Goes with Everything Cowl

 Goes  with  Everything  Cowl


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Hello fellow knitters and crocheters, welcome to my first blog post of 2021. It’s common to write about one’s knitting and crocheting goals for the year, but I will skip all that. Instead, I will write about how I knit the Goes with Everything Cowl. I chose this name for the cowl because the yarn colorway seems to go with everything I have in my wardrobe. I purchased this yarn (one skein) a couple of years ago on a wonderful summer vacation trip. This cowl was a quick and simple knit and I’m satisfied with how it turned out. I’ll be wearing it quite a bit during this frigidly cold winter.

The cowl is knitted flat in a rectangle from one corner to another. The two shorter sides of the rectangle are then joined to make a warm and comfortable circular cowl. You begin with casting on one stitch and increase two stitches every other row till the desired width is reached. The cowl is then worked on for the desired length with no net increase. Lastly the cowl is decreased two stitches every other row till one stitch is left on the needle. The shorter sides of the knitted rectangle are then joined together using the zigzag crochet join method.


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Materials Needed:
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn – Rios in the RIO877 (Queguay) colorway
Knitting Needles: US #7
Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: 16 stitches/ 4 inches (this pattern is generic so gauge not so critical)

Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • Kfb: Knit front and back (knit one stitch first in the front and then knit the same stitch in the back before slipping it off the left needle – 1 stitch increase)
  • K2tog: Knit the first two stitches together on the left needle (1 stitch decrease)
  • pm: place marker
  • rm: remove marker
  • sm: slip marker
  • wyif: with yarn in front
  • RS: right side
  • WS: wrong side

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Goes with Everything Cowl Pattern (text and images for personal use only):

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2020

2020 has been quite a year hasn’t it? It will not be forgotten any time soon. The coronavirus pandemic with the stay at home order, minimal social gatherings, travel restrictions, ongoing family and personal health issues, hurricane, hailstorm, power outage, milestones and events not celebrated etc. pretty much describes 2020 for me. 

And yet I am grateful for all the positive things that did happen this year. Births happened, weddings happened, culinary adventures happened, bread baking happened, gardening happened, neighborly and community kindness happened, knitting and crafting happened, and the courage to design and publish knitting patterns happened

Free patterns available on my July 2020 to November 2020 posts
Some more of my makes in 2020

Stay safe and warm wishes this holiday season!


~coffeeteaknits.com

A Corner to Corner Dishcloth

Corner to Corner Dishcloth

Corner to Corner Dishcloth

Corner to corner knitting is another technique that can be used to knit square dishcloths, blankets etc. I like this technique because it’s worked flat and starts with a cast on of just 1 stitch. That 1 stitch through a series of increases and decreases ends in a square dishcloth or a blanket. The dishcloth pattern below is my version of the corner to corner knitting technique using the seed stitch pattern.

The Corner to Corner Dishcloth Pattern (text and images for personal use only):

Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream in Colorways: Potpourri Ombre and Country Red
Knitting Needles: US #7
Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: Not needed for this project
Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • Kfb: Knit front and back (knit one stitch first in the front and then knit the same stitch in the back before slipping it off the left needle – 1 stitch increase) 
  • K2tog: Knit the first two stitches together on the left needle (1 stitch decrease)
  • ssk: slip slip knit (slip 2 stitches to right hand needle then insert the left needle in front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together)
  • pm: place marker
  • rm: remove marker
  • sm: slip marker
  • wyif: with yarn in front
  • RS: right side
  • WS: wrong side

The seed stitch pattern:
Row 1 (RS): *K1, P1*; repeat from *…* to end of the row
Row 2 (WS): *P1, K1*; repeat  from *…* to end of the row
*Knit in seed stitch pattern: Knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches

With a size US #7 knitting needle cast on 1 stitch with the Potpourri Ombre colorway.

