Bandana Bow Tie

I've been involved with a knit-along, Knit for Victory on Ravelry.com and it has really inspired and motivated me. Not only have I been working on a 1940's inspired sweater (photo's and details at a later date), but I also created a new pattern for a head wrap inspired by the bandanas and turbans worn by the women of WWII as they were entering the factories and had to cover their hair so that it didn't get caught in the heavy machinery. This is my first time sharing a personal pattern. I hope you enjoy it.

Bandana Bow Tie

This cute little headband has a retro feel that knits up very quickly. Wear it with a high ponytail or use it to cover your pin-curls. You can alter the bow to be as big or little as you like and make one in any and every color to match your cutest poodle skirt or tightest peddle pushers.

Yarn - I used Dream in Color’s Bermuda Teal for the one in the pictures, but any worsted weight yarn will do.

Needle - Size 7

Abbreviations
RLI - Right Lifted Increase, Knit into the back of the stitch (in the “purl bump") in the row directly below the stitch on the left needle
LLI - Left Lifted Increase, Insert left needle into back of the stitch below stitch just knitted. Knit this stitch.
SSK - Slip, Slip, Knit
K2tog - Knit 2 stitches together
Psso - Pass slipped stitch over.

Co 7 stitches (From here and throughout pattern you will slip the first stitch of every row. On the odd rows, slip knitwise, on the even rows, slip purlwise.)

1) Sl 1st, P2, K1, P2, K1
2) Sl 1st, K2, P1, K2, P1
3) Sl 1st, P2, RLI, K1, LLI, P2, K1
4) and all even rows, work in pattern (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches. Remember to slip the first stitch.
5) Sl1, P2 RLI, K3, LLI, P2, K1
7) Sl1, P2, RLI, K5, LLI, P2, K1
9) Sl1, P2, RLI, K7, LLI, P2, K1
11) Sl1, P2, RLI, K9, LLI, P2, K1
13) Sl1, P2, RLI, K11, LLI, P2, K1
15) Sl1, P2, RLI, K13, LLI, P2, K1

Continue in pattern without increasing (K the knits, P the Purls) until piece measures approx 17 in from CO edge. Or about 2 inches shorter than you want the final length to be, keep in mind you want it to stretch to fit your head. Starting on RS,

1)Sl1, P2, SSK, K11, K2tog, P2, K1
3)Sl1, P2, SSK, K9, K2tog, P2, K1
5) Sl1, P2, SSK, K7, K2tog, P2, K1
7) Sl1, P2, SSK, K5, K2tog, P2, K1
9) Sl1, P2, SSK, K3, K2tog, P2, K1
11) Sl1, P2, SSK, K1, K2tog, P2, K1
13) Sl1, P2, Sl1, K2tog, Psso, P2, K1

Bind off leaving a long tail. Sew ends of headband together still leaving end long. You will use this to attach the bow.

BOW

Co 8 st
1)Sl1, knit to end
2) Sl1, Purl to end.
Repeat these 2 rows till piece measures 8-9 inches, depending on the size of bow you want.

Bind off leaving a long tail to weave the ends together creating a loop. You should have both loose ends on one side. Tie them in a knot. Wrap ends in opposite directions around piece, a few times each to create the bow. Tie ends in a knot. Place bow on top of headband. Wrap the left over long ends around bow to secure in place. Tie another knot and weave in all ends.

Normally, I’m not one for blocking such small items, but this headband doesn’t like to lay flat so I recommend blocking this one.

She's back!!

To say that it's been awhile since my last post would be more than an understatement. In the last 3 years I've continued to work as a CNA (Certified Nurse Aid) in a long-term care facility, until recently when I herniated 2 discs in my back and had to have surgery. After being out of work for 2 months now and having spent the majority of that time knitting and crafting, I'm now reactivating my blog. I have also, in the last 3 years, finally beaten the "Boyfriend Sock Curse" he's been wearing hand knit socks for over a year now, and I don't think he's going anywhere any time soon. Together, we have become the proud parents of a lovely chihuahua named Cupcake. She is named after another hobby of mine. I love baking cupcakes, not cakes, not pies, not breads, just cupcakes. To me they are the perfect dessert, It's like having a whole cake all to yourself. I never was good at sharing......anyways. Here's to my new crafting and baking adventures.

The Boyfriend Sock Curse?

So most knitters have heard of the boyfriend sweater curse, right? You know, knit your favorite guy a sweater and the relationship is doomed. Well, thankfully, I've discovered that my particular knitting curse is sock related. I'm way more likely to knit socks than a sweater. In fact, I've knit maybe a total of 15 pairs of socks and only 1 short-sleeved sweater, in my knitting life.

It has resently dawned on me that the last 3 guys I've made socks for are no longer in my life. Well, atleast, not in a positive way anyways. (The only man who I've knit socks for that I don't have negative feelings towards is my step-dad.) The first in this list of sock relationship sabotage actually got 2-3 pairs before it went to crap. The second, got 1 pair and wore them only once or twice before I kicked him to the curb. And now the third...... I had just finished turning the heel on the first sock. That's quite the agressive progression.

I figured that this last pair (or half sock, really) would end up in the bottom of the UFO pile. At least it wouldn't be lonely;) Although friends tell me to knit them anyways for someone else, I hesitate. They are themed for this particular person and although I love black and white stripes I don't have huge feet. I've decided that they will not end up in the UFO basket, but they will be my travel socks as it's a very mindless knit (HA, mindless, yep the pattern fit the [almost] recipient).

