Photo Entry...

My ever looming birthday is right around the corner.. October 1oth to be exact and I've decided its time to upgrade my Sony point and shoot camera. Its served me well for years but there are just too many problems as of late. The flash has become weak, he AF is going, and then theres a lot of dust in the lens and some mechanical issues there as well. Ive always been into photography, it's been a passion of mine for years. Took some basic classes back in school but never opted for a professional camera. I'm leaning towards the Canon Rebel Xsi it has all of the features I need in a pro-camera and it's in a price range that I've been saving up for, probably the entire year and then some for.

I wanted to share some photos I've taken with my low range Sony over the years. Ive been very happy with it. Some are a bit grainy but beautiful all the same. Most of these photos are of my son back when I had loads of free time, and few nice landscapes. (Theres even a shot of me 5 months pregnant last June.)
I know my Mom and Aunts would love to see the babies when they come here to read this.



I'll post some knitting soon. I finished a sweater for my son, a scarf for DH that I just might steal, and then theres the progress on the second Icarus Shawl.
Hope everyone is well.

Pumpkins for all..

So we're all getting ready for fall at my house. Decorating inside and out. Planning trips to go apple and pumpkin picking next month. There's just nothing else like it. This time of year when the weather starts changing. The cool air seems to bring a sort of magic with it.

I think my favorite of the season are pumpkins. They fill my creative/artistic void. I like to carve intricate designs into the surface without puncturing through to the inside so they preserve better during the holiday. I wish I had some pictures to post but sadly they are on a computer I don't have access to at the moment. But as soon as I get a few pumpkins and a lil' mommy time I'll post them up. I decided after coming across this pattern on Ravelry that I should start knitting a few in the meantime. Wow, are they fast. I cast on 60 stitches instead of the 35 that the pattern called for. I wanted a bigger squishier pumpkin for my friend's mother who works as a teacher. (She needed one for her desk). The only problem was the stem. In the pattern you are to knit an I-cord but it would've looked ridiclous on such a big pumpkin. So I decided to change it up a lil.



Heres the stem pattern:

CO 6 stitches on DPNs
join being sure not to twist stitches and knit one round.
next round: *k1, kfb* to end (9s)
next round: k all stitches
next round: *k1, kfb, k1* to end (12s)
next round: k all stitches
next round: p all stitches
next round: *k1, p1, k1, p1* to end
repeat last row until desired length
BO



Fill with scrap yarn or fiberfill and sew onto top of pumpkin
There you have it! A stem worth having. Now I'm going to start making more.

Creepy Cloths

I apologize for the lapse in posts. My time has been so preoccupied with knitting two Icarus shawls for my friend's wedding on Oct 18 (I seriously need to pick it up again.) that I needed a break this month. I thought I'd do something fun for everyone. I decided to design some mini-dishcloths that were quick and addictive to knit up. At 5½"x5½" they're adorable and functional. My husbands been cleaning everything in the kitchen with my test knits. Autumn is my favorite season and Halloween is right around the corner so I was inspired. I've already made three sets for the mothers in my life. They are so fast its ridiculous.



There are six patterns all together. I made each written pattern with a corresponding chart of the dishcloth. From the sets that I've already made, I've managed to get about 2-2½ cloths out of one ball of Lily's Sugar'n Cream Solid Yarn. Though you can use any kitchen cotton you prefer.


They're sure to spice up your Halloween.

There are more photos of the cloths on my pattern page on Ravelry here.

The pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $3.25. You can obtain this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below the preview. Creepy Cloths are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download.





This is my first time designing a pdf. file so if anyone has any problems with the pattern please leave me a message or email me on Ravelry or at krispatay4@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to help you in anyway.

I'm really pleased with how these lil' scrubbers came out. It was such a joy to design them. I can't wait for more holidays. Hope everyone is enjoying early fall. The weather here in New York has been delightfully chilly.

Frankenknit...

