Episode 3 of the Knit and Purl

Episode 2 of the Knit and Purl

New Podcast YouTube Channel.

I have made an YouTube account for our Podcast! The Channel is: The Knit and Purl,, Make sure to subscribe!

Episode 1: Show Notes

Episode 1: Show Notes

You can find the show here:  The Knit and Purl
Finished Objects:


1.) Dips and Hackle Hat 
Made with: MarumaYarnSupplies, 100% wool

2.) Minion Hat
Made with Red Heart Super Saver. With a size 6
Hook

















3.) Knochel Socks:
Made with Patons Kroy in Color Brown Grey Marl
With size 2/2.75 mm needles

Works In Progress:

1.) Route 66 Vanilla Latte Socks:

Made with Patons Kroy in color Route 66
with size /2.75mm needles.

2.) Teddy Bear Baby Lovie:
Made with Red Heart Super Saver. 

Random Things I talked about:

1.) Our Ravelry Group! Please Join, we talk about knitting, tips and tricks, and what we are making.

Weekend Review #3: The Thought of Ankles.

Its been awhile...I'm sorry, the last 2 weeks have been busy for me. I published a pattern and am working hard on my pattern book. I am participating in an online craft sale called  "Open Sale" on google plus, March 6th- 8th, which means I needed to get some things in my shop!

I digress, but I will answer the big question. I have been knitting, and I have knitted ALOT! You guys might be excited to hear that I am going to launch a few new patterns in the near future! ( these also are the things I have been mostly knitting on)


The fist pattern I have already published, is the Dips and Hackle Hat. I love how the yarn worked up and the pattern. I was scared the decreases would pull the lace together, making it scrunch, but it did not! I am so happy with it and hoping others might actually download it...












The Second pattern ( I dont know the name for it yet, if you have any ideas, I will create a thread on the Ravelry group )is a shawl knitted out of worsted weight yarn.  Sorry the picture is not perfect, but you can see the basics. It is a triangle shawl, with increases on the sides and center. You can see that it has a gradual color change. I think that that is as far as the grey is going, then i will do the same gradual change into mint green, Do you think that is a good color to add? Then to end it I will either do a lace border or an applied border, I can not decide.




I am also working on a sock recipe. I know in my first weekend recap, I said my socks are not working out. I am so happy to announce that, that fear and frustration is gone and socks are my new favorite garment to knit. I am going to name the recipe, "The Thought of Ankles", because they are ankle socks! Think about it guys, in the knitting community ankle socks are so underrated. I could not find a good pattern to use. So i made up my own and they fit perfectly.
I dont have a good picture, but i will update this tomorrow and post one.

Thanks guys and remember to check out the Ravelry group, and subscribe to this blog.

Ethan

The Dips and Hackle Pattern

Hey Guys I am sorry I could not do a weekly recap this week. But... I've published a new pattern!
The Dips and Hackle Hat Pattern!

Thanks For Checking this out!! I will have a Weekly Recap this Friday.

New Ravelry Group

So hey guys! This is short shout out to our new Ravelry Group! Here is the link: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-knitpurl

Please join! I have created it so that we can discuss this blog and talk about crafts!
Thanks!
Ethan

Guest Star #1: Staring Jeri Riddle!

“Guest Star Blog 1”

Jeri K Riddle, a.k.a. “Minnasnowtan”

When asked why I knit, I joke that I knit so I don’t kill people, but crafting is my art and creative release. I find knitting to be very relaxing and is my go-to stress reliever. I have been known to fall asleep in my chair with a pair of needles and a skein of yarn in my lap. Believe me, it can be quite interesting to wake up and realize you have no idea where you are on your stitch count!

I guess I better say a little bit more about myself so people do not get the wrong idea and think I am a sociopath with a yarn obsession. I started knitting when I was nine-years-old, but it took many years to master it. The first project I ever completed that was usable and recognizable was a little red Christmas bell. Forty years later, I find I still do not know it all and one of my goals for the coming year is to learn and master a new technique, most likely it will be cable knitting. I absolutely love the look of cables and have done one project so far that used a simple, modified cable in its design.

I also sew, scrapbook, make hand-made paper and several other crafts. I know how to crochet, but have never mastered an even tension. :/ That said I have taught several others how to crochet and can even do so left-handed. The extent of my crocheting these days is to make simple embellishments for some of my knit projects.

