Knitted Vest for 18" Doll

I developed this pattern from the Beaded Sweater. Look for the directions for that sweater at the end of the post - Dolls for the Children. This sweater vest has directions for using 4 ply worsted yarn and for using sport yarn. I ordered sport yard in several colors from Red Heart to make sweaters for the 18" dolls but I have so much 4 ply worsted yarn, whole skeins, partial skeins, small balls, etc. Using the pattern I developed for sport yarn makes a sweater much too large when using 4 ply worsted. So I developed a pattern for the same sweater vest using leftover 4 ply worsted yarn. I like the product of both yarns, though, the sport yarn or DK yarn makes a more delicate looking vest.

When making this sweater vest, I learned how to make selvedge edges. I am still perfecting the method I like best. Also, using this site , you can learn several ways to make quick selvedges. For more detailed selvedges, visit this site. There are several reasons for using a knitted selvedge. I like them because it makes row counting easier and makes a sturdy flat edge, rather than a bumpy edge.

If you don't want to complete the selvedge edges, knit both the right and left edges, which would also be the first and last stitches on each row.

 It takes approximately 36 grams (1.3 oz) or  about 61 yards of 4 ply worsted to make a sweater vest and approximately 19 grams (0.6 oz) or about 52 yards to make the vest of sport yarn or DK yarn.

One pink vest sweater yoke, button bands, and hem was knitted using the seed stitch rather than the garter stitch. Since there are increases in the yoke, the seed stitch in the yoke is not a literal seed stitch. To accommodate, the increases there may be two knit stitches or two purl stitches together.



Abbreviations
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
inc - increase stitch
dec - decrease stitch
selvedge stitch - selvedge
K - knit
P - purl
garter stitch - knit each row
stockinette stitch - knit row and purl next row
seed stitch - alternated knit and purl stitches (see link)




Sweater Vest using sport yarn or DK yarn (#2 or #3 yarn standard)

Using #6 needles, cast on 44 stitches

Row 1:  Knit across
Row 2:  (rs) 1 selvedge stitch. Knit across. In last 4 stitches, knit 2 together, yo, knit 1, 1 selvedge
              stitch (button hole)
Row 3:  1 selvedge stitch, knit 5, *inc in next stitch, K2, repeat across from * to last 5 stitches.        
              Increase in next stitch. Knit next 3 stitches, 1 selvedge stitch (56 stitches)
Row 4:  1 selvedge stitch, knit across to last stitch, 1 selvedge stitch
Row 5:  Repeat row 4
Row 6:  Repeat row 4
Row 7:  (ws) 1 selvedge stitch, knit 4, *increase in next stitch, knit 3, repeat across from* to last 7
             stitches. Increase in next stitch, knit 5 stitches, 1 selvedge stitch. (68 stitches)
Row 8:  (rs) Repeat row 2 (another button hole)
Row 9-10:  Repeat row 4 (2 time) (the length of the yoke should be approximately 1 1/2 inches) If
              you want the yoke longer, repeat row 4 until you get the width (length) you want.
Row 11: 1 selvedge, knit 10, cast off 13 stitches, knit 20 stitches, cast off 13 stitches, knit 10 stitches,
              1 selvedge (42 stitches on needle)
Row 12:  1 selvedge, knit 10, cast on 9 stitches, knit 20 stitches, cast on 9 stitches, knit 10 stitches, 1
               selvedge (60 stitches on needle)
Row 13: 1 selvedge stitch, knit 58, 1 selvedge stitch
Row 14: 1 selvedge stitch, knit 2 (front band), purl across to last 3 stitches, knit 2, 1 selvedge (front
               band)

Repeat rows 13 and 14 until under arm measure 2 1/2 inches. In last row at 2 1/2 inches, decrease a stitch at each under arm and in the middle of back. (Decreasing stitches is optional but the decreases keeps the bottom edge from puffing out.)

After decreasing row, knit each row until 5 ridges have formed (or the number of ridges you would like). Cast off on right side.

