Nifty Knitting

(size small featured in above picture)

Skill Level: intermediate
Stitches used: cast on, bind off, knit, purl, sssk, k3t
Abbreviations: slip slip slip knit (sssk), knit three together (k3t), knit (k), purl (p)
Measures: 8” (9”, 10”) long, women’ sizes small (medium,  large)
Gauge: in k1, p1 ribbing, 6 stitches untstretched (3 sts fully stretched) and 5 rows = 1”

-Materials-

• 1 skein Red Heart Soft Yarn Solid, grass green – 256 yds (100% acrylic)
• size 8 knitting needles
• yarn needle

-Pattern- (make 2)

1. Cast on 15 ( 17, 19) stitches, *p1, k1,* till there is one stitch left, p1. (right side)
2. *K1, p1,* till there is one stitch left, k1. (wrong side)
3. Continue in set ribbing pattern till piece measures 8” (9”, 10”). (ending on a wrong side row)
4. At beginning of row, cast on 27 (31, 35) stitches, *k1, p1,* to end. [42 (48, 54) stitches]
5. At beginning of row, cast on 27 (31, 35) stitches, *p1, k1,* till 1 stitch left, p1. [69 (79, 89) stitches]
6. *K1, p1,* till there is one stitch left, k1. (right side)
7. *P1, k1,* till there is one stitch left, p1. (wrong side)
8. Repeat numbers six and seven 4 (5, 6) times. (ending on a wrong side row)
9. *K1, p1,* for 28 (32, 36) stitches, sssk, work ribbing for 7 (9, 11) stitches,  k3t, *p1, k1,* to end. [65 (75, 85) stitches] (right side)
10. *P1, k1,* till there is one stitch left, p1. (wrong side)
11. *K1, p1,* for 28 (32, 36) stitches, sssk, work ribbing for 3 (5, 7) stitches, k3t, *p1, k1* to end. [61 (71, 81) stitches]
12. Repeat number 10.
13. Bind off in ribbing stitch.

• Sew slippers according to the diagram and additional pictures below. (click on pictures to enlarge) Reverse sewing for the opposite slipper.

1. Sew G to D.
2. Sew A over G & D.
3. Sew B to C.
4. Sew F to E.

This simple pattern comes in sizes preemie, newborn, and baby. It also includes adjustments for 3 different gauges making it a perfect pattern for knitting charity projects with leftover  stash yarn.   (The picture above shows the hats using the 5 stitch gauge)

Skill Level: easy
Stitches used: cast on, knit, k2t, k3t, bind off
Abbreviations: knit (k), knit two together (k2t), knit three together,
Measures: sizes preemie, (newborn, baby)
hat: approximately  11” (12”, 13”) circumference and 4” (5’, 6”) length
booties:  approximately 2″ (3″, 4″) wide
Notes: the adjustments for each size will be listed in parenthesis in this order, preemie (newborn, baby)

-Materials-

• knitting needle size of your choice
• yarn of your choice
• yarn needle
• stitch markers

-Hat-
Work a swatch first to determine what gauge you are knitting in. Listed below are the numbers of stitches you need to cast on for your gauge.

• For 3 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 32 (36, 40) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 44 (48, 52) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 54 (60, 66) stitches, continue with pattern.

1. Place marker and join in round, work 1” of edging in stitch of your choice. (such as garter stitch, ribbing, seed stitch…)
2. Knit for 2” (3”, 4”).

• For 3 stitches per inch gauge: *k2, k2t* to end of row. Knit 1 row. *K1, k2t* to end of row. Knit 1 row. K2t to end of row. Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.
• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: *k2, k2t* to end. Knit 2 rows. *K1, k2t* to end. Knit 2 rows. K2t to end. Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: *k4, k2t* to end. Knit 1 row. *K3, k2t*, to end. Knit 1 row. *K2, k2t*, to end. Knit 1 row. *K1, k2t*, to end. Knit 1 row.  K2t to end. Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Fasten off and weave in ends.

-Booties- (make 2)
Work a swatch first to determine what gauge you are knitting in. Listed below are the numbers of stitches you need to cast on for your gauge.

• For 3 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 16 (20, 24) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 22 (26, 30) stitches, continue with pattern.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: cast on 26 (32, 38) stitches, continue with pattern.

1. Place marker at begging of row and join in round, knit half of the stitches , place marker, and knit to end.
2. Knit till bootie measures 1” (1 1/2”, 2”)
3. Knit to 3 stitches before middle marker, k3t, k3t, knit to end.
4. Knit 1 row.
5. Knit to 2 stitches before middle marker, k2t, k2t, knit to end.

• For 4 stitches per inch gauge: knit 1 row. Repeat  number 5.
• For 5 stitches per inch gauge: knit 1 row. Repeat number 3.

6. Knit till bootie measures 2” (2 1/2”, 3”).
7. Work 1” of edging stitch of your choice. (such as garter stitch, ribbing, seed stitch…)
8. Bind off. Sew bottom of bootie together, pull tightly and secure. Weave in ends.



