Little Brown felted purse

I used Waterspun Merino in brown because I have so much of it. Knitted with 6mm circular needles. Not sure how much yarn I used as this was frogged from a sweater I decided not to finish.

Main Bag:

Cast on 40 stitches using backwards loop. Don't join. This part is knitted flat.
Garter stitch 4 rows, flat knitting.

Pick up 2 stitches along the short edge, 40 stitches along bottom edge, and 2 more stitches along the last short edge. This will give you 84 stitches. You can knit this with DPN's but I used a circular needle. If your cord is too long, no worries. Pinch out part of the cord to form 1 loop of the magic loop. If your cord is really really long, pinch out 2 loops.

Knit stockingnette stitch in the round until the bag is 1.5 times the width.

Garter stitch 4 rows. For this you will have to knit 1 row, purl 1 row, etc. Bind off 42 stitches loosely. This will be the front of the bag.

On the next row with the remaining stitches: K2, P1, Knit to 3 from the end, P1, K2.
Next row: K3, Purl to 3 from the end, K3.
Repeat these two rows for a total of 6 rows.

Next row: K2, P1, SSK, Knit to 5 from the end, K2tog, P1, K2.
Next row: K3, Purl to 3 from the end, K3.
Repeat for a total of 10 rows.

The next row is the buttonhole row but I can't remember how many stitches...bind off the middle 2 (or 3) stiches, following the same pattern decrease. On the row after the buttonhole bind off, when you get to the bind off, cast on 2 (or 3) stitches, using the cable cast on. Continue to end, following the decreases, etc.

Follow pattern decreases for another 2 rows.
Next 3 rows: garter stitch

Bind off and weave in the ends. Don't make it too tight as the fabric will pull funny when it's felted.

Front Pocket:

This is optional. I placed the pocket off to the side and an inch up from the bottom so I didn't have to worry about the pocket being slightly off centred.
Pick up 20 stitches. It's easier if you pick up these stitches with a crochet hook and then transfer them onto your knitting needle.

The pocket is done in garter stitch. Knit across. Pick up 1 stitch on the side, just above your last stitch. If you place your needle flat on your knitting, it should be just right there.
Next row, knit the pick up stitch and the first stitch together. Knit to end.
Next row, repeat the above until the pocket is about 3-4". The sides of the pocket will be secured by the picked up stitches. You won't have to sew the pocket on. When your pocket is high enough, bind off loosely. Remember that it will felt roughly to 1/3 the size.

For pocket flap, pick up 18 stitches above the pocket the same way. Knit to end. Next row, don't pick up fabric stitch but knit the flap without attaching the sides. Knit 2 rows following the stitch pattern for bag flap. Decrease the same for 4 rows. Make button hole and knit 2 more rows. Garter stitch 2 more rows and bind off. Weave in all the ends.

Don't worry if the bag looks funny. Felting is a wonderful thing.

Felting the bag:

There are all sorts of felting directions on the internet. The quick and easy way I do it is in the washing machine with a hot wash and cold rinse. Wet your bag thoroughly and place it in an old pillow case...preferably one that is similar in colour to your bag. You don't want to pick lint off your bag. Tie up the bag securely. Wash with a regular load of laundry. Take the bag out and check. I usually only need 1 cycle of hot wash and cold rinse. If you need to, do a second cycle.

Lay the bag flat and shape it by straightening out the edges. Let the bag dry and attach strap. You can sew a fabric liner inside to protect the bag from your keys poking through. I'm planning on putting my cell phone in the front pocket so I'm going to line that too.

I'm going to try and post pictures tomorrow when my bag is dried.

Glovemitts (or Glittens)

Whatever they're called. I think there should be a proper name for fingerless gloves with mitten covers. "I made you fingerless-gloves-with-mitten-covers." is quite a mouthful.

These "glittens" were made with grey alpaca, using 4mm DPNs.

Both Hands:
Using 5mm needle, cast on 38 stitches using long tail twisted cast on. Divide evenly over 4 - 4mm needles and join.
Knit 15 rows.

Right Hand:
Row 16: Knit to 2 stitches before 2nd needle. PM, k4, M1R, PM.
Row 17: Knit across.
M1R at every second row until you have a total of 12 stitches in the thumb gussett.
Knit across other rows (31 rows)
Transfer gussett stitches to waste yarn.
CO 4 stitches using backwards loop.
Knit to 44 rows (~1 1/2 inches)
Pinkie: PU 4 front, CO 2, PU 4 back. Knit 10 rows. Bind off.
CO 2 stitches next to pinkie and knit 2 rows palm stitches.
Ring: PU 5 front, CO 2, PU 5 back. Knit 10 rows and bind off.
Middle: PU 5 front, CO 2, PU 5 back, CO 2. Knit 10 rows and bind off.
Index: PU 6 front, 6 back, CO 2. Knit 10 rows and bind off.
Thumb: Divide over 2 needles (6/6). PU 5 along the top of thumb hole. Knit to middle of thumb nail (14 rows?). K2tog until 4 stitches. Thread yarn through remaining stitches and close.

