A Few More...

Hi Knitters,
My stack is growing. I am loving making these Sweetheart Washcloths. It's that kind of addictive knitting. I am doing a lot of starting and stopping with no long stretches to knit. These work for that kind of knitting, plus I get to finish something.
I have the pattern memorized now. I could knit hearts in my sleep.
I added a couple of red and pink hearts for some traditional Valentine's colors.
This top one is the Collector's favorite. I'll show you if I get a few more knit up. I am hearing that people already have some Sweethearts finished. Send me a picture. I'd love to see your version.
Hope you are all doing well this week, Knitters.
best, susie

Taiyo Scarf Drop Stitch Demo

Hi Knitters,

Here is the video demonstration of the drop stitch for the Taiyo Reversible Scarf. We had a few technical difficulties so it ended up not being super focused but you can still easily see how it works. Thanks for the support and I hope you enjoy your scarves. You can also view this video on my youtube videos.

best, susie

p.s. Nice face! Quick push play!

Sweetheart Washcloth Pattern

Hi Knitters,

The pattern is here for the Sweetheart Washcloth! It is so cute and just in time for Valentine's Day or any day, for that matter. This fast and simple little project is the perfect handmade gift for anyone on your gift list, teachers, moms, grandmas, babies, children, etc. You get the idea, anyone would love this squishy, soft treat. Imagine bathing a baby or child using this sweet little washcloth. Love it.

Here is the information:

Finished measurements: 10-inches wide, 9-inches tall

Yarn: Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille (98 yards/50 grams)

2 skeins of contrasting colors will make 2 washcloths or 1 skein will make one washcloth in one shade.

*Any cotton yarn with a similar gauge will work fine for this project.

Needles: U.S. size 6 needles or size to obtain gauge

Crochet hook (optional, for edging only): size H

The washcloth looks cute without the edging, so no worries if you're not up to the crochet.

Gauge: 4 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Difficulty Level: Easy, Easy, Easy! You will use the knit stitch, knit 2 together, and ssk (slip, slip, knit 2 together through the back loop). For the crochet trim you will use a chain stitch, slip stitch, and single crochet. 

This is an easy and fast project! You will love these washcloths. I am making up a big stack in all different colors to have on hand when I need a quick gift.

The fantastic soaps can be ordered from The Soap Opera. The Soap Opera, right on State Street, is a long time Madison staple. It is a fun, beautiful little shop in downtown Madison. The soaps are cut from big blocks as you order and you wouldn't believe how good they smell. The fragrance is so fresh and clean, just right. The soap is a fun touch to add to the washcloth if it is a gift but of course it's not necessary. The washcloth alone is a great gift by itself. 
Here is how I am giving the Sweetheart Washcloth to my favorite sweethearts. I am placing the Valentine bar of soap in the center.
Next, I fold in the heart to the center to bundle up the bar of soap.
Lastly, I tied a ribbon around the whole thing to keep it folded up. What a sweet little package. Can you imagine getting this gift? I would love it. I don't know where I got that ribbon, I have had it a long time. It is silk and textured but that is all I know about it. Any type of ribbon would look just as good: )

If you are interested in purchasing the pattern click on the button below. The pattern is $3.50. As soon as I get notice of your payment from Paypal or the e-check clears (can take up to 5 days) I will send you the pattern via email in a printable pdf file. Sometimes there is a slight delay so don't worry, it will arrive in your email. 

Enjoy!

best, susie

p.s. Next up I will be doing a video tutorial for the drop stitch technique in the Taiyo Reversible Scarf. I will have the tutorial available in a few days. Go ahead and start your scarf, you don't need to do the drop stitch until the very end. I wanted to get the Sweetheart Washcloth up first so people could get a jump start on their Valentine knitting. I've heard from a lot of knitters who already have their cotton chenille and are waiting to get knitting!

