Queen Bee Knits

Knitting, Living, Loving, Baking, Tips, Tools and Idle Chatter

Pouches Rock!

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

My second Wonderful Wallaby is off the needles. This one for my sister-in-law to give to a friend who is expecting a new baby in April. She requested it in pink … and since I was at the Black Sheep (teaching), I ran right back to the yarn room to see what was available in a baby-friendly pink that’s not too pink. (Because as much as I love pink for little girls, I also know that they get a lot … a LOT … of pink gifts.) And voila! I loved this one …

Ta-daaa! My yarn choice! Plymouth Yarn “Encore Tweed”

Knitting for babies and children really requires washable yarn. I sometimes break this rule … especially when I’m knitting for people who I know well. But when I am knitting for people I don’t know, I assume that they’ll want garments that are easy to care for. Thus, acrylic or blends are essential. The yarn I chose is Encore Tweed by Plymouth Yarn. It’s a worsted weight blend of 75% acrylic, 22% wool and 3% rayon. Stretchy, soft, washable … and a great price point at $7.50 a ball (I needed three. Color W464, Lot 67839.)

I decided to make the smallest size possible which is a 2T because if the baby is born in April, she will be 8 months old in December and with rolled up sleeves, this size will likely fit well with a little room for growth. I always put my children in sweaters that grew a little bit with them. Because I was knitting a gift, I did knit a swatch for gauge. If it was for me I might not have done that but I wanted it to be sized accurately. And away I went.

Bottom’s UP!

This sweater is constructed from the bottom up and knit in the round. (Hear this, NO seams!) The instructions are very clear and easy to follow. Two needle sizes needed. Sleeves can be knit one- or two-at-a-time which is my preference so that they are sure to be the same size. I’m sorry that I didn’t take a photograph of my sleeves in process. On this particular pattern, I like using scraps of yarn to hold the few stitches for the underarms both on the body of the sweater and the sleeves. (Makes the “pits” very flexible.)

Here’s a great tip! If you start with the sleeves, you can consider them your swatch. For those who don’t like to swatch, you can start your project right off and if your gauge is off you have a lot fewer stitches to pull out.

Splitting the stitches for the neckline … and then on to the collar and hood!

The sleeves are attached very simply by stitching them onto your needles along with the sweater body. Decreases all around for the shoulders and we’re getting closer and closer to a finished garment.

At the neckline, the stitches split and you knit back and forth for the neckline and hood (if you choose to add one … and I love children’s hats with hoods!) Again, very simple. The only “glitch” that I can see in the pattern is that there is a repeat of a few knitted stitches on the edge of the hood, which I am too much of a perfectionist to accept. So, I chose to knit all of the edge stitches on one side and purl all edge stitches on the other side. That way, I get a “perfect” edge. You’ll see what I mean when you knit this cutie!

At the end of the hood, you’ll graft all the stitches together with a Kitchener stitch and ta-daa!!! I added a tassel to the hood because I really liked the hassle that I added to the first WW that I knitted for my niece. All you have to do is graft the underarm stitches and all the seaming is done. Don’t you love that!? I sure do! Use a long piece of your seaming yarn to tighten up the “holes” at each side of the underarm. This is a trick you can use in lots of patterns.

Just a few underarm stitches to graft … that’s it for seaming!

Underarm “holes” are easily tightened up!

So, there you have it once again. The Wonderful Wallaby. I love this pattern so much that I am knitting one for myself in oatmeal-colored wool. You can be sure you’ll be seeing it when it’s on the needles!

Wonderful Wallaby in pink!

Queen Bee Knits label is placed on the inside of the bottom … don’t want it rubbing baby’s neck!

Tassel … my addition

Gone knitting.

Block Broken

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

My first Wonderful Wallaby on my beautiful niece!

I taught a class ten days ago and, now, I do believe that my knitters block is broken. Woo! Hoo! I’m knitting again!

Zipping through the Wonderful Wallaby that I’m knitting for my sister-in-law to give to a friend for a new baby due in April. (I’ve blogged about this pattern that I’ve knitted before … here and here.) I’m knitting it in the acrylic/wool/rayon blend Plymouth Yarn Encore Tweed (100g./200 yards) in a pink tweed (color W464/ lot 67839). I love this pattern and I love this sweater. It’s such a simple knit and there are no seams! (Well, only a couple of short seams.)

