Work in Progress and new toy mystery KAL

Another week went by. I am not sure anymore how long I have been at home, not going to my work and not receiving a real paycheck. I am not complaining. We are lucky, so far we are healthy and my husband continues to receive his paycheck and our bills are covered so far. Life is good.
According to my weekly baking pictures I have been baking six weeks already. This week was a rather adventurous. I tried for the first time to make croissants from scratch. It was a success. I also baked brioche bread. I used the middle class brioche recipe from the book  The Bread Baker's Apprentice, by Peter Reinhart. And of course I returned to some of my favorite comfort foods and desserts.

Pictured are: Salmon Cakes, Croissants, Brioche Bread and Buns, Bread (though this time it baked in a funny shape, mushrooms?), my mom's Crepe's recipe, Fruit Salad (it is a dessert though not baked), Apple Strudel, Chocolate filled Croissants, Brownies.

baking week VI

In the knitting world I managed to finish a work for a third party. I cannot post pictures until after the publication goes live, but I really enjoyed knitting this project.
I also made the Mask Buddy to help with wearing the face mask and I started to work on our next toy mystery KAL. Later this week I will post more details in my Ravelry Group and add the pattern to Ravelry. I have named them Leonard and Lola, but I might change my mind.  Pictured  is the yarn I am using for my Leonard and Lola.

May Toy Mystery KAL

Mask Buddies

Across the street we have a new family. Fox mama and her cubs are living somewhere in this small piece of wood that is surrounded by houses and we are so lucky to be able to see the fox family from time to time.
I am trying to capture the little foxes on my camera, but my phone camera is not good enough to zoom in and my real camera still uses film and I have not use the camera in a long time, and it seems to be harder and harder to actually find a place where the films are still developed.  As you can see foxes are one of my favorite animals to use in my knitting patterns.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Mask Buddy (and perhaps future bookmark)

Mask Buddies

This is a simple half an hour project that might help with the face mask. I have seen variety of similar things on the internet. I decided to use cotton yarn for mine and make it double to keep the mask buddy from stretching too much. These I made in less than an hour, while talking to my mom on Skype. They are for my friends, and neighbors. I will be making few more for others. A friend of mine sew the mask on her sewing machine. I have added the elastic, knitted the mask buddies, added two buttons and I have a small gift of appreciation for my neighbor. Sewing the button took me the longest, or it seemed to be. 

Once this pandemic is over, you can use it as a book mark, or a needle holder. 

Finished Mask Buddy Size: 7" (18 cm) long.

Yarn: Cotton yarn in your favorite  color. For my sample I used Sugar and Cream yarn, I think.

Yardage: Approximately 30 - 40 yards (28 - 37 meters).

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US # 7 / 4.5 mm (set of 3).

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, two buttons.

Abbreviations:

CO = Cast On

DPN = Double Pointed Needles

K = Knit

K2tog = Knit two sts together, this decreases two sts to one st.

K3tog = Knit three sts together, this decreases three sts to one st.

KFB = Knit in front and bag of the same st, this creates two sts from one st.

PM = Place Marker

Rnd, Rnds = Round, Rounds

SSK = Slip st, slip st, and knit the two sts together, this decreases two sts to one st.

St, Sts = Stitch, Stitches

Gauge: 20 sts & 23 rows 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Instructions:

This mask buddy is knit in the round, in one piece. The two buttons are sewn on after finishing. 

With the yarn and two DPN, CO 6 sts. PM and begin to work in the round.

Rnd 1: Knit

Rnd 2: (KFB, K1, KFB) 2x (10 sts total)

Rnd 3: (KFB, K3, KFB) 2x (14 sts total)

Rnd 4: (KFB, K5, KFB) 2x (18 sts total)

Rnds 5 - 34: Knit

Rnd 35: (SSK, K5, K2tog) 2x (14 sts total)

Rnd 36: (SSK, K3, K2tog) 2x (10 sts total)

Rnd 37: (SSK, K1, K2tog) 2x (6 sts total)

Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining sts on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Finishing:

Weave in ends. Sew the two buttons on the knitted piece. If you need to make the mask buddy longer or shorter just add or substract few rounds between the increase and decrease rounds.  

Face mask and mask buddies 

Knitting pattern for Frog Mask

Frog Mask

Finished Mask Size: 9.5" (24 cm) long, 6" (15.5 cm) wide at the widest point, 15" (38 cm) tall strings.

Yarn: Cotton yarn in green (MC), white (C1), red (C2) and black (C3) color. For my sample I used Sugar and Cream yarn.

