Oops

Have to correct something I said yesterday. I implied that the directions for the coat sleeves didn't match the finished item. Well, to be truthful, it was I who changed the pattern. I forgot! (Old age is full of these little surprises.) I remember thinking the sleeve hem should/could match the bottom of the coat so did fnr. And that's why it flares. But, I think the result is cute. Just had to fess up!

American Girl Doll's Little Red Coat

So, this is how I occupied my time today. My sister-in-law asked me to make some clothes for her significant other's grand daughter's new doll. I used Charlene Schafer's "Complete Wardrobe for American Girl Dolls". There are some cute items in it. I have to say, though, that Charlene could use a proof reader. The book contains some funny little typos, like the instruction to make 3 button holes and sew on 4 buttons. Not so funny, giving two different tensions for the same operation. She has you making a full needle rib hems, which inevitably flip up. Much fiddling with less than good results, in my opinion. I thought it would be better to do a hung hem, just stockinette. If you did the outside at a slightly larger tension or with one more row than the inside of the hem, it would look good. The sleeves aren't supposed to flare out in the pattern, but changing from fnr to 2 x 2 rib makes them look ruffled. Cute, but I don't think the picture of the completed coat looks the same. I'll have to double check that.

What I do like is the bodice. Red is hard to photograph, but changing to 2 x 2 rib makes it pull in for a more fitted look. A little beret matches the coat, which I haven't knit yet. Well, I hope she likes it. Here are some more views:

Maybe I'll make her a 2 x 2 ribbed scarf. That would be easy enough to do.

Puppy Paw Preservers

PPP'ers (Puppy Paw Preservers)

By Mar Heck ©2010

Never thought I'd find myself doing such an odd thing, but here they are. Our Keeshond, our third child, loves the cold weather. The colder, the better. We've been experiencing 17-20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit this winter. Never mind the wind chill. She runs outside, does her biz, rolls in the snow a bunch of times, then spreads herself full length on the iciest spot she can find. She doesn't know when to quit and her paws are suffering. So--------I thought I'd make her some pittens (mittens for her paws) or PPP'ers (can't decide which name I like better) and learn some more about my Silver Reed 860 midgauge at the same time. I started with the cuff, made some eyelets so I could have a drawstring to keep them on her legs, then knit the mitten part circular, decreasing for the tip.

This is Gertie---the cold loving Keeshond. I guess with all that fur, you can see why she doesn't mind our Arctic weather. The pads of her paws are another story, however. Here's the pattern.

Machine: Silver Reed 860 midgauge with ribber

Yarn: Mary Lou's Schuss Plus, 100% wool, a light worsted weight about 150 grams

Gauge: At T 6/6 for mitt, 6 st and7 rows to one inch

Finished size: 6.5" long and 3.5 inches wide including ribbing. Gertie is a 40 lb mid sized dog. (Not as big as she looks under all that fur.) You may need to adjust up or down for your pooch.

Directions:

Cuff---ewrap cast on for 1 x 1 rib (or use your manual's cast on) and knit 16 rows of ribbing at T 3/3 over Left 21-Right 20 on main bed. Transfer rib stitches to main bed, knit 2 rows with regular carriage. Transfer every other stitch to neighboring needle to make eyelets. Keep emptied needles in work, knit 2 rows. Put half the stitches on hold, machine to hold, take other half off on waste yarn. Change to T 6/6. Don't cut yarn.

Mitt---Set your machine to knit circularly. (Consult your manual.) Carriage will be on the right. Do a free pass to get it to the left where the yarn end will end up. Fold the cuff so that you can hang the half on waste yarn onto the ribber. RC 000, Knit 33 rows. Decrease one stitch each side, both beds with a 2 prong tool. (Move one stitch over, keeping the edge stitch the same.) Decrease down to 8 stitches on main bed. Cut main yarn with a 10" tail for seaming. Keeping the circular settings, knit 18 rows waste yarn. Remove from machine and kitchener stitch the toe stitches shut. Hide yarn end. Seam the side of the cuff with a mattress stitch.

I Cord--- Cast on 3 stitches with contrasting yarn (just for fun), set machine to knit one way and slip the other. Knit 260 rows. Bind off. Tie a knot in one end and weave it in and out of the eyelet rows. Tie a knot in the other end and make a nice bow. Your dog will be grateful, just as the gorgeous Gert is.

