500th Blog Post: "Mr. Cratchit's Convertible Mitts" Pattern Kit Give-aways!

I am so excited to announce on my 500th blog post the re-release of one of my favorite designs! It's been renamed "Mr. Cratchit's Convertible Mitts." It's warm, snuggly and so functional! I have re-written the entire pattern to include more tips, charts and have written it in a way that is more useable for dpn-users or those who prefer the Magic Loop Method.

This pattern is a play on the charatcter Bob Cratchit from the Christmas Carol, who I believe would have worn fingerless mitts such as these in the dead of winter.

Pattern allows for those using dpns or working the Magic Loop (1-at-a-time or 2-at-a-time) users.

Winter calls for warm & snuggly knits. You can be bundled from your head to your toes, but it’s not always practical to cover your frosty finger- tips. Bah hum-bug! That’s why these convertible fingerless mitts are the perfect knit for the chilly seasons, for the times when you absolutely need to expose your fingers-tips, and for the times when you can just leave your fingers bundled under the warm woolen mitten flaps.

Difficulty Level: the early advanced knitter

Skills Needed: working in the rd, picking up sts, grafting sts, making an I-cord

Click here to read more pattern and materials information.

To celebrate my 500th post here on my blog, I am generously giving away not one, but TWO kits to this project! In light of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday coming up March 17th, the skeins will be tones of green and white.

Kit includes: 

1 card (with coupon code) for a free download of the pattern

 1 skein of KUAS merino wool blend fingering-weight yarn in a St. Patty's Day inspired color

2 complimentary buttons (and some thread)

 8 pieces of scrap yarn

 3 KUAS stitch markers

First winner will receive:

Second winner will receive:

Winners are selected at random on 2/25/16 between 7pm-8pm CT.  

Winners will be announced on this blog. 

Contest ends at 7pm 2/25. 

If you have won, email me (knittingupastorm AT gmail DOT com) with your name and address. 

Winners must claim their prizes by 2/29/16, or the following runner-up(s) will be given the unclaimed prize.

How to win:

You must comment on THIS BLOG POST in the comment section to gain an entry into the give-away. Tell me your favorite way to celebrate St. Patricks' Day (tell me any unique things about how you celebrate--recipes, where you go, etc.) Make sure your comment is not anonymous.

If you would like one extra entry into the random drawing, go onto my KUAS Facebook Group Page and LIKE and SHARE the "500th Blog Post Give-Away" post I made there. I will go through those names and add them to the entry list before drawing the two winners.

P.S- blogger and google merged. You may need to create a google account if you do not have one already to comment. Sorry! I'm not in control of that.

May the odds be ever in your favor, and THANK YOU for reading my blog and keeping up with my knitting adventures! 

Two New Releases!

Hello Everyone. Happy Saturday! I have released two more patterns into my Ravelry Pattern Store:

         

                                

As tradition, I always give away a FREE copy to the first group member who comments on the Knitting Up A Storm, the blog Facebook group page. Wanna get in on future give-away action?

Click to join

So, let's take a peak at these knits.
First off, here's my bulky Seed Stitch Slouch.

This simple slouch is quick to knit up with bulky yarn, and is satisfying to wear. You can easily modify the length to make it less/more slouchy to fit your taste.

Included last in the instructions is a tutorial on how to make pom-poms for this hat. Feel free to only print out the instructions to the hat, and just read the pom-pom instructions on the computer to save on ink.

Skill Level: Late-beginner          Difficulty: Easy

Method: worked seamlessly in the round with dpns, or by using the “Magic Loop” method with 1 circular needle.

Yarn: 110 yds of a bulky/12 ply yarn 

Materials:

·        Set of 5 size US 9 (5.5 mm) and US 10 (6 mm) dpns; 40” or longer size US 9 and US 10 circular needles if using the “Magic Loop” Method

·      1 Darning needle

·        1 Stitch marker, or safety pin

·        Large (3 3/8 inch diameter) Pom-Pom Maker (there’s a tutorial on last page using Clover’s Large Pom-Pom maker)

·        A pair of scissors and some scrap yarn or thick sewing thread in a complimentary color

I tried out two versions: looser ribbing and longer (silvery blue) and tighter ribbing and a little less slouchy (brown).

Included in this pattern is a picture tutorial on how to make pom-poms.


