Wednesday, June 29, 2016

BRAIN DEAD ZOMBIE SHAWL..to be worn while watching Walking DeadπŸ˜†

Hello.! This latest knit is one that I have worked on for much longer than it should have taken.  Here's why....even if you don't care to know, because in the explanation lies a Cautionary Tale!!!! OOOH SCAREEEY STUFFF!  This shawl starts very small and through Yarn Overs gets bigger and bigger, so there are many stitches on your needles.  I use cabled or circular needles by the way.  (Deep breath here) Anyway....about halfway through the shawl, I noticed that several rows down, there was a strange looking stitch.  Checked it and....I realized that I had knit the same stitches twice in one row.  How does that happen you wonder.  Well you put down your knitting somewhere near the middle of a row, go back to it and without thinking, start knitting back on the same row.  So, I had to unravel a few inches and many, many stitches to get back to the row I had goofed on and fix it.  One would think, "Well, I will be more careful about not doing that again." Uhhh, no!  Did it TWO more times!!!! After the THIRD fix (taking out a Zillion stitches) I said to myself "Whaaat! Were you Brain Dead the second and third times?"  So, I named it Brain Dead Zombie Shawl, and shortened it to Zombie Shawl.  Do you see the Rainbow?  Now You Know!  Feel free to rename it to something pretty if you desire.😊😘
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::Please read the pattern all the way through to get an understanding and overview of what you will be doing.::
You may use any yarn you choose and the appropriate size needle to get the guage you want.  For this Shawl I chose Red Heart Super Saver yarn, Aspen Print colourway.   Needle size, 5 mm.I recommend a cabled or round needle as you will have many stitches and the work gets heavy as you increase the size of your work.  You could use a bigger size to have a more loose knit, or a smaller size for a tighter look.  I suggest doing a 4" swatch to see how you like the guage for the needle you choose.
Pattern: Verrry simple..
A Prologue first:  It is a version of the Granny's Dishcloth, but you only need to make it into a Triangle.  Easy, peasy!  The difference in this pattern is that when you get to one stitch before the middle stitch, you do a Yarn Over, knit the middle stitch, Yarn Over, this increases the stitch count and gives the shawl 'Wings' or a little more ease when it is worn.  Also I highly recommend stitch markers for when you get to that middle area.  So, one marker before and after that middle stitch.
The Open Lacey 'Holes' in the 'Fancy' Version are done by a Yarn Over Knit 2 together Combo. Yarn Over Combos in this shawl are  implemented by Slip, Knit, lift slipped stitch over the knit stitch, then a Yarn Over.  This gives a Left leaning decrease.  For the Right leaning decrease Knit 2 stitches together knit ways, then a Yarn Over. If  you prefer a Plain, but still attractive version, just keep doing the Yarn over after the first 2 stitches, Yarn Over before and after the Middle stitch and a Yarn Over before the last 2 stitches.
Abbreviations:  SM=Stitch Marker  Sts=Stitches  K=Knit  P=Purl  YO=Yarn Over  K2tog=Knit 2 together(left leaning decrease)  SKTog= Slip a stitch, Knit the next stitch, put the slip stitch over the knit st, (right leaning decrease)
Ready, Set....Start knitting....Cast on 3 stitches.  Knit those 3 stitches.
Row 1: (Right Side): K 1 stitch, YO, K 1, YO, K 1.  You now have 5 stitches on your needles.
Row 2: (Wrong Side): K1 Purl to Last Stitch K1
Row 3: K 2,  YO, K1, YO, K 2. (7 sts on needle)
Row 4: K 2, P to last 2 sts, K2
Row 5: K 2, YO, K1, YO. place a SM, K 1, place the second SM, YO,  K1,YO, K2
Row 6: K2, P to last 2sts,( move the SM as you come to them) K2.
Row 7: K2, YO, K to 1st SM. move the SM onto the Right Needle, YO, K1 (this is your middle stitch) YO, move SM right needle. Knit to the last 2 sts. YO, K2.
Row 8: K2, P all stitches (moving marker from left to right needle) to the last 2sts, K2.
Now let's take a breath and see what we have done so far.
We have a Yarn Over after the first 2 Stitches and before the last 2 stitches on the Right Side of our Shawl.  We have a YO before and after the Middle Stitch.  We have, on the wrong side, Knit the first  and last 2 stitches. We have purled the rest in between.
You may continue in this manner until the shawl is large enough to suit you and then for the last 3 rows of your work you will do this:
Knit 2, YO, K2tog,YO, K2tog to the middle stitch,(taking off the SMs before and after)which may be included in the K2tog, depending on how many stitches you have on the needles.  For the rest of the stitches you will do YO, SKTog to the last 2 sts, K2.
Next Row:  K2, P to the last 2sts. K2
Last Row is Binding Off.  I suggest a loose bind off using a Larger size Needle, even 2 sizes larger, so that you get a 'stretchy' last row. If you have a favourite loose-type bind off, go ahead and do that.
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The above was the simple, solid shawl that is good to go.  If you want to be Fancy, then  Knit/Purl, Yarn Overs, before and after Middle Stitch, as the pattern above instructs, for several rows or a few inches from the cast on, and do a Knit 2 together, Yarn Over repeating to the middle stitch, with a YO before and after middle stitch, then do the Slip, Knit, Pass slipped stitch over, thenYarn Over repeating to the last 2 Stiches, K2. Maintain the YO after the first 2sts. and before the last 2 sts.  Then as before on the wrong side, K2. Purl to last 2, K2. Knit a few more inches and on the right side, do the same YO, K2tog ,etc as explained in the preceeding sentence.
When you are all done, weave in any ends, wash according to the label and block.
There you are! A Beautuful Shawl that you can name anything that suits your Fancy!  I have knit this shawl in finer yarn and larger needles to get a light, airy summer shawl, with or without the extra Yarn Overs in the body.  You can add beads as you knit or sew them on after.  You can add sequins as you knit or sew them on after.  You can add a Tassel at the bottom point and even at the two points at the top of the shawl ...use your imagination and Have Fun!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Tower of Cowl

Yes, another cowl. A Tower of a Cowl.  Very easy and satisfying  to knit up.  This is outta mine own talented (lol) head. It's Reversible, Foldable, and Affordable!

What you need: 1 skein  4 ply yarn in a colour and type you like.

Needles   Size 6   24" Cable Needles or set of size 6 straights.

Pattern:  Using Cables Needles, cast on 61 stitches. Place a marker at the last cast on stitch.  Then, making sure that the stitches are not twisted, knit into the first stitch you cast on. If you are using straight needles, you do not need a stitch marker.  Purl the next st., K1, P1, to the marker or if using straights to the end of the row.  This is the end of your first row. Move the marker to the right needle, if using cabled needles.   For the next row, look at the previous row of stitches, you now want to put a purl stitch over the previous row knit stitch and a knit stitch over the previous purl stitch.
What you are doing is called Seed Stitch. Look at the picture above to see how this looks.  Do this for 50 rows, or more if you want to have a deeper cowl that you could pull up to cover your head as well as your neck.  Cast off loosely knitting every stitch. If you have used straight needles, now you will join the sides to make the circle.
Now, how easy was that!!!!