June's Here!

Hello Knitters.
First off, deepest apologies for the mega flake out this month.  Everything's fine, I just had one of those months that absolutely flew by.  The good news is that I am back and ready to knit!

What's keeping me busy?

For the lovely month of June, I have two patterns for you.  A beautiful lace pattern and a fun motif (that was originally intended for Earth Day).  So without further delay, onto the knitting!

The Trees

Trees from the front

This simple pattern is reversible depending on your preference!

Cast on 46 stitches

Border Rows:
Rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
Rows 2, 4: P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows:
Odd Rows 1-17: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K8, P1, K8, P2, K8, P1, K8 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Even Rows 2-18: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P8, K1, P8, K2, P8, K1, P8 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 19: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K7, P3, K7, P2, K7, P3, K7 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 20: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P7, K3, P7, K2, P7, K3, P7 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 21: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K6, P5, K6, P2, K6, P5, K6 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 22: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P6, K5, P6, K2, P6, K5, P6 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 23: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K5, P7, K5, P2, K5, P7, K5 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 24: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P5, K7, P5, K2, P5, K7, P5 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 25: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K4, P9, K4, P2, K4, P9, K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 26: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P4, K9, P4, K2, P4, K9, P4 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 27: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K4, P9, K3, P4, K3, P9, K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 28: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P5, K7, P4, K4, P4, K7, P5 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 29: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K5, P7, K3, P6, K3, P7, K5 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 30: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P6, K5, P4, K6, P4, K5, P6 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 31: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K6, P5, K3, P8, K3, P5, K6 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 32: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P7, K3, P4, K8, P4, K3, P7 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 33: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K13, P10, K13 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 34: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P13, K10, P13 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 35: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K12, P12, K12 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 36: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P12, K12, P12 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 37: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K13, P10, K13 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 38: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P13, K10, P13 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 39: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K14, P8, K14 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 40: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P14, K8, P14 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 41: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K15, P6, K15 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 42: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P15, K6, P15 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 43: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K16, P4, K16 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 44: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P16, K4, P16 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 45: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K36 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 46: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P36 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 47:  (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K36 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Border Rows
1, 3 5: K1, P1 across
2, 4: P1, K1 across

Bind off all stitches.

Reverse side!

Fern Lace

 This lovely lace motif is pretty easy, but keep an eye out for the YO* (found in Row 1)- it can be a bit tricky!  Make sure that after the YO* the yarn is in the proper placement to purl the next stitch.  If you need a refresher on lace check out this post (photo tutorial included)!

Cast on 46 stitches

Border Rows:
Rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
Rows 2, 4: P1, K1 across

Pattern Rows:
Row 1: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K4, (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K9, YO, K1, YO*, P2, YO, K1, YO, K9 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Even Rows 2-10: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P17, K2, P17 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Row 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)K4, (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K8, YO, K1, YO, K1, P2, K1, YO, K1, YO, K8 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Row 5: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K4 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K7, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2, K2, YO, K1, YO, K7 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Row 7: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K4 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K6, YO, K1, YO, K3, P2, K3, YO, K1, YO, K6 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Row 9: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K4 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K5, YO, K1, YO, K4, P2, K4, YO, K1, YO, K5 (Sl 1, k2tog, psso) K4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
 
Repeat these 10 rows until square is approx 9 inches from cast on edge.
Knit Border Rows:
1, 3, 5: P1, K1 across
2, 4: K1, P1 across

Bind off all stitches.

Close Up

 I hope you enjoy these squares- happy knitting!

April Showers Grow Into Flowers

Hello knitters!  I am so sorry for the delay!  As it stands my internet is still not cooperating, but I believe we've diagnosed the problem as a dead modem.  Now we just have to wait for the new gizmo to come in the mail and I can get back to wasting time important things.  I tell you what, I remember the days we didn't have this glorious invention, and now I can't imagine living without it (actually I can imagine it, but it would be a bleak and sad existence- haha)!

This month's square reminds me of planted rows in the garden.  Just as the rich soil starts to break apart and the little plants peak their heads out of the dirt to reach skyward.  Seems rather romantic, but that is the nature of spring.  As soon as the weather warms I spend hours pouring over gardening catalogs, comparing packets of seeds, and checking my wintered bulbs in the garage.  Once the seeds are planted, I get twitterpated waiting for the things to start growing.  I eagerly check the dirt (sometimes multiple times a day) to see if anything new has popped up.  So in the spirit of spring, I've decided to let this inspiration carry over into our knitting.  Enjoy!

Notes on the pattern:  There's a bit of simple cabling in this pattern.  If you need a refresher on how to cable, look here.
C2F: Slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to front of work.  Knit next stitch then knit stitch from cable needle.
C2B: Slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to back of work.  Knit next stitch then knit stitch from cable needle.