Skill Level: intermediate
Stitches used: cast on, knit, k2t, picking up stitches, bind off,
Abbreviations: knit (k), knit two together (k2t)
Measures: Preemie, 11” circumference and 5” length
Gauge: 20 stitches and 24 rows = 4” by 4”

-Materials-

• size 6 double pointed needles
• size 4 straight needles
• Caron Simply Soft Brights, watermelon – 315 yds (100% acrylic)
• Caron Simply Soft Bright, mango – 315 yds (100% acrylic)
• yarn needle
• stitch markers
• 1 1/4” diameter button (optional)

-Hat-

1. With size 4 needles and mango, cast on 8 stitches.
2. Knit till piece measures 11 3/4” (54 ridges).
3. Bind off, sew cast on and bind off edges together.
4. With size 6 needles and watermelon, pick up a stitch at every ridge, place marker at beginning of row.  (54 stitches)
5. Knit for 2 1/2”.
6. *K4, k2t* repeat within *-* to end. (45 stitches)
7. Knit 1 row.
8. *K3, k2t* repeat within *-* to end. (36 stitches)
9. Knit 1 row.
10. *K2, k2t*, repeat within *-* to end. (27 stitches)
11. Knit 1 row.
12. *K1, k2t*, repeat within *-* to end. (18 stitches)
13. Knit 1 row.
14. K2t to end, cut yarn and pull through the remaining 9 stitches. fasten off and weave in ends.

-Finishing- (optional)

• With mango, embroider a flower on the hat. Sew the button in the center.

-Tube Socks- (make 2)

1. With size 4 needles and mango, cast on 8 stitches.
2. Knit till piece measures 3 1/3” (16 ridges).
3. Bind off, sew cast on and bind off edges together.
4. With size 6 needles and watermelon, pick up a stitch at every ridge, place marker at beginning of row. (16 stitches)
5. Knit for 3”.
6. *K2, k2t*, repeat within *-* to end. (12 stitches)
7. Knit 1 row.
8. *K1, k2t*, repeat within *-* to end. (8 stitches)
9. K2t to end, cut yarn and pull through remaining 4 stitches, fasten off and weave in ends.



Skill Level: intermediate
Stitches Used: cast on, knit, purl, decrease, yarn overs, chain stitch
Abbreviations: knit (k), purl (p), knit two together (k2t), yarn over (yo)
Measures: size newborn, 5” circumference and 5” length
Gauge: with size 8 needles, 16 stitches and 20 rows  = 4” by 4”
Notes: when switching colors every other stitch, carry the yarn along on the wrong side.

-Materials-

• 1 skein Caron Simply Soft, soft pink – 315 yds (100% acrylic)
• 1 skein Caron Simply Soft, chocolate  - 315 yds (100% acrylic)
• 1 set of size 6 double pointed needles (for ribbing)
• 1 set of size 8 double pointed needles
• size F crochet hook
• yarn needle

-Pattern-  (make 2)

1. With size 6 needles and pink yarn, loosely cast on 24 stitches, divide onto 3 needles
2. Place marker, join in round, work k1, p1, ribbing for 2 1/4”. (12 rows)
3. K1, *yo, k2t* repeat within *-* till 1 stitch is left, p1.
4. Knit 1 row.
5. Change to size 8 needles, *with pink k1, with brown k1* repeat within *-* to end.
6. *With brown k1, with pink k1*, repeat within *-* to end.
7. Repeat numbers 5 and 6 for a total of 10 rows.
8. Change to brown, knit 1 row.
9. *K1, k2t*, repeat within *-* to end. (16 stitches)
10. Knit 1 row.
11. K2t, to end. (8 stitches)
12. Cut yarn and pull through the remaining stitches, fasten off, weave in ends.

-Finishing-

• With the crochet hook and brown yarn, working in chain stitch, make two 12” ties. Weave the ties threw the yarn overs in the mittens.  Make 4 small pom poms and attach one to each end of the ties, and fasten into a bow.

Skill level: easy
Stitches Used: cast on, bind off, knit, I-cord
Abbreviations: knit (k)
Measures: before felting: 11″ wide, 6″ long, after felting: 10″ wide and 4″ long
Gauge: in garter stitch, 11 stitches = 4″
Notes: The gauge swatch will have to be unwound in order to knit to the case with 100 yards.

-Materials-

• 100 yards 100% wool super bulky weight yarn
• size 11 knitting needles
• 1 1/4″ button
• yarn needle

-Pattern-
1. Cast on 30 stitches.
2. Knit till piece measures 4 1/2″.
3. Cast on 23, knit to end.
4. Repeat number 3.
5. Knit 8 rows.
6. Bind off 13, knit to end.
7. Repeat number 6.
8. Knit till piece measures 10 1/2″.
9. Bind off 11, knit 3, (4 stitches on right hand needle), bind off to end, fast off.
10. Join yarn to the remaining 4 stitches, work I-cord for 10 rows.
11. Bind off.
12. Sew I-cord to make a loop.
13. Sew the sides of the purse.

-Felting-

• set washing machine on smallest load and hottest water. Place the purse in a pillow case and tie closed. Agitate in washing machine till desired size (see measurements for specific sizes). Rinse in cold water. Block out excess water with a towel. Shape the case and let dry. (you can stuff the case with plastic bags to shape it)