The Runaround Knit Cowl-FREE PATTERN

For some reason the first few months of the year seem like the perfect time to knit to me, I don't know why I always feel this way but I do.  A couple weeks ago I finished up my new favorite cowl, I'm even wearing it as I type this post!  I called it the Runaround Cowl because it has been absolutely perfect to runaround town in while I head to work, run errands, drive the kids to play dates, as well as do all the other random stuff I seem to do every single day.  :-)

This cowl is extra awesome because you can wear it TWO ways!  You can wrap it around twice to keep your neck warm and cozy or just throw it on as is to spice up any 'ol t-shirt you have on hand.  From drab to fab I tell you.

You knit this cowl on two straight sticks and then sew the ends together with a twist to give the cowl a more decorative look.  See that twist at the bottom there in the picture above...love it!

The Runaround Knit Cowl

1 skein of Lion Brand Homespun yarn

US Size 15 (10 mm) straight knitting needles

scissors and yarn needle

Gauge does not matter although my finished cowl measures 10 inches wide by 50 inches in length.

Cast on 25 stitches

Row 1:  *K1 P1; Repeat from * across.  K1

Continue with this pattern until cowl measures 50 inches or your desired length. 

Bind off loosely in pattern. 

Weave in tails.

Sew short ends together with a yarn needle making sure that you have made one twist in the cowl before sewing ends.

I'm totally loving my new cowl.  And the best part is that you can knit it up in only a few hours time.  Since the knit pattern is fairly basic you can even get it done while watching a little Downton Abbey (my new favorite show!)

Oooh, and how about a little belly shot!  18 weeks and counting. 

What do you think...boy or girl?

XOXO,

Cleaning Up.

Two weeks in and I'm still going strong with my New Year's organizing and de-cluttering goals, how about you?  Also on my goal list is to try really hard to finish up my UFO's, not sure if I'll ever cross off that entire list but it's worth giving the 'ol college try.  I have to admit that I'm a little shocked my energy hasn't fizzled out yet :-)  Maybe it's the fact that we have been having an uncharacteristically warm winter this year here in Chicago, barely any snow!  Today it's even in the 60's!!!  I just can't believe it.  

This morning I found this unfinished project hidden amongst the piles and piles of craft and fabric fun (remember that photo of my studio I shared on Facebook?) my sewing studio seemed to somehow have eaten in the last three months.  I think I started it back in September.  Tonight, I'm going to try to get most of it done once the kids are in bed...wish me luck!  

We'll speak soon!  

Thanks for stopping by.

XOXO,

Little Girls' Knit Legwarmers {A Pattern}

So, little Miss Penelope started ballet last Fall.  She really loves it.  She looks forward to going to class every.single.week. and every Sunday as we are looking at the calendar and preparing for the upcoming week's schedule she asks, 'I have bah-yay 'morrow?' in her cutest little sing-songy voice.  She even has her very first recital this June set onstage at a local theater...I don't know whether to laugh or cry about that!  :-)

As we are slowly moving into Spring here in the midwest (painstakingly slow I might add) and the temps are hovering at a very brisk and windy 30 or 40 degrees, I thought I would knit Penelope some warm little legwarmers to wear over her tights as she goes to and from ballet class. 

I love this legwarmer pattern I created because I really love the ribbing I decided to add to both top and bottom.  Besides giving the legwarmers a bit of contrast in the stitchwork, the ribbing adds a nice elasticity to the ends for ease in getting them on and off of her foot as well as keeping them up on her legs.

{First Position}

I chose Bernat Softee Chunky yarn for this project because I liked the chunky look this yarn gives without being overly thick and stiff in such a tiny legwarmer.  It really is the perfect chunky yarn for a children's knit.

The color is True Grey...I thought it would be a good neutral color that would be wearable when she moves up to the next ballet class and they have to wear a different color leotard (which I think is going to be black).

Here's Penny's 'Marilyn Monroe' look...this girl loves to pose!

This is a fairly easy project, you need to know how to knit and purl as well as use circular knitting needles again!  Also, each legwarmer took me about 3 hours to do...not bad if you've got something good to watch on tv!

Little Girls' Knit Legwarmers 

You'll need:

16 inch US size 5 circular knitting needles

Yarn of your choice

Stitch marker

Stitch counter (not necessary but nice!)