Taiyo Answers and a Sweet Surprise

Hi Knitters,

What a response to the Taiyo Reversible Scarf! There is a lot more interest than I had planned on. The pattern orders are still pouring in. Thank you! I want to give you a few more shots to look at. These photos show off the ruffly movement effect of the dropped stitches. This scarf is incredibly easy to make and the texture of the knitted fabric is wonderful, beautiful and rustic.
I have been wearing my Taiyo folded in half with the ends pulled through the fold. This seems to be the best way to show off the texture.
I want to explain how to work the scarf a little here. I didn't know this but there are a lot of knitters who haven't ever dropped a stitch on a knitted piece before. So here are some answers to a few questions I have been getting:

1. What do I do first? Knit the entire scarf. That's right, just work to the very end. Don't worry about dropping the stitches until you are basically done with the scarf. Don't think too hard about the end effect, just follow the pattern. Dive right in.

2. When do I drop the stitches? On the last row! That's what makes it so simple. You work straight to the end, then you drop the stitches. Your next row will be the bind off row.

3. What does it mean to drop the stitches? You actually take the specified stitch on the left needle off the needle and let it drop down. Pull the dropped stitch down several rows before you continue on with the row. You will have to pull the dropped stitch out of the stitches as you work it down the entire length of the scarf. Even after pulling the stitch down a few rows you will start to see the ladder effect appearing. The cast on row will stay in place at the bottom of the scarf. No worries, just do it!

4. How do I carry on with the row after I drop the stitch off my needle? Easy. All you do is look at the space between the stitches still on your needles. You will see the ladder or the line of bars going down the scarf. Place the top bar on the left needle by placing your needle under the bar from the front to the back. Next, knit the bar on your left needle through the back (or through the back loop), this will twist the bar and make it into a regular stitch on your needle. The next row is the bind off row so you will work the "bar" stitches as regular stitches on this row.

5. I am an email subscriber and when I push the "buy now" button it doesn't take me to Paypal, what do I do? Easy, click on Susan B. Anderson at the top of the email. It will take you directly to the post on my blog where you can click and order. For email subscribers, you should pop on over to the actual blog from time to time to read comments and to see any updates or corrections that I may add later to posts. You always get the first version of every post with no comments or corrections or additions. Just a suggestion: ) I don't know why the button didn't work for some people on the email subscription.

6. Help! I still don't get it! This weekend I will try my best to get a video tutorial together on how to drop a stitch, just like you need to do for the Taiyo Reversible Scarf. I will check with my camera man (my 17 year old son) to see if his schedule will allow a filming session. I think we can pull it off. Please check back for that if you are interested. When you see me drop the stitch on the video, you are going to laugh about how simple it is. It reads much more difficult than it is.

In conclusion, just start your scarf! Don't worry about the dropping of the stitches until you are done with the scarf, remember it's the last row where you drop.

 
Now for my sweet surprise. 

Okay, I am really excited about this project. I have designed and written the pattern for the cutest ever cotton chenille Sweetheart Washcloths. Squishy, squishy, soft, soft. These are next up on my pattern list. You can whip these up for Valentine's Day presents for all of your sweethearts. I am so in love with these and I hope you want to make some, too. This is one of the cutest projects I have ever made. My daughters are going crazy to get their hands on these heart washcloths. Think of all of the people who would love a Valentine pick-me-up, teachers, moms, grandmas, friends, daughters, babies, kids..... 

I am going to tell you where to get those fantastic soaps, too, the shop has a complete mail order service. Those soaps were picked out by The Collector.

I will have the pattern available in a day or two. This is a super fast, simple knit. Seriously. I made two Sweetheart Washcloths yesterday with a lot of off and on knitting.

Level of difficulty: Easy, Easy, Easy! (garter stitch, knitting every row and stitch is the main ingredient)

Here's what you need to get ready:

Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille (2 skeins make 2 washcloths) Check out this link to see all of the fabulous colors available. I think green or blue or red or dark purple, etc., etc..... would all look fantastic. Be creative. I love this yarn and for some reason I have a ton of it I've collected.

