Knitting Backwards

How many of you do entrelac knitting? Do you like it? or is it to fussy flipping the work all the time?
Have you thought about "knitting backwards"? Really it isn't that hard to learn and it does go faster once you have learned it. Knitting backwards would work anytime you have to purl. So if you don't like to purl this is one way to not have to every again. Purling is not my favorite thing to do either but is a need when knitting. Here is a great video on how to knit backwards or purling in reverse. Knitting Backwards or "mirror knitting" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIo-m6vfd-U this is a great video for learning and there are many different ways to do it but this is one of the better ways.
This is the Entrelac Shawl I am making http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/triangle-entrelac-shawls. You can find it on my Ravelry page as well. I am using size 8 needles and think and chunky yarn by Lion for this project.

A baby for my Granddaughter Annja

Finally I finished... well except for the hair. Since most babies are born bald is okay. I did pay for this pattern which is unusual for me but the pattern was so darn cute.

The outfit she is wearing is of course, knitted. It is a baby onsie and a little over skirt. I found them both on Ravelry I do believe. I just have to put the snaps on the onsie. Since the baby is a newborn size, the outfit will also fit my granddaughter and is just really easy to make.
I hope you enjoy.
Happy Knitting!
Kaitlan

Finished ... Finally

Remember when I started that round baby blanket? Well I finished it yesterday.

It got easier the second time for sure. Though 1 1/2 rows from finishing I ran out of yarn. That sucks right? Well I went to the same store I bought it from and of course they didn't have anymore. So I chose a baby purple and just finished. Looks good and looks intentional.

Of course, it still needs to be blocked but you can see how it turned out. I hope you like. Please look back for the pattern in the history of this blogg.

Happy knitting

Kaitlan

Casting on ....the long and the short of it

Everyone seems to have problems when it comes to casting on a large number of stitches. It isn't rocket science but it sure seems that way. How many times have you had to cast on over 50 stitches and run out of tail yarn when doing the long tail cast on? A lot right, I know I have many times and have to pull if off and start all over.

The long tail cast on is the normal cast on I use unless the patterns states otherwise. To do the larger amounts of stitches needed I do the following. Use two skeins of yarn. Yes two skeins, tie a slip knot with a loop with both the yarns held together slip it on the needle. This does NOT count as the first stitch, now you have a "tail" and a working yarn. Cast on as usual, when you are finished and have the right amount of stitches (count them again just to make sure) then cut off one of the skeins.

Now just continue to knit the pattern. When you get to the last stitch, the one that has two loops, take it off and unknot it. Now you have no excuse for not doing a long cast on for an afaghan or sweater.

There is also a cable cast on which will help as well, Very Pinks has this video that will help you.

There is also the backwards loop cast on as well. I bet you didn't realize there were so many cast ons. I know of many people that have been knitting for years and didn't know so you are in good company. Is always good to learn the different types of cast ons. You never know when they will come in handy like the middle of the work or to hide the cast on. Each is there for a different reason.

Happy knitting,

Kaitlan

Fair Isle video

As I have said practice is what it takes to do fair isle color work. This is the video I used to learn to do it two handed. I use the same technique for weaving in my ends in the beginning in a lot of cases. Two-handed Fair Isle knitting.

Happy Knitting

Kaitlan

Down to the wire..

With less than two months before my granddaughter will be born I am trying to finish up some last minute projects for her. Anther blanket, the first one the round one will be a Christmas present since I am that far behind. I am working on a little onsie for her will actually be like a onsie sweater and then a dress romper over that.

I have found a lot of great acrylic yarns that are sooo soft. Vanna’s Choice and I love this Yarn are two of them. They are soft and you can wash and dry them. Though I am making the onsie out of I love this Wool which is even softer.

Here are a couple of pictures of the blanket. Is worked in diagonal box stitch. SmoothFox's Diagonal Box Stitch Square 6x6 is were the pattern can be found. Though I learned this from a lady at the doctors office one afternoon and make it a lot for blankets for all sizes. It works up fast and there is no limit to the size you can have. Of course, I ran out of yarn and is a good thing I used red heart. I used red heart super saver because I remember her daddy and his blanket being dragged through mud puddles, thistle patches and what ever else he could find. The colors are pink and purple it is a really lousy picture from my phone which is unusual.

I will have the outfit finished soon I am sure but have to knit like a mad woman to do it.

Happy knitting

Kait

Fair Isle Knitting

Those complex color work seem so hard. It looks like there are so many colors in some and only two in others. Don't they just look great?

