Other Craft - Cork Wreath

I love things in jars. I also love wine. So... this came about to decorate my kitchen counter!



I've been collecting wine corks for a little while now, and I hope to make a wreath one day. One like this one below from Living Savvy.



I saw one just like it in a friends house in the spring. I loved it and started saving my corks ever since. I will be sure to post my work in progress when I start making the wreath. I know it'll take a lot more corks than I have.

I was thinking about starting it when the jar got full. That shouldn't be long with how much I love my wine.

Year Of Scraps

Well, I know it hasn't been a full year, but I'm ending my year of scraps for 2012 and will start fresh and new in 2013!

Even though December isn't completely over yet. I know I wont have any more scraps. I'm working on one project only, a scarf made out of 1 skein of yarn. No scraps until the end.





I then went out and bought my suet bird feeders!



And stuffed them both full of my scrap yarn. I cannot wait until the spring when I can put these outside and watch the little birdies grab what they want for their nests.

Moss Stitch Knit Mittens

When my sister-in-law asked if I could make her a pair of mittens, I told her how I never made mittens before, but it wasn't going to stop me!

Knit and Crochet. They are two completely different types of yarn work, and I am so glad that I know how to do both. They both have their positives and negatives. Crochet does happen to be a lot faster, and as for knit, I believe there are certain items that look better knit. Mittens, happen to be one of them.

So yes, when my sister-in-law asked if I would make her a pair of mittens, I could have crocheted them. I also could have chosen a simpler pattern. But, I did not. I choose a moss stitch pattern, that the pattern writer called "Mittens To Match Hermione's Deathly Hallows Graveyard Beret". I would have tried the hat as well, but ran out of yarn. I could not find any yarn that would match the dye lot... plus I wasn't sure if my sister-in-law wanted a hat as well.




I'm going to copy the pattern here as well. I really liked these mittens, and I would hate to want to make them again, and have the pattern not be there anymore. I'm saving paper too! The one thing I am doing, is switching the pattern for the RIGHT HAND and LEFT HAND. I found that the pattern for the LEFT HAND really fit my right hand better. Strange.

You will need worsted weight yarn, Size 5 DP needles, and 2 stitch markers.
Cuff:
Cast on 44 stitches. Distribute them over DP needles, making sure each needle has an even number of stitches
Join in the round, making sure not to twist the work.
K1 P1, repeat to the end of row
Continue this pattern for 3 inches


Right Hand:
Row 1: Knit around
Row 2 & 3: K2, P2, repeat to end of row
Row 4 & 5: P2, K2, repeat to end or row
Row 6: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, place stitch marker, M1, K2, M1, place stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 7: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P1, K2, P1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 8: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, K1, P2, K1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 9: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, M1, K1, P2, K1, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 10 & 11: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P2, K2, P2, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 12: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, M1, K2, P2, K2, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 13: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P1, K2, P2, K2, P1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 14: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 15: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, M1, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, M1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 16 & 17: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 18: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, M1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, M1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 19: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 20: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 21: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, M1, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 22 & 23: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 24: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, M1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 25: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, P1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 5 more times
Row 26: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, stitch marker, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times
Row 27: *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times, remove first stitch marker. Using a yarn needle pull a piece of holding
yarn through the stitches between the markers, you will come back to these stitches later. Remove second stitch marker. Cast on 2 stitches onto the needle with your first 16 stitches. These stitches replace the original two that are now part of the thumb gusset. Continue working with the stitches beyond the second stitch marker P2, *K2, P2* repeat 5 more times. You should now have recreated a circle of 44 stitches for the hand portion.
Row 28: P2, K2, repeat to end or row
Row 29: P2, K2, repeat to end or row
Row 30: K2, P2, repeat to end of row
Row 31: K2, P2, repeat to end of row
Continue knitting in pattern until the mitten is long enough to hide your pinky finger (stretched is fine), making sure the last 2 rows are repeats of P2, K2.
Begin following instructions for Hand decrease.


Left Hand:
Row1: Knit around
Row 2 & 3: K2, P2, repeat to end of row
Row 4 & 5: P2, K2, repeat to end or row
Row 6: K2, P2, place stitch marker, M1, K2, M1, place stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 7: K2, P2, stitch marker, P1, K2, P1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 8: P2, K2, stitch marker, K1, P2, K1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 9: P2, K2, stitch marker, M1, K1, P2, K1, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 10 & 11: K2, P2, stitch marker, P2, K2, P2, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 12: P2, K2, stitch marker, M1, K2, P2, K2, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 13: P2, K2, stitch marker, P1, K2, P2, K2, P1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 14: K2, P2, stitch marker, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 15: K2, P2, stitch marker, M1, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, M1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 16 & 17: P2, K2, stitch marker, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 18: K2, P2, stitch marker, M1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, M1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 19: K2, P2, stitch marker, P1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 20: P2, K2, stitch marker, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 21: P2, K2, stitch marker, M1, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 22 & 23: K2, P2, stitch marker, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 24: P2, K2, stitch marker, M1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, M1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 25: P2, K2, stitch marker, P1, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P1, stitch marker, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times
Row 26: K2, P2, stitch marker, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1, stitch marker, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times
Row 27: K2, P2, remove first stitch marker. Using a yarn needle pull a piece of holding yarn through the stitches between the markers, you will come back to these stitches later. Remove second stitch marker. Cast on 2
stitches onto the needle with your first 4 stitches. These stitches replace the original two that are now part of the thumb gusset. Continue working with the stitches beyond the second stitch marker P2, *K2, P2* repeat 8 more times. You should now have recreated a circle of 44 stitches for the hand portion.
Row 28: P2, K2, repeat to end or row
Row 29: P2, K2, repeat to end or row
Row 30: K2, P2, repeat to end of row
Row 31: K2, P2, repeat to end of row
Continue knitting in pattern until the mitten is long enough to hide your pinky finger making sure the last 2 rows are repeats of P2, K2.
Begin following instructions for Hand decrease.

