Alpaca Scarf

My husbands grandmother gave us some money for Christmas.  With it we went to a yarn store and bought some baby alpaca (the color is "chocolate caramel twist").  I made this cable scarf for my husband.

I couldn't find a great pattern, so I took a few and combined them into this one.

Pattern:
Cast On 38 stitches
Row 1: K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, P2, K2
Row 2: P2, K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P6, K2, P2, K2, P2
Row 3: Repeat row 1
Row 4: Repeat row 2
Row 5: K2, P2, K2, P2, Slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front.  Knit next three stitches.  Knit 3 stitches off cable needle.  P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, Slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold in back.  Knit next three stitches.  Knit 3 stitches off cable needle, P2, K2, P2, K2.
Row 6: Repeat row 2.

Repeat rows 1-6 until the scarf is as long as you wish (or, in my case, until you run out of yarn).  Cast off all stitches.  Weave in ends.  Block tightly. 

With alpaca, I stretched and pinned the scarf onto the blocking mats dry, and then sprayed the yarn with a squirt bottle until very wet.  I let it dry about a week to be safe.

Kindle Cover

I was so excited to unwrap the Kindle I got for my birthday!  I've been wanting one, but hadn't been able to push "buy", and now I don't have to.  I quickly went shopping for a cover.  But I could not decide which one I wanted, and I wasn't sure any of them were exactly what I was looking for.  What better way to get exactly what I want than to make it myself?  So that's exactly what I did.

I usually work from pre-made patterns, but decided to give pattern making a try here, and I'm very happy with the result of my efforts.

First, I found the basket-weave stitch pattern in 400 Knitting Stitches (Amazon link).  Then I made a gauge swatch with the pattern and used it to make my pattern.

Materials:
#9 needles - double pointed or circular (I used 29-in circular with magic loop) or to obtain gauge
Vanna's Choice Olive & Vanna's Baby Sweet Pea (or colors of your choice)
Button

Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in basket-weave pattern (rounds 1-12 of pattern)

Pattern:
In Olive, CO 48 Stitches.  Join in round
Round 1 & 2: knit
Round 3-6: *K2, P4* repeat to end
Round 7 & 8: knit
Round 9-12: *P3, K2, P1* repeat to end
Repeat rounds 1 - 12 again
Repeat rounds 1-7
Switch colors to Sweet Pea and repeat rounds 8-12, 1-7.
Switch colors back to Olive and continue until round 7 again.
Cast off 24 stitches.  Knit remaining stitches.

Flap:
Row 1: *K1, P2, K3* repeat to end
Row 2: *P3, K2, P1* repeat to end
Row 3&4: Repeat rows 1&2
Row 5: K
Row 6: P10, Cast off next 4, P last 10
Row 7: K2, P4, K2, P2, cast on 4 using backward loop method.  P4, K2, P4
Row 8: *K4, P2* repeat to end
Row 9&10Repeat rows 7&8
Row 11: K
Cast Off

Finish by weaving in ends, sewing up the bottom, and attaching the button.

Keep your Kindle safe with this cozy cover.

Welcome!

My name is Liz.  I taught myself to crochet from a book in 2008.  In 2009 I taught myself to knit from online videos.  I have fallen in love with both crafts and can't wait to start posting my creations.

I mostly work from patterns (both book and online) but have recently started creating my own patterns.  (ok, so all I've made is a kindle cover, which I plan to use as my first real post, but still, it's a start).

I can't wait to share lots of new projects!