Hello everyone!

I hope you have all had a fabulous week. Mine was busy (deadlines galore) but overall good. :)

So this week is an extremely light knitting week. I am doing this for three reasons:

1) I want to give as many people as possible the chance to catch up so we can all finish together over the next couple of weeks.

2) The most natural stopping point in this section is after 4 rows, so before we begin the final border patterning, I wanted to give you all a nice easy week to relax and enjoy some simple knitting.

3) Although I don't want to assume that any of you are football fans, I am sure some people will be busy preparing for and watching the Super Bowl tomorrow, so I didn't want to overload anyone.

For those of you who have already stopped increasing, please do not to the increases in this week's pattern. For those of you worried about running out of yarn, don't worry, this week is the last 4 increases in each section that will be done. I've mentioned before that we are aiming to get to 78 stitches between markers. This week we will complete all of the increases. If you are a few weeks behind and would like to slow your increases, I've posted some alternate instructions for that in weeks 3 & 4 of the Ravelry forums. The posts are as follows:



Also, these directions are for both beginner and intermediate. Everyone is doing the same exact thing this week. Sorry to be so boring, but it had to be done. Because of this, the knitting this week is really not a mystery at all. So, that said, I have incorporated a few clues later in the post to give you something to watch for in tonight's episode. I recommend you brew yourself a cup of tea (which I will be doing) or a glass of wine or your drink of choice (cheers to you, and enjoy on my behalf) and follow along with the fun clues anyway just for kicks. Since the knitting this week is the same for everyone and is very simple, feel free to knit ahead today if you'd like so you can relax and enjoy tonight's episode. You deserve it!

Week 5 Knitting (both Beginners & Intermediates):

Row 1: k4, *k1f&b, k to 1 st before next marker, k1f&b; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 2: knit

*repeat rows 1 & 2 once more. (78 sts between markers)

And that's all for this week's knitting folks!

Some of you may be wondering how much more knitting there is. Here is the short answer: Intermediates will have 8-16 (or possibly more if desired) rows of knitting. The intermediate border pattern is an 8-row repeat and we will be doing it twice. The beginner's border pattern is a two row repeat and we will be doing it the same number of rows in theory, however, there is more flexibility in the beginner pattern to do fewer rows if needed. If you think you are running too short of yarn, the beginner pattern will be a good choice since it's easier to customize. Just something to keep in mind for next week.


Now, here are the fun clues for Episode 5 to drink your tea or (ahem) other beverage of choice this evening:

Prompt #1: When Violet and Isobel have a disagreement, demurely take a sip and proclaim, "Indeed!"

Prompt #2: Anytime Thomas pressures Baxter to collude with him, take a drink with raised eyebrows.

Prompt #3: When Edith receives some upsetting news, take a gulp and say, "Poor Edith!"

Prompt #4: When Anna and Bates have a nice night out, take a sip and say, "Good for them!"

Prompt #5: When Rose debuts her birthday surprise for Lord Crawley, take a drink with your pinky in the air.

Prompt #6: When Rose is caught by Mary doing something unladylike, demurely take a sip and exclaim, "Kids these days!"


These are just for fun of course and not required, I hope you enjoy the episode. :)

Because there is no mystery in this week's knitting, I will not be posting an episode guide tomorrow. If you have questions about the knitting, please let me know!

Happy knitting everyone!
Kristen

First let me say Welcome! to all those who have joined in since we've started this knit-a-long!  We're so pleased that you could join us!

Everyday someone posts a photo of a finished square over in our Raverly group! These Square 1's were finished and photo posted since last weeks blog!

Square #1 by Carol Adams on page 22 of The Great American Aran Afghan book. In this square we learned a basic cable but with a little twist, it's a reversible cable! So the square looks pretty much the same on both sides. Not all of our squares will.
 

Carol's Square 1

Sherri's Square 1

Terry's Square 1

Gwen's Square 1

So it seems that my choice for Square 2 contradicted everything I said about chart reading in my hints for Square 1, week before last! Square 2 (Barbara Selesnick's design on page 16) is a perfect example of a pattern that specifically states that you are to read the charts the opposite of the norm. Despite that, several people have already completed their squares.

Square #2 by Barbara Selesnick on page 16. In this square we are learning twists and traveling stitches, stitches that move across the work instead of staying in vertical columns.

Tanya's Square 2

Carol's Square 2

  

Karen's Square 2

I'm only about 4 rows into the charted patterns, and I do have to say that it took me a while to get the row layout fastened in my head in the proper order. What has really helped is to remember that most of the time cables are only done on the right side rows.  In this pattern, row 19 is the exception with a cross on the wrong side. It has to be this way to close up the top of the lobes of the heart.

