I designed this simple envelope style clutch in February 2010 for a loom class I was teaching featuring the garter stitch pattern.  The project and pattern were created as an exercise in creating the garter stitch pattern on a knitting loom.  After the class was finished, I added the file to this blog and went to work on something else.

I’ve had a few questions on this little bag, so I thought I’d take a look at the pattern and add some helpful pictures of the finishing process.  So, here it is, all spiffed up:

Have fun!

When I was finished, I had almost a full ball of yarn left so I decided to make a hat to match the Lacey Scarflet.  I thought I’d post my notes on the hat here for anyone that might want to make one like it to match their Lacey Scarflet.

Lacey Mock Crochet Hat

Created to match the Lacey Scarflet by Brenda Myers.

Materials used

Large gauge round loom with 48 pegs.  The purple round Knifty Knitter was used for the sample project.

Knitting tool

Tapestry Needle

Yarn:  130 yards of an Aran weight yarn.  Berroco Pleasure was used in the sample project.

Instructions

Cast on 48 pegs.  Prepare to work in the round.

Brim:  Rounds 1-12 – k2, p2 to the end of the round.  (The brim in the sample project measures 1.25″)

Prepare for the next round by knitting the first peg once more.

Next Round - Work the Mock Crochet Stitch, in the round, as follows:

The working yarn should be resting at peg 1.  Bring the working yarn back around peg 48 and lay it across peg 48, peg 1, and peg 2.  Knit peg 2, then peg 1, then peg 48.

The working yarn will now be resting at peg 2.  Peg 2 is now the middle peg for the next wrap.  Bring the working yarn back around peg 1 and lay it across pegs 1-3.  Knit peg 3, then peg 2, then peg 1.

The working yarn will now be resting at peg 3.  Peg 3 is now the middle peg for the next wrap.  Bring the working yarn back around peg 2 and lay it across pegs 2-4.  Knit peg 4, then peg 3, then peg 2.

Continue wrapping and knitting 3 pegs at a time, treating the peg where the working yarn is located as the middle peg, until you reach the end of the round and the last 3-peg group has been worked (this will be peg 47, peg 48, and peg 1).

Repeat this round until the hat reaches the desired length.  18 Mock Crochet rounds were worked for the sample project.  This gives the hat a bit of extra room at the top so the hat is more relaxed and the lace work doesn’t get pulled open too far.

Finishing: Remove the hat from the loom using the gather removal method.  Cinch the top of the hat closed and weave in all ends.  Embellish with buttons, if desired.

The mock crochet stitch creates a pretty, open, lace fabric and works up pretty quickly.  I’d like to point out a couple of good tutorials that I came across on the mock crochet stitch while working on this project.  First up is a seven page picture-based tutorial found at loomknittinghelp.com:

http://loomknittinghelp.com/looms/rlr/stitches/stitches/spatterns_files/mockcrochetstitch.pdf

The second tutorial is a video clip of the mock crochet stitch being worked on a Kiss Loom by Graciela Worth.

(The Kiss Loom is a bit different than many manufactured looms because it has pegs and pins.  If you have a Kiss Loom, follow the video – if you are working with a loom that doesn’t have the pins, just skip that part of the process).

Good luck learning this fun lace stitch.

Have a great day!

My memory took a little jog this afternoon, so here I am to let you know about the first few loom alongs of 2012:

In the Loom Along group, we are working on the Loom Knit Bee Bopper Bag from the Lion Brand website.  This loom along will run through the end of February, so there is plenty of time for you to mosey over and get in on the fun.  Check out this BeeBopper at Made by Telaine for a bit of inspiration on this project.  Now you definitely want to make one, don’t you?

In the Loom Knitter’s Circle Magazine group, we are working through the LKC archives this year.  For the month of January, we’re working on the Lacey Scarflet pattern by Brenda from Loom Lore.

And that is it for now.  In February, we’ll be starting up a loom along featuring one of Renee Van Hoy’s pretty shawls from her Loom Knit Shawls pattern booklet, so stayed tuned for more info on that one.

These loom alongs are all happening in the groups on Ravelry.  If you aren’t a member yet, join up and come play with us!

Have fun!

Poor old sewing machine.  She’s forced to lurk about in the closet for months on end, lonely and neglected.  I’ve promised her that in the coming year we’ll spend a bit more time together

There may not have been a lot of sewing happening around here, but there has been plenty of crafting in the works.  A whole lot of string turned into pretty things.  Some of that string turned into 212 of these:

I don’t think I will ever make so many in one year again, so I wanted to mark that little accomplishment down here.  Someday, maybe I’ll be reading through these posts again and remember a year chock full of dishcloth cotton!

