Craft Projects and Links

T-Shaped Baby Cardigan Sweater

You will need:
2 skeins of Baby Teri (3 oz. per skein), one skein each of two colors
US 8 (5mm) needles and a US G crochet hook
2 stitch markers
GAUGE: 15 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

Body: Cast on 20(28) stitches, place marker, 42(50) stitches, place marker, 20(28) stitches. Do not join. Work 5 rows of garter stitch (knit every row). Then work in stockinette stitch for 5 inches. At the same time, work front edging by working first and last three stitches in garter stitch. On the last row, make a button loop by chaining 12 with the crochet hook. Join to edge by knitting the last knitted stitch and the last chained stitch together.
To keep edging flat, work an extra row of the first and last three stitches every eight rows: work first three stitches, turn, work back, turn and continue across body; work last three stitches, turn, work back, turn and work back across body.
Sleeves: Place first and last 20(28) stitches on waste yarn, leaving center 42(50) stitches on working needle. Using second color of yarn, cast on 23(28) stitches, knit across 42 stitches left on needle, cast on 23(28) stitches. Leave markers!
Knit with second color in stockinette across all stitches, while at the same time working cuff by working first and last three stitches in garter stitch without working extra edging rows, until sleeve measures 2.25(2.75) inches from cast-on edge. Work center 22(26) stitches in garter stitch for 5 rows, then bind off center 16(20) stitches for back neck.
Front: Work both fronts at the same time by joining new yarn on other side of cast-off neck edge. Begin fronts by working two rows even, continuing sleeves, while at the same time working edging by working first and last three stitches on each side in garter stitch without working extra edging rows. Continue working neck and sleeve edging as fronts are worked.
3-6 months front neck shaping: Two stitches before neck edging, increase one stitch (M1 - lift yarn from between stitches and knit it) every other row 7 times - 20 stitches on needle for each front. by not
9-12 months front neck shaping: Work M1 increases every other row 5 times. Work two M1 increases, one on either side of second stitch from neck edge, on next increase row. Continuing to work every other row even, work one M1 increase, two M1 increases, one M1 increase, two M1 increases - 28 stitches on needle for each front. This creates a slight curve to the neck opening, but it's cute.
There should be 23(28) sleeve stitches 'outside' the markers, plus the 20(28) stitches for each front 'inside' the markers.
Finishing: Starting at sleeve edge, bind off first 20(28) sleeve stitches. Use three-needle cast-off to join top fronts to body, then bind off last 20(28) sleeve stitches. Sew sleeves together, and weave in ends. Sew on button, and it's done!

Today, a very cool link: The Knitting Fiend. This site has several knitting pattern generators, and the one for sweaters is very useable and kinda fun.

Ancestral Shrine for Halloween/Feast of All Souls

Most cultures have a day to remember the dead. Halloween is the remnant of that day for Europeans, also encapsulated by the Feast of All Souls in the Catholic tradition. What better time to remember those dear to you that have passed on?

There are many ways to make a shrine (see links, below). I'm making my shrine in a "rescued" rectangular cardboard box. Some would say that wood or metal are more appropriate, but I feel that as long as the material says something meaningful to you, then it's appropriate. I plan to cover the box in beautiful paper, put pictures and drawings of my ancestors in, then add candles, flowers and leaves, and candy.

Links:
• Personal Shrines
• Honoring Ancestors
• Day of the Dead
• Basic Guide to Shinto Shrines

St. Petersburg Chain

The Russian leaf I learned at ABC4 is a sturdier peyote variation on Petersburg chain. Here are links to instructions and pictures of this interesting bead chain: Petersburg Chain instructions from Alexis' Beads/Perlen, Petersburg chain at Maria's Beadwork, St. Petersburg Chain at Howling Rabbit Beadwork. All three of these sources have many beautiful things to look at and more free patterns, as well!

Mock Argyle Beaded Knitted Bag

This bag is made using the anchored bead method: slip 1 stitch with yarn in front, bring bead up to needle, and return yarn to the back. You can knit this bag with any farily smooth yarn you want - as long as you can find beads that will fit on the yarn! I've made this bag in a super bulky yarn with crow beads as a handbag and size 10 crochet thread with 11/0 seed beads as a pendant bag.

Materials:

• 1 skein or ball of yarn
• 32 beads in color A (64 for two motifs)
• 48 beads in color B(96 for two motifs)
• 1 pair straight needles to suit gauge of yarn
• Optional: 2 double-pointed needles (dpns) for I-cord handle
Here is a table of yarn and bead pairings with suggested gauge and needle sizes to help you pick yarn and beads.

Instructions:

1. String beads in the pattern before knitting! Follow the stringing pattern below, or use the chart.
2. Cast on 19 stitches. Purl 3 rows of reverse garter stitch.
3. Purl (p) this row and all wrong side rows.
4. (Right side) Begin charted pattern: knit (k)2, bring yarn to front of work; slip 1 stitch purlwise, slide 1 bead up to the needle, and return yarn to back of work - 1 anchored bead (1b). K13, 1b, k2. Turn.
5. Continue in this manner following chart. At the end of the charted pattern, make 3 rows of stockinette st (k right side, p wrong side).
6. At this point, you may choose to repeat the chart for a pattern on both sides of your bag, or make the other side of the bag plain:
   • For a bag with one patterned side and one plain side, work 33 rows in stockinette stitch.
   • For a bag with the pattern on both sides, simply repeat the chart. If you didn't string enough beads to do two motifs, break yarn and string them now, then reattach yarn. It's best to do this at the edge so you won't even have to weave in the ends.
7. Make 3 rows of reverse garter stitch (p every row) and bind off.
8. Sew up the sides, weave in the yarn tails, and you have a bag!
9. To add a strap, pick up four stitches across the side top and make the strap style of your choice. I used a flat garter strip (k every row) for my handbag and I-cord for the pendant bag, both four stitches.
   • To make I-cord, pick up the 4 stitches with a dpn and knit them. Slide stitches to the other end of the needle and knit, holding yarn in back. Magically makes a round cord!

Stringing Pattern:

beads in two colors, 32 of A and 48 of B.
String 3 A, 1 B, 2 A, 2 B, 2 A, 3 B, 2 A, 2 B, 1 A, 1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 1 A, 3 B, 2 A, 5 B, 1 A, 6 B, 2 A, 6 B, 1 A, 5 B, 2 A, 3 B, 1 A, 1 B, 1 A, 1 B, 1 A, 2 B, 2 A, 3 B, 2 A, 2 B, 2 A, 1 B, 3 A.
Do this TWICE (using a total of 64 A and 96 B) to have the pattern on both sides.