I have been working on fair isle for a few weeks now along with the other projects I have in my WIP area. I have many patterns that I have found on Ravelry and other areas on the net but I really wanted to make my own patterns. Now my problem with some of the patterns is that I can't see them well enough. So to fix this problem I put them in Excel. Yes it takes a while to do it but is well worth it in the long run. Also by having it in Excel I can mark off the rows I have already worked to make it easier to read.

So this is how I do it.

First print out your pattern, then open up Excel, count your pattern at the widest part. Count out the boxes you need. For me the fingerless mitts I am working on had a front and back so needed to count both sides together and add one for the center where you turned the mitt over. Start at the bottom like you would if you were knitting start to copy the pattern to Excel. I would use the color that the pattern was used, such as if was a black and white pattern I would use black. Hold the control key down and you can add more than one stitch at a time. Then go to the top with the little bucket and find the color you need and click. You should have all the little boxes that you clicked filled in. Continue with the rest of your pattern. When you are finished go back and click center and bold then go through all the areas you have colored in with an X this helps when you use yellow to highlight what you have knitted so that you can still see the design work.

This will work for any chart you would like to make yourself as well. I took one of the mitten patterns that I had done and copied it to another page and deleted everything inside so that it was a copy, a blank canvas and started over. Will have to show you at a later date how it turns out.

The thing to remember is that with fair isle you are only using 2 colors at a time. Always hold your yarn colors in the same hands, yes you will have to use both hands. You get used to it and it really isn't hard since you are usually doing fair isle in the round you are always knitting, no purling to do thankfully.

Give it a try you might like it. It is always good to try something and learn something you are afraid of or don't think you can do. With practice you will be surprised at what you can accomplish.

Here is a good video from Jimmy Beans Wool that will teach you to capture your floats. It is a good thing to learn and practice, you can also use this to weave your yarn ends in as you go instead of using a needle. That is what I have been doing.

Well happy knitting!

Kaitlan

Socks bulky weight

Today I finished a pair of socks for my daughter-in-law for when she goes in the hospital to have her baby girl. Everyone knows how cold the hospitals are and I didn't want her to be uncomfortable.

They are made from bulky yarn I found on sale at JoAnne Fabric store this weekend. The pattern was from KnitFreedom. She has wonderful patterns and videos that I highly recommend.

I hope that you all check out her site and her videos. She has classes on video for sale as well that are really good.

Happy Knitting

Kaitlan

Diaper Soakers

Dia\ For really quick gift I made Snapdragon Soakers. I have posted the link for the pattern page on Ravelry. They are so cute. You can find the pattern on Ravelry I sell them on Etsy as well.

Snapdragon Soakers on Etsy The best thing to do when you make the is use virgin wool. The bad thing about using wool is , when you wash then they need to be hand washed and laid flat to dry. The pictures on Etsy are done in acrylic so they can be gentle washed and dried in the dryer. A little easier for people to do if you have any children.

Also finished my aunt's granddaughters sweater. I will be posting this on etsy soon as well for say in another color am sure. Just have to get it made first. Should be sending it off next week. It is the 3 little kitten nursery rhyme.

At least I am finishing projects. Though I have about 10 or more WIPs in my buckets. I wish you all happy knitting and good luck at getting your Christmas projects finished. Only a few months and Christmas will be here and we get to start all over again.. lol

Kaitlan

The baby blanket so far...

Well I am back on the baby blanket. I hope my son and daughter-in-law like it.

I ended up having to frog it back a whole row, that will teach me to pay attention to it and no Jerry Springer... well I get my laughs there. I hope you all enjoy the pic. I am about 60 rows from being finished.

This may be taking me hours to do, as well as days but I think it will be well worth it. I have upped the length of the cable to make it easier towrok on. Happy knitting.

Kaitlan

Tough Knitting

Today I found a really great yarn that I had bought a year ago. Yes my stash is large and my husband would really like it to get smaller, but alas I am a knitter so ...

As I said yesterday, I am making my grandmother a shrug from Christmas. Well with this yarn I decided to try and make it in to a shrug as well. Is hard to knit with because it is not "traditional" yarn but eyelash yarn with a thick cord. I am knitting with size 11 needles that are dark . This is a great set I also have the sunburst, I am not so thrilled with the acrylic and still want to get the nickle set as well. I will talk about needles in another post but will say interchangeables may have a big output in the beginning but in the long run are cheaper.

I started the shall with regular red heart yarn in pink as you can see with a rib 1 x 1. I knitted the rib for 6 rows. Then with the fake fur I just knit in garter until was total 42 inches in length from the beginning, I will add another 6 rows of the ribbing at the end. Her is a pic of what it looks like so far.

