Knit Baby Blanket

Since yesterday was like the hottest day in June in Iowa for the past like thirty years, I think it is safe to say that I am glad that baby blanket was done! Knitting while covered in yarn is not the coolest activity...especially when you don't have central air :) Sending out this blanket was one of the most relieving things I have done in awhile. I usually only do small projects that take a few hours, but this blanket was for a good friend. I thought it might be a challenge, but I wanted it to be great! I was asked to make a baby blanket for a shower and we didn't know if it was a boy or girl, but didn't want it to look too girly either way. So, I found yarn with green and orange along with pink and purple, and made the squares because it seemed more neutral than lacy patterns. Recently found out...it's a girl!!! yeay! But...Boy, was it a challenge. It took so much longer than I anticipated, and it looked so much smaller than I thought it might. Good thing newborns are tiny :) Oh well, it looked great besides that and the detailing was fun once it was done. I hope they enjoy this blanket! I'm so happy I was able to do this for my friend, but will stick with my small projects from now on!! Here is a sneak peek of my baby blanket...if you want the pattern just let me know (it's a really easy pattern and gives a cool result)

The completed blanket

The edges (not the ruffle) are tiny squares...

while the middle is big squares!

Beautiful layette :)...but I may be biased

Flower Pattern

Today I'm giving you a new knitting pattern! I promised this one back on my headband page. This is the flower I use for my headbands, and it looks really cute. There are lots of flower patterns you can choose from, especially if you can knit and crochet (I don't yet know how to crochet), but this is one I got from my sister-in-law. She is an amazing knitter and taught me this flower pattern. It's really easy, and turns out really cute.

Let's get started.

Knit on size 8 knitting needles

Cast on 4 sts 

Row 1: (RS) Knit in front and back loop of first stitch (increasing one stitch), k3 (5sts).

Row 2: Knit in front and back loop of first stitch (increasing one stitch), p4 (6sts).

Row 3: Knit in front and back loop of first stitch (increasing one stitch), k5 (7sts).

Row 4: Knit in front and back loop of first stitch (increasing one stitch), p6 (8sts). 

Make 4 more petals (casting on the first four sts on the needle holding the prior petals).
Do not cut the yarn after making the fifth petal.

Row 5: Join petals by knitting 40sts. 

Row 6: (P2tog) across (20 sts).

Row 7: (K2tog) across (10 sts).

Row 8: (p2tog, p3 tog, p2tog, p3tog) (4 sts).

Cut yarn leaving a 5-inch tail. Thread yarn onto tapestry needle and run through the four sts. Pull tight and anchor thread. Fasten off and cut thread close to the flower.

Petals of flower may be lightly ironed or block them to flatten them a bit, but usually I am just adding it to a headband, so I sew it flat :)

Headband Pattern

Today I have decided to share my headband knitting pattern with you. Headbands are probably my favorite thing to knit, but I usually do them sort of free hand, so it took some time for me to actually sit down and figure out the pattern. Now, I get to share it with you! One other note: I do make my headbands with flowers, so that post will be up soon :) I have also done bows, buttons, feathers, and some other things. Basically whatever someone wants I attempt to do. This headband was the first one I ever made, and I made it for myself in case it didn't turn out well, but it did! It's black and gold for Purdue, of course, and I love it!

So, here it is!

Directions:

CO 9 st

Row 1 (RS): K1, P1 rib across

Row 2 (WS): P1, K1 across

Row 3: Repeat row 1
Row 4: Repeat row 2

Begin increase
Row 5: Work in rib until center stitch (on this row it is the 5th stitch), kfb center st, continue in rib to the end of the row
Row 6: Work in the rib knowing that you will have two purl stitches next to each other right in the very center of the row--this is fine as you will increase BETWEEN them on the next row. 

Row 7: Work in rib until the center, m1B, continue in rib to the end of the row.
Row 8: Work in the rib pattern

Row 9: Work in rib until center stitch, pfb, continue in rib to the end of the row
Row 10: Work in the rib knowing that you will have two knitl stitches next to each other right in the very center of the row--again, this is fine as you will increase BETWEEN them on the next row. 

Row 11: Work in rib until center stitch, m1F, continue in rib to the end of the row
Row 12: Work in the rib pattern

Repeat rows 5-12 until you have 19-21 stitches on your needle. 

Work in the rib pattern for 4” 

Begin the decrease

Row 1 of decrease (RS): (THIS ROW IS WORKED ASSUMING YOUR MIDDLE STITCH IS A KNIT STITCH AKA AN ODD NUMBER, IF IT'S A PURL STITCH, DO ROWS 5-8, THEN 1-4) Work in rib until 2 stitches before the center stitch, k2tog, pfb (this is the center stitch), k2tog, continue in the rib
Row 2: work in the basic rib pattern knowing that you will have two knit stitches next to each other in the very center of the row
Row 3: Work in rib until the two center stitches, p2tog, continue in the rib pattern
Row 4: Work in rib pattern
Row 5: Work in rib until 2 stitches before the center stitch, p2tog, kfb (this is the center stitch), p2tog, continue in the rib 

Row 6: work in the basic rib pattern knowing that you will have two purl stitches next to each other in the very center of the row--this is fine as you will knit the two of them together on the next row. 
Row 7: Work in rib until the two center stitches, k2tog, continue in the rib pattern
Row 8: Work in rib pattern

Work decrease rows 1-8 until you have 9 stitches on the needle. Then just bind off leaving a 4" tail on the end so that you can sew the ends of the headband together.

I then add a flower to the headband, which you can find here. I knit the flower, then sew it onto the headband wherever it fits well! 

Ask if you have questions.

 

Knitting

Happy Sunday, everyone! If you don't know this, I enjoy knitting.So, I thought I would tell you my knitting story. It is so fun, and you get a great product once you are done. I don't tackle many big projects because I like to see the final product sooner as opposed to later, so I stick with small projects such as headbands, scarves, mittens, and the like. However, headbands are my favorite! They turn out so cute! The one pictured above was my first ever headband, and the first item I made for myself instead of for other people. It is Purdue colors. The thing that makes headbands so fun is that they are so versatile!

You can add so many fun things to make it cute and girly!! Plus, you can use so many different colors and they still look great. I know this probably just seems like a plug for my products, but I absolutely love knitting and haven't blogged about it yet. I actually started knitting in college when my aunt taught me over Christmas break. I knitted a few things, and then just gave it up because I got so busy doing other things. You know how college life is. When I started grad school, I didn't really enjoy watching TV much, and because I was busy all the time, when I did have free time I felt like I needed to use it wisely. So, I started taking up knitting again. This time around I stuck with it and taught myself all kinds of fun new stuff. Since then, I have taught myself to make hats and mittens. I've learned cool new stitches, and learned to memorize some patterns (headbands included) I didn't attempt a headband until after I finished my first hat and mitten set (which I gave to my now husband for Christmas) and it turned out great!! So, I kept knitting and people kept telling me that they would buy my stuff from me. 

After I finished grad school, I came home and couldn't find a job. This was pretty disheartening, so I began looking for other ways to make money. I tried to be as frugal as possible and began clipping coupons, walking places instead of driving, finding creative ways to have fun without money, and knitting for money! I started my facebook page and threw out the idea of selling my products, and people leapt at the chance to buy my stuff! I was super excited and made a good amount of extra money just from my hobby. I will make a post later about making money from hobbies, but for now you get the general idea. I am still tweaking it and working on how to make it even more lucrative (especially in summer), but it has been a fun experience! Let me know if you are at all interested! And visit Kara's Knits to learn more about my knitted products!