These hats are from the famed Ann Norling pattern #10. My dear friend from high school is about to have triplets. Can't pass up the opportunity to to make her a set of pea pod hats.
As I was looking at the yarn cubbies for the right green combination, I remembered a silly riddle that my friend's dad likes to tell, "What did the daddy tomato tell the baby tomato the had fallen behind? ...Ketchup." At that memory, I added a couple of balls of red to my shopping pile.

The yarn is Berroco Comfort DK. I got all three hats out of one ball of each main color and all six hats from about half of a ball of the contrast color.

I may make three little sweaters as well since I have a whole ball of each the red and light green and would only need to buy one more ball of the dk green.
The hats have took varying lengths of time depending on my mood. I cast on the first tomato the same night as I finished Travelling Woman, last Wednesday, but didn't finish its top off until four days later. The next four were completed the following day, about 2 hours each. The final hat took nearly the whole next day to get through. Some how, as I reflect on this time table, I feel the urge to pop in Rocky Horror Picture Show and dance the Time Warp.

This last week was my 29th birthday. We celebrated during our trip to Windsor, CA. It was a great rip where we had little preplanned, just loose ideas of things we wanted to see in the area, Fort Ross, Fort Point, Ghiradelli Square, and yarn.

As it was my birthday, I was gifted yarn shopping without any complaining from the man/boys. I visited two lovely stores - Cast Away of Santa Rosa and Balls and Skeins of Sebastopol. Both were really cute stores with really, really lovely owners.


These two pictures represent my completed Travelling Woman by Liz Abinante. I have had this pattern in mind for a couple of months since a friend started it with a different yarn. As I started to think about casting on for it, I recognized that the required yardage would be perfect for the incoming order of Madelinetosh Pashmina. I had been dreaming of this color, Lettuce Leaf, since Lois placed the order back in May.

I am thinking that completing this Peridot color shawl was a perfect way to celebrate my August birthday. This color went with everything that I had packed for the remaining 3 days of our trip without my having out any thought into that working out.

This lovely yarn is part of my spoils from Balls and Skeins. It is a cotton/wool blend from Artyarns and was a very affordable way for me to get my hands on some of Iris Scheier's stunning work. I am planning on making a Montego Bay shawl by Amy R Singer.

C and K hats, respectively

These funny fun hats were a collaboration with a couple of my son's classmates. We did knitting on Mondays this school year which is a great way to begin a week but you miss a lot of weeks do to holidays and days where my toddler kept me home. The timing as well as the strict rule of not taking your needles home to be forever lost did not leave the new knitters much time to complete their first, adventurous projects.

This project was a great beginner task. The ear flaps and brim were each made as gauge swatches. I would recommend the ear flaps over the brim as it did not have much body and more complicated steps would need to be taken to make it more functional.

Teacher T Rocked our World

Tis the season for teacher gifts. We have had an amazing teacher for the last two years - the first educational professional he has encountered that I could believe cared for him nearly as much as I do. But I did run low on time and I never got back to the top down sweater I had begun for her last year on US1. Knitting machine to the rescue.

This cloud is two rows each of Aunt Lydia's Bamboo Crochet thread and Crystal Palace Kid Merino.I'll make a proper pattern as a ravelry download both for needles and machine soon.I hope that this lovely thing marks the beginning of an equally pleasant summer.

Button Feature

Button Feature
Originally uploaded by anneland22

So I am updating my old pattern files to make them easier to down load and to print. I was glad to find this picture becuse I lost it on my old comp that I never backed up.

Something Fun

I just read about this fun thing on Keep On Knitting in the Free World. Miss Star Athena linked to leetahl.net and her clever idea for a Quick Knits Club. I couldn't resist after I looked at her other quick knits. This club is perfect for my needs - I am terrible at swaps and don't keep up on completing socks, so this little bit of fun will meet my desire to have little treasures arrive in my mailbox!

Lil' Peanut

It all began with the need to make the most adorable mini baby surprise jacket: 32 rows of satisfying knitting bliss and a class idea blooming. When I had spent about 2 hours making up two adorable minis, I realized that I really needed a model to display their cuteness.

Some misleading geometric guesses and a couple more hours later, I had my first prototype completed...too big in every way for the sweater. And, he was too long in the torso and in the head (little bit bullet headed). Some very easy adjustments to the original idea and about an hour and half later, I had a much more successful incarnation of a mini BSJ model.

