shawl, part 1

Here is the first half of the purple shawl for afghans for Afghans blocked and [hopefully] drying! Not sure how well that will go with Tofu helping. ;) And it is rainy today.

I may have to find someone to work for me on Friday so that I can finish this! I have been given a few days grace to finish it; the campaign officially ends Thursday.

I am not sure I realized that it was sport weight when I agreed to make a shawl with it. It is beautiful yarn however and will probably make myself one someday!

I also did not know we would have a mini-population explosion at work! Preemies coming in twos and threes! Oh well, job security, I guess.

Here is a close-up of the edging:

Easy baby blanket

Stegs

This blanket came about when afghans for Afghans (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/) was having a drive to get baby items to Afghanistan and I wanted a baby blanket that would be quick, easy and warm. In order to get the most mileage out of my yarn I started with a basic corner to corner “dishcloth;” beginning the decreases when I had used half my yarn. When the blanket was completed, it looked pretty boring, so I played around with edgings and colors until I found the saw tooth border that reminded me of stegosaurus’ spines; and so Stegs was born.

Photo credit [photographer: Michael Harding]

SIZE

one

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
40 X 40 inches, exclusive of edging

MATERIALS

[MC] Naturally Alpine 10 ply (Aran weight) [100% Pure NZ wool; 364 yds/333 m per 200g skein]; color: Shade 2008 Teal; 3 skeins
[CC] Trendsetter yarns Tonalita [52% wool/48% acrylic; 100 yd/91 m per 50g skein]; color: Color # 2376; 2 skeins

1 set US #9/5.5mm double-point needles

32-40-inch US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle to accommodate the large number of stitches

Notions required:

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

GAUGE

14.5 sts/19 rows = 4"(10 cm) in stockinette stitch with MC and larger needle

PATTERN NOTES

I knit the edging right onto the blanket for ease in finishing, but the edging may also be knit separately and sewn on, if preferred.

Always slip stitches as if to purl with yarn in front.

I increase 1 by putting my needle into the loop of the stitch below and knitting that.

PATTERN

Blanket:

With MC and circular needle CO 2 stitches.

Inc 1 stitch in each stitch. (4 sts)

*Slip 1, inc 1, knit to end of row.*

Repeat until there are 182 stitches. (one side will be approx 40 inches.)

*Slip 1, K2tog, knit to end of row.*

Repeat until there are 4 stitches remaining.

(K2tog) twice, slip first stitch over last stitch.

Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch, fasten securely.

Edging:

With CC and dpns CO 4 stitches.

Row1: Knit, knitting last stitch together with first slipped stitch of blanket at corner.

Row 2: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 3. (5 sts)

Rows 3, 5, 7, 9, & 11: repeat row 1.

Row 4: Slip 1, inc 1, knit4. (6 sts)

Row 6: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 5. (7 sts)

Row 8: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 6. (8 sts)

Row 10: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 7. (9 sts)

Row 12: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 8. (10 sts)

Row 13: Bind off 6, knit 4. (4 sts)

These 13 rows make one point. Repeat until you are all the way around; 15 points per side.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and secure. Give to your favorite baby, toddler or charity.

W&T

I get so used to abbreviations that I forget that not everyone knows them.

W&T means wrap the stitch and turn your work to knit/purl in the opposite direction = a short row. One then picks up the wrap with the stitch to work it when one next encounters it. Short rows are useful for lengthening the back of a sweater, making darts for shaping and sock heels and toes.

afghans for Afghans sweater

This is actually last year's a4A sweater, but here i give you the instructions - so far in one size only - watch for updates.

Afghans for Afghans Yoke Sweater

Size 8-10 years

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky or equivalent weight, 4 skeins or approx. 550 yards (mc)

Noro Kureyon 1 skein (cc)

Needles: US 8 (5 mm), US 10 (6 mm)

Gauge: 4.00 sts = 1" 5.00 rws = 1"

With mc & smaller circular needle, cast on 56 sts, place marker, cast on 56 sts, place marker, join.

Work in 1:1 rib for 6 rounds [1"].

Rib-to-Body Inc Round Work 8 [inc 1 in next st, work 7] 6x to first marker. Repeat sequence to end. (124 sts total, 62 sts between markers)

With larger needles, knit every round until piece meas 12”, work around once more, slip marker, W&T next stitch, purl to next marker, W&T next stitch, knit back. (This gives the back two extra rows.) Knit around completely once more picking up wraps as you go. Work two more rounds even.

Sleeves

With mc & smaller dp needles, cast on 30 sts. Place marker. Join. Work in 1:1 rib for

8 rounds [1.5"].

Rib-to-Sleeve-Inc Round Work 10 [inc 1 in next st, work 9] 2x.

Sleeve Increases

With larger needles, knit one round, then:

Inc 1 st on each side of marker every 7 rounds 6x.

Then every 8 rounds 2x.

Continue in pat st until piece meas 14"[round 62].

End last round 5 sts before marker. Place next 10 sts on holder.

Join Sleeves and Body Work 57 body sts, place next 10 sts on holder[removing marker], work 38 sleeve sts, work to 5 sts before second marker, place next 10 sts on holder [removing marker], work 38 sleeve sts. Place marker.

Yoke

Work 3 rounds even in main color.

Rnds 1 & 2: Knit 4 mc, *K1 cc, K5 mc* repeat, end K1 mc.

Rnd 3: *K3 mc, K3 cc* repeat.

Rnd 4: K1 cc, K1 mc, *K5 cc, K1 mc* repeat, end K4 cc.

Rnds 5-12: Continue in cc.

Rnd 13: First Dec Round *K2, K2tog* to end. (yoke measures 3.9" from sleeve join)

Work even in cc until 5.9" from sleeve join.

Second Dec Round *K1, K2tog* to end. Change back to main color **

After three rounds knit across back, slip marker, W&T next stitch, purl back to next marker, slip marker, W&T next stitch, knit back and continue around, picking up wraps as you go. (This gives the back neck two extra rows.)

Work even until 7.8" from sleeve join.

Neck Dec Round

*K1, K2tog, K2tog*

Rolled Neck Finishing: Change to smaller size short circular needle or set of dps, work 3 rounds 1:1 rib, then knit 4 rounds. Change to larger needles and knit two more rounds. Bind off loosely.

Kitchener underarm stitches. Weave in ends.

*I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky color “Emerald” which I feel knits up more like a heavy worsted weight.

& Kureyon col no. 128, each skein is unique so your results may vary.

**If working with 2 yarns in one round intimidates you, work 5 rounds even then just switch to Kureyon for a lovely band of color.

unexpected day off!

Wahoo! After weeks of very high census, we are down to a handful of babies and I was given an unexpected day off! This hospital calls it an ASD (I still do not know what it stands for, other than atrial septal defect - a hole in the upper chambers of the heart. All I know is it means I get to stay home and play.)

So I decided to share my good fortune with others by finishing some knit articles for Children in Common, afghans for Afghans, and Covenant House in New Orleans. The items are on the drying rack now, hoping to be dry by Friday for mailing.