Knitting for charity…

Yarn Canada is now taking applications for their 4th Annual event of giving yarn to individuals and groups who knit or crochet for good causes.

In partnership with Bernat and Patons Yarn, they’re giving away $4000 worth of yarn to 12 different charitable individuals/groups.

They’re hoping to get as many applicants as possible to ensure the yarn goes to wherever it can do the most good, so click the link below to fill in an application.

https://www.yarncanada.ca/for-good

GOOD LUCK everyone!

Diana

Hip to be Square Blanket…

So here’s the blanket that I made from all that cushy Bernat Softee Chunky yarn I bought from yarncanada.ca!

A lot of people were asking for the pattern so I have written it out below:

You will need 9.5 balls of Bernat Softee Chunky and US size 11 circular needles (to hold the stitches)

Cast on 100 stitches then K10, P10 across the row for 10 rows. After 10 rows, change to P10, K10 across the row.

Continue alternating between K10, P10 for 10 rows then P10, K10 for 10 rows until you’ve completed 22 squares.

Cast off in pattern.

The finished blanket is about 44″ x 55″

I hope you give this blanket a try.

I really love it and it’s my go to pattern for blankets these days!

Happy knitting!

Diana

Happy mail…

This box of cushiness just arrived! 😀

Bernat Softee Chunky

I’m going to turn it into a blanket for my friend for her cottage. To help keep her warm during the chilly Fall evenings that are just around the corner!

Thanks yarncanada.ca for the speedy delivery!

Diana

My Mission hats…

Hello there!

I completed my mission hats about 2 weeks ago and dropped them off, but hadn’t had a chance to post them yet.

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I ended up making about 16 of them. Not as many as other years, but with moving houses and starting up my own business, time got away from me.

It’s a simple pattern that’s suited for anyone because of the ribbing (it has good stretch) and also the brim can be folded up as little or as much as needed.

It knits up really quickly using chunky yarn.  I used Bernat Softee Chunky that I purchased from YarnCanada.ca.

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If you would like to make a hat or 2 of your own, here’s the pattern

MATERIALS:

US size 10.5 needles

100 yards of chunky yarn (total)

Darning needle

NOTE: THIS HAT IS KNIT FLAT AND SEAMED

PATTERN:

Knit 1, Purl 1 across every row until the decrease.

DIRECTIONS:

Cast on 60 stitches with your first colour.

Follow the above pattern until your piece measures 5″ (approx. 20 rows) ending on the same side as your cast on “tail”.

Tie on your second colour.

For the first row with your new colour, knit across the entire row.  This prevents your second colour from showing through the stitches of your first colour giving you a nice, clean colour change.

After your one row of knit stitches, continue with the knit 1, purl 1 pattern until your second colour measures 5″, ending on the same side as your cast on “tail”.

DECREASE:

With the cast on “tail” on your right hand side, knit 2 stitches together, purl 2 stitches together across the row.  You will end up with 30 stitches.

The next row, knit 1, purl 1 across the row.

The next row, knit 2 stitches together, purl 2 stitches together across the row. You will now have 15 stitches.

For the final row, purl 1, knit 1 across the row ending with purl 1.

Cut off your yarn leaving about 8″.  Thread your yarn through a darning needle and lift the stitches off the knitting needle and onto the darning needle.

Pull tight so the top closes and start sewing up the hat using an invisible stitch.

Once you get to the end of the top colour, cut off your yarn and tie on about 8″ of yarn of the bottom colour and continue sewing up your hat.

Once at the end, knot your yarn and weave in your ends.

Alternately, you can make the hat just one colour.  The hat uses exactly 1 ball of the Bernat Softee Chunky.

So, I think this hat pattern is going to be my go-to pattern for next year for all my Mission hats.  And I think I’ll start much, MUCH earlier so I can get more done. 😀

If you decide to make some too for your local charity, I would love to see them.  Send me a photo at diana.poirier@yahoo.ca.

Happy knitting!

Diana

A birthday present…

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I’m lucky to have today off work so I’m taking advantage of having no one home except my puppy and he’s napping so I’m knitting! Of course!

I’ve put aside my poncho I’ve been working on to make a birthday present for a friend. It’s her birthday at the end of January.

I’m using a pattern I’ve used before (you can find it by clicking here) but this time I’m using a Tweed yarn from Caron Simply Soft I purchased from YarnCanada.ca.  I have to use 7 balls instead of 5 though, as the balls of tweed yarn are a bit smaller.

This is my first time using this tweed yarn and I’m absolutely loving the results.

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Well, off to get this blanket done. 😀

Happy knitting!

Diana

 

 

 

Giveaway time…

Hello everyone!

It’s that time of year again when YarnCanada.ca gives away yarn to groups and individuals who knit and crochet for charity.  It’s open to residents of Canada and United States.

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This year they teamed up with Bernat and Paton Yarns to be able to offer $2000 worth of yarn to 2 groups and 10 individuals! That’s A LOT of yarn!!

You have until January 5, 2019 to submit your application so what are you waiting for?

Click here for the application form.

Good luck!

Diana