Portable Projects with a Cause are a GO!

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted (22 days) and that's a little odd! I usually have way much more to say than I can possibly get out in a day... hence the blog!!
So what's been keeping me busy for the last three weeks?  Oh... just a little charity knitting and hanging out with my yarn buddies!!  What a way to spend the summer! Knitting up some simple blocks, learning a few new things on the way AND hanging out with like-minded yarn peeps! Woot! It's a win-win summer so far!
There are now 8 people knitting (and crocheting) our way through the block project! I'm hoping that this will mean we end up with several afghans at the end but for now we're all working like mad on our blocks!  (BIG thanks to everyone participating!) For the LINK to the post about the project just click on that highlighted word LINK ~please!

So far we've got 12 blocks made... which is enough for one entire afghan which is totally cool!
Can you hear the rather loud BUT in there?

  My inner Goddess (aka OCD Queen) saying... "Um...hey Toots? The colors, well, they are just a bit too random even for this project."
Yeah, Yeah. I know. I keep saying, "it doesn't have to match, it will be okay."  It doesn't even help when I can hear in my head....Royal D saying.."it's not going on my bed so I don't have to look at it..." which implies that random is okay in her book as long as it's not in her house! I'm trying here........
I really am!
BUT looking at this collection of 12 lovely blocks (AND that's only the knitted versions!)  I don't know if I can really handle all that randomness.  I don't know for sure, but I think  I may have to hustle up and make some more blocks in those specific color families... just for a little less randomness.  What do you think?

I'm not worried about the different sizes and/or shapes! A little blocking will go a long way in making everything fit better as will the final sewing up! I'm going to spring for a couple of skeins of white yarn to sew it all up together and edge it. Hey! Maybe that will help bring those colors together?  We'll see.....

In the meantime I think I'm going to just go and make some more blocks. I WILL do my very best to keep it random! *I've zipped the bag that I have the yarn in and I am forcing myself to not look and just stick my hand in. The hard part is making myself knit with whatever I pull out! Wish me luck!!

Portable Projects for a Cause... Do Over

Just a little update on the 'Portable Projects for a Cause'....  I've found some stragglers and want to include them! I've even found some crocheters that I want (forgot) to include so here we go again!
Insert drum roll..........
I've decided... yeah... Lil' Miss Dictator I know...
that we should all knit up some blocks (and crochet some too) and then combine them all together to make baby blankets! Once we've completed our blocks & afghan(s?) we will then decide (AS A GROUP!) which charity we will give them too!  *I'm leaning toward a crisis pregnancy center in Baltimore* It's a group project that will allow us a chance to work together and learn some new stitches along the way!
I've hit up the girls I hang with... the ol' Royal Knitting gang and some peeps that hang out on the
Fort Belvoir Knitting and Crochet Club page and so far it looks like (maybe!) we have 5 people that want to help out with the project! Yay!!
It's a pretty simple project and I didn't have to look very hard for a pattern! It's from Knit and Crochet Now and it was on their TV show (and website) as a 'block of the week' pattern series! What I failed to  pay attention to realize was that there was a crochet version as well! 
I've been looking for something to knit that is easy to take with me (aka small & cheap) but also something that will keep me interested.... my family is getting washcloths for Christmas (shh)!
I started this a couple of weeks ago, but now that I have been getting some more interest (hellooooo stragglers!) I'm going to just restart! Do-Over x1! Only x1!
This is how it works...... okay, okay... this is how I would like it to work! Better?  This Miss Dictator can be part of a group.. you'll see!