Here is the pattern:
Notes:
*Depending on the gauge that you work your mini BSJ, use the same gauge to knit your lil' peanut.
*You will be placing a marker after the first repeat on needle one mainly to help you recall which needle is Needle one and, thus the beginning of the round.
*When stuffing, it is a delicate balance to make sure that you have enough to form the body body but not too much so that the sts are over stretched and expose the stuffing insides. Take care to find this balance.
*If you would like Lil' P to be a good shelf sitter then you can fill a little baggy with pellets and place it in the bottom of the body on a bed of fluff. If it is for a child, then skip the pellets or sew a well constructed pouch that can be sealed shut securely.

Gauge: 4 sts/in
Needles: 4 US8 DPNs
Yarn: Encore Worsted (get back to you on the yardage, but it isn't much)
Other: a bit of stuffing

With 2 DPNs, CO3.
Torso:
Round 1: With needle 1, kfb. With Needle 2, kfb. With needle 3, kfb. Continue in the round from here. (6sts)
Round 2: kfb, place marker, *kfb, repeat from * 4more times. (12 sts)
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: *k1, kfb, repeat from* 5 more times. (18 sts)
Round 5: Knit.
Round 6: *k2, kfb, repeat from* 5 more times. (24 sts)
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8: *k3, kfb, repeat from* 5 more times. (30 sts)
Rounds 9-23: knit.
Shoudler Shaping:
Round 24: *k3, k2tog, repeat fro * 5 more times. (24 sts)
Round 25: Knit.
Round 26: *k2, k2tog, repeat fro * 5 more times. (18 sts)
Round 27: Knit.
Round 28: *k1, k2tog, repeat fro * 5 more times. (12 sts)
Neck:
Round 29-34: Knit.
STOP - stuff the body now.
Head:
Round 35: *k1, kfb, repeat from * 5 more times. (18 sts)
Round 36: Knit.
Round 37: *k2, kfb, repeat from * 5 more times. (24 sts)
Round 38-44: Knit.
STOP - stuff the head now. Just very slightly over stuff the head so that the stuffing fills in these last rows for the crown of the head.
Round 45: *k2, k2tog, repeat from * 5 more times. (18 sts)
Round 46: Knit.
Round 47: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * 5 more times. (12 sts)
Round 48: *k2tog, repeat from * 5 more times. (6 sts)
Cut a tail and draw it through the remaining 6 sts.
Weave in ends.
Picking up for the arms:
Find desired arm position. I placed mine on either side just below the shoulder shaping.
Pick up and knit one arm of three v's stacked on top of each other.
V
V
V
When adding the new yarn, be sure to leave a tail that is about 6" long; this tail can be used to neaten this joint later when weaving it in. Work a three st i-cord for 20 rows. Bind off by k2tog, k1, pass k2tog over k1. Weave in the tail. Tie a not at the end ot the completed i-cord. Repeat for second arm.

The legs are worked in a similar manner. The difference being that you pick up and knit one arm of three V's sittingnext to each other in a row. VVV
Work these I cord for 26 rows.

Enjoy.

FIbonacci stripes and STEEKS (or not)

Leo's Stripes: A Tale of at Least 2 Sweaters
Moonlight Stitches Creation by
Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli

This sweater is a mix of Fibonacci numbers to create
a fun set of stripes. There is both a steeked version
(yes, that means cutting it)and a non-steeked
version (knit back and forth). It is worked top down and
allows you the ability to customize length of the body
and sleeves.

Materials: Worsted Weight yarn,
US8 – 16” circular, 24”-32” circular,
and 4 double pointed needles, stitch markers,
5 stitch holders or waste yarn, tapestry needle,
G(4.5mm) crochet hook (for steeked version)

Bust measurements: 36(38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50)”

Gauge: 4 sts/inch or 16sts per 4”

Short Sleeved Solid:
615 (650, 680, 715, 750,790, 820, 850) yds
Short Sleeved Striped:
A: 390 (410, 430, 455, 475, 500, 520, 540) yds
B: 130 (135, 140, 150, 155, 165, 170, 175) yds
C: 55 (60, 60, 65, 70, 70, 75,
75) yds
D: 195 (205, 215230, 240, 250, 260, 270) yds
Long Sleeved Solid:
920 (975, 1020, 1075, 1125, 1175, 1225, 1275) yds
Long Sleeved Striped: Additional of A:
310 (325, 340, 360, 375, 395, 410, 425) yds

Log Cabin and EZ's inspirational Force

I did debate on whether or not this was an original enough variation on EZ's tomten as published in Knitting Workshop. I decided that all the work I did in figuring out the sizing for such a wide range allowed me to have a small claim on this version.

This jacket uses Log Cabin blocks as the
foundation to build a tomten jacket, a
sweater formula originally created by Elizabeth
Zimmerman. This project flatters many figures
and uses fun techniques that rely on on very little
finishing for the completed garment.