With crochet hook or finishing needle, tuck beginning and ending yarn tails inside. (The finishing needles can also be found in Walmart, Amazon, craft stores, etc.)

Lightly block the sweater to give it a nice finished look. Sew on buttons.

Sweater Vest using 10 ply worsted (#4 yarn standard)

Using #6 needles, cast on 44 stitches

Row 1: 1st stitch selvedge, knit across, last stitch selvedge
Row 2: (RS) 1st stitch selvedge, knit across, in last 4 stitches, knit 2 together, yo, knit 1, 1 selvedge
             stitch (button hole formed)
Row 3: 1st stitch selvedge, knit 5 stitches, *inc in next stitch, K2, repeat across from *, to last 5
             stitches. Increase in net stitch. Knit 3 stitches, 1 selvedge stitch. (56 stitches)
Row 4-6: Repeat row 1
Row 7: 1st stitch selvedge, knit 4, * increase in next stitch, K3, repeat across from * to last 7 stitches.
             Increase in next stitch, knit 5, last stitch selvedge (68 stitches)
Row 8: 1st stitch selvedge, knit across, in last 4 stitches, knit 2 tog, yo, knit 1, 1 selvedge stitch
             (button hole formed) 68 stitches
Row 9: Repeat row 1
Row 10: 1st stitch selvedge, Knit 10, cast of 13 stitches, Knit 20, cast off 13, knit 10, 1 selvedge
               stitch (42 stitches)
Row 11: 1st stitch selvedge, knit 2, knit 9 stitches, cast on 9 stitches, knit 20 stitches, cast on 9
             stitches, knit 11 stitches, last stitch selvedge. (61 stitches)
Row 12: Repeat row 1
Row 13: 1st stitch selvedge, knit 2 stitches, purl across to last 3 stitches, knit 2, 1 selvedge stitch.

Repeat rows 12 and 13 until under arm measures 2 1/2 inches. In row at 2 1/2 inches, dec 1 stitch under each arm hole and middle of back. (The decreases helps hem of vest from bulging out and are optional.)

After decreasing row, knit rows until 5 ridges are formed with 1st stitch selvedge and last stitch selvedge. Cast off from right side.  With crochet hook or finishing needle, tuck beginning and ending yarn tails inside. (The finishing needles can also be found in Walmart, Amazon, etc.)

Lightly lightly block the sweater to give it a finished look. Sew on buttons.

The top sweater vest has the yoke, hem and button band in the garter stitch.
The bottom sweater vest has the yoke, hem and button band in the seed stitch.
Again, both sweaters are knitted with sport yarn (#2).

Resources:


"How to Block Knitting: Wet Blocking and Steam Blocking Knitting Techniques." Interweave. N.p., 21 Nov. 2016. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://www.interweave.com/article/knitting/how-to-block-knitting-tips-resources/>.

"How to Knit the Garter Stitch." Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://www.dummies.com/crafts/knitting/designs-patterns/how-to-knit-the-garter-stitch/>.

"How to Knit the Stockinette Stitch." Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://www.dummies.com/crafts/knitting/knitting-stitches/how-to-knit-the-stockinette-stitch/>.

MarleneD1216. "Slip Stitch Edges - Knitting." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_odMnlGeH-o>.

"Selvages." Selvages. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://www.vogueknitting.com/pattern_help/how-to/beyond_the_basics/selvages>.

"The 6 Best Selvedges for Finishing Your Projects." The Blog. N.p., 12 Apr. 2016. Web. 04 Feb. 2017.<https://www.weareknitters.com/blog/knitting-tips/best-selvedges-for-finishing-your-projects/>. 

"Yarn Weight (Thickness)." Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. <http://www.dummies.com/crafts/knitting/knitting-yarn/yarn-weight-thickness/>.

Christmas Baby Booties

I have a cousin who has  central nervous system vasculitis and has had several strokes.  The disease has caused the nerves in her brain to tell her she cannot see, even though her eyes can function for sight.  She is transported to physical therapy every week.   She has done a remarkable job in her recovery process.

