Easiest and Quickest Mittens Ever

Finally a pair of mittens I can make!  Using Debbie Bliss Chunky Cashmerino
and Michelle Porter's pattern, made these a cinch!  If you have ever wanted to
knit mittens, but thought you couldn't, this is the pattern for you.  The first pair
was acceptable, but after that I have been knitting about 2 pairs a week and they
all look great!  These are GREAT holiday gifts and the exquisite softness of the
cashmerino yarn makes them feel so luxurious!  Trust me , if I can make these, so
can you.  GREAT pattern and it was FREE! 

Holiday Gifts for the Family

My family will be receiving ribbed hats and scarves, knit from Debbie Bliss
Cashmerino Chunky.  This yarn is so soft and luxurious!  I decided to use the photo boxes because they were large enough to hold all the items, but they also don’t need wrapping ; just a sweet ribbon. They were on sale to boot which made them even more practical! Everyone needs storage boxes.

The pattern for the ribbed hat came from this book; such  an easy, quick knit!  

The ribbed scarves were made using a 2x2 rib pattern, until I thought they were long enough.  

The girls will get a pair of mittens too.  Using the chunky yarn is a great way to

knit because the project is finished in no time!

The Power of the Knitalong

A while back I read about magic loop method of knitting socks.  I was determined to find out about this mysterious trick, thinking I would have to wait a few years, and learn to be a better knitter first.  After knitting my first pair of socks on double points, I knew I wanted to learn magic loop and soon.  This is the exact moment when having a knitalong group is necessary, and valuable.
I went to knit night where a few ladies were knitting socks, among other things. I noticed Dawn was knitting socks with magic loop! I didn't want to intrude on her knit time, but was obviously staring at the knitting.   I mentioned that I really wanted to learn that, and she offered to show me.  She was concerned about showing me because she didn't feel she mastered the method, but to me she knew a whole lot more than I did, and I was eager to hear it. Between the cast on, and her demonstration of how to pull the needles, it took about 10 minutes to demonstrate.  I think I may have said, "That's it?"  Everything I knit in the round is using magic loop now.  A simple sharing of a knitting technique has totally changed how I knit and I am so thankful for the quick lesson.  You don't have to be a master to share knitting skills.  You only have to know a little something more than the next person, who wants to learn.  I was, and still am, so thankful for that little lesson.  I love the knitalongs!

My sock frenzy: Left, top down on magic loop. Center; toe up on magic loop. Right; started on dpns but learned magic loop and immediately switched while in the middle of the sock!

A Turtleneck Fit for a Chaweanie

It is nearly impossible to find a sweater to fit Ziggy, our chaweanie.  He is part dachshund and part chihuahua.  He has the barrel chest and length of a dachshund, but the slim body of a chihuahua.  I found this wurstwarmer pattern by FlintKnits, and thought it would be perfect for him.  I did have to make some modifications, because he is so thin in his body, but am very happy with the outcome.  Not only do you get a great pattern for your pup but you help a great cause!  The proceeds from the pattern sales go to Michigan Animal Rescue League.  

I really think Ziggy enjoyed the fact that I was making something for him.  He was very interested in the yarn, but more importantly, he was so ready to try on the sweater every step of the way.  Knitting needles poking and dangling from the sweater didn't keep him from sliding into his wurstwarmer!

Appreciation for a Hand Knitted Gift

At times I worry that the recipient of my knitting labors will not truly understand what they hold in their hands.  I have an appreciation for cashmere, merino, and organic fibers, and hope that the new owner of my gift will too.  I'm also hoping they will know how to care for the piece, and that it doesn't find itself in the dryer one day, shrunken to doll size.  I did some research on the internet and found all sorts of fabric care symbols and decided to put them on a card, which can be attached to the knitted gift.  I also included a space for the fiber content, so now the texture (and expense!) of that cashmere and silk blend can really be appreciated. 

I have these in jpeg, pdf, and word 2003 version.  I also made a gray version, which is more subtle.  Feel free to copy this photo and use if you can, or message me with your email address and I will send you the file you need.  You will need to print them off onto card stock to make them a bit more durable.  I plan to put a cute sticker on the back saying hand knitted by Rhonda, with a cute little lamb.  Find a way to make your own, and you will know the recipient of your hard work will have more of an appreciation.

eReader Cozy

What started many months ago as just a little thing I made for myself, evolved into months of reworking, reknitting, and revising so I could write a pattern.  The Felted eReader Cozy, aka Felted Kindle Kozy, has been revised for the last time (I think!).  Because the eReaders keep getting released in newer, better, and smaller versions, it's difficult to make a cozy the perfect size.  My cozy pattern is for Kindle's 2nd generation reader, but would likely work for other versions.  I sent the idea off to be considered for a knitting pattern calendar; we will see what happens.  I feel like I have finally reached completion with this pattern and can move on to something else; it's a relief.

