Sock Knitting

I picked up this fun sock yarn on sale to try my hand at sock knitting.  This pattern was easy and the foux cable adds interest. The pattern is for the Fall 2010 Knit Simple Magazine.  My toes will be warm and colorful this winter!

Placemat Tote



You can make a tote bag in a jiffy using two placements.  Placemats are finished front and back so most of the work is already done for you. I picked up these placemats already trimmed with lots of ribbon for just a few dollars.  Look for deals on the clearance table, you only need two for this project.  Begin with your two placemats placed face down, side by side, and pin a zipper face down between the two.  Top stitch the zipper to the mats.

Use a wide zigzag stitch to secure the ends of the zipper and the mats. Be careful not to stitch into the zipper thereby breaking your needle!   Trust me, I speak with experience. 

Open the zipper to facilitate turning the bag.  With right sides together sew around the remaining three sides of the bag using approximately 1/4 inch seam allowance. 



Open seam at the bottom of the bag and match seam line of bottom with side as shown forming triangle.  Stitch across the bottom of the triangle.  This will form the base of the bag. Turn the bag to the right side. 
 

Cut two pieces of matching grosgrain ribbon for handles approximately 20 inches long.   

Attach the ribbon to the bag leaving a 3 to 4 inch tail.   Tie a knot covering your stitching line.







Enjoy! This is a great size for carrying a notebook, magazine, knitting project, quilt squares, etc.

Sweet Stack Towel

I've been interested in applique lately and with all the holiday gatherings and subsequent hostess gifts, I took advantage of a golden opportunity. I think this towel turned out pretty cute. I just cut out the cups and started with the top cup and did a simple stitch around the edges. The pieces overlap slightly. You can get the artwork here to make your very own. I'm hoping to put together a machine embroidery download at some point (once we can get that figured out).

Lace Hand Towel

This towel and wash cloth set was a fun project for practicing lace knitting.  I choose a lace pattern from my pattern stitch collection and added a seed stitch border. This would be a great project to practice a lace pattern for your next sweater project.  I could really see the stitches (and the mistakes) by the time I finished this simple project. This small project would also be useful for practicing reading charts. Choose your lace pattern and multiply the stitch count by the number of repeats you will make then add 4 to 8 stitches for the border and each side.  Cast on your stitches and start with a 4 to 8 row seed stitch border.  Keeping 4 to 8 stitches in your seed stitch pattern at each side continue with the lace pattern until you reach your desired length.  Finish the towel with your seed stitch border.  This is an easy way to sharpen your lace making skills.  This project was made with a cotton and bamboo blend yarn that is very soft with great drape.  I had enough yarn to make a matching wash cloth.