Prayer Shawls and Picots

Prayer Shawls and Picots

When we moved to Moses Lake, I was looking forward to meeting other knitters. It took a while, but some ladies at my church decided to have a prayer shawl group meet twice a month.  Since then, we have had numerous shawls, blankets, and other items blessed to give away to people in need.

I recently finished a small shawl and had a few people ask me for the pattern.  I wanted to do something quick, easy, but also pretty.  I chose the worsted weight Sweet Roll yarn in the colorway Gelato Pop. I started experimenting and decided to do an asymmetrical shawl with eyelets.  When I got near the end of the roll, I thought it might be fun to do a picot edge.  Having never done one before, I was hoping it wasn't too hard.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is actually quite easy!

I love the blue, white and lavender colors in the yarn.  The eyelets give it a little texture and the picot bind off lends an elegant ending to a fairly simple pattern. As this is a pattern for giving to people in need, I decided the pattern should be free to everyone!  Love wins!

KnitPurlHunter Picot Bind Off

Asymmetrical Prayer Shawl

Supplies:

Size 8 needles

245 yards of a worsted weight yarn for the small size, about 60 inches in length.  More if you want to make it larger.

I used one ball of Premier Yarns Sweet Roll in the Gelato Pop colorway.

Large eye needle for weaving in ends.

Scissors

Pattern:

Set up

Cast on 4 stitches

1.       Knit across

2.       Kfb, knit 2, kfb

3.       Knit across

4.       Kfb, k to last 2 st, k2tog

5.       P, knit to last st, kfb         >>>        Do rows 4 and 5 until it measures about 2 inches total from the beginning.

6.       Kfb, * yo, k2tog* Repeat between * until last two stitches, k2tog.  (If you end up with three stitches at the end, just knit the 3^rd stitch in then k2tog.) 

7.       Purl to last stitch, kfb

8.       Kfb, knit to last two stitches, k2tog

9.       P1,knit to last stitch, kfb                          

10.   Kfb, knit to last two stitches, k2tog

11.   P1,knit to last stitch, kfb                          

12.   Kfb, knit to last two stitches, k2tog

13.   P1,knit to last stitch, kfb
14. kfb, knit to last two stitches, k2tog
15. P1, knit to last stitch, kfb

Repeat rows 6-15 until you are almost out of yarn.  Make sure to leave enough for the picot bind off.   I did my bind off after row 9, although if you have enough yarn, you could bind off after row 13.  If you need to know how to do the picot bind off, KnitPurlHunter has an excellent video on YouTube. This is the one I used.  There is a link to this above the pattern.

14.   Bind off – when you near the end of your yarn, or you get to the size you want, do a picot bind off.  Weave in ends. Using unblocked acrylic yarn, my one skein project ended up to be about 60 inches (5 ft) long. If you have used acrylic yarn, wear and enjoy!  If you have used a natural fiber, block to open up the eyelets.  I think this pattern would also work well with a DK or fingering weight yarn, just be sure to adjust the needle size down.  I have a skein of Misti Alpaca calling to me, so I know I will be doing this again soon!

Jeanne Klockers / Soprano Girl Knits

Baby, it's COLD outside!

Winter in Eastern Washington is a LOT colder than the west side.  After growing up on the Olympic Peninsula and living for sixteen years in Texas we have experienced mostly mild winters. This year we have jumped into the season with both feet! Lots of snow this week and some single digit temperatures!  I made a hat for my husband last year out of a lovely DK weight in the Seattle Mariners colors.  It is a nice hat, but not nearly warm enough for the weather right now.  So, I hit the after Christmas sale at JoAnn Fabrics and picked up some Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in charcoal.  I wanted the hat to be super cozy and super fast, hence the super bulky yarn choice.  Here is the pattern if you would like to make one!

Walter's Winter Hat

TOOLS:

1 skein (approximately 106 yards) of super bulky (6) weight yarn.

16 inch circular needles and DPNs, size 8 (5.00 mm)

Crochet hook or large eye needle for weaving in ends.

Stitch marker.

Cast on 60 stitches.  I like using a long tail cast on, but you may use another method as long as it is a stretchy one. Join in the round and place your marker.  

K2P2 for 4 inches.

Knit every round after that for 5 inches (my hubby has a big head 😉 )

Your hat should measure 9 inches total before you start decreasing.

Decreases:

knit 4, k2 tog, around

knit

knit 3, k2 tog, around

knit,

knit 2, k2 tog, around

knit

knit 1, k2 tog, around

knit

knit 2 tog, around

leave a tail about 12 inches, and cut yarn.  Weave through top loops twice and pull tight, weave in ends on inside of hat.

Now you can go outside and stay warm! 

Happy Toddler Hat!

Our church was having an auction as a fundraiser for our pre-school.  I knit up a scarf and a cute little hat.  It is a pretty basic beanie pattern, but the yarn really makes it special.  I used Caron Simply Soft Paints in Rainbow Bright.  It is such a happy little hat!  I hope you enjoy the pattern.

Happy Toddler Hat

Needle: size 7 Circular 16” and or DPNs

Approximately 100 yards of worsted weight  or aran yarn

Stitch marker

Yarn needle

Cast on 96 stitches.  Join in the round. Place stitch marker. If you want a larger size, be sure to add on in repeats of 8 stitches.

Row 1-6  k2,p2       

Knit every row until the hat has a total measurement of 6 inches.

Begin decreases:

K10, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K9, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K8, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K7, k2 tog, repeat around

Knit around

K6, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K5, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K4, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K3, k2tog, repeat around

Knit around

K2, k2tog,  repeat around

Knit around

K1, k2tog, repeat around

K2 together around, you should have 8 stitches. Snip yarn  12 inches out. Thread yarn needle and pull through remaining stitches twice, weave in carefully on the wrong side.  Weave in beginning tail and enjoy!

