FO: Simplicity 2591 Dress

I made this dress: I wear it with these shoes: I freaking love this outfit. I would wear it everyday if it weren't 90 degrees *or* if I didn't sweat like a pig. =] PS: You can read my review of the pattern here.

NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Knit Beanie **Free Pattern**

Several months ago one of the members of the Knit Black and Gold group on Ravelry posted a photo this beanie. She had seen it at a game, but knew it could be handmade for far less than the $20+ price tag. I worked on reverse engineering it off and on and, with a little help from other Steelers fans, we got it all worked out.

*~*~*~*~*~*

This pattern was reverse engineered with the help of Ellisha (ish174), Annie (trainergirl15 and Liz (steelerbear). The original beanie was sold during the NFL’s 2010 “A Crucial Catch” Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. Proceeds from merchandise sales benefited the America Cancer Society and other team charities. If you choose to knit this hat, please consider knitting another and donating it to your local chapter of the America Cancer Society, a local breast cancer treatment facility or one of your favorite team’s charities.

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Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in 3 different colors
• US 8 needles – 16” circulars and/or dpns
• Gauge: 6 sts/inch in pattern on US 8

Abbrivations

• K-Knit
• P-Purl
• p2tog - purl 2 stitches together
• k2tog - knit 2 sts together
• ssk – slip 2 sts knitwise then knit them together
• C1 over 2 right - Slip 2 sts to cable needle holding in back, K1, P2 from cable needle (needleless-hold yarn in front when slipping)
• C1 over 2 left - Slip 1 stitch to cable needle holding in front, P2, K1 from cable needle (needleless-hold yarn in back when slipping)
• MC – main color of yarn
• CC1 – contrasting color 1
• CC2 – contrasting color 2

Tackling Dummy Stitch Pattern

Round 1: *C1 over 2 left, C1 over 2 right* to end
Rounds 2-7: *P2, K2, P2* to end
Rounds 8: *C1 over 2 right, C1 over 2 left* to end
Rounds 9-14: *K1, P4, K1* to end

Instructions
CO 108 (120) sts with MC, join in the round

Work *K2, P1* for about 1-1/2"

Set up row: *K1, P4, K1* to end of round

Work rounds 1-8 of Tackling Dummy Stitch Pattern once in MC

Rounds 9-13: *K1 with MC, K4 with CC1, K1 with MC* to end

Round 14: With MC *K1, P4, K1* to end

Round 15: With MC *C1 over 2 left, C1 over 2 right* to end

Round 16-20: *K2 with CC2, K2 with MC, K2 with CC2* to end

Round 21: With MC *P2, K2, P2* to end

Continue working Tackling Dummy Stitch Pattern with round 8 using just the MC.

Complete a total of 5 pattern repeats before decreases (1MC, 1 CC1, 1CC2, 2 MC)

Work just round 1 of Tackling Dummy stitch pattern before starting decreases.

**Decreases for 108 sts ONLY**
Decrease row 1 (D1): Move last stitch in previous row to be first stitch of decrease round. *p2tog, p1, k2, p1* (90 stitches remain)
D2: *P3, K2* to end
D3: *p2tog, K2, P1* (72 sts remain)
D4: *p1, K2, P1* to last stitch
D5: move last of round to first stitch of this round, *p2tog, k2* (54 sts remain)
D6: *ssk, k2tog* (18 sts remain)
D7: k2tog to end (9 sts remain)

** Decreases for 120 sts ONLY **
D1: move last st to be first stitch of the round, *p2tog, p1, k2, p1* (90 st)
D2: knit pattern as established *p3, k2*
D3: *p2tog, k2, p1* around (72 st)
D4: knit pattern as established *p2, k2*
D5: move last st to be first st of the round, *p2tog, k2* (54 st)
D6: knit pattern as established *p1, k2*
D7: *k2tog, k1* around (36 st)
D8: k all stitches
D9: *k4, k2tog* around (30 st)
D10: *k3, k2tog* around (24 st)
D11: *k2, k2tog* around (18 st)
D12: *k1, k2tog* around (12 st)
D13: k2tog (6 sts)

** Finishing **
Cut the yarn leaving enough to thread through the remaining sts. Sinch live sts together and weave in all ends. =]

do.Good Stitches - September - Trees

Love ~ September ~ Trees
Originally uploaded by Clicky the Moose

*Sigh* I really don't know how I get so behind. I don't think Midge and I have sat down together in over a month! I have been knitting a lot...and working more...and actually keeping the house clean. I guess sewing was the one that had to give.

