SCRAPS TO TREASURE II

In continuing my research on Scraps to Treasure projects I found a bunch of great patterns, blogs and resources I’d like to share.

A lot of these patterns came from research Vicki of Simple Knits had done so please visit her site at SimplyKnits.blogspot.com and leave her a comment or two for all her hard work! She has a great blog that I now follow and am sure to read frequently.


For Fun:
Felted Fortune Cookies
Pocket Creatures
Fuzzy Lamb Toy (we raised lambs as a kid so I had to include this)

Fruits & Flowers:
Knitted Laurel Leaf
Felted Mushrooms
Knitted Strawberry

Housewares:
Crochet Cluster Flower (for larger projects)
Lavender Scented Heart Sachet
Felted Bowl
Colorful Dish Rags (saves you money!):
Dish Rag (1)
Dish Rag (2)
Oven Mitt & Pot Holder
Java Cozy (if you don’t use a to-go mug, at least save on all those paper sleeves with a stylish knitted cozy!):
Beer Cozy

Accessories:
Global Warming Mittens

FROM SCRAPS TO TREASURE

I apologize for not writing much this week but I have been slightly under the weather and lacking energy. However, I’m starting to feel better and would like to share a quick project with you. Recently, I set my mind to making a dog sweater for my Boston terrier, who loves to strut around in his outfits, out of scrap yarns I had left over from Christmas projects. I measured his neck, chest and back and just started a basic pattern from scratch. I couldn’t quite get the adding and subtracting stitches down so I just ended up with three pieces of strait knit that I wove together and added buttons for decoration. I was pretty proud of it and he seemed to like it too so I set out to find other dog outfits, cat toys and projects I could make with scrap yarns.

What I found was that Knitting Pattern Central and Crochet Pattern Central had already done the work for me! They have a ton of great dog and cat projects, many of which can be done with left over scraps.

A few of my favorites I found on their lists include:
Button Dog Sweater
Leafy Dog Sweater
Doggy Bones
Felted Mice
Martha’s Sharkey Sweater (you may have to create an account to view this pattern, however, I highly recommend it because Lion Brand has a ton of free knitting patterns available online as well as in craft stores)
Crochet Cat Bed

Simple Moebius Scarf

I’ve done a lot of basic scarves and cowls with knit and pearl stitches, cables, etc. but this is the first I’ve branched out and used a true knitting pattern. I find patterns are sometimes hard to read if you are not familiar with all of the terminology and abbreviations. Once I understood what this pattern was asking it was really easy. This pattern is used to create a continuous ring of knitting with a twist known as a Moebius scarf. It can be worn double-wrapped around the neck or around the neck and over the head. The pattern creates a series of eyelets that look very elegant with the lace weight yarn. However, I am used to working with heavy weight yarns and find the lace yarn a little harder to work with because it separates. As you can see from the photo I’m not quite done with the project but I’m very excited about how it’s turning out and would like to share the pattern with everyone. Feel free to join me in making a Moebius scarf or share other similar projects you’ve done.

What you need:
70-141 grams of 2.5-5oz lace weight yarn
10-1/2 US/6.5mm needles

To start you will case on 40 stitches with an invisible cast on. I was not familiar with an invisible cast on but found a great video at KnittingHelp.com. You work the pattern below to the desired length (26” recommended for standard length or 50” for longer length to double wrap). When complete you will work the loose needle back into the invisible cast on stitches so that the point is facing in the opposite direction of the needing you left the finial row on. Remove the holding yarn. Bring the two needle points together, creating a twist in the scarf, and weave a seamless join. To make sure the pattern is seamless, finish on row 8.

Pattern:
Rows 1, 2, 3: k to last 2 sts, bring yarn forward and slip last 2 sts purwise.
Row 4: k5, yo, k2tog, *k4 sts, yo, k2tog and repeat from * until you have 3 sts remaining, k1, bring yarn forward and slip last 2 stitches purlwise.
Rows 5, 6, 7: same as row 1-3.
Row 8: k8, yo, k2tog, *k4 sts, yo, k2tog and repeat from * until you have 6 sts remaining, k4, bring yarn forward and slip last 2 stitches purlwise.

K = knit
Sts = stitches
yo=yarn over/bring yarn forward
k2tog = knit two stitches together

Enjoy and Have Fun!!