Saturday Stitch: Step Stitch

Every Saturday I will share with you a new stitch.
Today's stitch is: Step Stitch

A beautiful diagonal knitting stitch, small reverse stockinette and seed stitch rectangles are climbing their way up on stockinette steps. great on a sweater, scarf, throw etc.

Instructions

You need a stitch number multiple of 18 + 2 edge stitches. Repeat the pattern between the * as many times as you like.

Row 1: edge st, * k6, p1, k1, p1, k6, p3; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 2: edge st, * k3, p7, k1, p7; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 3: same as row 1
Row 4: edge st, * p3, k1, p1, k1, p6, k3, p3; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 5: edge st, * k3, p3, k7, p1, k4; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 6: same as row 4
Row 7: edge st, * p1, k1, p1, k6, p3, k6; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 8: edge st, * p6, k3, p7, k1, p1; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 9: same as row 7
Row 10: edge st, * k3, p6, k1, p1, k1, p6; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 11: edge st, * k7, p1, k7, p3; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 12: same as row 10
Row 13: edge st, * k3, p3, k6, p1, k1, p1, k3; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 14: edge st, * p4, k1, p7, k3, p3; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 15: same as row 13
Row 16: edge st, * p6, k3, p6, k1, p1, k1; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 17: edge st, * k1, p1, k7, p3, k6; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 18: same as row 16

Repeat rows 1 through 18.

Difficulty level:Easy

You can find this stitch and more at craft cookie

'Thoughful Thursday' Knit Squares For Syrian Refugee Children

More than half a million Syrians have already fled the civil war in their county and made their way to surrounding countries and if the present trend continues, the number of registered refugees is likely to reach 710,000 by the end of the year. Three-quarters of the refugees are women and children. Many arrive with only the clothes on their backs and are traumatized by their experiences. There are around 85,000 reugees in Turkey with around  2,000 to 3,000 arriving every day and an estimated 5,000 waiting at the border. Here in Turkey, the authorities have already built 13 camps and are planning three more, it takes weeks to build these camps, but only days to fill them.

Help 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn Knit Squares For Syrian refugees especially the children.

Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. Any spare wool you have can be knitted into eight inch squares and then we'll stitch them all together into a blanket. No waste and a child with nothing gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

Knitting Instructions

FOR ONE 8"/20 cms SQUARE, you will need:
Yarn from a 100 gram (3.5 oz) ball of yarn or scraps of yarn 
 worsted weight , double knit or 8ply

Size 4mm needles  10 (USA)
A yarn sewing needle.
 Cast on 32 stitches (try to make your stitches neither too loose nor too tight to help ensure uniform squares)
 Row 1: knit
 Row 2: knit. These two rows form the 'garter' stitch knitting pattern for your square but you use any stitch you prefer, beascreative as you like. Continue knitting  until you have knitted a square
 To ensure you square is 8"/20cm either use a tape measure .

 Cast off
 Use your yarn sewing needle to sew in all the yarn ends using a darning method
VERY IMPORTANT 
Leave a one metre length of your yarn attached to your work after you have cast off. This will be used to join the squares together. but if you're changing colors work in your other tails.  DO NOT TIE AND CUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KNOT, THAT IS GUARANTEED TO COME UNDONE.  Knot if you want, but leave a tail and work in your ends.


We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets for this project we are working with  Humanitarian Relief Foundation. 
You can also find us at:  https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn

Please Help If You Can!

Photos of refugees in this post are by getty images.

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.
Address - 'LILY' C/O Dianne Jones
                   Türkmen Mahlesi
                    Ünlü sokak No 10 D4
                    Kuşadası
                    Aydin
                    Turkey.

Saturday Stitch: Garlands of Leaves

Every Saturday I will share with you a new stitch.
Today's stitch is: Garlands of Leaves.

Ready for Autumn a gorgeous eyelet stitch with ribs looking like leaf garlands. Suitable for sweaters, scarves, throws etc.

Instructions

You need a stitch number multiple of 10 + 2 edge stitches. Repeat the pattern between the * as many times as you like.

Row 1: edge st, * p2, k4, k2tog, yo, p2; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 2 & all other wrong side rows: edge st, * k2, p6, k2; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 3: edge st, * p2, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, p2; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 5: edge st, * p2, yo, sl1kw, k1, psso, k4, p2; repeat from * to last st, edge st
Row 7: edge st, * p2, yo, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k3, p2; repeat from * to last st, edge st

Repeat rows 1 through 8.

sl1kw - slip one knitwise

Difficulty level: Medium

You can find this stitch and more at craft cookie

'Thoughful Thursday' Click For Babies

Click your needles together to knit baby caps and help educate about and prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome!

