Month: Nov 2023

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Knit-A-Long Baby Blanket: Week 13

Posted on by Jackie B

This week our KAL designer, Yvonne has given us a beautiful leaf design featuring cables, which you can see at the top of the picture above.

First of all lets look at how we got on with last week’s pattern (Yvonne chose a lavender shade for her prototype blanket

L’s was in pink

A loved hers so much she did extra rows

My colour scheme meant this section was in white on my version.

This week’s pattern looks quite complicated at first, but we’ve had a go and asked Yvonne lots of questions, so there are some extra hints which we hope will help.

Yvonne writes,”Hi guys I hope you all managed last week’s waves and may I suggest that the pattern is read carefully especially this week, as it’s a bit tricky again. I think it looks beautiful and is usually worked on larger scale and done like a basket weave pattern meaning the blocks are alternating but we are only doing 10 rows so no need to worry.”

“The pattern is sometimes called leaf stitch and consists of alternating panels of 7 stitches, one set of panels includes twists and in this version cable needles are used to achieve this. Within the four rows of the pattern each 7 stitch group increases then decreases back to 7.”

Week 13

Abbreviations for this week are:-
YO yarn over
SlP slip 1 st purlwise 
K3 tog  knit 3 together 
Tbl  through back of loop
K2tog knit 2 together 

Remember that you begin with a total 141 stitches (including the 8 stitch border at the edges) – so the pattern is worked over the 125 stitches between those garter stitch borders.

Row 1. K3, *(YO, S1P, K1) 3times, YO, S1P, K2, (K1,YO,K1  into next st, K1, (K1,YO,K1) into next st, K2). Repeat from* 8 times, then (YO, S1P, K1) 3 times, YO, S1P, K3.

Row 2. P3, (K2tog, P1) 3 times, K2tog, *P2, slip next 7 sts purlwise, carrying yarn across front (wrong side), P2, (K2tog, P1) 3 times, K2tog, repeat from* 8 times, to last 3 stitches, P3.  

Row 3. K3, *(YO, S1P, K1) 3 times, YO, S1P, Put next 2sts on cable needle leave at back of work K3 tog, K2 from cable needle, K1, put next 3 sts on cable needle leave at front of work, K2, K3tog tbl off cable needle, repeat from * 8 timesto last 10 stitches, (YO, S1P, K1)  3 times,YO, S1P,  K3.


Row 4. P3 , (K2tog, P1) 3 times, K2tog,  *P7, (K2tog, P1) 3 times, K2tog. Repeat from * 8 times to last  3csts P3.


These 4 rows form pattern so repeat 1-4 again.

 
Row 9. K3, *(YO, S1P, K1) rep 3 times YO, S1P, K7, rep from * 8 times, then (YO, S1P, K1) rep 3 times YO, S1P, to last 3 sts K3.


Row 10 as row 4.

That’s all there is to it 
Hope you manage this pattern ok so until next time happy knitting.
Yvonne

I’m enjoying this one very much. After a few issues with the last one I’m reading the pattern and counting very carefully

 A couple of hints that might help: – look out for the asterisks (*) and also, to keep track of the pattern, use stitch markers at * and after every 14 stitches than make up the pattern repeat

Meanwhile the blanket is growing!

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More Crochet Teaching On The Way

Posted on by Jackie B

Last month I taught my first crochet workshop at Amble Pin Cushion. You can read more about it here. Initially I’d agreed to do this as a one-off and see how it went before I decided to do more. I ended up really enjoying the afternoon and the group taking part were absolutely lovely…..I’m now just about ready for my next workshops on Wednesday – this time I’m running one in the morning, and repeating it in the afternoon – there are still a few places left before the list closes tomorrow afternoon. You can watch the video I made about the course here

This time I’ll be teaching how to crochet either a scarf or a cowl, using a simple pattern of trebles. This course is suitable for beginners.

I chose this, crocheted in rows because I know this can be difficult when you first start with crochet, specifically where to place the first and last stitch of each row.

The treble stitch is great for quick-t0-crochet items: it grows quickly – it’s a great opportunity for beginners to perfect their treble stitches in this very simple pattern.

I strongly believe that simple doesn’t have to be dull, so I’m using a variegated yarn – the different colours in the yarn do all the work to make the design.

I used Stylecraft “Knit Me Crochet Me” in Nebula – a grey/blue main colour, alternating with lengths of rainbow colours. It’s an acrylic/wool blend double knitting yarn and feels very soft, without being too fluffy. Of course there are loads of different variegated yarns on the market and most would make great scarves (maybe not the harsher wools, which could be a bit scratchy to wear round your neck!). All will give a completely different result however, even using the same basic pattern of treble stitches, depending on the size of the colour repeats.

I like to give my students some handy hints to help them up their crochet game – this time I’m going to include the mysteries of the ball band – decoding the information on the back like dye lots, gauge and yardage, so there’ll be plenty to talk about as well as the practical crochet tuition.

With just a few more info packs to print out, I’m almost ready to go!

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Knit-a-Long Baby Blanket: Week 12

Posted on by Jackie B

Before we look at the pattern Yvonne has set us for this week let’s look at how a couple of the blankets are getting on. This is R’s lovely shades of pink blanket -she added a cream accent this week.

…and my blanket, which used fawn yarn for this one, here in close up

Yvonne had explained how this one, if knitted over a bigger area forms pleats like an accordion. You can see this just starting, even over the 10 rows we knitted,

And now for this week.

