Bookmarks/Contest/Tagged

This is the "Triple Chevron Bookmark" designed by Annette. It was the July Mid-month Bookmark for the Monthly Bookamrks group.

I made mine with a size 10 crochet cotton I hand dyed myself.

I recently became Moderator of the Bookmarks knit along group, and in order to find new designers for our group projects I will be running a contest. Starting August first I will be accepting entries of original knitted bookmark designs. The winner(s) will recieve one of my needle rolls. I will be capping the contest at 300 entries, but will increase the # of prizes each time the number of entries pass 100.

Contest Rules are now Posted! Visit brileyknitsmarket details.

Oh, and I have been tagged by Crochetaholic Deb

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about yourself. People who get tagged need to write on their own blog their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

Wierd things about me:

1. I am a vegetarian of 17 years, and I currently work in a steak (chunks of cow, as I call it) house.
2. Sometimes I eat very little food all day so I can have ice cream at midnite with out feeling too guilty.
3. As a child I loved the smell of skunk (I don't mind it now, but don't like it either)
4. The stray cats in the neighborhood run from everyone but me. I think they either know how much I love cats, or they are amused at the fact that I am allergic to them.
5. I am a male knitter that was taught the basics by my brother.
6. I collect vintage ettiquette books.

Are those things wierd enough? I guess they will have to be.

Here are the people I have tagged:

1. Anita O
2. Tiffany
3. Lisa
4. Melanie
5. Kim
6. Jodi

Last time I was tagged on my yahoo blog I picked blogs at random.. This time they are all people I am familiar with, and whose blogs I enjoy reading.

Dragon Bath Puppet

This is the first bath puppet I knit in Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille. I love the yarn, it's so soft and fuzzy, and it was just screaming to be made into bath puppets!

The dragon is definitly my new favorite, and I was asked to post this pattern quickly, so I think he's already a favorite of some others, as well.

You'll have to excuse all the random dots in this post. Blogger is refusing to allow me to space this post the way I want to, so I put those in to hold open the blank rows.

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Materials:

Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille:

Lime green (1 hank should make 2 puppets)

white (small amount)

black(small amount)

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Scraps of a smooth waste yarn (mercerized cotton works well)

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US6 DPNs (set of 5)

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yarn needle

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stitch marker

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Gauge: (not very important) approx 4 sts to the inch

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Stitches/abbreviations used:

K- knit

STst- stockinette stitch (knit all stitches when in the round)

K2Tog- knit two stitches together

SSK- slip, slip, knit- individually slip two stitches knitwise, insert left needle into the front of these two slipped stitches and knit together

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KFB- knit into the front and back of the same stitch (increase by 1 st)

st(s)- stitch(es)

WY- waste yarn

rnd- round

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MB- make bobble- [K into front and back of stitch] 2x, [turn work and knit these four sts, turn and purl the 4 sts]2x, turn and knit the four stitches, pass the first 3 sts over the last stich knitted.

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3 needle Bind off- holding 2 needles with live stitches side by side use a 3rd needle to bind off as you normally would, except each time you would knit a stitch from the left needle you will knit the next stitch from both left needles together, and pass the previous stitch over, as in a 2 needle bind off.

Special Instructions:

When WY is used in pattern, instructions will read (for example) WY K3. The 3 sts should be knit in the WY, leaving a tail of a few inches at both ends, and then those stitches should be slid back onto the left needle and knit again with the main yarn. If the WY sts cross over 2 needles be careful to return them to the correct needle after knitting them with the main yarn. These instructions will not be repeated in the pattern directions.

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Cotton Chenille is not an elastic yarn! Cast on VERY loosely. I cast on so loosely I thought my bottom edge would be a mess, and it was still too tight.

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Directions:

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with green Cast On 28 sts-remember to cast on LOOSELY-

divide the sts between 4 needles, 7 sts to each.

Being careful not to twist the sts, join in a ring .

Place a marker after the first stitch knit to signify the begining of the round. This will be needle 1 , followed by needle 2, and so on.

