Early Autumn Mits

Autumn is a time for changes.  The leaves shift.  The final flowers bloom and wilt.  People go back to school and start to think of warmer clothes for those cooler mornings.

For the Grid Mammal household, summer proved to be a time of great change.  A new addition and a move to a new state proved to be more exciting that could be anticipated.  We're hoping that our new change of fortunes do not change with the seasons.

To help with the immanent change in weather, here is a pattern for fingerless gloves.  Over the years I have found it difficult to find well fitting gloves.  The palms of my hands prove to be larger that most of the female gloves that I have found, while my wrists are somewhat small.  I wanted something practical, but with a little style.  What I came up with is a fingerless glove with a ribbed wrist and a leaf motif at the cuff.  The use of Elfin Tweed from Knit One Crochet Too gave a yarn that knitted up well and is soft to the touch.

If you would like a pdf of this pattern and have a Ravelry account, a copy can be found here.

If you would like a copy from Etsy, it can be found here.

Feel free to change the yarn, gauge, or size to fit your needs.  Just please do not try to sell this pattern as your own.

If you have any questions about the pattern, please email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Mint Leaf Fingerless Gloves

Materials:
5 Size 3, 3.25mm Double Point Knitting Needles

Small Stitch Holder

Waste Yarn

1 skein Knit One Crochet Too, Elfin Tweed, 60% merino wool, 20% baby llama, 10%

bamboo, 10% Donegal, Fingering Weight, 50 grams, 208 yards (191 m)

Stitch Marker

Darning Needle

Gauge:

  8sts x 9 rows = 1” x 1” in stockingette stitch

Size:

Grid Mammal: Hand Circumference 8 1/4 ", Hand Length 7"

Notes:

Add a couple of more rows at the start of the palm before starting on the thumb gusset

For the purposes of this pattern, if there is a difference between the left and right hands,

the left hand will be written in blue, and the right hand will be written in red.

Horseshoe Pattern Chart: (The Horseshoe Pattern is found on pg 209 of A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara G. Walker, Schoolhouse Press, copyright 1998)

Instructions:

Cuff

Cast on 60 stitches

Round 1: k60

Round 2: *yo, k3, sk2p, k3, yo, k1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times

Round 3: k60

Round 4: *k1, yo, k2, sk2p, k2, yo, k1, p1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times

Round 5:* k9, p1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times

Round 6:* k2, yo, k1, sk2p, k1, yo, k2, p1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times

Round 7:* k9, p1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times

Round 8:* k3, yo, sk2p, yo, k3, p1*, repeat from * to * 5 more times

Rounds 9 - 16: Repeat rows 1 - 8 once more

Round 17: Knit around

Rounds 18 - 32: k1, p1, around

Palm

Rounds 1 - 4: Knit around

Round 5: k7, right lifted increase, k1, left lift increaseed, k52 (62 sts)

Round 6: Knit around

Round 7: k7, right lifted increase, k3, left lift increaseed, k52 (64 sts)

Round 8: Knit around

Round 9: k7, right lifted increase, k5, left lift increaseed, k52 (66 sts)

Round 10: Knit around

Round 11: k7, right lifted increase, k7, left lift increaseed, k52 (68 sts)

Round 12: Knit around

Round 13: k7, right lifted increase, k9, left lift increaseed, k52 (70 sts)

Round 14: Knit around

Round 15: k7, right lifted increase, k11, left lift increaseed, k52 (72 sts)

Round 16: Knit around

Round 17: k7, right lifted increase, k13, left lift increaseed, k52 (74 sts)

Round 18: Knit around

Round 19: k7, right lifted increase, k15, left lift increaseed, k52 (76 sts)

Round 20: Knit around

Round 21: k7, place next 17 sts onto a stitch holder, cast on 5 sts onto the right had needle, k52 (64 sts)

Rounds 22 - 37: Knit around

Index Finger

Round 1: k19, put the next 45 sts onto the waste yarn, cast on 3 sts, redistibrute sts evenly onto 4 double point needles and join around. (22 sts)

Rounds 2 - 15: Knit around

Round 16: k9, k2tog, k 8, ssk, k1 (20 sts)

k8, ssk, k10, k2tog (20 sts)

Round 17: Knit around

Round 18: k8, k2tog, k 8, ssk, (18 sts)

k8, ssk, k8, k2tog (18 sts)

Rounds 19 - 20: Knit around

Round 21: Purl around

Round 22: Knit around

Round 23: Bind off on the purl side loosely, break yarn, weave in ends being sure to keep edges smooth and round.