Yvonne writes, “Hi guys. Hope you’re all well and enjoying this beautiful blanket.”

” This week is another lacy one but it also resembles waves and I expect with the weather we have had these will be less choppy haha! – Not too difficult I hope. We have had the abbreviations before which are 
YO = yarn over the needle
K2tog = knit 2 together 

Here we go.”

Week 12

Row 1. K
Row 2. P
Row 3. *(k2tog) 3 times, (YO, k1) 6 times (k2tog) 3 times. Repeat from * to end
Row 4. K
Repeat rows 1-4 again then 1 & 2

That’s all there is to it and please remember your garter st border at each end.

Until next week, happy knitting.

Yvonne x

I’ve had a go and it helped to remember that over the course of the pattern you need to work equal numbers of k2 tog, (which decreases a stitch) and YO k1, which increases a stitch, I love these waves!

Keep sending in those photos!

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Knit-a-Long Baby Blanket: Week 11

Posted on by Jackie B

Before the next set of KAL instructions, here’s a round up of our efforts with the Week 10 arrowheads pattern. Yvonne’s prototype version is in blue below.

Next, we have L’s salmon pink….

…A’s fawn…

R’s pink….

…and a close up of my white stripe.

We were all relieved that this pattern was easier than the intarsia in the previous double pattern and pleased it turned out so well – it’s a really effective design.

This week, blanket designer, Yvonne, writes, “Well guys, it’s that time again, ready for the next part. Again, it’s all about the counting but setting up the pattern is easy enough. Just take care from row 5. There are no special abbreviations, nitting,just k and p.

So eyes down and here we go.

Week 11

Row 1. Remember your edges and then k5, p5, to end of row.
Row 2. P5, k5, to end of row.
Row 3 & 4 rep rows 1 & 2.
Row 5. K1, p5, k5, end with p4.
Row 6. K4, p5, k5, to last st p1.
Row 7 & 8 rep rows 5 & 6.
Row 9 & 10 rep rows 1 & 2.

This pattern, if done on a bigger scale, looks like a concertina but unfortunately 10 rows just starts it off.

Have fun and see you all next week.

Happy knitting 
Yvonne

Some of us have already completed this pattern, and R is first to send a photo of hers. It looks great!

How are you getting on with your blanket? Keep sending the photos.

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Knit-a-Long Baby Blanket: Week 10

Posted on by Jackie B

After last week’s double helping of knitting pattern I did suggest that Yvonne had a week off so we could all catch up. She’s happy to carry on, so you’ll find her next pattern later on in this post.

It’s been quite challenging to do the week 8-9 section. How did you find it? I think it was the combination of intarsia for the words KNIT and CHAT combined with a the central cup and saucer design in plain/purl that stumped us. There are a few things you might want to try that may help. You could use stitch markers to show the position of the 3 sections (KNIT, teacup and CHAT). I find it easier to work from a chart so I tried transferring the teacup design to graph paper – it didn’t look quite the same as Yvonne’s (my saucer is shallower) but I got through it.

Also, if you are getting in a tangle with separate balls of wool for the intarsia colour work you could use one yarn and use plain/purl to work all the designs. Here’s how some of the blankets are looking after the jumbo weeks 8-9 section.

L worked hers in one colour using plain/purl for the words.

R’s pink and white showed up well.

A’s and mine are in pastels so the colour contrast is more subtle.

And now for the next instalment. Yvonne writes, “Here we go – it’s that time of week again when you are all waiting for the next pattern. This one is a bit easier. Initting,t’s called vertical arrow panel and is a bit lacy.

Week 10

Abbreviations are:

Yf yarn forward or round needle 
Sl 2tog slip 2 stitches together off one needle to the other
P2sso pass the 2 slip stitches over

Remember 8 border sts at each end.
Row 1. K9, (Yf, k4, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k4, Yf, k13), rep 4 times then Yf, k4, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k4, Yf, k9
Row 2. And all even rows p.
Row 3. K10, (Yf, k3, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k3, Yf, k15), rep 4 times then Yf, k3, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k3, Yf, k10.
Row 5. K11, (Yf, k2, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k2, Yf, k17), rep 4 times then Yf, k2, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k2, Yf, k11.
Row 7. K12, (Yf, k1, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k1, Yf, k19), rep 4 times then Yf, k1, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k1, Yf, k12.
Row 9. K13, (Yf, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, Yf, k21) rep 4 times then Yf, sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k13.
Row 10. P


That’s all there is to it. Happy knitting guys and until next week have fun.
Yvonne 

Isn’t Yvonne doing a great job designing this?

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Crochet Class

Posted on by Jackie B

I mentioned in a recent post that I’d been crocheting lots of granny squares to prepare for teaching my very first crochet workshop. I spent a while getting prepared.

Last week I was joined at Amble Pin Cushion by 6 lovely ladies – my students for the afternoon. They all worked really hard and the two hour beginners class flew by – we could have made it longer really!

By the end they had made real progress on their granny squares and I encouraged them to keep going and practice at home.

Today I got an email from one of the participants with a photo attached – she’s been working away and wanted to show me her completed square. She’s made a great job of it.

I always said when I was asked to teach these workshops that I would see how this first one went before I committed to more, but I loved doing it and the students seemed to enjoy it too. I’ve agreed to continue and I’m now planning my next one for the end of November.