One of her daughters is expecting a child in June.  She requested that baby's booties be placed on her Christmas tree this year.  Great idea!  I thought I might give a hand with that and finished up the project last night.  They will be in the mail to her today and she will get the booties in a couple days

I wanted to do them in Christmas colors and wanted to use up some of the yarn from Mama's sewing closet that I cleaned out when she died. How did she get so much yarn?   She had a friend who sold her house so that she could live on a boat.  The friend was quite a knitter and crocheter and had big Sterilite storage bins of yarn.  Six of those containers found a home in Mama's sewing closet. (The closet was very big -- in fact, in a life before the Joyners moved in, it was small baby nursery).  


I was so glad to have all that yarn when Mama was sick (and she also had Alzheimers) because it was her task to wind the skeins into balls.  When one wants to use the balls now, they have to be rewound because Mama wound the balls loosely and in only one direction, so they collapse and the yard gets tangled.  But, it gave her something to do.  She had lost the ability to do any kind of needlework.  She remembered that she could do it, but couldn't remember how and couldn't focus. At first when her memory was slipping, I would write simple instructions on posty notes and she used those directions to knit or crochet.   But gradually that didn't work anymore. Making yarn balls was something she thought she could do. She eventually couldn't do that either.


Using up that yarn has been a task of mine.  I used much of it before the house was sold;  the remainder  was moved to my storage.  Two blankets for Project Linus were completed and another one started, which is still in progress).  I made a baby blanket for my grandson.  Then most of the hats made for Coats for the Children have been made from Mama's stash of yarn. 

These two blankets
were made in 2012 completely from Mama's yarn stash.  They were carried to a collection site for Project Linus.

Coats for the Children hats completed in 2012, using
yarn from Mama's stash. (There is no picture of ones
completed in 2011.  That was the year I began working
on using up her yarn.)

This blanket was made for my grandson using yarn
 from Mama's yarn stash.

For the last few years, I have made at least 12 hats for Coats for the children.  This year has been so eventful that time has not allowed for that.  It began with Mama dying in January.  Cleaning out Mama and Daddy's house in Belhaven, NC took a lot of time.  They had lived in that big house for 50 years and filled it with the things they cherished.  Then I helped my daughter and her family move to the farm in Rougemont.  So, I have not had the time to spend making the hats.  I did decide to make hats in memory of the children killed at Sandy Hooks and will continue that project if it takes several years.  I got four of the hats completed this year in their memory.  But most of the yarn for those Sandy Hooks hat had to be purchased because I needed specific colors and types of yarns, especially for the beading of the girl hats.  Some of the hats (below) were made to practice stitches and beading for the Sandy Hook hats.  The practice hats were made from Mama's yarn stash.

Seven hats for Coats for the Children completed in 2013,
some knitted and some crocheted

Now for the Christmas booties -- the most recent project completed using Mama's Stash.  For the red booties with the cable at the front, I used the free pattern on Judit Sogan’s blog.  She described the project as “A Small Baby Project for the Weekend”.  I was able to complete both shoes in two days, working only at nights on it.  I spent two weeks working on free patterns which had terrible directions.  I wanted to spend time rewriting directions but found I was running out of time to get the booties mailed before Christmas.  I was so delighted to find Judit's instructions. There must be a little teacher in Judit because her numbers and exact instructions were very easy to follow.

 Judit’s instructions stated to use baby yarn for the project.  Since these booties were to act also as a Christmas decoration, I decided to use the colors of white and red.  Mama’s yarn stash had some white sport yarn, which I could substitute for baby yarn but she had no red baby yarn.  I found that difficult to purchase without scouting out the yarn shops or searching online.  This was a rush project and time didn’t allow for that.  Besides, I needed to use yarn from Mama’s stash.  The worsted yarn caused the size of the bootie to increase but that is OK because the baby will not be wearing it until next Christmas anyway and will probably need the large size (6 months).