Next, I have resurrected the "All Twisted Up!" knit designer bag...giving it a face-life and tweaked some information to be more detailed.

 

Here's a view of the bottom of the bag:

Here's a wonderful knit designer bag with plenty of room to spare. The cable pattern gives the bag an interesting appeal, and you may find people asking you where you bought your bag from!

Lever: Late Beginner         Method: worked in the round

Materials:
Yarn: approx. 430 yds of a bulky/12 ply yarn
Needles: size US 11 (8 mm) circular needles (16''-24''); 1 cable needle; US 11 double-pointed needles for I-cord
2 small leather handles
Fabric: under 1/2 yard in complimentary color
hread: matching the fabric color
Sewing machine
Optional tassel piece

FO: Baby Puerperium

I'm a little behind on posts, since I have finished 3 objects since my last post (wow, that sounds a little like a Catholic confession, lol).

I modified the Puerperium Cardigan to fit size 3-6 months for my cousin's first born child that entered this world on New Years Day.

Pattern: Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker

Yarn: 1 skein of Cascade 220 Heathers

Needles: Size US 6

Start date: Jan 10th   Completed date: Jan 18th

Mods:  Extra increases, thicker yarn, doing buttons only after every 6th "garter ridge," long sleeves, and wider garter borders. 

Due to all of the modifications to make this cardigan a wee bit larger, I had to play a little game of yarn chicken at the end. Yeah, I'd like to say that I won the war.

I had twin boys (and I am scared to death of another set of twins--which would probably be boys), so I will knit and live vicariously through them, who had a beautiful baby girl. Such gorgeous yarn...I absolutely recommend Cascade 220 Heathers.

Thanks for checking up on me. Have a happy Wednesday.

Quick KUAS Tip: tame your magic loop edge with pins

Let's start off with this side note: I love the Magic Loop method. I've always been a fan of circular needles (I never, ever use straight needles anymore), but since learning the Magic Loop method, I have found out how to dodge multiple dpns for sock, hats, and the like, AND knit more than one pair at a time! Second-object syndrome disappears.

However (you knew there had to be a "but..."), I have to admit that the first few rounds of magic loop can get a little irritating, what with the fabric trying to flare out and such, so I wanted to share a simple little tip that might make your life a bit easier. You might find this tip most useful on larger projects that like to open up wide when knitting in the round. Especially bulky hat patterns.

It's simple. Cast on your stitch amount, divide your stitches as normal for magic loop, and before you join the round (well, first double check that your stitches are not twisted), place two (or more) stitch marker pins (or safety pins) through the left and right side of your cast-on edge, running through both the front and back edge of your project.

After knitting a few rounds, take the pin out and clip more of the fabric in place in the same manner. No more work flaring out wider, making it hard to work magic loop in the round. I'd like to think we are boss over our WIPs and not the other way around!

Let me know if this little tip has worked in your favor.
It's the small things in life. 

A year in review: 2015

Greetings and Happy New Year, fellow fiber enthusiasts!

A lot has happened this last year, so I would like to share my adventures with you.
First off, I wanted to announce that I was told by www.allfreeknitting.com that I am one of their top bloggers on their website! I have a couple of free patterns (the Dummy Clap Shawl and Double Looped Scarf) on their website.

As tradition, I always post a year-in-review post on New Year's, so let's get the ball rolling...

Let's start with WIP's that never were finished this year:

From left to right: Fall Cardigan, Prism cowl, Office Socks, Abrianna, 50 Shades of Grey.

Finished knits that I wrote out the pattern and turned into PDFs. They are available to buy HERE.

From left to right: Reading Rippled Afghan, Dummy Clap Shawl (update and video tutorial), Star-Edged Socks, Office Socks (updated), and Sand Dune Slouch hat.

Major Stash Enhancements from Knitty City and Purl Soho in New York City.

 

Other crafting:

From left to right: Woven infinity scarf, Advent wreath, Thanksgiving project bag, Halloween project bag, simple sock project bag.

Podcasts:

Episodes 3-7.

 Spinning:

Completed Projects (FO's):

 From left to right: Thrummed mittens, Mr. Darcy Cardigan, Reyna Shawl, 2-at-a-time hats, Sweet November Shawl.

Craving more eye-candy? Check out previous years' reviews:

Best of 2014

Best of 2013

Best of 2012