Booties for April who's due in May

Booties for L.T.

Pink Stitch Markers - Prize

Grey Stitch Markers - Prize

Falling Leaves Wrap

This rectangular wrap is just the thing for a cool summer evening or to take the chill off in an over-air-conditioned restaurant or office. The original was knit in a merino yarn which is soft and lightweight. It’s sproingy, wonderful to knit with and blocks beautifully. Gauge isn’t critical because the wrap can be blocked to your desired dimensions. The pattern can easily be changed to accommodate different yarn weights by adjusting the size of the knitting needles used and by working fewer or more pattern repeats horizontally and vertically. The 16 row pattern isn’t daunting; after you’ve completed a 16 row pattern, you should be able to visualize what the stitches on each row are "doing" and you can easily find your place should you lose your row count.

Approximately 24"wide x 66" long (60 cm x 170 cm) after blocking.

Yarn: 2 skeins Colinette Jitterbug (640 yards) (585.2 meters) or any merino wool that you love the feel of.

Needles: U.S. size 6 (4 mm.)

Cast on 83 sts. loosely.

Row 1 (RS): K1, k2tog, k3, *yo, k1, yo, k3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3; repeat from * to last 7 sts, yo, k1, yo, k3, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

Row 2 and every alternate even numbered Row: Purl.

Row 3: K1, k2tog, k2, *yo, k3, yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2; repeat from * to last 8 sts, yo, k3, yo, k2, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

Row 5: K1, k2tog, k1, *yo, k5, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1; repeat from * to last 9 sts, yo, k5, yo, k1, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

Row 7: K1, k2tog, yo, k7, *yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k7; repeat from * to last3 sts, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

Row 9: K2, yo, k3, *sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3; repeat from * to last 8 sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k2.

Row 11: K3, yo, k2, *sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2; repeat from * to last 8 sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k3.

Row 13: K4, yo, k1, *sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1; repeat from * to last 8 sts, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k4.

Row 15: K5, *yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k7; repeat from * to last 8 sts, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5.

Row 16: Purl.

Repeat these 16 Rows until there's not enough yarn left to allow you to complete another 16 Row pattern, making sure to leave enough yarn for 36 strands each 10" long for the fringe. Bind off loosely.

To make fringe: Cut 36 strands of yarn, 10" (25 cm.) long. Attach these at the 9 points at each end of the shawl, by taking 2 strands, folding them in half and pulling the folded end through each point, using a crochet hook if desired. Secure the fringe, by pulling the 4 cut ends through the loop tightly.

To block, place wrap in lukewarm water until thoroughly soaked, being careful not to agitate the fibres. Place between two layers of thick towel and gently press to remove excess moisture. Stretch the wrap into the desired shape, pinning onto a flat surface and allow to dry. Weave in loose ends. Here’s a link to the Yarn Harlot’s technique. It will make the straight edges of the wrap easier to block and then all you have to do is pin the 9 points at each end.

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2005/08/23/walk_around_the_block.html

Abbreviations used:

sl1 - slip one stitch as if to knit

psso - pass slipped stitch over

Turquoise Cuff

Turquoise and silver has to be the most beautiful

colour combination when it comes to jewelry.

I used 16 gauge wire for the frame of the cuff

and then placed the various beads on 20 gauge

wire and wrapped it around the frame.

Amethyst Pendant

I used 20 gauge wire for the frame of the

pendant and 24 gauge for wrapping the amethyst

chips onto the frame.

Egyptian Coils Bracelet

I found the book, "Making Wire Jewelry" by Helen Clegg & Mary Larom which has the instructions for this piece and many other interesting designs. The book

includes actual size illustrations against which you can

compare the jewelry components you've made. I used 20 gauge copper wire. I think this bracelet would benefit from being antiqued. Rather than use the liver of sulphur method, I'm going to try using the hard boiled

egg method described here.

First Time Using a Jig

I made this bracelet using 20 gauge silver

wire and a jig. Since the wire flowers were a

bit uneven, I decided to use amethyst chips

instead of perfect little round amethyst beads

in keeping with the naive look.

