Thursday, May 19, 2016

How to Knit a Summer Beach Tote




Summer is upon us and we don't always think about knitting in relation to the summer months.  But I have a perfect Summer knit for you that you will reach for over and over again.  I'm calling it a beach tote but it could just a easily be used as a shopping tote, farmer's market tote or in general bag.  I've linked below a video tutorial to assist you in the finer points of the bag.  It also contains some basic knitting concepts for beginning knitters.  In the pattern I've noted the time stamps of the video that correlate to that portion of the knitting process.


Materials: 

2 balls of solid color cotton yarn and 1 ball of varigated cotton yarn - I used Peaches & Cream
24" size 8 circular needles
Stitch markers
Tapestry Needle

Pattern:

Cast on 168 Stitches onto 24" circular Needles - 5:37
Round 1 - Knit - 9:31
Round 2 - Pearl - 14:00
Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 once more
Round 5 - Knit 30 Stitches, Bind off 54 Stitches, Knit 30 Stitches, Bind Off 54 Stitches - 15:37
Round 6 - Pearl 30 Stitches, Cast on 30 Stitches, Pearl 30 Stitches, Cast on 30 Stitches - 20:51
Round 7 - Knit
Round 8 - Pearl
Repeat Rounds 7 & 8 once more
Rounds 9 - *Yarn over, Slip 2 Stitches, Knit one Stitch, Pass Slipped Stitches over knit Stitch, Yarn Over, Knit one stitch* repeat to end of round - 25:26
Round - 10 - Knit all stitches
Round 11 - *Yarn Over, Knit, Yarn Over, Slip 2 Stitches, Knit one Stitch, Pass Slipped Stitches over knit Stitch* Repeat to end of round - 28:30
Round 12 - Knit all stitches
Rounds 13-80 - Repeat Rows 9 - 12.  Change yarn when you have 12 inches left in the ball you are working with - 29:57
Round 81 - *Knit 1, Knit 2 Together* Repeat to end of round - 32:36
Round 82 - Knit all stitches
Round 83 - *Knit 2 Together* Repeat to end of Round - 34:50
Round 84 - Knit all stitches
Round 85 - *Knit 2 Together* Repeat to end of Round- 37:08
Round 86 - Knit all stitches - 38:49
Round 87 - *Knit 2 Together* Repeat to end of Round - 41:00
Round 88 - Knit all Stitches
Cut 12" tail and using a tapestry needle, run the tail through the stitches on the cable and remove cable - 41:58
Weave in all ends and you are finished! - 43:52

Monday, July 13, 2015

Knitted Market Bag

I've seen many patterns for Knitted Hobo/Market/Slouchy bags recently utilizing cotton yarn and decided I wanted to make one.  But, after researching patterns, I just could find one that had all the key components that I wanted in one pattern, such as, a seamless bottom, two handles, no hole to close up, etc.  So I came up with this pattern which utilizes the magic loop method to get started and circular knitting to complete it.  There is very little seaming involved and pretty much uses up 3 balls of cotton yarn.  I really am not a fan of having lots of left over yarn after knitting a project so I did my best to develop a pattern that completely uses up the yarn.  I came pretty close!  I had a little left of Color A.  I also filmed a video tutorial of the project to hopefully explain the trickier parts of the pattern for you.  It truly is pretty easy once you get the hang of the color transitions and utilizing the Kitchner Stitch to secure the ends of the handles.  I've included the full written directions as well as a link to the video tutorial.  If you complete the project, I'd love to see pictures of your bags and the colors you chose.  You can send them to me at my email address - jeanninecrafts@gmail.com or follow the links at the bottom of the page to my Facebook or Google+ pages.  Happy knitting!!!





Gauge:

18 stitches and 29 rows = 4 inches in stockinette

Yarn:

3 balls Cotton Yarn in any colors you choose.  I used two colors from Peaches & Cream – 2.5oz. /70.9g 120yards/109m each

Materials:

Size 7 (4.5mm) 47 (or 40”) circular and 24” (or 16”) circular needle
Stitch markers
5 – Size 7 Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle
4 Markers

Abbreviations:

K – Knit
P – Purl
KFB – Knit in the Front and Back Loop to increase by 1 stitch
M1L – Make 1 Left Stitch: with left needle, insert needle from front to back under the yarn between the previous and next stitch; knit into the back loop
M1R - Make 1 Right Stitch: with left needle, insert needle from back to front under the yarn between the previous and next stitch; knit into front (will be a little difficult)
PM – Place Marker
* – indicates the sections that should be repeated for the round
st/sts– stitch/stitches
A – Color A
B – Color B
CO – Cast On
BO – Bind Off

Directions:

With Color A - CO  4 (2 on each needle) on 47” circular needles (you can get by with 40” if that’s what you have) using Judy’s Magic Cast On setting up to work in the Magic Loop method.  Knit first 2 stitches on Needle One normally.  Knit 2 stitches on Needle 2 through the back loop. You are now ready to begin increasing.

