The Snuggles Project-an Important Animal Charity

In my monthly Lionbrand newsletter, there was a story about the Snuggles Project. This is a project that creates (either by knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing) a comforting security blanket for animals in shelters. It was created in 1996 by Rae French because of her heartfelt need to do something for the innocent victims who find themselves in animal shelters without a bit of comfort to call their own. This is a WONDERFUL project to get involved with. If you know anyone who loves to knit, crochet, quilt or sew, then please get them involved in this very worthwhile effort. I'm starting my first snuggle today, I hope you'll do the same.

New Site!!! Soooo....excited...

So I managed to come across this new knitting site (ok, well its new to me-bugger off) and thought I would share it...coz I'm just that freakin' nice hahahaha!

Knitting Daily Its a blog from the Interweave Knits knitting magazine with loads of cool free patterns. I finally know where AnnyPurls got her cute little pattern for her little one!!! Anyway, if you haven't seen it before-enjoy! And if you have seen it before....well....enjoy it, again!

The Saga of the NFLD mittens continues....

So these are my NFLD mittens. Pretty aren't they??? I thought so...I've only ripped them out oh, about a dozen times....damn things. I had tried to find a circular set of 3.25 in 12in-yeah right! I guess they must only exist in the USA because I can't find them here in Halifax. I've looked everywhere. My friend Ea, works p/t at a local yarn shop and I asked her if they had any and she said they didn't-rats. Guess I'm going to have to suck it up and stick with trying on the 4 needles. I'd be half done one of them by now if I hadn't of somehow managed to drop a stitch and couldn't find where to pick it up. That was my last un-raveling. I was so upset that I haven't touched it since. And then today, on my way to work, I fell down a flight of stairs in front of my apt and hurt my right hand-nice. Its very difficult to type with a hurt hand, I can't imagine what it will be like trying to knit, as I have the next 2 days off. Well, if you don't count the meeting I have to attend on Thursday

A Present for MeegieMoo

I came across this pattern in my tickle trunk of patterns and thought of Meegie immediately. So, I'm posting it here for her....

Pirate Skull Mittens





And We can't forget the hat!
We Call Them Pirates

And You can always use a matching Scarf!
Skull Cable
























And why not a snazzy new purse while your at it???

Mini Skull and Crossbones Tote

Supplies:
Main Color: 70 grams worsted weight wool in main color
Contrast Color: Small amounts of worsted weight wool in second color for skulls
Size 10.5 US needles, straight or circular
Washing machine for fulling
Beware!! Some white and pale yarns will not felt. Always test a swatch first.

Abbreviations:
MC- Main color
CC- Contrast color
CO- Cast on
K-knit
PM- place marker
K2TOG- Knit two stitches together

Pattern:
C/O 82 sts. in MC. This bag is knit back and forth for ease of patterning. Knit in stockinette stitch for 1.5 inches. Place stitch markers on last round: k 7, place marker, k 28, pm, k 12, pm, k 28, pm, k7. These markers define the corners of the bag.

Handles:
On the next RS row, k 11, cast off 20, k20, C/O 20, k 11. Next row, work across, casting 20 sts. back on where you cast them off in the previous row.

Work another 1.25 inches in MC, then start chart on both large sides of bag, from the top down, using 2 balls of SC for skull and crossbones patter. Since you are working back and forth, using 2 separate balls of SC means you don't have to carry yarn across large expanses of MC.

Cut SC when finished with chart, leaving 6 inch tails for weaving in. Continue knitting plain in MC for another 1.25 inches, ending on WS row.

Mitered bottom:
You'll be decreasing before and after each marker to create a flat bottom on the bag.
Row 1 (RS row): knit to 2 stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker, k2tog, continuing to decrease in this method before and after each marker.
Row 2 (WS row): purl
Row 3 (RS): decrease before and after markers
Row 4 (WS) purl
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until the short sides of bag have 2 and 4 stitches each, ending with RS row.
Next row: Knit the stitch before and after the markers together.

Position your knitting on two needles with RS facing and equal amounts of stitches on each needle. Do three needle bind off, sew up the side seam, and weave in all ends.

Fulling:
Throw your finished bag and an old pair of jeans in a washing machine on hot. Use a little soap. Keep an eye on things and felt the bag until it's the size you want. Mine is about 8" x 8". Air dry it and enjoy!

OR Maybe a TOTE is more your style!!
BIG Skull Tote



And now, To finish off your dangerous new accessories, scary socks...

Skull Socks of Fury

Materials:

Approx. 300 yards of worsted weight yarn in main color (MC)
Approx. 75 yards of worsted weight yarn for skulls (SC)
Size 3 US dpns
Gauge: 6 sts. per inch
Makes a sock approx. 9" around

Instructions:

Cast on 52 sts. Join knitting and work in the round in 1x1 rib for 1.5", increasing 4 sts. evenly around on last ribbed row.
Change to stockinette st. and work even for 1".
Next round, K2 in MC, do the chart (from bottom up), K4 in MC, chart, K2 in MC.
Repeat until you're finished with chart, then knit 1 inch in MC, finishing at the end of a round.

Heel:

Knit 14 sts., then turn work.
Purl 28, turn. Put these 28 sts. onto one needle.
They will be worked for the heel. All instep sts. should be left on two needles and ignored for the time being.
Work heel as follows:
Row 1. *Slip 1 as if to knit, K1*, repeat these two sts. across the row. Turn.
Row 2. Slip 1 as if to purl, purl across.
Do these two rows a total of 9 times, then end with another row 1 (total of 19 rows).

Turn heel:

Row 1. Slip 1, P16, P2TOG, turn
Row 2. Slip 1, K6, K2TOG, turn
Row 3. Slip 1, P6, P2TOG, turn
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have 8 sts. left.

Now, pick up and knit (in the back of the loop) 10 sts. down the left side of the heel flap, including one in the gap between heel flap and instep sts.
Knit across instep, then pick up 10 sts. on the other side of heel flap. You should have a total of 56 sts. again. Distribute them evenly over the 4 needles (14 sts. per needle, starting the first needle with the first st. in a round)
Knit even until the sock is 2.5" shorter than what you need, then start decreasing for toe as follows, starting with the first needle of a new round:

Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts., K2TOG, K1
Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit to end of needle
Needle 3: Knit to last 3 sts., K2TOG, K1
Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit to end

Repeat this decrease round, separated by plain rounds as follows:

Decrease round, 3 plain rounds, dec., 2 plain, dec., 2 plain, dec., 1 plain, dec., 1 plain, then decrease every round until you have 8 sts. left.

Thread yarn through sts. and weave end in.

Make another one!

Happy Christmas Meegie!!!! These should keep you quite busy for awhile!!!!

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