Yardage: 140 - 150 yards (128 - 137 meters) of MC, and 15 yards (14 meters) each of C1, C2, C3.

Recommended Needle Size: US # 7 / 4.5 mm, and DPN US # 7 / 4.5 mm (set of 5).

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), 10" (26 cm) long and 7" (18 cm) wide rectangular piece of cotton fabric to add layer to the mask.

Abbrevations:
C1, C2, C3 = Contrast Color
CO = Cast On
DPN = Double Pointed Needles
K = Knit
K2tog = Knit two sts together, this decreases two sts to one st.
K3tog = Knit three sts together, this decreases three sts to one st.
KFB = Knit in front and bag of the same st, this creates two sts from one st.
MC = Main Color
P = Purl
PM = Place Marker
RH = Right Hand
Rnd, Rnds = Round, Rounds
SSK = Slip st, slip st, and knit the two sts together, this decreases two sts to one st.
St, Sts = Stitch, Stitches
W & T = Wrap and Turn

Gauge: 20 sts & 26 rows 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Techniques:
I-cord:
Bind off with I-cord:
I-cord string:
Short Rows:
Three Needle Bind Off:

Notes: This mask will not protect you. However, it might protect others from your cough.
In time of distress, I tend to find solace in knitting. Over the past week I was talking with my mom via Skype about the current situation in her country. While we were talking, she was telling me about the lack of face masks, and how she and many other people are sewing them from cotton fabric. Based on these conversations I started to make some sketches and decide to create a mask on my own. One that has a bit of whimsy, and has the added layer of cotton fabric. I used cotton yarn for the mask, therefore it's possible to sterilize it.

Instructions:
When casting on leave a longer tail to use later for sewing.

Mask:
With the MC yarn CO 42 sts.
Row 1: K1, P1
Row 2: P1, K1
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Short Rows sections:
Short Row 1: K37, W&T
Short Row 2: P32, W&T
Short Row 3: K27, W&T
Short Row 4: P22, W&T
Short Row 5: K17, W&T
Short Row 6: P12, W&T
Short Row 7: Knit to end
Row 6: Purl
Rows 7 - 10: Repeat Rows 3 - 6, including the short rows.
Rows 11 - 14: Repeat Rows 3 - 6, including the short rows.
Cut the yarn, leaving the live stitches on needle.

String with the leg:
With the MC yarn and DPN, CO 12 sts. Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Rnds 1 - 3: Knit
Rnd 4: SSK 6x ( 6 sts total)
Continue to work the sts as I-cord for 14" (36 cm).

Join the live stitches on the mask with the I-cord string and continue with I-cord BO.

After the I-cord BO continue with I-cord for another 14" (36 cm).
Then continue in the rounds:
Rnd 1: KFB 6x (12 sts)
Rnds 2 - 4: Knit
BO in Three Needle BO technique.

Lower Side string (make 2) :
With MC pick up 6 sts along the lower corner of the mask. Make I-cord approximately 14" (36 cm) long.
Then continue in the rounds:

Rnd 1: KFB 6x (12 sts)

Rnds 2 - 4: Knit

BO in Three Needle BO technique.

Repeat for the second string.

Eyes (make 2): 

With MC yarn and DPN, CO 6 sts. Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.

Rnd 1: Knit

Rnd 2: (KFB, K1) 3x (9 sts total)

Rnd 3: Knit. Cut off MC, attach C1.

Rnd 4: Knit

Rnd 5: (SSK, K1) 3x (6 sts total)

Slightly stuff the eye with fiberfill. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining sts on needle, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Repeat for second eye.

Tongue:

With the C2 yarn and DPN, CO 6 sts. Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.

Rnds 1 - 2: Knit

Rnd 3: (K3tog) 2x (2 sts total)

Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining sts on needle, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Finishing:

With the tail from the CO sts sew the two eyes to the upper part of the mask about 4" (10 cm) apart, sew the tongue in the middle between the two eyes, about 2" (5 cm) from the top. With C3 yarn (black yarn) embroider the eyes and a fly on the tongue.

Fabric Lining:

Make a template of your frog mask onto a piece of apper. Cut out the template, and make sure it fits inside the knitted mask. Cut the shape 0.5" (1.5 cm) wider than the knitted piece. Lay out the fabric right side out against the knitted piece and pin the two layers together. Fold the cut fabric along the edge. Sew the two pieces along the edges.

See the pictures bellow.

Copyright:

This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S. Please acknowledge the author.

Stay safe.

Thank you.