So, now that I know all this, I've decided to look at this not as a curse, but as a tool. I'm thinking that everytime I meet a guy that peaks my intrest I'll cast on a pair of socks and see what happens. If the relationship isn't gonna work out, given my track record, I may only get to the heel increases maybe just the toe. That seems like a fast way to figure out if the guys a good one. On the other hand, if I actually get the pair completely done I'll know that the boy in question might actually be worth my time. Maybe even a sweater......

On another knitting note, I can't seem to stop making hats. Think it's something to do with the weather getting colder. But I have 3 new hats of my own designs.

Hours knitting:8
Total hours: 128

Summer fun

Well, It seems that the summer is comming to an end. The Kiddo is back in school, the sun is actually setting at night, and I'm starting to knit for more than 10 minutes at a time. I've had all the best knitting intentions this summer.... I've taken my knitting needles and yarn camping, fishing, to the gravel pit, to softball games, to hotsprings and bon fires all with the best knitting intentions. Then, well, it's summer damn it and not more than 2-3 rows get knit at a time. I'm personally surprised that I've finished ANYTHING at all.


I did finish these "Catnip" socks (a free pattern on Ravelry). Also finished 2 stuffed animals for my daughter from the "Odd Bod" book, but she snapped them up so fast they didn't get there moment in front of the camera.

I can feel it in my creative bones, that the knitting winds are starting to change directions as the days are getting shorter. There will be more knitting.

Hours Knitting: 11
Total So Far: 120

Dyeing to knit...

I blame it on summer and all the kool-aid commercials. I love the bright colors!! Yes, I know mom, I don't actually wear bright colors (my closet consists mainly of all things black and red) but that doesn't mean that bright summer colors don't make my heart feel full of hope and joy. So, remembering that a million years ago I bought a bunch of dye-able yarn from knitpicks I dove into the darkest depths of my yarn stash to find it then headed to my local wall-mart to find as many different flavors (colors) of Kool-aid and Jello. When I got home, the party began..... And now I have some wonderfully summery colors of yarn that my daughter is begging me to turn into something for her. And my heart soars.......

Now I just wonder when I'll be able to knit it up. I have no doubt that I will cast on a hat or perhaps some wrist warmers (probably both) but I do wonder if it will ever be cast off. I've been dealing with a terrible case of cast-on-itis lately. Symptoms include having 3 different socks on the needles, 2 different animals from the Odd-Bod Bunch book by Donna Wilson also on needles, and 1 hat. And I want to cast on so much more. Ugh, need to focus. I've knit for hours and hours and hours over the last few weeks without a single finished object to show off. Unless you include 1 finished sock. I don't consider socks done until they are both done soooo. I did do my best to fight Second Sock Syndrome by immediately casting on the second one as soon as the first one was off the needles but that was over a week ago and I still haven't made it to the gusset increases. Oh well, at least I'm still knitting, and knitting, and knitting........

Hours knitting: 29
Total so far: 109

Finally Done

Woot woot, happy dance. I finally cast off my Temperance socks. They were a knit-a-long with my mom and sister. Mom finished first and sister is running a bit behind. We'll let it slide considering she's the one with a full time job, 3 kids, 2 dogs, and a husband. So glad these are finally done. I really like the finished project, but knitting them was a bitch.

I also finished my toe up, modified "Jaywalker" socks. I love the way the yarn worked with this pattern, I will be using this stitch pattern again. However, I will know next time that there is NO STRETCH in the stitch pattern. So I'll have to go up a needle size when I get to the cuff part. This pair is a bit difficult to get over my ankle. Note to self - try on socks as you go, that's one of the perks to knitting socks toe-up. So, do it, damn it.

On another knitting note, my mom is comming to visit me tonight for a week. She lives in Fernley, Nevada, I live in Fairbanks, Alaska. I am SOOO excited to see her. She is also a complete knitting addict. I can't wait to show her all our lovely yarn stores, talk knitting patterns till the wee hours of the morning and knit together. Pictures to come.

Yours Knitting: 16.5
Total So far: 80.0

Too hot for hats

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As many of you know, I have been sick lately. I'm still battling the crud left over in my lungs and not back to my 100% self. About all I've been able to knit on lately has been hats. And not wonderfully intricate lace or beautifull cables, no. All that has been able to come off my needles lately are very basic stockinette stitch hats. I found a beautifull simple hat pattern on Ravelry called the Felicity Hat. It's done in a lucious purple malibrigo yarn that is like knitting with the softest cloud. So beautifull, I love it. As I got a bit healthier (ie, wasn't praying for death) I decided I wanted to do something a bit more challenging, but not to much. So, I changed up the felicity pattern, adding a few purl rows into the pattern, and changing the decreased at the top. Does this mean I'm now a designer? Haha, don't really think that this counts, but I'm calling this hat the "Berry Picker" I used a MANOS del URUGUAY Kettle Dyed pure wool in a colorway that makes me think of mixed berries. This hat makes me look forward to the fall when I can go berry picking. I'm testing the pattern again with Dream in Color and if all goes well, I'll write up the pattern and post it.

I am in LOVE with these hats!!!! However, it being 87 degrees outside, I guess I'll have to wait a few months to wear them. Wow, did I just complain about it NOT being cold here in Alaska. I must still be a little sick.

Yours Knitting: 18
Total So far: 63.5