200th Post and The Book Project

 

 

I was thinking of creating a teddy bear with 200 on it's body like I did for my 100th teddy bear.

But I have knitted only 173 teddy bears so far, and I need to knit few more before I can do the 200th teddy bear. I actually kept the 100th teddy bear at home, unlike all of the others who are spread throughout the world hopefully bringing some smiles to its recipients.

This is my 200th blog post and to celebrate I was thinking of having another fun giveaway.  I will have one soon, I just need to get a bit organized and decide on what should be raffled off, as I have few charitable donations requests and I need to make sure I have some things for these events as well.
So don't be disappointed the gift away will be here soon, just not today.

Today I would like to talk about The Book Project, again. It has been a long process. Check out all the posts I made about The Book Projects so far. It started as a class assignment. Even though the class finished, I continued. I have sent out the proposal to various publishing companies(one at the time), and nothing happened except some rejection letters or emails. But in March 2014 I received an enormous box of yarn from Cascade Yarn company. This is what the box looked like. They believed in my capability as a designer and decided to provide yarn support for the entire book. I started from the beginning again. Everything had to be rewritten, reknitted and those that I have only as sketches needed to be turn into an actual patterns and samples. In September 2014 I started my group on Ravelry and posted a call for test knitters to work on the patterns for The Book Project. Last night I have finished the last sample and the last of the patterns.

I have knitted 109 various things for the collection of 31 patterns that will be in this collection. Unfortunately I did not find a publisher for an actual printed book, but the entire collection will be available as an e-book and each pattern will be available individually as well. In mid February you will see what I have created from the gorgeous yarn in this enormous box. And yes, there will be a gift away of the e-book, patterns and samples as well. 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for visiting.



Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

Well, I know it is already January 2nd and the New Year Day is over, but even the second day is nice and fresh, full of promises and expectations.

As a knitter I work with numbers. I have to keep track of how many stitches and rows I have made and how many I still need to make.

As a designer, I need to make sure that all the numbers in the pattern are correct and match the original sample, so the other knitters can replicate the finished object in a way that their finished object resemble the original and fit correctly.

As a human, I am curious and interested in learning more, and sometimes that involves math and statistics.

Out of 198 blog posts that I have published during the existence of my blog, the most popular is this one: Minions. I am so looking forward to see the new movie in the summer. And yes, I have seen the Despicable Me movies more then once, twice....way too many times.

This year my blog visited people from 138 countries. The previous year my blog visited people from 141 countries. I have never travelled in my real life to that many countries, and I don't expect to ever achieve that, so to me this is amazing.

I have written and published 78 knitting patterns. A lot of them are free, and for some I charge small amount of money. It is not much, and I do not rely on it or use it to pay my bills, but it allows me to buy few skeins of yarn, which I turn into new toys, and therefore more new knitting patterns. The toys are given away: to various charities all over the world, to my local library for the summer reading program, to children, and to you, my readers, when I have random giveaways (new one is coming very soon!).

All of this happened because my grandmother was patient enough to teach me how to knit. I wish I could show her all that I have achieved with my two hands and her gift she passed onto me - love for yarn and creating something one stitch at time.

Thank you for visiting.

Last Day and New Beginning

Everyone reflects on the year that is about to end and think and plan for the New Year, hoping that it will bring more of ........ (fill in the blank).
I do that too, thinking of what I have accomplished and seen, and done, and what else I would like to see and make and accomplish in the New Year.

I would like to say THANK YOU for visiting my little corner of the internet where I share my ideas, and creations that bring smile to me, and people around me, and I hope that it brings some joy to you, my readers, as well.

Thank you, my wonderful test knitters with who I had the privilege to work with over the course of the past few years. You have helped to bring my ideas to life by test knitting, and giving me wonderful feedback and suggestions. I hope that my patterns reflect that.

Just a little trip down the memory line to remember what I have created in 2014, starting with a ball of yarn, two hands and few knitting needles:

Cheers to a New Year.
Let's hope it's a good one.
Stana

Knitting Pattern for Happy Lovie/Blankie

Happy Lovie / Blankie

A friend of mine asked me for a baby blanket. Her baby already has knitted Teddy Bear Blanket from me and apparently likes to chew on the tip of the bear hat.  She asked  if the next blanket can have many chewable tips. I have used the same yarn as the previous blanket, and came up with this little Lovie.

On Christmas Eve, the baby received wrapped present. For a short period of time the blanket was a huge success, the baby chew on it. Then it was forgotten because apparently babies prefer the wrapping paper instead of the gift inside.

And here is the knitting pattern:
Happy Lovie / Blankie
by Stana D. S.
Finished Size: approximately 9" ( 23 cm) in diameter.

Yarn: About 3 oz (85 gr) of medium weight yarn. You will use about 120 - 130 yards (110 - 119 meters). Small amount of white, blue, and red yarn for eyes and lips.

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US # 5 / 3.75 mm (set of 5), circular needles US 5 / 3.75 mm or your preferred needles for knitting in the rounds.

 

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker.

 

Abbreviations:

KFB - Knit in front and back of the same stitch. This creates 2sts from 1st.

