My Retirement Sweater:

Every time I came back from USA, along with my family members particularly grand daughter and grand son, what I missed was Red Heart wool! You think I am kidding but of course not when first time I used Red Heart Wool ( 6 ply) in USA in 2009 and knitted sweater for my husband,  since then I was in love with that wool and I always wished that I should also knit a sweater for myself with this wool. But as I have been working in morning college for 12 years, I have number of sweaters and shawls which are not needed now a days due to afternoon timing of the institute. Now I am retired in March 2017 and when my first pension was deposited in bank, I could not control myself from spending some amount from that. If I would have been in India then I may bought a saree- my favorite,  but as I was in USA at that time, I suddenly decided to purchase Red Heart Wool for myself and make a sweater.

Material: Three skeins of Red Heart with Love wool LW 2906 Mango color. 

This pattern if free on Borroco, I liked it and this is the web address.

http://www.berroco.com/sites/default/files/downloads/patterns/Berroco_FreePattern_Drift_v2.pdf


I also take this opportunity to say many many thanks to Emily Nora O’Neil for providing such a beautiful pattern free.
The changes I have made to fit my physique are,
1. On back side I CO only 90 sts because with 98, I thought that it will not fit me
2. For front sides instead of 46, I cast on only 42 sts,
3. Required height is same therefore  on back side instead of decreasing 8 sts twice across, in between the markers I have decreased 6-6 sts
4. On front sides also 4 sts instead of 5 and increase 3 sts instead of 4.
5. For sleeves I have cast 46 sts.
6. After ribbing instead of decreasing 8 sts, I have decreased only 4 sts.so 42 sts remain
7. For increase row, 14 sts are increased as mentioned in pattern, therefore 56 sts now
8. 4-4 are bind off for shaping cap as mentioned in the pattern then 2 sts are decreased after every 2" thus 14 sts are decreased. So instead of 18 sts I have only 16 sts.
Last bind off 4-4 from both sides and remaining 8 at last.

Thanks once again for the pattern.

Knitted Saree - Blouse:

Saree with blouse is India’s traditional dress. Popularity of this Indian dress is not decreased even though the young Indian girls don't wear it daily. They wear variety of dresses like, Panjabi dress, Kurti, Jeans,  etc still saree has it's special place. All girls like to wear it though it is not as convenient working-dress as others.  Usually ladies wear matching blouse on every saree. For more information about saree you can visit, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sari
When I was small baby, my mother had only two color blouses one white and other black and she used to wear which ever will look contrast type on that saree. 

There are lots of variety and fashions in sewing blouse  but I have not seen much variety in knitted saree - blouse. This knitted saree - blouse has perfect fitting. I made three such blouses. One for me and two other in peacock feather color and red color for my two jau (wife of my brother in law).

Material: Vardhman 4 ply wool 150 gm, knitting needles UK no 10 and 12

Size: Chest 34”, height 13”, shoulder 11”, length of sleeve 10.5”, sleeves width 11”,

Take the double thread inside

Instruction: This instructions are as per above size if needed, you can increase the base stitches or if you are using 6 ply wool like red heart or lion brand then you will have to reduce the number of stitches.

Pattern: CO 20 sts

Row 1: p 1, [take double tread of the working yarn inside (out of

pull working thread

these two yarns one is tight and other is lose, moving) as shown in fig, p 2 with the tight yarn out of the double threads taken inside,  now from back side slowly pull the lose yarn], repeat [to] till last st, work p1.

Row 2: all p

Repeat row 1 and 2



See the video for the pattern

Front right side: Cast on 52 sts. on smaller needle (UK 12 no). Ribbing for 2.5”

Ribbing may be k1, p1 on both right and wrong sides. I have ribbed it in little bit different manner.

Ribbing:

RS: (P 1, yarn back side, Sl 1) repeat throughout the row

WS: all purl

Repeat these two rows till the height becomes 2.5”.

Increasing stitches:

Row 1: Continue working first 10 sts as ribbing. Next knit as per pattern 18 sts, YO k 1, place marker, YO k1, knit as per pattern next 22 sts(becomes 54 sts)

Row 2: All purl

Row 3: 10 sts as per ribbing, knit as per pattern till 1 st remain before marker, YO k 1, slip marker, YO k1, knit as per pattern till end (becomes 56 sts)

Row 4: All purl

Row 5: Repeat rows 3 and 4 till 7 sts increased on both sides (that is 7 pair of windows are formed) that means 14 sts are increased. Here total 66 sts are there. Total 14 rows are worked.