Now let’s look beyond the crafty stuff.  Last year, around this time, I looked toward 2011 and had one main goal in mind.  I see how fast my kids are growing and I wanted to get out there and make some memories.  My goal was to get out and do at least one activity, together as a family, each month.  I think we did pretty good meeting this goal and I hope that this year will be one that the kids look back on fondly as they get older.

As I look forward to 2012, I have a couple of little wishes – like improving on my sewing abilities, and getting better at knitting with needles – but, I again have one main goal in mind.  I want to continue to focus on my family.  This year, I want to strengthen our family foundation.  I want to see them strengthen their relationships and show more patience for one another.  I’ll be looking for ways to help them grow closer together as we make our way through 2012 together.

I am wishing all of you the very best for 2012, too.  May your year be full of love, laughter, and joy.  May 2012 be one of the best years you’ve ever had

Happy New Year!

These snowy friends are just a bit bigger than the little Spool Knitter Snowies.  They measure about 6.5″ in height.  These Frosties are made on the Knifty Knitter Flower Loom and are just sweet as can be.  No wonder the snow babies love them   Wouldn’t you like to invite a few Flower Loom Frosties over to your house to play?  Grab your copy of the pattern and get ready for some fluffy fun.

Happy Knitting!

Spool Knitter Snowies

Alright, snatch up your copy of the pattern, gather up all of your supplies, and knit up a little holiday fun!

Merry Christmas!

You will need:

A finished dishcloth (or cloths)

A 25″ length of string, ribbon, or yarn for each dishcloth

A small gift to tuck inside the cloth

(I’ve used candy, pretty soaps, lotions, etc)

A gift tag, if desired

A tapestry needle

To begin, thread the needle with the length of string, ribbon, or yarn.  With the front of the cloth facing you, weave the needle in and out of the cloth, about 1″ in from the outer edge.  (This is through the 2nd to last round crocheted for the cloth used in the example.)  Leave the needle threaded, for now.

Turn the cloth over so that the back is facing up. This will become the inside of the little bag. Place a small gift in the center of the cloth. (In the example, I am using Hugs and Kisses.)

Locate both ends of the string and pull them to gather the cloth up around the gift.  Tie once.  Do not knot the string.

Take the string end that is threaded on the needle and use it to add the gift tag, if you are using one.  If your needle tip is too blunt to pierce the tag, you can pierce it with a sharper needle or use a hole punch before threading the tag on the string.  Thread the string through the back of the tag and pull it through to the front.

Pull the tag up close to the gift bundle and remove the needle from the string.  Take both ends of string and tie them in a cute little bow.  Don’t double knot the bow.  Clip any excess length from the strings and then find someone special to gift it to.

By the way, this works just as well with a square cloth.

You get just a bit more bulk at the top, above the gather, but it’s still looks sweet all bundled up and sporting a little bow.

And that’s all there is to it.  Happy gifting!

17 years ago, I did just that.  I married my friend.  And he has become more than a friend.  He is my love, my partner, my heart, my everything.  I am thankful to have him at my side, taking this journey with me.  I love you always and forever, Troy ♥

Love,

Jenny

I’ve been lucky enough to get a peek at the pages that will be in the book and they are cute, cute, cute!  The book is full of wonderful projects that will delight all of the little ones in your life.

In addition to getting a peek-a-roo at the book, I was given the chance to make one of the projects from the book.  The pattern I worked with is called Koby, the Striped Cat.  Koby is an adorable little kitty and I just knew my little girlie would love having one of her very own to squeeze  and love.  I followed a very similar color scheme as in the original Koby, but with a bit more of a girlish flair.  I’ve decided we’ve made Koby’s cousin – Kiki:

As I’ve been working on this project, my kids have oohed and aah-ed over the little kitty.  Before she even had her legs and feet, my little gal was carrying the kitty around and asking her brother “Isn’t it SO cute!”

The sweet details that make this kitty so lovable and personable are exactly what you will get with each and every pattern in Loom Knitting for Little People.   And get ready for big smiles from cute little faces too!

If you haven’t already pre-ordered your copy of Loom Knitting for Little People, hop on over and do it.  You won’t be sorry.   =)

Have fun!

Piece o’ Cake Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

You will need:

one yellow cake mix

one 15 oz. can of pumpkin

one cup of chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup of water

plus, a cupcake pan

Preheat oven to 350.  Line cupcake pan with cupcake wrappers, or lightly coat with a non stick cooking spray.

Put the cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, and water into a medium sized bowl and mix well.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the batter into the muffin cups.  Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  Allow to cool, then eat ‘em, eat ‘em, eat ‘em all up!  Or be nice and share a few…

These would also be great with cream cheese frosting on them.  Mmmm!

Have a delicious day!