Tofu-Powered Crafting

Okay, so I know that I should wait to post this little gem… Seeing as it’s part of a swap that I have yet to send out… But the poor thing has already been sitting around for so long already, I just can’t restrain myself any longer!

Yes, it is a knitted block of tofu. Yes, it is smiling. And finally, yes, it is a pin cushion.

Another original pattern, I made this to take part in the Vegan / Veggie Swap going on at crafster.org. I’m so excited – This will be my first swap, and I almost have everything else ready to go. The deadline is still a while away, but I’ve been planning as though my life would come to a screeching halt should I be slightly late, so I’m not at all worried about making the cut off.

I’m actually more anxious about how my swap partner likes the stuff I’ll be sending her way than what I get in return. In fact, I don’t know what to hope for or expect… I don’t think I would even really mind getting flaked on, to be perfectly honest. As long as I got a positive response… I just want to be able to brighten this crafty vegan’s day.

…And no more sneak peeks before this thing goes out into the mail!

…Probably.

Pizza Party!

At long last, you can enjoy your very own slice of knit pizza!

Now, this is my very first pattern, so if there are any errors or confusing bits, please let me know and I’ll do my best to clarify. In addition, I would appreciate it greatly if you would only make these for yourself and your friends, without selling the finished product or pattern, seeing as it came from the vapid expanses of my own head. …So what are you waiting for, get knitting!

Crust

 

 

With US #7 needles and tan yarn, CO 20

Row 1 and all other odd-numbered rows, unless otherwise noted: P

Row 2 and 4: K1, kfb, k all stitches until last 2, kfb, k1

Row 6 and 8: K

Row 10 and 12: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 14 and 16: K

Row 18: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 20: K

Row 22: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 24 and 26: K

Row 28: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 30: K

Row 32: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 34: K

Row 36: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 38: K

Row 40 and 42: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 44: K1, k2tog, ssk, k1

Row 46: K1, k2tog, k1

Row 47: K3tog, Tie off.

 

To make up the crust, fold over the top of the triangle you just knit, aligning sides so that the increases and decreases match. Hand-sew this flap down, WS facing (the bottom of your pizza will have the smooth side of the stockinet stitch, and all of the bumpy side will eventually be covered by the other pieces.)

 

Sauce / Cheese

 

 

To achieve the correct coloration, please refer to the color chart below for the first four rows, continuing in yellow after it is completed.

 

 

CO 20

Row 1, and all other odd rows, unless otherwise noted: P

Row 2: K

Row 4: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 6: K

Row 8: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 10 and 12: K

Row 14: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 16: K

Row 18: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 20: K

Row 22: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 24: K

Row 26 and 28: K1, k2tog, k all stitches until last 3, ssk, k1

Row 30: K

Row 32: K1, k2tog, ssk, k1

Row 34: K1, k2tog, k1

Row 35: K3tog, Tie off.

 

Mushroom

 

 

Switching over to US #4 needles for the toppings, in a light cream yarn, CO 2

Row 1 and all other odd rows: P

Row 2: K

Row 4: Kfb, kfb

Row 6: Kfb, k2, kfb

Row 8: K

Row 10: P2tog, p2, p2tog

BO

 

With darker brown yarn, hand-embroider the details of the bottom of the mushroom cap, referring to the photo if necessary.

 

Onion

 

In white yarn, CO 16

Row 1: K2tog across

BO

 

*For alternate toppings, the technique for the onion can easily make peppers, using either green or red yarn instead of the white.

 

To assemble: First, weave in ends on all the toppings and sew them securely to the cheese piece in whatever arrangement pleases you. Then smooth out the sides of the sauce / cheese piece (the edges will want to curl, as with any piece knit in stockinet) and align the sides evenly with that of your crust. With WS together, (both RS’s should be outwards and visible) whip stitch the edges together with the crust color, and be sure to also sew down the top part near the folded edge of the crust. Tie tight, and hide the ends underneath the cheese.

