch markers

Cast On 80 stitches

Row 1: Knit stitch all

Row 2: Knit stitch all until last 2 stitches, turn work

Row 3: Knit stitch 4 stitches, place marker, knit until last 2 stitches, turn work

Row 4: Knit stitch 4 stitches, place marker 2nd marker, work until next marker, turn work

Row 5: Remove marker, knit stitch 4 stitches, replace marker, knit stitch until next marker, turn work

Repeat row 5 nine more times

Row 6: Do not remove marker, knit stitch until next marker (knitting in between the markers, there should be an equal number of stitches on the outside of the markers)

Row 7: Knit stitch until next marker, remove marker, knit stitch 4 more stitches, replace marker, turn work.

Repeat row 7 until there are only 2 stitches on the outside of each marker.

Row 8: Knit stitch until marker, remove marker and knit stitch last 2 stitches, turn work.

Row 9: Knit stitch the entire row removing the last marker

Bind off loosely.

To attach it to the hat:

  • hat
  • thread
  • buttons
knit face mask

Mark where buttons should go.

knit face mask

Sew buttons onto the hat.

knit face mask

Use the holes in the calorimetry, to attach it to the buttons.

 

knit face mask

knit face mask

knit face mask


knit scarf

How to Knit a Neck Warmer or Scarf for a dog

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knit scarf

I have this extra yarn from the felted envelope I made last year and I just couldn’t decide what to do with it. So, I decided to make a knit scarf for Rusty. Or it can be called and neck warmer or ear warmer, it serves all of those purposes. This is a very wide scarf for a dog because Rusty has a giraffe neck. Adjust the amount of stitches in order to fit your dog. The yarns are Lion Brand Yarn Color Waves #353 Lava and Watercolors #352 Mist Grey.

  1. I used US size 11 needles and cast on 20 stitches.
  2. Knit stitch 15 rows with the first color
  3. Add new color,(LINK), knit 15 rows
  4. Repeat until desired length. I ended up doing it 3 times and then just completing each color. It’s a different look and I wanted it to begin and end with the same yarn.
  5. Bind off.
  6. Then I sewed on 3 buttons because I knew Rusty would try to shake it off. Since I used such large needles there is no need for button holes. They slip through the knitting. The key was finding the right size of buttons.

knit scarfknit scarf

The complete scarf is 28 inches long and 7 inches wide.

 

front knit scarfknit scarf


How to Add New Yarn to a Knitting Project

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It is not difficult to add a new yarn ball to a knitting project.

add new yarn

Finish row, slip needle into first stitch like for a knit stitch.

add new yarn

Take the new yarn and wrap around the needle you want to knit stitch with, leaving enough of a tail to weave in later.

add new yarn

Hold the tail to make sure it doesn’t slip and finish the knit stitch.

add new yarn

Continue to knit stitch using the new color until row is completed.

add new yarn

After row is complete, cut the old color, leaving enough yarn to weave it in.

Weave in all tails and continue to knit with your new color.

 

 

 

 

 

 


knit headband

Easy Knit Headbands

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knit headbandI’ve seen girls around Boston wearing these fantastic knit headbands instead of stocking caps and decided I needed one too. I got searching online for patterns. I’m not an advanced knitter by any means so I needed a quick easy pattern. I found a great one on the cute blog Crafting College.

 

The first headband I knitted didn’t go exactly as planned. In fact the thing was kind of a hot mess. It was my first time using circular needles and I forgot to combine my first and last stitch to make it one continuous piece! Just plain silly on my part. I was knitting it straight and had to sew it together after it was completed.  I was using a bulky weight yarn, Plymouth Grande Glow Yarn. I was in a hurry and saw 10 on the needles but they were actually US size 15, I bought a set of circular needles awhile ago. Anyways as per instruction I cast on 60 stitches. It ended up being too big, but I’m going to go ahead and say that’s because of a couple of things. 1. I didn’t combine my stitches at the beginning and 2. More importantly, I have at tiny head. So I guess this will probably turn into a Christmas present. Also, because of the bulky yarn I didn’t do step 4 of the instructions, Repeat steps 2 and 3 three more times. This headband was plenty wide.

