Adventures in Colorwork : Houndstooth Rectangle

"In between projects" is a time frame which does not exist for me. It's more like, "in between paychecks", or "in between bouts of motivation", and those are the times that I might, *might* try something new. One of the things that's been on my To Try List for a while is colorwork with knitting. Short story long, I finally gave it a shot!

My skill rating: Intermediate

I'd recommend this simple pattern for anyone who's never knit with two colors before (stripes don't count). The chart came from freepatterns.com (you'll have to sign up to DL the pattern), and I watched this YouTube video on Fair Isle knitting to learn how to hold my yarn.

For just a test run, I cast on 70 stitches. I think it'll eventually turn into a laptop cover. The back looks like this:

And I can't help but think that my dog's teeth would look really cute in pink and grey:

Thoughts?

Seamless Baby Booties (by Yarnthrower)

If your friends are anything like mine, they find the concept of offspring utterly irresistible. And if you are anything like me, you are wondering what to give the 90-day-old that has everything.

Using this pattern by Yarn Thrower (also copied below), I whipped up these in about four hours per pair:

The bang / buck ratio on this project is incredible - one skein of Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly (baby sport) in Fresh Green will yield booties for all my friends' children AND grandchildren!

Word to the wise - if this is your first time making booties in the round, the stitchmarker is essential. Here's the pattern as printed on Pickin and Throwin:

Using DK or sport weight yarn and size 5 DPNs,

Cuff:

• Cast-on 36 stitches.
• Joining to work in the round, *K2P2* for 20 rounds.
• Knit 1 round.
• *K2tog, YO, K1* and repeat until end of round. (This forms eyelets for inserting a tie.)
• Knit 2 rounds.

Top of foot shaping:

• Next round (set up round): K22, M1, turn.
• Next row (purl short row): Slip 1 as to purl, P8, M1, turn.
• Next row (knit short row): Slip 1 as to purl, K8, M1, turn.

(Note: For mirrored increases, when working M1 on the purl row, insert left needle into bar between prior and next stitch worked from back to front to "make" new stitch; then purl this new stitch. When working M1 on the knit row, insert left needle into bar between prior and next stitch worked from front to back to "make" new stitch; then knit into the back of this new stitch.)

• Work these two rows until there are a total of 52 stitches. Do not turn work after the M1 of the final purl row.
• Slip next stitch onto right needle, bring yarn to opposite side of work, then return the slipped stitch to the left needle. (This is "wrapping" the stitch.) Now turn work.
• Knit to end of round (which will be the back of the bootie).

Sides and bottom of bootie:

• Knit one round, knitting wrapped stitch along with its wrap.
• Knit seven rounds.
• Purl one round.
• Knit one round.
• *P4, P2tog, P14, P2tog, P4* twice.
• *K2tog, K20, K2tog* twice.
• *P3, P2tog, P12, P2tog, P3* twice.
• *K2tog, K16, K2tog* twice.
• *P2, P2tog, P10, P2tog, P2* twice.
• *K2tog, K12, K2tog* twice. (28 stitches)
• Place first 14 stitches of round on one dpn; place the rest of the stitches on a second dpn. Work a three needle bind-off.

Finishing:

• Cut yarn.
• Weave in ends and ribbon ties

Ta-daaa!!!