Winter Wonderland Cable Knit Headband Pattern

I've been afraid to try cable knitting for a long time, however, during my convalescence I had a bit of time to play around with them and came up with this simple pattern for a headband. Thought I'd share it with you guys! (Promise I will have a picture this evening!)

It's a nice sampling of holding yarn on cable needles in front and back and includes a four stitch cable and a 9 stitch braided cable. You can go as cheap or expensive as you like for this. I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn in white (Hence, the name Winter Wonderland.) since I was just playing around with the pattern, but I may do another one in angora at a later date. There are also a few different finishing options depending on how much time and work you want to spend on this. If you decide to tackle this pattern let me know how it turns out for you and if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Here is it partially done. Had to frog and go back because apparently I can't follow my own pattern.

Winter Wonderland Cable Knit Headband

Materials:

1 ball worsted weight yarn in white
US Size 8 Knitting Needles
 Cable Needle

Directions:

CO 25 stitches

Row 1 Purl all stitches
Row 2 *K4, P4, K9, P4, K4
Row 3 P4, K4, P9, K4, P4
Row 4 Sl 2 to cn and hold in back, K2, K2 from cn
           P4
           K3, Sl 3 to cn and hold in front, K3, K3 from cn
           P4
           Sl 2 to cn and hold in front, K2, K2 from cn.
Row 5 P4, K4, P9, K4, P4
Row 6 K4, P4, K9, P4, K4
Row 7 P4, K4, P9, K4, P4
Row 8 Sl 2 to cn and hold in back, K2, K2 from cn
           P4
           K3, Sl 3 to cn and hold in back, K3 , K3 from cn
           P4
           Sl 2 to cn and hold in front, K2, K2 from cn.
Row 9 P4, K4, P9, K4, P4

Repeat pattern from * until you reach the desired length and then BO in pattern.

Finishing:
There a few different things you can do here for finishing. If you are just wanting to do something quick, dirty and utilitarian then simply sew the edges together and go. If you were wanting to do something a little more fancy you could sew fleece onto the back of the headband to make a great ear warmer. If you wanted to do something REAL fancy you could knit the headband to only cover the top part of your head, sew fleece to the back and on to the edges in the shape of a triangle and add a button and button hole that can button under your hair at the back of your neck.

For those on Ravelry, you can check out the Ravelry entry here: Winter Wonderland Cable Knit Headband

Happy knitting!

*Pattern corrected on 2/9/13.

Happy Thanksgiving!

First, I apologize for my prolonged absence. I had planned on being away for a week with Jacob having had surgery, but I certainly didn't plan to be away for two weeks! However, I have a good reason! It seems that now I am going to have to have surgery as well! My tonsils and adenoids (I'm still not even sure what an adenoid is!) will be parting ways a week from Friday and the push has been on to get everything done before then because they tell me that the recovery is not an easy one. I'm trying not to be a big chicken about it, but it's been nearly 13 years since I have had any type of surgery or general anesthesia and I'm a little nervous!

That said there have been a few positive things going on as well. First, provided everything goes well it seems that I may be teaching knitting classes at Michael's after the first of the year. However, even if that doesn't pan out I am still in the process of earning my teaching certification from The Craft Yarn Council of America and I'm super excited about it!

Second, I will be finishing the sign up list for the summer CSA by the end of this week. I promise! I got my first seed catalog of the garden planning season yesterday so I know it's time to get my buns in gear and get this done before planting season sneaks up on me!

Third, I am entertaining the idea of having a quarterly fete featuring any works by my knitting students, some of my own work and herbal concoctions and hopefully the work of a local artist. I miss being involved in art and gallery work and it's hard for me to get outside my house so I figure why not just combine the two?

Anyhow, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Swagbucks

I've already done one shameless self promotion post this week, so why not round out the end of the week with another?

This time I'm going to tell you about a website called Swagbucks. I love this site! At the most basic level all you have to do is download their toolbar and use their search engine and you will earn "Swagbucks" that you can accumulate to get things like gift cards and other gift items. I mostly use mine for Amazon Gift Cards and have been able to purchase so many wonderful books and crafts for our home this way.

 

So, if you want to start earning Swagbucks too just click the picture above (which will also earn me referral points) sign up, install your tool bar and start earning. There are also many other ways to earn, but the toolbar I think is the easiest. Happy Earning!

Airbnb

Since I will be away from the computer for the week I figure that now would be as good a time as any for some shameless self promotion. For the past few months our family has been renting out our guest bedroom on a website called Airbnb. It's given us the opportunity to meet several new and interesting people including a man transporting a cat on a motorcycle from Chicago, IL to Asheville, NC among others.

So, if you think you'd like to have an adventure of your own clicky the link below and register your extra space. You will have the opportunity to earn extra dough and host some interesting people and I get a potential travel credit.

Register Your Space With Airbnb

And if you or someone you know happens to be staying in the Louisville area then visit our listing and if you like what you see book our guest room instead of staying in a stuffy ol' hotel. Like the comments say, I cook a pretty mean breakfast!

Check Out Our Listing

Happy Travels and Happy Hosting!

Prep Day

Well, this is my week off, but never fear, I have posts scheduled for each day of my vacation so you will not miss a single day of my prattling! Hooray! I have some pretty big ambitions for this week and I can't wait to check in with you next Monday to give you an update on just how much I did (or didn't) get done. So here it is folks, my grand plan for the week!

