Splash into Summer Giveaway $25.00 Gift Card May 25-31st

Thank you to I am a Reader, Not a Writer, and Page Turners for hosting this great Blog Hop!!

I am giving away a $25.00 gift card from your choice of Amazon or book Depository!! To enter, please fill out the form below. Your information will be kept privately. The winner will be drawn randomly and I will email the winner on June 1, 2011 and post the winners first name or Alias here on this blog. Thank you for participating and Good Luck!!
Each item in the form below is for 1 entry in the contest!!!!






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More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson



Here is Joelle Hoverson's newest book, and like her others, it is just wonderful!!  Don't you just love the cute hat on the cover?  Well, along with that easy to knit pattern there are a lot more worth mentioning.  There is a pattern for soft baskets that would be great for sewing stuff, cute baby socks, A big lace Scarf, Sideways Fingerless Gloves, Cozy Coasters, and Family Hats.  Here are a few photo's from the book:

Baby Socks

Size 0-6 (6-9, 9-12) months

Finished measurements 3 3/4 (4 1/4, 4 1/2)"foot length from back of heel, 3 3/4" foot circumference

Yarn:  Jade Sapphire Zageo 6 ply cashmere, 1 hank 150 yds/55grams or 90 yards of DK yarn, or light worsted

Needles:  one set of 4 double pointed needles (dpn) size US 4(3.5mm)

Change needle size if needed for guage

Gauge:  13 sts and 16 rnds =2" in stockinette stitch

Notions:  Stitch markers

Leg

CO 24 sts.  Divide sts among 3 needles (6-6-12).  Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist sts,  place marker (pm) for beginning of rnd.  Begin ST st (knit every round); work even until it measures 2(2 1/4, 2 1/2)"from beginning, unrolled.

Heel Flap

Set Up Row (WS):  Turn, p12.  Leave remaining 12 sts on 2 needles for instep.  

Row 1(RS):  Working only on 12 Heel Flap sts, *slip 1, k1; repeat from * to end.

Row2:  Slip 1, purl to end.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 five times.

Turn Heel

Set Up row 1:K6, ssk, k1, turn

Set Up Row 2:  Slip 1, p1, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 1:  Slip 1, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk (the 2sts on either side of gap), k1, turn.

Row 2:  Slip 1, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog(the 2sts on either side of gap), p1, turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 once, omitting final k1 and p1 sts in second repeat of Rows 1 and 2-6 sts remain.

Gusset

Note: When picking up sts, pick up both legs of each st picked up; this will minimize the gap.

Next Rnd:  Needle 1:  Knit across Heel Flap sts, pick up and knit 6 sts along left side of Heel Flap:  Needle 2: knit 12 sts for instep onto 1 needle.  Needle 3:  Pick up and knit 6 sts along side of heel flap, k3 from needle 1: pm for beginning of rnd 30 sts(9-12-9).

Decrease Rnd:  Needle 1:  Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1: Needle 2:  Knit, Needle 3:  Repeat decrease rnd every other and twice-24 sts remain (6-12-6)

Foot

Work even until Foot measures 3(3 1/2, 3 3/4)" from back of heel.

Toe

Decrease Rnd:  Needle 1:  knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.  Needle 2:  k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.  Needle 3:  k1. ssk, knit to end-20sts remain, knit 1rnd

Repeat Decrease Rnd every other rnd twice-12sts remain (3-6-3), knit sts from needle 1 onto needle 3.

Finishing

Break yarn, leaving tail.  Using kitchener st, graft toe sts.  Block if desired.

Spring Carnival Blog Hop Winners!

Congratulations to Michelle and ArtsyBooksGirl.  You both won $15.00 gift cards.  Thanks to everyone for participating.  This was my first and I had a wonderful time I will be participating in the Slash into Summer Hop at the end of the month and will give away a $25.00 gift card, so please come back soon.
Thank you all for all of the wonderful comments.  I wish I could have given everyone a prize!  I could not figure out how to get the number generator to post, but the number was 42 for the comments, and I drew the follower name myself.

Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

Hello everyone!  I have been in a knitting mood lately, so I pulled out one of my favorite books.  I also ordered the second book, More Last Minute Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. Joelle is the owner of Purl Soho in New York City.  You can also visit her at http://www.purlsoho.com This is a fabulous place for shopping for knitting supplies, quilting supplies and whole lot of great stuff.  I love Joelle's Designs.  I also have her last Minute Patchwork Quilted Gifts book which I will also review here.  This book is the first one I bought by her and after going through it, I had to have the other ones.  My daughter is starting to talk about having a baby, so I have to start knitting.  I am excited at the prospect of being a (cringing at the word), Grandma.  I think we will have to come up with another name for me. The book is divided up into the time it will take to finish the items.  The time ranges from less than two hours to more than eight hours. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy a peek  through this great book!