U.S. size 6 needles

U.S. size H crochet hook (Now for you knitters who won't crochet, the crochet edging is optional, the washcloths are still super cute on their own or you could just pick up around the edge with your needles and bind off on the next row for an edging or you could do a knitted picot edging, see my sidebar for tutorials.)

To give you some size reference, each washcloth is 10-inches wide, and 9-inches tall.

Any cotton yarn will do with a gauge of about 4 stitches per inch in stockinette give or take.

Okay, you would not believe the avoidance that is going on with me. I have an enormous manuscript staring me down from my desk right now. I have to get to editing. Bleh.

Love you, Knitters. You keep me going more than you'll ever know. I really needed a kick this week and the Taiyo scarf definitely gave it to me, thanks to all of you.

best, susie

Taiyo Reversible Scarf

Hi Knitters,

This is my new favorite scarf, it is filled with texture and squish and I love it. I made it long and wide for extra wrapping. The Noro Taiyo is light and airy and the dropped stitches add to the weightless feeling of the scarf. The drop stitches add a ruffled effect due to the knit and purl stitches which make the open bars go in and out of the scarf. This was something that surprised me and the ripple effect makes me love the scarf even more.

If you want an incredibly easy version of a dropped stitch scarf with simple stitch interest, this one is for you. This is a beginner scarf pattern that is interesting enough for an advanced knitter but easy enough for a brand new knitter.
The yarn has a rustic feeling as does the finished scarf and Taiyo is an absolutely fantastic yarn. However, any worsted weight yarn will work for this design.

I hope you love this one as much as I do! Here is the information:

Level: Easy, Easy, Easy (if you knit and purl this one is for you!)

Finished Measurements: 9 inches by 70 inches

2 skeins of Noro Taiyo (200 meters per skein) or about 400 meters of a worsted weight yarn

Size 9 needles or size to obtain gauge

Gauge: 4 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

The pattern is available for purchase for $3.50. I will email you the pdf file of the pattern as soon as I have received your payment or the e-check has cleared from Paypal. Sometimes there is a slight delay because I have to check my email in order to send the pattern to you and sometimes that takes a bit of time, usually not much time. I try to be as prompt as possible.

Click on the button below to purchase if you are interested.

best, susie

Simple Pleasures

Hi Knitters,

Well, this one is a winner, both the yarn and the pattern. The hat is called, Simple Pleasures and the pattern is here. (That is fake fur on my coat: )
The yarn is from my favorite indie dyer, Dani, at Sunshine Yarns. The colorway is called, Itty-Bitty Nursery and she made it just for me when I visited her in Boston a year ago. She over-dyed pink with blue to get shades of lavender and blue and purple. It is really pretty. Her yarn is squishy and soft and it feels so good. This is sock or fingering weight yarn. The pattern calls for a lace weight yarn but sock weight worked fine. The ribbed brim of the hat is worked with two strands of the sock yarn held together on size 8 needles. 
The crown is worked with one strand of the sock yarn and one strand of a thin mohair, I used Rowan Kidsilk Haze, held together. This section is worked on size 9 needles. The rib is worked for 6 inches and the crown is worked for 7 inches above the rib. It is worked on 16-inch needles throughout. That is 13 inches of hat, which is a lot knitting, but it is simple and fun knitting and you get a great hat in the end. I switched to dpns at the top of the hat but the pattern suggests that you can do the whole thing on 16-inch circulars. I couldn't do it but maybe it's possible.
I still have quite a bit of sock yarn left over. It is such beautiful yarn, both of them. The book, The Magic Hat, is one The Collector brought home from school. It's really cute.
How about this simple pleasure? I love it. I did two new stitches, the half-linen stitch and a slightly different version of a loop stitch. Love both of these and I will use them again. This pattern is in this book. I'll write more about these when I finish the second one. The yarn is Manos Del Uruguay wool.