Snowy times

Due to flu/bronchitis/colds at our house, I've been awol from the blog and most other things too! We had a fairly substantial snow storm, guaranteeing a white Christmas. Here's the view out our front door:

What we see out the back:

And the back deck:




The pictures don't make it look as fierce as it is. When we knew the storm was coming, we stocked up on provisions. Basically we stayed inside for 5 days and had some good times together as a family.

Now that I'm pretty much back to health, I'll be knitting again. Here is wishing a Happy New Year to you. Hope there is lots of knitting for you in 2010!

Free Pattern for child's earflap hat on the midgauge

As you can see, I'm using up a cone of wool for my charity knitting. Here's another really easy midgauge pattern for you. Once again, I hope you donate to the cause of your choice.
Machine: LK 150, KX 350, or SR 860
Yarn: Lt worsted abt 3.5 ounces
Tension: 5 st x 7 rows at T 7
Sizes: child’s sm (med, lg)
Note: when making the ear flaps, don’t wrap the end needles. Unwrap those that wrap ---the yarn will be on top. You will make little holes that aid in folding the doubled flap so that it lies flat.



Directions:
Cast on over 71 (81,91) needles with waste yarn and knit a few rows. With main yarn T7 knit to RC 12 (14,16).
Make earflaps- Put 7(9,9) needles on right in holding position, next 17 (19,22) in working position and the rest in holding position. Cut yarn, set carriage for hold. Knit 2 rows. *put one stitch in holding position both sides, K2 rows*. As the flap starts to make a pouch, wt down with your hand or use claw wts and move them up every 2 rows. Continue from * to * until 3 st are left, K2rows. ^Put one stitch both sides back into work, K 2 rows.^ Continue from ^ to ^ until all ear flap st are back in work. Cut yarn, put carriage on other side and knit the other ear flap the same way.
Take machine off hold. Knit 12(14,16) rows on all Needles. Hang hem. T 10 knit one row to seal hem. RC 000. T 7 knit to RC 36 (40, 44). Decrease for top- transfer every other stitch to neighbor and put emptied N out of work. T 3 knit two rows. Take stitches off machine one by one, cinch up tight and sew side seam. Hide yarn tails.

I cord ties: with inside of flap facing you, hang 3 stitches from end of ear flap. Set machine to knit one way, slip the other. At T4, knit 64 rows. Bind off by putting outer stitches on center N, cut yarn leaving a 6” yarn tail to sew the tassel onto the tie, pull through. Make a tassel for the end and use the 6” yarn tail to attach it to the tie. Repeat for other tie.
Optional---pom pom or I cords for the top. If you pull the yarn tight, the hole closes enough that you don’t need anything. This is a very cute, fast and warm hat for charitable or gift giving. You can add a fairisle pattern or stripes if you wish
.

Clothing for children in Nepal

Diana Sullivan, of the wonderful videos on you tube on machine knitting, http://diananatters.blogspot.com/ came upon this call for warm clothing for children of Nepal. It broke my heart seeing the two little boys huddled together trying to sleep in the cold. Our guild already does hats and mittens for the Salvation Army in Minnesota, so I'll continue to contribute to that, but I'd also like to give to this one. In the states there are lots of charitable organizations, but I'm not sure about resources in some of the poorer countries of the world. Here's the link to learn about it:
http://diananatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/please-help-knit-for-cold-children-in.html
The request is for all wool items. Would be a great way to use up bits of sock yarn.
Here's my first one that I knit last night:

I'm still getting accustomed to the Silver Reed 860 midgauge, so the hat is made on that machine. Simple pattern---cute and knits up in a jiffy:
Sport yarn, midgauge, T 6. Cast on with waste yarn over 74 N, knit a few rows. Begin with main yarn and knit 15 rows, one row T 8, 16 rows T 6. Hang hem and knit one row T 9 to seal. Return to T 6 and knit 45 rows. Decrease every other st across, knit 3 rows T3. Remove on tapestry needle, gather and sew side seam. Put a pom pom or I cord ties on top. Looks cute with the hem folded up or down. Would also be nice in stripes or a fairisle pattern.
Note that gauge is not so important because it should fit some child. I hope you consider contributing some too.

Marzipanknits!

Found this video on You Tube this morning. Since I use Marzipan as my moniker, I thought it appropriate to share this creative gal's crafty use of marzipan with you.