Category: Knitting

DIY Friday: One-Day Armwarmers

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Remember my friend who really likes purple? Well, her birthday was at the end of October. I still had (have) a ridiculous amount of that yarn, so I worked up a quick pair of armwarmers that, as the title states, only took a day to make. In fact, it took less than a day because I stopped working on it to go shopping for a few hours.

I’m not going to post the whole pattern in the body of this post, but click here to download the pattern in PDF format.

The gloves have knit 2, purl 2 ribbing at the top and the bottom, with the body worked in stockinette with shaping so it isn’t as bulky at the wrist as if it were knit straight. There is a thumb gusset, and the instructions for opposite gussets are included. But you could just as easily make the two gloves with the gusset on the same side because there is no patterning on either side. But making the gussets on opposite sides of the gloves makes it easier to keep track of while working both at the same time. At least it worked that way for me.

If you make these, let me know. I would love to see pictures. You can find the info on this pattern here on Ravelry. Also, let me know if you have any trouble with downloading, or notice any errors in the pattern.

Sleep Deprived

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Or, the laziest DIY Friday to date. Because a button sewing tutorial wasn’t lazy enough.

I have been awake pretty much since yesterday morning. Because my brain likes to sabotage my sleep when I have to be awake early. I got a bit of sleep, but only in 30 minute spurts. I know because I woke up and checked the clock about every half hour last night.

I’ve also been slightly busy this week working on computer things in the afternoon and so I didn’t make the thing I’ve been somewhat planning to make this week.

I did make a coaster yesterday, but technically it is a swatch for a secret project so I can’t tell much about it. I can say I made it using Wool of the Andes Superwash that I got from KnitPicks when they were offering a free ball to try a few months back. The colorway is Noble Heather.

Here is the DIY portion of today’s ramble:

Basic Coaster:
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn
Size 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles
Scissors
Yarn Needle
Instructions:
Cast on 24 stitches.
Knit 4 rows.
W(rong) S(ide) row: K2, P20, K2
R(ight) S(ide) row: K24
Continue alternating WS and RS rows until piece measures 3.5 inches, ending with a WS row.
Knit 3 rows.
Bind off.
Cut yarn, weave in ends.

Very simple, no? I’ve decided I need to make a couple coasters to have around my room since I have a coffee maker next to the end of my bed. It makes it easy when I have to get up 30 minutes earlier than normal after having slept exactly none the night before.

A Minty Hat

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Because doesn’t that pattern in those colors make you think of mint leaves?

This is the Zooey by Cassandra Dominick. I made it from doubled fingering weight superwash wool yarn I picked up in Paris this summer. I used US size 9 needles for the body and size 6 for the ribbing.

Okay, technical stuff out of the way, this hat was super easy and quick to knit. Also the yarn I used was super soft, so that’s a plus. I actually “turned the pattern around” by knitting from the top down because I wasn’t sure if I would have enough, but I only used one ball of the main color and about a fifth of the ball of each contrasting color. I’m thinking matching finger-less gloves out of single weight may be coming about soon. Well, soon-ish. I have a ton of other things in line in my mind before I can start yet another project.

Now I only have to wait another two months for it to be cold enough to wear this…