Update on Sweet Mary Jane Cardi

Well I'm not able to work on it as much as I'd like.....seems I have to work at work now and then. lol But I have made some progress, I have now completed 7 repeats of the lace pattern. No frogging yet!

I have also been working on a shrug pattern that I bought from Diane Langan. The pattern calls for Microspun yarn and I chose to make mine in the color Lilac. It is such a soft yarn and I LOVE the way the shrug is working up!!

Hubby has taught me to use the camera....I just haven't attempted it on my own yet. Chicken!!!!!

Hearts Around Coaster

Hearts Around Coaster
Worsted cotton yarn - 1 oz
Hook size H


Ch 5, join with sl st to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 17 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of ch 3. (18 dc)


Rnd 2: Work (beg cluster, ch 2, cluster) in same st, ch 2, sk 2 dc *(cluster, ch 2, cluster) in next dc, sk next 2 dc* Repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg cluster. ( 12 clusters)


Rnd 3: Sl st to 1st ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same sp, sc in next cluster ( 3 sc in next ch 2 sp, sc in next cluster) around, join in top of 1st sc. (48 sc)


Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same sp, (ch 3, sc in 3rd ch from hook, sk next sc, sc in next) around, join in top of 1st sc. Finish off and weave in ends.


(c) Heartfelt Creations, 2001

Sweet Mary Jane Update

I have finished 2 repeats of the lace pattern and am on the third ~ 2 down & 17 repeats to go. I haven't worked on it since Saturday.


I have gotten some lessons from Hubby Dearest on how to use his ultra-fine camera. Now we're working on a way to get the pics from the camera and into this computer. See, here's the problem.....his computer isn't hooked up to the internet and this computer doesn't have one of those disc reader thing-a-ma-bobs. Thought we had solved that....he has the reader from his old computer.........this computer isn't FireWire-enabled. We're going to be looking into it a little more, there may still be a solution that doesn't involve spending money we don't currently have or burning everything to a CD in order to transfer it from the camera to my blog. Sheesh!


Okay, since we haven't solved that dilemma yet I just scanned the progress, which I suppose will work at least until it's too large to get a good scan of. (which at the rate I'm knitting this thing should be sometime in the next millenium. lol)

Raglan Baby Sweater ~ Crochet

Raglan Baby Sweater

Materials:
About 2 1/2 oz of baby sport yarn
Size G hook
For shell: Work (1 hdc, ch 2, 1 hdc) in stitch indicated.
Note: In this pattern the ch 2 at the beginning of the row DOES NOT count as the first hdc. You would work your first hdc in the same stitch and when coming to the end of the row you will work into that hdc, not in the ch 2 space. This gives a straighter edge and a no gaps from the turning chain.

Starting at neck edge, ch 38
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. (36 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 2 (see note above), hdc in first 4 hdc, work shell in next hdc, (8 hdc, shell, 8 hdc, shell, 8 hdc, shell, 4 hdc) across; turn. (32 hdc, 4 shells)
Row 3: Ch 2, hdc in next 5 hdc, shell in next ch 2 space, (10 hdc, shell in next ch 2 space, 10 hdc, shell, 10 hdc, shell, 5 hdc) across; turn. (40 hdc, 4 shells)
Row 4: Ch 2, hdc in next 6 hdc, shell in next ch 2 space, (12 hdc, shell, 12 hdc, shell, 12 hdc, shell, 6 hdc) across; turn. (48 hdc, 4 shells)
Rows 5-10: Ch 2, working in established pattern, (hdc in each hdc, shell in each ch 2 space) across.
Row 11: This row will form the armholes. Ch 2, hdc to 1st shell, work 1 hdc into that ch 2 space. Folding your work so that the 1st and 2nd shells line up work 1 DC into both ch 2 spaces, connecting them, then work 1 hdc in the 2nd ch 2 space. Hdc across to the 3rd shell and repeat this forming the 2nd armhole, hdc to end of row.
For the remainder of the sweater you could hdc across each row or switch to any stitch you prefer and work that until the sweater is the length you want it to be. I’ve found that another 11 rows of hdc gives a good length.

