Newborn Matinee Jacket

Well, whodathunk it was so hard to find a matinee jacket pattern on the internet? I found a few but they weren't what I wanted (wrong size or wool weight). I also figured that what my mother and her generation call a matinee jacket for a baby isnt what this generation calls them. I always liked this style of cardigan/jacket for my babies, you can throw it on over a onesie or stretch 'n' grow for extra warmth and it's got nice wide sleeve holes so no contorting your new baby into it.

So, I had to 'invent' a pattern ....

Ingredients
Size 3.25 needles
1 x 100g 4ply baby wool
3 medium buttons


 
Abbreviations
k – knit, p – purl, st – stitch, st st – stocking stitch, g st – garter stitch, alt – alternate, beg – beginning, inc – increase, dec – decrease, rep – repeat, tog – together, sl – slip, sl1 – slip one, psso – pass slip stitch over, pat – pattern, yon – yarn over needle, m1 – make one
er, pat – pattern, yon – yarn over needle, m1 – make one

TW2: knit into front of 2nd st on left hand needle then knit into front of the first st, slipping both st off the needle at the same time

Using 3.25 needles cast on 176sts 

1st row: K3, *P2,K2, P2, repeat from * to  last 3 stitches, K3

2nd row: K5, *P2, K2, repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5 end

3rd row: K3, *P2,TW2, P2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K3

4th row: as 2nd row

these 4 rows form the "mock" cable pattern. The 3 stitches on either side of your work are the front band, knitted in garter stitch ...

Repeat these 4 rows 10 times - 44 rows in total, 11 mock cable rows 


From now on you are knitting in stocking stitch - knit one row, purl one row.

Dec row: K3, (k2tog) 3 times, * k1, (k2tog) twice, k2, (k2tog) twice, rep from * to last 3 sts, K3 (119sts)
Divide for armholes
K3,P21 for left front, cast off 12sts, p42 (includes the stitch already on needle) for back, cast off 12sts, purl to last 3 sts, K3
 

Right Front
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl to last 3 stiches, K3
Rep the last 2 rows until armhole measures 5.5cm/ 2 ¼ inches ending after a purl row
Shape neck
Next row: K3, slip these onto a safety pin for later use. Cast off 4sts, knit to end (17sts)
Continue in st st, dec 1 st at neck edge on every row until 11sts remain
Continue without anymore dec until armhole measures 8.75 cm/3 ½ ins, cast off
 

Back
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to centre 42sts
Starting on a knit row continue in st st until back measures same as left front 8.75 cm/3 ½ ins ending on a purl row,
Shape shoulders
Cast off 11sts, at beg of next 2 rows, slip remaining sts on a holder for collar, break of yarn, (20sts)
 

Left front
With right side facing, rejoin yarn to remaining 24sts
Starting with a knit row, continue in st st.

On the 2nd row make a buttonhole: K2,YO, K1, P to end. K6 rows and repeat the buttonhole row.

Complete right front to match left front, remember the 3 sts that make up your front border to be knitted in garter stitch.
 

Make up
Sew shoulder seams

Collar
Using main colour with right side facing
With right side facing you, pick up the 3 sts from the safety pin, knit and pick up from right side of neck 15sts, then 20sts of holder on back, the 15sts down left side of neck and the remaining 3 sts from the other safety pin (56sts)
Knit 2 rows, On the 3rd row make a buttonhold, K2 rows, cast off

Sleeves
Using contrast 1 cast on 58sts

1st row: K3, *P2,K2, P2, repeat from * to  last 3 stitches, K3

2nd row: K5, *P2, K2, repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5 end

3rd row: K3, *P2,TW2, P2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K3

4th row: as 2nd row

Repeat these 4 rows 10 times (11 mock cable patterns in total)

Cast off loosely, sew in threads
Sew sleeve seam. sew sleeve into jacket, sew buttons on to correspond with buttonholes 

Please let me know if there are any mistakes in this pattern.

Shawl for Angus

THIS shawl has taken me over 2 months to make - working full time on the ward and trying to find time to make this in time for Angus's arrival drove me crazy but it is now finished. The pattern is copied from an old 60's pattern book and it confused the hell out of me so my shawl isnt exactly like the picture in the book. When I get a bit of time I'll type up the pattern and maybe some bright spark will figure it out.

I love the corners of this shawl and the basket-weave stitch makes the 4ply appear thicker than it really is.

Mini Muks

I found the pattern for these a while ago but have had so many other things to make that I've only now found time to create them.

The link for the pattern can be found here http://windrosefiberstudio.blogspot.com/2010/04/mini-muk-luks-crochet-along-part-i.html - this tutorial is the best ever. 

For Aussies and kiwis - I used a 6.5mm hook and DOUBLED my 8 ply to give me the correct thickness of yarn ie: used 2 strands of 8ply together. I tried 12 ply with the 6.5 hook but it was too 'breezey' across the top of my foot. I also had to do 4 rounds of the squares because 3 as per the pattern wasn't big enough. As long as you make 2 squares that meet when you wrap them around your calf you'll be fine. These are soooo warm!

Mock Cable Booties

Size: prem, 0, 3mo

Materials:

4ply yarn 25g

size 3.25mm needles

Abbreviations:

TW2: knit into front of 2nd st on left hand needle then knit into front of the first st, slipping both st off the needle at the same time

Method:

Make 2 - begin at the ankle.