Note: When creating the thumb gusset for the left hand - there will be 16 stitches, then a place marker, a variable number of stitches, then another place marker, followed by a 26 stitches. When creating the thumb gusset for the right hand - there will be 4 stitches, then a place marker, a variable number of stitches, then another place marker, followed by a 38 stitches.


Hand Decrease:
The previous 2 rows knit should have been repeats of P2, K2. The number in parentheses is the number of stitches you should have after completing the row.
Row 1: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times (40)
Row 2: *P2, K2* repeat 4 more times, *K2, P2* repeat 4 more times (40)
Row 3: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 2 more times, P2, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 2 more times, K2 (36)
Row 4: *P2, K2* repeat 8 more times (36)
Row 5: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 2 more times, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 2 more times (32)
Row 6: *P2, K2* repeat 3 more times, *K2, P2* repeat 3 more times (32)
Row 7: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 1 more time, P2, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 1 more time, K2 (28)
Row 8: *P2, K2* repeat 6 more times (28)
Row 9: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, *P2, K2* repeat 1 more time, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, *K2, P2* repeat 1 more time (24)
Row 10: *P2, K2* repeat 2 more times, *K2, P2* repeat 2 more times (24)
Bind off using Kitchener closure.


Thumb:
You should have a hole with 16 stitches on your holding yarn and an edge from the hand part of the glove. Pick up 4 stitches from the hand portion. Slip the stitches from the holding yarn as well as the picked up stitches onto DP needles. Distribute 3 of the picked up stitches on the needle from which you will begin knitting, these will be the first 3 stitches of your row. Place the last picked up stitch on the last knitting needle. This will be the last stitch of your row. Recall that when you moved the stitches to the holding yarn you had just done this with them (K1, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K1). Now you have 3+16+1. Therefore you should begin with this sequence so you continue correctly within the pattern:
Row 1: *P2, K2* repeat 4 times (20)
Row 2 & 3: *K2, P2* repeat 4 times (20)
Row 4 & 5: *P2, K2* repeat 4 times (20)
Row 6-9: Continue to knit in the round and follow the moss stitch pattern, repeating rows 2-5 (20)
Row 10-13: Continue to knit in the round and follow the moss stitch pattern, repeating rows 2-5 (20)
Row 14: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, P2, K2, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, K2, P2 (16)
Row 15: P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2 (16)
Row 16: K2, P2, K2, P4, K2, P2, K2 (16)
Row 17: S1, P2tog, psso, P1, K2, P2, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, K2 (12)
Row 18 & 19: K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2 (12)
Row 20: S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2, S1, K2tog, psso, K1, P2 (8)
Bind off using Kitchener closure.

WIPW: Work-In-Progress Wednesday

I've been working on three different things. And honestly, none of them are for Christmas. I really should be finishing up my Christmas towels that I give to my family. They're quick though, once I put my mind to it.



My CAL scarf is the first thing I've been working on! It is a quick pattern, so it really shows you exactly how long I've been working on it. *cough*15minutes*cough. I should pick it up again as well.





The thing I have been obsessed about with the past few days are these mittens! I was so excited when I finally finished the one! I can see why a good friend of mine only made one mitten though. I knew I couldn't fall into that trap, so I made sure to start the second mitten right away.





And the final item I am working on is this scarf for my nephew. I know my mother said it's okay if it wasn't ready by Christmas.... but I would like to finish it by then. I don't see that happening though, not with the mitten taking over my whole life! I'm just so afraid i'm going to set it down and not pick it back up again. We shall see.


I am linking up with Tami's WIP, Ambassador Crochet, Yarn Along and SusanD's.

Bearded Viking Hat

I finished the bearded Viking hat! It looks so good, but man was it a pain in the butt to make. It really didn't take long, it was just tedious. Especially the beard.

Both patterns came from Ravelry. The beard pattern is a free pattern that I changed up, just a bit. I didn't like the way they did their mustache, so I made mine differently. That pattern can be found here, for anyone who is interested.

The hat pattern I ended up buying, because I could not find any free patterns that I liked. That pattern can be found here.

Magazine Subscription?

I'm thinking about getting a subscription to a Crochet Magazine on my Nook. If you could choose, which magazine subscription would you get?

Crochet Today!, Crochet World, or Crochet! ??

Year Of Scraps

I have been forgetting to post November's jar for my year of scraps! Let's see how it is this month.

Bearded Viking Hat

About a month ago my brother told me exactly what he wanted for Christmas.... a bearded viking hat. Cue me thinking "oh goodness". I debated for the longest time on if I would attempt to make one or buy one.

Seeing that the cheapest one I found was $45... and how that exceeds our spending limit. I decided to finally attempt to make it.

I spent all day today on the beard. Yes. All day! It took a skein and a quarter to make the beard. You can find the link to the pattern on Ravelry by clicking here.



Tomorrow I'll tackle the viking hat. And on Christmas i'll be sure to snap a picture of what it looks like on my brother! I hope he loves it.

CAL: Crochet-Along

The crochet along group on ravelry has decided to start up a new CAL! This one is going to be a much quicker one than the throw, but longer than a mini project. It's the Check Stitch Scarf!





Is anyone interested??

A deadline hasn't been decided yet. I like to have things finish up at the end of a month, but i'm unsure if the end of December would be too soon, especially with the holidays. What do you think?

I'm going to start it up right away! It think it might be a nice gift for a friend if I can complete it in time.