Left Hand:
Knit to 2 stitches from the end of the second needle. PM, M1L, K4, PM.
Same as the right hand...M1L for every second row, knit the other row to 12 stitches in the gussett.
Knit fingers same as the right hand.

Hat - Brown Hat (for the lack of anything better to call it)

Hat is knitted top down.
Brown merino waterspun wool
5mm Double pointed needles
3.5mm 16" circular needles

Using 5mm double pointed needles:
CO 6 stitches and divide over three needles. Join and knit 1 round.
R2: Inc 1, K1 to end
R3: Knit
R4: Inc 1, K2 to end
R5: Knit
Even rows: Inc 1, knit 1 more to increase 6 stitches each round.
Odd rows: knit
Until you have enough to fit the top of your head. Mine came to 72 stitches.

Next row, purl 3 rows straight.
Change to 3.5mm needles and knit 3".
Purl 2 rows
Row 1: Mock cable twist (knit into second stitch, without taking the stitch off the left needle, knit into first stitch and take both off)
Row 2: K1, Mock cable twist
Do rows 1 & 2 four times
Purl 2 rows
Knit another inch.
Change to 5mm needles and knit 1 more round.
I-cord bind off (Knit 3 stitches, slip the three back onto the left needle with yarn in back. Knit the first 2 stitches and slip first stitch over the second stitch. Knit the third and fourth stitch. Slip the three stitches back onto the left needle and repeat.)

Weave in your ends and that's it. It may need a bit of blocking for shape.

Dropped Stitch Moebius Cowl

Dropped Stitch Moebius Cowl

1 ball Noro Keuryon (or whatever yarn you might want to use)
1 set 6mm straight needles

Cast on 30 stitches, using provisional cast on.
Row 1 & 2: Knit (garter stitch)
Row 3: *K1, YO twice*, repeat ending with K1
Row 4: *K1, drop the 2 Yarn overs*, repeat ending with K1
Row 5, 6, 7: Knit (garter stitch)Repeat Rows 3 - 7 until you reached the length you want.

For the last set, knit only 2 rows of garter stitch. This will match up with the first two rows when you join the ends together. Every so often, as you're knitting, give your work a gentle pull to straighten out the rows.

To Finish:

Give your scarf a half-twist so the opposite ends meet. Put the stitches on the provisional cast-on onto a needle and graft together. If you use the Kitchener stitch, the finished piece will look seamless.1 Ball was perfect for a short cowl that just fit my neck. You can make it longer and cast on more stitches for a shawl. Just leave enough yarn at the end for grafting. I usually allow for ~1"per stitch.

Much thanks to Elizabeth Zimmerman who is truly a Goddess of Knitting!

Wrap #1

I did about 3" of this wrap in the Pakucho cotton. Beautiful! Unfortunately, it wasn't what I wanted at this time. I needed something that would use 4 skeins and knit up much quicker. But I didn't want to forget this pattern.

Cast on 80 stitches on 6.5mm needles loosely. Switching to 5.5mm needles, knit 2 rows. Start pattern.

Pattern as follows: K1, *YO, K2tog* repeat ** to end with KI. Repeat for all rows until shawl is the length you want or you run out of yarn.

This pattern makes a nice criss-cross pattern that twists to the side of the piece. It is absolutely reversible with both sides identical. Perfect for mobius cowl. This stitch pattern came from one of Barbara G. Walker's book.

Knitted Shopping Bag

I've always wanted one of those string shopping bags but hated the nylon feel of them. So I made one with some heavy navy blue cotton I had in my stash. I showed Rick the results and his response was: "Oh good. And this shopping bag cost, what, $30.00 in materials?" He completely missed the point here. I tried to take a picture of it but the camera is full. E is using the camera taking plant pictures for his school project and hasn't downloaded his pictures. So my camera is full. Funny that when I bought the camera, both R & E thought it was a bad idea. And now I hardly get to use it. Anyhow, here's the direction for the bag:It's knitted with the drop stitch pattern to give it a netting effect.Cast on 30 stitches, using 6.5mm needles. Garter stitch for 20-30 rows for the base. How many rows you do depends on how wide you want your bag. Using circulars, pick up as many stitches that will fit across the width. Pick up 30 along the back. Pick up the same number as the other width down the last side. Place marker. Garter stitch 4 more rows. Row 1: *K1, YO twice* repeat to end.Row 2: *K1, drop YO* repeat to end.Row 3: KnitRepeat the three rows until bag is as long as you want it. Garter stitch 4 more rows. Bind off loosely 30 stitches, leave the width stitches on a holder, bind off another 30 stitches. Garter stitch the second set of width stitches until the strap is the length you want it to be. Graft the strap to the other remaining stitches of the width.