Monday, December 26, 2011

Stitch Tutorials for Advent Calendar Scarf 2011 Days 7 -12

Here are some more tutorials for the various stitches used in the Advent Calendar Scarf 2011 designed by Kristin Benecken.  Again, I want to thank Kristin for her wonderful designs, and for guiding all the 2000+ knitters around the world in making our beautiful scarves.

Pattern Day 7

∆ = sl2, k1, psso - See Pattern Day 1

R = k1thbl = knit 1 stitch through the back loop
This is just a slightly twisted variation of the regular knit stitch
1. insert the right needle  into the stitch as if you are going to purl EXCEPT that the right needle goes behind the left needle

 2. Knit the stitch as usual

 That's it =)

Pattern Day 8
R = k1tbl (knit 1 through the back loop = see Pattern Day 7)


Pattern Day 9

Ж = 3 from 1 from 3 rows below

1. Find the stitch 3 rows down:

 2. Knit into the middle of that stitch


wrapping the yarn around the right needle just like a normal knit


3. YO  (Yarn Over) the right needle and


4. Knit back through that same stitch 3 rows down.


5. When you are this far, you will have the original stitch STILL on the left needle, and 3 new stitches on the right needle.


6. Let the stitch DROP off the left needle (yes, you can do it!)


7. you have 3 new stitches on the right needle with a sort of double collar





Pattern Day 10  (nothing new)
Pattern Day 11 (nothing new)

Pattern Day 12 
I0I (see Pattern Day 6)


5 = 5 from 1
you will make 5 stitches from 1 stitch


1. Knit into the stitch leaving the stitch on the left needle


2. Yarn Over (YO) leaving the original stitch on the left needle.  You now have 2 stitches on the Right needle.


3. Knit back into the same stitch still leaving it on the left needle.  You now have 3 stitches on the right needle.

4. YO again leaving the stitch on the left needle.  You now have 4 stitches on the right needle.



5. Knit a third time into the same stitch. 



6. You have 5 stitches on the right needle and the original 1 on the left.  Drop the stitch on the left needle.


7. This is what the final stitch looks like:



Ω = sl2 k3tog psso
 With this stitch you will knit back together the 5 stitches you made earlier
 On the WS (the wrong side and even row) you will have Purled these 5 stitches so they look like Knits from the Right Side (RS)

1. Slip 2 stitches as if to Knit one at a time


2. Knit the next 3 stitches together


3. On the Right Needle you have 2 slipped stitches and 1 knit stitch (from the 3 you knitted together)

4. with your left needle, Pick up the 2 slipped stitches and


5. Pass them over the 1 knit stitch


6. This is what the final stitch looks like:




C. A. Losi


 

Stitch Tutorials for Advent Calendar Scarf 2011 Spacer, Days 1 - 6

These are stitch tutorials for the 2011 Advent Calendar Scarf
I want to say thank you to Kristin Benecken for her gorgeous patterns, and for allowing knitters from all over the world to join together to knit this lace sampler scarf.

Spacer Section:



\  S1 K1 PSSO :
I think you can use SSK instead of this stitch, but I found that one harder to do with lace yarn.)

1. slip 1 stitch as if to knit



2. knit 1 stitch

3. pick up the slipped stitch with your left needle


4. pass it over the knit stitch and off the needle.



5.You started with 2 stitches on your left needle and now have 1 Left Leaning stitch on your right needle


Pattern Day 1

sl2 as if to knit, k1, psso

1. slip 2 stitches as if to knit (you must do this one stitch at a time)


2. knit 1 stitch


3. pick up the 2 slipped stitches with your left needle


4. pass the 2 slipped stitches over the 1 knit stitch


5. you started with 3 stitches on your left needle, and now you have 1 stitch on the right needle


Pattern Day 2
k1b   knit 1 stitch in the row below

1. Normally you would insert your right needle into the stitch that is ON the left needle



2. For this stitch, you insert your right needle into the stitch below the one on the left needle


3. wrap the yarn like a normal knit around the needle and pull it through like a normal knit

4. You will have the new stitch on the right needle, and the original stitch still on the left needle.  slip off (or let drop) the stitch that is still on the left needle 


5. the stitch looks a bit like it has 2 collars
Pattern Day 3 (nothing new)
Pattern Day 4 (sl2 as if to Purl, k1, psso - see Pattern Day 1)
Pattern Day 5 (sl2 as if to Purl, k1, psso - see Pattern Day 1)


Pattern Day 6
I0I  slip 1 over 3

1. Slip a stitch purlwise (as if you were going to purl)  from the left needle to the right needle

2. using the next 2 stitches on the Left needle, K YO K.  You used 3 stitches but now have 4 on your Right needle:

3. Pick up the slipped stitch with your left needle, and pull it back over the other 3  (the K YO K)
4. The slipped stitch is now wrapped around the K YO K and you have 3 stitches again.

5. when you come back on the WS, you will P K P those 3 stitches.

Ok, have to take my sons to the dentist.  I will post more of these tomorrow.

C. A. Losi

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Advent Calendar Scarf Day 24, Saturday, December 24, 2011

Happy Christmas Eve!  and welcome to D-Day, the final day of knitting on my Advent Calendar Scarf 2011.

It is 8:22 am, I just finished the last stitch of the spacer section between days 23 and 24 and am ready to knit the final pattern section.  I'm listening to KUOW, my local Public Radio station out of the University of Washington.  Ok, enough typing, time to knit!


10:30 and starting the 2nd repeat.  I'm listening to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me now =)  I love this show.  The guest for Not My Job is Neil Gaiman.  I'm starving, and I was going to take a break at this point and eat some breakfast, but I want to finish this pattern first.

11:06 and I'm on row 5  David Sedaris is performing his Santa Land Diaries on This American Life.

12:19 pm and finished Day 24.  I will now do the final spacer section then block before I eat.  Ok, I'm now eating these Creme Brulee Almonds by Planters that my Auntie J sent.   Nothing but health food for me.



1:30 pm finished the spacer and put it in the washer to soak and spin. 


3:30 pm Blocked on the rug in the TV room.

LOL slightly too long, so I added my sewing cutting board to the end.  It measures 7'7" x 1' 


I don't think it will be ready for Mass tonight.  That makes me sad.  But, the Doc and I will go to a neighborhood party for New Year's Eve, and I will wear it to that.

I have so many thoughts about my scarf.  I just can't even relax enough to organize them.  I hope on December 26th to spend some time organizing them, and post that day.  This has been an absolutely grueling experience.  I feel like I ran a marathon.  I am so proud of myself.  I joined a group of crafters from around the world and with their support, and giving my support, made something beautiful.

Merry Christmas and Peace to all.

C. A. Losi