Summer Stripes

This summer tube top is the perfect way to use u leftovers from a big projects, and it's super cute, too! The instructions are for a size 36/38C chest, but after the instructions, I provide the formula I used to create it, so you can customize it to any size you need, theoretically from child to all sizes of adult.

This pattern makes use of short rows, and if you're unfamiliar with them, Knitty has a pretty good tutorial, though any other method or tutorial that you're comfortable using will do the trick, this isn't a very picky pattern, and doesn't require a specific method.

Cuppycake Potholder

Cuppycake Potholder

    This is a very simple pattern, and very open to adaptation. The following is to produce a potholder identical to mine, but feel free to adjust this pattern to suit your neds, or to use the chart for something else entirely.

    This pattern makes use of double knitting, which creates a reversable fabric with the added benefit of being twice as thick, to protect your hands from the heat. For safety, you MUST use a flame-resistant fiber if you intend to use this as a potholder. If you’ve ever done a burn test, you’ll know that synthetic fibers like (acrylic or nylon) or a plant fiber (like cotton or linen) will melt and burn, respectively. This is true even in a blend. I recommend 100% wool, but feel free to stash bust some other, more luxurious fibers, if you wish.

Gague: 5 stitches by 6 rows per inch

Finished Measurements: 4 inches by 5 inches

Needles: Size 7

Yarn: I used Worsted weight yarn, but maintain a similarly tight gauge when substituting

To begin, cast on 20 stitches, holding two strands as one. If doing a reversable design, the two strands will be different colors, but if the design is to be the same on both sides, it’s possible to use just one center-pull ball, using strand from the center and the outside. Then, knit the first 2 rows, seperating the individual loops to back a “back layer” and a “front layer”. The front layer faces you, and the back layer faces away from you, but both sides are stockinette on the outside. The wrong side of both layers are facing each other. Knit two rows plain, then begin the chart. After the chart, knit 2 more rows plain, then bind off all stitches.

If you don’t want to go to the trouble of double knitting, it is of course possible to knit this twice and seam it together in the end.

Twinkle twinkle

I've been working on a new baby blanket, and I'm really happy with it right now. At first, I had some misgivings, because I've been really antsy about starting anything new recently. Knowing I only have so much yarn makes me really really cautious of everything I start. So at first I was unhappy, mostly because it was using up yarn. But as this goes on, I get more and more satisfied. I dyed the yarn myself, and I'm actually making some preparations to sell some of my better colors, so that's been an interesting side project at least. ;) The blanket was made according to the Radiating Star Blanket pattern on Ravelry, and in addition to being really really super cute, it makes for great class knitting, because the math/counting is simple, and i can stop knitting at one point to write some notes, and then pick it up when I'm done and not lose a beat. Also, I really love stars both as a shape and as a motif, so this is a really great way to combine my love of stars with a really traditional, heirloom kind of design that still looks modern and cute for today. I also love that it's in orange, because I think pastels for babies are way, way overrated. I like making thing bright and happy, but also subdued to let the pattern show best, and this is a good compromise between the two with a bright pop of color that doesn't overshadow the lace.

In other news, I'm taking a phlebotomy course tues/thurs evenings, because the teaching track is just really... dead recently. Not a lot of places are looking, they don't offer benefits, and the pay is miserable, despite having multiple certifications in a variety of vital areas. I've always been interested in the healthcare industry, so while it may not be my dream job, I can at least use the increased pay and benefits to put myself through more teaching college, at the very least, or I can transition to the health field, depending on what the long-term growth is looking like. I really just want to be able to settle down, have some security in housing, employment, and personal healthcare, so moving into nursing of some type might let me do that. Plus, my wife and I have been really wanting to start our family, so we're both trying to move into more secure jobs. Right now she works for the county, so that's looking pretty good, but teaching... it's not what it used to be. I'm hoping that improves, but until such time as it does, if you need any blood tests done, I'll be able to get them done for you by the end of this school year. ;)

Recent projects

My homelessness put a damper on my online activities, but I've been keeping busy all the same.

I made the bamboo blanket by following this chart (ravelry link). I charted the frog myself, though I'm not especially happy with the outcome. The bamboo effect was done with a multiple of five pattern. I'd write up a pattern if anyone expresses an interest, it was actually super easy.

The dresses were made by following this lovely pattern (also a ravelry link) with the odds and ends of some yarns I had dyed. I think it turned out well, and I find the sweetest buttons to use for the blue one.
I'm working on another blanket right now, should have more pictures up by tomorrow.

The next thing I worked on was this Wraplan Cardigan (also a Ravelry link. If you don't have a ravelry account get one now!) which... I kind of rushed, so I'm not completely happy with the way it turned out. I'm planning on making another one soon to kind of get a "redo"