 

 

Enjoy, but don’t eat!

*Or, go share a slice and see the pizza that other crafty bloggers knit up at…

Blah, Blah, Blahhhg

Got Soymilk?

I’m not sure what the rule is with double-dipping when it comes to knit cookies…

But I say you should just go for it!  This sweet little Oreo, Newman O, or what-have-you, is so brainless to whip up, I don’t even remember how long it took me to complete.  Knit entirely in garter stitch, I can’t imagine it too much over 1 hour.  Trying to photograph it, I had so much fun, I took about 10 individual pictures that I wish I could use here… But I figured that would kinda be overkill.

See for yourself, these sandwich-creme cookies are irresistible, and you can find a fantastically detailed tutorial on Craftster.com, complete with pictures and diagrams of almost every step.

So pour yourself a tall glass of frothy soymilk, and get knitting! 

So Cheesey

I’ve been experimenting with making my own patterns again…

…And so I’ve come up with this, mushroom / onion pizza!  I’m still not entirely satisfied with the look of the mushrooms, but I think it works overall…  My nutritionist hinted that knit pizza would be awesome in her office, and since she’s getting married in two weeks and will be off the job for some time, I wanted her last gift from me to be extra special.  I’m really happy for her, she’s such a wonderfully kind person and deserves someone who agrees to the millionth degree.

Anyways, if there’s any interest out there, I could write up the instructions for the pizza pattern sometime later this week…  Any takers? 

Flower Basket Shawl

I long to knit intricate lacy things, or at least items more complicated than a little stuffed toy. Sadly, my regular schedule doesn’t really permit this, as I don’t have enough time to sit and concentrate on a complicated pattern, and I certainly couldn’t take it with me and work on it in between appointment. Thankfully, this vacation time has allowed me to finish my Flower Basket Shawl, and I must say I’m very proud of the end product.

The pattern is from Interweave Knits, Fall 2004 issue, but I somehow downloaded it in PDF form for free. I can’t seem to find this file anymore, but if anyone’s interested in making their own, I could try to email it to you? Trust me, this shawl was so much fun to make, it’s really worth your effort!

So here it is, pre-blocking, rather curly and unimpressive on my bed…

Oh, and do you see that little thread to the side of it? That is literally all that’s left of the yarn. I was so scared I would run out at the very end, I was having a nervous fit as I bound off! It used exactly 6 skeins of Cotton Classic (With the yarn doubled-over) for a grand total of $36. I know that this may seem pathetic, but that’s the most I’ve ever paid for a single project. As you can see, I usually make really small things from cheapo acrylic, because it doesn’t matter if a knit vegetable isn’t so soft, for example.

So anyway, I laid it out to block yesterday…

…And was certainly rewarded for my patience.

I really love this shawl. Never mind that I have no clue when it’ll get worn, it’s exactly what I was hoping for. Beautiful, elegant… and PURPLE. I swear, I was practically seizing when I saw how rich this hue of yarn was at the store. I think it’s perfect for this pattern.

And now I have a reason to use my brand new brooch!

My Fuzzy Strawberry

Strangely enough, no matter how long I searched, there isn’t a single pattern on the internet [for free] that instructs you on how to make just a plain, stuffed strawberry.  Sure, there are pouches and flat refrigerator magnets, but not what I was after.

It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty damn proud of this little guy!  Not only did I somehow manage to crochet it, but I didn’t even use a pattern!  When I started, I realized I didn’t even know how to decrease with crochet, so I think my ‘skills’ have already come a long way.  Nonetheless, the leaves were impossible to crochet, (I tried about 4 different methods) so I ended up cutting them out of felt and sewing them on, carrying over the same thread to attach the little “seeds.”

Sadly, to get it to look that acceptable, it took me about two and a half hours, and in the process I stabbed myself so deeply with the needle that I bled on my shirt before I realized my finger was gushing blood.  Still, I’ve never made anything with a pattern before, with the exception of simple scarves, so I’m not complaining.