Tapestry needle 

Scissors

Cast on 34 stitches.  

Knit 10 rows of 1 x 1 ribbing (knit one, purl one) 

Next you will knit one row and purl one row for the next 50 rows.  

The last 10 rows you will do 1 x 1 ribbing again (knit one, purl one)

Cast off loosely in knit stitch

Use your scissors to cut off an 8-10 inch tail.  Then with your tapestry needle, weave in the end of your yarn for a few stitches before cutting off your tail completely.  

Each legwarmer measure about 10 inches in length so I would say these should fit anywhere from 18 months to 4T depending on if you want to fold the tops down or not!

Here are what my 16 inch US size 5 circular knitting needles look like, I found mine at Michaels.  You definitely will need 16 inch needles for this as the more average 29 inch circular needles you find will be too long a cord for such a small-sized project.  

Well, I think it's safe to say that she likes them...a lot!

Time for some piqués, pliés, and arabesques :-)

Happy Knitting!!

XOXO,

A Box Full of Pretties

My momma loves to send out boxes of goodies for me and the kids every month or so.  We absolutely love getting them...but c'mon who doesn't love getting packages in the mail!  Last month she sent out a Valentine's themed box with all sorts of V-day fun inside but what I loved most about it was that she included a few knits that my Grandma (my Dad's momma) ever so carefully knit with alpaca for my siblings and I when we were just wee ones.  Dare I call them vintage?  Am I really that old?

This little red number is about a 2T/3T in size.  If fits Penelope like a glove, as if she was meant to wear it.  It couldn't be more perfect for her.

I love all the little detail that was put into this dress from the little flowers knitted onto the front, the sweet little eyelets across the skirt portion of the dress and then right down to that lovely reverse scalloped hem. 

There are even two tiny little buttons on the back enclosure...and they held up after all this time.  Good going Grandma, very well-made indeed!!

The box also included this cream dress, I'm guessing it's around 12-18 months in size.  Sorry for the wrinkles, I swear it didn't look this wrinkly when I was taking the pictures!  

As a knitter, I am just in awe over all the little details that she put into this dress.  I know how long something like this must have taken and I just smile knowing she knit these by hand just for me and my sisters.  

I love the scoop back of this dress...just beautiful :-)

And lastly, here is a sweet little boy's sweater.  I love how it has the Incan figure drawings knitted in the band across the top...so completely Peru in every way, I just love it!

Really, check out all that detail!  There is not one hiccup in all that knitting...crazy amazing.

I really wish I could have known my Grandma so much better than I did (she lived in Peru and I only met her once!) especially since I feel like we have so much in common.  We would have so much to talk about today. It would have been fun to knit together with her or talk about what project we were thinking of working on next.  For now getting to share these hand-made knits with my children will do, how lucky am I to have something like this to pass down in our family!

XOXO,  

Knit Cowl of the Chunky Variety {A Tutorial}

Yeah, you read that right.  I'm a-talkin' about a Chunky. Knit. Cowl.  But just typing 'Chunky Knit Cowl' seemed so boring.  I just had to change it up for y'all...it was either that or call it the 'Phat Knit Cowl'...umm, yeah I think I'll stick with the first one.   

I don't think I've ever posted a tutorial on here for a knit, have I?  I'm no knitting supah-stah so that is probably why.  I love to knit, it's fun, mindless and is a helpful fix for idle hands but a complex pattern maker I am not.  

This Chunky (*ahem* Phat) Knit Cowl pattern is super simple and I am being oh-so serious here, totally a great project for the beginner knitter.  All you need is the most basic of all stitches, the knit stitch, under your belt along with a pair of circular knitting needles and in 2 hours or less you will have one of these chunky little babies around your neck keeping you all warm and cozy.

Here are a few views of these lovelies being worn so you can see the fit...

Please ignore the hair, no longer with any form of a style, hopefully I can squeeze in a hair cut this week, and let's not even go there about the lack of make-up...we're just keeping it real here folks!

This cowl was done with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Butterscotch.

And this little number was done with Sensations Sumptuous in Teal.

I don't know about you about I am totally digging this color blue these days...so spring-like (Yes please!  Be here soon)

You can see that these cowls are really nice and thick ones...I just love that about them.