Using 3.25mm needles cast on 46, 50, 50 sts and begin pattern

1st row: P2, *K2, P2, repeat from * to end

2nd row: K2, *P2, K2, repeat from * to end

3rd row: P2, *TW2, P2, repeat from * to end

4th row: as 2nd row

these 4 rows form the "mock" cable pattern

Work a further 20, 20, 24 rows pattern (decrease 14, 16, 14 sts evenly along last row) 32, 34, 36 sts

Shape instep:

Work in stocking stitch for remainder of bootie (knit one row, purl one row)

Next row: K20, 21, 22 turn

P8

turn

Continue on center 8 stitches for 14, 16, 18 rows stocking stitch (There should be 12, 13, 14 stitches on either side)

Turn, break yarn and leave these 8 sts on left hand needle

Shape sides:

With right side facing, rejoin yarn to the first group of 12, 13, 14 sts at right edge. Knit up 10, 13, 13 sts evenly along first side of instep, knit across 8 sts of instep then knit 10, 13, 13 sts evenly along other side of instep, then knit across remaining 12, 13, 14 sts to end.

Work 7, 9, 9 rows stocking stitch beginning with a purl row

Shape heel and toe:

1st row: K2 tog, K 22, 26, 27, K2 tog, K2 tog, K 22, 26, 27, K2 tog

2nd and alt rows: Purl

3rd row: K2 tog, K 20, 24, 25, K2 tog, K2 tog, K 20, 24, 25, K2 tog

5th row: K2 tog, K18, 22, 23, K2 tog, K2 tog, K 18, 22, 23, K2 tog

6th row: Purl

Cast off loosely and join seams.

Chevron Crochet Afghan (zig zag stitch)

Zig Zag Crochet also known as chevron crochet produces an awesome result. You need at least 3 different colours for the zigs and zags to look effective and you can crochet in your favourite stitch! I prefer double crochet for this afghan. Single crochet is just too teensy and the result is quite tight. Half double crochet is also nice and thats what I used for my Grandbaby's Cot Blanket - the mint/white and lemon one above.

The beauty of this is that you can use whatever ply yarn that takes your fancy and whatever hook size you want to use. I usually use 8 ply yarn and a size 5.5 hook. Play with your stripes. One of my favourite rugs is the blue one pictured. It has 6 rows of Colour 1, 3 rows of Colour 2, 6 rows of Colour 3,  3 rows of Colour 2 then back to Colour 1 ....

Here is a basic pattern:

The only stitch you need to know how to do is double crochet (dc)

Note: V stitch is: one double crochet into the hole of the row below, then 2 chain, then another double crochet into the same hole.
...
Materials: I usually use 8ply wool and a size 5.5 hook, 4 x 100gm balls of 3 different colours - total 12 balls

Make a chain as wide as you want your blanket. For example 160 chain. Increase or decrease in multiples of 24
Row 1: dc into the second chain from the hook - continue in dc  to the end of the row, last chain - 1 dc ,1 chain, 1 dc
TURN
Row 2: 4 chain, 1 dc into the first hole in the row below, **7 dc into the following next 7 holes, SKIP 2, 7 dc into the next 7 holes, V STITCH into the next hole** repeat to the last hole ... 1 dc, 1 chain, 1 dc into the last hole.
TURN
Row 3: 4 chain, 1 dc into the first hole in the row below, **7 dc into the following next 7 holes, SKIP 1, 7 dc into the next 7 holes, V STITCH into the next hole** repeat to the last hole ... 1 dc, 1 chain, 1 dc into the last hole.

Row 3 is the pattern, repeat until your rug is as long as you want.

The V stitch is the peak of the zig zag and the skip is the trough.


have fun!

Knitted Hotwater Bottle Cover

This is a hottie cover I usually knit on circular needles but I broke the wire on my size 8mm and decided to try knitting it up on the flat. You'll end up with a side seam but because you use fluffy wool the seam isnt obvious AND you can always knit it on circular needles - the principle is the same. I absolutely love knitting these up because they grow so fast, I whip one of these up in about 3 hours. They are lovely and thick so you wont burn yourself and the fluffy yarn makes them snuggleable.

Ingredients:

2 x 50g balls of ostrich, eyelash, feathers or any of that lovely cheap fluffy yarn you can get these days

1 x 100gm ball of a matching 8 ply yarn
size 8mm needles and size 6mm needles

Method:

You are using one strand of the fluffy yarn and one strand of 8 ply knitted together as one strand.

On size 8mm needles cast on 52 stitches.

Knit in stocking stitch (knit 1 row, Purl 1 row) until your work measures 10 inches (25cm)

Shape the "shoulders"

Knit 2 tog, knit 24, knit 2 tog, knit 24

Purl 2 tog, Purl 23, Purl 2 tog, Purl 23

Knit 2 tog, knit 22, knit 2 tog, knit 22

Purl 2 tog, Purl 21, Purl 2 tog, purl 21

Knit 2 tog, *knit 6, knit 2 tog* to end of row

Change to size 6mm needles and using 2 strands of 8 ply knitted together as one knit 1, Purl 1 to end of row

Continue in rib until work measures 8 inches (20cm)

Cast off leaving a long tail to sew your side seam and bottom seam.

Turn right side out. "Squish" your empty hottie into it's cover, fill with hot water and ENJOY!

For circular knitting you just KNIT around and around and around until your work measures the required length. Do the "shoulder" shaping thus: Knit 2 tog, knit 24, knit 2 tog, knit 24, knit 2 tog, knit 23, knit 2 tog, knit 23, knit 2 tog, knit 22, knit 2 tog, knit 22, knit 2 tog, knit 21, knit 2 tog, knit 21. Work the extra decrease row: knit 2 tog, *knit 6, knit 2 tog* to end. Change to your size 6mm needles and work in rib for the required length. Cast off. Sew the bottom seam and turn right side out.

Still working on my Africa Flower Afghan

Just thought I'd post this so y'all know why I havent posted anything recently. I still have a few hexagons to make AND all those half hexagons but I decided to sew some together just to satisfy my curiousity about what the heck it would look like completed.

Not bad huh?