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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Bringing it all Together

Hello knitters!  Well we've reached the end of the year.  You probably have some amount of squares you'd like to make into something larger.  But how to do it?  This post is all about finishing your project, whether it is a scarf or a blanket, use these techniques to put it all together.

Firstly, lay out your squares how you want your final project to look.  This is really important because you want to know what it'll look like and minimize mistakes.  Once you've sewn them together, it's pretty hard to un-sew them.  Notice colors (if you've used multiple colors) and patterns.  Make sure all the patterns are facing the same way.  Move the squares around until you've got it like you want it. 

After you've laid out your project to your liking, its time to put it all together.  There are a couple of ways you can sew them together.  My recommendation (and the one I'm going to show you) is to use overcasting or whip stitch method.  Mattress stitch is a handy technique to know and would also work for this (especially if you plan on making garments some day- they are almost always seamed using mattress stitch).

WHIP STITCH or OVERCASTING

This is really quite simple and is a common technique used in many types of sewing.  
After laying out the squares, 

take the two blocks you want to sew together and hold them right sides together.  


Make sure the patterns are facing the right way.  Thread your tapestry needle with a length of yarn and starting in one corner work through the edge of the squares front to back, front to back, front to back all the way across the edge of the two squares.  I would recommend using a length of yarn that matches one of your two squares.  It doesn't matter which one, the sewing will blend into blanket well with this method.

Sew the ends of the yarn back into the squares.  Repeat with your next square. 

Just as in quilting, it's best to sew complete rows first and then sew the rows together. 

Happy sewing!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Hello all!  Our December book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and Anna Quindlen. 
Here's a little bit on the book (found on books.google.com) :



The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

I hope you enjoy the story!
Look for a post in the next week that gives you tips on how to finish your blanket!
~Happy Knitting~

Friday, December 2, 2011

December Swatches

Hello Knitters!
Well, December has finally arrived!  Did you make it?  I can't believe that we've done so much this year, and I can't wait until next year!  This month's swatches look back on the entire year.  There is one texture pattern, one lace pattern (bobbles included!), and a beautiful cable.  So exciting! 
I hope you've enjoyed this year's swatches and I hope you will join me in January for 2012's Year of Swatches!
Happy knitting and warm regards-
-Lindsey

Beginner
 
Chain Link Fence

Cast on 42 stitches
Border Rows
1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4:  P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows
Row 1 (and all odd numbered rows): (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) Knit (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K1, slip 1, repeat to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)Row 4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Slip 1, K1, repeat to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 4 rows until square is approx 9 inches.
Knit border rows 1-5
Bind off all stitches.

Easy

Bobbles and Lace
MB- Make Bobble: Knit into front, back, and front of stitch (makes 3 sts).  Turn work, K3. Turn work, P3. Turn work, slip 1 stitch, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over.
yo- Yarn over (also known as yarn forward)
k3tog- Knit 3 sts together as one

Cast on 38 stitches
Border Rows:
1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4: P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows
Row 1: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K8, yo, k3tog, yo, K3, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo K11 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 (and all even numbered rows): (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K7, yo, k3tog, yo, K5, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K10 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5:  (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K6, MB, K5, yo, k3tog, yo, K1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K9 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)                
Row 7: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K11, yo, k3tog, yo, K3, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K8 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K10, yo, k3tog, yo, K5, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, MB, K6 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K9, yo, k3tog, yo, K1, yo, (sl 1, k2tog, psso), yo, K12 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 12: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl to last 5 stitches (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 12 stitches until the square is approx 9 inches.
Repeat border rows 1-5.
Bind off all stitches.


Intermediate
 Honeycomb Cable
C4B- Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work.  Knit 2 stitches then knit the 2 from the cable needle.
C4F- Slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work.  Knit 2 stitches then knit the 2 from the cable needle. 

Cast on 42 stitches
Border rows
1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4:  P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows
Row 1: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) (C4B, C4F) 4 times (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) knit across to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 5: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) (C4F, C4B) 4 times (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 6: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 7: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) knit across to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 8: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) purl across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 8 rows until square is approx 9 inches, ending after either row 1 or row 5.
Repeat border rows 1-5
Bind off all stitches.