Each week I will post a new pattern but please *PLEASE!* feel free to go to the Knit and Crochet Now website and download the entire thing! I may make a mistake and if you find I did... please let me know!
We're working on Season 3, crochet 'Pink Baby Afghan' and knit 'Blue Baby Afghan' ~ you can find the patterns and the picture on the www.knitandcrochetnow.com website under the tab 'free patterns'. It's all the way at the bottom of the Season 3 patterns.
Requirements~ size 8 knitting needles and worsted weight yarn! Size I/9 crochet hook and yes! Washable worsted weight yarn! 
  KNITTED Block #1 aka BIG BAMBOO
Easy, peasy, lemon squeasy... it really is! Just concentrate on this one for the next week and once you have one done... do another? I did and I have 4 already!

multiple of 12 sts + 4
Cast on 40 sts
Row 1 (right side) : K2, *P2, K4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2
Row 2: K2, *P4, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2
Rows 3 & 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2
Row 5: K2, *K8, P4; repeat from *to last 2 sts, K2
Row 6: K2, *P4, K8; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2
Row 7-10: Repeat Rows 1-4
Row 11: K2, P2, K4, *P8, k4; repeat from * to last 8 sts, P6, K2
Row 12: K8, P4, *K8, P4, repeat from last 4 sts, K4.
Repeat Rows 1-12 until piece measures 10inches (25.5 cm) from beginning, bind off

CROCHET Block #1 aka Shell and Bar Square

Ch 32
.Row 1:

Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next ch, sk next 2 ch, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch (shell made), sk next 4 ch, shell in next ch, sk next 2 ch, dc in next 4 ch, sk next 2 ch, shell in next ch, sk next 4 ch, shell in next ch, sk next 2 ch, dc in last 3 ch—4 shells.

Row 2 (right side):

Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, dc in next 2 dc, shell in ch-1 sp of next 2 shells, sk next 2 dc, dc in next 4 dc, shell in ch-1 sp of next 2 shells, sk next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc in top of turning ch.

Repeat Row 2 until square measures about 9"/23 cm.

Fasten off.

Edging Round:

With right side facing, join A with sc in any corner, work 2 more sc in same sp, work 28 sc evenly across edge, [3 sc in corner, work 28 sc evenly across next edge] 3 times; join with sl st in first sc.

Fasten off.

I haven't done the crochet version ~ I have to have lessons first, but here is what my Big Bamboo squares look like!

Fiddly Knitting

For the longest time I didn't even want to attempt cables. They looked so fiddly and really kind of hard. Eek?! A cable needle? I can barely handle working with DPNs! What the heck am I going to do with a (gasp) cable needle?  Sounded like a sure way to lose an eye!
I guess  I was pretty content to just knit and purl and maybe ocasionally throw in a fussy sort of stitch (ugh bobbles...) but I wasn't willing to make something with cables. Nope. Didn't want to..until I saw someone creating with them.  That someone just happened to be my backhoe buddy AND I had  taught her (pretty much forced her) to knit!  Um. Yeah. Nothing like a little healthy competition to spurn me into action! Sometimes that's all it takes and I'm off and running! Or in this case..... cable~ing!
Well BB (Backhoe Buddy) told me cables were easy and not intimidating and of course I could do it. Whatever.  I resisted. Quite a bit at first, but once I saw where she was going with these (read.. not wanting to be shown up...) I tried.
 Well.... she's right. Yeah.... that hurts to say it out loud, but she was right in this one and only  instance.
Cables are fussy and fiddly, but once you get the hang of it you won't even need a cable needle!
Which may be a bummer for Royal D & Princess' Momma.... but I think even they will like cables!
I'm working on my second block #2 in the portable projects with a cause.... you should almost be there I think and this means CABLES! Woo hoo! C'mon! I can do it so that means you can too!

My second version of block #2 is in solid red. I like how it looks in a solid rather than the variegated blue I used for the first time around.  Solid colors will make your cable work POP out!

The cable stitches in the pattern read like this:  AND I can hear you saying.... WHAT? REALLY? WHOA....

*Special Sts*

 6-st RC (3 over 3 right cross) Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3 then k3 from cable needle

6-st LC (3 over 3 left cross) Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3 then k3 from cable needle. It's pretty simple; honest. Just ask BB she'll tell you.... but to help you along the way I'm showing you how I did it. *sorry but Boy is using the video camera so I got stuck with the regular one!



For this pattern... purl the first 6 stitches... slip the next three onto a cable needle (the darker needle) and hold it in back (Right cross), knit the next 3 stitches off of your left needle. Slip the stitches on the cable needle back onto your left needle and knit them.