I probably have about enough projects to post one a day for the next 3 months. I'm not however going to be able to do that so instead I'll just post some of my favorites. This one here is a real gem. I'm so pleased with how it turned out that I started another one in a different color already.



I took the basic pattern of Katja and modified it heavily.
I used the 6 month size for my daughter.
After I knitted the cups and joined them together I knitted 1 row of garter and then one row of (K2tog, yo) to create holes to weave in ribbon.



Then I added a lace panel from the pattern Liesel
I added a one stitch increase every 10 rows or so about 20 stitches in on either side so that the sides would puff out a little above the lace border on the bottom. When I was satisfied with the length at this point I knit a few more rows of garter and bound off VERY loosely so there would be some give and stretch after I pieced the next part on.



For the lace border I took an edging from the book "Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns". Made enough repeats to cover the width and then sewed it on. With a wash and block the cotton yarn didn't budge too much but did even out some stitches. I used one ball of TLC Cotton Plus. The pattern calls to make an I-Cord to tie in the back of the neck but I chose to knit some garter straps instead using the three stitches that are left after the cup decreases. I think it makes the piece look more elegant when their crossed.



Overall this was such a fun and easy free pattern to modify and truly make a one of a kind garment. If you want to see more details you can find this Ravelry project here

Im still here...

Its been awhile alright... I wonder if anyone's still reading? So much has taken over my life at the moment alongside being a Wife and Mother. Our family had moved temporarily to an apartment nearby in May until ours is finished being built. Ive had to personally take on the task of drywall and taping, painting, flooring, kitchen and bathroom, and lots and lots of finish work. Ive worked in the construction field for 6 years now so I'm used to this routine. Due to lack of funds its taking much longer than expected and holding everything back. This has been an especially hard year for all of us. We lost a great friend in April and miss him dearly everyday.

With so much going on Ive still managed to keep my mind busy with tons of knitting and sewing projects that I'll flood you with pictures on later this week I promise. I just wanted to drop in, say hello, and that I'm back for good. Heres a few shots of the babies. Victor will be 2 in August, and Ella will be 1 in October.







In my free time I've been launching an etsy shop where I will be selling handmade baby items both of knitting and sewing nature. Its been alot of work but making me happily busy at the same time. In addition to the new shop, I will be posting a new "Baby Themed" cloth design that I'm sure everyone will love. I've found so many uses for handknit cloths that they've become their weight in gold. From baby baths to kitchen counters they are incredibly absorbent and a wonderful alternative to paper towels being environmentally friendly. I think all my friends and family have received at least one from me at some point. As soon as I manage to add some items to the shop Ill post all the info. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer.

Teddy Bears & Boxes...

Its been forever since I last posted.. We're moving at the beginning of April to another apartment so I've been packing and cleaning instead of knitting and sewing.. I've still managed to whip up a few cute things.. I made this adorable bear for my friend's son John.
The pattern for the bear is from this Debbie Bliss book and can be found here on Ravelry.

I decided after he was knitted an pieced that he would need an initial sweater. So...



























The pattern I came up with was the same for all 4 pieces of the sweater.



Teddy Bear Raglan

Gauge : 22s & 9 rows to 4"x4"

using size 5 needles and worsted weight yarn
co 34s, work 2x2 rib for 4 rows then continue in stocking net stitch for 1.5" or as long as you want the body to be.
decrease row: k2 stitches, (skp)x2, k to last 6s (k2tog)x2, k2
next row: purl

continue to decrease in this manner until you have 10 stitches, break yarn an place stitches on holder.

Join pieces together with mattress stitch at the decreased areas only:
Mattress stitch (right-side facing) the right side of a sleeve piece to the left side of the back piece an the right side of the back piece to the left side of the other sleeve, then the right side of that sleeve to the left of the front piece.

Place all 4 pieces on long or circular needle, join yarn
K one row
Next row work 2x2 rib for the length you will want the collar.

Bo in pattern.

Finishing:
Sew up sleeves an down sides in mattress stitch. sew up front seam, weave in ends.

