Shelburne Bag and Crochet Chain Piping

Photos included in the pattern are enlarged here. Note, as the bag was knit with two strands of worsted yarn, the crochet piping is worked with two strands as well.

The Shelburne Bag, smaller size, has been blocked and dried, and now the single leather strap will be sewn on as well as magnetic closure. The pattern includes finishing information and tips.

Calendar of Hope 2012

I am very pleased to have again this year, contributed a knitting pattern to this most worthy cause. All proceeds will go to www.ArmyOfWomen.org.This organization is devoted to learning WHY we get breast cancer. Please click the photo link on the right column for more information about the calendar and to purchase and support this research! While  there, check out the previous calendar projects! These make thoughtful holiday gifts!

Pottery Yarn Bowl

 

 Came upon a Harvest Festival while traveling a bit northwest of Boston last weekend. Look! Pottery yarn bowls! Lovely designs by Judy Nevius I purchased the robins' egg blue bowl with raspberry contrast and it is sitting next to my knitting chair (while I wait for the tendonitis to heal).

Vacationknitting

A nice surprise to find this gem: Fiber Farmers Market, (703-244-0525), no entrance fee and held on Saturdays at 1 pm at the Vienna Community Center in Vienna, Virginia! The market was bustling with shoppers and the yarn and fibers were flying. I managed to take home a couple of lovely skeins of Virginia yarn and have started a scarf pattern already! 

I took some  pictures and include one of the start of the Avalon Scarf.

Avalon Scarf

Carson Cap, A quick knit holiday gift to you!

Carson Cap 

Yarn

Photo #1: Noro Silk Garden, 110 yards, one skein.

(model made with shade #37, now discontinued)

Photo #2: Noro Retro #9, 110 yards & 30 yards contrast yarn Silk Garden #314 
Needles

#6/4mm circular needle, 16" length

#6/4mm DPN (4)

Gauge: 5 stitches/inch with #6 needle.

Needle marker to indicate start of the round
Measuring tape and tapestry needle
  
Sizes

Ladies small/medium up 21 ½” head circumference

Ladies large 23” or someone with lots of lovely thick hair!

Finished: 7 (7½”) tall, 18" (20”) around at rib section

Abbreviations

SKP: Slip one stitch as if to knit, knit the next, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one.

YO: yarn over      

K2tog: knit two stitches together as one.

Rib Pattern: *K1, p1, rep from * around to starter marker

Lace Stitch Pattern, a multiple of 6

Rounds 1, 3, 5: *SKP, k2, yo, k2, rep from * around to starter marker.

Rounds 2, 4, 6: Knit all stitches

Rounds 7, 9, 11: *YO, k2, k2tog, k2, rep from * around to starter marker.

Round 8, 10, 12: Knit all stitches

1/27/11 Pattern Notes: Some knitters on Ravelry have made the following modifications: Using size 5 needle for the rib section (approx 6 rows) and changing to size 6 or 7 for the lace sections. However, changing the needle size may require more yarn.


Knitting Instruction, Size Large in (  ).

CO 96 (102) stitches using the long tail cast on method. Place starter marker on the right hand needle. Join by working rib stitch pattern below, take care to not twist the stitches.

Work the rib pattern for 1" (1½”).

Repeat the lace stitch pattern rounds 1-12 until the hat measures 5" (5½”) from the cast on edge, and end after working one of the knit rounds of the lace stitch pattern.

Begin the decrease rounds, transfer stitches to 3 DPNs, when they no longer fit on the circular needle.

1. Small/Medium: *K6, k2tog, rep from * around to starter marker (84 stitches)

1. Large: *K3, k2tog, k4, k2tog, rep from * to last 3 stitches, k3. (84 stitches)

Both Sizes: (Decreasing 7 stitches with every round).

2. *K10, k2tog, rep from * around to starter marker (77 stitches)

3. *K9, k2tog, rep from * around to starter marker (70 stitches)

4. *K8, k2tog, rep from * around to starter marker (63 stitches)

Continue decreasing in this fashion for 6 more rounds, rounds 5 -10.

11.  *K1, k2tog, rep from * around (14 stitches).

12. *K2tog, rep from * around to starter marker (7 stitches)

13. Cut working yarn allowing a 6" yarn tail. Thread a tapestry needle with the yarn tail and pull through the remaining 7 stitches to cinch them tightly at the top of the hat. Secure on the wrong side.

Design and Photography © December 2010 Carol Bristol Please respect copyright law, this pattern is for personal, noncommercial use only. Do not reproduce or distribute in any form. All rights reserved by the author. 
For questions, comments email: cbristoldesigns@msn.com  
Pattern website: www.carolbristoldesigns.com

First photograph, overlooking the Rachel Carson Preserve in Wells, Maine.

Calendar of Hope, 2011

On the left you will see a photo link to the Calendar of Hope, 2011. This is a pdf download collection of kitchen patterns, and I am so pleased to be a part of this project.  The proceeds will be sent to the Love/Avon Army of Women, an organization dedicated to research the cause and prevention of breast cancer. This is the third calendar published by Cindy Moore, aka FitterKnitter, to benefit breast cancer research.

My pattern is called Aunt Ruth's Kitchen Basket, in memory of someone who was very special in our family.

So, click the link, purchase the pdf download and contribute to the support of important research for us all!

Day 4 (Final Knitting Day) October KAL

Knit the Handle

Hold project with the opening up and the front side close to you. There are two sets of purl sts (from round 30), one on right and one on the left of the back side. Pick up and knit (pu) sts with same thickness of yarn as main piece as follows: begin on right side set and working right to left: pu 4 sts in the purl bumps with a DPN.  Slide these 4 sts to the opposite end of same dpn. Bring working yarn across the back of the 4 sts, and secure it to the yarn tail (weave yarn tail on the inside, it won’t show with felting). 

Now you are ready to begin the handle!

K2 , *wyif, sl 2 sts as if to purl without working them, turn. Working yarn is in the middle of the 4 sts on the ws.

Bring across back of the 2 sts and K2; repeat from * until the stretched measurement is 9” long handle. Stretching on the flat cord while it is still on the needle, will pull the sts into place.After reaching the 9" length, knit across the 4 sts. 

  

Turn the strap (without twisting) into a upside down U shape. While the stitches are still on the dpn, cut a 6” length working yarn tail. Thread a tapestry needle, and sew the stitches to the 4 purl bumps to attach the handle. Secure and weave in ends.

 This photo shows the handle after it has been felted, on the back of the project.



You are now ready to felt the project! Please see Felting Information Link at left.

Blocking, Shaping, and Finishing the Felted Project! (Finished photo below!)

Set project flat on table, centering the base, stretch to shape.  Keeping the back side with the handle flat on the table, lightly fill  with plastic grocery bags. Shape the bowl your hands into a half-rounded shape, pressing the back side against the table.

Finishing

When the felted wall basket has dried it may be decorated with ribbons, beads & buttons. The pictured bowl was decorated with sew-on leather leaves from Homestead Heirlooms (www.homesteadheirlooms.com) 
Another design idea is to place 2 decorative buttons on the inside of the bowl through the rim to further stabilize the knit handle.


And yet another design option is to omit the knit handle and attach an 8" long sew on leather handle!

Here is the finished project photo to help you with the blocking.

You've just made a Felted Wall Basket which has multiple uses either decorative or organizational!

Felted Wall Basket Copyright ©2010 Carol Bristol Designs

This pattern is available for personal use only.Not to be reproduced or re-knit for profit.