I'll be back with the Taiyo Reversible Scarf pattern next.

Happy New Year, Knitters. I hope it is a good year ahead.

best, susie

Taiyo, I'm Your's

Hi Knitters,

I am so excited about this new scarf design. Have you knitted with Noro's Taiyo? I may have been living under a rock to have missed this yarn but I was not familiar with it. I grabbed a couple of balls at Loop Yarn Shop in Milwaukee. It is the best colorway I have ever seen, that's what drew me in. It is color #1 and it has black, tan, chocolate, rosy pink and dusty pink and a bit of olive and gray. It is gorgeous, beyond. The yarn is 40% cotton, 30% silk, 15% wool, and 15% nylon. Taiyo is squishy and soft, not at all scratchy. This is my new favorite yarn, love it!

I made this reversible scarf for myself but it turned out so great that I am going to write up the pattern to share with you. I should have it available in a couple of days. If you are interested and you want to get ready, it uses 2 balls of Taiyo and a size 9 needle. I will give a lot more detail and better photos when all is set. It has so much texture and interest that I hope I can capture it all with the camera.

Okay, I'll be back soon. I have another podcast brewing in my head, too.

Take care, Knitters.

best, susie

See What You Think

Hi Knitters,

Isn't she pretty? I can't believe it's been 21 years since my niece was born. That was an exciting time. My mom babysat her for awhile and I was still living at home at that time. I remember never wanting to leave when she was over, we couldn't get enough of her. 

Well, I think she likes both of the hats. I showed her the magazine cover and she seemed to like the style of the hat.
Here she is in the black version. I failed to mention in the emailed version (I added it later to the blog) of my last post that I only used one strand of the Manos to work this cabled tam. I wish you could see this hat better, the black makes it get lost in the photo. It is really pretty up close.
The other niece had to give it a try.
Of course the nephew had to add his two cents. That is so funny, just look at him. What a mushroom.
After the birthday party the kids all went sledding. There's a Utopia hat, a Surefire hat and a Stripey Stocking hat in the mix. I love to see a big group of kids all wearing hats I knitted for them.
The Surefire hat is such a winner (on the left). My sons both wear their hats every single day and the hats just get better with the wear and tear. It is the perfect teenage boy hat, I swear.
My cute niece loves her Stripey Stocking hat straight out of Itty-Bitty Hats. She is almost 15 and the largest size in the book fits her just fine. You cast on 72 stitches to start, size 9 needles and Manos wool. You could even start with 80 stitches to get a 20-inch hat for an adult size head. I lined it with fleece and she says it is her favorite hat because it is the warmest.
This is another niece of mine. She and The Collector are only 2 months apart in age which is fun. It was a white out, quite foggy and misty. The sledding was extra fast.
The rosy-cheeked Collector has been having a wonderful holiday with her cousins.
My sister found these snowball-makers. They are really fun. You just put them right in the snow bank and close up the scooper and out pops the most perfectly round snowball I have ever seen.
I finished these socks this morning. These have been in the making for a looong time. It feels good to get things done. These are a Christmas gift, it's okay that they are a few days late. I will give them anyway.
I know someone will email me and ask so here is the information:

Opal #1702

Simple ribbed sock, k3, p1 pattern with a heel flap, top down

Cast on 64 stitches, size 2 dpns

The hat giving was fun and I think they were a hit. I'd like to make another one of the second version for myself. I'll have to dig around and see what I've got for yarn. One thing I continue to realize is that I am still completely obsessed with knitting hats. I simply love to knit hats and I can never have enough to choose from. It is the perfect project in my eyes.

Have a good weekend, Knitters. Hopefully you will all sneak a chance to relax and knit for a bit.

best, susie

This One is Even Better!