SSK - Slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together. This decreases 2sts to 1st.
K2tog - Knit 2 sts together. This decreases 2sts to 1st.

R - Round
CC - Contrasting Color
P - Purl
K - Knit
 

Gauge: 19sts & 26 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch.

 

Techniques:

Seed stitch: Must be even number of stitches.
Row 1: *Knit 1, Purl 1; repeat from * to end of row
Row 2:  *Purl 1, Knit 1; repeat from * to end of row
To create seed stitch repeat row 1 and 2 for pattern.

Picot Bind off:

This special bind off creates a little tentacles along the bind off edge. Work as follow:
1. Knit first 2 stitches, bind off first stitch. Return the 1st back to the right needle.
2. Using knit cast on cast on 3sts.
3. Bind off 5sts. Return the 1st back to the right needle. 
Repeat step 2 and 3 until all stitches are bind off.

Instruction:

With yarn and double pointed needles cast on 4 sts. Divide the sts evenly between the DPN. Place a stitch marker on the first st, and begin working in the round.

R 1: Knit around (4 sts total)
R 2: KFB all around (8 sts total)
R 3: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (8 sts total)
R 4: KFB all around (16 sts total)
R 5: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (16 sts total)
R 6: *KFB, P1; repeat from * around (24 sts total)
R 7: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (24 sts total)
R 8: *KFB, K1, P1; repeat from * around 8 times (32 sts total)
R 9: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (32 sts total)
R 10: *KFB, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * around 8 times (40 sts total)
R 11: *(K1, P1) 2x, K1; repeat from * around 8 times (40 sts total)
R 12: *KFB, (K1, P1) 2x; repeat from * around 8 times (48 sts total)
R 13: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (48 sts total)
R 14: *KFB, (P1, K1) 2x, P1; repeat from * around 8 times (56 sts total)
R 15: *(K1, P1) 3x, K1; repeat from * around 8 times (56 sts total)
R 16: *KFB, (K1, P1) 3x; repeat from * around 8 times (64 sts total)
R 17: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (64 sts total)
R 18: *KFB, (P1, K1) 3x, P1; repeat from * around 8 times (72 sts total)
R 19: *(K1, P1) 4x, K1; repeat from * around 8 times (72 sts total)
R 20: *KFB, (K1, P1) 4x; repeat from * around 8 times (80 sts total)
R 21: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (80 sts total)
R 22: *KFB, (P1, K1) 4x, P1; repeat from * around 8 times (88 sts total)
R 23: *(K1, P1) 5x, K1; repeat from * around 8 times (88 sts total)
R 24: *KFB, (K1, P1) 5x; repeat from * around 8 times (96 sts total)
R 25: *P1, K1; repeat from * around (96 sts total)
R 26: Bind off in Picot Bind off.

Eye Patch (make 2):
With the CC yarn and three double pointed needles, cast on 4sts. Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the rounds.
R 1: Knit around (4sts total)
R 2: KFB all around (8sts total) Cut off CC. Attach white yarn.
R 3: KFB all around (16sts total)
R 4: Knit around (16sts total)
R 5: *KFB, knit 1; repeat from * around (24sts total)
R 6: Knit and bind off. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the end on a yarn needle. Sew the eye patch on the face of Happy Blankie using the picture as a guide.

Lips:
With two double pointed needles, cast on 12 sts in red yarn.
Row 1: Knit 12, then turn the work upside down, with second needle pick up and knit 12 sts along the cast on edge.
R 2: Knit around, 12 sts per needle, (24 sts total)
R 3: *KFB, knit 10 KFB, repeat from * around, (28 sts total)
R 4: Knit and cast off from both double pointed needles at the same time. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Sew the lips on the face of Happy Blankie using the picture as a guide.  

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D. S. The pattern is for personal use only. Please acknowledge the author.

Thank you.

Knitting Pattern for Bob, the Bunny and Ferdinand, his helper.

Bob and Ferdinand

Bob, the Christmas Bunny and Ferdinand, his helper were part of my December Mystery KAL in my group on Ravelry.

The pattern is complete and available now. This is the link to download the PDF file with the pattern.

download now


Thank you for visiting.

Peace on Earth

....to all.

Bob and Ferdinand

May kindness, compassion, love, and hope win. May the world be a better place for all.



Thank you for visiting my little corner where I share my love for yarn, knitting, and gifts that bring smiles.

Man in the Yellow Hat

Man in the Yellow Hat

Even though I am still working on finishing up The Book Project (I am so close to be done with all of the patterns) I do get distracted every once in a while by some other knitting.
This was a special request. A sweet 3 years old boy asked for Man in the Yellow Hat for Christmas. Although there are many softies of Curious George, the Man in the Yellow Hat is impossible to find. Through the channels of a friend of a friend I was asked if I can try to knit one. So I played with yarn and this is the result. I think he looks pretty close to the drawings and I am sure the little boy will be happy to find the Man in the Yellow Hat under the Christmas tree.

Man in the Yellow Hat  - detail

Of course I have kept notes while knitting, and I will write up the pattern. Most likely I will do that once the rush before the Holidays is over and we all have a bit more time to sit, relax, and knit more during the long wintry days ahead before spring arrives.

Thank you for visiting.