Increase Rows:

  • Row 1 (RS): Kfb and turn to the WS row
  • Row 2 (WS): K2
  • Row 3 (RS): Kfb, Kfb
  • Row 4 (WS): K1, pm, K2, pm, wyif S1
  • Row 5 (RS): K1, sm, Kfb, Kfb, sm, wyif S1. Place a removable stitch marker for the RS row. 
  • Row 6 (WS): K1, sm, K1, P1, K2, sm, wyif S1
  • Row 7 (RS): K1, sm, Kfb, K1, P1, Kfb, sm, wyif S1
  • Row 8 (WS): K1, sm, K1, [K1, P1] 2x, K1, sm, wyif S1
  • Row 9 (RS): K1, sm, Kfb, [knit in seed stitch pattern*] till 1 stitch before marker, Kfb, sm, wyif S1
  • Row (WS): K1, sm, K1, [knit in seed stitch pattern] till 1 stitch before marker, K1, wyif S1

Repeat rows 9 and 10 till the number of stitches for the preferred dishcloth size is reached.

Transition Rows:

  • Row 1 (RS): K1, sm, K1, [knit in seed stitch pattern] till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm, wyif S1
  • Row 2 (WS): K1, sm, K1, [knit in seed stitch pattern] till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm, wyif S1

Decrease Rows:

  • Row 1 (RS): K1, sm, K2tog, [knit in seed stitch pattern] till 2 stitches before marker, ssk, sm, wyif S1
  • Row 2 (WS): K1, sm, K1, [knit in seed stitch pattern] till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm, wyif  S1
  • Repeat Rows 1 and 2 till 6 stitches left on the needle on the WS row
  • RS row: K1, sm, K2tog, ssk, sm, wyif S1
  • WS row: K1, rm, K2, rm, wyif S1
  • RS row: K2tog, ssk
  • WS row: Bind off

Wash and block dishcloth.

Crochet a single crochet border edging around the dishcloth in the Country Red colorway with a Size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook.

Weave in the ends.


~coffeeteaknits.com

The Increases and Decreases Cowl

The Increases and Decreases Cowl

Last year, I purchased a single skein of the Lion Brand ZZ Twist yarn in the Periwinkle colorway.  I wanted to see how this yarn spun with a “Z ” twist would knit up. I knit this Increases and Decreases Cowl (free pattern below) using a blanket rib knit stitch pattern. This stitch pattern is a two round pattern where all the stitches are doubled in the first round, and then decreased to the original number of stitches in the second round.


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Materials Needed:
Yarn: Lion Brand ZZ Twist yarn in the Periwinkle colorway
Circular Knitting Needles: US #8 and US #9
Knitting Needle: US #10 for cast on
Gauge: 16 stitches / 4 inches in blanket rib stitch pattern with US #8 needles


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Abbreviations:


The Increases and Decreases Cowl Pattern (text and images for personal use only):

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Striped Spiral Hotpad/Trivet

I knitted this Striped Spiral Hotpad/Trivet in the round with a series of decreases in a spiral towards the center. The trivet is knitted in the garter stitch pattern with 2 strands of yarn held together. The stripes in the trivet are made by alternating the two different yarn colorways for each garter ridge. I used yarn I already had in my stash from previous leftover projects so all the colorways may or may not be currently available. You can use any other yarn colorway to knit this trivet.


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The Striped Spiral Hotpad/Trivet Pattern (text and photo for personal use only):

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Worsted (Colorways: C1- Cognac Heather; C2 – Natural Mix)
Circular Knitting Needles: US #8 and US #10
Crochet hook: I/9 or 5.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: 16 stitches / 4 inches in garter stitch pattern (although not really necessary)


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Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • K2tog: Knit the first two stitches on the left needle together
  • sm: slip marker
  • BOR: beginning of round
  • C1: Yarn colorway – Cognac Heather
  • C2: Yarn colorway – Natural Mix

With a circular US #10 needle, cast on 120 stitches using the long tail cast on and 2 strands of yarn C1 held together

Slip a BOR marker and join the round making sure the stitches are not twisted and knit the following:

  • Round 1: With 2 strands of yarn C1 held together – [Knit till 2 stitches before marker, K2tog, sm,] 5 times, knit till 2 stitch before BOR marker, K2tog, slip BOR marker
  • Round 2: With 2 strands of yarn C1 held together – [Purl till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm] 5 times, purl till 1 stitch before BOR marker, K1, slip BOR marker
  • Round 3: With 2 strands of yarn C2 held together – [Knit till 2 stitches before marker, K2tog, sm] 5 times, knit till 2 stitch before BOR marker, K2tog, slip BOR marker
  • Round 4: With 2 strands of yarn C2 held together – [Purl till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm] 5 times, purl till 1 stitch before BOR marker, K1, slip BOR marker
  • Repeat rounds 1 to 4 till 12 stitches remain on the needles ending with yarn C2
  • With 2 strands of yarn C1 held together – [K2tog] (6 times) removing all markers (6 stitches remain)
  • Cut yarn and with a darning needle thread tail through the 6 stitches, pull tight and fasten off