Next you will do the next 3 in the cable section... the 6-st LC (3 over 3 left cross).  It's easy.. you just did the RC right?! Slip the next 3 stitches onto the cable needle (purlwise is easier) and hold them in FRONT... then knit the next 3 stitches off of your left needle...

Now you slip the slipped stitches (those on the cable needle?) back onto your left needle and knit them! Just like you did before... only difference is where you held the slipped stitches! Back or front! That's what makes the cable twist this way or that way! It really means more fiddly farting around... but it will work out !  That's how we get the 'twist' into the cable!

 Now you purl the next 6 stitches (that center portion) and repeat the cable process for the left side! Just follow the pattern for the remaining rows and repeat the cable section as directed! You only have to do it six (?) times for this block?

It's kind of cool how it looks like you put a whole lot of effort into your knitting fabric, but really you don't. Just twist 3 stitches this way, 3 that way... a couple of times this way, a couple that way and with the purl stitches helping it all pop out.... you made some amazing knitting!

Go you!!

Seriously......... go you! Get some blocks done!!

 

Fiche Tricot

How about some language lessons? A little langue francaise un jeudi matin?
 A little French language on a Thursday morning! Really! That's what I said...

I've been working on the en tricot afghan de project (knitted afghan project) and needed a way to organize the fiche tricot (knitting pattern)....somehow (insert snorting laughter)  I got off of that project and onto French lessons (rapid descent into space...) and really felt I should combine the two together! I really think I just needed an excuse to sit at the computer for another hour rather than getting work done, but... I'm learning something!
**The Cupcakes are busy working on a second language (home schooling at it's finest!) because Big is opting for a new assignment and the French language will be a big part Cupcake world here pretty soon!

Putting (the giggleometer) another part of my brain to the test.......

I needed a way to make my latest (I am so giggling putting these words together!) a little more portable without carrying an entire fiche tricot (knitting pattern) or even using my ordinateur portable (portable computer) so... I had to come up with a systeme d'exploitation (organizing system) to carry my fiche tricot!
Wow huh? I know, I know, what a tangent for a Thursday morning (un jeudi matin) !!

It all boils down to this.... systeme d'exploitation...
Make that big pattern into something portable so it fits into my cutesy-schmootzy tricot sac (knitting bag) and make it so I can spill stuff on it, drop it in the pool....
I printed out the pattern again, this time making sure that I printed only one one side of the paper. I then cut out each pattern for each square (un carre') and then laminated it! Each carre' is not exactly square, but it's close! A little paper punch action and a ring.... voila'.. lovely portable fiche tricot!
Off to the pool I go........... and yes. I'm still giggling and trying to fit langue francaise into my daily adventures... maybe I will be a francophone?!!

Portable Projects with a Cause Take 2

Here is the plan kids! Once a week I will post a pattern for one of the six squares for the afghan project!  I know, I know... it hasn't been quite a week since I posted the idea last Friday (yeah, yeah...) here is the LINK for block #1 AND at the bottom of this page is the pattern for block #2.
Once you have the pattern, knit it up in ANY washable worsted weight yarn you wish *do try to make it washable because it is a charity project and who knows where it will end up! **I have yarn we can share**
I think it's a great idea and I'm hoping you do too! It fills a lot of my summer knitting needs... it's small, a little challenging (to keep me interested) but not so challenging I won't do it (a sweater) and small enough to take wherever I go! Portable Knitting with the added benefit of doing something for someone else!  When we have all the squares completed, and it's stitched and bordered together, off it will go to a charity we all agree on!
I'm really trying to hold myself back and not just whip through the whole thing because so far, block #1 and #2 have been pretty simple!  AND I'm super excited about learning some of the techniques in the following blocks!  I am going to wait for you all  catch up and will only knit the square that I've posted for that week!  I WILL! I promise!   Patience... yeah... not one of the strongest parts of me!
Because I'm so anxious and we did (I did anyway) start last week,  I've made block one (twice) and block two once, BUT because I don't want to get too far ahead, I'm working on another block one!  I promised I wouldn't work ahead so I'm just going to make more of the blocks for the week!  I will be posting block #3 next Wednesday!!