Chunky Knit Cowl

1 ball of Wool-Ease or Other chunky yarn

Size 17 circular knitting needles

stitch marker, safety pin or twisty tie 

Cast on 45 stitches

Knit all stitches for 26 rows, making sure to move your marker at the beginning of each row.  

Bind off loosely

Weave in your tail at the beginning and the end.

You could block this cowl if you'd like but I didn't as I like the more curled top and bottom...it just adds to the awesomeness of this cowl for me.  Also, if you want this cowl to be longer so that it can go over your head like a hood then add another 20-30 more rows before you bind off.  I stopped at 26 cause I really liked the feel of it when I tried it on.

Just in case you have never seen them before, here is what circular knitting needles look like.  They are just two knitting needles, only shorter than normal, that are connected via a really thick fishing line.  

You always need some type of stitch marker when knitting with circular needles too.  Otherwise once you get going you will have no clue where one row ends and the next row begins...and that's just bad news folks.  

And here is a peek at two labels from the yarn I used...in case you were curious :-)

Ahhh, me likey cowls....droooooool!

Did you see that Ashley from Make It and Love It is doing a 'Learn to Knit' Series?  

Super-dee-duper...check it out if you are wanting to learn, it just started but you can easily catch up!

Later gators,

Knit Baby Cocoon...LOVE!!!

So, the other night I knit myself up one of these:

Isn't it freakin' cute!?!

It's a Baby Cocoon!!!  Basically, it's a knit baby sleep sack but I think a cocoon is waaaay cuter to say...Baby Cocoon...awww, doesn't it just sound adorable!?!  Penny kindly let me tuck her nigh-night baby doll in it, the only doll she gives a hoot about and ONLY while she sleeps.  

Melissa Riley is the pattern maker and you can find it here at her blog, All You Need Is Love.  I just LOVE it...I made it with a bulky baby yarn that is super duper soft.  Of course, since we don't know the gender of Bean III, I made it in white.  I figure I could add a sweet little ribbon in pink of blue once the baby comes and that way this little one will be stylin' for his or her first baby pictures...I can't wait!!!!

The pattern is quick to make and literally took me 3 hours to bust it out, partly while watching The Secret Life of an American Teenager...such a lame show, I know, but I'm totally into it...yup, let the mocking begin.  And now back to the pattern folks...just to let you know, it's a great pattern for a beginner knitter too, you just have to buy a pair of circular knitting needles since it's done in the round.  Wouldn't this make such an awesome baby gift, definitely not your normal knit blankie!! Ok, so that's all...just wanted to share :)

Happy Wednesday!

My March Challenge: One Small Change

So, remember last month I told you about the One Small Change Challenge that Hip Mountain Mama is hosting? (Click on the 'One Small Change Challenge' highlighted words above to take you to the new blogsite)! If your new to my blog just see last month's post here.  Well, this past month my small change(s) were to: 

• Add a brick to all of our toilet tanks
• Add more green plants to our home
• Make cloth napkins to reduce the amount of paper towels we use

My challenges have been going well so far...adding the brick was easy, check and done, we'll see if there is any difference in the water bill later this month.  Adding more green plants to the house was easy too...so far they are all still alive, let's cross our fingers that they live a nice, long, happy plant life :)  It's so nice to have so much green in our house these days considering winter looks like it's never leaving.  And making the cloth napkins was a super easy sewing project that I did in ONE nap time!!  We still use paper towels but now we use a lot less.  I really want to rid our home of them completely but that will take a little more time I think.

For this month, I am going to just choose one change.  Have you seen these recently:

It's a knit cover for your swiffer sweeper.  I found this pattern for free at Michael's last November and planned on making a bunch back then but a little bout of 3 month long morning sickness shot that plan to the netherworld.  You can find this pattern at the Michael's website here, if you want to make some for yourself.  It seems like a super simple pattern that should be pretty fast to make, i think even a beginner knitter could get one done quickly.  

I am getting the itch to do some major knitting now that I am finally showing :)  Besides the swiffer cover, I plan to make some baby booties, a sweet baby blanket and a car seat blankie for Bean III.  I made Noah and Penelope all of these before they were born, so I gotta be fair and make this little one a set too :)  I am getting antsy to find out the gender of this babycakes, which we could do at our next midwife appointment.  I would love to make something that is not white, green or yellow....hmmm, do you think we should find out!!!!!?????  We still haven't decided yet!!