And next? A wedding shawl for my daughter … I sure hope she doesn’t read this blog! 😉

I can’t believe that MY daughter is getting married (in September)! It’s beyond my comprehension that she is old enough for this … or maybe it’s that I am old enough for this … monumental, life-changing event! How did all those years pass so quickly? And now it’s time for her little family to become “official”. We all love the wonderful man that she is marrying and I love that they are authentically themselves even as they’ve become a couple. I remember her telling me (years ago) that he was her “tour affair” and the relationship wouldn’t go beyond the boundaries of her tour. Love got in the way … and it didn’t hurt that he loved her dog!

I’m planning to knit her a Romi lace shawl, Fiori di Sole. It just looks like her. I bought the yarn in Bangor, Maine last summer. It’s a beautiful shade of blue/green (Glacial Pace is the color way) baby alpaca and silk blend by One Lupine and called “Spinnaker” (4oz./ approx. 745 yards). I am excited to get started which is, perhaps, why I am whipping through the Wallaby in pink.

Let me mention, too, that I’ve begun a Wonderful Wallaby for me! I’m knitting in Lion Brand’s Fisherman’s Wool, an inexpensive yarn purchased at Joann, in the oatmeal color way … there will be no contrasting pocket for this girl! 🙂

Gone knitting!

Is There Such a Thing as a Knitter’s Block?

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

I know that there’s supposed to be a writer’s block … I am afraid that I have a knitter’s block. I have been knitting little simple projects but my brain isn’t wrapping itself around the idea of one of the several sweaters that I know I have the yarn to knit.

I’ve marked a few patterns, I want to have the garments. So, what the heck’s going on?

Sometimes, one just has to take a few days “off” from the challenges of knitting, I guess. Life gets in the way of our art … work, family, and other things poke their heads in, demanding our immediate attention. My energy level at the end of the day is waning and I am simply tired. So, I’m going to take my own advice and be gentle with myself. Give myself the time to just be … and know that my knitting mojo will return.

For now, I’ll be satisfied with the granny squares and the dish cloths.

Gone (not) knitting!

Boston Strong … One Year Later

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

One Year Later Scarf

I’m knitting another little token of love for the runners of the 2014 Boston Marathon. If you’d like to participate, the details can be found by clicking here.

A worthy cause. And a message to those who choose chaos and violence – we choose love and peace. Knitters from around the country and around the world are participating. Stitching together a community that was wounded a year ago.

Gone knitting.

UFOs No More!

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

This past weekend was a very (VERY) productive one. I have completed three … count them 1 … 2 … 3 projects!

First.

I finished the square for a baby blanket. Suffice it to say that I am not comfortable sharing much more about this project as it is a surprise. More when the gift is compete and presented. Here is my square blocking on the ironing board.

12×12 inch blanket square

I used a washable and dry-able acrylic yarn by Cascade, Cascade Pacific (200+ yards for $8.00) in a grey and cream or ivory color. Since I am fond of living on the edge and mixing things up a bit, I chose a grey and ivory stripe rather than a blue. I have a ton of yarn left over and may be able to knit another square before the squares are due. The yarn is very soft but a little bit “splitty”. I think the square is very pleasing and I hope its recipient will be thrilled with the gift!

Second

I had an extra pair of ear buds that are for an iPod. I have covered a couple of iPhone ear buds … one for me and one for daughter #2. The yarn, Cascade Eco Duo, was left over from other projects and it’s a lovely neutral grey alpaca yarn … so, I just got my DPNs out and covered the ear buds. Now they’re all finished and available for sale or a future giveaway!

Icord ear bud sweater in aplaca … before the ends were woven in. Keep your ear buds from getting all tangled up!

