A Shrug, no matter how you wear it

I was inspired to create my shrug by this website; http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SDS-055.
I did not use the pattern that is offered on this site but I used the pictures and the video as a jumping off point for this shrug;
front and back


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This is how it looks when you turn it the other way up (I do not want to call a it upside down becuse there seems to be no right side up, it is right both ways).

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This is a peak under the collar to see how it is seamed up.

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It is done mostly in seed stitch with a ribbed edge and two rows of wrapped needle stitches. It is knit from side to side the long way, not from end to end. It is warm, interestingly fashionable and so versitle, everyone who sees it loves it. I used Wenseydale yarn from Crimson Shamrock in West Virginia. A lovely long staple yarn that knits up beautifully.

The dreaded purl curl, fixed :-D

As you may have guessed from my header, my grey wrap, after much blocking and steaming, still had the dreaded purl curl at the hem. Then Holly suggested making an hem to stabilize it. Thanks again Holly, you are pure genius.



I picked up the stitches from the inside edge of the hem and knit them with a very fine glittery mohair. Three rows later on huge needles, the fine yarn produced a net like lacy bit, about an inch deep, at the hem. I cast it off using the stitched castoff incorporating a row of the grey stitches from the inside of garment that had the curl issue.




The end result was a flirty, very slight, red edge along the bottom that only shows with movement.




The best part of this neat 'Holly's Hem Trick' is that there is no curl left at all, it hangs nicely.

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Many thanks Holly, you rock.

Snug n warm a cowl that doubles as a snood

This is a cowl/snood that I just finished blocking. It was done with some lovely Wenseydale yarn that I acquired access to up at the Rhinebeck Sheep n Wool Fiber Fest. The sheep that produce this particular yarn are raised in West Virginia, they have the most amazing long staples. I just love working with their wool and, due to those lovely long staples, it is very strong.


I used a smart sewn cast off that came out very nice n stretchy as promised. It was the first time I tried this castoff and you can see in this pict, it stretches nicely. This is a link to the cast off instructions that I used;
http://www.woolywonder.com/classpages/sewncastoff/sewncastoff.htm
It's an easy one, just do not tug too hard on your sewing yarn or you will loose the stretch. You need to leave enough of a loop on the edge of the casted off piece that, the yarn you pull through with the sewing needle, is left looking like a, "purl stitch bump."

This piece was done with a 100% Wenseydale wool three ply yarn, it yielded about 4 stitches per inch in stockinette.

With long tail method; casting on 72 stitches, work in the round k2, p2 ribbing for 1 1/2 inches.

Then work 1 1/2 inches of stockinette stitch.

Do a basket weave with k2 p2 creating 1 inch for each of 3 woven basket straps (that's two switches going from purl to kint n from knit to purl in a row).

Work 1 1/2 inches of seed stitch then finish with 1 1/2 inches of the same k2 p2 ribbing.

Cast off with the sewn cast off shown in the link above.

Well, I love the shoulder wrap but the bottom edge is still curling rather intensly inspite of my occasional knit amoung the purls and aggressive blocking. I am going to pick up stitches from the bottom edge and work on a hem to hold the edge down. (Thank you Holly for the diea, I never thought of a hem on a knitted piece.) I'll prob. do the hem in red alpaca or blue. I need to see how much yarn I have of each n how much it will take.

Blocking the grey tweed shoulder wrap

Well, it's not a pretty system but it does block the piece;



You can see I've held down the bottom edges with cloths pins to fix the yarn so it does not curl. I ribbed around the top edge to create a cowl neck and the cable twists are visible on the front. All in all it is a nice warm wrap to wear with a dressy outfit. I will also probably need to steam it along the bottom edge.

It's a wrap, in gray mohair tweed.

We all know how dressy dresses, both formal and informal can be a bit, well, lets say less then warm. We want to wear that dress, it's so pretty. The winter weather, on the other hand is just not cooperating. Keeping your coat on is not going to look good and no one will be able to see the pretty dress that you wore. Well this piece is my solution to that dilemma.
Enter the knit shoulder wrap, problem solved.

The first cable twist is in place.

A close up of one of the cables.


This will be a wrap done in a silvery grey mohair knit. It is a simple but elegant tube that goes on over the head and is worn around the shoulders. I have just knitted the first row past the first cable link. I've never done anything with big cables before so this is new to me. I am doing a wide five stitch cable. I will be posting the finished project if it turns out as planned. It should.

Knobble Kuffs, Kno More Knausia, LOL

This picture shows the cuff inside out, the knobble/bump should be facing the wearer's wrist.

Kno more knausia knobble kuffs.


The idea for this cuff is based on Chinese Medicine. It uses an acupressure point located inside the wrist. My thanks to my good friend and massage therapist, Jan K., for teaching me this point and for making me awair of just how versatile this point is.

There is a similar cuff available commercially that is made of a synthetic material and a hard plastic pointy button. This commercial cuff can, after extended use, distress the skin. I made this cuff from 100% cotton yarn to avoid skin problems.

Work with #6 to 8 (USA sizing) DPNs depending on the yarn you've chosen. These are made for an adult woman with a small-medium wrist. Adjust your stitches as needed to accommodate the user's wrist. A small bead can be placed into the knobble if more pressure is needed to achieve the desired effect.

In the middle of a 28 stitch purl faced cuff, place a knobble;

Keep the tension of the knobble stitches snug to give it firmness.
Knit three stitches into one, turn your work and purl those same stitches back, turn and knit them back again.
Next row; purl one, knit three into one and turn the work to purl those three back into one. (The change in the texture of the face to 'knit' makes the face of the knobble stand prouder.) finish the row by purling the next stitch.
Knit n purl those same orig. three stitches of the knobble turning for each row. Make sure you Knobble is protruding from the purl face, not the knit face of the cuff, push it through if it is on the wrong side. Continue knitting in the round to complete the cuff.

These cuffs can be used for chemo nausea, pregnancy nausea, sea/motion sickness, hiccoughs or indigestion. The point, known as P6 in Chinese medicine, can be easily land marked by bending the wrist in so that the palm faces the wrist. Place three fingers from the other hand into the crevasse formed at the wrist so that they are tucked side by side facing the wrist. The point is right where your thumb tip sits with your fingers so arranged. it is right over the tendon cords that you can see (or feel) inside your wrist. Just make sure that the knobble is pressing on this point.
This is a link to a alternative medicine site that describes the point well;
http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Acupressure-for-Nausea
Scroll down about mid page you will find the point locator description for P6.

This blog entry is not intended to be a substitute for the care of a competent physician. As in all things; contact your doctor if you can not get relief for your symptoms or if your symptoms can not be explained.