Rug Hooking ... From Paper to Linen

Draw and Transfer a Pattern onto Foundation Cloth for Rug Hooking

First, draw a pattern on a piece of paper. I start with pencil (better to erase mistakes) and retrace in a dark colored Sharpie. For larger patterns, I use wrapping paper ... the kind that has a one inch grid on the back makes for measuring much easier if you know ahead of time how large your canvas is.

Second, I retrace the pattern with pencil onto Red Dot Tracing Material. To do this, simply place the tracing material on top of the pattern. I corner tape both the pattern and tracing material to hold them steady while I trace.

Third, I replace the pattern with a piece of Foundation Cloth ... my favorite is Dorr Linen. Then, with a dark colored Sharpie, again retrace the pattern. The Sharpie will bleed through the Tracing Material and onto the Foundation Cloth. Do make sure the Sharpie is good and new - otherwise, the pattern will transfer too light or not at all.

Lastly, I do one more trace-over with the Sharpie to make sure I will have no issues seeing the lines on my Puritan Frame (purchased at Homespun Woolens).

I recently dyed a couple yards of wool just for this project :) Should definitely keep me busy 'til the baby's born :)

Pattern inspired by an area rug first found on Pinterest and later tracked down here.

Beady Eye Owl

mulitiple of 12 sts, 8 rows, worked in the round

abbreviations

k: knit; p: purl; ktbl: knit through the back loop

pb: place bead - crochet hook bead and place on st, ktbl

c4f: cable 4 front - place 2 sts on cable ndl and hold to front, k2 sts from working ndl, k2 from cable ndl

c4b: cable 4 back - place 2 sts on cable ndl and hold to back, k2 sts from working ndl, k2 from cable ndl

feet first

• r1: k
• r2: *p4, k4, p4; rpt from * to end
• r3: *p2, c4b, c4f, p2; rpt from * to end
• r4-r10: *p2, k8, p2; rpt from * to end
• r11: same as r3
• r12-r16 except r14 (see next): same as r1
• r14: *p2, k2, pb, k2, pb, p2; rpt from * to end
• r17: same as r3
• r18: *p2, k8, p2; rpt from * to end

head first

• r1: *p2, k8, p2; rpt from * to end
• r2: *p2, c4f, c4b, p2; rpt from * to end
• r3-r7 except r5 (see next): same as r1
• r5: *p2, k2, pb, k2, pb, p2; rpt from * to end
• r8: same as r2
• r9-r15: same as r1
• r16: same as r2
• r17: *p4, k4, p4; rpt from * to end
• r18: k

note: for a multiple of 10, simply decrease the p's between the owls in half
         for just the owls, simply remove p's between the owls

Penny's Santa Hat

Okay, I know Christmas is over, but I've been wanting to have this Christmas hat I saw Penny wear on Big Bang Theory.  It's awesome.  I wasn't able to find it to buy anywhere ... so I decided to knit it.  I found the pattern on the 'net and chose the yarn a couple weeks ago.  I had to wait a bit for the yarn to arrive and actually finished two projects before starting on this hat last night.

I posted the pattern on Ravelry and merged with the author's later.  Thanks again for sharing.  My version should be done in a couple days (I hope).  Then, I'm sure I'll pack it right away for next year.

I've already modified the pattern for my project on Ravelry.  I didn't like the way the first row of red wasn't more seamless so I decided to k the first row of red and begin the main pattern after wards.  I figure one row of k would make it look more smooth transitioning from the white to the red anyway.  We'll see, but I'm sure it'll be kewl.

I'm thinking about adding one more dpn to the mix ... it's getting quite crowded on only three as the author suggests.  Maybe even switching to a circular.

Evan's Hobo Mittens

by Jamie Marie Binkley

These convertible mittens were made as requested for my son, Evan. He named them "hobo" mittens after he was asked to try them on mid-knit.

Abbreviations

inc :: increase

st(s) :: stitch(es)

k :: knit

p :: purl

k2tog :: knit two together
k3tog :: knit three together

ssk :: slip, slip, knit sts together
sssk :: slip, slip, slip, knit sts together

pm :: place marker

sm :: slip marker

m1 :: make one

m1r :: make one right

m1l :: make one left

rnd(s) :: round(s)

ws :: wrong side

Specifications

Yarn :: 1 Skein Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes (50% Royal Alpaca / 50% Merino)

Needles :: 4.5 mm (US 7) Double Pointed Needles

Gauge :: 4 sts and 6 rows = 1" in circular stockinette

Notions :: Stitch Markers and Stitch Holder (or waste yarn) for Thumb Gusset; Yarn Needle for Elizabeth Zimmermann's Sewn Bind Off and threading "lifeline"; waste yarn for threading "lifeline" and provisional cast on; Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends

Size :: 6.5" long, 2.5" cuff width, 3" hand width, 2" thumb length

Pattern

Cuff and Hand

CO 24 sts and join being careful not to twist.

Rnds 1-10: k1p1 ribbing

Rnd 11: k

Rnd 12 (inc): m1, k12, m1, k12 (26 sts)

Rnds 13, 14, 15: k

Rnd 16 (inc): k12, pm, m1r, k1, m1l, pm (sts between markers are gusset sts), k to end (3 gusset sts, 28 sts)

Rnd 17: k

Rnd 18 (inc): k to marker, sm, m1r, k to marker, m1l, sm, k to end (5 gusset sts, 30 sts)

Rnd 19: k

Rnd 20 (inc): k to marker, sm, m1r, k to marker, m1l, sm, k to end (7 gusset sts, 32 sts)

Rnd 21: k

Rnd 22 (inc): k to marker, sm, m1r, k to marker, m1l, sm, k to end (9 gusset sts, 34 sts)

Rnd 23: k

Rnd 24: k to marker, place 9 gusset sts on stitch holder or waste yarn, k to end (25 sts)

Rnds 25 and 26: k

Rnd 27: k while threading lifeline

Rnds 28 and 29: k

Rnd 30 (dec): k2tog, p1, k1p1 to end (24 sts)

Rnds 31 and 32: k1p1

Bind off on ws using Elizabeth Zimmermann's Sewn Bind Off

Thumb

Place 9 gusset sts on 3 dpns evenly

Rnd 1 (inc): k to end, pu and cross 2 sts, join in the round (11 sts)

Rnds 2-5: k

Rnd 6 (dec): k2tog to last st (5x), move last st to beginning of next rnd (6 sts)

Rnd 7 (dec): k2tog to end (3x) (3 sts)

Weave in remaining 3 sts

Cap

Provisional CO 13 on dpn
Pick up 13 sts from lifeline on back of hand side on dpn leaving a long tail to  later bind off with.
Rnd 1: k13 picked up sts, p1, k1p1 to end of provisional CO sts, join (26 sts)

Rnds 2 and 3: k13, p1, k1p1 to end

Rnds 4-8: k

Rnd 9 (dec): ssk, k9, k2tog, ssk, k9, k2tog (22 sts)
Rnd 10 (dec): ssk, k7, k2tog, ssk, k7, k2tog (18 sts)

Rnd 11 (dec): ssk, k5, k2tog, ssk, k5, k2tog (14 sts)

Rnd 12 (dec): sssk, k1, k3tog, sssk, k1, k3tog (6 sts)

Graft last sts using Kitchener stitch - tutorial

Remove provisional cast on and bind off using Elizabeth Zimmermann's Sewn Bind Off

Remove lifeline and weave in all ends

Make 2