End of the year knitting

Happy (almost) New Year!

I did some knitting for Christmas. There were a few items that I forgot to take photos of, but these are the few that I remembered:

These cloths are all free patterns from Knitting Knonsense. I would eventually love to do the entire alphabet... now doesn't that sound like a good resolution for the new year??? (I think that all of the colours together would make a beautiful baby blanket.)

Happy knitting!

How knitting connects the world

During my blogging experience I have come across other knitters who have emailed to let me know that they are enjoying my free designs. I am very happy to offer these designs to anyone who (obviously) will respect the copyright implied when downloading one of my patterns.

I have heard from a lot of knitters who have found their way to my blog from the Yahoo! groups that I belong to. One such knitter, Shirley, is all the way from South Africa - how exciting! Shirley has so generously sent me a photo of the garbage truck that she knit up:



I never would have thought of using white, but I love it!

Here is mine, in green:



I need some ideas for upcoming knitting designs. Anything that you'd like to see?

Happy knitting,

Val

Another freebie - Garbage truck

Here is my latest design. It has been written up and tested, and is now available for you to download! (Isn't that exciting?) Enjoy your knitting!

GARBAGE TRUCK

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)
Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles.

Cast on 48 stitches.
Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p42, k3
Row 7: k3, p42, k3
Row 9: k3, p8, k3, p3, k3, p13, k3, p9, k3
Row 11: k3, p7, (k2, p1) x 3, k2, p11, k2, p1, k2, p8, k3
Row 13: k3, p3, k3, (p1, k2) x 4, p1, k9, (p1, k2) x 2, p1, k4, p3, k3
Row 15: k3, p4, k3, p1, k3, p3, k3, p1, k11, p1, k3, p1, k4, p4, k3
Row 17: k3, p4, k4, p9, k13, p3, k5, p4, k3
Row 19: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 21: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 23: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 25: k3, p4, k24, p7, k2, p5, k3
Row 27: k3, p4, k24, p6, k2, p6, k3
Row 29: k3, p4, k24, p5, k2, p7, k3
Row 31: k3, p5, k18, p1, k4, p4, k2, p8, k3
Row 33: k3, p6, k17, p1, k9, p9, k3
Row 35: k3, p7, k16, p1, k8, p10, k3
Row 37: k3, p8, k16, p18, k3
Row 39: k3, p9, k20, p13, k3
Row 41: k3, p10, k19, p13, k3
Row 43: k3, p42, k3
Row 45: k3, p42, k3
Rows 46 to 49: Knit across.

Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.
http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com/

Note: To make this cloth square rather than rectangular, add a few more rows of k3, p42, k3 before and after beginning the design.

Photos here!

Correction to taxi pattern

I have finally had a chance to knit up the taxi pattern. To anyone that has already downloaded the pattern: there was an error in row 17. It has now been corrected.

Happy knitting,

Val

Get out your red Christmas yarn - Fire truck freebie!

This is my latest design. I have it written up but have yet to test it.


(Click on picture for larger graph.)

FIRE TRUCK Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)
Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles.

Cast on 48 stitches.

Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p42, k3
Row 7: k3, p42, k3
Row 9: k3, p9, k3, p17, k3, p10, k3
Row 11: k3, p8, k2, p1, k2, p15, k2, p1, k2, p9, k3
Row 13: k3, p3, k4, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k13, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k5, p3, k3
Row 15: k3, p4, k4, p1, k3, p1, k15, p1, k3, p1, k6, p3, k3
Row 17: k3, p4, k5, p3, k17, p3, k7, p3, k3
Row 19: k3, p4, k35, p3, k3
Row 21: k3, p4, k35, p3, k3
Row 23: k3, p4, k35, p3, k3
Row 25: k3, p5, k2, p7, k4, p20, k1, p3, k3
Row 27: k3, p6, k2, p6, k6, (p1, k2) x 5, p1, k3, p3, k3
Row 29: k3, p7, k2, p5, k6, (p1, k2) x 5, p1, k3, p3, k3
Row 31: k3, p8, k2, p4, k1, p1, k2, p20, k1, p3, k3
Row 33: k3, p9, k6, p1, k23, p3, k3
Row 35: k3, p9, k6, p1, k23, p3, k3
Row 37: k3, p11, k2, p29, k3
Row 39: k3, p11, k2, p29, k3
Row 41: k3, p42, k3
Row 43: k3, p42, k3
Rows 44 to 47: Knit across.

Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.
http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com

If you have downloaded this pattern to knit or cross-stitch please leave a message. (And let me see a photo of your completed works!) Enjoy!

My newest freebie - a taxi!

(Left-click to get larger image.)

It has been a while since I've posted, but I have a new pattern written out and have decided to post it early. Please be forwarned - it has not been tested yet. Please let me know if anything needs to be corrected.

UPDATE (3 Dec 2007): I have now tested the pattern. There was an error found in row 17. The pattern, as listed below, is now believed to be correct. (Corrections to the pattern are listed in red.)


TAXI
Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)
Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles.

Cast on 42 stitches.
Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p36, k3
Row 7: k3, p36, k3
Row 9: k3, p7, k3, p17, k3, p6, k3
Row 11: k3, p6, k2, p1, k2, p15, k2, p1, k2, p5, k3
Row 13: k3, p6, k2, p1, k2, p1, k13, p1, k2, p1, k2, p5, k3
Row 15: k3, p4, k2, p1, k3, p1, k15, p1, k3, p1, k2, p3, k3
Row 17: k3, p3, k4, p3, k2, (p1, k1) x 3, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, (k3, p3) x 2, k3
Row 19: k3, p3, k9, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k9, p3, k3
Row 21: k3, p3, k9, (p1, k1) x 3, p2, k2, p3, k8, p3, k3
Row 23: k3, p4, k29, p4, k3
Row 25: k3, p9, k1, p6, k2, p7, k1, p10, k3
Row 27: k3, p10, k1, p5, k2, p6, k1, p11, k3
Row 29: k3, p11, k1, p4, k2, p5, k1, p12, k3
Row 31: k3, p12, k11, p13, k3
Row 33: k3, p17, k2, p17, k3
Row 35: k3, p17, k2, p17, k3
Row 37: k3, p36, k3
Row 39: k3, p36, k3
Rows 40 to 43: Knit across.
Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.
http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com/

Photo to come...

Another freebie for you - Van

Here is another freebie:




35 wide x 14 high; design by Val Campbell, copyright 2007

 

(If you download my charts, please leave a comment on my blog. :-)


VAN
Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)
Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles.
Model stitched in Bernat Handicrafter’s “Jute.”
Finished size: 8” wide by 5” long.

Cast on 47 stitches.

Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p41, k3
Row 7: k3, p41, k3
Row 9: k3, p9, k3, p17, k3, p9, k3
Row 11: k3, p8, k2, p1, k2, p15, k2, p1, k2, p8, k3
Row 13: k3, p3, k4, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k13, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k4, p3, k3
Row 15: k3, p4, k4, p1, k3, p1, k15, p1, k3, p1, k4, p4, k3
Row 17: k3, p4, k5, p3, k17, p3, k5, p4, k3
Row 19: k3, p4, k33, p4, k3
Row 21: k3, p4, k33, p4, k3
Row 23: k3, p4, k33, p4, k3
Row 25: k3, p4, k22, p8, k2, p5, k3
Row 27: k3, p4, k22, p7, k2, p6, k3
Row 29: k3, p4, k22, p6, k2, p7, k3
Row 31: k3, p4, k22, p5, k2, p8, k3
Row 33: k3, p4, k28, p9, k3
Row 35: k3, p5, k26, p10, k3
Row 37: k3, p41, k3
Row 39: k3, p41, k3
Rows 40 to 43: Knit across.

Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.  Not to be kitted or sold.
http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com/

Happy knitting!

New freebie pattern! - TRUCK

I have finally finished knitting up my latest design:


Click here to get a larger graph.

Enjoy!

TRUCK
Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)
Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles.
Finished size: 9" x 6" long.