Third

I’ve done the Jimmy Beans Wool Downton Abbey Mystery KAL two years in a row. It’s fun to join a group of like-minded knitters and take a leap of faith … since you’re buying yarn for a project that you have absolutely what it will look like in the end. Anyway, I chose some alternate yarn, a Malibrigo Silky Merino in a denim-y blue colorway because the Lorna’s Laces yarn that was called for in the pattern was going to put me way behind … the demand was so huge that it was backordered. I didn’t want to wait. And I am glad I chose as I did. I love my shawlette!

JBW Downton Abbey Mystery KAL 2014

Now, if I can only get my sock done before bed tonight! Hmmm … think I can do it? I’m sure going to try! I only have the foot and toe left and it’s worsted weight yarn. I’ll get close! These are the sample socks for my Classic Socks class at the Black Sheep Shop. Will I see you there?

Gone knitting!

Throw Out the Lifeline!

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

There is an old hymn that shares the title for my post. I guess I’m older than I think I am because I remember singing it at a hymn sing as a young girl in Tenants Harbor, Maine. As soon as I typed my title, I had to search for the song (to make sure I wasn’t remembering “wrong”!) There it was. What a wonderful memory! (Click here for the link to YouTube.)

In knitting, a life line can be a project saver. I used one just this weekend when I was finishing my Jimmy Beans Wool Downton Abbey Mystery KAL … a lovely shawlette. I was really happy with the project and had a bit of yarn left over that I thought MIGHT be enough to have a third repeat of the lace edge. On Thursday night I expressed my concern to my knitting friends and Kelly suggested that I give it a try but use a life line (just in case)! What a wonderful suggestion.

Here’s what mine looked like when it was being blocked …

My Shawlette in Malabrigo Silky Merino color 856 Azules

Never used a life line? Really!? Well, I have to confess that I hadn’t used one before. But it’s really quite simple. This is all it takes …

Life Line (pink) … Wow! I need a manicure! 🙂

All you have to do is get a different color bit of yarn. Since I was knitting a lace piece with several hundred stitches, I kept it really long so I didn’t drop stitches off the life line. That would be disastrous!

With your tapestry needle, thread the life line (pink) through every stitch.

Thread your tapestry needle and starting on one end of your work, run the life line through every stitch. (Note: do not run the life line through your markers as this will cause trouble when you go to knit! Run the life line under the markers.)

What you need to do before you start knitting again is make sure that the life line is “in the same place” and no wound around the needle. I made sure that my life line was beneath the needle sitting on the bottom of my last row of stitches. Once you start knitting, just make sure that you don’t knit your life line in with your stitches.

I was super lucky this time and I did have enough yarn. I may have been able to knit ONE more row … but I was concerned that I wasn’t going to have enough for the one knit row and then a bind off row. So, my last row was a knit and bind off at the same time.

I’m really pleased with the end result … I can’t wait to wear it!

Gone knitting!

WIP(s) Queen Bee Style

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

I have a few projects on the needles. It’s just the way I roll … some days I don’t feel like thinking about knitting and so I need some “mindless” knitting. And some days I want to challenge myself and for those days I need something on the needles to stretch my brain. Some projects have to be portable. Some need a bag of their own (and I have a good collection!)

I am working on a Dr. Who scarf that I hope to have finished in February … it’s quite boring as knitting goes. Garter stitch all the way. I’m weaving in the ends as I go so I don’t have to do that later. I started out thinking I was smarter than the average bear and decided to add one row to each color/stripe so there would be no “wrong” side. I didn’t like it so I have stopped that. Hope it’ll be loved even though I didn’t frog the whole thing from the point where I changed my mind. The colors are not exact but I decided to use Paton’s Classic Wool which I could get in my knitting bag in a day … lots of yarn and it requires a bag of it’s own! 😉

Dr. Who Scarf WIP#1

I have a Valentine’s day project that I’ve started. Some left-over red cotton and my beautiful new red Signature needles and that’s all it took to get me going. Needles were a wonderful Christmas gift from my number one son! Dish cloths are perfectly portable! I love to pitch a project in my plastic zip-locks for my purse! (alliteration!)