I made a couple of changes though.  I made a mistake on a row because I was careless in reading the directions.  In row 33, I didn't do a K2, so the holes for the ribbon were closer together than Judit's bootie.  (Had to figure where the mistake was so that I could repeat it on the second bootie).  I didn't make the 2 stitch i-cord.  I thought the cabled booties would look more like Christmas with 1/4-inch white ribbon.  

The white booties were made with the white sport yarn using a very easy free pattern from Lion Brand Yarns.  I attached a red ribbon to make it, again, more like Christmas.  I hope these booties cheer my cousin and are what she requested.  Making the booties helped put me in better Christmas spirits.  Love you cousin P.M. and all the Joyners.  I miss you all and wish you a Merry Christmas.

Next project, finish the blanket started before the booties and continue with the Sandy Hook hats.  I have found some perfect patterns and ideas to complete some more hats in honor & memory of the children.  Check back and see my ideas and finished projects.

Hats in Honor of the Sandy Hook Victims part 2

Olivia Engel Hat without Lamb pin ribbing turn up

Olivia Engel Hat with Lamb pin attached

beading on ribbing when turned down

               

Lamb cross stitched on plastic canvas  with beads

This blog is a continuation of a former blog Hats in Honor of the Sandy Hook Victims.  Since that blog, I learned how to knit and crochet with beads.  The process is so much fun and adds another  dimension to knitting and crocheting.

There are several methods used to add beads to a knitting or crochet project.  A couple of methods use a crochet hook to add a bead to a stitch.  Small beads sometimes require the use of a metal wire.  There are excellent methods shown on You Tube.  One of the simpliest methods for adding a bead when knitting is shown by Lucy Neatby's method.  This method lets you add beads as you knit.  Another method requires that beads be strung on the yarn or string before knitting, usually called prestringing the beads.  Sandy shows how to prestring with thread to yarn, but there are also needles which can help thread the beads to the yarn.  Sometimes prestringing is better for certain projects but one has to know the number of beads needed for the project.  There is also the wire method for getting the bead on the yarn.  There are several other methods.  

I choose this hat pattern and color to honor Olivia Engel, age 6, because pink and purple were her favorite colors.  Her favorite stuffed animal was a lamb.  You can read about Olivia at a special site in her memory.  

For this hat I used pink yarn and purple knitted yarn #4 weight and a circular needle # 6.  If a smaller hat is needed, use a smaller knitting needle and #2 or #3 weighted yarn.  I used small pony beads to match the yarn.  I found the mini plastic pony beads at Walmart.

The directions for the hat are as follows:

Rows 1: With the pink yarn, cast on 80 stitches on knitting needle and knit first rowwith the pink or 1st colored yarn if not using pink. (right side)
Row 2 - 9:  Complete ribbing stitch, (knit 1, purl 1) for 1 1/2 inches.  As you complete the ribbing stitch, add a mini pony bead to a knit stitch in the 3rd row, 6 row, and 9th row, placing the beads on alternating rows.  (Or, you can put the beads anywhere you like.)
Row 10:  On next row, (wrong side) purl with 1st colored yarn.  
Row 11 - 14:  On next row, add purple yarn (or 2nd color) and knit alternating color 1 and 2 across. Both colored yarns will be carried across the row.  The color you are not using should be held loosely behind the color you are using. (Knit on right side and purl on wrong side.)  Complete 3 more rows, making sure to alternate colors every stitch. 
Row 15 - 18:  On next rows knit on right side and purl on wrong side using purple yarn (2nd color yarn).  Drop the pink yarn (1st yarn) and if you want, cut the pink (or 1st yarn) leaving a long tail 
Row 19:  Using purple (2nd color), knit across on the wrong side for 30 stitches, purl 20 stitches, knit 30 stitches  (This will make a ridge on right side.)
Row 20:  Purl on the right side for 30 stitches, knit 20 stitches, knit 30 stitches. (Makes 2nd ridge on right side)
Row 21- 35:  Knit and purl (stockinette stitch) ending with pearl stitch with 2nd color
Row 36 - 37:  Purl across on right side and then knit across on wrong side.
Rows 38 - 41:  Stockinette stitch
Row 42 - 45:  Repeat rows 11-14, adding pink yarn (or 1st yarn)

Row 46, decrease a stitch (knit two stitches together) every 9th stitch, adding a bead approximately every 6th stitch

Row 47:  Purl across

Row 48:  Knit across, decreasing every 8th stitch

Row 49:  Purl across 

Row 50:  knit across adding a bead on a row between the first beads, and decreasing every 7th row.