Hi Knitters,

The dark glasses are only to cover the dark circles under my eyes and to go incognito in my living room. Black is always difficult to photograph but you can get the idea. Okay, this is exciting. Let me tell you what I did starting on Christmas Eve. I took the Chunky Cabled Tam pattern from here and I re-worked it into this fantastic cabled tam and it was simple. Plus this was actually a joyful knit, not a painful one and super fast. Mainly because I only used one strand of the Manos wool instead of doubling the yarn throughout. That is much easier on your hands.
I took a size 9, 16 inch circular and cast on 80 stitches. At 4 stitches per inch, this will give me a 20 inch hat. Perfect. Then I worked the same rib for the brim as in the original pattern. Then for the increase rounds I worked onto a size 9, 24 inch. For the first increase round I worked (k1, kfb) across the round, increasing 40 stitches. The second round I increased another 24 stitches to come up with the same number as the pattern calls for.
Then I worked the repeat from the original pattern 4 times, then rounds 1-5 once. It's a simple and fast and a fun knit, so much better. I love this hat! You have to try this rework.
I did the exact same decrease sequence as in the original pattern. Worked like a charm. Now I think this is the perfect tam. I used one full skein of Manos wool, plus a little from a second skein, half the amount from the original hat at three skeins. With a quick steam the hat relaxed into a soft, pliable fabric, not heavy at all. My niece has sensitive skin so I did a quick lining with some beautiful gray fleece so there is no itch factor. It is gorgeous all-around.

I will give them both to her and see what happens. The second version is more wearable in my opinion and it just feels better on your head. If you are at all interested in this style of hat but you don't want the fashion statement of the first hat, give this enjoyable version a swing.

Okay, dear knitters, I am hosting my niece's birthday party today because all of the left-overs are at my house as we hosted Christmas for my sweet family as well. It will be a second holiday celebration. Hope you are all feeling good today, the day after. I feel a big sigh of relief today, everyone's happy. 

best, susie

Eleventh Hour

Hi Knitters,

The Collector was on another marathon crafting session yesterday morning. She made two fantastic dioramas that I will share later. One is a winter scene and one is a garden. The garden is a gift for one of her cousins. Anyway, she requested some felted balls to use in her art project. I pulled out my big bag of felted goodies and then I started thinking about snowmen. I dug around and pulled out the white ones and stacked them up.
I got some white thread and a sewing needle, stitched two balls together, these are the two centimeter size. I have some felted rings that have sequins on them and I plopped the snowmen on top of them. They look like little sleds. I quickly stitched the ring to the snowman. I cut out little carrot noses out of some orange wool felt. Stitch, stitch. I ran a thread right through the top and made a loop for hanging. Last, I grabbed a black Sharpie and drew eyes, a charcoal mouth and a couple of buttons. The snowman is about 1.5 inches tall. It's tiny.

In a few short minutes I made three super cute snowman ornaments. These were fun and fast and you could do it, too. The felted goodies are all from here. 
Oh yeah, and that scarf? It's called the eleventh hour scarf. The pattern is here and it took less than an hour to make.  I love it.

I was surprised at the overwhelmingly positive votes for the chunky cabled tam. I was definitely encouraged and I am going to give the tam to my niece. That was fun and I loved reading all of the comments. You are a fun group of readers, thank you. I also received a lot of emails and some ravelry comments as well. There were some nays but the yays outnumbered by far.

I'll let you know how it goes and I will try to get a picture of my niece with the hat on at some point.

Happy holidays, Knitters. I appreciate you and your insight.

best, susie

Yay or Nay?