Thanksgiving weekend

We had a great time visiting my husband's family for Thanksgiving. Our daughter Naomi was able to join us so Ben was super happy! I really enjoyed playing with the great grand nieces and nephew.  We all overindulged in turkey and way too many desserts.  It was great to see everyone and we even celebrated two birthdays.  My son Ben turned 22 on Wednesday and our great niece Alice was 1 on the 23rd.  My father in law was also there and he is 95.

While there I heard the words that every knitter loves.  My darling great niece, Lily,8, asked me to teach her to knit.  She quickly picked up the knit stitch.  I wanted to head down to one of the local yarn stores to choose some yarn to make legwarmers and decided to take her and her cousin Claudia with me.  We had fun looking at the squishy yarns and the sparkly buttons. We ended up getting ice cream and playing on the waterfront before heading  back to the house.  It was a great afternoon!

After two days with family we had to head home.  We made a stop at All Wound Up, a yarn store in Edmonds, WA.  I picked up some lovely chunky yarn to make a cowl for our Ben sitter.  We then indulged my husband and picked up some Amano shrimp for his 8 foot long aquarium.  We hit the drive through for lunch and headed over the mountains.

We actually got home just before sunset and of course there was really nothing for dinner since we had no leftovers except chocolate cake. Now I could be perfectly happy eating chocolate cake for dinner, but it was getting icy outside and I wanted soup.  Something hot and spicy would hit the spot.  My son asked for pizza, and I thought, why not make pizza soup? I checked a recipe or two and didn't really like what I saw.  I knew I could make a tasty soup and also make it lighter than the recipes I found.  I quickly drove to the store and picked up what I needed.  An hour after I got home we sat down to a hot, mildly spicy pizza soup that warmed me up to my very core!  It was so yummy!

From our family to yours: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

If you make the soup, please leave a comment whether you liked it or not.

Peace and many blessings!

Jeanne

Pizza Soup

1 lb. Italian sausage

1 pkg. sliced pepperoni cut in quarters

64 oz.  vegetable broth

16 oz. tomato sauce

2 cans 15 oz. diced tomatoes

1 red pepper chopped

1 green pepper chopped

1 onion chopped

2 cups mushrooms sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

Olive oil

½ tsp. each, Basil, oregano, parsley

Directions:

In a large soup pot, pour the vegetable broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes and herbs. Heat while cooking the rest.

In a large saute pan, over medium high heat, cook the Italian sausage, chopping it up as it cooks. When it is done, using a slotted spoon, spoon it onto a plate covered with paper towels.  Now put the onion and peppers into the pan and turn the heat down to medium for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  When they are done, pour into the broth. 

Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into the saute pan and add the mushrooms. When they are done (6-7 minutes) pour them into the soup.  Add in the minced garlic along with the sausage and pepperoni.  Let cook for 10 minutes then taste.  Add salt and pepper if needed.

Serve with cheesy garlic bread. 

Yarn and Downton Abbey

Today we went to church, came home and had lunch. Then I did something daring!

I went downstairs and grabbed a box of yarn from my stash.  I actually plan on spending some time putting my yarns in my Ravelry stash.  I am one of those people that try to be organized, but it doesn't usually work out too well.  Maybe this will help me when it comes time to decide what I should knit next.  A lot of time is spent on Ravelry and other sites looking at patterns, but when I'm not sure how much I have of something, it can be time not well spent.  Of course any time looking at beautiful yarn and garments is not in my opinion, wasted.  

 Here are my finished slippers.  I decided to knit up bows for them and I think they look pretty cute!  They are also nice to have for these chilly northwest days.  
                                                     
                                           





    Tonight I will be watching the Season 5 opener for Downton Abbey.  Of course I will be knitting and having a cup of tea.  My sweet hubby put this in my Christmas stocking.  Good thing it is decaf.  Tomorrow is a long day and I will need my sleep!

I hope you all have a lovely week.  I will be busy working, rehearsing (I'm in a production of Les Miserables), and trying to work on my Ravelry account.

Ciao!

Jeanne

My First Pattern!!

My First Pattern!!

The other day I started knitting a cute little pair of slippers for myself.  I posted a picture on Knit and Chat in Facebook and immediately had about a dozen requests for the pattern.  So as of now, I am a published pattern maker!  

It took a few days to complete the slippers and I am still knitting the finishing touch, so the only picture available right now is the one I originally posted on Facebook.  When I finish the adornment, I will post another picture.  

Jeanne’s Slippers

Supplies: Bulky yarn. I used Lion Brand Hometown USA in Portland Wine. I have a size 9 US foot and I almost used up the whole skein.  If you have a larger foot or want to make pom poms, I suggest you get two skeins or at least 100 yards of a comparable yarn.

Size 8 needles, yarn needle

Using the long tail cast on, put 20 stitches on your needle. Keep enough tail to sew up the back when you are done.

Row 1-10 knit

Row 11: knit 6, purl 8, knit 6

Row 12: knit across

Repeat rows 11 and 12 until you get to a length that comes up to your pinky toe.  End with row 12.

Next row “A”: k1, k2tog, keep to pattern for rest of the row.

Next row “B”: k1, k2tog, keep to pattern for rest of the row.

Keep knitting rows A and B until the knitting is the same length as your foot. End with row B.   At this point you will:

K2tog across and leaving a long tail for sewing, cut your yarn.

Thread your yarn into your needle and weave through the last row, pulling tight keeping the stockinette on the inside of the slipper.  Weave the top together for two inches, weave in ends.  Using your tail from the beginning, sew up the back of the slipper and weave in the ends.  Add a decoration of your choice and have cozy feet! Enjoy!