For this headband, I used US size 15 needles, bulky weight yarn. I cast on 60 stitches. Knit 4 rows, purl 2 rows, knit 3 rows purl 3 rows, and bind off. I didn’t follow the directions so it wasn’t the cute twisty one that she did on her blog but I do like the way it turned out.

knit headband

top view

knit headband

side view, crappy phone quality picture

So I tried again. This time with US size 10 circular needles. I also used Rowan bulky Biggy Print yarn. It only has 33 yards in the ball. If you’re considering using this you’ll need another ball.  I cast on 50 stitches, combined my first and last stitch! I then placed a stitch marker on that stitch so I would know when a row was completed. knit headband

Next, I did what I did for the green one, knit 4 rows, purl 2 rows, knit 3 rows, purl 3 rows and bind off. I did it! I successfully used circular needles for the first time and it had the cute twisty effect that the original one had. I’m thinking about making another one out a lighter weight yarn too, but I wanted a nice warm wool knit headband so I used the bulky yarn I had. I am very pleased with how this turned out and now my ears can be warm without having such bad hat hair this winter!

 

knit headband

side view

knit headband

top view

 

 

 


knit headband

Knit Headband for Running

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knit headband

I wanted to a knit headband I could wear while running in the late fall early spring that would cover my ears. I decided on Lion Brand pattern #60760, which is available for free if you sign up for an account with them. I did not check my gauge in this like it says to do in all capital letters. But it turned out well in the end, it was supposed to be 3.5 inches wide and mine turned out to be 2.5 inches which was perfect because I only wanted my ears covered. I used an acrylic instead of wool because I want to be able to throw it in the wash after each run.

The pattern is super simple, US size 10 needles, cast on 10 stitches and stockinette stitch until desired length, bind off. Sew ends together, weave in tails.

To make the stockinette stitch you knit one row and purl the next, and repeat. I wrote down a K or P after I completed each row to help me keep track.

knit headband

It started to curl around row 20 but that’s ok, it just hugs my ears that way. I whip stitched the ends together with a fingerling weight yarn in a similar color. I did this because I wanted to be able to go over it twice for extra strength but not add a lot of bulk.

knit headband So different colors but I’m going running, I don’t really care that it’s not perfectly blended. But, if I make another one to wear just out and about I’ll be more careful with my yarn choices.

knit headbandNow I can’t use “my ears are cold” as an excuse to not run. I don’t know if I’m happy or sad about that.


How to Add a New Ball of Yarn to a Project

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 I am starting a new knitting project. I cast on 80 stitches and then realized that the tail was way too long and decided to trim it. Only, I didn’t just trim the tail. I also cut the thread attached to the yarn ball. You know it is time for a nap when that happens.add a new ball of yarn

I freaked out a little bit thinking I was going to redo it and then I realized that I can just tie the ends together! Like I needed to add a new ball of yarn to a project. So that’s what I did. I tied a little knot and now I go back to my project and knit away.

add a new ball of yarn


basket weave scarf

Basket Weave Scarf

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basket weave scarf

So remember way back in November when I started to knit a basket weave scarf for my husband? Well I FINALLY finished it! Just in time for this 90 degree and humid weather we’re having. So my husband will have to wait a few months to wear it but I’m very happy to have finally finished it.

Here’s what happened. I don’t enjoy long projects so I started knitting it in November worked on it for maybe two weeks and put it away. Then a few weeks ago I was sorting my yarn when I found this unfinished project sitting at the bottom of basket. I decided it was time I got back at it. I’m very happy with the results. The pattern is just nice enough to give it some visual interest without being overbearing. I love it. Now I need to tackle some other unfinished projects.