Click for Babies is a public health initiative that allows knitters and crocheters to support Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention. While some may be aware of Shaken Baby Syndrome and know that shaking a baby is dangerous and harmful, many others have no idea how dreadfully trying a constantly crying baby can be.

Shaken Baby Syndrome is sometimes seen as an act perpetuated by a careless parent who doesn't know better. But just as often it can happen when a loving parent, feeling helpless and despondent over his or her inability to soothe a disconsolate infant, winds up shaking the baby out of despair.

This is where Click for Babies comes in.The purpose of Click for Babies is to raise awareness of a frequent cause of Shaken Baby Syndrome called the Period of Purple Crying. Knitters and crocheters can help by knitting or crocheting a purple baby cap that can be distributed to newborn babies and their parents. These caps not  only remind of the hazards of shaking a baby, but also help to educate parents about normal infant crying.

The Period of Purple Crying.

The fact is that all baby mammals, not just human beings, go through something called a "purple period." During this period, which in human beings lasts from about 2 weeks of age to 3 to 4 months, babies cry more often, especially in the evening. They are also often either resistant to soothing or are not always soothed by the same methods every time.

The good news is that while every baby goes through this period (though some babies cry far more than others during this period), it DOES end. This is especially important to share with new parents, who may feel not only helpless but also as though they have failed.

Raising Awareness through the Click of Needles.

Click for Babies refers to the sound of the clicking of knitting needles, although crocheters are, of course, equally welcome to participate. The Click for Babies website  offers free patterns, guidelines, and places to send caps.

Many states have their own Click for Babies programs for distributing caps to hospitals. For those who live in other states, there is a national Click for Babies office where caps can be sent to.

Click for Babies encourages sharing of the program through social media; they have Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages that can be used to spread the word.

Shaken Baby Syndrome is a tragedy that can be easily avoided, so let's all put our needles and hooks together and support the great cause of Click for Babies!

Here is a free knitting pattern to help get you started :

Purple Kitty Hat.

Size: New born
Hat measures 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter; length 5 inches (13 cm) from rim to crown.

Materials:

Size 4 mm (5 US) needles
DK weight yarn  Lilac and Purple
For nose ,eyes and mouth DK weight yarn black.

Tension:
21.5 sts= 4 inches (10 cm)

Instructions

Hat
Starting at brim, with Lilac yarn CO 64 sts and work in K2, p2 until brim measures 1 inch (3 cm) from beg.
Then work in St st

6 rows Lilac
6 rows Purple
6 rows Lilac
4 rows Purple

Shape Top Of Hat
Still in Purple  *k2 tog, k7 rep from* to last 2 sts k2tog- 56 st
Next row : Purl
Change to Pink or blue  knit 1 row then purl 1 row
Continuing in stripe sequence as established, shape top and finish:
Row 1 (RS) K 1, *k 4, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 47 sts.
Rows 2, 4 and 6 Purl.
Row 3 K 1, *k 3, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 38 sts.
Row 5 K 1, *k 2, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 29 sts.
Row 7 K 1, *k2tog; rep from * across - 15 sts.
Row 8 *P2tog; rep from * to last st, p 1 - 8 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing seam. With large-eyed blunt needle, thread tail through remaining sts on needle. Pull tightly and secure. Sew back seam.

EAR - Make 2
With Lilac yarn, cast on 16 sts. and knit 3 rows. Pass all sts, 1 at a time, over first st. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining st and pull to tighten.

NOSE
With Black , cast on 5 sts.
Row 1 Knit.
Rows 2 and 4 Purl.
Row 3 K2tog, k 1, k2tog - 3 sts.
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 K3tog - 1 st.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining st; pull to tighten.

FINISHING
Using photo as a guide, place Ears  and sew to each side of Hat about 2 inch apart. Sew Nose in place, embroider smile, 3 whiskers on each side of Nose, and eyes, using Stem or chain st. 

Wednesday Question: What Is A Provisional Cast On?

All knitters have questions about the best way to do things, why different things happen while they are knitting, how to fix knitting mistakes and more. Here is this weeks questions posed by several knitters.
 Question : I have  pattern I would love to try but it says to start wth a provisional cast on. Can you explain what that is and how to do it? Thanks.






