Christmas Charity Knitting

These Christmas stocking were knitted for a charity benefit. The reindeer and snowman stocking were filled with toys for a good little boy and girl. The wreath and stripe stockings had presents for a Mom and Dad. All were raffled off at the benefit. This is a sample of the mini-ornaments sold with the proceeds going to the charity.

The pattern and designs for the Christmas stocking are from Charlene Shafer's book Old Fashion Christmas Stockings. You can get Charlene's book online at the Knick Knack Shop.
The pattern for the mini-ornaments are from Glenda Overmann's book Christmas Keepsakes. I've had this book since the late 80's so I don't know if you can it. The mini sweater is free on Marzipanknits blogspot.
Everything was knitted on a standard electronic Silver Reed 840 knitting machine. When items are really large or very small the knitting machine is the way to go.
I enjoy knitting for charity and hope others will too!
My latest project is learning to machine knit tubular mittens. I'm using my old standby the Brother 930. 

Tuck Stitch Charity Baby Blankets

Having received several boxes of yarn from my sister's estate I realized Katie never made it past a clearance table without buying something. Most of the yarn is pastel and only a couple skeins of the same dye lot. She loved to crochet baby blankets so a small amount was enough.

I have a 270 Brother bulky machine and though I'd like to try some tuck patterns. I just opened the manual and knitted Pattern #100 (the small pattern on the right side of the picture) right out of the book. That went well so I knitted the one on the left pattern #85. I didn't want to crochet around the edges so I used a machine roping trim that is fast and fun to do. With no new babies in the family these will be donated to a charity. I have white, yellow, pink and blue yarn left to knit up something for babies. I wonder if I will need to sew on a care label? I'll have to get on the internet to see where to get some.

If you have never done machine roping here is how it's done:

Set tension dial 1 tension tigher than main tension. Carriage on the right, wrong side to you, pick up 3 stitches from the edge and knit 6 rows. Using a 3-prong tool, skip 2 or 3 stitches and pick up 3 new stitches from the edge and hang onto the 3 empty needles left of the stitches you just knitted (6 needles are now in work). *Knit 6 rows. With 3-prong tool lift 3 stitches on the right and place them on top of the 3 stitches on the left. Skip 2 or 3 stitches and pick up 3 new stitches and hang on empty needles to the left* Repeat from * to * all the way around. The number of skipped stitches determines the size of the gap between lo0ps in the roping

Cuff to Cuff Jacket designed by Julie Farmer

This short sleeved jacket is featured in the new Knit`n Style magazine June 2012 Issue #179.

I really like this magazine it has both hand and machine patterns. A series of how to articles for machine knitters plus several patterns by Mary Anne Oger are very good.

The jacket is worked side to side in one piece. I used Universal Classic Worsted LP (purple allure) and size 9 US needles. This jacket can be knitted while watching tv in the evening because you never lose you place. Its fast and easy but the combination of stockinette and seed stitch make it interesting.

Handknit Bulky Jacket

Can't resisted the neat patterns in the new magazines. This bulky jacket is in Creative Knit magazine January 2012 issue. Knit on size 11 bamboo needles it goes very fast. A fun stitch pattern only 4 rows. The jacket fits very well.

Coming back to machine knitting!

Hope you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.

I spent 2011 hand knitting. Because I had eye surgery that made it just too difficult to see the needles on my 930 knitting machine and only used my bulky for making ribbing.

I started hand knit projects with size 11 needles and worked my way down to size 1 to finish off with a pair of Xmas socks.

Fingerless Mitts

If you can get Knitsimple Magazine the Holiday Issue or go to : http://www.knitsimple.com/

and check out Pattern #1, her fingerless mitts. They are fun and quick to knit. I made a pair for Betsy ( she babysits our cats)and a hat with the same twisted rib pattern. I had enough yarn left to make me some mitts so I thought I would just try them on the magic loop. I love that magazine! I also knitted the cable cowl and started one of the vest patterns.

Teen Beanie

This is a pattern for a tight-fitting beanie knitted in the round. I knitted this for my 15 yr. old grandson Ethan and his friend Jacob.They seemed quite pleased with them.

Teen Beanie

Materials: 1 skein of Classic Worsted Tapestry (self Patterning) or Impressions (self striping) by Universal Yarns.
2 circular needles, US 7, 16 inches long
Marker or loop of yarn
Darning needle for sewing ends

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches

Pattern: Cast on 72 stitches. Being careful not to twist stitches, place marker, join knitting and work K2, P1 for 10 rounds.
Round 11: knit every round for 25 rounds (adjust here for the length of beanie some teens want the beanie pulled down lower than others)
Decrease Round 1: *K7, K2 together, repeat from *
Using second needle continue to decrease but knit 1/2 of hat stitches onto the second needle.
Decrease Round 2: *K6, K2 together, repeat from*
Decrease Round 3: *K5, K2 together, repeat from *
Decrease Round 4: *K4, K2 together, repeat from *
Decrease Round 5: *K3, K2 together, repeat from *
Decrease Round 6: K2 together all the way around
Knit one row even.

Finishing: Leaving tail, cut yarn and thread through darning needle. Run needle and yarn through all remaining stitches and pull tight. Darn in all ends. Wear and enjoy!