It is harder to knit than regular yarn so remember if you are using it to pull out a little more after each stitch.

I found this yarn at http://www.yarn-paradise.com/ you might think the shipping is a little high, and it is but... the prices for the yarn is great. They have yarn specials on Tuesday and send out great deal email. I purchased 190 skeins of yarn and the total cam up to about $2.00 a skein after shipping. Yes you have to buy in bulk. Like 6 or more skeins at a time but who doesn't need at least that much to make a project? Like today in the promotion there is Peru Alpaca Super Bulky yarn the cost is $9.99 for 8 skeins or $1.25 a piece + shipping and handling of $9.90 ( and it will get there the next day from Turkey) that makes each skein $2.50. Now where else can you get good quality yarn that cheap?

Hope this helps in finding great ideas. Happy knitting

Kaitlan

Sore today!

After knitting for all day yesterday, I am soooo sore. My shoulders are calling me stupid as is my index finger. So today I am working on an easier pattern. Actually I found a pattern that I will make for my grandmother for Christmas. A simple shrug. I was looking for something that was warm and elegant at the same time. So I will be making her the "Speckled Shrug" from Lion. It is a free pattern which is great.

There are a lot of great patterns out there for free. I think I have only purchased maybe 3 patterns total over the years. I can always find something from all levels from beginner to expert. And if I every have a question or want to learn about a new way to do something I go to http://knittingparadise.com you will have to sign up for the newsletter but is well worth it.

The women and men from around the world are on that site. Is always great to learn of things from around the world and to find out how they do things. So check it out.

Happy knitting

Kaitlan

The second blanket

I finally found the pattern for the 2nd baby blanket for my grand daughter. Is the "Radiating Star Blanket" by Alexis Layton. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

I started it August 2 and by 10 that night I had it half way done. The photo is only 25% completed. I am hoping to have it done by tomorrow night.

The changes I did to the pattern was to use baby sport yarn, and six 6 needles (circulars). At first I did magic loop which made it easier to work than using DPNs. When it got where my loop wasn't working I moved to the traveling loop, then to just knitting around and around.

I can't wait to post the completed picture...

Happy Knitting

Kait

A Great Place for FREE Patterns

Many people are always looking for what they can get free. Well patterns are always one that I look for. I have so many on my computer that I don't think I will be able to knit them all up, but is always good to look at them.

Knitting pattern Central

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/

They are pretty well organized, yes there is many reposts but is still a good site. They also have http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com and http://www.tattingpatterncentral.com

Right now I have put down the needles, do to the frustration I am getting with it, but will be back probably soon (this afternoon) since I have to go to the laundrymat and is a good place to knit in public. So many kids will come and watch.

You can find my books (am putting them into the new computer since I spilled hot chocolate on the old one and fried it) at I do hope you enjoy it. There will be 5 books in the series and I am working on 2 more books. The first is a modern sweet romanance, the second is a vampire fantasy.

I will be starting a blog site for my books as well hope to have it up soon.

Happy crafting

Kait

Throwing another pattern out

I have found that if I have to rip out a pattern more than 5 times the yarn doesn't want to be made into that particular patter. That is what I did with the Cable Scarf. Yes I love the pattern but the yarn didn't.

So at my knitting meeting tonight one of the ladies was doing the linen stitch. Yes it looks just like if I had woven it on the big loom. Love it.. so that is what I am making now. The baby blanket is giving me problems yet again as well so I will probably only do one for my grand daughter.

This is a pattern that was orally told to me at a doctors office. It is worked on the bias and if I can get a pattern written down for it I will share. I haven't found the true name of it so if any of you know it please share. I just call it the topsey turvey blanket. As you can see I will be making 4 different blocks in crochet. It works up quickly so I can get it finished before the baby is born.

Happy knitting!

Kait

Life Lines, Row Counters and Stitch Markers

Do you know what a life line is? or a row counter? If you knit you should. There are many counters out there in the world some people just use a piece of paper with tack marks, some use one that hangs from the needle. I personally use one for my smart phone. It is called "county" and is free, there is a pay option as well that will allow you to do more than one project at a time. I am still using the free one, though I have bough the other and when I changed phones I haven't figured out how to get it on the new phone. There are more than that for the smart phone just check them out and find one that works for you. You will be amazed at what you find.