-Pull the carpet out of the front room
-Get the front room walls painted
-Take all the extra junk in the house to Goodwill
-Finish all knitting projects for my uncles
-Cast on or at least buy yarn for all other Christmas projects

Bonus: Refinish the wood flooring in the front room.

All right friends, I have my orders, now you have a great week! See you next Monday!

WIP Wednesday

Having conquered Cthulhu and the evil m1 on the first row stitch last week, WITHOUT GOING CRAZY, it was time move on to the next Christmas project for Jacob, some fingerless mittens. I found a wonderful pattern for flat knitted mitts done in a simple rib stitch. Paired it with some Lion Brand Wool-Ease that I am using doubled stranded in black and they're turning out to be some pretty warm and manly looking mitts! Hoping they keep Jacob warm this winter while he's delivering fish and hoping the Wool Ease will live up to it's name and be easy to clean if he gets them all fishy smelling.

Facebook Give Away!

Sad to say, but we currently only have 16 people on our Facebook page and it's time for that number to go up! In order to make that happen I need your help! Here's what you do:

1. If you are not already a member of our Facebook page then your first order of business is Sign Up Here! Your membership on the page is your entry into the give away!
2. If you are already a member your next step is to invite your friends to join our page. 
3. Once we reach 50 members we will have a drawing for three prizes: 

     1st Prize: 

Your choice of either a Hand Knit Christmas Dishcloth 

or 

1 hour Private lesson on either loom or traditional knitting.

2nd Prize: 

3 Hand Knit Christmas Light Ornaments

 

3rd Prize:

2 Yarn Star Christmas Ornaments

Remember though, you have to a member of the Facebook page to have an entry!

I will be adding pictures to this post tomorrow so you know exactly what the prizes are. 

Good Luck!

Winter Classes

It's time for warm woolies classes! You can go ahead and pre-register using the PayPal buttons below or if you'd prefer to pay at the time of the class then send me an email and I will put you down on the list. Remember, there are only a limited number of seats available so pre-registering is essential! If you are registering via PayPal please remember to leave your name and contact information in the Special Instructions sections during check out.

Intro to Loom Knitting - $10

Sunday January 8th @ 3:00pm

This 30 minutes course will teach all the basics stitches you need to get you started. You will need one loom and tool and a skein of yarn.

Loom Knitting Warm Woolies - $40

Tuesdays @ 6:30 January 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st.

This will be a one hour course consisting of four sessions where you will learn to knit a basic hat, gloves and scarf. For this course you will need to have a round loom set with tool which can be purchased at many craft and big box stores as well the yarn of your choice. If your yarn is not bulk weight you will need to have enough skeins to double strand your projects.

Loom Knit Sweater -$40

Sundays @ 6:30 January 15th, 22nd, 29th and February 5th

This will be a one hour course consisting of four sessions where you will learn to knit a sweater, either adult or child sized. For this course you will need to have a set of long looms that can be purchased at many craft and big box stores as well the yarn of your choice. If your yarn is not bulk weight you will need to have enough skeins to double strand your projects.

All classes will include tea and cookies. Young children and nursing babies welcome. We will have a place set up for them and someone to watch them.

Prep Day

Happy Monday, folks! So far no disasters yet so I'm going to consider it a win! Lots on the agenda for this week and to top it all off today is Halloween! And of course I still have one eye left to sew on Will's costume! Go figure! Always something to do! That's why it's so important to have a game plan. So, here it is, the goals for this week.

-Finalize plans for next year's barter version of the CSA
-Post winter and spring class schedule
-Add on to Poppy Swap web store and get some pictures of products
-Have the family work on their quilt squares
-Take inventory of what is done and better organize the Christmas list
-Prep the house for J's surgery
-Get the front room ready for painting

Think I can do it? We shall! Ready! Set! Go!

Have a great week!

WIP Wednesday

So, I've really been trying to kick things in to gear for my Handmade Holiday Project this year. Yesterday I started working on a Cthulhu Holiday Ornament for Jacob. Feeling a bit frustrated though as this is my first experience with an m1 and trying to do an m1 on the first row is really giving me fits! I think I've ripped it out about three times now. I'm hoping this next time will be the charm!

My Pretty Girl and Handsome Boy

Bunnies have been a huge part of my of my life for the past 10 years. My bunny fever started out when I decided I wanted a pet and I thought a bunny would be a quiet, unobtrusive and easy to care for pet. My first bunny, Bunnicula, would show me just how off base my assumptions were! I never imagined how much personality and sass one bunny could possibly have. Nor would I have thought I could have become so attached to what I thought was just a simple bunny. But Bunnicula snorted, thumped and nipped his way into my heart and I couldn't be more grateful. Unfortunately, this past spring Bunnicula passed away due to old age. I'm glad I could spend his last few moments with him and despite the fact that I am still pretty sad about his passing I know that he is with me every time I go out and work in my herb garden where he is buried under the azaleas.

That said, it has taken me several months to decide that it was time to add new bunnies to the family, but I finally took the plunge and have adopted two English Angoras who are sweet as can be. We name our little Ruby Eye White girl Alice after Alice in Wonderland and Martin after Martin Van Buren because J thinks the hair on his face looks like Van Buren's side burns. I'm so happy to have bunnies in my life again and it makes it even better than I can spin their fur! Yay bunnies!