FURROWED ROWS

Cast on 44 stitches.
Rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1
Rows 2, 4: P1, K1

Pattern Rows (Pattern repeats over 3+1 stitches):
Row 1 and 3: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) K1 *P2, K1 repeat from * across row (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P1, *C2F, P1 repeat from * across row (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) P1 *C2B, P1 repeat from * across row (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Repeat these 4 rows until piece measures approx 9 inches

Close up- you can almost see the green shoots
peeking through!

If all goes well on the internet front, you'll be hearing from me again soon.  I'm aiming to get the patterns back up during the first half of the month.  Happy knitting and happy spring!

Oops!

Well, I'm sorry to say that my internet and computer are having a lover's quarrel at the moment.
As it stands, I can't stay connected long enough to get the pictures for this month's block onto the blog.  Hopefully, they will kiss and make up soon so I can get you the pattern for the month!
Until then, please forgive the delay. 

In the mean time our book for April is: Dragon Bones by Lisa See
Here's a bit about the book straight from the author's website:

Liu Hulan, an agent for China’s Ministry of Public Security, and her American husband, attorney David Stark, return to investigate murder and archaeological theft at the Three Gorges Dam, one of the most beautiful and unique places on earth. And also one of the most controversial. When completed, the Three Gorges Dam will be the most powerful dam ever built and the biggest project China has undertaken since the building of the Great Wall. Yet, the reservoir formed by the dam will inundate over 2,000 archaeological sites and displace over 2 million people.

Sounds like a good one!

My fingers are crossed that our internet issues will be resolved in the next day or two (I am writing this from my phone... what a drag but thank goodness for smart phones!).  If not, I will schedule some time at the local wi-fi spot to get the pictures up and the patterns onto Ravelry (hopefully by the end of the week).  Please check back!

March Square and Book

Hello knitters!  Sorry for the delay in this month's patterns.  We took a family vacation this past weekend and even though I had planned on having everything ready before we left, it was not meant to be.  As it happens, I was finishing the square as we were driving in the car.  I do think you will be pleased with this month's pattern though, as it is one of my favorite stitches!

But before we get down to business, it seems I owe you a book as well (Geez Louise!  I've really fallen behind this month)!  It is a pretty quick read (I finished it in a couple of days) and a very thoughtful story.  March's book is How To Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway.  The author's website is here.  There are reviews, excerpts, and even a neat interview video with the author talking about her inspiration for writing the book.  Here's a bit about the book pulled directly from the author's website:

HOW TO BE AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE is about the strong pull of tradition, and the lure and cost of breaking free of tradition. Set in California and Japan, it tells the story of Shoko, a Japanese woman who married an American GI as a way of improving her and her family’s fortunes, moved with him to the States, and tried to learn how to be a proper American housewife; and her grown daughter Sue, who finds her own life as an American housewife is not at all what her mother would have wanted for her, or even what Sue had hoped for herself. When Shoko’s illness prevents her from making a long-awaited trip to Japan to be reunited with her brother, she asks Sue to go in her place, and the trip changes both women’s lives in unexpected ways. With beautifully delineated characters and unique entertaining glimpses into Japanese and American family life and aspirations, this is also a moving mother and daughter story. Interspersed with quotations from Shoko’s guide to being an American housewife, this is a warm and engaging novel full of surprising insight.

Sourced directly from the author's website.

Alrighty then, on to the main event!  March's square of the month is called Raindrops and it incorporates the drop stitch technique!

How do you drop a stitch?  I know, I know.  You have been trying to avoid dropping stitches since you learned how to knit.  And now I'm asking you to do this on purpose?  Have no fear!  We can do it, and make a really neat square out of it.  The thing you want to make sure when you're dropping stitches, is that the drop lines up with a yarn over.  Why?  Well that little eyelet will stop the drop in its tracks preventing it from running all the way down to your cast on edge.  And dropping the stitch itself is no big deal.  You simply remove it from your needle and watch it unravel down to the eyelet.  Let's take a look.

 

Knit in pattern until you get to the "drop stitch"

(in this pattern it is always the middle stitch of a P3 section)

See how it lines up with the yarn over a few rows down?

 

Remove the ''drop stitch'' from your needles.

 

Don't panic as you help that stitch unravel

down to the yarn over!

 

The drop stitch makes neat loops down to the yarn over, then stops!

Yea, you did it!

 

Raindrops

Cast on 42 stitches

Rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across

Rows 2, 4: P1, K1 across

Set up Row: (You only do this row once.  This is so you have a yarn over to anchor your drop stitches)

(P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) *K1, P1, yo, P1, K2, P2, K1 repeat from * across to last 5 stitches (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Pattern Rows:

Rows 1, 3, 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *P1, K2, P2, K3, P1 repeat from * across to last 5 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Rows 2, 4: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) *K1, P3, K2, P2, K1 repeat from * across to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Row 6: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) *K1, P1, drop stitch, P1, K2, P1, yo, P1, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Rows 7, 9, 11: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *P1, K3, P2, K2, P1 repeat from * across (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)

Rows 8, 10: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) *K1, P2, K2, P3, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Row 12: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) *K1, P1, yo, P1, K2, P1, drop stitch, P1, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Repeat these 12 rows until approx 9 inches from cast on row ending with either row 6 or 12.  On your final row (6 or 12), omit the yarn overs.