It ended up being  about 5½ inches wide x 6 feet long.

basket weave scarf

basket weave scarf


knit belt pattern

Slip Stitch Knit Belt Pattern for Kids

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knit belt pattern

I decided to make slip stitch knit belts for nieces because I loved mine so much! But the problem was the pattern is for an adult and too wide for 4 and 6-year-old girls. I needed to come up with a new knit belt pattern. You can find the adult version in Chick with Sticks. I decided to use the leftover yarn from when I knitted wash cloths. It’s 100% cotton and I think worsted weight? Actually, I’m making the weight of the yarn up because I no longer have the labels for them. I’ll have to remember to keep them from now on.

Using US size 4 needles (3.50mm), I cast on 6 stitches.

Knit stitch the first 4 stitches

Bring the yarn forward

Slip stitch the last 2 stitches

Repeat until desired length, I usually go about 4-6 inches longer than waist size

Cast off.

I hope my nieces love them!

knit belt pattern

knit belt pattern


Free iPhone Knitting Apps

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I have compiled a small list of free and hopefully useful knitting apps for iPhones. This list definitely doesn’t have all the free knitting apps available. I’m just mentioning a few I liked and that fit my needs.

 

knit appsI like stitch counter app by KAZE because it allows you store multiple projects. It also has a feature on the counter screen where you can turn the sleep function off. It also has a memo section where you can type notes about your progress, as well as, take pictures of your work.

Jknit LiteThere is also JKnit Lite HD for your iPad. JKnit Lite by Jakro Soft lets you store all of your pdf files in it for easy access and viewing where ever you are, no need to waste all of that paper anymore. There is also and stitch counter, place to write notes about your project and a camera option to take a pic of your project. There’s even a timer to record how much time you spent working on your project!

 

knit appsQuilt2Go has a couple of free apps that can be useful for knitters. The first one is a counter called StitchMinder and the other is called KnitMinder Lite.  KnitMinder Lite is a cool app because it allows you to put in and track current projects. It also has categories to list your pattern, yarn, and needle stashes so you will always know what you have instead of rummaging through everything to make sure you have it. The only thing that could be an issue is that the Lite version limits the amount of information you can put in to the app, you have to buy the full version to get more space.

knitting app
Gaugfy Free:Knitting Gauge Calculator is a handy app that helps you figure out what the gauge for a project should be. It also does the math for you when you need to figure out how long a project will be if you knit so many stitches per and how many rows. Or the opposite, you can input how long you need your project to be and it will tell you how many rows to knit. 


knit mug cozy

Slip Stitch Knit Mug Cozy Revisited

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I decided to attempt my slip stitch knit mug cozy pattern again because I had so many problems the first time. Well, this one didn’t go according to plan either. My impatience got the better of me, resulting in this:

mug cozy

The pattern is slightly off. Using the yarn left over from my slip stitch belt, 100 % wool Crystal Palace Yarn, with size US 3 (3.25mm) needles, I decided to cast on 70 stitches and do the pattern

Row 1: P3 K2

Row 2: K1 S1 K1 P2

Repeat till desired length, I did 33 rows.

Cast off like it was an odd row so P3 K2.

Sew on button and loop.

But somewhere on Row 17 I noticed I combined two stitches leaving me with only 69 stitches on my needle and instead of  doing the smart thing and undoing my stitches until I found the problem, fix it, and move on, I decided I was too impatient and it was an amazing idea to just cast on another stitch at the end of the row. Wow I was wrong but I  knew I was wrong and did it anyways which makes it even worse. But that’s why my pattern is off. I do like the pattern and I do like my dressed up coffee mug in the morning. I also believe that this could be a great pattern for a cuff/bracelet.

The 70 stitches compared to the 75 in the first one I did it working out a lot better. It fits more of my coffee mugs!

knit mug cozyknit mug cozy

 

knit mug cozyknit mug cozy