Row 51:  Purl across

Row 52:  Knit across decreasing every 5th stitch

Row 53:  Purl across

Row 54:  Knit across adding a bead on a row between the last beads added, and decreasing every 4th stitch.

Row 55:  Purl across

Row 56:  Knit across decreasing every 3rd stitch

Row 57:  Purl across

Row 58:  Knit across decreasing every 2nd stitch.  Cut yarn leaving a long tail.

Using a needle, thread the long tail though the loops on needle and remove from needle;  pull the yarn to gather the stitches, and make a stitch to anchor the stitches.  Stitch down side, matching colors.

If the lamb pin is wanted, cross stitch the lamb on plastic canvas using embroidery thread.  Make a tail using black embroidery thread.  Use black seed beads for the eyes.  There are many patterns for lambs on the web.  I choose not to use one because the teacher in me didn't want to plagiarise on the blog.

When the cross stitching is finished, glue a square of white felt on back.  When dry, cut the unwanted felt away from the lamb.  Glue a pin back on the center of white felt.

Prototype for Emilie Parker Hat

Emilie Parker Hat

     The second hat is in honor of Emilie Parker, age 6. She was described by her father as "bright, creative and very loving."  He said she was always willing to try new things. There is a Facebook account for Emilie and The Emilie Parker Art Connection, which you might want to see.  She so loved drawing and painting.

I took a clue from Emilie and decided to try some crochet stitches that I had never done.  The hat I chose to make in honor of Emilie was described in the Red Heart book More Than Socks! as a ruffled crochet girl's hat.  The booklet with the instructions can be found in a store selling Red Heart yarn or can be ordered on line at Amazon.com.  I was unable to find the suggested yard in a local store;  I ordered it from Amazon.com. 

When making the prototype, I followed the instructions as written, except for one item.  I added a bead to the middle of each lobe in each ruffle.  Instructions for adding beads for crocheting are similar to knitting.  The method for stringing the beads on the yarn first can also be found on You Tube.  But, the crochet hook method can also be used, where two crochet hooks are used.  

The beads on the prototype are also mini pony beads.  In the photo of the prototype, the beads are pink and white.  I used a worsted #4 yarn from the "sewing room" that I cleaned out from my Mother's house.  It made the hat large enough for a teenager.

Using the #4 yarn, a prototype for the hat was done to try the new stitches I had never attempted.  The first stitch was learning to make crochet ribbing.  Then, following the directions, the hat was crocheted using double crochet rows as usual.  When the double crochet rows were completed, the ruffles were then crocheted to the rows of double crochet --new to me.  The stitches are something like an edging pattern. It took me several attempts to find the technique which helped the ruffles lay flat.

After I felt sucessful with the prototype, I ordered the yarn suggested by the pattern.  It was Red Heart Heart & Sole Razzle Dazzle with a #1weight; the #1 weight made a smaller hat. I used orange, brown, green, teal, yellow, and red mini pony beads.  I could find a collection of this color but did find enough from other left-over projects to complete the hat.  They were crocheted in the ruffle exactly as the prototype.

The teenager and child receiving the hats will receive a note asking them to wear the hat in honor of Emilie.

This hat was made in honor of Charlotte Bacon.  She liked everything pink.  This was my first attempt at beading with knitting.  It is so much fun! This hat is basically a rolled rim hat with the welt stitch done three times and two rows of yarn overs to give trhe lacey effect.  Beading has been done between the welt stitch rows to give it a girlie look.  To give it even more a girlie look, ribbon has been laced through holes in the brim yarn overs.