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Starting at the beginning of the cast on, single crochet with hook size I/9 all around the trivet with 2 strands of yarn C2 held together

Weave in the ends, wash and block the trivet


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For a smaller trivet, cast on any multiple of 6


~coffeeteaknits.com

Toward Center Mitered Dishcloth

Toward Center Mitered Dishcloth

This mitered dishcloth is knitted in the round from the cast on edge, and then through a series of decreases moves towards the center. The seed stitch pattern is similar to the previous dishcloth pattern (July 2020 post) except that this one is knitted in the round and has four smaller mitered squares that merge in the center.


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Materials Needed:
Yarn: PREMIER HOME® COTTON CONE YARN Colorway: Jelly Dots
Knitting Needles: US #7 circular needles
Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: Not needed for this project

Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • K2tog: Knit two stitches together
  • ssk: slip slip knit (slip 2 stitches to right hand needle then insert the left needle in front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together).
  • sm: slip marker
  • BOR: beginning of round

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Towards Center Mitered Dishcloth Pattern (text and images for personal use only)

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Knitting a seed stitch mitered dishcloth

A Seed Stitch Mitered Dishcloth

In between large and lingering knitting projects (blankets, sweaters etc.), I find knitting dishcloths both appealing and interesting. I can explore and learn different stitch patterns using a particular knitting technique without spending too much time to finish the project. Dishcloths, of course, are useful to have around the kitchen and they also make great gifts. During one such in between period I knit this seed stitch mitered dishcloth (see a previous blog post “To knit a mitered square” for more information about this knitting technique). Below with photos and text (for personal use only), is the knitting progression of this mitered dishcloth in a seed stitch pattern.


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Materials Needed:
Yarn: PREMIER HOME® COTTON CONE YARN Colorway: Jelly Dots
Knitting Needles: US #10 and US #7
Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: Not needed for this project


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Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • K2tog: Knit two stitches together
  • ssk: slip slip knit (slip 2 stitches to right hand needle then insert the left needle in front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together.
  • rm: remove marker
  • sm: slip marker
  • wyif: with yarn in front
  • RS: right side
  • WS: wrong side

The Seed Stitch Mitered Dishcloth Pattern (text and images for personal use only)

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE FOR THE FREE PATTERN. THANK YOU

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To knit a center out blanket

A center out knit blanket



Yarn used: Lion Brand Pound of Love® Yarn


This garter stitch blanket is knit center out with two different colors of yarn I already had. Compared to the center out crochet blanket I posted about in February 2020 which was completed within two months, knitting this blanket has taken me longer than six months to complete. This is because as the blanket grew larger, I could only knit a few rounds in one sitting due to issues with hand fatigue. There were close to 800 stitches on the needle at bind off. 

The number of garter ridge stripes for are based on the Fibonacci sequence till the last stripe for both yarn colors. I did not have enough yarn left so the number of garter ridges for the last stripes are shorter than the next Fibonacci number in the sequence. The blanket was finished with a single crochet border and diagonal crochet duplicate stitches for the four corners. Although I like how the center out seamless knit blanket looks, I still find the process of crocheting a center out seamless blanket more appealing. 


~coffeeteaknits.com

To knit during a pandemic

Four years ago my May 2016 blog post was about “The Simple Elegance of the Garter Stitch” and how with this stitch pattern we can create several beautiful and elegant knits. This year amidst the stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic, I would like to add that I’ve also found knitting with the garter stitch pattern both meditative and comforting.

A Garter Stitch Wrap

I used the Zaden Spring Shawl pattern by Staci Perry of Very Pink Knits as inspiration and also to learn the bias knitting technique for a wrap. I modified the pattern by using a different stitch count, sock yarn, and knit the wrap using just the garter stitch pattern. 

May knitting bring you comfort!


~coffeeteaknits.com