Knitting and Sewing My Way Through Life

Knit n Sew Studio is Moving

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

I formed Knit n Sew Studio and this blog many years ago to share my passion for for knitting and sewing. Now I'd like to introduce the new home of my blog, knitting patterns, and sewing projects:

Stitches by Debbie.com

When you visit, I hope you enjoy the blog and my designs. I will continue to post Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday and my Sunday Quote Photos along with my many knitting projects.

Look forward to meeting you there and please contact me. Be sure to sign up to subscribe to Stitches by Debbie.

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

This week's stitch pattern is titled Garter Diagonals. This pattern is an 8 stitch repeat and the simple knit and purl stitch combination creates this effect.

For my swatch I cast on 24 stitches doing 3 repeats of the pattern rows. I used U.S. size 7 knitting needles and worsted weight yarn. The swatch is approximately 6 inches wide. The pattern is 16 rows and what makes this really simple is that every right side row is knit stitch. The swatch is 1 and half repeats of the rows in the pattern making the swatch 4 inches long.

I see endless possibilities in this stitch pattern especially if it is used with an equal repeat in the other direction creating a V shape with the garter stitch sections.

What would you use this stitch pattern to create?

Knit Doll Clothes on Display

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 19:10:00 +0000

To Share my love of knitting and inspire children to learn to knit, I periodically display my collection of dolls dressed in outfits that I've knit. You can visit Dressing our Dolls for more information about my displays at various local libraries.

For the months of December and January, my dolls are at the Ocean County Library. Here's my latest addition to the collection.

In the Center is my new Camille Wellie Wisher by American Girl. The dress is a pattern on Ravelry titled Hannah Loves Cables.

Also, the Mini Corrolle Dolls are dressed in their new outfits that I wrote about on October 19, 2016 when I published the pattern for the dresses.

There's more photos of the display on Dressing Our Dolls.

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

I returned to Reversible Knitting Stitches by Moira and Anna Ravenscroft this week and selected the Embossed Moss Stitch Rib pattern. I really enjoyed knitting this swatch. It's a simple 12 stitch repeat and only 2 rows so it's easy to memorize. I cast on 30 stitches for this piece and knit about 2 1/2 inches in a short period of time.

This is the third stitch pattern from this book. I knit the Carmarthen Ridge Stitch and Double Twill patterns and will be using both of those stitch patterns in upcoming designs.

This stitch is ideal for a scarf or cowl. I have 400 yards of Berroco Peruvia Quick Wool that will knit up beautifully using this pattern.

The Joy of Knitting Garter Stitch

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

On Thanksgiving night with the planning, shopping, preparing, serving, enjoying, and cleaning up done, I need to knit. I need to knit to relax, unwind, and reflect on the holiday and the time with my family. Time to think about the family and friends that couldn't be with me today. I don't want to knit any of the many projects that are already on the needles. I don't want to follow a pattern, count stitches or keep track of what row I'm knitting.

All I really want is to have my hands move in that rhythmic, familiar way and relish the warmth and softness of a bulky yarn. I want to work with a color that brings my joy and peace. I go to my abundant stash and select 2 skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in a colorway called Hudson Bay. My U.S. Size 15 Rosewood needles are ideal for this project and feel comfortable in my hands. The gauge is 9 stitches to 4 inches on Size 13 needles so I cast on 19 stitches. On my Size 15 needles that will make the scarf about 9 inches wide.

Then I begin to knit. Stitch after stitch. Row after row. I feel the calming effect come over me. In a short while, I have a scarf that is about 2 feet long and I'm getting sleepy. Off for a good night's rest.

Black Friday is always fun. I don't really need anything but off to the store I go. Too many possibilities to count. Leftovers for dinner and back to my garter stitch scarf. I'm still not ready to return to my projects that require me to pay attention to what I'm creating. While I knit, I keep a paper and pen close by and write down all the ideas for knitting projects that whirl through my head.

The scarf is almost done. I've recovered from the holiday weekend. When this scarf is done, I'll put it with my other finished items so that when I find the ideal recipient, it will be ready to gift. However, the real joy for me is in the process. The finished scarf is just a benefit.

Knit Favors for a Baby Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Favors for any Party are always fun to create. I wanted these to be a representation of my style and of course, my love for all things that are knit. These heart shaped washcloths seemed ideal for a baby shower. Since we know that the baby is a girl, I chose to knit these in a hot pink and a pale pink. The pattern is a variation of Grandma's Favorite washcloth pattern and is on Ravelry as a free pattern here.

To dress them up, I went to the craft store in search of something to decorate the washcloths. I found these lovely heart shaped charms and tied them to the center of the washcloth with a white bow.

Each washcloth took about 2 hours to knit so I was able to finish them quickly. I used Lily Sugar n Cream cotton yarn and Size 9 knitting needles. The finished cloth measures 8 1/2 inches wide and 7 inches high from the lower point to the highest point. The bow can easily be untied and the washcloth used by the recipient.