Cast on 48 stitches.

Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p42, k3
Row 7: k3, p42, k3
Row 9: k3, p10, k3, p17, k3, p9, k3
Row 11: k3, p9, k2, p1, k2, p15, k2, p1, k2, p8, k3
Row 13: k3, p3, k5, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k13, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k4, p3, k3
Row 15: k3, p4, k5, p1, k3, p1, k15, p1, k3, p1, k4, p4, k3
Row 17: k3, p4, k6, p3, k17, p3, k5, p4, k3
Row 19: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 21: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 23: k3, p4, k34, p4, k3
Row 25: k3, p4, k24, p7, k2, p5, k3
Row 27: k3, p4, k24, p6, k2, p6, k3
Row 29: k3, p4, k24, p5, k2, p7, k3
Row 31: k3, p4, k19, p1, k4, p4, k2, p8, k3
Row 33: k3, p4, k19, p1, k9, p9, k3
Row 35: k3, p4, k19, p1, k8, p10, k3
Row 37: k3, p4, k19, p19, k3
Row 39: k3, p4, k19, p19, k3
Row 41: k3, p4, k19, p19, k3
Row 43: k3, p42, k3
Row 45: k3, p42, k3
Rows 46 to 49: Knit across.

Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.
http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com/

Please send me photos if you stitch/knit it up!

More designs to come!

October is FINALLY over; New freebie coming

October was the most emotional month that I have ever experienced in my life. In October there were: two important milestone birthdays celebrated (both 5th birthdays), the death and funeral of my sister (which led to a reunion with my now-18-year-old nephew who I haven't seen since he was about 4), bullies (and their flaky parents) at the playground, and a slew of personal health problems. The stress on me has gone down now. I don't claim to be religious, but I thank God that October is now over.

I have finished writing the instructions for a new freebie which can be used for both cross-stitch and knitting. I will post it after I have it knitted up (which shouldn't take too long).

Happy stitching!

Learn about the poor and help to feed them, too

There are a few web sites that I've come across lately that I feel are highly worth mentioning:

http://www.3rdworldfarmer.com/ is a free simulation game in which you farm animals and/or crops that are subject to drought, theft, and other situations that can leave your family forced to find outside work or with no food, medicine, or a chance of having an education. A mere glimpse of what living in the "Third World" is like.

www.freerice.com is a site where you can play to increase your word power and also, for each correct answer, you earn rice to be given to the poor by advertisers to the site.

Canadian Association of Food Banks. Hunger is also a problem in your area. Next time you go shopping, please remember to buy a few extra items to give to the food bank on your way out of the store. :-)

Busy, busy

I have been busy lately (as the title suggests).

I'm currently working on a picture cloth of a Christmas Ornament from Harvest Moon Designs in Bernat's red Holiday Sparkle. I have mixed feelings about the yarn; although it is looking nice, it is difficult to work with because the metal thread separates easily from the yarn. To me, it is the same as the difficulty faced with cross-stitching with metallic thread.

I have finished Rachel van Schie's knitting freebie, "Quilted Hearts Dishcloth". I love how it looks in Ivory:

Since my last post I have also since knitted up a skull and crossbones design based on the simple chart from http://www.toysaregoodfood.com/. I did mine in just one colour (black) using just knit and purl stitches. It has proven a challenge to photograph, so I will post a pic when I'm satisfied with the results of my camera. It is a very small cloth - something like 3" x 5 1/2" - and cute, if you could say that about skull and crossbones...!

I also went nuts yesterday and have created a few more designs. I would like to cross-stitch and knit them up myself before posting them as freebies, but we'll see. Stay tuned.

More slipper photos; "love cloth" freebie

I finally got the batteries working in my camera!

These are the other two pairs of Two Needle Slippers that I knit:







Here is my latest knitted cloth:


I love it! This is called the "Love Cloth" and is another freebie from Rachel van Schie. (Thanks, Rachel!) This was done in Bernat Handicrafter "Hot Pink," although the colour shows as slightly lighter in the photo.

