Kriskrafter: December 2013

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Fingerless Mitts on my Knitting Machine

So I decided to make some fingerless mitts on my knitting machine for myself, daughter, and craft show fodder.

I found this pattern on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/machine-knit-wristwarmers

I liked the pattern, it was very easy to follow and worked up quickly. The only thing that gives me difficulty (no fault of the pattern) is the sew-as-you-go method when making the thumb. For some reason I just cannot seem to do that very well. I think I just can't see well enough and I am missing stitches.

On my 3rd pair I decided to try the thumb a different way and I REALLY like it! Here is what I did.

1. Take your finished (main part) of the mitt and fold right sides together. Pin starting from 1 1/2" above the cuff ribbing and continue to pin together all the way down the cuff.

2. Now here is the part that will make a lot of machine knitters cringe......sew from your first pin all the way down the cuff with your sewing machine. Yep, that's right, your sewing machine. Take as small of a seam as you can. I can usually get about an 1/8" seam. Make sure that you back stitch a couple of times at the beginning and the end of the seam. Your mitt will now look like this:

3. Now go back to your knitting machine, pull 17 sts on both sides of zero (total of 34). Set machine to tension 5.
Take your now-seamed mitt, with wrong side of seam facing you, start hanging the mitt on the needles. Hang sts evenly from the center outward, 17 on each side.
This picture shows the first stitch on either side of zero hung.

This shows all the stitches, 17 on each side of zero, hung on the machine, then push the mitt back past the latches against the bed.

4. COR Using your main color, knit across.
5. COL Set your machine to "Hold" and pull the Right needles 3-17 out in non-working position, knit across.
6. COR Wrap R3, pull the Left needles 3-17 out into non-working position, knit across.
7. COL Wrap L3, put R3 back into working position, knit across.
8. COR Wrap R4, put L3 back into working position, knit across.
9. COL Wrap L4, put R4 back into working position, knit across.
10.COR Wrap R5, put L4 back into working position, knit across.

Keep progressing in this manner until you have 4 sts left on either side and COL.

Wrap 2 sts this time, and put 2 sts on the other side back in work, knit across.
Repeat above until all sts are in work. Knit one row.

Rib for 5 rows at tension 3.
Bind off.

I then pin the remaining seam for top of mitt and thumb and again I sew this on my sewing machine. For me this worked out great and thumb is a very nice fit!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Free Knitting Pattern! - Bridger Cowl

This cowl is SUPER fast, uses worsted weight or Aran yarn and a U.S. size 10 circular needle. You begin the cowl in the center front and work flat while making the simple repeating lace pattern, then you will join and work in the round. This cowl is warm, squishy and makes a wonderful gift or craft fair item. Make one (or two!) in a day.
If you want to download/print pattern you can scroll down past the pictures and it is available there too. (English, Spanish, Polish and Portuguese versions).

Tools / Materials:

Worsted or Aran weight yarn, approx. 150 yds.
U.S. size 10 (6mm) circular needle. (I used a 24" length)

Gauge:

14 sts / 20 rows = 4" in stockinette st.

Abbreviations:

K=Knit

P=Purl

CO=Cast on

yo=yarn over

rep=repeat

sts=stitches

PM=place marker

RM=remove marker

beg=beginning

Reference:

Cast on at beginning of the row, otherwise

known as the knitted cast-on. Tutorial Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdaZTBOJ7XU

Directions:

You will start out working flat (back and forth), later at #20, you will join and begin working in the round.

1. CO 4 sts using long tail cast on. *note you will use the Long-tail cast-on here only, for the rest of the pattern when you cast on at the beg of the row, please do as directed. Please see reference above for video.

2. Knit

3. CO 4 sts @ beg of row, k4, yo, k2tog, k2. (8 sts)

4. CO 4 sts @ beg of row, k4,* yo, k2tog, k2, rep from * to end. (12 sts)

5-14. Rep row 4 until you have 52 sts.

15. CO 4 sts @ beg of row, K4, *yo, k2tog, k2, rep from * 1x more, PM, k until last 12 sts,*yo, k2tog, k2, rep from * to end. (56 sts)

16. CO 4 sts @ beg of row, K4, *yo, k2tog, k2, rep from * 1x more, PM, k until last 12 sts, RM, *yo, k2tog, k2, rep from * to end. (60 sts)

17-19. Repeat row 16 until you have 72 sts.

Place marker and join, you are now working in the round.

20. Purl round. (remove other marker when you come to it. You will now only need the marker that marks the beginning of your circle).

21. Knit every row until pc measures 11” (measure from cast on point to needle).

22. Purl round.

23. Knit round.