Decreasing stitches:

Row 15: (RS) 10 sts as per ribbing, work 25 sts as per pattern, next three sts we have to make k3tog but make it as follows, out of three, move the first st in the back of the second st take the middle st in the front and then make k3tog, knit remaining sts as per pattern.

Row 16: All p

Repeat this till all increased sts are decreased and again 52 sts are on the needle.

Now start shaping arm hole and  neck simultaneously. (after 7.5" height)

For neck:  After 10 sts ribbing out of next 2 sts, work ssk  on every RS, that is slip 1, slip 1,take them on the left needle and knit two together from back.

For arm hole: BO 6-4-2-1-1-1 on every right side.

Continue decreasing 1 on neck side till there are 24 sts on the needle (10 sts of ribbing for neck band +14 sts for shoulder). If the required height is not achieved then go on working as per pattern till 13" height.

Keep the remaining 24 sts on the separate needle.

Front left side: CO 52 sts. on smaller needle. Ribbing for 2.5".

Increasing stitches:

Row 1: (RS) Work 22 sts as per pattern  YO k1, place marker, YO k1, then as per pattern for next 18 sts, last 10 sts  ribbing st. Now there are total 54 sts that means 2 sts increased..

Through out this front left side work last 10 sts as ribbing.

Row 2: all p

Row 3: Knit as per pattern till 1 st to marker, YO k1, slip marker, YO k1, knit as per pattern till 10 sts remain on the left needle.Work them as per ribbing.
Row 4: All p.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 five more times so that in all 14 sts are increased. Now 66 sts.

Decrease stitches: Work as in the front left side part. Decrease for neck line by k2tog, from ribbing side and decrease for arm hole from other side.

Keep the last remaining 24 sts on the separate needle.

Back side:

CO 90 sts with smaller needle.

Work ribbing for 20 rows (Nearly 1.25")

Transfer to larger needle and increase 2 sts  after every 1" height till total 8 sts are increased. Work as per pattern till the height is 7.5". Now there are 98 sts on the needle. 

Then start shaping armhole by decreasing 6-4-2-1-1-1 sts on both sides (RS and WS). Work these 68 sts till the height is 12.5".

Now work only 14 sts. BO next 40 sts. Then work last 14 sts for 0.5" and put these 14 sts on separate needle. Now join the yarn with the 14th st and start work from WS till the height is 0.5" and put those 14 sts on the separate needle.

Sleeve:

Using smaller needle CO 60 sts. Ribbing for 12 rows (Nearly 0.75").

Transfer on larger needle and increase 1 st on RS and WS after every 1". Thus increase in all 4 sts on each side. Total 68 sts.

When height is 5.5" shape arm hole by binding 6-4-2-1-1-1 sts from both sides. Then go on binding 1 st on both sides after every alternate RS and alternate WS. Thus bind off 10-10 sts from both sides. Work till the length of the sleeve is 10". Then BO 6 sts on RS, 6 sts on WS and 6 sts again on RS.

Similarly make one more sleeve.

Neckband: Take 10 sts of ribbing of the front right part, on the needle (You can start with front left also but then the last joint will be on and right and because the pallow of the saree is on left part so we prefer to start with front right part so that the joint is hidden inside the pallow). Ribbing till the length of the neck strip is sufficient for the back 40 sts which are already bond off. 

Finishing: 

Join 14 shoulder sts with the front sides by using third needle for both shoulder. Sew the neck band to the back neck part. Sew the sleeves to the body part. Then sew sides of the sleeve and body. Sew 5 small hooks evenly to the left front ribbing.

Saree - blouse is ready. 

Knitted Round Bag 9

Making a Plain Round by Knitting: Cushion / Bag:

Small cushion

As per my knowledge, making "Plain Round" is easy in crochet but difficult in knitting. But this pattern will give a perfect and simple method of knitting a plain round. I wonder about the Geometry hidden in this pattern. You may cast on any multiple of 3 stitches, the round is completed when 16 times the pattern is repeated.

Two color sample pattern

Long before I have made small bag with this pattern. Then I thought, to use  two colors and make a baby cushion. I tried it first on 12 stitches and made a sample to see that how two colors work out and it looked great! (shown in white and dark pink shades). It  works very good. Seeing the sample of two colors I understood      my  mistake that knitting should not be too lose and I improve it    in cushion and see the result.

