Wool Dryer Balls

I've seen wool dryer balls on several different websites. They are supposed to shorten drying time and so use less energy. That sounds pretty cool. I had some wool leftover from a spinning project so I made some. :)

Scrappy the Fabric Block

I'm gradually getting a bit more time for making things here and there. I was fixing a shirt the other night and decided to make this fabric block while I had the sewing machine out.

You may recognize one of the fabrics from the pajamas I made. I had scraps from different polar fleece fabrics. I cut 6 squares. Sewed four of them together in a line, then sewed one on the top edge, matching each edge of the square with an edge from the other 4 squares, and one on the bottom edge, leaving a space to stuff it. I turned it right side out, stuffed it with more fabric scraps, and sewed up the small remaining hole.

Ta Da, a nifty soft block made from scraps! :)

Pajamas!!!

Look at me making stuff again! This is pajamas that I sewed for my daughter. It was fun to work on a different sort of project and this was my first zipper installation. I learned some things along the way and it turned out pretty good too!

The sleeve cuffs where too tight so I just left them off and did a simple hem.

I got so tired of the pajamas in the store having toxic flame retardants on them, so I did a few things about it. I bought some super spiffy wool pajamas from England, I bought some of those tight organic cotton pajamas with the silly warning tags, and then I picked out some fabric and a pattern and made my own. Mine look super cute on her and so cozy and warm!

Its pattern 3527, in case you want to make your own.

Knitting Again!

Yes, I've picked up my much missed needles again! For this project, I am designing and knitting a hat for my daughter. The yarn is handspun by me alpaca yarn. The original idea was to spin and knit a blanket for her, but then I got a bunch of blankets at a shower (some really nice handmade ones too). I started spinning it before she was born but am just now getting to knitting it. The idea has morphed into a hat, knit from the top down. I like that for the same reason I like toe up socks, you can try it on as you go. I'm thinking an I-cord edge will finish this hat off nicely. I hope I can find time to finish it before it gets cold!

Baby Leg Warmers Again

I know its been a while, but yes, I finished the baby leg warmers and I finished them in time for baby to wear them. :)

They're a super easy project and a great way to use sock yarn left over from a smallish pair of socks!

Baby Leg Warmers

I had some of my orange and pink hand dyed yarn left over after knitting the socks, and wanted to knit something small with it. I think baby leg warmers are super cute! They are practical too, as diaper changes are so much easier than if your baby is wearing pants.

I'll share my simple pattern with you.

Size: 8 in around leg and can stretch to a little bigger.

Materials: Fingering weight yarn

Gauge: 8 st/in

Difficulty: Easy

Pattern: Cast on 64 stitches and join in round. I cast on both leg warmers using one long circular needle. I'm also knitting from both ends of the yarn.

K2, P2 *repeat around*

Continue ribbing for 10 rows.

K around, continue for desired length or you are running low on yarn.

K2, P2 rib for 10 rows.

Bind off using the decrease bind off to keep the edge stretchy.

Happy Knitting

Sample Socks

I knit these socks to show off my hand dyed yarn, so people can see how the yarn knits up. If someone wants to buy them, that's cool too. The plan is to bring them to the shop downtown and have them next to my yarn.Here is a close up of the heart pattern on the leg.

Q&A Skew Socks

I received a question in my comments about my skew socks, asking how I did them two at a time on one circular needle.

First I used the magic loop technique which I often use for two at a time socks.

Then, specific to that pattern:

Knit it twice up to the increase mini-gusset section.

Then you can either keep track of left vs. right socks very carefully or put one sock on a spare needle to hold it until you have completed through the decrease mini-gusset section.

There was some sticky moving stitches around to make it work, but I think its worth it to not have to knit them one at a time.

I put the heal stitches on safety pins until I finished knitting the rest of the socks and then I Kitchener stitched it together, but when you do it isn't a big deal.

Then the legs are the same again, but pay attention to which way they are facing.

Happy Knitting :)