September's theme for do.Good Stitches was trees. I so loved making houses for other bees. These trees were just as fun and a nice little tweak to a popular new quilt.

I think the tree to the left is a nice climbing tree and has a great place for a bird to make a nest. The pine tree on the right is silly and slightly wonky and interesting to look at with all the different fabrics.

Dress Plans

I was running a few minutes early for work one day so I stopped by the Goodwill that is on the way. Only having a limited so I headed straight for the linens. This plaid fabric caught my eye right away. I got about 4 yards for $1.99! And it matches my new favorite shoes (which I also got new from a different Goodwill, but they are also sold at Target).

{Photo from Target.com}

My plan is to make Simplicity 2591 version C. I like the retro look, full-ish skirt and coverage on the top. The fabric is fairly light-weight and should be good in warmer weather. I plan to get some fun, bright tights to wear under the dress in the fall and winter. I have already been thinking of knitting this cardigan in yellow or pink to go with some other dresses and it should work with this dress, too.

Hopefully I will have the time to make this dress this weekend. But that will have to be after mowing the lawn, sweeping the floor (dang these dogs shed!) and staking our tomato plants. =]

It's been handled

{Mouse needs a better look}

This bag is about 10 months in the making. The handles and fabric were part of the haul from Roger's Flea Market last August. I matched the fabrics and handles then pinned out a rough design last October. It promptly got "cleaned up" and put in a box, put on a shelf and forgotten about with two or three of its friends.

{Camera 1}

I discovered it again while looking through my WIPs box. Over the past couple days it was sewn together, ripped apart and resewn. Standard for this visual/tactile learner.

{Camera 2}

This one is mine, but I think I will utilize the other handles I have and make more of these bags for my Etsy shop. Maybe even a tutorial. We'll see if I can remember to take photos during the next construction. And I think I will make the handle casings a little bigger. And maybe a constrasting fabric. Or some fancy trim. And maybe not sew down the pleats. And maybe a little taper in on the opening to finish off the hexagon shape. Hmmm.

{All the crap I lug around}

It is large enough to hold my cell phone, keys (on a little leash ala Anne), wallet, notepad, two pens, two Sharpies (actually Shoupies, but I digress), cash (now gone), chap stick and multitude of change in the bottom. All that without looking bulky when closed.

{RTG}

=]

do. Good Stitches ~ August

Love ~ August aqua and red triangles
Originally uploaded by Clicky the Moose

This block started very differently. I had planned to use this tutorial from the Purl Bee blog, but I couldn't make it fit into the correct size requested in the bee. I did the math wrong.

I ended up just playing with the triangles and squares until I got something I liked. In order to get to the correct 12" x 12" size I added a thin border of red and a thicker border of aqua.

Find out more about this online charity bee on the flickr page. I believe Rachel is still looking for members for spin off circles. =]

FO: Frock Camisole

{Frock Camisole aka Flowy racer back tank}

The other day I finished my Frock in Violet. This is the first garment I have ever knitted and I think it turned out pretty dang good! Racer back tops aren't usually that flattering on me, but I went for it anyway and I am glad I did.

I used nearly 3 whole skeins of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Violet for the medium size. One of the skeins is actually one of my first yarn purchases from when I first learned to knit a few years ago. I knew I liked the color, but never knew what to make with it.

{The back}

I only made two alterations to the pattern. I used 12 stitches for the straps instead of 8. Then I only made them 10" long instead of the 11-3/4" as in the instructions. I needed shorter straps to pull up the armholes. They hung too low and showed my undergarment. Eek!

Next time I would only cast off 4 stitches for the armhole and use them in the straps. I had to use some of the neckline stitches for the straps and I think it would look a little better with a wider neckline.

My Ravelry link, if you're interested. =]