One question that has come up repeatedly is how to work the M1s.  M1 stands for Make One which is a nearly invisible increase. There are two kinds of M1s; make 1 left (M1L) and make 1 right (M1R). In many patterns the designer will not specify which one to use because unless they are repeated row upon row, the way the stitch twists makes little difference in the way the finished fabric looks and performs. When it does matter the designer will specify.

Make One Left (M1L)

• To do a M1L increase you will need to have at least one stitch on your right hand needle.
• Look at your knitting between the two needles. See the little bar between the two stitches? With your left needle pick up this bar going from front to back.
• Next, knit the loop you now have on your left needle through the back loop just as you would a normal knit through the back loop.
• By knitting through the back loop you are adding a left twist to the increase, making it invisible. Without the twist you will get an eyelet much like a small yarnover instead of an invisible increase.

Make One Right (M1R)
This increase is the same as a M1L except:

• with your left needle you will pick up the bar between the stitches from back to front
• knit it through the front loop, adding a right twist.

Perhaps an easy way to remember this is:

• M1L - pick up front to back, knit in the back - front, back, back
• M1R - pick up back to front, knit in the front - back, front, front

I usually find that M1L is easier to do, so I tend to work my M1 this way most of the time. When the instructions indicate a M1P follow these same instruction and instead of knitting into the back or front loop, purl instead. Make sure to maintain the twist or you will have a hole slightly smaller than a yarn over.

Here's a video I did last winter on how to do M1s.



Please let me know if there are other issues with Square 2 you need help with!

Now on to Square #3 by Julie Levy on page 4 of the book.

In this square we will practice our cables, add some fill stitches and learn how to make bobbles!  Bobbles aren't hard. There are many variations of to work bobbles so be sure to check the patterns instructions on what this designer wants in a bobble. Basically, to create a bobble you will be working all in one stitch:

Step 1: increase a few stitches
Step 2: work back and forth over these stitches for as many rows as indicated
Step 3: decrease back to one stitch
Step 4: resume working your row as directed

These steps create a excess fabric that will stick out 3-dimensionally from your fabric. Sometimes, you have to make the bobble lay on the correct side of the fabric by poking it into place. Knit the stitch immediately after the bobble very tightly. Yes, there will be a bit of a hole on the side of the bobble. This is normal, don't worry.

Have fun, and if you haven't already, I hope you join us for this low stress, work at your own pace project!

Please send comments, feedback, questions to me at askTerry (at) jimmybeanswool (dot) com.

Happy Bobbling!!!

Terry

Thanks for joining us for Week 5 of the Royal Baby KAL/CAL!  As many of you may know, the Royal Baby, George Alexander Louis, is here and we can officially say, "it's a boy"!  We still think both of our Royal Baby colors are beautiful, though, and hope you are enjoying working with them as well!


Knit Square: The week 5 knit square features a traditional English Mesh Lace pattern in honor of the arrival of the Royal Baby Boy!

Knit Square #5

Materials:
-100 yds of Worsted Weight yarn
-US 7 knitting needles
-darning needle
-2 stitch markers

Gauge:
17 sts = 4" in garter stitch

Directions:

CO 47 sts

Knit every row for 6 rows

On last row, place stitch markers as follows:
             -K5, pm, K to last 5 sts, pm, K5

Set up row (WS):

K5, P to last 5 sts, K5

Begin working English Mesh Lace pattern as follows:

Knit Square close-up

Crochet Square:

-slip stitch (sl st): Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over hook, pull through both loops on hook.

 -dc (double crochet): Yarn over hook, insert hook under both loops of next stitch, yarn over hook and draw loop through stitch; yarn over hook and pull through two loops on hook; yarn over hook again and pull through 2 remaining loops on hook.

-tr (treble crochet):  Yarn over hook twice, insert hook under both loops of next stitch, yarn over hook and draw loop through stitch; [yarn over hook and pull through two loops on hook] 3 times.

 -tbl (through back loop): Work in back loop of stitch only.

Directions:

Row 1 (WS): With size H/8 crochet hook, ch 40.  Tr in 4th ch from hook; *ch 1, skip 1 ch, tr in next ch; repeat from * across.  Turn.

Week 5 Crochet Square Detail

Row 2 (RS): Ch 3; tr in 1st ch-1 st from row below; *ch 1, skip 1 st, tr in next st; repeat from *across.  (Your treble crochet sts in each row should fall in between the treble crochet st from the last row).

Repeat row 2 until piece measures approximately 8" by 8".  Fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

Border:  Rejoin yarn to work with right side facing and work border as follows, working corners as described in note below:

Border Row 1: sc in each stitch all the way around work. 

