Wool Dryer Ball Report

Thanks for the comments, its so nice to know that someone reads my blog!

These dryer balls are awesome! Seriously!

I wasn't checking constantly; I just set the dryer for less time than usual, but a big load of diapers dried in 40 minutes less (at least) than usual AND the thick BumGenius AIOs that take FOREVER to dry were completely dry. Next time I'll try setting it for a little less time.

Here's some how to info that I found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK4M2LEhZbQ

http://www.crunchybetty.com/how-to-make-felted-wool-dryer-balls

If you're making a bunch that is probably the way to go. I made 3 and they're about 3 inches across. I just felted them at my sink, it went pretty quick. I wrapped the wool into balls like shown in those links, put hot water and soap on them, and rubbed them in my hands, then did a second layer. With how well they work, I should make some more. I don't have any old pantyhose, because I wear them almost never, maybe I'll try a sock.

Toe Up Socks with Gusset and Heel Flaps

I really like knitting socks toe up, but I also wanted to try for a better fit by adding a gusset, and I wanted to knit it with magic loop instead of double points. I searched and searched and didn't find a pattern that had what I was looking for. So I examined heels and gussets in several different patterns and of course my gauge was different, and this is what I came up with.

I knit from both ends of the yarn, which is why the stripes progress in opposite directions.

This is a basic sock formula which can be adjusted. The numbers in my example fit a size 5 US shoe size (9 inches toe to heel, and 7.75inches around the ball of the foot).

Gauge: 6.25 st/in

Needle size: 4

Yarn: Indulgence 6 Ply Distrato (at 426 yards, it looks like I have enough for another pair)

Use a cast on appropriate for magic loop knitting, such as this

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html

Cast on 16 stitches per sock (8 each for the top and bottom). If you want a wider toe, cast on more to start.

Toe increases:

Row 1: K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1; K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1

Row 2: K around

Continue increasing until there are 48 stitches per sock. (or more for a wider sock)

Knit around until you have 6 inches or about 2/3 of the total foot length. This can be adjusted depending on how big of a gusset you want. On this sock I did 3 rounds of increasing for the gusset, if you want more start that many rows earlier.

The first half of the sock is the top.

Row 1: Knit across the top. K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1,

K1 (2 stitches increased)

Row 2: K around

Repeat until you have the desired number of gusset increases.

Turn Heel

How wide or narrow the heel is can be adjusted by how many stitches are in the middle of the heel. This gives a fairly wide heel.

Row1: K 23, M1, K1, wrap and turn

Row2: P18, M1, P1, W&T

Row3: K16, M1, K1, W&T

Row4: P14, M1, P1, W&T

Row5: K12, M1, K1, W&T

Row6: P10, M1, P1, W&T

Row7: K8, M1, K1, W&T

Row8: P6, M1, P1, W&T

Knit around picking up and K2TOG the wraps as you go. (Pick up the wrap, put it on the left needle, and knit it together with the stitch it was wrapped around)

Heel Flap

K till 8 stitches left, SSK, turn

Sl 1, P20, P2TOG

Sl 1, K20, SSK

Continue decreasing until you are back to 48 stitches per sock (so 24 on the heel side).

Leg

Knit around until a little less (1 1/4 inches) than desired length

Switch to K2, P2 rib for 1 1/4 inches.

Use a stretchy bind off such as a K2TOG (through the back loop to make it look like a regular bind off) bind off http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2008/07/30/a-stretchier-bind-off.aspx or Jenny's surprisingly stretchy bind offhttp://knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/FEATjssbo.php.

Wool Dryer Balls

I've seen wool dryer balls on several different websites. They are supposed to shorten drying time and so use less energy. That sounds pretty cool. I had some wool leftover from a spinning project so I made some. :)

Scrappy the Fabric Block

I'm gradually getting a bit more time for making things here and there. I was fixing a shirt the other night and decided to make this fabric block while I had the sewing machine out.

You may recognize one of the fabrics from the pajamas I made. I had scraps from different polar fleece fabrics. I cut 6 squares. Sewed four of them together in a line, then sewed one on the top edge, matching each edge of the square with an edge from the other 4 squares, and one on the bottom edge, leaving a space to stuff it. I turned it right side out, stuffed it with more fabric scraps, and sewed up the small remaining hole.

Ta Da, a nifty soft block made from scraps! :)

Pajamas!!!

Look at me making stuff again! This is pajamas that I sewed for my daughter. It was fun to work on a different sort of project and this was my first zipper installation. I learned some things along the way and it turned out pretty good too!

The sleeve cuffs where too tight so I just left them off and did a simple hem.

I got so tired of the pajamas in the store having toxic flame retardants on them, so I did a few things about it. I bought some super spiffy wool pajamas from England, I bought some of those tight organic cotton pajamas with the silly warning tags, and then I picked out some fabric and a pattern and made my own. Mine look super cute on her and so cozy and warm!

Its pattern 3527, in case you want to make your own.

Knitting Again!

Yes, I've picked up my much missed needles again! For this project, I am designing and knitting a hat for my daughter. The yarn is handspun by me alpaca yarn. The original idea was to spin and knit a blanket for her, but then I got a bunch of blankets at a shower (some really nice handmade ones too). I started spinning it before she was born but am just now getting to knitting it. The idea has morphed into a hat, knit from the top down. I like that for the same reason I like toe up socks, you can try it on as you go. I'm thinking an I-cord edge will finish this hat off nicely. I hope I can find time to finish it before it gets cold!

Baby Leg Warmers Again

I know its been a while, but yes, I finished the baby leg warmers and I finished them in time for baby to wear them. :)

They're a super easy project and a great way to use sock yarn left over from a smallish pair of socks!

Baby Leg Warmers

I had some of my orange and pink hand dyed yarn left over after knitting the socks, and wanted to knit something small with it. I think baby leg warmers are super cute! They are practical too, as diaper changes are so much easier than if your baby is wearing pants.

I'll share my simple pattern with you.

Size: 8 in around leg and can stretch to a little bigger.

Materials: Fingering weight yarn

Gauge: 8 st/in

Difficulty: Easy

Pattern: Cast on 64 stitches and join in round. I cast on both leg warmers using one long circular needle. I'm also knitting from both ends of the yarn.

K2, P2 *repeat around*

Continue ribbing for 10 rows.

K around, continue for desired length or you are running low on yarn.

K2, P2 rib for 10 rows.

Bind off using the decrease bind off to keep the edge stretchy.

Happy Knitting