Mystery Quilt Along POST #3b

per your request.... this is what your knitted squares should look like.  I changed yarns three times.  You can change colors anytime you pick up stitches so have fun and be colorful. 

Earlier I posted another section of the blanket...

Mystery Quilt Along POST #3

Stomach flu with the kids prevented me from posted on Friday so Wednesday is the new Friday.  Gotta figure out what the new wednesday is.  I grew up on Long Island and according to Carvel.  "Wednesday is Sunday so maybe another post on Sunday." 

This long post is for Knitters Today.  Crocheters and Quilters I'll have a big post for you on Friday so get as many square ready as possible. 

Knitters...  How are the squares coming along.  I have two strips that we can now knit.  This is entrelac so you need to follow each row.  It does work but it's magic as it does.  Trust me...

MAKE 2  (each will measure 3inches  by 37.5 inches long)

NOTE: Work base triangles, followed by left side triangle, tier one, right side triangle and tier two. Work tiers one and two until desired length; end with one more tier one section, followed by the final tier triangles.

Base Triangles:
CO 10.
*Row 1: (RS) k1, turn
Row 2: and all WS rows: purl all sts in that section
Row 3: sl 1, k1, turn
Row 5: sl 1, k2, turn
Row 7: sl 1, k3, turn
Row 9: sl 1, k4, Do not turn.*
Repeat from * to * to end of row, turn.

Left side triangle
Row 1: (WS) k1, turn
Row 2: kfb, turn
Row 3: k1, p2tog, turn
Row 4: k1, m1, k1, turn
Row 5: k1, p1, p2tog, turn
Row 6 and all RS rows: knit to last st, m1, k1
Row 7: k1 p2, p2tog, turn
Row 9: k1, p3, p2tog, do not turn, work tier one:

Tier one
Row 1: (WS), With wrong side facing, pick up and
purl 5 sts along selvedge edge of next triangle. Sl last st
picked up onto left needle and p2tog, turn.
Row 2: k5 , turn
Row 3: sl 1, P3, p2tog, turn
repeat last two rows 4 times (5 stitches).


Right side triangle

Row 1: (WS) Pick up and purl 5 sts along selvedge of next triangle or square, turn
Row 2 and all RS rows: knit to end of sts in this section, turn.
Row 3: sl 1, p to last two stitches, k2tog, turn
Repeat last two rows until only 2 sts remain.
On next odd row: k2tog
The remaining stitch will be counted as the first stitch picked up for the first square in the next tier.
Turn and transfer this stitch to the right needle.

Tier two
Row 1: (RS) With right side facing, pick up and knit 5 sts along selvedge of next square or triangle. For the first square only, the remaining stitch from the last tier counts as 1 picked up stitch. Sl last stitch picked up to left needle and ssk, turn.
Row 2: p5, turn
Row 3: sl 1, k3, ssk, turn
Repeat the last 2 rows until all 5 sts remain.
Do not turn.
Repeat another tier two triangle.

Then continue by working [Left triangle, tier one, right side triangle and tier two] until 37 inches then go to Final Tier Triangles.

Final Tier Triangles
Row 1: (RS) With RS facing, pick up and knit 5sts along selvedge of next square or triangle. For the first triangle only, the st remaining counts as the first picked up st. Sl last st picked up to left needle and ssk, turn.
Row 2 and all WS rows: purl to the end of sts in the section. Turn.
Row 3: k2tog, k3, ssk, turn
Row 5: k2tog, k2, ssk, turn
Row 7: k2tog, k1, ssk, turn
Row 8: k2tog, ssk, turn
Row 9: sl 1, ssk, psso, do not turn. The rem st will count as first st picked up for next triangles. When all triangles have been worked, fasten off last st.

Block


Abbreviations:

K: Knit

Kf&b: Knit the next stitch and leave on left hand needle; knit the stitch again thru the back loop.