Valentine’s WIP#2

Plugging along on my Downton Abbey Mystery KAL with Jimmy Beans Wool. I love the yarn that I chose (Malabrigo Silky Merino #856 Azules) as an alternate to the Lorna’s Laces which would have been here way too late to begin the KAL. I also love the color way. We know that final project will be a shawl and that’s all … that’s why it’s called a “Mystery” KAL (knit-a-long). I still have one week of work to do to catch up before tomorrow’s episode. Check out the JBW blog … it will be a written pattern at the end of it all. This is a pay attention pattern. Except for the garter stitch sections, I have to concentrate – not to be knitted while chatting!

Downton Abbey KAL WIP#3

I’ve got the big (boring, stockinette stitch) panels done for my “Just So Bag” tote. I just have the lace “ends” left to finish. I must confess, that I have frogged these ends more than once because I didn’t keep track of where I stopped. Not a wise choice when you’re knitting a lace pattern. Even when the lace is being knitted in a heavier weight yarn (Lambs Pride Worsted in charcoal grey). I have a wonderful collection of Interweave Knits magazines that I can’t bear to part with … so it was a free pattern for me. This pattern needs to be knitted in my atelier. No talking. No TV. Lots of counting. Since my super quiet time is somewhat limited, I haven’t even cast on this project (again) yet.

WIP #4 Lace Panels (two) not on the needles yet!

My sister-in-law and brother sent me a wonderful Zauberball (Color1564, 100g) sock yarn ball for Christmas and I love knitting socks. I am on a mission (sort of) to knit a whole drawer full of socks and this pair will add to it, I’m sure. They’re super portable which is what I love about knitting socks. I had thought to do a cuff-down pair but I think I’ll do two-at-a-time from the toe up just for kicks! That means I have to split the ball (or I’ll have a mess!) I’ll let you know what I decide.

Zauberball Socks WIP #5

Last, but not least, I have some odds and ends of worsted weight yarns that I have been knitting into tiny trees (with wine cork “trunks”). Patterns are Pint Sized Pines by Julie Tarsha. This is a free download on Ravelry … mine aren’t as colorful (yet) but I do love them! Just so happens that I have saved a few corks … this is a great quick knitting project and they’re so cute. Plan is to add some beads, etc. to some of the trees making them look like Christmas Trees.

Tiny Trees WIP #6

There you have it! All of my WIPs and my reason (excuse?) for having so many on the needles at one time. I have enough yarn for three sweaters in my stash that I want to start next … and I’m trying to hold off from casting on until I have finished at least the February deadline projects. Must get going!

Gone knitting!

Queen Bee’s Striped iPad Envelope

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

Somebody loves me! I got an iPad for Christmas! Isn’t she beautiful!?

I love my snazzy new iPad. When I’ve taken it to work in my purse or knitting bag, I have worried about scratching the silver back of the thing. So, as any reasonable person would do, I decided to whip up a little envelope to put it in.

Finished iPad Envelope

Into my Odds and Ends stash I went and found some Paton’s Classic Wool that I had in two shades of grey, and acid green and one cream that’s Plymouth Yarn, Galway Worsted. My iPad measures about 9.5 x 7.5 inches and I have the Apple screen cover … I knew I didn’t want to fight to put the device into the envelope every time so I wanted it to be a little bit bigger than that. (And don’t forget when you’re designing something, that you have to take into consideration the depth of the device.)

Left-overs from previous projects … the starting point!

Looking at my yarn ball band (20 stitches=4 inches) and knowing that I knit pretty close to gauge, I cast on 80 stitches on my US 7 16-inch circular needles.

You can use as many or as few colors as you like. I used four colors. If my scraps were smaller, I’d have used more (and I may make one to give away!) Click on the link to download the pattern!

The Queen Bee’s iPad Envelope

I do have a few suggestions that will make your knitting simpler and may also make you happier with the process and the finishing!

1) You can carry the dark grey yarn up the piece because you’re going to use it every three rows. This saves you a bunch of ends to knit as you go or weave in. You can carry yarn when you have three or fewer rows before you’re going to use the color again. But there will be two ends for every other color change so …

2) Weave in your ends as you go. If, when you add a new yarn, you carry the ends of the yarns for a few stitches, you won’t have a bunch of ends to weave in. I’ve written about this in my blog click here! This makes knitting strips SO much more pleasant when you get to the end of your project. Promise!

