Brigid

Brigid is done! I really enjoyed this pattern, and plan to knit it again (sometime). I found that it knit up pretty quickly. This particular pair will be going to Mittens for Akkol. Our goal for Christmas 2008 is to send over approximately 630 pairs of wool socks. This will be enough for each child at the Akkol orphanage, and at a second orphanage (Urupinka) to receive a pair of socks.

Specs: Paton's Classic Wool in "Royal Purple", on 3mm DPNs.

OTN now: Viking Socks,
also on 3mm DPNs, and using Paton's Classic Wool.

Recent Knits

There has, indeed, been knitting! These are my daughter's slippers, from the Pocketbook Slippers pattern. They look pointy, but the pointiness disappears when they're worn. I'm going to attach some non-slip soles yet. I saw a good idea on Ravelry for slippers: the poster had encased a layer of stuffing with 2 soles, to make the soles more padded. I *have to* try this!
These are some baby socks for the Afghans for Afghans Baby Challenge. The deadline is 3rd Dec., 2007. Please click on the link in the sidebar, to find out about items needed, and fibre requirements. They also have a list of good patterns for charity knitting. :) The pattern I used is from www.knittinghelp.com
North Country Baby Socks, made with Paton's Classic Wool.
These are the fingerless mitts I made for my oh-so-scary Pirate costume. What a fearsome bunch we be! Arrr!

Bulky Mitts

Materials:
6mm dpn's
2 strands Paton's Classic Wool held together

Microsoft Word - Bulky Mitts.pdf

Sizes: Small(8 yrs)-Medium(women's)-Large(men's)

Cast on 28 (Med 32, Lge 40).
Join in round, distributing stitches over 3 dpn's, and being careful not to twist the stitches.
Knit in K2, P2 rib for 3.5 (Med 4.5, Lge 5) inches.
Place first 4 stitches of round on a safety pin. Cast on 4 stitches, and continue in K2, P2 rib until mitt from beginning is 8in (Med 10in, Lge 11in).
Decrease row 1: K2tog, P2tog around row.
Decrease row 2: K2tog around row.
Cut yarn, leaving a 5inch tail. Thread yarn through remaining stitches to gather, then pass yarn through the stitches a second time. Weave in ends.

Thumb:
Slip stitches from safety pin to dpn. Pick up and knit 4 st (Med & Lge 8 st) around thumb opening. Continue thumb in K2, P2 rib until thumb is 2.5 in (Med 3 in, Lge 3.75 in) long.
Repeat decrease rows 1 & 2. Weave in ends.

Ravelry!

I got my invitation to Ravelry on Oct. 7. What fun! My name there is shirleyknits. I'm having a great time looking around at the patterns, groups, knitting books, etc. If you haven't got on the waiting list yet, you should sign up. They're adding more people, and faster, all the time. We've got a group set up for Mittens for Akkol. These are the mitts and hat that I recently mailed off to Nanci at Mittens for Akkol. Back to Ravelry I go!

Bulky Ribbed Hat Pattern

Here's a pattern for an allover-ribbed, bulky knit hat. It fits a 23" head.

Microsoft Word - Bulky Ribbed Hat2.pdf

Materials:
2 strands of Paton's Classic Wool, in "Wedgewood"
6mm DPN needles

Cast on 84 stitches. Join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Work in K2, P2 rib for 10"(25.4cm).
Start working the decrease rounds:
Round 1: (K2, P2tog, K2, P2) x10, then K2, P2tog. There are 73 st on needles.
Round 2: (K2, P1, K2, P2) x10, then K2, P1.
Round 3: (K2, P1, K2, P2tog) x10. There are 63 st on needles.
Round 4: (K2, P1) to end of round.
Round 5: (K2tog, P1, K2, P1) x10, then K2tog, P1. 52 st on needles.
Round 6: (K1, P1, K2, P1) x10, then K1, P1.
Round 7: (K1, P1, K2tog, P1) x10, then K1, P1. 42 st on needles.
Round 8: (K2, K2tog) to last 2 st, then K2. 32 st on needles.
Round 9: Knit.
Round 10: K2tog to end of round.
Cut yarn, leaving a 7" tail. Draw end through remaining stitches, then through the stitches again. Weave in ends.
Optional: Donate hat to charity. The sample will go to Mittens for Akkol.

Wool Socks Needed!

Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/

"Mittens for Akkol" is a worthwhile charity that supplies an orphanage in Akkol, Khazakhstan with wool clothing, not limited to mittens. Currently, they are having a sock challenge, to provide each child at the orphanage with a pair of 100% wool socks for Christmas. Approximately 67% of the goal has been reached. Will you please help? Some cold feet will thank you very much!

One of Those Baffling Things

Sometimes adding links seems to completely baffle me. I am flummoxed at this very time, flummoxed I tell you! I have found this great charity link, and cannot seem to add it to my links in the sidebar, so here it is:

http://www.adoptachild.us

Let's hope it works here!

OK, so I can't click on it, but if I copy and paste the address, it works. Oy oy oy!
I'm getting dizzy from rolling my eyes. :D

Top-Down Raglan, Finished!

Hooray! The top-down raglan is finished. I plan to make more of these. I wish I had a pattern to make these in a bulkier yarn, but I'll just have to do the math myself, darn. I think I can, I think I can... :D Anyway, this one is size 6, and knit in Paton's Classic Wool in "Palais". It will go to CIC.

The other sweater is knit with Caron's Black Magic in "Violet Sky" (I think, but I already can't find the label), and Paton's Classic Wool. It's size 2, and is destined for CIC's Fall sweater challenge. I've cast on another that will be solid red, in Paton's Classic Wool, also for CIC.

This post could have been called "Long time, no blog." Where does the time go?! Hallowe'en has been and gone, and now we'll be winding up for Xmas. Yikes! I'll try really hard to post more often. :D

Beach Knitting

How I Spent My Time at the Beach:
I finished up several projects (kimono, red socks, and blue striped sweater), and knit 2 more (bib and ballband). The kids had a great time endlessly digging holes. We're still getting the sand out of our gear. :D