You can follow the written directions below, but I find the use of markers so helpful in showing  you where to increase.  If you use markers then you will increase before the stitch that is right before the marker and you will increase after the stitch that is right after the marker and after the first stitch on the needle and right before the last stitch on the needle.  You will do this on both needles.  This will save you the trouble of having to count stitches on every increase row.  When you switch from Magic Loop to knitting in the round you will place markers at the beginning of the round and at the middle of the round so you will continue to know where to increase without counting.  You’ll use the same method as described above for increasing before and after the stitches that are before and after the markers. This will increase your work by 8 stitches on every increase round.

Color A
Rnd 1: KFB in all sts (8 sts)
Rnd 2: K
Rnd 3: KFB in first 2 sts, pm, KFB in next two stitches.  Repeat on Needle two.  (16 sts)
Rnd 4: K
Rnd 5: *K, M1L, K2, M1R, K* (24 sts)
Rnd 6: K
Rnd 7: * K, M1L, K4, M1R, K * (32 sts)
Rnd 8: K
Rnd 9: * K, M1L, K6, M1R, K * (40 sts)
Rnd 10:K
Rnd 11: * K, M1L, K8, M1R, K * (48 sts)
Rnd 12: K
Rnd 13: * K, M1L, K10, M1R, K * (56 sts)
Rnd 14: K
Rnd 15: * K, M1L, K12, M1R, K * (64 sts)
Rnd 16: K
Rnd 17: * K, M1L, K14, M1R, K * (72 sts)
Rnd 18: K
Rnd 19: * K, M1L, K16, M1R, K * (80 sts)
Rnd 20: K
Rnd 21: *K, M1L, K18, M1R, K* (88 sts)
Rnd 22: K
Rnd 23: *K, M1L, K20, M1R, K* (96 sts)
Rnd 24: K
Rnd 25: *K, M1L, K22, M1R, K* (104 sts)
 You can switch to 24” or 16” circulars at this point.
Rnd 26: K
Rnd 27: *K, M1L, K24, M1R, K* (112 sts)
Rnd 28: K
Rnd 29: *K, M1L, K26, M1R, K* (120 sts)
Rnd 30: K
Rnd 31: *K, M1L, K28, M1R, K* (128 sts)
Rnd 32: K
Rnd 33: *K, M1L, K30, M1R, K* (136 sts)
 Phew!! You are done increasing!!
Rnd 34-48: K
Attach Color B
Rnd 49-50: K with B
Rnd 51: K with A
Rnd 52-53: K with B
Rnd 54: K with A
Rnd 55-56: K with B
Rnd 57: K with A
Rnd 58-59: K with B
Rnd 60: K with A
Rnd 61-75: K with B
Rnd 76-77: K with A
Rnd 78: K with B
Rnd 79-80: K with A
Rnd 81: K with B
Rnd 82-83: K with A
Rnd 84: K with B
Rnd 85-86: K with A
Rnd 87: K with B
Rnd 88-102: K with A
Rnd 103: K with A in seed St *K1, P1*
Rnd 104: A *P1, K1*
Rnd 105: A *K1, P1*
Rnd 106: A *P1,K1*
Rnd 107: A *K1,P1*

Remove Marker at beginning of round
BO 13 Sts
K 8 sts onto DP Needles
BO 13 Sts
Remove Marker
BO 13 Sts
K 8 sts onto DP Needles
BO 13 Sts
Remove Marker
BO 13Sts
K8 sts onto DP Needles
BO 13 Sts
Remove Marker
BO 13 Sts
K8 sts onto DP Needles
BO 13 Sts

Handles:

With another DPN attach color A on the first st on the first DPN on the bag and knit in seed st for two rows.  Attach Color B and knit in seed St for two rows.  Continue in this pattern until you have 100 rows.  Connect the live stitches from the first DPN to the second DPN on the bag using the Kitchner Stitch.
Repeat this process on the third and fourth DPN’s on the bag.

Weave in and secure all your tails and your bag is complete!

Part One

Part Two

Part Three


Friday, February 20, 2015

3 Looks With Sashay Yarn

Lately I have really enjoyed working with this Sashay yarn by Red Heart.  There are some different ways to work with it and achieve completely different looks.  The first way I'm showing you is to hand crochet it utilizing a double chained technique.  It is a very simple scarf to make.  My best friend's daughter is 10 years old and was able to make one of these by herself.  Very fast and very easy to make.  I hope you enjoy this video series.



The second in my video series of making scarves with Sashay yarn is showing you how to Arm Knit a quick and easy decorative scarf.  These scarves are beautiful and make up in no time at all!  The Sashay yarn is available in a nice range of colors and is not expensive.  You could make lots of scarves for yourself and your friends.



The third and final video in my series on making scarves with Sashay yarn shows you how to make a ruffled scarf.  I used one ball of the Sashay yarn and an "I" size crochet hook.  Believe me, you don't have to be an experienced crocheter to make these.