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Knit in STst until piece measures 2.5 inches

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next rnd) K16, WY K10, K to end -this rnd creates the space for the lower jaw

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next 4 rnds) K all

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next rnd) K2, WY K3, K4, WY K3, K to end -this round creates the spaces for the eyes

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next 2 rnds) K all

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Begin Decrease:

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rnd 1) needles 1 & 3-SSK, K to end. needles 2 & 4) K to last 2sts, K2tog

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rnds 2 & 3) K all

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Repeat these 3 rnds until 16 sts remain (4 to each needle)

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Repeat rnds 1 & 2 of decrease

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nxt rnd) K1, MB, K2, MB, K to end

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next 2 rnds) knit

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Using a scrap of waste yarn and a blunt end needle, thread yarn through all the sts and remove needle. Be careful to remember where the round started (stitch 1 of needle 1). Turn work inside out.

Pick up the live stitches onto two needles, 6 sts to each. The sts from needles 1 & 2 should now be on one needle, and the sts from needles 3 & 4 on the other.
Bind off all sts using 3 needle bind off. Cut yarn, and secure.

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Lower Jaw:

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Remove waste yarn. Placing live sts on 4 needles, and picking up sts from the sides of the opening you want to have a total of 28sts on your needles, 7 on each. Needle 1 should be in the same place it was when you were working on the head (bottom right of mouth opening) Place a stitch marker to mark needle 1.

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Knit in STst for 3/4"

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Begin to decrease using the same 3 rnd decrease as above, until 12 sts remain.

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Repeat procedure for inside 3 needle bind off.

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eyes:

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remove waste yarn from 1st eye space. Using 3 needles you want to have a total of 10 sts between live sts, and sts picked up from the sides of the opening. For the eyes the orientation of the needles (ie needle 1) does not matter.

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With white: K 3 rnds

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With Black: K2tog around

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cut yarn, thread through 5 remaining sts, cinch tight, secure yarn, weave in ends

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Repeat in second eye space.

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Spinal Ridges:

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this piece is knit in rows seperately then sewn onto the back of the puppet.

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with green Cast On 1 st

1) KFB

2) K all

3) KFB, K1

4) K all

5)KFB, K2

6) K all

7) K2tog, K2

8) K all

9) K2tog, K1

10) K all

repeat rows 3 through 10 until piece is desired length. It should start between the eyes and reach the base of the mitt. When it is long enough knit the last 2 sts together. Cut yarn leaving a tail long enough to sew piece onto puppet, pull yarn through last stitch, center piece along the top of the puppet and sew in place.

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All ends should be woven in and secure. A forked tounge may also be added. See the directions in the silly snake pattern.

Little Chick Bath Puppet

Materials:

Worsted weight cotton yarn:

1 oz white or cream

small amount yellow

black embroidery floss (I used size 10 crochet cotton)

scraps of a smooth waste yarn in a contrasting colour

US size 7 DPN's (set of 5)

blunt end needle (for weaving in ends, and embroidery)

Gauge: approx 5sts to the inch, but not terribly important

Stitches/abbreviations used:

K- knit

STst- stockinette stitch (knit all stitches when in the round)

K2Tog- knit two stitches together

SSK- slip, slip, knit- individually slip two stitches knitwise, insert left needle into the front of these two slipped stitches and knit together

st(s)- stitch(es)

WY- waste yarn

rnd- round

3 needle Bind off- holding 2 needles with live stitches side by side use a 3rd needle to bind off as you normally would, except each time you would knit a stitch from the left needle you will knit the next stitch from both left needles together, and pass the previous stitch over, as in a 2 needle bind off.

Special Instructions: When WY is used in pattern, instructions will read (for example) WY K3. The 3 sts should be knit in the WY, leaving a tail of a few inches at both ends, and then those stitches should be slid back onto the left needle and knit again with the main yarn. If the WY sts cross over 2 needles be careful to return them to the correct needle after knitting them with the main yarn. These instructions will not be repeated in the pattern directions.

Directions:

Cast on 36 sts

divide between 4 needles, 9 sts to each

being careful not to twist, join stitches, placing a marker on the first needle (this will be needle 1, followed by needle 2, and so on)

knit in STst until piece measures 3" in length

next rnd) K5, WY K8, K to end (this creates the space for the lower beak)

Knit 5 rnds in STst

next rnd) K3, WY K12, K to end (this creates the space for the Upper beak)

Knit 8 rnds in STst

Begin Decrease:

rnd 1) needles 1 & 3: SSK, K to end needles 2 & 4: K to last 2sts, K2tog

rnd 2) K all

Repeat these 2 rnds until 16 sts remain (4 to each needle) ending with rnd two.