3) If you are a “type A” and you like your knitted projects to be “perfect”, you’re not going to be pleased with the way the piece looks unless you work a “jog-less join”. It’s an added task to remember when you’re changing colors, but if you think of knitting in the round as creating a spiral rather than row upon row of knitting, you’re never going to have everything line up perfectly when you’re knitting stripes. I’ve blogged about the “jog-less join” before so check it out before you start. I didn’t worry about it and this is what my edge looks like … could you live with this? If so, don’t worry about the jog-less join. If not, give it a shot!

Without Jog-less joins! Not perfect but I’m OK with that (this time!)

So, there you have it! Another knitting adventure with the Queen Bee.

I hope you enjoy this first free pattern! It’s widely known in the knitting community that free patterns are to be used for your own personal knitting and not for your commercial benefit … please don’t sell items made from this pattern. Contact me if you would like permission to use the pattern for anything other than personal use. Thanks.

Gone knitting!

Holiday Knitting

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Queen Bee Knits

Knitting Project #1

I’ve had this yarn in my stash for years. Yes, years! I bought it at the Fiber Frolic from Oasis Bunny Farm … it’s angora yarn. I wanted to make something for my college roommate. And I thought it was so soft and neutral … I’ve just had a challenge finding something that I really love as I get knitting. This is the third or fourth time that I’ve started a project with this yarn and I hope this one will finally be one that I love.

Noro Nadeshiko

The second project, one that wasn’t necessarily planned, is my slouchy beanie. The pattern was one that my knitting girls in Maine had been knitting – with chunky yarn so it was a quick knit – and I had no hat and it was 16 degrees! So I picked out a skein of Noro Nadeshiko (color way 29A) and the pattern Relaxed Beret by Denice Sharp and off I went.

Bermuda Shawl

I also finished my second iteration of the Bermuda Shawl with my Noro Silk Garden Sock. I have to hunt for the yarn label and update my Ravelry projects. For some reason, I didn’t write it down. Oops! I love the shawl and have worn it as a scarf for the whole trip! It’s light enough that I can wear it in Florida and adds warmth in Maine. This is a wonderful pattern and one that I highly recommend for someone who wants to learn about short rows! It’s quite a wonderful exercise in short rows (which I love!) I’ll add more pictures soon.

(Queen Bee’s Note: I’ve “frogged” the angora scarf. Yet again! Just wasn’t feeling the love for the pattern that I was knitting. I’ll try again … maybe something in a nice herringbone?)

Gone Knitting!

Ho-Ho-Holiday Knitting

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

I’ve had a few knitting projects that I have nearly completed for Christmas giving. I would like to add one more to the bunch, but I am sane enough to know it just won’t be happening. I will make it for a birthday gift in 2014!

What have I knitted, you ask?

For my mom’s cousin, Rita, I made a really pretty blue feather and fan scarf. I’ve been wanting to make something for Rita since I saw a woman on the subway last winter (or the winter before). She was an older lady, like Rita, and she was all bundled up in what could have been hand-knit hat and scarf. I imagine that living in New York when you’re older is not easy and I just wanted to remind Rita that I love her and think of her often.

Rita Scarf

I work closely with several wonderful people every day at school. So, of course, I wanted to do something for them for Christmas … there are about ten of them … and, of course, I decided to knit them dishcloths. Red. With “Woody” paw prints. I still have one or two to go but I’m getting there. I just have to make the handmade soaps to go along with them. It won’t take too long but I have to heat up the kitchen to do it – which, when the temperatures are at near-record-breaking highs, isn’t very attractive.

Monk models Willow’s snood

I made a snood for my Chicago grand-dog, Willow. My Monk is the model here. I hope it’ll keep her ears super warm on those cold, windy Chicago winter days. My daughter asked for gray and I added some bright green for color. I’m happy with it!

I was raised with little emphasis on handmade gifts. They simply weren’t valued. I’ve come to believe that they are more valuable than anything that I could buy. My time and talents are well spent knitting for my friends and family for their gifts. I hope they know that there is love in every stitch. I wouldn’t be knitting for people that I don’t care about! 🙂

Happy Holidays! Happy knitting!

Gone knitting.