Now for life lines. If you have ever worked lace or and afghan with a lot of repeats, a life line is a must. No one likes frogging out a pattern and trying and then trying to make sure all the stitches are how they are supposed to be. I know that with the cable scarf that I am working on (see previous post) it is an 8 row repeat, Sounds simple, right. Oh I can remember where I am.... once you put it down, wrong.

I personally use a life line before starting every repeat. I just slip a sting onto a tatting needle and run it through all my stitches. That way if I screw up, and I know I will, I will only have to go back one repeat. I use crochet threat and it will stop the stitches from going any further and you can pick up the stitches again easily and start again.

Stitch markers are easy, some look like a little safety pin and other look like a small plastic circle. I make mine so they are just bits of yarn that is not the same color as my project. Sometimes I add beads to them as well so that the weight holds them down. For socks though I use the little safely pin type of markers. I do magic loop and only need one so that is nice ant they come in bright colors so that you won't miss it as you knit around.
Well I hope this is helpful in your knitting. Please feel free to post questions her.
Happy Knitting

Gift for oldest son....maybe

My son called me last winter and wanted a scarf. So guess wouldn't hurt to make him one. After about 5 inches I put it down and forgot what one of the abbreviations was and when I went back it through me all off. Typical. So I started over this summer, and have found it a very pretty pattern once I didn't have so many stitches on the needles.

Here is the pattern. It can also be found as a free download on Ravelry or on my page on Ravelry.com
Cable Scarf
Designed by Melanie Smith
All Rights Reserved
Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate
Materials:
400 yards of DK or worsted weight yarn
Size 7 needle
Cable needle
Yarn needle

Gauge: When knitting a scarf gauge is not all the important. Start with size 7 needles after about 4 inches of knitting check to see if you like the feel. If so keep knitting, If not change to a larger needle if you want it more open and soft. Smaller if you would prefer to have it more firm. Change the needle size if you are not pleased with the feel of the knitted fabric.

Special stitches:
CBC3: Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold to back. Knit the next 3 Sts, and then knit the 3 Sts from the cable needle.
SKP: slip next stitch, K1, pass slipped stitch over
SK2P: Slip next stitch, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over

Pattern:
Cast on 32
Knit 2 rows.
Row 1: K2, K6*YO, SKP, K1, K2tog, YO, K6, repeat to last 2 sts. K2.
Row 2: and all even rows: K2, purl to last 2 Sts, K2
Row 3: K2, K7 * YO, SK2P (remeber this is a double decrease slip one, knit 2 toghter and pass slip stitch over), YO, K8, YO, SK2P, YO, K7, K2
Row 5: repeat row 1
Row 7:K2, CBC3,K1,YO,SK2P,YO,K1,CB3,K1,YO,SK2P,YO,K1,CB3,K2
Repeat until desired length ending on Row 4.
Knit 2 rows
Bind off. Block lightly and enjoy.

The basket weave blanket I was making for my granddaugher fell through the loop so am making her the "Little Huggy Baby Blanket " It was going okay until I started the main part and found that I hadn't had enough casts (by 2 short I mean). Had to start over hope will have a picture for you next Time.

Happy Knitting
Kaitlan

Baby Blanket

Since I am back into my knitting phase yet again I will be starting a baby blanket for my grand baby. She will be born on November 19 so not that long of a time to make a blanket. My grandmother before she passed away made a blanket for my first grandchild but really isn't in baby colors so I will be making a basket weave blanket in baby colors. You can follow what I am making on Ravelry.com under kaitlanroisendubh. I have a lot of WIP's going and I do work on them often. I am a person that gets bored and finds some other pattern to make. Usually it is something that I can make quickly like dish clothes, which will be the first class I post here, that only take a couple of hours to do and they are always well received and a great gift for anyone.

Hello

Hello my name is Kaitlan Blackrose and I live in Central Texas with my husband William and my youngest son KC. To keep my sanity, I knit and do other crafty things so I thought I would start this blog and make videos to keep busy. I hope you enjoy them. You can find me on ravelry.com under KaitlanRoisendubh, I have many of the patterns I will be using there. There will also be crocheting, tatting, cooking, and many other things that I am interested in. There may even be some complaining and some about my weight loss journey, which I am very proud of. I have lost 28 pounds so far. We will be grandparents to a little girl come November and we are very excited about, even though some people don't think we are. We are happy to be grandparents and can't wait to spoil her, I am sure my oldest son Sean and his wife Angel will just enjoy that. Isn't it every grandparents right to fill the grandkids with 7-Up and Cadbury eggs and they send them home...lol. Well hope to hear from you all. I will be posting videos soon as well as patterns and other things so keep a close watch. Night. Kaitlan