Using a scrap of waste yarn and a blunt end needle, thread yarn through all the sts and remove needle. Be careful to remember where the round started (stitch 1 of needle 1). Turn work inside out.

Pick up the live stitches onto two needles, 8sts to each. The sts from needles 1 & 2 should now be on one needle, and the sts from needles 3 & 4 on the other.

Bind off all sts using 3 needle bind off. Cut yarn, and secure.

Lower beak:

(using 4 needles)

Remove WY, slide bottom right 4 sts onto needle 1, slide bottom left 4 sts onto needle 2, slide top 8 sts onto needle 3

With needle 4 and yellow yarn:

pick up 2 sts from right side of opening and K across needle 1 (needle 1 6sts)

K across needle 2 and pick up 2 sts from left side of opening (needle 2 6sts)

K across needle 3 (needle 3 8sts)

K 4rnds

rnd 6) K4, SSK, K2tog, K8

rnd 7) K all

rnd 8) K3, SSK, K2tog, K to end

rnd 9) K all

rnd 10) K2, SSK, K2tog, K2, SSK, k4, K2tog

rnd 11) K all

rnd 12) K1, SSK, K2tog, K1, SSK, k2, K2tog

rnd 13) K all

rnd 14) [SSK, K2tog]2x

cut yarn, thread through remaining 4 sts, cinch tight and secure.

Top Beak:

remove WY

needle1: 6 sts from top left to top center

needle 2: next 6 sts

needle 3: 12 bottom sts

rnd 1) pick up 2 sts on left side of opening, K to end of needle 1 (needle 1 8sts) kto end of needle 2 and pick up 2 sts on right side of opening (needle 2 8sts) k to end (needle 3 still 12 sts)

rnds 2,3,4) K all

rnd 5 and 7) needle1- K to last 2 sts, K2tog needle2-K2tog, K to end needle3- K all

rnd 6 and 8) K all

rnd 9, 11, 13) needle1- K to last 2sts, SSK needle2-K2tog, K to end needle3-SSK, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

rnd 10, 12, 14) K all

cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, and cinch tight. Secure yarn, weave in all ends.

embroider on eyes.

Introducing Bath Puppets!

I was looking for some gifts to knit for a friends children, and had noticed that all kids seem to go through a stage where they HATE to bathe. So, bath puppets are born. These puppets are made of 100% cotton, and can go right into the tub to make bath time fun time! They are sized to be big enough to fit most kids, but will probably be a bit too small for adult hands.

FROGGY BATH PUPPET

This little guy was the second bath puppet I knit up. So far he's my favorite, and he works up quick!

Materials:

worsted weight cotton yarn: 1oz bright green, scraps of black and white

several scraps of waste yarn (preferably something smooth like mercerized cotton) in a contrasting colour

US7 DPN's, set of five

yarn needle

Gauge: approx 5sts to the inch, but not terribly important

Stitches/abbreviations used:

K- knit

STst- stockinette stitch (knit all stitches when in the round)

K2Tog- knit two stitches together

SSK- slip, slip, knit- individually slip two stitches knitwise, insert left needle into the front of these two slipped stitches and knit together

st(s)- stitch(es)

WY- waste yarn

rnd- round

Special Instructions: When WY is used in pattern, instructions will read (for example) WY K3. The 3 sts should be knit in the WY, leaving a tail of a few inches at both ends, and then those stitches should be slid back onto the left needle and knit again with the main yarn. If the WY sts cross over 2 needles be careful to return them to the correct needle after knitting them with the main yarn. These instructions will not be repeated in the pattern directions.