With the same technique of knitting a circle, you can knit door mat. My sister Sandhya made such doormats not by using wool or some thread but she used  the strips of old sarees. For which she had to cut the saree in strips of 2" width then twist the strips and use them as thread. (Ufff only hard working people like Sandhya can do this.) No doubt it becomes very sturdy but   obviously very tedious job. But now a days old T-shirt yarn is          available which is called Trapillo or Tarn, so you can buy them and make one such doormat for your sweet home. If you have more stamina 😇you can make a multicolored rug for your hall with additional crochet boarder with dark shade out of those colors. Choose 4 shade colors from this color chart e.g. tortilla, caramel, syrup and dark brown. It will   look marvelous.

Pattern: Pattern given in two colors. CO multiple of 3 sts. CO 12 sts
Row 1: Slip 1 (as if purl), yarn is on front side now k2tog, turn the work (only three sts worked and turned)

Small bag

Row 2: Work these 3 sts as row 1 (that is YO, Sl 1, k2tog) turn

Row 3: YO, Sl 1, k2tog, YO, Sl 1, k2tog. Turn (only 6 sts worked

and turned)
Row 4: As row 3
Row 5: (YO, Sl 1, k2tog) repeat 2 more times and turn. (only 9 sts worked and turned)
Row 6: As row 5
Row 7: (YO, Sl 1, k2tog) repeat 3 more times and turn. (All 12 sts worked)

Row 8: As row 7
Now all the 12 sts are exhausted.
If you want to make double color pattern then here join the another color thread.
Repeat these 8 rows 15 more times. Now pick up initial (CO) 12 sts and bind off them together with third needle and the plain round is ready.
Size of this sample pattern is 4" in diameter.

Bag: For bag I have started with 30 sts.

Bag: Row 1: Slip 1 (as if purl), yarn is in front side now k2tog, turn the work (only three sts worked and turned)

Row 2: Work these 3 sts as above again (that is YO, Sl 1, k2tog) turn

Row 3: YO, Sl 1, k2tog, YO, Sl 1, k2tog. Turn (only 6 sts worked

and turned)

Row 4: As row 3

Row 5: (YO, Sl 1, k2tog) repeat 2 more times, turn ( 9 sts worked)

Row 6: As row 5

Go on increasing 3 sts to every odd numbered row, when all the 30 sts are worked (after 20 rows) again start working only 3 sts and repeat all 20 rows as above for 15 more times.
Bind off.
Sew it as to become a plain round. Through all sts near the center pass on a starting color wool and stretch to close that center. Make two such pieces.


Boarder: A simple crochet boarder is added to both sides. with ch 3 and attach the thread with the knitted round, repeat this till the 3/4th round is complete or you may have lace on upper side also. Then 1 sc, a dc, 1 sc in every 3 chin gap.

Belt:  I made a crochet belt for this bag with 200 chains.
Row 1: Make 3 ch and work dc on 4th chain from the needle and then dc in every stitch.
Row 2 and 3 as row 1.

Or you can have knitted belt with 7 stitches and garter stitch over the complete length of the belt.

Finishing: Sew the belt to both pieces leaving the 1/4th open part where boarder is not attached. Sew two ends of the belt, take care that the belt should not be twisted. Sew a beautiful show button or crochet flower at the center.

Cushion: For cushion cast on 36 sts.  Work as per pattern starting with any one color. Once all sts are exhausted, for this case after 24 rows, join different color. Again after 24 more rows work with the first color and so on.

This video explains how to make these short rows ...

Sofa Chair Backs and Other Home Decorative:

Hi friends, 

Every one has special affection about his / her first owned home, same here. So when we have purchased our first home, I was so excited that I wanted to do so many home decorative items for our new home.  Then I made  this pink colored crocheted chair back, teapoy table cover and round motif which I had made in 1985. They are still in better condition because after using it 7-8 years we changed the cushions then they were not fitting them so kept aside. In last week I took them out and have these photos.

The design of the chair backs is demonstrated as a "table-lamp cover" in some book but now neither I have that book nor I remember it's name. I am so sorry to the author of that book. If any one of my crochter friend knew this book then he / she may write it in comments so that I can correct myself.

Teapoy table cover may also be in that book, but the string of small cluster balls of crochet is my addition to that.

This last motif is from the book, Crochet For the Home by Indori Publishing Company.
The thread used for the complete set is Cotton crochet yarn size 10.

I had made two beaded curtains, out of which one was made of 10 strings each containing these glass tubes and plastic beads with peacock feather attached at the end. Let me clear one point that at that time I am not aware of the fact that we should not use peacock feather for our luxury. 





Another curtain, I remember was made of 5 strips of red colored beads and the pattern was as shown in the last photo. Actually this is beaded rangoli design that I had posted earlier on 21st Oct but unfortunately now I don't have photos of those curtain.