Middle Finger

Round 1: With the thumb hole to the right, pick up the next 7 sts off the wast yarn and knit into them, cast on 3 sts loosely, pick up 8 sts off the other end of the waste yarn and knit into them starting from the side opposite of the index finger, pick up the 3 cast on sts from the index finger. Redistibrute sts evenly onto 4 double point needles and join around. (21 sts)

With the thumb hole to the left, pick up the next 7 sts off the waste yarn and knit into them starting from the side opposite of the index finger, pick up the 3 cast on sts from the index finger and knit into them, pick up the next 8 sts from the other side of the waste yarn and knit into them, cast on 3 sts loosely. Redistibrute sts evenly onto 4 double point needles and join around. (21 sts)

Rounds 2 - 18: Knit around

Round 19: k7, ssk, k10, k2tog (19 sts)

Round 20: Knit around

Round 21: k7, ssk, k8, k2tog (17 sts)

Rounds 22 - 23: Knit around

Round 24: Purl around

Round 25: Knit around

Round 26: Bind off on the purl side loosely, break yarn, weave in ends being sure to keep edges smooth and round.

Ring Finger

Round 1: With the thumb hole to the right, pick up the next 7 sts off the wast yarn and knit into them, cast on 3 sts loosely, pick up 7 sts off the other end of the waste yarn and knit into them starting from the side opposite of the middle finger, pick up the 3 cast on sts from the middle finger. Redistibrute sts evenly onto 4 double point needles and join around.

(20 sts)

With the thumb hole to the left, pick up the next 7 sts off the waste yarn and knit into them starting from the side opposite of the middle finger, pick up the 3 cast on sts from the middle finger and knit into them, pick up the next 7 sts from the other side of the waste yarn and knit into them, cast on 3 sts loosely. Redistibrute sts evenly onto 4 double point needles and join around.

(20 sts)

Rounds 2 - 15: Knit around

Round 16: k7, ssk, k9, k2tog (18 sts)

Round 17: Knit around

Round 18: k7, ssk, k7, k2tog (16 sts)

Rounds 19 - 20: Knit around

Round 21: Purl around

Round 22: Knit around

Round 23: Bind off on the purl side loosely, break yarn, weave in ends being sure to keep edges smooth and round.

Pinky Finger

Round 1: Pick up and knit into the remain 16 sts on the waste yarn, pick up and knit into the 3 cast on stitches from the ring finger. Redistibrute sts evenly onto 4 double point needles and join around.

(19 sts)

With the thumb hole to the left, pick up the n next 4 sts off the waste yarn and knit into them starting from the side opposite the fingers, pick up the 3 cast on sts from the middle finger and knit into them, pick up and knit the remaining 12 sts on the waste yarn.Redistribute sts evening onto double point needles and join around. (19 sts)

Rounds 2 - 8: Knit around

Round 9: k6, ssk, k9, k2tog (17 sts)

Round 10: Knit around

Round 11: k6, ssk, k7, k2tog (15 sts)

Round 12: Purl around

Round 13: Knit around

Round 14: Bind off on the purl side loosely, break yarn, weave in ends being sure to keep edges smooth and round.

Thumb

Round 1: Pick up and knit into the 17 sts on the stitch holder, pick up and knit into the 5 cast on stitches on the palm. Redistubute sts evenly onto 4 double point needls and join around.