Directions:

With Green Cast on 36sts

Divide the sts between 4 needles, 9 sts to each, and (being careful not to twist the sts) join. insert a stitch marker into the center of the sts on the first needle. The needle with the stitch marker will be needle 1, and following the direction of your knitting the next will be needle 2, and so on.

knit in STst until you have a tube 3 inches long

K3, WY K12, K to end of rnd- this round creates the space for the lower jaw

Knit in Stst for another 1.25 inches

K20, WY K4, K6, WY K4, K2- this rnd creates the 2 eye spaces

K 3 rounds

*Begin Decrease*

Rnd 1) needle 1 and 3: SSK, K to end needle 2 and 4: K to last 2sts, K2tog

Rnd 2) K around

*repeat the 2 decrease rounds until 12 sts remain, end with Rnd 2 of decrease*

Cut yarn , using a yarn needle, thread the tail through the remaining sts and pull tight, secure and hide yarn end.

To make lower jaw:

Remove waste yarn, place live sts onto four needles, and pick up sts on the sides of the opening to total 28 sts. there should be 7 sts on each needle. Needle1 should be the bottom right needle (place a marker on this needle to keep track)

K in STst for 1.25 inches.

Begin decrease, using same directions as above.

When 8 sts remain finish as above.

To make eyes:

for the eyes there is no need to keep track of needle numbers, and since the sts will not divide evenly amongst the needles I had 4 sts on one, and 5 sts on the other two. They need not be oriented in any special way. Just choose a starting point and go from there.

starting with white yarn

Remove waste yarn, place live sts on 3 needles, and pick up sts from sides of the opening to total 14 sts.

rnds 1 and 2) K all

rnd 3) switch to black, K all

rnd 4) K2tog around

cut yarn, using yarn needle thread yarn through remaining sts, pull tight, secure yarn, and hide end.

Repeat for second eye.

Silly Snake Bath Puppet

The snake is very similar in construction to the frog. I have omitted the 3 dimensional eyes in favor of quicker embroidered eyes here, but the 3D eyes can be easily used by following the directions above. Or some buttons could be sewn on, if the recipient is not proned to putting things in his/her mouth. Although I never choked on anything as a child, I remember feeling that nothing had been adequately understood until it had been tasted and chewed. So, I never add buttons to anything intended for a child.

Materials:

US7 DPN's, set of five

US3 DPN's or circular needle for I-cord

1 ball worsted weight cotton in variegated greens

small amount of Crochet Cotton size 3 in red

small amount of black embroidery floss (I used size 10 cotton)

scrap of smooth waste yarn in contrasting colour

Abbreviations/ Special instructions/ gauge: Same as for Froggy and:

KFB- knit into the front and back of the stitch (increases by 1st)

Directions:

with US7's and green Cast on 36 sts

Divide the sts between 4 needles, 9 sts to each, and (being careful not to twist the sts) join. insert a stitch marker into the center of the sts on the first needle. The needle with the stitch marker will be needle 1, and following the direction of your knitting the next will be needle 2, and so on.

Knit in STst for 6 inches

K3, WY K12, K to end of rnd- this round creates the space for the lower jaw

Knit in Stst for another 1.25 inches

*Begin Decrease*

Rnd 1) needle 1 and 3: SSK, K to end needle 2 and 4: K to last 2sts, K2tog

Rnd 2) K around

*repeat the 2 decrease rounds until 8 sts remain, end with Rnd 2 of decrease*

Cut yarn , using a yarn needle, thread the tail through the remaining sts and pull tight, secure and hide yarn end.

For lower jaw:

Remove waste yarn, place live sts onto four needles, and pick up sts on the sides of the opening to total 28 sts. there should be 7 sts on each needle.

Needle1 should be the bottom right needle (place a marker on this needle to keep track)

K in STst for 1.25 inches.

Begin decrease, using same directions as above.

When 8 sts remain finish as above.

For tongue:

Using red Crochet cotton and size 3 DPN's

cast on 3 sts leaving a long tail that will be used to sew tongue into mouth

Knit I cord for 2.5 inches

Now working in rows:

K1, KFB, K1

**(K2, turn) 3x *you should be ignoring the 2 unused sts right now*

K2 tog

cut yarn, pull through and secure (I used a knot here) **

with the remaining 2 live sts re-attach red and repeat the steps between the ** symbols.

using the tail from the cast on and a yarn needle, sew tongue into center of mouth, making sure the yarn end is secure.

Eyes should be embroidered on as you wish.