Mustache Purse

I made this bag for my awesome cousin, Genny. I don't get the whole mustache thing... I mean, I am a fan of facial hair in general, but lately, "the 'stache" seems to be very popular. But, I figured it couldn't be that hard, right? (And it wasn't.) Luckily, this time I was smart enough to take notes. So, without further ado, BEHOLD! My first published original pattern.

Mustache Bag

This bag is knitted in one piece, folded in thirds and seamed on 2 sides- leaving a flap to, well, flop over the top. Because for this project gauge is not really important, you really could use whatever yarn and needles you want. If you wanna be a copy cat, I used worsted weight acrylic yarn, and my gauge was 5 sts and 4 rows per inch. The colors were black, and "aran fleck." Both by Red Heart. (I know, I know, life's to short to knit with cheap yarn. Sorry people, I'm on a budget.)

Gather gather.... 

• 1 skein of main color
• Just a little bit of accent color (I had a quarter of a skein, and had plenty leftover)
• 1 set of US sz 6 needles
• Itty bitty crochet hook. (Mine was a B/1-2.25mm)
• Yarn needle
• 1.5" Button

Dude, you need to know how to...

• Cast on
• Knit
• Purl
• Bind off
• Single crochet
• Fair Isle (or duplicate stitch, your choice.)

Got all of your crap together? Awesome. Now grab those needles and let's get started.

C/O 41 sts.

Row 1. (RS) Knit all sts

Row 2. (WS) Purl all sts

Repeat rows 1 and 2 (work in Stockinette) until piece measures 8" long. (This is the front)

Switch to garter stitch (knit every row, stop purling!) for about an inch or so. This is the bottom of your bag.

Go back to Stockinette for 10". (This is the back and just a little bit of the flap.)

Decision time: You can either start some stranded colorwork now with the chart- or just skip it and add the mustache in later with duplicate st. 

Fair Isle Chickens: If you're skipping it, then just keep on knitting in stockinette until you are about an inch from the "bottom" of the bag. (The garter st.) End on a "Purl row."

The Rest of You Brave Souls: Work the chart. Oh, and remember to work it UPSIDE DOWN. Because you're coming at the flap from the backside. See? Okay, after you finish off the chart, go back to plain ol' boring stockinette 'til you're an inch from the bottom of the bag. (the garter st.) End on a "Purl row."

Everybody on the same page now? Excellent. It's button hole time. Knit 17 sts. Bind off the next 7 sts. Knit 17 sts. Now you have this weird gap right? Don't panic, it's supposed to be there. And we're going to fix it right now. Turn your work. Purl 17 sts. Cast on 7 sts. Purl 17 sts. (If you don't know how to cast on in the middle of your work, click HERE for a super quick video that shows it.) Turn your work, and knit across all 41 sts. Bam. Buttonhole complete. Now just continue on in stockinette until the "flap" is even with the "bottom." Bind off.

Seaming! Lay your work flat with the wrong side facing you. Fold up the bottom third so the garter st area is now the "bottom" of the bag. Sew up the sides. You now have a bag! Fold the top down over and see where the button hole lays. Sew on your button. You now have a bag that closes!

Shoulder strap: This is a matter of preference. I made mine 28". I worked a chain of single crochet in the main color, turned and went back across it. Then I took my accent color and went all the way around it. So, it was 4 sts of single crochet wide. I sewed that bad boy on. Totally optional, but I also went around the "mouth" of the bag and around the flap in single crochet in the accent color. Weave in your ends and call it a day.

CHART

Dishcloths

I love knitted dishcloths. But, I rarely use them as dishcloths because I have a dishwasher. And although I love the idea of gifting them with a fancy homemade bar of soap- I've never done it. Probably because I don't know how to make soap.... (and the idea of using lye kinda scares me.)

Anyway. Back on track.

They're super quick to knit up, usually only taking a few hours, and there are endless patterns. Now, I take absolutely no credit for these designs. These belong to the fabulous women who take the time to carefully map out these designs on graphing paper, translate them into written instructions, and then selflessly post them online- for free. Kudos. 

Here are a few of my favorites...

Little Garden Girl 

by Rachel van Schie

 I knitted this up as a block for my springtime/garden themed afghan that I making for my niece. It's adorable. This is the pattern that made me finally  give up garter stitch as borders for good. I am now officially a seed stitch border-er. Is that a word? Probably not. Here's a link to her page, and the pattern. Enjoy it. I know I sure did.

Mario

by Carolyn Lisle

All right, it's not the best photo. But blame that on my camera skills and not the pattern. Ms. Lisle actually created a whole Mario Bros series. They. Are. Awesome. And I knitted them all. This pattern (and all of her others) are available as free ravelry downloads. Check them out here.

Grandmother's Favorite

by Unknown

This is just your basic garter stitch dishcloth. It's a great first project, and it's great for experienced knitters who just want to let their fingers go while watching a movie or something. I still enjoy making them. I also am pretty sure I'm not gonna step on any toes by posting the pattern...


Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn. Sz 6 Needles.

C/O 4 sts
Row 1: K4. Turn.
Row 2: K2, YO, K to end of row, Turn.
Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 sts.
Row 3: K1, K2tog, YO, k2tog, K to end of row.
Repeat Row 3 until you have 4 stitches on the needle.
B/O.

Abbreviations 
C/O= cast on
K= knit
YO= yarn over
sts= stitche(s)
K2tog= knit 2 stitches together as if they were 1 stitch.
B/O= bind (cast) off.

Welcome!

I am many things. I was born a daughter, then I became a sister. Twice. Later in life I became an aunt, then a  wife. Now I am a mother. But through all those things, I was always a knitter. 

There is something almost magical about taking two sticks and some string and turning it into something beautiful, functional, warm. And so, this blog is dedicated to knitters everywhere; young and old, newbies or seasoned pros. 

Let's get this show on the road.....

This is my absolute favorite shawl. It's warm, it's soft, and because it's color neutral- it goes with everything. I adapted this pattern from one I found on ravelry. Here's a LINK to the original pattern. (By a fabulous designer named Bev.)

Here's my adapted pattern:

Best Shawl Ever

Gauge not important.
Sz. 13 29" circular needles.
Lionbrand Homespun, colorway "Pearls" (2 skeins)

Cast on 3 sts.
K1, YO, K to end, Turn work.
Repeat until you have 146 sts on your needles.
At row 147, K1, YO, (K1, YO, K2Tog.) all the way across, ending with a K1.
Go back to K1, YO, K to end for the last 3 rows. (150 sts total.)
BO Loosely. 

As you can see, there's not much going on here in this pattern. Not even a single purl. (Which makes me happy, I really don't like purling.) The YO's not only create the holes in the fabric, but they serve as your increase. Which is how this triangle shaped shawl grows. When it's finished, it should measure about 2.5 yards across the top, nice and snuggly. 

Abbreviations: 
st= stitch(s)
K= knit
YO= yarn over
K2Tog= knit 2 stitches together as if they were one.
BO= bind off. (or cast off, depending on your lingo.)