Free Pattern: HP Fingerless Mitts

The pattern that I originally wrote up for these fingerless mitts never worked well for me. While knitting a Slytherin pair for my friend for Christmas this year, I revised the pattern. It seems to work better with the revisions and I've also included instructions for even stripes or uneven stripes in the contrasting color.


Materials:
Worsted weight yarn in 2 colors - MC and CC
Size 7 (4.5mm) needles
Stitch marker
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle

Gryffindor: Scarlet and Gold
Slytherin: Green and Silver
Ravenclaw: Blue and Bronze (or silver in the movies)
Hufflepuff: Yellow and Black

CO 32 sts in MC
Knit in 2x2 rib for 5 rows
Switch to stockinette and knit for 10 rows

Uneven Stripes:
Rows 16-18: knit in CC.
Rows 19 & 20: knit in MC.
Rows 21-23: knit in CC.

Switch back to MC and knit for 15 rows. Repeat stripes until desired length, ending with 7 rows of MC.

Even Stripes:

Knit in CC color for 10 rows. Switch back to MC and knit for 10 rows. Repeat until desired length, ending with 7 rows of MC.

Next row: knit 5 sts onto waste yarn, slip back to left needle and knit in working yarn. Knit 2 rows. Knit the last 5 rows in 2x2 rib. BO.

Thumb: Remove waste yarn and place live stitches on needle. Knit the sts on the bottom needle, m2. knit the sts on the top needle, m2. Knit for 5 rows. BO.

Left mitt: Knit the same except that the waste yarn is placed at the last 5 sts of the row instead of the first 5.



It's never taken me very long to make a pair of these. They're made to fit my small hands but you can either go up a needle size or increase the amount of stitches to allow for a slightly larger fit.

Free Pattern: Quick & Easy Beanie

Both my brothers requested an easy hat last year for Christmas. I looked online and couldn't find one exactly how they wanted. So I decided to come up with my own, specific to what they wanted.

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn

Size 8 16" circulars

stitch marker

tapestry needle

CO 80 sts. Knit in 2x2 rib for 2".

Switch to stockinette knitting. Knit for 5.5"

Begin decreases.

row 1: k8, k2tog

row 2: knit

Continue these two rows, knitting one less before the k2tog each time. When you are done, you should have 6 sts remaining. Cut yarn and pull through. Weave in ends and enjoy!



I've been able to make one of these hats in an evening. It's a very nice knit to do when you're sitting down to watch TV or a movie. :)

KnitPicks Contest

Knit Picks is having a contest where out of all the people who share their wishlist on facebook, they will pick one lucky person to give $100 towards their wishlist. (or, if its only 100, send them their wishlist.) I made up mine and after tweaking it last night, found it to be around $180.

http://www.knitpicks.com/cfCart/viewWishlist.cfm?wishlistid=2E57C999-219B-8E23-CCFA43CA63CA6A4E&medi

The top 5 things I'd like from it:
1. 4" Harmony Double Points
2. Lace Blocking Wires
3. Around the World in Knitted Socks
4. Vampire Knits*
5. Sock Innovation

*Don't ask me why I want this book. I'm still not 100% sure. I love vampires and everything dark and undead, despite the horrible name vampires now have because of Stephanie Myer.