(22 sts)

Rounds 2 - 10: Knit around

Round 11: Purl around

Round 12: Knit around

Round 13: Bind off on the purl side loosely, break yarn, weave in ends being sure to keep edges smooth and round.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends.

Gently hand wash gloves.

Lay flat and block to dry.

Enjoy.

© Grid Mammal Crafts 

Quick Stitches

With a new grid mammal expected any time in the next month, thoughts turn to making the living arrangements ready.  With an overabundance of craft supplies in a small space, much of this falls into the "use it or loose it" category.  Which means that I'm using a lot of supplies that I forgot that I owned.

Out of this pile of forgotten craft supplies came a set of cheap three inch embroidery hoops.These weren't the type of hoops I would want to sew with, but they do make nice simple frames.  Along with some 14 gauge Aida cloth and thread I decided to make some baby animal faces to help decorate the rearranged space.  Because the hoops were so small and the cloth gauge was so big, I also decided to make the resolution of each animal face pretty low and simple.  This also meant that each face would be faster to make and I could move on to finding uses for more unused craft supplies.

Feel free to change the thread, the gauge, or the size.  Just please don't try to sell the patterns as your own.  

If you would like a pdf of these cross stitch patterns, they can be found at Etsy, here.

If you have any questions about the pattern, please email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Making each individual sampler required:
    1) Three Inch Wood Embroidery Hoop
    1) Five Inch Square Piece of 14 Count Aida Cloth
    1) Embroidery Needle
    1) Pair Embroidery Scissors
    1) Piece of Felt (large enough to cover the back of the hoop with sampler)
    Desired Embroidery Thread
    Craft Glue

To begin with each animal sampler was stitched onto its own cloth.  (Please scroll down to see patterns.)  After the stitching was complete, the cloth was lightly ironed using a pressing cloth and then placed and centered into its own embroidery hoop.

When the sampler is framed as desired and the hoop is tightened, I put a running stitch around the remains of the Aida cloth about a quarter to a half of an inch away from the frame, being careful not to get to close to the edge of the cloth, and cut off the extra cloth points.  After the running stitch is run completely around the rim of the hoop, I pull the thread tight, pulling in the remains of the cloth towards the center of the hoop, and tie the tread off.

Then, using the hoop as a stencil, a piece of felt is cut for each hoop.  Glue is applied to the back of the hoop close to the cloth and the felt is pressed onto the back of the framed sampler.  Any glue that leaks out is quickly wiped away and the entire sampler is pressed between two weighed objects overnight.  (Phone books work well.)  After the glue is dried and set, and extra felt around the edges can be trimmed away and each sampler can be hung as desired.

Now for the sampler patterns.

Rabbit Kit’s Face

Cross Stitch Pattern

Finished Size on 14 Count Aida Cloth:

          

Duckling’s Face

Cross Stitch Pattern

Finished Size on 14 Count Aida Cloth:

     

Otter Pup’s Face

Cross Stitch Pattern

Finished Size on 14 Count Aida Cloth:

       

Meditations with Fillet Crochet

It's good to see you all again.  I apologize for the long departure.  Our household found out some months ago that we are expecting a mini grid mammal this summer, and things got a bit busy after that.

As things have gotten busier, what with the preparations and planning, it is important to me to keep my crafts near.  The repetitiveness of building one stitch on top of another has helped to calm those anxious times and provide a sort of meditation.

A technique that fits perfectly into this rhythm is a form called fillet crochet.  It basically it consists of crocheting squares, one after the other, on top of each other.  As you create them, you leave some open and you fill some in with extra stitches, thereby creating a two-dimensional picture.  I originally learned from a book, but there are a multitude of videos on the internet to show you the basics.  One can be found here.

Following is a pattern for a piece that I made some years ago for a friend that had gotten their doctorate in advanced mathematics.  While I can't hope to understand what she processes everyday, I could help her celebrate by sending her something that I could make.  My gift was a small runner done in fillet crochet of a chaos butterfly.  You know, that little insect somewhere out there that flaps its wings and starts a chain reaction that starts a hurricane on the other side of the world.  It incorporates, yes you guessed it, a butterfly with the Greek symbol for chaos.  A bit cheesy, I know, but sometimes it's important to remember that little things can lead to big changes.