To Fit Bust Sizes: 30 (32, 34, 38, 40, 42, 44,
46, 48, 50 , 52, 54)

Gauge: 4sts/in in garter st.

Materials:
For ¾ length sleeves: 8 (8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 11,
11, 12, 12, 13, 13) balls of Noro Silk Garden,
110 yds (100 m) ea
For full length sleeves: 9 (9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11,
13, 13, 14, 14, 15, 15) balls of Noro Silk Garden,
110 yds (100 m) ea
5 stitch holders (or waste yarn), 16” and 24”
US8 circular needle (or size needle to achieve
gauge), US8 straight needle (optional), stitch
markers: 1 ring and 6 locking, 6 buttons

TOP DOWN for EVERYTHING

YES! I intended to shout that! Work form the top down just really works for my head whether it be a sweater or a shawl or a hat.

Seedy Topper: A Top Down Beret
Moonlight Stitches Creation by:
Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli

This beret is worked from the top down
in seed stitch, a lovely way to enhance
variegated yarn.

Sizes for head circumferences: 20”(22”, 24”)
Should fit snuggly in the brim.
Yarn: 160 yards of worsted weight yarn
Tools: four US 8 DPNS, one US 8 16” circ.
Needle, stitch markers, tapestry needle

Long time, no Blog

I have been a busy busy bee - both at mothering/wife-ing and knitting.

For the next few days I am going to post a ton, as I have recently been publishing new pattern (or revamping old ones). I am going to do a few posts a day (this will make my life much easier later).

Let's begin: How bout at the top, with a top down beret.

Nah; I'll begin with a stranded fake isle hat.

XOXO Cap: A Fake Isle Charted Hat
Moonlight Stitches Creation by:
Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli



This cap offers two designs to try out an easy
approach to stranded knitting. Using worsted
weight yarn in a solid and a self striping
colorway, these charts are inserted into a classic
cap for a stunning effect as the self striping yarn
changes color.

Gauge: 4 sts./in in St.st. with solid color (MC).

Size: One size fits most (20-22” heads)

Materials: 110 yds of a solid (MC) worsted
weight yarn and 110 yds of a self striping (CC)
worsted yarn (the sample was worked in
Cascade 220 and in Noro Kureyon); US 7
16” Circular needle, US 8 16” Circular needle,
a set of US 8 DPNs; stitch markers.

Note: Fake Isle is really fair isle - but it sounds less scary and is a touch easier because the yarn does the hard work.

New Pattern: Baby D Split Neck

I am hoping that this design is the first of a series of Baby D designs.We'll see; I just follow where the knitting muses lead me.

This sweater, worked from the top down, was improvised one weekend and quickly became a personal favorite (yes, I am biased). The design and excecution are very easy and accessible. Both the knitting and the minimal finishing happen quickly. The best part is probably dressing the long awaited recipient in your creation. It is a great place to use half finished bobbins if you have any sitting around from fair isle or intarsia (the exact situation that inspired me).

To fit Sizes: 6 mos.,(12 mos., 18 mos.) or 17"(18", 19") chest

Finished garment:
22", 23", 24"

Gauge: 4 sts/in on US8

Materials: 3 colors of worsted weight
yarn; example uses Plymouth Encore; choose one to be MC (main color), CA (color A), CB (color B). 100 yds of CA and CB each, and 200 yds of MC (there will be extras),US 8 16" circular, US 8 DPNs, Stitch markers, 2 Stitch Holders, tapestry needle, bobbins (optional)

Note: The sweater shown is knitted to six month specs...Baby D is only two months old...

New Pattern: The Ojai Sweater

I made this sweater up ages ago and received enough compliments on wearing it around Anacapa Fine Yarns that I decided to hastily write up the pattern and teach it as a class. Well, haste makes waste, in pattern writing anyway. The class went well, but the original write-up had math errors sprinkled through the sizing. After a long overdue treatment with the fine tooth comb last night, I am now ready to present my nearly perfect pattern to the big bad world. I hazard to say that it is nearly perfect now.

Here's the story behind this quick, cute little number:
The Ojai (pronounced O-Hi) Sweater is aproduct of my spoiled work life, being employed at yarn shops. OneFriday, before I was married and at the previous store I worked at, I was planning to meet my hubby and his brother after work to proceed
to Ojai for a patio dinner with their cousin and her in laws. I put
on a lovely white eyelet sundress with skinny straps. This dress
was a perfect choice for the heat of the San Fernando Valley in the
middle of a steamy summer. However, the whatifs crawled into my ear
as I realized shortly after arriving at work that I had not packed a
sweater for a jaunt to the coastal mountain community. Having spent
time in the surrounding areas, Santa Barbara and Sant a Ynez, I
expected to meet a very chilling evening and to look very foolish
for having arrived ill prepared. With 5 hrs left before departure
and no time to run to Target, I sat down in hopes of quickly
whipping out a shoulder warmer. I came very close, but no sweater
about an hours more work remained. Luckily, Ojai is situated in the
mountains so as to catch morning fog from the west and hot air from the
east. Dinner was amazing and the evening was just the perfect
temperature. The sweater was completed by the next night and soon
warmed my shoulder on other cool nights.