Why old ladies knit

Yesterday I pulled out my cross-stitch after taking a long hiatus from it because I was having carpal (LOL, not "carpool") problems and I was also learning to knit.

Lately things just seem to be getting smaller all around me. A cross-stitch chart that I've used before now seems miniscule in its detail! I've noticed that of late the scores of hockey games are impossible for me to see. I thought that maybe it's just that our TV is getting "old" and is incapable of getting HD. DH has also noticed the small-score phenomenon, and we are constantly asking each other if it's just us. Come on, we both wear glasses but I am still a few years away from turning forty!

Until I can make my way to make an enlargement of the cross-stitch pattern I will do as the old ladies do - knit. There is rarely a chart to follow, and my eyes can take their much-needed rest to focus on making out the hockey score.

I have pictures to post of my latest knitting, but those new-fangled rechargeable batteries for my camera have thrown me for a loop again.

Slippers galore!

Okay, it's been 3 weeks since I last posted. But - I DO have an excuse!

I found this free pattern for slippers and have been feverishly knitting away (along with reading for my book club - A Lesson Before Dying is very good!). It is a very simple pattern, and good for beginners because it only uses a pair of straight needles. Oh, and it did take me much more than the 1 hour that they suggested to knit each slipper - I did get faster, but nowhere near 1 hour!

Here's the second pair:

Is it just me, or do my feet look fat?! LOL! Maybe it was a little too close up? :-)

Does THIS look better?

So far I've knitted two pairs, and am finishing up my third pair. Okay, I'll be moving on to something a little different for the next little while...

Do you know who your neighbours are?

Ever hit the button above that says, "Next blog"? I have some interesting neighbours, to say the least! Some blogs are in different languages, and others contain interesting content... Click on the button above (after visiting with me, of course) and see what blogger.com has to offer to anyone who signs up for free. Very interesting! Now, if I could figure out how to go back to visit my neighbours on the other side of me...

I hope that if you are visiting my site for knitting patterns you have downloaded my free snowboarder instructions (see link to the right under "Val's Freebies"). If you do the design I would love to see your work! I have a few thoughts in mind for my next freebie offer. Let me know if there is something that you would like to see charted.




As for knitting, I've signed up for a few Yahoo! knitting groups. Several of them do a KAL (knit-along) that I've participated in. Here are a few. The Snoopy cloth was KAL #5 from Rachel's Knitting Room. I did it in Bernat's "Sage Green."










The whole idea of a KAL is that everyone who knits it doesn't know what it is until they are nearly done.

Hmmm... is it a tree? Okay, it's a BROWN tree!

Nope! Not even close! It's a.....

BIRTHDAY CAKE!

The "Birthday Cake" was MonthlyDishcloths' September KAL. Mine was done in Bernat's "Jute." I wish that I'd done it in any other colour than brown... It's chocolate, maybe? Hmmm...

Freebie for you - Sim's Snowboarder

This is my first knitting design! Can you tell what it is?

I designed it for my long-time friend, Simone, who absolutely loves snowboarding. (Shhh! It's a gift for her this Christmas!)

It was meant to be a dishcloth, but it turned out a bit larger. I knitted it up with 4mm needles in Bernat's "French Blue." Its dimensions are 9 1/2" wide by 12" long, unblocked. Enjoy!

SIM'S SNOWBOARDER Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell

Supplies: Cotton yarn and 4mm needles. Model stitched in “French Blue.”
Finished size: 9 ½” wide by 12” long.

Cast on 46 stitches.