Have almost finished Catherine Hubbard's.  That hat and others will be include in part 3.

Ruffled Crochet Girl's Hat & Scarf

Hats in Honor of the Sandy Hook Victims

For the last 3 years, I have knitted hats for the "Coats for the Children" organization.  I usually start in January and make the last one in November.  I stuff them in a large plastic bag and put them in the designated donation box in a bank.

This year I decided to make the hats in honor of the Sandy Hook Victims.  I read the biography of the victim and decide what might meet their personality.  The first hat was in honor of Daniel Barden, age 7.  He liked to make S'Mores around a bonfire with his cousins.

The hat was made by casting on 80 stitches with no. 7 needles.  There is about 1 1/2 inches of ribbing in knit one, purl one.  Then knit 6 rows of stockinette stitch. The next was two welt rows followed by another 6 rows of stockinette stitch.  There are four s'mores using the welt stitch for the crackers (3 rows), the chocolate, (2 rows), and 3 rows for the top cracker. The cracker is 12 stitches across, the chocolate is 12 stitces across, and the marshmallows are 6 stitches across, increased on each stitch. To do the marshmallows, so they seemed puffy, complete four rows of the welt stitch but on the first stitch, increase on each of 6 stitches and then decrease on the last 4th row of the marshmellow.  Inbetween the s'mores is the stockinette stitch of 8 stitches and 14 between each marshmallow.  When the s'mores are finished, the next 6 rows are stockinette stitch, and the next 2 rows are the welt stitch.  After 3 rows of stockinette stitch, begin decreasing, on every knit of the stockinette as follows:
Purl on decreasing rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16
1st row decreasing, knit 8, knit two together, repeat across
3rd row decreasing, knit 7, knit two together, repeat across
5th row decreasing, knit 6, knit two together, repeat across
7th row decreasing, knit 5, knit two together, repeat across
9th row decreasing, knit 4, knit two together, repeat across
11th row decreasing, knit 3, knit two together, repeat across
13th row decreasing, knit 2, knit two together, repeat across
15th row decreasing, knit 1, knit two together, repeat across
Last decreasing row, knit 2 together across.
Cut yarn using long string of yarn, thread yarn needle on yarn, and pull through remaining stitches.  Pull tight, and stitch the hat together.  Now, there will be many ends that may need to be hidden.  One of the best techniques I found is by Theresa Vinson Stenersen.  Check out her site.

Some of the other hats, but not all, will be used making this basic pattern.  I'll probably also use my looms for making a few.

Life Happens

I loved my career as a science teacher, though I didn't start as a science teacher.  I started my career as a Family and Consumer Science teacher.  When I started teaching, the position was called a home economics teacher.  In the late 80's, I returned to school and spent the equivelent of 4 more years taking science and math courses to become a science teacher.  It was a good choice for me.  My completely right brain became more left brained.  My last twenty-five years of teaching were spent teaching chemistry, physics, physical science and earth science.

When I begin thinking about retiring, I wanted to teach part-time.  So, I prepared myself to begin teaching science online courses for -- and that is as far as I got.  My mother became ill and needed 24/7 care. Since retirement, I have spent most of my time at the coast of NC taking care of my mother.

I have several other interests besides teaching.  I like to read for fun.  That was almost impossible while I was teaching.  I was serious about keeping those papers graded and tutoring students who needed help to understand the science courses I was teaching.  But now, I have started making dolls for ragdolls2love.com.  I also enjoy making blankets for the Project Linus.  I knit, crochet, or quilt the blankets for all ages.  I have been able to work on these projects and also take care of my mother.  I crochet and knit hats for the Coats for the Children project.  For now, these projects give me a since of helping others.  In the process, I am also using up my mother's fabrics and yarn in her sewing room.  My mother had to have a no to low sodium diet.  To help with this diet, I learned how to use many spices

In this new adventure, I thought that I might find a way to share the ideas and lesson plans and science activities.