I adapted the pattern to work up in any desired body or sleeve length.

Sizes: 36", (38", 40", 42", 44", 46", 48", 50", 52", 54")
Yarn: For original, 334, (360, 386, 414, 444, 476, 510, 547, 586, 627) yds.
To add 3" to body, add approx.: 23(24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 36, 40, 44, 48) yds.
To add 1" to sleeves, add approx.: 8(10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26) yds.
Materials: US 11 (8mm) 24" circ., Optional: US11 (8mm) dpns, 8 stitch markers, 2 stitch holders
Gauge: 3 sts/inch in stockinette

Price: $5.00

A great sadness

There has been a knitting death that many of you were probably already aware of - magknits.com is no more.

The editors published a letter to explain their exit, which cannot be blamed.

As the home to famed patterns like Jaywalkers, I had always enjoyed their contribution and always looked forward to each new month's issue. I hope that all the treasures that were contained in their archives find safe homes, especially since a lot of those things are still in my ravelry queue (selfish thoughts). If you hear of anyone who needs a digital home to republish, I would be happy to give them some space here.

Oh, Baby!

I have nested. Hello baby - the nest is ready. C'mon child; let's be here already.

I have already shown you a couple of things that I had completed - a wee baby surprise and a tychus cap. Here are a couple more caps in combos of ribs and purls. Do you see the rocket pop inspiration? I made them to coordinate with my
interpretation of Lesley Stanfield's Icelandic Jacket. The knitted body is a solution to my crochet count having been off when I finished working the yoke (a 16 stitch error discovered after a front, a sleeve, and the back were crocheted). The yarn is some stashed Sirdar Snuggly with the crocheted bit done on a D-hook and the knitted bit on a US4.
The buttons are hard to see but too cute regardless - blue fish and white tugboats alternating.


I have been on a top down rampage in all things sweater related. I improvised this little split neck top while I was teaching a class on Top Down Sweater knitting to have an example to work on while my students busily worked away at adult size garments. The green and cream is worked in Encore Worsted. I had tons of loaded bobbins left from an intarsia project that I didn't want to go to waste. So, left over proportions determined the patterning of this garment. The quad colored version to the right is worked in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. It was sized up a little in the cast on and has a couple more increases in the yoke; now, that I invested in another ball of the blue, I am going to add another stripe sequence to the body to make having sized it up width wise make sense (babies get longer faster than they get wider). You can see the sleeve kryptonite at work on this item, per usual.


What is that? A bird? A plane? A strangely shaped receiving blanket? Nope. It's another baby surprise. It just needs its shoulder seams and buttons sewn up. I am probably going to wait till Dante is closer to needing it so that it can remain a magic trick at the store to explain the concept of the pattern. The yarn here is again Encore plus some TLC in my favorite colorway, Surf and Turf. It is easily sized up by being worked in worsted weight on US8. Waiting to see if we will need more sleeve length by the time that the body fits also keeps me from sewing up those two lasts seams. No excuses for not having done the button sewing though.


This blanket out of stashed Homespun is hopefully something that Dante will snuggle prodly in since it goes onto a very short list of yarny blankets completed by these hands. I think that it may only be the second ever. I never did finish Xander's started nearly 8 years ago. I think that one is even lost and gone to the sands of time. Not to say that my children will go cold; they are blessed enough to receive quilts and yarned blankets from loved ones. Xander received something that would never ever come off my short attention spanned needles - an adult size seed stitched blanket in sport weight.


Baby D is lucky enough to have received two gorgeous blankets from good friends Charlie and Kate. Charlie, my coworker, made him this, gorgeous and still masculine, yellow lace number in any mother's favortie yarn (at least, this mother's favortie) - Encore. Kate, a woman who has only been knitting and crocheting for about 6 months, hooked him this aborable giant grany square cuddler that happens to coordinate very nicely with both the bassinette and the stroller. Wish he would get here so that he could enjoy these generous spoils with me.

There is one more gifted knit that I want to share with you but it is packed in the hospital bag so you will have to wait to see 'em on his little tootsies.

In the end, I didn't really need to wait for the bassinette to photograph those things; it simply made for an awkward setting. Oh well.

Next time, I will show you some of the UFOs that await the babe.