Beth insists I post the details of this little gift!

My dear friend Beth has had to go home to her family in the States at short notice due to an illness in the family. Now it has taken me many years to indoctrinate the girl into the Australian ways of environmentalism and conservation, so I couldn't bear the thought of her heading home and falling back into the rampant consumerism of the "Yankies".

To help her on her way I whipped her up this coffee mitt from the book One Skein Wonders in 100purewool merino worsted (June colourway). Apparently it has been quite a hit in Starbucks across the greater Sac and San Fran areas (notice how I know the Lingo ;)). Not only that but she has been extolling the virtues of environmental conservatism. Ladies and Gentleman, we have a winner! Now if only I could teach her to spell like an Aussie....

Hey Beth. Thinking of you all Sweetie.

The post that will be gibberish to most of you

I have no idea why I needed to do this so much. In a way I blame mmagoo6 from Ravelry and in another way I just blame insomnia, complete boredom with the endless rows of stockingette in my ballet camisole and generally stupidity.

So...ON-ON people. Need something to mop your brow at the wet check, need to wipe down your beer at the drink stop, looking for the perfect way to say "Screw You" to your favourite Grand Master? Maybe this is just what your Spiritual Advisor is looking for to cleanse the foreheads of the newly christened and what hash tart should wash with anything less?

Yarn: Something cotton or cotton blend in a DK or worsted weight

Needles: 4mm

Gauge: Get over yourself, it is a cloth!

Notions: Darning Needle

On-on!

CO 40 sts

Row 1: (k1, p1) repeat to end

Row 2: (p1, k1) repeat to end

Row 3: Repeat row 1

Row 4: Repeat row 2

Row 5: k1, p1, k37, p1

Row 6: p1, k1, p14, k9, p14, k1

Row 7: k1, p1, k12, p11, k14, p1

Row 8: p1, k1, p12, k13, p12, k1

Row 9: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 10: p1, k1, p11, k15, p11, k1

Row 11: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 12: p1, k1, p11, k15, p11, k1

Row 13: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 14: p1, k1, p11, k15, p11, k1

Row 15: k1, p1, k10, p15, k12, p1

Row 16: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k14, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 17: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k4, p14, k4, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 18: p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k3, p4, k13, p5, k2, p1, k3, p2, k1

Row 19: k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p2, k5, p12, k5, p3, k1, p2, k2, p1

Row 20: p1, k1, p1, k6, p5, k11, p6, k6, p2, k1

Row 21: k1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p3, k6, p11, k5, p2, k1, p3, k2, p1

Row 22: p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k2, p5, k11, p6, k3, p1, k2, p2, k1

Row 23: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k5, p13, k4, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 24: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p4, k14, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 25: k1, p1, k10, p16, k11, p1

Row 26: p1, k1, p3, k2, p4, k18, p4, k2, p4, k1

Row 27: k1, p1, k2, p4, k2, p20, k2, p4, k3. p1

Row 28: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k20, p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Wet check - best grab a beer!

Row 29: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p20, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 30: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k20, p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 31: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p20, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 32: p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k20, p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1

Row 33: k1, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p20, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1

Row 34: p1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k20, p2, k4, p3, k1

Row 35: k1, p1, k3, p2, k3, p20, k3, p2, k4, p1

Hash Check - stand up, wander around aimlessly and wait for the slow bastards to catch up

Row 36: p1, k1, p8, k20, p9, k1

Row 37: k1, p1, k8, p20, k9, p1

Row 38: p1, k1, p9, p18, p10, k1

Row 39: k1, p1, k10, p16, k11, p1

Row 40: p1, k1, p11, k13, p13, k1

Row 41: k1, p1, k9, p2, k15, p1, k10, p1

Row 42: p1, k1, p8, k3, p2, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p2, k4, p9, k1

Row 43: k1, p1, k8, p4, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p3, k9, p1

Row 44: p1, k1, p9, k1, p2, k3, p1, k3, p1, k3, p1, k4, p9, k1

Row 45: k1, p1, k8, p4, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p3, k2, p1, k10, p1

Row 46: p1, k1, p17, k1, p3, k1, p2, k4, p9, k1

Row 47: k1, p1, k8, p4, k25, p1

Row 48: p1, k1, p24, k4, p9, k1

Row 49: k1, p1, k8, p4, k25, p1

Row 50: p1, k1, p25, k2, p10, k1

Row 51: k1, p1, k37, p1

Row 52: (p1, k1) repeat to end

Row 53: (k1, p1) repeat to end

Row 54: Repeat row 52

Row 55: Repeat row 53

Bind off and add hanger if desired.

