Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf

I wanted to knit something using Noro Kureyon. I just love the colorways of that yarn. It is so beautiful. Having a weakness for anything with a shade of blue in it, I got 3 skeins of Noro in color 52 several months ago, on a day trip. I remember fishing out the yarn every now and then just to look at it and think of a good project for it.
I initially had this bag by Amimono in mind when I bought the yarn. Or I could have always made a Booga bag. But Mr. Pani Thuly lovingly reminded me that I already had 2 felted bags+ a felted UFO that I haven't yet told you about and hinted to me that may be, just maybe, I was getting crazily obsessed with felting.
Then one of my very dear friends was moving away and I figured it was a good excuse to make a bag, NOT FOR ME, but for my dear dear friend. I even started Amimono's bag but unfortunately my friend needed help with moving, more than a knitted gift. So I sadly put down the bag and went out and got her something cute and ready made :( .
I didn't have the heart to frog the bag, I determined that when I did find some good pattern, it will lessen my misery. So one day, I was minding my own business surfing the net and reading other people's blogs, when I came across the multidirectional diagonal scarf. I was hooked, or rather should I say needled.
This pattern is perfect for self striping yarn. It uses short rows so it takes awhile but there is no joining of pieces or anything, and the torture that it could add to finishing (if you know what I mean). I have received several compliments for this scarf. Thanks Karen for the lovely pattern.
So there you have it - my very own multi. scarf. Actually its Mr. PT's, but hey there IS such a rule that if the gifter and the giftee live under the same roof, the object of desire can be amicably shared. Isn't that the 'well-meaning' motive behind knitting something for your better half??
Pattern: Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in color #52 - 3 skeins
Needles: US #8

On another note, you should try Amimono's bag its cute and simple.

Talking of pretty dresses

I made this delicate lacy dress for my S-girl. It is by far my most favorite project. I loved the climbing vine lace pattern which made the whole knitting process interesting and yet not too difficult. It is an easy pattern - once you get past the bottom edge and the neck edge. There is a 'make bobble', which for people like me who knit tight is a bit of a challenge, but after you finish that, its smooth sailing throughout. I let the blocked pieces dry overnight and the next day morning, I started sewing up the seams as soon as I got out of bed and finished it in 3 hours. I loved the way the garment looked after I blocked it and finished it - which is a main reason for me enjoying this project so much.
I made one change in the pattern, I left out the huge bobbles because bobbles and toddlers don't sound like a great combination. I realized that after I finished one row at the bottom edge with bobbles.
My pretty S-girl looks even more prettier in it!
If you go to Amazon you can even see a picture of the cute baby wearing this dress and hat.

Pattern: Pretty Pink Baby Set in Knitting Year-Round published by Better Homes and Gardens
It is actually a set complete with hat, cardigan and dress - I just made the dress.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Orchid - 2.5 skeins
Needles: US #6

Of happy layers

This is the trellis scarf made out of lion brand trellis yarn. I have made several of these scarves for young girls and for the young at heart!!
Pattern: Cast on 14 sts or however many you want. Its usually on the back of yarn label.
Yarn: Lion Brand Trellis in Stained Glass (my fav) . I have also used Night Life. - 1 skein
Needles: US 17












I made this scarf for dear L-friend to match with the hat I made for her.
Pattern: Cast on 10 sts and work in garter stitch
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy Thick & Quick in Green Mountains- 1.5 skeins
Needles: US #17













My mom wanted a hat with ear flaps to protect her ears against the wind and the wind chill. So I used a pattern from the Knitting Year-Round book, but just with monochrome color. My mom felt warm and her ears felt much better this winter.
Pattern: Peruvian Cap from Knitting Year-Round by Better Homes and Gardens
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver in Soft Navy.
Needles: US #7






I made these socks, my first, quite some time back. I wasn't very confident that I could do it but I was pretty amazed that with a little bit of reading and rereading the instructions and with valuable help from my Experienced Knitter Friend (EKF). I knit one sock and it languished for a few months without its mate. But I finally did get around to arranging the meeting for these two lovers. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the happy couple together before I sent it off to a great relative.
Pattern: On the back label of Magic Stripes yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes in Purple Pattern
Needles: US #4 DPNs

My constant companion

When something is so useful that you carry it around wherever you go and use it for all kinds of purposes - whether to carry your knitting projects+knitting books+water+anything that can be stuffed into the bag, to carrying books to and from the library then it is justified in calling the bag a constant companion. What an apt name for a nice bag.

My bag is larger than most constant companions - I didn't check gauge, used a bulkier yarn and I did not really worry about getting the exact size because, lets face it, its not like I was going to wear the bag. The bigger the better!!!

This was yet another fantastic knitting experience. Felting projects seem to really thrill me. The original design has pouches you can put on the outside of the bag. I did knit the pouches(not in stripes, just doubled the yarn), but I put them on the inside because they wouldn't have gone well with the stripes that were going on outside. I made one big pouch, 2 medium size ones to store stuff like tape measure, blocking pins etc and one narrow long one as an emergency place to store knitting needles.

Pattern: My Constant Companion in Knitter's Stash
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in Plum and Cotton Candy - 4 skeins each
Needles: US #11

My very first scarf design - Vairam

I knit this scarf for a very dear person. She is a wonderful woman whom I really love and admire. I literally consider her my adopted mom/friend. I have seen her go through a lot in her life with quiet dignity and I knit her this scarf to tell her how much she means to me.


Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Worsted Weight in Fisherman - 1-2 skeins. I wanted to knit this scarf in pure wool and did not read the label carefully so ended up with a yarn that had more wool in its name than its fiber!!
Needles: US #8

Pattern: Adapted from Barbara Walker's Treasury

Cast on 34 sts

Make a 3 ridge garter border

Begin pattern as follows:

Row 1 (WS) and all odd rows purl

Row 2: P3, K11, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K11, P3

Row 4: P3, K9, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K10, P3

Row 6: P3, K8, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K9, P3

Row 8: P3, K5, [K2, K2tog YO]twice, K1, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K8, P3

Row 10: P3, K6, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K3, [YO SSK K2]twice, K5, P3

Row 12: P3, K8, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, YO, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K6, P3

Row 14: P3, K9, YO, SSK, K2, YO, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K8, P3

Row 16: P3, K10, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K9, P3

Repeat rows 1-16 till you get the desired length.

Finish with a 3 ridge garter border and bind off. Add a fringe if you like and enjoy!

Ladies and Gentlemen Presenting...............

Here are some more of my finished objects:

I knit these baby mittens for my cute little Su-boy. I used a pattern from a very old book I found at the library.I don't remember the name of the book - Knitting for the Family by Carolyn Carr
Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun in Lily White - 1 skein
Needles: Dont remember! Probably size 6 or 7


While hunting for yarn, I came across this pattern on the yarn label and I fell in love with it. Ok maybe I fell in love with the cute little baby wearing it. Come on who doesn't succumb to temptations that come in small bundles?
Pattern: Softee Baby Jacket. You can find it at Bernat.com but you have to register.
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in Prettiest Pink - 1 skein
Needles: U.S. #6



All the above hats are made using the same pattern - Gusto 10 Rolled Brim Hat. I have made several more using the same pattern because its a 2 hour quick and easy pattern!
Pattern: Gusto 10 Rolled Brim Hat
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Navy, Charcoal . Jiffy Thick & Quick in Ozarks.
Needles: U.S. #15, 16 inch circular.



Right now I am not in a position to talk about these blankets. I am traumatized by simplicity, boredom and hours and hours of garter. I hereby declare that I will NOT EVER reproduce this pattern. I have already done it too many times to mention. I made them for some very lovely moms-to-be.

Pattern: Easy Baby Blanket. I am sure this is a free pattern floating around somewhere, because it was a word of mouth pattern given to me, so I am going to give it to you anyway.

Cast on 5 sts.
Row1: K5
Row2: K 3, YO, knit to end.
Repeat Row2 till you get 144 sts or however many you want.
Just a hint to determine what size you want, at 144 sts you have completed half of your blanket.

K2, K2TOG, YO, K2TOG, Knit to end.

Repeat above row till you get to 7 sts.

K2, K2TOG, K2TOG, knit to end.

Bind off and gift to a tired yet grateful mom.

A similar one is available at the Lionbrand site. Its called Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket.
Yarn: Mainstays Crafts in Pale Blue and Baby Mint 10-12 oz., Red Heart Giant Multicolor in Girly Print - 1 skein
Needles: U.S. #11 circular


This was meant to be a new born hat. But the little one was too little for it at that time. He did wear it later on though.
Pattern: Who cares!!
Yarn: TLC Amore in Sand & Fantasy Yarns Cashmere Luxury Chunky 3/4 skein
Needles: No idea probably US 8 (I was trying to knit tight to get the gauge I wanted)

Felting

I first encountered felted knits when I went to the Knitting Convention organized by TKGOA. Before I talk about felting, just a little bit about the convention experience. If you haven't been to any knitting convention before, you should try it. But I do have to warn you that it is not for the faint of heart or the easily tempted! It would help to have a list of things you REALLY need(not want!) and a fixed budget, because believe me you are going to go over your budget by ATLEAST a minimum of $50.

The joy of meeting knitters who are different one from another in innumerable number of ways is truly something that every knitter should experience. You will meet the wise, the seasoned, the young, the novice and everyone in between!

I felt very conscious when I first stepped into the Marketplace but slowly the love of knitting took over and pretty soon I was running behind a lady to find out what pattern had given her the nice bag she was carrying. She was carrying a My Constant Companion tote. It looked real fab.

Then we (I was with a few friends) stopped by the Breast Cancer Society booth where they were knitting a huge banner of sorts (I think). We decided to contribute a little, so we too took up the needles and knit for a few minutes. Even in that simple act, I learnt little known facts about breast cancer and had my first encounter with some smashing Addi Turbos. I am a staunch bamboo needle knitter and was quite surprised at my attraction towards these, of all things, metal needles!! I had to get some Addis.

I wandered through the numerous booths and it looked like my yarn fantasy had just become reality. There are no words to describe the lovely yarn and especially the beautiful glass buttons and glass knitting needles that I saw at the convention. I was still a yarnling at that time and my what an eye opening experience it was. It was like a crash course in yarn.

I wisely decided to look at all the booths and then decide what I really wanted. That's when I walked past the Kraemer yarns booth and my eyes rested upon the beautiful Romantic Ruffles bag. I knew that I just had to knit this one. So I picked up 3 skeins of Mauch Chunky in Kiwi. So I got a few Addis and the yarn. It was just my luck that the very next day Mr. PT and me were going that way, so I sweet talked him into stopping by to pick up some more needles. So what was my budget for that first convention visit? Zip, zilch, zero, nada. I had officially gone over my budget. Hey it was bound to happen.

I have to say that to this day I still remember that joyful feeling I had throughout the time that I knit this bag. It was really very quick and I just could not wait to felt it. For a quick tutorial on felting go to Knitty.

This is how my romantic ruffles looked before felting:

This is after it got its extreme makeover:
Pattern: Romantic ruffles bag from Kraemer yarns
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in Kiwi - 3 skeins. I used a little over 2 skeins, I knit tight, but my friend who knits loose, did use some amount of the 3rd skein.
Needles: US #13, 16 inch circular needles