*Work corners as follows: work in pattern to corner stitch, ch 1, work pattern stitch in corner stitch, ch 1, work pattern stitch in next stitch and following stitches, to next corner stitch.

Crochet Square 4 Front

Hello everyone and happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! We are really excited about this week's squares. Heather explores a ribbing pattern with the crochet square giving it a different look on either side. For the knit square, we will work a modified diagonal lace that is knit from one corner out, and then back into a point. Lets get started!

Crochet Square:




Knit:

Knit Square Week 4

Materials:

-Approximately 100 yds of a worsted weight yarn (We are using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted)

-US 7- 24 or 32" circular needle.

-Tapestry needle

-1 stitch marker (Ring is fine but a locking/removable marker is better)

Gauge:

22 sts and 24 rows = 4" in stitch pattern

Abbreviations:
k- knit
p- purl
ssk- slip slip knit (I slip my first stitch knit wise and second stitch purl wise)
k2tog- knit 2 together
yo- yarn over
sk2p- slip 1 stitch, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over
pm- place marker
sl m- slip marker
co- cast on
bo- bind off
st(s)- stitch(es)
m1r- make 1 right
m1l- make 1 left

Close up (straight view)

Directions:

Set up:

co 3 sts
Row 1: knit
Row 2: k1, m1l, k1, m1r, k1 (5 sts)
Row 3: knit
Row 4: k2, m1l, k1, m1r, k2 (7 sts)
Row 5: knit
Row 6: k3, yo, pm (to mark center stitch), k1, yo, k3 (9 sts)
Row 7: knit (sl m as you come to it)

**Errata** 

Addition of Row 8 & 9:
Row 8: k3, (yo, k1) 3 times, yo, k3 (13 sts)
Row 9: Knit

Begin working increasing stitch pattern as follows:


**Please Note: A regular ring stitch marker may get in the way during the decreases. You may choose to switch to marking the center stitch with a removable marker instead to make this easier. Either way, it still helps to mark the center stitch somehow. Do what works for you. :)

Row 1: k3, *yo, k2tog; repeat from * to 1 stitch before marker, yo, k3, yo, **ssk, yo; repeat from ** to last 3 sts, k 3.

Close up (diagonal view)

Row 2: k3, p to last 3 sts, k3

Row 3: k3, *yo, k2tog; repeat from * to marker, yo, k1, yo, **ssk, yo; repeat from ** to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 4: same as row 2.

*Repeat these 4 rows until there are 61 sts on the needles.

Begin working decrease stitch pattern as follows:

Row 1: k2, ssk, *yo, ssk; repeat from * to marker, k1, k2tog, **yo k2tog; repeat from ** to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 2: k3, p to last 3 sts, k3

Row 3: k2, ssk, *yo, ssk; repeat from * to 1 st before marker, yo, sk2p, **yo, k2tog; repeat from ** to last 2 sts, k 2.

Row 4: same as row 2

*repeat these 4 rows until there are 7 sts left on the needles and you have just finished an even row.

Finishing:

Row 1: k2, sk2p, k2 (5 sts)

Row 2: knit

Row 3: k1, sk2p, k1 (3 sts)

Row 4: BO all remaining 3 sts and weave in ends. Block to 10"x10"


There you have it folks, week #4! We hope you've enjoyed these squares and of course if you have questions, be sure to post them to the group on Ravelry!

I hope you all have a great week!

Happy knitting and crocheting,
Kristen (and Heather)

I am knitting my daughter Shelly a wedding shawl!! Shelly got married in November to her super husband Rory, but I didn't have a shawl for her to wear, so we are having a reception this summer and that gives me time to make one now..I am one happy Mom!!

As you can see the ceremony was out doors (boy did they luck out on the November weather) by the Truckee river. It was a very special immediate family only affair and beautiful!

The simplicity of the wedding made for a truly elegant experience!

This is the perfect summer shawl!

Since I had so much fun with the Sun Catcher Shawl Mystery KAL by Iris Schreier I decided to jump on board with the May Day Shawl KAL. I am using Ensemble Glitter Light in color 184 and the first portion of the pattern will be sent to me tomorrow!! Yipppeeee!!

I can't wait to cast on and work on this beautiful shawl. I can't say enough about this yarn and you can read about my Sun Catcher Shawl here. I used the regular Ensemble Light, as well as the Beaded Silk and Sequins Light for the edging.


Working with this amazing yarn is a real treat for my fingers and since the yarn is soft and slippery I will be using wooden needles. Point protectors will also be a must! I have no doubt that this project will be hard to put down...sigh boy do I love Artyarns!!

As always happy knitting, crocheting and sewing!

Jeanne

P.S. Have you heard about the Stitch Red Campaign for Heart Disease Awareness? Check it out at www.stitchred.com!