Tag: pattern

Raining Cats and Dogs

Dear Luka,

I know how you hate the rainy season in the Bay Area.  Maybe this new raincoat will help.  It is truly one-of-a-kind, made using Simplicity pattern #1239, with a few changes.  Instead of lining the coat as directed, I covered all cut edges with seam binding.  I also made the hood detachable, and ignored the scarf (like you would wear the scarf and not chew it to shreds instantly!)

Handmade Dog Raincoat

When you and your Mom go walking around your neighborhood, be friendly if anyone comes to compliment your coat, wear it proudly, and most important of all, stop eating random poop off the sidewalk!

Love,

Grandma

Hannah (BitterSweet)4 Comments

Jellyfish Season

Up until recently, I was blissfully unaware that a creature may proliferate during a specific season, just as a fruit or vegetable may have a small window of sudden abundance. That was, until a family of these gelatinous creatures descended upon my kitchen without warning.

Gravitating towards the fridge, they seem happiest near a readily available source of food, and seem wholly uninterested in moving on to warmer shores. Far from threatening and actually quite cheerful, I see no harm in letting them float about in the comfort of a safe environment. Miles away from pesky beach goers and without a care in the world, it may permanently be jellyfish season in these parts from here on in.

It couldn’t be easier to whip up a whole swarm of these sting-free softies. Simply print and cut out the template, trace the shapes on your desired color of felt, and carefully trim the fabric. Glue small eyes and embroider a happy smile on the plain head (without the tentacles). Use a matching color of thread to whip stitch the head to the head with tentacles, pausing as you reach the end to very lightly stuff it with batting. Glue a magnet to the back, stick it on the fridge, and admire your handiwork.

Hannah (BitterSweet)18 Comments

What’s Baking, Cupcake?

First things first, the winner of a copy of The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life is…

Commenter #71, Heather! Congratulations, Heather; you’ll be hearing from me shortly so that you can collect your prize.

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Bakers can be the hardest people to find gifts for. Cookbooks may be taken as an insult, bake ware may end up as unnecessary clutter, and homemade edibles seem like they could never live up to their high standards. However, if you’re of a more crafty temperament, then it’s easy to sidestep this problem. Homemade gifts are easily the best sort, so instead of channeling that creativity into an over-sized, itchy sweater, try whipping up a set of potholders that are shaped like cupcakes!

Even if the recipient isn’t big on baking, perhaps these enticing kitchen accessories might inspire them to get in there and start making good use of their oven. It’s a win-win sort of gift; They get a lovely and useful tool, and you get the sweets that result from their use!

Recently published in Melisser Elliott’s The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life, I’ve been waiting to share this pattern for over a year now, and am thrilled to finally post it here as well. Now get crafting- The holidays are almost upon us and everyone will want a pair of these cute potholders!

Cupcake Potholders

Cake (Make 4):

With an F hook and brown or tan worsted weight cotton yarn, ch 25
Row 1: (WS) dc in second ch from hook, dc in next 4 chs, sc in remaining chs. Ch1, turn (24sc)
Row 2: (RS) sc in each st across. Ch1, turn
Row 3: Working in back loops only, dc in next 5 sts, sc in remaining sts.  Ch1, turn
Rows 4-27: repeat rows 2 and 3.
Tie off.

Frosting:

Row 1: With frosting color and RS facing, attach yarn with a sc to the widest edge – right corner. Evenly space 34 sc total along the top edge. Ch1, turn. (34)
Row 2: Sc twice into one st, sc until the last st, sc twice into one.  Ch1, turn. (36)
Row 3: Sc twice into one st, sc until the last st, sc twice into one.  Ch1, turn. (38)
Row 4: Sc twice into one st, sc until the last st, sc twice into one.  Ch1, turn. (40)
Rows 5 – 8: Sc across. Ch1, turn
Row 9: Sc2tog twice, sc until the last 4 sts, sc2tog twice. Ch1, turn. (36)
Row 10: Sc2tog, sc until last 2 sts, sc2tog. Ch1, turn. (34)
Rows 11 and 12: Sc2tog twice, sc until the last 4 sts, sc2tog twice. Ch1, turn. (26)
Rows 13 – 16: Sc2tog, sc until last 2 sts, sc2tog. Ch1, turn. (18)
Row 17 and 18: Sc2tog twice, sc until the last 4 sts, sc2tog twice. Ch1, turn. (10)
Row 19: Sl st 4 times, switch to red yarn, and begin the cherry

Row 20: Ch 12, sl st into the next open st in the frosting. Ch1, turn. (12)
Row 21: Hdc into each st. Sl st back into the frosting. Tie off, and bury the ends of the yarn.

Repeat with all four cake pieces.

To assemble, sew two sides together using a whip stitch around.  Repeat with the other two sides.

Printable Pattern

Hannah (BitterSweet)66 Comments

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

Hannah (BitterSweet)35 Comments