Fair Isle Knit Hat

Hello Friends...Since I got back into knitting recently, I made it a summer goal to make one of those cute Fair Isle hats you see all over Instagram and Etsy.  So, with much trial and error on of my own, I finally found a great basic tutorial on YouTube by CJ Design.  Her instructions are clear and she makes it really easy to follow along.  Once you get the hang of it, they are super easy to make and you can really have fun with colour combinations.  The only change I made to my hats were the number of cast on stitches at the beginning.  She starts with 44, I prefer to start with 40, but the pattern works out just the same.  It's a great way to use up some extra bits of yarn you may have lying around.  I found that the accent hearts do not require a ton of yarn. 

This will now be by go to hat for friends and family for the winter upcoming winter season.  I'm planning on adding pompom toppers to some, but they look look equally great without too:

Ribbed Knit Scarf :: Easy Pattern

Hello Friends...I've still been having fun playing around with different easy knit projects over the past couple of months.  Although my first love is crochet, I did learn to knit first.  I think it's important and fun for the brain to learn (or relearn) different skills.  I love this Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn in Hudson Bay!  It is so soft and squishy and it the colours are a true classic for us Canadians.

This scarf couldn't be easier for beginner knitters.  For those who are interested, I've detailed pattern instructions below.

Easy Knit Ribbed Scarf Pattern:

Materials Required 

• 3 balls of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, any colour you like
• US 15 / 10.0 mm knitting needles

Instructions

Cast on 18 stitches

First Row - Knit the first stitch, Purl the next stitch.  Repeat K1, P1 pattern across to end of row.

2nd Row and each row - K1, P1 pattern across.

Keep going until you reach your desired length.  My scarf measures approximately 72" in length and 7" wide.  To adjust the width, simply cast on fewer or more stitches, by 2.

Fringe - 3 tassels on each end, using 5 strands of yarn for each.  Trim to desired length.

NewYear Projects

Hello Friends...As we're well into January, I would like to wish everyone a very belated Happy New Year! I've been quiet, but busy finishing off another big squishy blanket order, and have another in the works.

I've also been playing with some different crochet stitches for some new blankets. I haven't quite decided on the yarn as of yet, but I've been testing things out on my Vanna's Choice stash, with different colour changes. I'm sure I'll go back and forth on ideas and yarn possibilities before I land on something, but it's always fun to play around.

Check out my project progress...

Granny Blanket All Done!

Hello Friends...It's been a long summer and now that the kids are back to school, I'm happy to play a little catch up and present some show and tell.  I'm so happy to have finally completed my primary summer granny square project!  All squares joined and all ends weaved in. I love the simplicity of the classic granny square and especially the two round/two colour combination.

This blanket is approx. 40"x40", perfect for a baby blanket or also great as as lapghan.  Each square consists of two rounds of granny square, 12 across and 12 rows, a total of 144 squares.  I used Vanna's Choice yarn, by Lionbrand. It's a medium weight yarn with a recommended size 6 mm hook.  Looks like I have an potential buyer for this blanket, which I am so proud of.

Crochet Headband

Hello Friends...check out this super easy crochet headband I made recently.  Even though it's the first day of spring, it still doesn't feel like it. I have a feeling I'll be getting some use out of it over the next couple of weeks.

The pattern can be found over at Rescued Paw Designs. The only difference, I did mine in the back loop to create the ribbing effect.

Crochet Flower Coaster :: Free Pattern

So folks, this is my first attempt at actually writing out a pattern.  I've fooled around in the past with my own creations, never bothering to write anything down, so I thought I'd start with something super simple and super cute.  What could be more simple than a circle with a scalloped border?  Anyway, here you go...please, if you try it out, and it doesn't work, I'd love the feedback, and or corrections!

Supplies for Flower Coaster:
I used some leftover Lion Brand Cotton Ease for this project. You could use any cotton yarn of your choice. Hook size is 4.5 mm for this yarn, but again, go with whatever hook size your yarn specifies. My coasters measure approx. 4.5 inches in diameter; the size is up to you, but I find this to be a nice large size...it suitable for glasses, mugs, hand soap pumps, etc.

Please kindly use this pattern for personal use only.  Please do not distribute with out my consent.  Pining of images are welcome, otherwise all images are copyright and may not be used without consent.  Thank you -- Alison, Modern Grace Design

Pattern Instructions:

• chain 4, join with a slip stitch to first ch to make a ring
• ch 1 (counts as first sc), make 5 sc into centre of ring, make a slip stitch to first ch 1 (6 stitches)
• ch 1, sc into st at base of ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st in ch 1 (12 stitches)
• ch 1, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next; repeat pattern all around ending with 2 sc in last st, sl st in ch 1 (18 stitches)
• ch 1, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeat pattern around, sl st in ch 1 (24 sts)
• ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next, repeat pattern around (30 sts), join new colour with a sl st in ch 1 of round
• ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4, repeat pattern around (you should have 36 in new colour), sl st in ch 1 of new colour
• Scallop Flower border - in next st, sc, hdc, sc, then st st in next st, repeat pattern around until you finish the circle with 18 scallops, finish with a st into last st

Dishcloths

As the new year approaches, I'm trying to take stock of my stash. I came across some bits and ends of Cotton Ease (Lion Brand), perfect for whipping up some cute little dishcloths. Both dishcloth patterns are form the Lion Brand website: The Venice Beach Washcloth and Circle Washcloth.

I'm also working on some pretty little flower coasters...hoping to provide a pattern for that in the future.