I am really pleased with this project. It was inspired by the bridal shower favors that were knit using the dress dishcloth pattern that I wrote about on my blog on June 2, 2016.

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

This week's stitch pattern is from the website http://knitpurlstitches.com called Blocks 2. It is a simple combination of stockinette and reverse garter stitch and I really enjoyed knitting it.

I used U.S. size 7 knitting needles and worsted weight cotton yarn. The pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches plus 3 so for my swatch, I cast on 23 stitches. I repeated the 12 row pattern 2-3/4 times.

Rather than use this as an overall pattern, I think I'd like to use this as a single block with various other stitch blocks surrounding it. I think it will knit up as a nice pillow or blanket and possibly a nicely textured spa cloth.

Yarn Shop Visit in Pittsburgh

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

I visited Pittsburgh, Pa for the first time last week. It really is a beautiful city and the colors of Fall were outstanding.

My hosts recently moved there and were excited to share the sights in the their new town. They know me so well and had already found a Yarn store for me. We went to Knit One where I was greeted by the owner and surrounded by a wonderful selection of yarn along with samples of knitted items. The store is really quite large and has a comfy area to sit and knit or wait for the knitter that you've accompanied to the shop.

I'm always amazed when I visit a shop in a new place by the items that are on display. I was even more amazed when the owner, Laura, told me that the pattern was on Ravelry. I've been on Ravelry since the beginning and I continue to find patterns that I didn't know were available. The sample that caught my attention was Bandana by Helene Rush.

I instantly knew this scarf would be my memory project for my first trip to Pittsburgh. I purchased Knit One crochet too Covet in Serpentine and Ivory. This yarn is super soft 100% baby alpaca. There'll be wonderful memories in every stitch.

I also purchase this Queensland Sunshine Coast in a color called Capricorn Coast.

The color is so alive and bright. I have 580 yards and no idea what I'll be knitting with this lovely yarn. I may just admire it for awhile and design something new to share with you.

While in Pittsburgh, I also visited the Frick Museum and really enjoyed seeing the collection. My favorite was the Monet titled Bords de la Seine a Lavacourt. A beautiful combination of my favorite blues, green, and yellows.

The views from the Mount Washington area were spectacular too. Here's one of my favorites.

While I was there, I sat with my new yarn and admired both my yarn and the view.

I find so much inspiration in my travels and visits to Yarn stores away from home. Here's the link to my visit to a shop in Dubuque and one to my visit to a shop while traveling in Italy. So where have you traveled and bought special yarn for a memory project?

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

The stitch pattern this week is a different variation of the seed stitch checks that I posted on October 29, 2016. This is titled as a seed stitch basketweave and I like it much better than the seed stitch checks. As you can see, there is a good definition between the stockinette section and the seed stitch section.

For this swatch, I used U.S. Size 7 knitting needles and Cotton Supreme yarn by Universal Yarns. This yarn knits up nicely and is great to wash and dry. I've used this for my dishcloth dresses with excellent results. The pattern is an 8 stitch repeat plus 3 stitches and 2 edge stitches. The pattern is a 12 row repeat. I cast on 29 stitches in total and knit 2 complete repeats for this swatch.

As I was knitting this swatch, I couldn't help but feel that I had used this stitch before and I did. It is used in the skirt of the special edition dress dishcloth titled Dressing for Spring.

I designed this knitting pattern in March 2015 as a special edition dress dishcloth using a portion of the sale proceeds to purchase chicks and ducks through Heifer International. I continue to purchase through Heifer twice a year with a portion of the sale of this pattern and the Mrs. Claus Kitchen Helper Dress Dishcloth.

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Today's stitch pattern is actually the swatch for a baby blanket that I just completed. The pattern is a traditional chevron pattern in two colors.

This chevron pattern is an 11 stitch repeat. For the swatch I cast on 33 stitches using U.S. Size 6 needles and a DK weight yarn.

The pattern is 12 rows. I knit the garter stitch portion in gray and the stockinette stitch portion in white. Just make sure to change colors on the right side of the fabric.

I chose to cut the yarn at each color change although, I'm sure carrying the yarn up the side is probably fine.

The blanket is done and I'll be posting the pattern for the finished blanket in the near future.

A Bit of Ceramics

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Now that I'm free to use my time as I please, I spend a good part of each day knitting and sewing. There are a lot of other creative activities that I enjoy including painting so I've gone back to a weekly ceramic class. I did many ceramic pieces in the 1970's and in addition to the pieces that I made, I spent time with some wonderful people.

Here's my first project. Two simple tea bag holders for my Mom to use while she is visiting with me. She really likes to have one next to her tea cup. These will stay at my house and be a good reminder of her visit.

I really found painting these relaxing and a nice break from my knitting. Currently, I'm working on a Yarn Bowl and can't wait to share a picture with you.

So what other creative activities do you enjoy when you take a break from your knitting?