Rows 1 to 3: Knit across.
Row 4 and all remaining even-numbered rows: knit across.
Row 5: k3, p40, k3
Row 7: k3, p5, k5, p30, k3
Row 9: k3, p6, k6, p28, k3
Row 11: k3, p8, k5, p27, k3
Row 13: k3, p8, k6, p26, k3
Row 15: k3, p10, k5, p25, k3
Row 17: k3, p11, k5, p24, k3
Row 19: k3, p13, k4, p23, k3
Row 21: k3, p14, k5, p21, k3
Row 23: k3, p14, k6, p20, k3
Row 25: k3, p13, k8, p19, k3
Row 27: k3, p13, k9, p18, k3
Row 29: k3, p13, k10, p17, k3
Row 31: k3, p13, k4, p2, k5, p16, k3
Row 33: k3, p12, k5, p3, k5, p15, k3
Row 35: k3, p12, k4, p6, k5, p13, k3
Row 37: k3, p11, k5, p7, k5, p12, k3
Row 39: k3, p11, k5, p8, k6, p10, k3
Row 41: k3, p11, k4, p10, k6, p9, k3
Row 43: k3, p10, k6, p10, k6, p8, k3
Row 45: k3, p10, k8, p7, k8, p7, k3
Row 47: k3, p10, k11, p3, k11, p5, k3
Row 49: k3, p11, k18, p1, k6, p4, k3
Row 51: k3, p13, k15, p4, k5, p3, k3
Row 53: k3, p13, k15, p5, k5, p2, k3
Row 55: k3, p14, k14, p6, k4, p2, k3
Row 57: k3, p3, k1, p10, k13, p8, k4, p1, k3
Row 59: k3, p2, k3, p10, k12, p9, k3, p1, k3
Row 61: k3, p2, k4, p9, k12, p8, k4, p1, k3
Row 63: k3, p2, k6, p6, k12, p6, k6, p2, k3
Row 65: k3, p3, k23, p1, k10, p3, k3
Row 67: k3, p4, k32, p4, k3
Row 69: k3, p6, k29, p5, k3
Row 71: k3, p7, k25, p8, k3
Row 73: k3, p12, k19, p9, k3
Row 75: k3, p13, k16, p11, k3
Row 77: k3, p15, k12, p13, k3
Row 79: k3, p15, k7, p18, k3
Row 81: k3, p15, k7, p18, k3
Row 83: k3, p15, k6, p19, k3
Row 85: k3, p16, k4, p20, k3
Row 87: k3, p40, k3
Rows 89 to 91: Knit across.
Bind off.

Copyright 2007 by Val Campbell.

More dishcloths!

This is the second cloth that I knitted. It was knitted in Bernat's 100% cotton handicrafter "Lemon Swirl."

The pattern for this is here. It is called a Simple Ridge Dishcloth.

There are so many free knitting patterns online! I decided to try a picture cloth, and this sailboat is my first attempt. I love it! The free pattern is from Knitting Knonsense and is available here. I don't know if you can see it, but there is a little heart on the sail. Great pattern, and a lot of fun too.

The dishcloths below are all free patterns from Knitted Kitty. (You will have to sign into Yahoo! Groups to get the free patterns.) These were all knit in Bernat's Handicrafter "Off-White." Very nice! (Thank you, Carol Callaway, for such great patterns!) I think that I like the seagull the best. Anyone have any tips on photographing knitting?

Val

September 15, 2007 - Happy first blog entry!

Hey! Who ever thought that I'd be writing a blog entry?

This blog is going to be a place for me to post photos of my knitting and cross-stitch projects. I taught myself to cross-stitch and have been doing it since November 1995. I only officially began knitting since taking a class in July 2007. Before then I could do the knit stitch, but that was it! Now I can actually do a few things more than just the knit stitch. ;-) I first started with knitting a dishcloth and I am now officially hooked.

This is my first knitted cloth (in Bernat's 100% handicrafter cotton, "Violet Veil Ombre"):

It ain't perfect, but who cares?



I also did the same pattern in Ivory (see photo, right). I think that I really prefer the solid colours to the variagated.


The pattern is called "Knit Eyelet Dishcloth." It can be freely downloaded from here.


My other interests include genealogy, reading, and collecting recipes. I also like to write my own book reviews so that I can remember what I've read. You can see what I have on these subjects on my web page.

Anyway, I plan on posting more photos and uploading some patterns that I've created myself. I LOVE finding free stuff online so I would like to offer up some freebies, too!

Have a great day!

Val