Big Bamboo aka Block #1

This is my block #1, Big Bamboo. They look completely different sizes and shape, but with a little blocking these should measure out to the right size...
 I just reached into a bag of yarn that I have and pulled out a ball.... no thought at all went into the color choice!
 Block 2 ~below~ is made out of the same stuff and  would totally be better with a solid color. Sigh... I have a week to make it as many solid colors as I can...  I wanted to use up the ball that I had and now that I've used it up, it's  back to the bag of randomly placed yarn I go! Woohoo!!

Block #2 aka Horseshoe Cable

Honest! I didn't choose any of the colors that went into the bag! It was a bag that was given to me by a friend of a friend (Thanks DB!)  and although I did make sure it was all worsted weight... I DID NOT plan the color scheme!

Block #2 is the Horseshoe Cable. I did mine in a worsted weight, verigated yarn using size 8 needles. Next one is going to be done in a solid color so I can actually see all the work I put into the cables!

It's a bit more advanced... it has cables but really it isn't that bad! *If you don't have a cable needle, just use another needle of the same/similiar size.... a dpn will work great!

HORSESHOE CABLE

Multiple of 18 sts +6

*Special Sts*    6-st RC (3 over 3 right cross) Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3 then k3 from cable needle

6-st LC (3 over 3 left cross) Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3 then k3 from cable needle.

*************

Cast on 42 stitches

Knit 2 rows

Row 1 (RS): P6, *k12, p6; repeat from * across.

Row 2: k6,  *p12, k6; repeat from * across

Row 3: p6, *6-st RC, 6-st LC, p6; repeat from * across

Row 4: k6, *p12, k6; repeat from * across

Row 5-8: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 twice

Repeat Rows 1-8 until piece measures 10"/25.5cm from beginning, end with a WS row

Knit 2 rows.

Bind off.

This is going to be a great way for all of us to work together on a project for a good cause and learn some new stuff along the way! There is some intarsia, color-work and even an eyelet lace coming up!

(HERE is link for the block from last week!)

 ~HAPPY KNITTING ~

Portable Projects with a Cause!

It's been so hot and humid here that it feels like we are in mid August and not June.  We've had temps in the high 90's and triple digits, with humidity percentages climbing right up there too! That means we are miserable.  Hot, sweaty, miserable. Ugh.   Helloooo Mother Nature!?  Did someone forget to set their clock?  Summer has just started and already it's icky and drippy!   It's even been too hot to knit.
Yeah. You heard me right.  It's been too hot to work on my current project, stupid big wad of yarn  the Wallaby sweater for Boy Wonder.  I'm still working on it, but I can't take it outside, I can't take it anywhere!  It's too hot!
I've been racking my brain since I posted  'Trip Knitting' way back in May and I think I've finally came up with something that not only will keep me interested, BUT it should help my friends and I do a project together! How about a portable project?  A portable project for a cause? Sounds like fun right?   I needed something small, not feltable (for poolside of course) and just enough of a challenge to keep even me interested? AND something that would be useful to someone at the end. Yeah.. that's a tough order to fill I know, but I think I found it!
I found a pattern on the  Knit and Crochet Now website.  *it was a public television program that doesn't seem to be on anymore*.  It's an afghan made up of  12 squares, 2 different patterns (2 of each pattern)that is approximately 30x40" when it's completed. Perfect for a baby.   Each square is knit individually *where my friends come in* and then seamed together and finished with an I-cord border! Peaking your interest yet?  Don't worry crochet friends..... you can make some 10inch squares in your favorite worsted weight yarn too!
It's made with #4 yarn (worsted weight) *thanks to my friend V  I've even got some extra worsted weight yarn if you're interested...........
This little afghan could of course be made by one person but what's the fun in that? I've got a group of friends in mind who I'm hoping can be convinced to make one little square (c'mon it's 10 inches!) and together we can knit it up and give it to a local charity. How about one of the many local crisis pregnancy centers? We'll see.... for now... let's get moving!
I'm totally assuming you are interested......... The afghan was part of a square of the week program.  Each week a different pattern would be demonstrated all the way up until it was time for the I-cord edging.  It looks pretty simple, but also has some patterns that require just a bit of extra effort... cables, some color work and a lace.
How about it folks?  Anyone up for a challenge?  A small, easily portable project that we can all pitch in and work together?  I've got a particular charity in mind, but am open to taking suggestions!
Like I said before... I've even got some yarn you can use....
Here is the first pattern..........
Size 8 needles
Worsted Weight (4) yarn
Gauge 16 1/2 sts =4inches/10cm over patterns
*each square may vary slightly but that's okay!
BIG BAMBOO
multiple of 12 sts + 4
Cast on 40 sts
Row 1 (right side) : K2, *P2, K4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2
Row 2: K2, *P4, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2
Rows 3 & 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2
Row 5:  K2, *K8, P4; repeat from *to last 2 sts, K2
Row 6: K2, *P4, K8; repeat from * to last 2 sts, K2
Row 7-10: Repeat Rows 1-4
Row 11: K2, P2, K4, *P8, k4; repeat from * to last 8 sts, P6, K2
Row 12: K8, P4, *K8, P4, repeat from last 4 sts, K4.
Repeat Rows 1-12 until piece measures 10inches (25.5 cm) from beginning, bind off

