Ten Stitch blanket No, 2

 I love this pattern and will probably knit it again, the Ten Stitch Blanket. Thanks go to the designer, Frankie Brown.  (As of this writing, more than 8,363 of these blankets have been knit). This particular one will be  be going to Lifting Hands International,  a refugee cause. Here is the link to the Ravelry group that supports LHI: Hats and More for Refugees Worldwide.

This is clever knitting, no more than 10 stitches on the needle at a time. If you are smart, you can knit in the other direction without turning your work, but I can't. I'm sure that someone does this.

It's all wool, about 3x4 feet.  It might be fun to knit one in a 9-patch design using the same technque.

I like to MAKE in fiber and I will keep on making. Knowing that I am not making the 75th sweater for myself (or someone else) but rather something for someone who actually NEEDS it feels good. I can also source low or sometimes no cost WOOL yarn through friends or my fiber guild. 

How-to-Hood for Baby Surprise Jacket

 OK so this is BSJ number 9.  I tend to just pick up some yarn, do a sample to try the fabric and drape, and get knitting. This garment is going to Lifting Hands International,  so size is unimportant. 

I decided that I would try a hood. There are several online BSJ's with hoods but I decided to try my own. 

After finishing the sweater body, I sewed it together. Then: 

1) Pick up stitches around the collar, I would say at a 1:1 ratio. 

2) Increase 2 stitches every other row on either side of two middle stitches at the back of the hood.  I did this for about 5 inches.  This will vary with the "size" of your BSJ.  My chest size is 24 inches, so possibly age 6. 

3) Keep knitting straight until the hood looked "long" enough (i.e. the face opening was large enough for the size of the sweater. 

4) Divide the hood stitches in half and kitchener stitch them together.  Add a pom pom to the back of the hood if you like. (I'm not a pom pom person so I didn't). 

On my next BSJ, I'm going to do the cuff sleeves in ribbing. 

According to my Ravelry group, "Hats and More for War-Torn Syria" (not just Syria anymore but the name sticks) LHI sent containers to Ukraine, Jordan, and Afghanistan in July 2022, and another is headed to Poland in August 2022.  I know that this sweater will help to warm a small child. 

Square continuous strand loom weaving: child's jacket

I don't live where it's very cold but I love working with wool. I had purchased my 28 " square loom to do warm weather tops for myself (and I've done one), but this winter I tried something with wool yarn from my largeish stash for donation. Here are some sort of directions and photos:

I completed a square, it was woven with worsted and heavy worsted and I wove tightly so the end was a squeeze. Of course the most woven warp threads really tighten up a lot. 

 I was afraid that the weave would be too loose but it wasn't. I impulsively put it in the washer and dryer to felt it a bit. I was very happy on removal from the dryer. It would up at about a 20 inch square. Remember...you can felt more but you can't felt less...start in the washer with a short cycle and warm, not hot, water. If your fabric is not felted enough, repeat and try the dyer.

I made some strategic cuts, now that it was a bit felted it did not fall apart. At the top, opening for the neck, neck slit 1/3 of the way down, and arm hole openings 2/3 of the way down. 

Folded over thus

I sewed the front horizontal seams using a zig zag for reinforcement. I also zig zagged the other cut edges. Then, I crocheted  around the front openings and neck. Added buttonholes in my crocheting. 

Finally, I turned it inside out and made a seam to narrow the sleeves and pressed the little collar opening.  It is a US size 3-4.  Very little waste...4 triangles where I cut to fit the sleeves . (not enough to add a hood, unhappily).

Very proud of my warm little wooly jacket which will be going off to the Salaam Cultural Center for "Hats and More for War Torn Syria" pretty soon.