Tiny Ted #90

Have been using my embroidery machine to do some more charity stuff.  These tiny teds are intended for the local visiting nurses group at a metro hospital.  As mentioned before probably, they like to bring a little gift to the new mothers and babies.

This is a free design obtainable from https://www.kreativekiwiembroidery.co.nz/
The owner doesn't specify that your teds be for charity, but it would be nice if you made some for your local hospital.   I use the 5 x 7 hoop.  They go pretty fast and use up those little scraps of fabric you can't bear to toss.  I've made every color combo imaginable and most have an applique nose.  Goes faster if you don't do the applique, but it does add to the design.  I bought my polyester fiber fill (32 oz.) from Amazon for $10 and it has lasted through 5 throw pillows and most of my teds with lots to spare.  Ted's finished dimensions are 4.5" from tips of hands and 5.5" tall.  Good size for a baby's little hands. 

I always wash my fabric first with laundry detergent that has no perfume, because you know he'll inevitably end up in a baby's mouth.  Still, it's an incredibly easy and fast pattern.
PS, I did clip corners, but maybe I could have done more on this one.  O well, is still cute.

Diana Sullivan's Fingerless Mitts

This is one of my favorite patterns.  It's a free one on Diana's blog:
http://diananatters.blogspot.com/2013/12/decembers-video-fingerless-mitts.html
I'm surprised it was almost 7 years ago.

Because of the yarn I used (Mary Lue's Wintuck) I found I needed to loosen the tension and add 2 stitches in width of the cuff, hand and thumb. Otherwise, I followed the pattern for stitch type and row count.  They fit nicely. In the scan it looks like the thumb pooches out but actually when worn fits snug to the thumb.  The pattern is easy and I think clever.
I'm making items that can be used as Christmas presents in a group home.  
I'm making items that can be used as Christmas presents in a group home.  
I've sewn and embroidered 30 zip pouches, which I'll photograph one of these days.  Other than gardening, crafts are my main occupation.  Waiting for a vaccination like everyone else before venturing out too much.

Cute premie hat using dishcloth pattern

Just trying different things so I don't get totally bored.  This one turned out nice, I think.  I used the traditional dishcloth pattern, double high, on the main part of the hat.

After the hem (described below) I did two plain rows, the last to set up the tuck stitch.  It accidentally added a little decorative band.  Because tuck stitches are wider than tall I did 60 rows to get a decent height.  Can't judge the height while the piece is on the machine. 
This might look ok as an adult sized hat too.

That's the pattern in case you didn't know what I was talking about.

More MK Premie hats done with skinny yarn

I think I am up to 40 now.  They really do go fast and it's a nice project to seam while watching a movie.

These are done with a built-in pattern in the Brother 970, #47.  Any pattern will do.  I just like the Nordic look of this one.  The white cuffed one is 8" in circumference and 4" in height with the cuff turned up. The blue cuffed one is 9.5" in circumference and 5" including cuff in height with the cuff not turned up,  Funny how switching the main and contrast yarns give such a different look.  I'm really not too interested in the sizes because the nurses will figure out who fits which one.  Feel free to add or subtract stitches and rows.

A few years ago I purchased several cones of really skinny yarn.  I think I thought I was going to use it for double bed jacquard.  Sadly learning that technique is still on my bucket list.  So the size of the yarn is why the gauge is what it is.  These are done on a standard gauge machine.

Directions- in case you have some really skinny yarn too. For the blue main yarn version.

 Gauge 8 stitches and 10 rows = 1 inch on the patterned portion, not including cuff.

1.  Cast on 72 stitches with waste yarn every other needle by knitting one row.  Hang the cast on comb and some claw weights.

2.  Pull the other needles to work and knit about 5 more rows of waste yarn. (I like to use a loose tension for the waste yarn and for the first row of main yarn so that the stitches are easy to see and pick up.)

 3. Change to main yarn, Knit one row at a loose tension then change to tension 3 , knit as many rows as you want for half the cuff.  I did 14.  Change to Tension 5 and knit 14 rows.

4.  Remove the comb and  weights.  Hang the hem.  Put some claw weights on again.

6.  Set up the fairisle pattern.  Knit 40 rows at Tension 7 and cut a 12" yarn tail.

7.  Take the stitches off on this yarn tail.  Cinch up the stitches.  If you think the hole is too large, sew across a few times north- south and east- west.  Then mattress stitch the seam.

  I didn't put any pom pom or bow on the top of these.  I thought they looked fine as is.

Remove the waste yarn and you're done.  Aren't they cute?  Somehow little tiny knit things make you smile.

Notes:  By drastically changing tension on the hem and also the main part of the hat you have a nice hem that lays flat,  I don't reduce the number of stitches on the last row to save time.  It looks ok to me.  If you want, you could decrease the stitches across.  Although I like wool yarn, acrylic seems a better choice for laundering and softness.

Here is the stitch pattern.It would work with a 24 st punch card as well,

Are you a machine embroiderer?

I always say, you could be embroidering for 100 years with free machine embroidery designs downloaded from the internet.  Some freebies are better than others, of course.  Can't stop collecting them.  And I confess I purchase more than I probably should.  It is an addictive hobby like collecting yarn. 😊

This is one of the cutest freebies.  You can download it here:

https://omlembroidery.com/product-category/ith-in-the-hoop-bookmarks/

This husband and wife team also do Youtube videos teaching digitizing and giving instructions on how to stitch their projects.

I did this bookmark for my grandson.  Putting together a bunch of little things for his Easter basket.  Not in the directions, but I stuck in some stiffener (left over stabilizer) on both front  and back between fabric layers  to give it some body.  This is the back side:

My only complaint is that sometimes the satin stitching isn't wide enough and you have to get dangerously close to the stitches when you trim the fabric.  But, should I complain about a free design?  Probably not.  If you have an embroidery machine, give this site a try.  Gotta think of things to keep oneself busy inside these days!

Twisted Headbands for Babies

With this self-imposed quarantine, I have been getting a lot of sewing and knitting done.  I do wonder what people who have no hobbies are doing to keep themselves occupied.  I confess I also have watched a ton of movies and Youtube tutorials.
Since I am doing baby things for charity this year, I wanted to do some twisted headbands.  Cute or what!

These are all 1 x 1 rib on the standard gauge machine.  I started small (30 st x 70 rows) and for the succeeding ones added a few stitches and rows each time.  This is really skinny yarn, so I had to use T 4/3.   The smallest is 9" in circumference and the largest is 12" in circumference.  Probably premie to newborn.  They are nice and stretchy.

(The scanner let in some light on the left side---no variation in color in real life.)

These go sooooooooo fast.  I made these 4 in about an hour and then sewed the ends together while watching MONK.  (Must have not been aware of the series when it first came out on tv.)  I get a kick out of that actor.  He does a great job.  Wonder how many people can relate on some level.  I think we all have our oddities.

Anyway, if you do some charity knitting, I recommend doing these twisted headbands.  Very cute on babies.

Twisted Headband

I don't think I look that great in headbands, but I just had to try this one.  Check out Itmakesyousmile on Ravelry.  She has good directions and some examples.  I used my Brother 970 standard with ribber, but you could design your own==stockinette, tuck, fairisle, slip, etc.  I just didn't want to bother with a seam up the back.
Here's the skinny on the one I made:
(I made the smaller one, but next will make the larger.)

It knits up really fast and a little longer to twist and seam.  But, not too bad.  (That's a scan.  Looks much nicer in person, of course.)  If you have trouble with the twist, there are videos on Youtube.