(example- row 6 would be: (border) *K1, P1, drop stitch, P1, K2, P2, K1 repeat from *(border)

Border rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across

Border rows 2, 4: P1, K1 across

Bind off all stitches loosely. 

Close up: Raindrops from the front

Close up: Raindrops from the back- 

looks pretty neat too!

In April we'll have two patterns!  Look for them at the beginning of the month.

Happy knitting!

~Lindsey

PS- If you haven't checked it out yet, we have a group on ravelry.com called Year of Swatches!

February's Squares

Hello friends!  I hope you enjoyed January's square.  I thought it was a nice and simple way to ease you into 2012.  This month we'll have two squares to knit.  Pick your favorite or knit 'em both, it's up to you!

Waffle Stitch

This is a really easy pattern that is striking on both sides!  There are four rows in this pattern, and it is a 3 stitch repeat. 

Cast on 43 stitches
Border Rows 1-5: K1, P1 across

Pattern rows:
Row 1: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, P1 repeat from * to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, P2 repeat from * to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, P1 repeat from * to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row4: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Knit across to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Repeat these 4 rows until square is approx 9 inches then repeat Border Rows 1-5.  Bind off all stitches.

Waffle Stitch Close-up

Reversible Heart

Here's a sweet heart just in time for Valentine's Day!  Both sides look good, so either can be the ''right side''.  Not interested in making this part of your blanket?  Knit it in cotton to make a sweet dishcloth!  Please note that row numbers in bold are repeated.

Cast on 44 stitches

Row 1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
Row 2, 4: P1, K1 across
Row 6, 8: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) Knit to last 5 sts (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl to last 6 sts (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 9: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P16, K2, P16 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 10: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K15, P4, K15 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 11: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P14, K6, P14 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 12: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K13, P8, K13 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 13: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P12, K10, P12 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 14: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K11, P12, K11 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 15: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P10, K14, P10 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 16: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K9, P16, K9 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 17: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P8, K18, P8 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 18: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K8, P18, K8 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 19: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P7, K20, P7 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 20: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K6, P22, K6 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 21: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P6, K22, P6 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 22: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K5, P24, K5 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 23: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P5, K24, P5 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 24: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K4, P26, K4 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 25: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P4, K26, P4 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 26: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K3, P28, K3 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 27: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P3, K28, P3 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 28: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K2, P30, K2 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 29: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P2, K30, P2 (K1, P1, K1, P1, 1K)
Rows 30, 32, 34, 36: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K1, P32, K1 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Rows 31, 33, 35, 37: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P1, K30, P1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 38: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K2, P30, K2 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 39: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P1, K15, P2, K15, P1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 40: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K3, P11, K6, P11, K3 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 41: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) P5, K7, P10, K7, P5 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 42: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K7, P3, K14, P3, K7 (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 43, 45: (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1) purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 44: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) knit across (P1, K1, P1, K1, P1)
Row 46, 48, 50: K1, P1 across
Rows 47, 49: P1, K1 across

Love on the flip-side!

 Special thanks to my Valentine, as he helped me type out that behemoth of a square :)

Even

After

All this time

The sun never says

To the earth

"You owe me."

Look

What happens

With love like that.

It lights the

Whole

Sky.

-Hafiz (fourteenth century poet)

 

A Tale of Two Cities

February's book is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of dispair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way-- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being recieved, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
Introduction to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

No doubt you've heard it before, perhaps you've even read it (I did, in high school).  Never has a statement more captured hope, realism, cynicism or tragedy.  A Tale of Two Cities was written in 1859 as a series of 31 weekly installments by Charles Dickens.  It is a story set in London and Paris during the French Revolution.  Over 200 million copies of this story have been sold.

Here's a bit about the book (from the book's widipedia page):


"The novel depicts the plight of the French peasantry demoralized by the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, the corresponding brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and many unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same time period. It follows the lives of several protagonists through these events. The most notable are Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. Darnay is a French once-aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution despite his virtuous nature, and Carton is a dissipated British barrister who endeavours to redeem his ill-spent life out of his unrequited love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette."
 
If you follow this link you can download a free copy of the book to either your computer or e-reader from Google Books .  I hope you enjoy A Tale of Two Cities.

Only  three days left to vote on our knitted sampler.  What strikes your fancy- lace, cables, or texture? February's patterns will be released on Wednesday the 15th... see ya then!