I hammered each of the flowers before

connecting them with jump rings.

Unfortunately, between hammering and

trying to flatten the wire with pliers, I

managed to break more than one of

the amethyst centres.

Baby Booties

Chelsea and Julia are both due in December and

Kristen in January. It's the first baby for each of them

and the first grandchild for each of their parents.

We know Julia's having a girl!

All the booties were knit on size 3 mm. dpn's

using Bernat Baby Softee.

Each pair is slightly different from the others.

I forgot to photograph the last pair before I

wrapped them and gave them away, but

you get the drift.

More Paua Shell Pendants

J liked the last silver wrapped Paua

shell pendant I made, so I gave it to her.

I'm always amazed when someone likes the

jewelry I've made. I wrapped two more

pendants; one with sterling silver wire and

the other with gold. They're both 20 gauge.

Tiger Eye Bracelet

Another crocheted bracelet, this time gold

wire and tiger eye. I gave it to Camilla

for her birthday.

Three Strand Necklace

First time using crimp beads and my

crimp tool. I used three strands of

Beadalon for this necklace. The smaller

beads are strung on separate strands

and the larger ones are strung on all

three. I like how that makes the smaller

beads look kind of staggered.

Paua Shell Wire Wrapped Pendant

Back to the Paua shell again and what to do

with it. I used 20 gauge sterling silver wire

and wrapped it around the first one.

Then I twisted two strands of 28 gauge

gold wire together and wrapped that

around a shell. It kind of reminds me

of an x's and o's game board.

I finally started using the macro zoom on

my digital camera - huge difference.

Pea Pod Pendant

I once saw a picture of this and kept the idea

of it in my head. I wish I could find the original

again to see how it was made compared to mine.

I used a 20 gauge sterling silver wire for the

pea pod shape and once I had manipulated it to

an interesting shape, I hammered it. Then I strung

some light green fresh water pearls on a thinner

sterling silver wire and wrapped it at the top and

bottom of the pod. If I were to make this again,

I'd use a thicker wire for the pod, or better yet,

I'd try square wire instead of round. Oh well,

right now I'm just playing around with it and

learning a lot through trial and error.

Paua Shell

C just gave me some Paua Shell that

her brother brought back from a trip to

New Zealand. It's beautiful - highly polished

and jewelry grade. She was hoping that I could

come up with something to do with it since it

doesn't have any holes in it. I've read that shell

dust is toxic and when it's processed for jewelry

making, any drilling is done under water.

Crocheted Wire Necklace and Bracelet

I've been wanting to try this for a while. I used

gold 28 gauge wire, a size 1.75 mm. crochet hook

and some chips in 2 shades of green.

Simply chain 4 strands for each of the necklace

and the bracelet and then weave them together.

I finished them off with toggle clasps. I think

if I made it again, I'd only use 3 strands for the

necklace. I'm not much of a crocheter - chain st.

is really the only crocheting I can do.

Entrelac Scarf

This was my first attempt at entrelac knitting and it was surprisingly easy. It looks so wonky until you get into the second or third tier. Even then, I often had to reassess to make sure I was on track. I used size 5 mm. needles and Paton's SWS in "Natural Earth". This yarn was made for entrelac knitting. It gives you these beautiful colour gradations at just the right time so you don't have to mess around with changing yarn colours all the time. It's a luxurious 70% wool, 30% soy blend and I loved the feel of it while knitting. I've decided to leave it all puffy rather than blocking it for now. I've seen it done both ways. I've already bought more SWS in "Natural Pink". I may add pompoms to the ends of the next one.

I Think it's Going to Be a Scarf or Two

I got some of the most luscious mohair and

wool given to me by a dear friend, Nina. It would

probably be enough for a wrap or a shawl.

I knit a sample swatch and love how it

knits up. Not sure what I'm going to

make with it yet.

Valentine's Scarf

I really like how the hearts pop out on

this scarf. I got the pattern here.

It was a special edition that knitty came

out with in 2004 to promote Breast

Cancer Awareness.

I'm using a mohair blend and size

7 mm. needles. I think it'll look

better once it's blocked.