This pattern writing was simple, as far as patterns go, because it was just a big rectangle.  Finding the time to put it all together in a pattern was not so easy.  I would now like to take on something with a bit of shaping involved.  Perhaps it's time to start the pattern for the chunky headband. I have to admit, I learned a lot about knitting through pattern writing.  I had to watch many online tutorials about felting, stitching seams, pattern writing using special knit grid paper; all adding up to hours of research.  I never realized that a knit stitch is actually taller than a purl!  Or that wool will shrink about 30% in the felting process. I had to figure out how large to make the rectangle if it was indeed going to shrink 30 percent.  Thanks to my son, Jordan, who talked me through the math before I had a melt down.   It was like studying engineering; technical and filled with mathematical formulas!

A Personal Knitting Milestone

When I began knitting, I told myself that I wanted to get to the skill level that I could knit socks. 

 Here are my first pair!  

I decided that I better get a plan because knitting socks
wouldn't just happen. So, I purchased a couple of books, the
easiest to use by Ann Budd, called Getting Started Knitting Socks.
 I read through the book, and was stumped. I read through it
again, and was confused still, but decided knitting socks
might be like swimming; jump in. It took a few tries, some
pulling out, some rereading directions, but finally they were
finished. By no means are they perfect, but they are good
enough. I learned two things; setting a goal with a plan
is effective even with knitting. Second, learning a new
knitting technique requires a willingness and the courage to 

jump in and try, even though there will be lots of mistakes, 

the learning happens in the trying.  Something happens during

the process.  The vision of the project and the techniques 

become more clear as you hold the needles and yarn in 

your hands,  something that can't happen by just studying 

the directions.

The Rewards of Giving

Not long ago I went to an open house, hosted by Melynda Bernardi of French Press Knits.  I was very excited to see her new knitting studio, which is gorgeous, and to see some of the amazing products being created by these young knitting entrepreneurs .  I was not disappointed!  I came away with beautiful yarn which has been great to work with, and some graphic art work for my knitting gifts.  Great job ladies!

I learned a long time ago, that when someone invites you into their home, you bring them a token of appreciation.  I have been knitting dishcloths, (since it was the easiest project to make) and giving them with a bottle of Mrs. Meyers aromatherapy dish soap as these type of gifts.  I was concerned though, because Melynda is a talented knitter, and I wasn't sure about giving a fellow knitter a gift they could make for themselves.

So off I went to her home, with my gift in hand.  Much to my surprise, she was thrilled! She explained that of all the knitting she has done, she has never made herself dishcloths.  I was relieved and content.  Imagine my surprise when I saw her recent posting about a visitor presenting her with dishcloths and fancy soap!  Take a look at her posting on Versus.  Melynda has written a pattern for organic facecloths, inspired by me! She tells the story so much better than I can.  This put a smile on my face and a bounce in my step!  It's great when someone appreciates even the little things you do.
Here's the pattern for the easy dishcloths:

Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth
Designer: Unknown
Rating: Easy
Materials: Sugar and Cream yarn; Size 6 or 7 needles (US)

Instructions:
Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1: Knit 4
Row 2: Knit 2, yarn over, knit across the row. Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches on the needle.
Knit 1, Knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row.

Repeat  until you have 4 stitches on the needle. You can now either bind off or do a round of single crochet and make a little loop of chain stitches in one corner so you can hang the cloth to dry when you are finished using it.

Felted Kindle Kozy

This is my first attempt at writing a pattern.  I wanted
to start small, then try something a bit more challenging
for pattern writing.  If you can cast on, knit, purl,
and bind off, then you can make this!
The most difficult part of this
is the felting, but the process of felting was fun to
watch.  If you can't do the binding off and back on
for the button hole, you can actually skip it and cut
a slit into the felting after it's dry.  You can download this
from my blog or from Ravelry.  If you make this kozy, let
me know how it goes; I'd like to learn how the pattern needs
to be improved or changed.