For an decorative initial I used these fabolous charts over at
Little Cotton Rabbits.

I changed the letter slightly because I wanted a bolder look.
My first attempt was some intarsia (disaster) but ended up using swiss darning for a neater look. It was much easier too. I found a great tutorial here.

**This pattern can be adapted to fit different sized teddys or stuffed animals, you just need to swatch knit for the diameter of the belly an circumference of the arms then add or decrease the amount of stitches. Keeping in mind the size of a collar you will need to get over the head of the doll. So you may need to increase the amount of stitches left on the needle in the front or back piece.


Also I am trying to finish and post a lil something I worked for easter in the next few days so we all can find time to make some in the next few weeks. ;)

Its a Spring Thing...

Theres was alot of fun that went into this design. This is actually the second cloth I designed. The first one just didn't do it for me. Im so amazed at all the heart cloths that everyone knitted. They are all so beautiful. Knitting has really brought a joy into my life. My husband keeps telling me I should write a pattern book. I'm a long ways away from anything like that with two little ones, but right now I'll enjoy a lil knitting during naps and car rides.

I finally got the kids (and the husband) healthy. I don't ever remember being that sick in my life. I definitely need to think about that flu shot next year.

I was having a very hard time naming this one. Seriously there were about 30 running titles. I might ask for help on the next one...

"Springing Up Flowers"







Finished Measurements : 9"x8"


Materials: 1 ball Lily Sugar'n Cream Solid
US #3/3.25mm needles
Tapestry Needle

*A note about this cloth and all the others with regards to needle size. I use a size 3 needle when I test-knit the pattern because I tend to knit somewhat loose. I also find that with a smaller needle the design seems to "stand out" more. You can however use any size you prefer from a 3 to a 7 and it would give you a good size with definition depending on how tight or loose you knit. Or whatever needle gets you gauge
My gauge on all these dishcloths is 23s to 4in.



Pattern:



co 47s

(k1, p1) to last stitch, k1 repeat for 6 rows

row 1: "and all odd rows" (k1,p1) 2x, K to last 4s, (p1,k1)

row 2: (k1,p1)x2, p39, (p1,k1)x2
row 4: (k1,p1)x2, p6, k10, p19, k3, p1 , (p1,k1)x2
row 6: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k18, p6, k13, p1, (p1,k1)x2
row 8: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k6, p8, k21, p3, (p1,k1)x2
row 10: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p12, k8, p7, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2

row 12: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k9, p5, k1, p4, k1, p8, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2
row 14: (k1,p1)x2, p4, k3, p2, k7, p3, k1, p4, k1, p8, k4, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 16: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k2, p1, k1, p4, k7, p2, k1, p4, k1, p8, k1, p1, k2, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 18: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p5, k6, p2, k1, p4, k4, p5, k1, p2, k1, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 20: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2 ,p2, k1, p8, k3, p2, k1, p4, k1, p1, k2, p5, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2

row 22: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p10, k1, p2, k1, p4, (k1, p2)x2, k3, p1, k3, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 24: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p13, k1, p4, k1, p5, k7, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 26: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p11, k2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p5, k7, p2, (p1,k1)x2
row 28: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k6, p6, k5, p2, k1, p6, k2, p1, k2, p3, (p1,k1)x2
row 30: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p1, k5, p6, k3, p3, k1, p4, k3, p3, k3, p1, (p1,k1)x2

row 32: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p2, k4, p4, (k3, p1)x2, k1, p4, k4, p1, k4, p1 , (p1,k1)x2
row 34: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k4, p4, k2, p4, k7, p1, k1, p4, k9, p1, (p1,k1)x2
row 36: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k3, p1, k1, p5, k1, p6, k3, p3, k1, p7, k3, p4, (p1,k1)x2
row 38: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p12, k3, p3, k5, p3, k3, p4, (p1,k1)x2
row 40: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p6, k2, p1, k2, p2, k1, p4, k1, p1, k4, p3, k1, p5, (p1,k1)x2