Answer:  A provisional cast-on keeps cast-on stitches "live" so that they can be knit later. It's a very useful technique when you're not sure what kind of edging you'll want or how long to make something. With a provisional cast-on, you can make these decisions at the end of a project. There are a few ways to make a provisional cast-on. This is my favorite...

1: Make a crochet chain using waste yarn -- preferably, something smooth and in color which is readily visible against your working yarn, in approximatley the same weight. To make your chain, just grab the strand of yarn with your hook...

and bring it through the loop. Always make the chain several chains longer than the number of stitches you need to pick up, so you have some room for error.

2: When you're done making the chain as long as you need it to be (plus a few extra) cut the yarn, bring it through the last loop, tug gently to close (gently! You're going to have to undo that later) and tie a knot in that end, to remind yourself that this is the end you'll be "unzipping" from later on. Now flip your chain over and take a look at the bumps -- they  look a little like purl bumps,  -- on the back side (assuming the front side is the "v's" you see as you are working the chain.) You are going to pick up stitches through these bumps.

3: Start picking up stitches through the bumps. I "pick" at stitches to pick them up, wrapping each one around the needle..

4: ...and bringing it through. (Leave a long tail so you can weave that end in later.)

5: Now you have picked up your stitches. Follow your pattern's directions.

6: for this demonstration I just knit a few rows of stockinette and cast off.

7: Remember how I mentioned in Step 2 that you should make a little knot so you will know from which end to unzip your cast on?

8:Take the end with the knot in it and bring it back out through the loop you drew it through to close your chain, this will re-opening your chain. Now give that end a tug (a gentle tug, just in case there was some snaggage when you picked up your stitches.)

9: Now your stitches are free, place them on a needle, ready to work.

I hope you find this useful!

If you have a knitting question for Knitting Galore, please email it to : dbjones5559@hotmail.co.uk  or  Please  post it as a comment here.  All questions will be answered, and many are selected and answered each wednesday here on the Blog. 

Elephant Snugglily

Everyone loves something to cuddle. This very soft pillow toy is hand knit and would make a perfect gift for baby, toddler or a unique baby shower gift! 

The Elephant Snugglily is shaped making the pillow easy to grip, but soft enough to place a sleepy head on, doubles as a stuffed animal and decorative pillow. The features are hand embroidered (no loose objects). Elephant Snugglily is 100% acrylic, stuffed with polyester fiberfill and can be machine washed and dried on cool setting. Measurements are approx 15inches (38cm) high and 12inches (30.5cm). A great gift for anyone who loves Elephants!

30 turkish Lira which is approx 10 pounds sterling (15 USD) price includes p&p

I will ship all items via  First Class mail within 3 business days of receiving your order. Each item will come with a postal tracking number.

I want you to be 100% happy with your purchase. If it is not exactly what you imagined, I am happy to work with you to make it right! I take great pride in my handcrafted treasures and want you to love them as much as I loved creating it.

I will accept items for return, repair or exchange (if available) within 5 days of receipt. However, buyer will be responsible for all shipping costs. Please contact me first to discuss the details of the situation so I can be prepared and give you an appropriate timeframe on repairs. Again, shipping charges are not refundable.

Exception : Custom orders are NOT returnable or refundable. I make all items myself and many hours of love, hard work and attention to detail goes into each and every item. I take great pride in what I make and endeavour to make every item perfect.

Snugglilies make great gifts for special occasions such as birthdays, Christenings, Christmas, Thanksgiving etc and also “just because”.

I use high quality materials to ensure  Snuggliles have a long life span and live up to the high demands of children and equally  want to provide you with great value for money. I aim for my products to be reasonable priced; and all proceeds will go to help fund 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn a non profit organisation providing hand knitted and crochet items for children in need. 
All items are well packaged and protected for posting.

If for any reason your  mailing address does not match your Pay-Pal address, please leave a note upon checking out to avoid any confusion and delays in processing your order.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be sure you provide me with your correct delivery address, as I cannot be responsible for your items once they are have been shipped, thank you for understanding.

Please contact me if you  would like an item making in specific colours / have any special request. I am more than happy to make items to order. You can contact me by leaving a comment on this page, knitting Galore facebook page, Lily facebook page or email dbjones5559@hotmail.co.uk

Purchase Pattern Only If you would prefer to knit your own Elephant Snugglily you can purchase the knitting pattern here for 

only  4 Turkish Lira (under 1.50 pounds, 2 USD). Again all proceeds will go to help fund 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn a non profit organisation providing hand knitted and crochet items for children in need. 