Feel free to change the thread, the gauge, or the size.  Just please don't try to sell the patterns as your own.  

If you have any questions about the pattern, please email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Also, if you would like a pdf version of this pattern, and have a Ravelry account, it can be found here.

If you would like a copy from Etsy, it can be found here.

Chaos Butterfly Runner

(In Filet Crochet)

            Materials:

                        2) Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Thread, Extra Fine Size 30, 500 yards, White

                        1) Steel Crochet Hook, Size 11, 1.10mm

            Key:

            Start:

                        Chain 436 (loosely) + chain 3 

                         (This the will create a base chain of 436 and the chain 3 will be the first double 

                                         stitch of the wall of the first square)

                        Double stitch in the fourth chain from the hook  

                        (This will place the first two double stitches of the first square.)

             Finished Size:

                        10.75” High x 24.5” Long

            Pattern: (In Four Parts)

·         Unfortunately, for ease of reading, the pattern had to be broken up over several pages.  The edges of each row and column are numbered and the section of the pattern is labelled with a letter.  The letters are oriented as shown in the following table.  I would suggest, depending on your tastes, working along an entire row or column as you go along.  This will take you across three pattern pieces as you finish each line.  On the final page you will find the pattern in its entirety.

                                    

Happy New Year

It's 2015, or so I've been told.  So I'd like to start off the new year with something bright, flashy, and yet somewhat mundane.

This month's project is a little mind-bender that was my first real foray into double-knitting.  As per usual I started out with a scarf to keep it simple.  To make sure that I could really get the hang of it and keep myself interested, I came up with a design with interesting patterns and a slightly psychedelic color scheme.

This plan backfired and I managed to spend six months working on the first scarf with this design.  People liked it though, so here it is to share with all of you.

Feel free to change the yarn, the gauge, or the size.  Just please don't try to sell the patterns as your own.  

If you have any questions about the pattern, please email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Also, if you would like a pdf version of this pattern, and have a Ravelry account, it can be found here.

If you would like a copy from Etsy, it can be found here.

Technicolor Crazy Scarf

Materials:

            Size 4, 3.5mm Knitting Needles

            2 skeins Knit Picks Stroll, Juice Box Hand-Painted

            2 skeins Knit Picks Stroll, Lullaby Hand-Painted

            Darning Needle

Gauge:

            24sts x 30 rows = 4” x 4” in double knit

Finished Size:

            8” Wide x 68” Long

Notes:

            Remember, all even number rows are knitted with the opposite color in front.

            Remember to twist threads together before starting the next row.

            Cast on both colors together at the same time, being careful to keep the colors

alternating cool then warm, one after the other.

            Cast off both front and back at the same time with both colors.

Key:

            All colors shown in the pattern are the front side colors.  The colors on the back

side will be opposite.

            

Chart I: Beginning

Chart II: Center Repeats

Chart III: End

Beginning Instructions:

-          Cast on 49 with both colors, being careful to keep the colors alternating cool then warm.  When this is completed there should be 96 loops on the needle, 49 of each color.

-          Work Rows 1 through 78 of the Beginning Chart.  The colors shown in the chart represent the color to knit the first stitch of each pair, the second half of the stitch pair will be purled in the opposite color.  Remember that the chart shows the front side, when working on the alternating back side rows, knit the first half of the stitch pair in the opposite color shown, and the purl the second half of the stich in the shown color.

-          Work Rows 1 through 182 of the Center Repeats Chart twice.  The same color representation and knitting rules apply.

-          Work Rows 1 through 78 of the End Chart.  The same color representation and knitting rules apply.

-          Bind off each stitch pair at the same time with both colors.

-          Break yarn and weave in ends.

-          Enjoy.