I have designed a few knitting patterns over the years and my most recent is for a newborn hat that looks like the “Minion Baby Costume” from “Despicable Me.” I love the movies and collect minions as well as knit them. I have made over a dozen miniature minions for family and friends. I might try making a larger-sized one and several costume changes for it. We will see what the next year brings.

I had always wanted to make Christmas stockings for my family and so I learned how to knit socks and then designed my own over-sized stockings from there. I have also designed a ring-bearer’s pillow made with crochet thread.

I must confess I HATE seams! I honestly suck at them and will modify a pattern if at all possible to avoid them. If a pattern calls for double-point or circular needles, I am in!

I cannot call my crafting a career, but it is a passion and I always have a number of projects in the works. I am currently working on a cowl for myself using some absolutely to-die-for Irish wool my daughter gave me as a gift. (I love natural fibers by the way.) I am also working on a heart garland that says, “The Riddle’s est. 7-11-15.”

There are several other projects in the works, but I think I have rattled on long enough for a first-time “Guest blogger.” So until next time, may your stash overflow and your gauge be accurate! Happy knitting!

Guest Star #2: Staring Mary Ann Martinez!

My name is Mary Ann and I love knitting and I knit every day. I find knitting to be relaxing and I try to make it interesting by designing my own patterns or changing patterns as I see fit. I am currently working on a silk, wool and cotton tunic sweater shown in the picture below.  I call it the Summer Spun Sweater since that’s the name of the yarn made by Farmhouse Yarns.

I’m having mixed feelings about it. I think the yarn is better for lace projects. Right now the sweater looks “straw-like” and rough looking. I will continue along though and finish it anyway since I’ve already gone a long way with it.

I also have a new pattern that I published on Ravelry. It is my first pattern that I am publishing to sell and I hope people have a good time knitting the pattern. It’s called the Waving Rib Hat. Here is the link:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waving-rib-hat

I usually sit in my bedroom and knit every morning before I go to work. I work at a software company in New York City and though I enjoy my job very much, I like being able to stay home and knit when I have free time. Listening to music while I knit is also important to me and keeps me going. I love all kinds of music. That’s all I can write for now. Thanks for reading!

Mary Ann

Weekend Recap #2

So guys last week I was busy so I did not post. Sorry, but I'm here today! This week was not as busy though. You might not know, but I design patterns, and try to put them out each week so I have been working on a pattern mostly. I do not what I will call it, but here is the picture. It is a shawl, with some eyelet lace on the side panels and cables surrounding them.   The yarn I am using is a Unknown wool brand that I had in my stash. It is dk weight and I really like working with it.

The next project I am working on is the baby sweater I mentioned in my last post. It is a size 7 in children sizes and has a cabled edge.

I really like the way the yarn is working up, It is Bernet Baby Soft Steps. If you are ever considering knitting with it, DO IT. The yarn is so soft for an acrylic, and makes a great looking fabric. This is one of my first sweaters I have knitted so it does not look that great but I think it is a good attempt. I cant wait until I get better at sweaters, because there some great patterns out there. 

So next is still a W.I.P. The dreaded socks. I wanted to say thank you to, patsy coats, for the recommendation of the sock class. I think it has helped.  These are my third pair of socks, but it seems like they are the hardest. I did 2by2 rib with 58 stitches, knitted 64 rows for leg and did a fish lips kiss heel. I am using size 2, needles which I think are making the knit a little easier, but still they are taking A LONG TIME...

I  have started a raverly group for this blog: TheKnitandPurl. So if you would want to check that out that will be great. There is a thread in there right now labeled "GUEST STARS". I am going bring a guest to post what they have been doing ever 2 weeks, so if you think you would like that please comment. Thanks for stopping by, subscribe! 

Design Corner #1

Designing is a fun, yet hard thing to do. I love the feel when you finish a design and can call it yours. This is one of the main reasons that I wanted to start this part of my blog. Today's design tip will be: Cables!

Cables are such a good thing to use when designing a hat or anything. They add Character to the design and warmth to the fabric. When using cables, make sure that you add ease into the design, because cables will pull the fabric together.  Cables are also a good alternative for ribbing. If you use it for ribbing it adds the looks to the rib, but still has the stretchy-ness of a normal 2by2 rib. Consider using cables on the edges of shawls, blankets, and anything flat, because it does not allow the fabric to curl.