 All efforts are made to make these patterns effort free.

This is a knitting pattern in PDF document format.

The pattern will be e-mailed to you within 24 hours of receiving payment. So please ensure that you provide your correct e-mail address.

Saturday Stitch: Wavy Zig Zags

Every Saturday I will share with you a new stitch.
Today's stitch is: Wavy Zig Zags

Vertical reverse garter stitch waves on a stockinette stitch background, pefect for a sweater.

Instructions

You need a stitch number multiple of 9 + 1 + 2 edge stitches. Repeat the pattern between the * as many times as you like.

Row 1: edge st, * k4, p2, k3; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 2 & the rest of the wrong side rows: edge st, purl across to last st, edge st
Row 3: edge st, * k3, p2, k4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 5: edge st, * k2, p3, k2, p2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 7: edge st, * k1, p4, k1, p2, k1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 9: same as row 5
Row 11: same as row 3
Row 13: same as row 1
Row 15: edge st, * k5, p2, k2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 17: edge st, * k1, p2, k2, p3, k1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 19: edge st, * k2, p2, k1, p4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, edge st
Row 21: same as row 17
Row 23: same as row 15

Repeat rows 1 through 24.

Difficulty level: Medium

You can find this stitch and more at craft cookie

'Thoughful Thursday' 'LILY' Needs YOUR Help!

Turkey is housing about 80,000 refugees in the camps along the Syrian border, while another 40,000 live in rented houses or apartments in the border area, and there are at least another 10,000 waiting on the border more than 50% are children. In just a few weeks the weather will change and the nights will be cold especially for children living in tents. PLEASE HELP US PROVIDE BLANKETS FOR THESE CHILDREN!
KNIT A SQUARE OR TWO or three or four............

photo by Muhammed Muheisen


Help 'Lily' Love In the Language of Yarn Knit Squares For Syrian refugees especially the children.

Please consider making a square or two with your odds and ends. Any spare wool you have can be knitted into eight inch squares and then we'll stitch them all together into a blanket. No waste and a child with nothing gets a warm and colourful, cover for their bed!

Knitting Instructions

FOR ONE 8"/20 cms SQUARE, you will need:
Yarn from a 100 gram (3.5 oz) ball of yarn or scraps of yarn 
 worsted weight , double knit or 8ply

Size 4mm needles  10 (USA)
A yarn sewing needle.
 Cast on 32 stitches (try to make your stitches neither too loose nor too tight to help ensure uniform squares)
 Row 1: knit
 Row 2: knit. These two rows form the 'garter' stitch knitting pattern for your square but you use any stitch you prefer, beascreative as you like. Continue knitting  until you have knitted a square
 To ensure you square is 8"/20cm either use a tape measure .

 Cast off
 Use your yarn sewing needle to sew in all the yarn ends using a darning method
VERY IMPORTANT 
Leave a one metre length of your yarn attached to your work after you have cast off. This will be used to join the squares together. but if you're changing colors work in your other tails.  DO NOT TIE AND CUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KNOT, THAT IS GUARANTEED TO COME UNDONE.  Knot if you want, but leave a tail and work in your ends.


We work with reputable, experienced relief agencies to securely transport and distribute our hand-knit and crocheted blankets for this project we are working with  Humanitarian Relief Foundation. 
You can also find us at:  https://www.facebook.com/LilyLoveInTheLanguageOfYarn

Please Help If You Can!

'Lily' is supported by businesses and individuals in Turkey, whether it be donations of yarn, Knitting and Crocheting or transportation of completed blankets to receiving agencies.

'Lily' has no paid employees.  All the good work is done on a strictly volunteer basis.

'Lily' wishes to thank all those private individuals and businesses which support us.  Without you, there would be no 'Lily' - Love In the Language of Yarn.  We work hard for the day when we are no longer needed to help keep Children warm.

Dianne Jones - Founder of  'Lily'- Love In the Language of Yarn.

Baby Duckling Earflap Hat

This cute little duckling hat is easy to knit and the perfect gift for a newborn baby or toddler. The ear flaps are finished with braids and tassels, and styled to fit your baby comfortably.