Sleeves:
Rnd 1: Join to underarm, ch 2 and work 28 hdc around, join to 1st hdc.
Rnds 2-5: Ch 2, hdc around, join.
Rnd 6: Ch 2, (hdc in next 2, hdc next 2 tog) around. (21 hdc)
Rnds 7-12: Ch 2, hdc around.
Rnd 13: Ch 1, (sc in next 2, sc next 2 tog) join to 1st sc.
Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc around. Fasten off and weave in ends. Repeat for other arm.

Finishing:

Using same yarn or contrasting color, join at bottom of sweater, ch 1 and sc around sweater, working 3 sc at end of each side of neck and each side of bottom. Fasten off and weave in ends. Sew ribbon to each side at neck for ties. I usually sew another set of ties about mid-way down.

(c)Heartfelt Creations, 2004

How to slow down a fast knitter ~ part 2

Okay, I've made some progress on Sweet Mary Jane. And not only have I made progress, but I have gotten used to the yarn and have picked up considerable speed once again. Whew! For a moment there I was feeling like a beginning knitter all over again! =)

I will persuade Hubby Dearest to show me how to use his very fine and very expensive professional digital camera (remember, he's a photographer by trade) and I'll be able to show my progress as I make my way through this pattern.

One thing I've discovered ~ this pattern is a lot easier than I originally thought! The lace pattern is accomplished with a 4 row repeat. And the use of stitch markers (many of them, in fact) really simplifies it all! Two thumbs WAY up to Celeste Culpepper! (the designer)

How to slow down a fast knitter

I am a fast knitter. No, I am not bragging…simply stating a fact. I am a Continental knitter, which is faster and less labor intensive than the English version. (If you're not sure which is which - check out the info a Fuzzy Galore ) Very useful info, as well as some awesome free patterns there! Check them out!! =)
Anyway, back to the topic at hand…….I am a fast knitter….normally! I can whip out rows and rows of stockinette in the blink of an eye. And how does one down a fast knitter? Here's how….first, you get this pattern Sweet Mary Jane then you get this yarn Oregon Coast and you cast on 252 stitches (I'm making a size Large) using your size 6 circs. The first row of knitting took seemed to take forever!!! Okay, maybe not forever, but those tiny little stitches were a bit harder to work with - on the first row anyway. I've knit socks before using sock weight, but since socks have dramatically fewer stitches than this sweater does, one round didn't seem to take so long.
I am determined to make this thing…even if it takes all summer!!! I will keep you posted on my progress. Since I do needlework during the day (my paying job) I have to be content knitting in the evening.

Thoughts for today

I have just about finished up the Mini Sweater that I found at Glampyre. I've finished the body and one sleeve...have one sleeve yet to do then figure out how I want to edge it. I don't want to do the points, but I might give them a try anyone. I've also had my eye on a few of her patterns that I want to buy. She has some really cute ones....like the Easy V-neck Raglan
Once this sweater is done I will be casting on for the Sweet Mary Jane pattern I bought earlier this year from Knitpicks. Here is the link for the yarn, I'm using the color Oregon Coast It's a bit more challenging pattern, but it's oh so adorable!! And I just LOVE the yarn.
Okay, now for my decision.....I plan to shut down my free pattern website as soon as I can get all the info that I want off of it. I have been finding my original patterns (photos included) in crochet groups with someone else's name on them. These people, usually the manager of the group, posts what she calls her newest original design and several times now I have discovered that it's actually MY design, copied verbatim! I hate a thief! I offer these designs for FREE and some lowlife who couldn't design a thing has to steal it and try to claim it as her own. She didn't even have the decency to take her own photo!!! Unfortunately I have noticed a growing trend in this lately, and it's not just my stuff they are stealing. I suppose I should feel flattered....my designs - as simple as they are - are worth stealing? I'll post them here slowly but may not leave them on for too long. Maybe do a design-a-month or something? We'll see.......