Summer Knitting Calls for Smaller Projects on the Needles

Right before I had to frog back as there is a rather glaring cable mistake!  Check out this fun colorway called After Shock. The name is for our 5.8 earthquake we had in Montana this June.

Farm-To-Market Fingerless Mitts if you ever want a project that is not boring to knit—knit the Farm-To-Market Fingerless Mitts!  When you get to the gusset you have several different things going on and you must pay attention and trust the pattern.  Luckily it is an Aimee design from PDS which means it was tested and there are no mistakes!  The other bonus to knitting this pattern is you will become addicted to the process and can not stop as it is a very fun knit! 

Baby Booties How many pairs of these cute booties have I knitted over the years . . . I have NO idea.  I do know they are one of the best baby gifts. A dear friend of mine designed these felted booties and they are always well received and worn.  Any 100% wool can be used as they are meant to be felted in the washing machine.  I often use left over yarn for these booties.  One yarn I really enjoy felting with is Malabrigo Worsted.  All that is needed is one skein of Malabrigo Worsted yarn knitted on size 11 needles will make a large pair of booties with some yarn left over. This is the first pair I have used buttons for the ankle closure.  I usually use velcro and sew the Velcro on by hand or use a sewing machine.  I had no Velcro or sewing machine with me so I made the dive into buttons.  The blanket stitch around the booties just makes them as cute as can be!

This hat called Downtown Crossing was knitted up in June and was just sent off to one of my “Knit Girls” in Port Townsend.  Another great design from Polka Dot Sheep.  PDS Publications produces great patterns that are well written, with a nice lay out for notes, and downloadable from Ravelry.

Central Ave Hat: Local Yarn & Local Designer

Hats, Hats, Hats! Who could ask for a better summer knitting project than a HAT or in my case SIX hats! Hats are a great traveling summer project! You need to knit only one, no partner is needed. Hats are small, and not hot on your lap. You can challenge yourself and learn a new technique on a small project instead of a sweater.  Need to learn and explore cables there is no short supply of hats designs with cables.  Want to learn color work, twisted sts, texture work . . . the list goes on and what better way to explore a new design/technique while knitting up a hat for yourself or a gift for some knit worthy fan.

Earlier in the summer I knitted two Coming Home hats. I fell in love with this great pattern for several reason.

I have a niece with three young girls who are all very knit worthy gals! They wear everything I have knitted to the point of almost sleeping in what I have knitted.  Not only do they wear all the knitted items, I get great photos with them wearing everything and truly using hats, fingerless mitts, and sweaters.  I am always after a great design to knit for up for them.

My favorite local yarn shop in Montana is really 4.5 blocks from my front door.  LUCKY--right!  The owner and designer (Aimee) is a great gal and this spring and summer she has been on a creative roll which means all her customers have been having a blast knitting up all her new creations. To add to all the fun of knitting a PDS pattern is the Knitting 'N Needle has an in house dyer.  Jennifer, has a great talent for colors and matching up colors with the local surroundings which I LOVE!  You will find yarns with local names such as: Fireweed, Beargrass, Huckleberry, Lupine, Winter Raven, Iceberg, Juneberry, Jewel Basin and the list of colors goes on and on!

PDS Worsted Great Northern

PDS Worsted Depths

PDS Worsted Inspiration

PDS Worsted Lupine

I just completed the last Central Ave Hat.  I knitted four of these beauties this summer. They were a great project on our trip north as it is an easy as can be pattern to follow while being the passenger on our trip.  Great easy knitting around the campfire while enjoying the view with a nice hot or cold drink.

Knitting away on the drive
north in northern BC.

Yukon camp site

Sunrise in the Yukon w/coffee and knitting

Evening time to relax

Making progress on the plane as we head back to the village

The last hat on the needles home in Alaska.

Lucky recipient of the first hat off the needles.  She was the last to get a sweater so she earned the first hat!