Knitted Christmas balls

I was given a chart of knitted Christmas balls and I had to make a few, of course :) Those with snowflake pattern are 19 loops per needle at their widest but are decreased immediately. The white ball with red ornaments is 15 loops per needle at widest but has 5 rounds of same wideness before decreased thus ended up bigger.

Then this reindeer pattern ball is much bigger with 23 loops per needle and has a running reindeer on every second side and standing reindeer on the other.

 



The original chart had 15 loops per needle at its widest.

How-to:

k = knit
yon = yarn over needle

Cast-on 12 loops and divide on 4 needles. (3 loops per needle)

1. row: *k, yon, k, yon, k * x 4 = (5 loops per needle)
2. row: knit the whole row
3. row: *k, yon, k, k, k, yon, k* x4 = (7 loops per needle)
4. row: knit the whole row
5. row: *k, yon, k, k, k, k, k, yon, k* x 4 = (9 loops per needle)
6. row: knit the whole row

... Continue in same fashion until you reach the widest part i.e. 15 loops. Then knit 5 rounds before beginning decreasing.

Decreasing: knit two together the same way as you increased earlier on every second and penultimate loops so that there's always a knit at the beginning and the end of each needle. Then knit entire row in between of each decrease as you did when you increased. Continue until you have 3 loops per needle remaining. Now cast off the beginning before filling the ball. Fill the ball with cotton and cast off.

The loop to hang the ball is crocheted from the same yarn.

You can adjust the size of the ball and do whatever pattern you want by adding or making less rows. Just remember the loop number per needle is always uneven.


Joyful week!

Happy Father's Day! (in Finland)

Woolen stockings again... another man's stockings in Santa's sack waiting for Christmas :) These are size 43 / 9 (US) / 8,5 (UK). The gray snowflake pattern goes around with 4 flakes on each round.

Then, as I was looking other people's blogs, I found this wonderful paper snowflake window decoration from Mummon Pajukori Villa Tuta's blog with a link to a guide that is here.

And this is how it turned out from ordinary copy paper.

Have a relaxing Sunday everyone and Happy Father's Day to all dads in Finland!

Crochet earrings

I was asked to make special earrings of a famous old licorice label mostly know as Licorice Pete or Black Pete (not from Donald Duck comics) here in Finland that originated from 19th century doll called Golliwog either from UK or US by Florence Kate Upton.

And here they are about a 50 cent (euro) coin size. Made with 1.5 (7 US/ 2"/42 UK) crochet hook. Have to change how I made them though as 12 cs (US)/ dc (UK) are too much at the beginning to close the circle tight enough, thus these have a hole in the middle. Also used red felt to make mouths as it didn't look good with red thread.

Joyful weekend to everyone :)

Warmth to fall :)

Days have been bleak and cold while knitting stockings but those will warm nicely for sure once I get them done!

Here is one pair of man's woolen stockings size 40-41 (EU) / 7.5-8 (US) / 7-7.5 (UK). Making them as Christmas gifts to parents etc. Need to make at least 4 more pairs, from which the next are almost done :)

The other of my two sweethearts wanted to add himself in the picture as he came very curios of what I was doing on my bed cover. And of course he just had to lay down on the stockings! So had to pull them under him :)

Have a nice Sunday everyone!

Forever project - a "mitre"

Started knitting a kind of a mitre a year ago and decided to continue it. Back then I only made the beginning of the cap and about 3 pattern rounds (ca. 15 rounds). This is how it's now (picture) but that's not even the halfway! The plan is to make it ca. 145 to 150 cm long so it would reach the knee area as my friend wants it. In other words, a forever project with my knitting speed :)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Crocheted earrings

Weekend is approaching nicely and then I'll have time to try out my brand new sewing machine! In the meanwhile here are some earrings that I've crocheted.

Used different yarns and both size 1 (10 US, 4 UK) and 1.5 (7 US, 2"/42 UK) crochet hooks.

 

 

 

The ones on red background I made for myself. No starching used and the earring hooks are nickel-free silver.

Have a lovely fall evening everyone!

More owls :)

Weather is being gentle with warm and sunny fall days, now only thing that's missing is fall colors ^^

Anyways... another owl crochet. Couple years ago I bought this gorgeous owl necklace and just thought how would it be, if crocheted. So with silver yarn and size 1 (10 US, 4 UK) crochet hook, decided to give it a try. Should have used either size 1.5 (7 US, 2"/42 UK) or 2 (4 US, 1 UK) as the silver yarn was kind off "stiff" and rough so that the small hook unraveled the yarn from time to time.

This is how it turned out though and I'm not quite pleased with it.

Probably should have done eyes and beak to give it a better look. But I think I'll try doing it again with a different, more delicate, yarn. In any case, the head was done using same technique as in Hoot! post but the body and wings are made from chain stitch chains following the necklace pattern. I must admit, the necklace is much more beautiful looking!

That's all today!