On-after

I resisted the temptation for an on-back or any false trail. ;)

Now. Would anyone care to screw the pattern?

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

Three People, Five Litres, One Hour and Thirty-nine minutes...

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2008 with luck and prosperity for all. Rest assured that my thoughts are with those that need them.

You know you got value for money when....

When you get four garments out of your One Skein Wonder pattern. Now that is US$5 well spent.


And you get four items out of 2 skeins of 100purewool worsted merino. Now that is a lovely way to spend $30.

So proud of my big guy!

Bevan has been trying to learn to ride a minibike (at long last). We have had the peewee since he was born - just a little enthausiastic on my Dad's part. After a poor try at Grandma and Pa's resulting in grazes and a very sore Pa, Bevan was very hesitant to have another go, but we went out to a friend's property and he overcame his fears and had another go!

I can't tell you how proud I am of him for getting back on and having another dip after a failure. he is growing up so fast (insert soppy music here).

What best to do when it is stinking hot?

Sew of course! I have to say that I actually don't mind the heat. I rather like the change of seasons and the fact that here they are distinctly very different. Unfortunately my sewing room is upstairs so it was rather a lot warmer than downstairs but it was still nice to get some sewing in. Well it was nicer before my overlocker decided to have a fit (anyone want to tell me why my Janome keeps breaking the bottom looper) but I carried on and produced this......

It is a reversible tote bag with a cross tie top. I am quite in love with the design that was inspired by a tote a friend just bought. I also made a number of drawstring bags to go with it for the recipients many pairs of dance shoes.

My Camera Case

Tonight I had a little 100purewool left over from a OSW and decided that a little camera case for my new Canon might be in order.

Before I put down the pattern can I just indulge in a small explaination. I don't publish my patterns because I think they are the greatest patterns ever written or to feather my own ego. Mainly I started doing it because of Ravelry. I have to confess that I find it immensely frustrating to see an FO that I think looks really cool and when I look up the project it is listed as a "Personal Pattern, not found in Ravelry". If I like it I want to knit it! So given that this frustrated buggery out of me, when I started doing a few of my own things I decided that I would publish the patterns just in case someone wanted to know how they were done.

Thanks for that...

Materials

About 25g of yarn

DPNs of the appropriate size: DK yarn 4mm
Worsted 5mm
Bulky 6mm

Darning needle

Tape measure

Gauge is 22/16/12 sts / 10 cm for DK/Worsted/Bulky yarns.

Pattern

All the calculations here are for worsted weight yarn, for DK yarn, wherever it says to multiply by 16 instead multiply by 22. Similarly if you wanted to use bulky yarn multiply by 12. All measurements are in cm. The calculations for my case are for a Canon A550.

CO the circumference/10 x 16 + 4 sts. Make sure that this number is divisible by 3, round up if necessary. My case was a 36 st cast on.

Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Purl

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: Purl

Knit rounds until work measures 4 cm.

Eyelet round: *K1, YO, K2 tog* repeat from * to * for entire round.

Knit rounds until the work measures the Length of camera + depth of camera from the eyelet round. (12 cm in my case)

Calculate for Decreases.

Calculate Height / 10 x 16 sts (side a)

Calculate side b as (total stitches – (side a x 2) – 4) divided by 2

Example for my version side a = 6cm / 10 x 16 = 10 sts (rounded up)

Side b = (36 sts – 20 sts – 4 sts) = 12 stitches / 2 = 6 sts

Decreases:

Round 1: ssk, k side a -4 sts (6sts in my case), k2tog, k1, ssk, k side b – 4 sts (2sts in my case), k2tog, k1, ssk, k side a -4 sts (6sts in my case), k2tog, k1, ssk, k side b – 4 sts (2sts in my case), k2tog, k

Next Round: As above but with 2 less stitches between ssk and k2tog – in my case : ssk, k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1

Continue until there are only two stitches on the shortest side of your base. Graft remaining stitches across the bottom.

Weave in ends.

Thread i-cord, ribbon or just about anything through the eyelets.

Modifications thanks to Sam!

Sam used this pattern to make this camera case but did it slightly differently!

Sam used a provisional cast on and worked from the base up. To do this calculate the total number of stitches you would need to cast on if you were doing it the original way. Use the calculations for the decreases as per the original pattern. provisionally cast on the side a number of stitches, knit double the number of rows as stitches calculated for side b and then pick up the correct number of side b stitches as you carry on in the round. Hope that make sense. if it doesn't just do it top down!

This pattern (and modifications) are provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.