Wind spinner, fun to make, fun to weather watch.

Wind spinner ……..Crochet

Yarn…..acrylic 80% wool 20%.
Crochet Hook….. 5mm.

• Row 1
• Chain 50 to 80 chains for desired length. Cut off yarn. 
  
• Row 2
• Return to starting end of chain. Attach new yarn.
• Single crochet into each chain. Cut yarn at end.
• Row 3
• Return to starting end, attach yarn.
• Double crochet, twice (2) into each chain. This doubles the number of stitches.
• Row 4
• Return to starting end, attach yarn.
• Double crochet three times (3) into each chain. Cut yarn at the end.
• Row5
• Single crochet into each chain. VERY loosely.
• Finish by making a chained loop for hanging at one end and perhaps a tassel at the other end for a bit of weight.

I like to hang outside on a tree branch where I can view the weather through a window.

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Not for the faint of heart……cut and finish.

Cutting a knitted item using scissors, a knitting machine and a crochet hook.

I made a huge mistake on my project. An 80 row error using a dark coloured, fuzzy yarn. Unravelling would be a nightmare. I decided to change my design by cutting my knitting and Collecting the open stitches onto a knitting needle, and then rehang the open stitches onto the knitting machine and proceed. I did steam the area to be cut. The stitches for the hem/ bottom edge were then easy to rehang and reknit or cast off. Added a crochet finish to give the edge some stability.

After finishing, don’t forget to brush out the lint from the needlebed and replace dust cover.

I continued to cut and finish the arm holes with single crochet. 2 rounds and steam into shape. I did not use a sewing machine. Overall, what I thought was going into the waste, is now wearable. Much better, if it had been wool, rather than acrylic. It wasn’t sized for the wearer.

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Embellishing a hat with a Rosette

Some hats, need a little something…….I’ve added a faux rose to the side of this hat. Instructions below.

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I have no idea of the source of these instructions. The knit rose can be manipulated to be a tight rosette or spread out as I chose for this hat. It was then positioned and sewn onto the hat.

Beads or buttons could be added for a bit more bling.

Waxer in use…….inquiring minds

Feed the yarn through the device so that it comes into contact with the wax.
Waxing a yarn, particularly hand knitting yarns, enable the machine to knit with less stress on the on the machine. Many cone yarns are already treated.

Waxing device for Knitting machine Antenna

The photo is a of a very useful waxing device to be used on the Knitting Machine upper tension antenna apparatus. I don’t know if the original mfg is still available. I haven’t run into another one in over 30 years.

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Absolutely delighted….

I’ve been experimenting with Silicone bakeware.

I baked egg frittatas and was thrilled that they released beautifully. Eggs are notorious for sticking to the sides of the muffin pans.

This time I tried baking Bran high fibre muffins. I baked them with the Convection oven setting.

They fell out of the pan magically. The pan has not been yet washed.

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Many recipes are readily available on the web; I have not included any. The were an All Bran cereal and zucchinni.

Canucks, I purchased this one at Cdn Tire, $6.99 plus tax.

Summer Botanicals

Summer is waning…….my garden

A few photos from Southern Ontario, Canada. We’ve experienced a wet, humid, poor air quality due to wildfires burning. The temps are extremes of hot and cold; Mother Nature appears confused.

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  Misc Hostas

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  Sedum and Russian Sage
  

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  Pinky Winky Hydrangea

The Hostas are going to seed, the Russian Sage is a glorious purple, and Pinky Winky Hydrangea is just gorgeous.

The Sedum is preparing to bloom. It should be pink when in full bloom. It grows well and is resistant to disease. The hydrangeas are also resistant.

The stash never ends……

More dipping into the stash. Sock yarns……mine are mostly Patons Kroy, a wool yarn that is readily available and is well wearing. For this project, I’m using the 4 ply ones.

Garter stitch is relaxing with a bit of remembering to twist the yarns at the edges in the same direction. The self striping yarns are very useful for adding touches of colour without having to purchase separate balls.

I have added a photo of how I roll up a scarf as I am knitting. It keeps the longer length more manageable as it grows. The blue blobs are the large sized stitch markers.

I think it will quite dramatic but not over the top, when worn over a black or white garment. The Finished scarf is the last photo. I’m pleased with it.

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Using up stash

Working on using up random balls of handknitting yarn. This one was a “lost ball band” one. Cotton or acrylic? Burn test revealed a natural fibre, most possibly cotton.
No stretch when on the knitting machine.
The photo is of 2 adult sized hats. The Left one is machine washed and dryer, the Right one, is prewash.
Quite a difference in feel and colour. 

What a surprise it would have been for a handkniter making a garment who had not swatched.

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Details……….Singer SK860, midgauge,

110 stitches (55-0-55)

2×1 mockrib, Dial tension 2

Body at Dial tension 4.

Tuck stitch (electronic knitting machine)

I found this tuck stitch in Modern Machine Knitting Monthly (11/2020 issue) and decided to try it out.

I used a 4ply wool sock yarn, Probably, Patons Kroy 4 ply. No label; it had been languishing in stash. This yarn is readily available, here in Canada.

The tuck stitch displayed the texture beautifully on the 2 baby hats.

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Tip:

When using the Studio/Silver Reed electronic machine don’t forget to use the appropriate “light” setting to read the patterning as a tuck stitch.

On the punchcard machines, the punchcard will show the background holes punched and the tucking stitches are NON punched. The electronic machines are the opposite.