Here is a look at a few of the great gifts to knit included in this book:

Adorable Angora Booties that take less than two hours

Two to Four Hour Hand/Wrist Warmers

Eight Hour + Hour Glass Sweater

And this two to Four Hour Baby Bonnet

Since I am in the Baby mood, I think I will try this pattern as soon as I can round up the yarn.  Also, I will share this pattern with you to give you a little sample of these easy, fast to knit patterns.

Finished size:  To fit head circumference up to 17 1 2 " (44.5 cm), about 6-24 months

Finished measurements
With bonnet lying flat, 6 1/2" (16.5cm) high from lower edge to top of crown, and 6 1/2" (16.5 cm) deep from lower edge to top of crown, and 6 1/2" (16.5cm) deep from front Icord trim to back fold

Yarn
Rowan kid classic (70% lambswool, 26% kid mohair, 4% nylon, 151 yards (140 meters/ 50 grams:  #817 bear brown and 842 peach sorbet pink, 1 skein each

Needles
One set straight needles size us 8 (5mm), One set straight needles size us 10 (6mm), two double pointed needles size us 9 (5.5mm) for icord edging, Change needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions
Yarn needle, scissors, stitch holder

Guage
21 sts and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Pattern
The bonnet begins at the front opening.  With MC and size us 10 needles, using cable cast on method.  Cast on 62 sts.  Change to size us 8 needles and establish Stockinette pattern with garter st selvedge as follows:
Row 1: (RS) Knit
Row 2: (WS) K1, purl to last st, end k1.
Row 3-10: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 four more times.
Row 11: k1, sl (slip) 1 st as ifto purl, k1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1--60sts.
Row 12: k1, purl to last st, end k1.
Row 13 -20: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 four more times.
Rows 21-30:  Repeat Rows 11-20 once more__58sts after completing Row 21.
Row 37: BO 19 sts, knit to end--37sts.
Row 38:  BO 19 sts, pirl to last st and k1--18 sts.
Row 39-60:  For the back flap, repeat Rows 1 and 2 eleven time total-piece measures about 8 1/2" (21.5cm) from beginning to top of the 18 st back flap.
Place sts on a holder.
With yarn threaded on yarn needle, sew the bound off edge to the back flap selvedge at each side, beginning at the inner corner of the L-notch formed by the bind off.
Bottom Edging
With MC and RS facing, using size us 8 needles, pick up 80 sts along bottom neck opening of bonnet, as follows, pick up and knit 31 sts along selvedge to holder, knit across 18 sts on holder, pick up and knit 31 sts to end.  Work in garter stitch for 6 rows (3 garter ridges), BO all sts loosely.

Here is a side view of the hat!

Knit on i cord Tie
With CC and a single dpn, CO 3 sts.  CO 3 sts.  Work I cord as follows, using 2 double pointed needles.
All rows.  Slide sts to opposite end of needle, bring working yarn around behind needle, end k3.  Do not turn work.  Keep the same side facing you at all times, and pull the working yarn firmly, around behind the sts on the needle to form a knitted tube.  Work in this manner until i cord measures 8" (20.5cm).  Work joined icord along the front opening edge of bonnet as follows.
All Rows:  Slide the sts to opposite end of needle, and bring working yarn around behind needle as before.  K2, sl the 3rd, st to right hand needle as if to purl with yarn in back.  With RS of bonnet facing, use the top of the left hand needle to pick up 1 loop from the front edge of hat along cast on edge.  knit the picked up loop from the left hand needle, then pass the slipped edge.  Knit the picked up loop from the left hand needle, then pass the slipped st over -3sts on right hand needle.
Repeat this row for every st around the front opening edge of the bonnet, then work plain, unjoined i cord for 8" (20.5cm) for  other tie4.  Bind off all sts.

Finishing:
Weave in ends.

This is just a small sample of the patterns in this book, there are a lot more wonderful ones included but,  just couldn't list them all.

Photo's by Anna Williams
Pattern by Joelle Hoverson

I have tried very hard to not make any mistakes in this pattern, but if you find one, please let me know at lalas@cableone.net

Enjoy!