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

I chose a simple stitch pattern this week. It's a seed stitch check that is 5 stitches of stockinette stitch and 5 stitches of seed stitch. This is one repeat of the pattern across and 1 and a half repeats long.

Notice the difference in the gauge for the seed stitch as compared to the stockinette stitch. Overall these 15 stitches are are approximately 3 and a half inches wide. The seed stitch panel is one and a half inches wide and each of the stockinette panels is only 1 inch wide. This makes for an interesting calculation when using this stitch pattern in a knitting design.

I also noticed that the center tends to look more circular than square.

I really like the texture and look of seed stitch but I'm not sure this is the best combination of seed stitch with another stitch such as stockinette.

What do you think and how would you use this stitch pattern?

Happy knitting!

Knitting For the Holidays at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

With Christmas only 2 months away, I wanted to share some of my favorite knitting patterns for the season.

These are knit ornament covers that I designed and the pattern is available in my Ravelry store. Each one only takes a few hours to knit and they are great in a bowl or on the tree. Here's the orginal post with more details and photos.

Along with these, I enjoy knitting these mini Christmas Stockings. The pattern is complete in my blog post of December 1, 2013. Both the ornament covers and the mini stocking may be knit with the Lion Brand Jingle Bells Bon Bon Yarn.

In the kitchen, you'll find my Mrs. Claus Kitchen Helper dress dishcloths. This pattern is in my Ravelry shop here.

There's a knitting pattern for this hanging towel too.

And this snowman stays on display all winter. The pattern for this snowman is in my blog post of December 8, 2010.

On Saturday, I found this Styrofoam snowman form at my local Joann's. I've searched the web so that I could link it for you but I can't seem to find it on any website. I'm going to redesign my original snowman to fit this form.

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

The stitch pattern that I have today is called Undulating Waves from Knit Stitch Dictionary by Debbie Tomkies.

This swatch is knit on U.S. Size 7 needles using a worsted weight yarn. This is a 37 stitch pattern plus 6 edge stitches. I cast on 1 width of the pattern and repeated the 14 rows of the pattern twice.

As you can see, this stitch pattern does not create a square. The combinations of decreases and increases causes the pattern to have this unique shape.

One repeat of this pattern is 8 inches wide and when I cast off the upper edge, there is a 1 inch dip in the top edge. So what is the best use of this stitch pattern? Maybe as part of a shawl? Maybe a baby bib? What do you think?

Knitting a Dress for the Mini Corolle Doll

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite things to knit is clothes for Dolls. They are small projects that knit up in a short amount of time and give me a chance to experiment with stitch patterns and colors. The knitting pattern for this dress, The Bell Skirt Dress, designed especially for the Corolle Mini Corolline doll, has gone through several versions.

The finished dress is knit using Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop, a cotton/bamboo DK weight yarn and a U.S. Size 4 knitting needles. It's a wrap dress that uses ribbon to tie around the waist and finishes with a bow in the back.

I originally designed this dress for the Cindy Doll using worsted weight yarn. Cindy Dolls are by Fibre Craft and are 6 3/4 inches tall. The knitting pattern for this version is available for free in my Ravelry pattern shop.

And when I found the Corolle Mini Corolline Doll, I made it using worsted weight yarn.

This final version fits best and the yarn is the ideal size for this doll.

This doll will be added to my next Dressing Our Dolls display. Periodically, I display my dolls and their handmade clothes in local Libraries and occasionally, I host a presentation that involves explaining the history behind each of the dolls and the outfits that I've made for them. Here's the link to Dressing Our Dolls with more doll clothes and details.

Sunday Quote Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Knit Stitch Pattern Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

This week I explored another type of diamond pattern. This one is created over 17 stitches and uses yarn overs with knit 2 together and slip, slip, knit decreases to outline the stockinette stitch diamond.

I added 8 stitches on each side of the pattern to create my swatch, the outer 2 stitches are in garter stitch to keep it from rolling. Using worsted weight yarn and a U.S. Size 7 needle this diamond is 6 inches long and 4 inches wide.

I believe this pattern would be better in a design using Dk or sport weight yarn with a larger number of stitches per inch. I'll be experimenting with incorporating this in a pillow design.

Knitting a Spa Quality Washcloth

noreply@blogger.com (Knit n Sew Studio by Debbie) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

When I want to knit a quality washcloth, I use Louet Euroflax Sport Weight linen yarn. Once machine washed and dried, it becomes wonderfully soft.

This design is based on the Diamond Stitch pattern that I posted in my Stitch Pattern Saturday post. For this washcloth, I used one skein of Euroflax doubled on U.S. Size 6 knitting needles. The knitting went quickly and I was done in a few hours. The pattern is available in both my Ravelry Pattern Shop and Craftsy Pattern Shop.

Knit Diamond Spa Cloth
(c)D. Trainor

The Diamond pattern works beautifully adding texture to this 8-inch by 9-inch washcloth. The pattern is simple to knit using a combination of knit and purl stitches and looks great on the reverse side too.

With the Holidays approaching, now is a great time to knit several of these for gifts.