Size: 0-6 (6-12, 12-18) monthsThese are roughly 14″, 16″, and 18″ head circumference.

Materials:

about 50g of DK weight yarn

small amount orange, black and white DK yarn

at least three DPNs and a matching 16″ circular needle size 4mm or whatever knits to gauge

one stitch marker

Gauge:19 sts = 4″ in stockinette stitch

Ear Flaps
CO 7 stitches.
Row 1: K1, P to last stitch, K1.
Row 2: K1, Kfb, K to last 2 stitches, Kfb, K1.
Repeat these two rows until there are 15 stitches on the needles.

Knit straight until piece measures 2.75″ (3″, 3.25″).
Cut yarn, leaving a 12″ tail, and leave the earflap on its DPN.
Repeat for second ear flap.

Hat
Using a cable cast on, CO 10 (12, 14) stitches on the circular needle. Knit the 15 stitches from first ear flap, then CO 24 (27, 30) stitches. K15 from second ear flap, then CO 10 (12, 14)

Join, being careful not to twist stitches, place marker and begin knitting in the round. As you knit around this first row, you’ll notice four gaps, on either side of each ear flap. When you get to those, K2tog to close them up. At the end of the round, you should have 70 (77, 84) stitches on the needles.

Continue knitting all rounds until hat measures 3″ (3.5″, 4″) from the cast-on row.

Then begin the decreases as follows, switching to DPNs o when the diameter of the hat is too small for your circular needle:

(Decrease) Row 1: *K8 (9, 10), K2tog, repeat from* to end
Row 2: K all sts
(Decrease) row 3: *K7 (8, 9), K2tog, repeat from* to end
Row 4: K all sts
(Decrease) row 5: *K6 (7, 8), K2tog , repeat from*to end
Row 6: K all sts

Decrease in this manner until there are 35 sts on the needles.
Then decrease in the same manner, omitting the “k all sts” rows, until there are 7 sts remaining.
Pull yarn through the last 7 sts with a tapestry needle, pull through to inside and weave in end.

Beak

With yarn (D) and 4.5mm needles cast on 40 sts and work 8 rows St st,

Next row knit 2 tog, knit 16, knit 2 tog, knit 2 tog, knit 16, knit 2 tog.

Next row purl 2 tog, purl 14, purl 2 tog, purl 2 tog, purl 14, purl 2 tog.

Continue in this manner until 2 stitches remain

Next knit 2 tog break yarn and thread through remaining stitch. Sew side seam and use a little yarn of same colour to slightly stuff, with black yarn embroider nostrils by french knot.

Eye (make 2)

With black yarn and 4.5mm needles cast on 11 stitches loosely. Knit 3 rows. Pass all sts, 1 at a time, over first st. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining stitch; pull to tighten.

Finishing:

Using photo as a guide place eyes and with a small amount of white add features.

Place beak and sew in place.

Braids:

Using all colours incorporated in hat, cut strands of yarn approx. 24 inches in length. ( at least 8 strands total)

Gather strands and find center.

Thread one end through center cast on stich of earflap , pulling even.

Separate strands into 3 equal sections and braid, making sure beginning is tight to earflap.

Secure ends with yarn or tiny pony tail elastic bands.

Trim ends even.

Six little ducks
That l once knew,
Fat ones, skinny ones,
Cute ones too,
But the one little duck
With the feather on his back,
He ruled the others
With his quack, quack, quack.

Saturday Stitch - Wheat Blowing In The Wind

Every Saturday I will share with you a new stitch.
Today's stitch is: Wheat Blowing in the Wind

 A beautiful knitting stitch with eyelet wheat ears blown to one side the wind. Suitable for knit  throws, pillow covers or for your scarves, sweaters etc.

Instructions

You need a stitch number multiple of 12 + 1 + 2 edge stitches. Repeat the pattern between the * as many times as you like.

Rows 1 & 3: edge st, * p1, k11; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p1, edge st
Row 2 & all other wrong side rows: edge st, purl across to last st, edge st
Row 5: edge st, * p1, k1, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k4; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p1, edge st
Row 7: edge st, * p1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k3; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p1, edge st
Row 9: edge st, * p1, k3, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k2; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p1, edge st
Row 11: edge st, * p1, k4, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, p1, edge st

Repeat rows 1 through 12.

sl1kw - slip 1 knitwise

Yo - yarn over

psso - pass slip stitch over

Difficulty level: Easy

You can find this stitch and more at craft cookie