row 42: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p6, k5, p7, k1, p2, k3, p9, (p1,k1)x2
row 44: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k3, p1, k3, p2, k3, p1, k3, p6, k1, p4, k1, p9, (p1,k1)x2
row 46: (k1,p1)x2, (p2, k7)x2, p6, k1, p14, (p1,k1)x2
row 48: (k1,p1)x2, p2, k7, p4, k3, p5, k3, p1, k3, p4, k2, p1, k2, p2 , (p1,k1)x2
row 50: (k1,p1)x2, p3, k2, p1, k2, p5, k3, p5, k7, p4, k5, p2, (p1,k1)x2

row 52: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k3, p3, k3, p4, k1, p6, k7, p5, k3, p3, (p1,k1)x2

*****(Corrected Row)*****
row 54: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k4, p1, k4, p12, k2, p1, k2, p4, (k3, p1)x2 , (p1,k1)x2

row 56: (k1,p1)x2, p1, k9, p10, k3, p3, k3, p2, k7, p1, (p1,k1)x2
row 58: (k1,p1)x2, p4, k3, p13, k4, p1, k4, p4, k3, p3, (p1,k1)x2
row 60: (k1,p1)x2, p4, k3, p13, k9, p4, k3, p3, (p1,k1)x2

row 62: (k1,p1)x2, p5, k1, p17, k3, p8, k1, p4, (p1,k1)x2
row 64: (k1,p1)x2, p23, k3, p13, (p1,k1)x2
row 66: (k1,p1)x2, p24, k1, p14, (p1,k1)x2
row 68: (k1,p1)x2, p39, (p1,k1)x2

row 69: (k1,p1)x2, k to last 4s, (p1,k1)x2

(k1,p1) to last stitch, k1, Repeat for 4 more rows
Last row: bo in pattern

Weave in ends.


Chart:




Notes:
Chart is worked from right to left and bottom to top and does not include the 4 stitch seed border on either side.



I wanted to get this pattern out well before the start of spring. I have some very dear friends that I love, who take their time...
Again, thank you to everyone who left such wonderful comments on Ravelry an on here. Now... I have some new baby knitting thats piling up.

Designing Spring...

Polls are closed. Thanks to everyone who voted. The winning idea was Flowers and the decision was to make it a scene instead of a single object. I've actually finished designing this one today during my daughters afternoon nap. Its taken longer than I expected it to because I am working with such a small graph. It is somewhat difficult to squeeze alot into such a small area and have it look just right. Theres no margin for error. Overall I am extremely pleased with the outcome and I'm sure everyone will like it as well. I will say this though. It will be a bit more challenging than the heart or santa cloth, but I'm sure you will all do fine and enjoy every minute of knitting it as I did designing it. I'm hoping to do a couple this spring. We have some great holidays coming up, and I have lots of people to make cloths for. All the hearts on Ravelry are melting mine... They look Fantastic! Love, love, love!

The Spring Cloth will be up sometime after Valentine's Day.

1000 things at once.

Im going to try and make it a point to blog a lil more than I have. I've been knitting some really spectacular things lately and there needs to be proof that they exist other than on my shelf. Im just getting over a nasty flu myself. I was even hospitalized for dehydration which apparently can happen very quickly if your breastfeeding. Babies are doing well. Ella has a cold so shes nursing round the clock taking up most of my free time. But its ok, I wish this time in our lives would never end.

Can I tell you all how excited I am to see all the wonderful cloths everyone is making on Ravelry? Seriously, Im so touched that so many people are enjoying these patterns... Kinda makes me want to spend some time and make more. I would love to create a spring themed design. Im up for any ideas or suggestions that you might have.

I created a poll to see what everyone might like in the next cloth. Also whether I should design a whole scene like "A Christmas Dishcloth" (I know some of you are asking for more like that) or just a main image.




Should be fun to see the results. Oh an please if you have another idea cause im drawing a blank on other iconic spring pictures, leave a comment I would love to read some.

Ok I'm off to do some diapering.. ;)