Hi Knitters,

What do you think? My kids think no. I think maybe?
I knitted this with my 21 year-old niece in mind. Her birthday is the day after Christmas and I am always caught short for her gift. I am not sure if she will enjoy and wear this tam or not. It is pretty huge and fairly heavy. It is knitted with 2 strands of Manos (you need 3 skeins) held together on size 11 needles. Let me tell you, it was a bear to knit, really rough. You start with a size 7 sixteen inch circular and you cast on a small amount of stitches, then after the rib you almost triple the number of stitches in a couple of rounds. The first few inches were downright painful. If I had to do it again I would not start in the round but I would knit back and forth for a long while, then switch to working in the round and then seam up the first section at the end. It was very awkward knitting the whole way. I love the design though and the chunky cables are always a winner in my book.
There it is right on the cover of the newest Knit.1 magazine. My niece is a beautiful blonde just like the model. My kids think, "it looks kind of crazy" and "it looks like a chef hat," said by two of them at separate times. The Collector will not respond at all. She just peeked at me over the back of the couch. I know it is a trendy style hat and they are not used to it. It's more of a statement hat. I am just not sure if I should gift it or not....
I am sure of this, when your seventeen-year-old son asks for a knitted pair of mittens, you jump to it. I whipped these up for him to wear to swim team in the early mornings, they leave at about 5:40am every school day. The mittens are in his school colors, which he selected, and I measured his hands along the way to make up the pattern. They are custom made just for him and he loves them. He wore them inside all of last night and then I went to greet him this morning and he was wearing his mittens again. Score.

Give me your vote on the tam if you get a chance. Even if it turns out to be a "no-go" I still like trying out patterns and knitting new things. That's what it's all about.

best, susie

Winter Fairy Wishes

Hi Knitters,

We are socked in once again with a winter storm that added about a foot of snow overnight. No school, no work and lots of shoveling for today. The Collector has been at work planning and collecting for her winter fairy house. Today is the day for the new home to come to life.
She pulled a sled out of a small snow mound on the side of our house and it left the perfect hole. You can't see the depth of the hole but it goes in about a foot or two from the entrance. I had a few little ornaments at the bottom of some boxes in the basement and couple of old bows left from wreathes I had saved. She was thrilled with these items. She gathered the pine branches at the tree farm a couple of weeks ago. 
She is proudest of the archway entrance and how she lined the arch with the branches. At her beckoning, I bundled up, threw on my old boots and trudged through the snow to see her newest creation. Hidden in the back of the house she made a little bed or more like a nest of pine needles for the fairy to sleep on.  

It is a magical time of year so hopefully this little girl's wishes for a fairy will come true. 
Just to give you a visual of the amounts of snow we are already dealing with, check out our mailbox. That mountain of snow to the right is at the end of our driveway. This morning I saw two people cross-country skiing down our street, probably to get to work. We are on course for having the snowiest December in Wisconsin's weather history. It is something. When you live in Madison, the weather is always doing something interesting and we like to talk about it, a lot. 

Stay toasty and fire up those teapots and your needles, Knitters, winter is here to stay.

best, susie

Better Model, Same Hat

Hi Knitters,

The Collector helped me out with some quick modeling this morning before school. Here is the information for the hat and yarn I used.
Isn't it the coolest ever? I wore it all day yesterday, it snowed all day, too, and I got several compliments from various checkers. One woman at Pottery Barn would not let up on the questions. I basically had to spill the entire story to her. It was sweet. She kept calling the hat "gold," which kind of bothered me because it is clearly pumpkin. And when I wear it, it is a pumpkin shake. Actually, it made me feel better in the mall (where I am a fish out of water) to wear a handknit hat. Why? Don't know.
I told my daughter that you are supposed to wear it slouchy and maybe a little to the side. I told her she was a hipster. She laughed at that. I may have to fight her for it.

Hey, I did an interview and there is a fun review if you are at all inclined. There are some interesting interviews of other knitter's on Hannah's blog as well. More on Hannah later, she is extra-sweet and talented.

I am off and running, been up since 3am working on that manuscript and now I have to go out to FedEx to send off my completed project and pattern to a yarn company and then off for some Christmas shopping. I'm trying, I'm trying....

best, susie