Machine Knitting

A friend of min had some Lion Brand Mandala she no longer wanted. She gave it to me and I decided to turn it into hats. This is what it looked like on the machine before I started the decreases for the top of the hat. 

This photo, and the next, are more for me than you. Tension can be a tricky thing for a machine knitter. This is my tension setting on the yarn mast. I almost never change it. I just set it there and leave it alone. 

What I do change, is the stitch length selector. This gives me a big change when forming stitches. This is the setting I use for the body of the hat. I use a slightly smaller setting (4) for the brim. 

Here is an adult hat next to one of the baby hats I've been making. I think these came out great! I'll have to make a stack. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder4

Machine Knitting

Last week I did some machine knitting. I knit up baby hats in yellow. 

I knit up hats in gray. I knit them up in gray and yellow. 

I used up the last of my baby yarn on these nine hats. Such a great little project.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Charity Knitting

I set up my knitting machine this week and managed to make three little newborn hats. These are quick little projects. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Machine Knitting: LK150

Look what I bought!

After borrowing my friend's LK150 knitting machine I decided to buy my own. 

This machine is really a great way to get into machine knitting. This is what it comes with. Machine and carriage, row counter, yarn mast, comb weights, and more. Everything you need to get started. 

Stitch transfer tools, spare needles, claw weights, ravel cord, latching tool, clamps, machine oil. 

I added in some clamps and more claw weights. Now, I'm ready to get back to knitting tiny hats. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Heavy Duty Metal Spring Clamps 10 Pieces

Fleece Sewing

A friend of mine has one of those really big skeletons from Halloween. He wants to dress the big one up as a skeletal Santa and the little ones up as elves. He asked if I could make them some hats. I said sure. This is the stack of fabrics I pulled that met the red, green, black, and white requirements. 

Step two was to measure the skull circumference of one of the small skeletons. We have one sitting around so that was an easy step. Then I found a free pattern, and tutorial for a Santa hat at Fleece Fun. 

I made one to test my sizing. Just a little loose. Time to make the hat for the big guy. 

I supersized the pattern from Fleece Fun based on the measurements my friend sent me. 

I made the ball for the end of the pointy hat. 

And sewed it up into a huge hat. 

This is how big it is. Big enough to cover the shoulders of my dress form. 

Then I cut and sewed six elf hats. 

Aren't these delightful!

This was a great project. I can't wait to see the pictures of the skeletons and their hats.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Machine Knitting

More charity baby hats!

Hats are quick projects that can make you feel like you've done something great. 

I had ten to drop off with Annapolis Quilts for Kids last Saturday. This is the machine I borrowed from a friend. I like machine knitting enough I've decided to buy my own LK 150 so I can keep making these charity hats. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Machine Knitting

Last week end I pulled out the LK150 and knit up some more baby hats for charity. 

These little hats work up quickly, with the knitting taking about 30 minutes for each hat. I then spend another 10-15 minutes seaming them. These will be headed to Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Machine Knitting

Sometimes things don't go as planned. I was nearing the cast off of this machine knit hat and managed to drop all the stitches. That just means I got to knit it again. It wasn't the right size anyway. 

I cast on again and managed to finish the hat. I'm still trying to figure out the perfect tension and stitch counts to reliably make a beanie appropriate for my noggin. I'm hoping to figure it out so I can make some more charity hats. I should use my Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns to get it sorted out. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns

Machine Knitting

I came across a video on YouTube that explained how to make a simple beanie on the LK150. Since I'm in the learning stages with the flat bed knitting machine I thought it would be a great way to learn some new tricks, or apply what I know to a practical project. 

I used almost all of the weights for this one. The crown decreases are made manually so it is a little slow going. Still faster than my hand knitting. 

When it came off the machine I knew it was going to be too large for my little melon. 

I finished it by hand and I am so happy with the result. 

Here is an inside view of that seam. I was pleasantly surprised by how neatly this finished even on the inside. It is nearly invisible on the outside.

Overall this was a great project and I'm sure there will be more beanies in my future. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns

Split Decision Finish

Finished my Split Decision Hat by Shanalines Designs (Ravelry link). I shared about this project a few weeks ago in this post from February 4th. 

This was a fun pattern with a different construction technique that was fun to learn. 

I'm sure I will make another. Maybe with more of a marled effect. I'll let you know how it works out. 

Yarn includes leftover sock yarn from Knit Picks, Uneek Sock, and Into the Whirled. 

Tools and supplies (Amazon affiliate links):

Needles: Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set - US 4-11 (Sunstruck)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg  

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Large eye needles 

Clover Yarn Threader
Clear travel bag

24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (to hold all those little markers, needles, and so on)

Warm Knitting

I started a new hand knit project this week. It isn't much to look at now but it will become a delightful hat. This is the Split Decision Hat by Shanalines Designs (Ravelry link). I picked it up a while back and hadn't tried it yet. I saw one of their designs on Instagram and decided it was time to get knitting. I like designs that have unconventional construction techniques and this is one of those designs. I'm sure it will look more like a hat when you see it next. 

Yarn includes leftover sock yarn from Knit Picks, Uneek Sock, and Into the Whirled. 

Tools and supplies (Amazon affiliate links):

Needles: Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set - US 4-11 (Sunstruck)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg  

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Large eye needles 

Clover Yarn Threader
Clear travel bag

24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (to hold all those little markers, needles, and so on)

Welcome to 2022

I want to start off the new year with a review of what I did in 2021. 

I quilted a total of 76 charity quilts in 2021. That exceeded my personal goal of 52 in a calendar year. This scrappy quilt is just one.

I made so many pairs of socks. These are likely my favorite because I made them using leftovers of Thick Sock from Knitterly Things. And, they are for me. Now that winter has arrived in the northern hemisphere I get to wear my wool socks every day and that's just wonderful!

I bought so much yarn! I need to go on a fiber diet! 

I made more masks. I'm sure I'll end up making more this year, too. 

I made 100 quilt blocks along with hundreds of other quilters. It was my introduction to Gnome Angel and the Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler. 

I knit and crocheted a stack of hats for Knots of Love. 

I used my embroidery machine to make vaccine card holders for my friends. The (no longer available) design is from Off With Their Threads. 

I bought a pair of roller skates and got rolling. I hadn't been on skates in several decades so safety gear was a must. Wear your safety gear!

Then I bought another pair. I now have more skates than I need but I have so many options! Do something new this year! Learn to roller skate, learn to skateboard, get back on your bike. Get out and move!

The absolute best part was upgrading from the (Tin Lizzie) Empress long arm quilting machine on a 10-foot frame to this Innova, with Autopilot, on a 11-foot frame. Quilting with this machine a real dream. I'm glad I found a great deal on it second-hand. 

Have you looked back on 2021 to see what you've accomplished and overcome? It wasn't all bad, I promise. I hope you stick around this year to see what other things I make. 

Knitting Rainbows

I finally finished my little poncho. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. Maybe after I mend in the ends and block it I will. 

Yarn is sport weight from Freia Fine Handpaint Yarns.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):

Needles: Knit Picks Options Wood Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set - US 4-11 (Sunstruck)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg  

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Large eye needles 

Clover Yarn Threader
Clear travel bag

24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (to hold all those little markers, needles, and so on)