If you ARE interested, I have the whole pattern and will copy it for you! You can go to the website link above and check it all out too!  I also have that extra yarn I'm willing to share!  Once you make one (or two, or several) squares you can send them to me!
Look out Fort Belvoir Knitting and Crochet Club because I'm hitting you all up next!

Swearing Frog

 I like this frog picture over here on the left... it looks like the frog is flipping a peace out sign.
The one on the right.... well.... that's more like how I feel right now.  Sigh.
Aaaack!  What?
I gotta rip out some stuff?  Holy crap.  Froggin' it I will have to go.  Damn.
I hate ripping stuff out (rip it rip it).  It's part of the process that I DO NOT like. Not one bit.  Not with a box, some socks, a fox on a train and in or out of the rain.  Unfortunately for me, the more I try this ripping out stuff.... the less I like it.
I try really hard not to make mistakes, but with the way I knit and my apparent lack of focus.... mistakes do happen.  Ha!  Mistakes frequently happen!  Often I can fudge them in..........
I'm happily knitting away on Boy's newest sweater and wondering why my stitch count isn't matching up to the pattern directions and why? Why oh why is the pouch looking like it is almost completely around the front of the sweater? Um.. it's supposed to be a pouch/pocket on the front. On. The. Front.  What the heck?  Someone made a huge mistake about 20 rows behind where she is now.  Yep.  That  would be me.  That would also be me swearing like a pirate as I ripit.  Ripit out. 
I did save myself a bit. I added a life line! I'm so smart!! I learned this little trick a long time ago when I was knitting my first baby sweater. A long time ago.  The sweater wasn't all in one piece like the Wallaby, but one of those dreaded sweaters that I have to *insert shudder* seam.  I'm not good at that so I tend to stay away from seaming. *insert more shudders*.   Anyway.... my Aunt G showed me that if I run a different colored yarn through my knitting every few inches (depends on how big the sweater is) and I make a mistake..... I only have to go back to the 'life line' when I have to rip it out!   AND if you do it just right... it won't let you rip stitches out beyond that life line!  The 'life line' becomes a stitch holder! Yay!   I think that Aunt G just knows me so well that she knew I would just get frustrated and rip the whole thing out and then not (probably) start it over.  Ha!  I can blame this whole knitting obsession on her!

See the little red line - that's my 'life line' in this instance. It's a little bit different than actually knitting it in so it acts as a stitch holder of sorts, but in this case, it is totally saving my X#$!  I know where to pick up stitches to start this crazy pouch/pocket ALL OVER again. Sigh.......
So that's what I'm doing today on this cool, sort of drizzly Monday ~the first day of summer vacation..... ripping crap out, starting over (and yes... I'm swearing while I do it....) bring on the pirate!
Oh wait... I don't need pirates.... the frogs are swearing enough! Sounds like this in my house this morning... "ripit ,grrr, aaargh, S*&%T "  ~said of course in my best sing-songy, frog pirate voice ever!