Well that was my quick thought that I wanted to share with you, Thanks for reading!

Weekend Recap #1

Here's to Weekend Recap #1!

So this week was a busy week in my life, I started my own website on Monday and was trying to build that up. I also got ALOT of knitting done! But the week flew by really quick and didn't realize how much I actually got done. Well any ways, I will first share what I finished. 

My fist project was another Snoodie hat, from the pattern that I designed.  It is made from Isaac's color way Merino blend, which was very soft considering it was 50% acrylic. That pattern is aw-fly fun and i am definitely going on work on another one. 

















The next Project was a design I was working on, the Riptide Beanie, It was knitted with Jubilation Kettle dyed Merino Yarn.  It is 2by2 rib, which makes it extra stretchy. I would change how long I knitted it, though. It is a little tight, when i wanted it to be a slouchy. But over all I liked the hat. Merino yarn is so luxurious to work with and it makes the project so much fun! The pattern is a breeze and it was a great movie project... I would like you guy's opinion. does the variegated yarn take away from the ribbing? Any ways that was a fun project. 








The next one was a crochet pattern from Repeat Crafter Me. It the baby owl hat... isn't it so adorable! The pattern was a perfectly written pattern and great overall. I messed up with the eye though so the left one is smaller than the right, it sorta makes it look like the owl from the Tootsie Pop Commercial!







I made 3 crocheted beanies, to go into my shop, so if you head over there you can see those.


MY WIPS:

Right now on my needles I have 1 pair of socks, which I am about to give up on...

I have a baby sweater which will probably be done by next weeks post, and that is it for my wips.


RANDOM THINGS:

So this week I ordered some wool yarn on etsy. It is 100% wool, and is sorta scratchy, so the shop owner told me to wash it... HOW DO YOU WASH A HUGE HANK OF YARN?!!  If yo know how to please tell, because I don't know anything about wool, or animal fiber...

Another random fact is that Cables are in right now.. so if your a designer and want to make something that gets hits, use  cables.

Well that's it for the Weekend Recap, remember it is my first one, so its a little choppy. Thanks for stopping by, and please Subscribe!

Purpose of The Knit and Purl

I have started this blog, to share my thoughts about crafting (specifically Knitting). I am a crocheter, knitter and sewer, and own my own business, www.lukeknitz.com. I have been knitting for 8 years and crocheting for 2, so I thought I could share some of the things I have learned along my journey. 

I will post a weekly "Weekend Recap", which basically tells you what I am working on, what I messed up with and everything in between.

I will also post a weekly, "Design Corner", which will be a post about how to design knitted clothes, hats, anything. It will also include some crochet. 

These will be my main post in the week, but I somehow know that there will be more. So if you want to walk with me in my knitting journey, please subscribe to this blog, tell me what you want to read about, what you have questions on, etc. 

Thanks!

Knitting Goals for 2016

I noticed that people are doing these more, often now... and I know it is almost the end of January, but why not try!
(ps I am not much of a goal driven person so this is new)

1.) Knit with animal fiber
     I always use acrylic yarn because it is quick to get and cheap. I thought that I can boost my confidence in knitting if I use more expensive yarn. I think I would focus more...

2.) Try other peoples patterns
      This might seem conceded, but I only use my patterns, or I make stuff up as I go. Other peoples patterns, I am not really drawn to, but I am going to start, this is going to lead to my next point.
 Some I think i am going to try:
- The Across the Pond Shawl, designed by Mina Philipp
- The Fidra Hat
-Damask Rose
-Trill Sweater.

3.) Knit 12 Pairs of socks.
Pretty self explanatory

4.) Design a book.

5.)Knit for charity.
- I always want to help out the society, this is a good way to right?


These will be all for now... but looking forward to updating them! :)

 

Today I wanted wool socks, but they are so expensive!!! Then I thought of knitting them. I have been horrified of knitting socks, because small yarn and small needles to me equal catastrophic mistakes.
​     Joann's ,Patons sock yarn was on sale so I bought some, and started a new journey in my knitting career. I am making them with the pattern by Virginia Rose-Jeanes, the Vanilla Latte Socks. I am ADDICTED! If you have any other sock patterns, please share, because i cannot stop knitting them!
 

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