#knitting: Toque without Circular Needles

Last winter I made my first attempt using circular knitting needles and failed miserably. I couldn't figure out how to get the pattern to stop curling and got tangled up. So I gave up and stuck to the scarf and headband patterns I had mastered instead.

But at family Christmas, my boyfriend's Nana brought a bag of knitting and told us to pick whatever we wanted. I grabbed a pair of mittens and a matching toque because I figured I was FAR from making my own at that rate... I expressed my frustration with circular needles and told Nana that I would love to learn one day rather than give up. Much to my surprise, Nana had a pattern for a toque that did not require the use of circular needles!!!!! HALLELUJAH!

So I have some awesome yarn from Michael's Craft Store and I'm ready to give it a go... Here's the pattern and I'll post an update once I have tackled (and successfully knitted, I hope) my first toque.

Loops & Threads Country Loom - super bulky yarn

Pattern: 

Use 2-5mm Knitting Needles

 

Cast on 78 sts

1st row: K2 *P2,K2  - repeat from * to end of row

2nd row:*P2 K2  repeat to end of row

Repeat these 2 rows  until work measures about 11" (28cm)

Start to shape top of toque:

1st row: *K2 tog, P2tog  Repeat  from * to last 2 sts, K2tog   (39 sts)

2nd row: P1 K1 to last st P1

3rd row: K1 P1 to end of row

4th row: P1 K1 to last st P1

5th row: K1 P1 to end of row

6th row: P1 K1 to last st P1

7th row: * K2tog  repeat from * to last st, K1   (20 sts)

8th row: Purl

9th row: (k2tog ) 10 times. Break yarn, leaving a long end and thread it through the remaining sts, and pull it tight

Fasten off and sew center back seam.

#knitting: Throw Blanket

My knitting projects have been limited to scarves and headbands in my few years of experience, so I thought I would get adventurous and knit a blanket. I started the blanket with great ambition and three balls of yarn. Well I quickly learned that a blanket would require MANY more balls of yarn. So after a couple of trips to Michael's (after picking up the wrong colour on the first trip), I now have a blanket. 

Here's what I learned...

Materials Needed:
- Yarn (I used Loops & Thread brand from Michael's Craft Store; Cozy Wool, Super Bulky 6; 104 yards/95m)
2 balls for bottom blocking strip at each end
2 balls for blocking strip after that
4 balls of yarn for the middle section)

- Knitting needles (I used size US 19 or 15mm)

Cast On about 100 stitches
Knit stitch from start to finish on row 1
K1, P1, K1, P1, continue this pattern to the end of Row 2 and 3
Knit stitch from start to finish on row 4
K1, P1, K1, P1, continue this pattern to the end of Row 5 and 6
Repeat this pattern until the end
Bind off on last row

For my blanket, I went back after I finished the blanket to bind off on the first Row and along the sides. I did this by picking up the stiches on one needle and binding off on the other. 

But what I'm wondering is, what if I bind off on the last stitch when I reached the end of a row? I wonder if this will make the edges of the blanket finish nicely to look like there is a border...
This is where I am still learning, so I welcome feedback from the Knitting Community to help me out!

My First Knitted Throw Blanket 2014

Happy Knitting
<3 awaLL

#DIYartProject: Fabric Covered Canvas

With Christmas around the corner next month, I started thinking of DIY Projects I could craft up as gift ideas for family and friends. I turned to Pinterest and found some special fabric-art canvases and decided this would be a perfect gift for all the married couples in my life. A project like this can add up quickly in the $$ department, so part of this post is to share how I created the canvas gifts but also how to save a few dollars while doing it.

Materials Needed:

- Art Canvas (8"x10" for the smaller ones; 12"x16" for the larger ones)

- Fabric or Burlap (cut to 12"x14" or 16"x20")

- Rotary Cutter and cutting mat (I used the same one I use for sewing projects)

- Staple Gun & Staples

- Wooden letters

- Acrylic Paint

- Paint brushes

- Decorative ribbon, accent leaves or holly

- E6000 Industrial Strength Adhesive

Where to purchase:

Dollarama

8"x10" Canvas ($1.50 each)

12"x16" Canvas ($2.00 each)

Acrylic Paint ($1.00 each)

Paint Brushes ($1.25 a pack)

Walmart

Wooden Letters ($1.47 each)

Fabricland

Burlap 0.5mx1.5m ($12.00)

Fabric (for these projects I used fabric pieces from my collection for sewing)

Michaels Craft Store

Grey & White Chevron fabric 1.5 yards ($7.00)

Holiday accents ($0.60-$1.00 each)

Decorative Ribbon - used to frame the outside edge of the canvas ($4.00 each)

I made 5 small canvases and 3 larger canvases with the above supplies. So each canvas works out to be about $12.00 per small canvas & $15.00 for all three larger canvases.

Sizing Burlap to fit Canvas

Steps for putting the canvases together:

#step 1: cut fabric or burlap to fit the canvas block

Using my rotary cutter and cutting mat, I cut up all the fabric/burlap pieces first.

Attach the fabric/burlap to the canvas blocks using your Staple Gun. After you attach one side, pull the fabric tight and do the opposite end, then fold over each of the side (length wise) and attach. 

Painting the Wooden Letters

#step 2: wooden letters

Using your acrylic paint, cover the wooden letters with the paint colour you desire. *Note: you might need to sand down the rough edges on the wooden letter for a smoother paint finish.

Set aside to let dry

#step 3: paint on the fabric/burlap

For these gifts, I decide I would write the couple's last name and the year they were married directly onto the fabric/burlap. I am blessed with nice penmanship so I did not use any templates, but I would recommend this because it will help you stay within the lines. Painting onto the burlap was tricky.

Set aside to let dry

#step 4: finishing touches

Once your wooden letter and the other paint is dried, take your Industrial Strength Adhesive (Super Glue was not strong enough), and attach the wooden letter and decorative pieces. Set aside to dry.

*Note: Industrial Strength Adhesive is very strong (fumes) so best to do this in an area where you can open a window or set aside to dry outdoors (like a garage).

For our Best Friends New Home

For the In-Laws

3 Canvases for our Bedroom