K2tog: Knit next two stitches together

M1: Make 1 stitch – With left hand needle, pick up bar from between the last worked stitch and next unworked stitch. Place Left hand needle in from front to back; knit that loop thru the back loop.

P: Purl

P2tog: Purl next two stitches together

RS: Right Side

Sl: Slip

SSK: Slip next two stitches individually from left needle to right needle; slip left needle into the front of the stitches; k2tog thru the back loop.

WS: Wrong Side

Turn: Stop where you are and flip work over (as if you’ve finished the row) and work the wrong side as told.

Make Your Own Gees Bend Inspired Quilt -- Class and a History Lesson

Crafts are often more than crafts.  And the Gees Bend Quilt story is a piece of American History.  Did you know... "

• Martin Luther King Jr. visited and spoke in Gee's Bend on the eve of the Selma march in 1965; later, mules from Gee's Bend pulled his casket.

• Traditionally, quilts were hung on clotheslines to "air out" during the spring. Many quilters used this once-a-year public display as an opportunity to discover new ideas for their compositions.

• Gee’s Benders have coined their own terms for common quilt patterns. They call the square-in-a-square Log Cabin pattern by the name "Housetop"; the Courthouse Steps variation is known locally as "Bricklayer." The Roman Stripes or Fence Rail pattern is, in Gee’s Bend, a "Crazy" quilt (no relation to the Crazy quilts made with irregular scraps).

• In 1937 and '38, the federal government commissioned two series of photographs of Gee's Bend. The images have since become some of the most famous images of Depression-era American life.

• In earlier years, one of the primary influences on the Gee's Bend quilt aesthetic was the newspaper- and magazine-collages used for insulation on the inside walls of homes in the rural American South.

 More from the Gee Bend Website....
Gee’s Bend is a small rural community nestled into a curve in the Alabama River southwest of Selma, Alabama. Founded in antebellum times, it was the site of cotton plantations, primarily the lands of Joseph Gee and his relative Mark Pettway, who bought the Gee estate in 1850. After the Civil War, the freed slaves took the name Pettway, became tenant farmers for the Pettway family, and founded an all-black community nearly isolated from the surrounding world. During the Great Depression, the federal government stepped in to purchase land and homes for the community, bringing strange renown — as an "Alabama Africa" — to this sleepy hamlet.
The town’s women developed a distinctive, bold, and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional American (and African American) quilts, but with a geometric simplicity reminiscent of Amish quilts and modern art. The women of Gee’s Bend passed their skills and aesthetic down through at least six generations to the present

Tonight starts Stitch DC's Gees Bend Inspired Quilt Class.  Be inspired by the stories of quilters who " transformed a necessity into a work of art — but their innovative and often minimalist approach to design is unique."  Come and by inspired to make your own "work of art".  Students should be have working knowledge of the sewing machine.  Materials are not included in the class but you get a 10% discount of all materials. 
SUMMER SESSION: 7/22,29 8/5 from 6-8:30 / $120 plus materials  register
FALL SESSION: October 9, 22 and November 6 / 1:30 to 3:00 pm / $120 plus materials / register online


PHOTOS thanks to GEE BEND WEBSITE and flickr Gee Bend pool

Mystery Craft A Long ...POST #2

How are you doing?  have you chosen a craft?  Are you a polycrafter? I'm thinking I'm going to merge my crochet and knit pieces but don't worry, I'll stick to the first plan for all of you!

Quilters:  finished cutting?  are you ready to sew?  the seam allowances (included in the cut pieces) are 1/4 inch.
Step 1:  Take your center square and sew a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch rectangle to the left and right sides. 
Step 2:  Press the seams down.
Step 3: Sew the longer cut strips to the top and bottom of the rectangle you made in Step 1 above.
Step 4:  Press seams again.
Repeat steps 1-4 twenty-four (24) more times

Knitters:  I got lots of calls wondering what the 7 1/2 inch square looked like at the end.  I also got requests to show how to pick up stitches. 

here is how the piece should look after you knit the center and pick up on the left and right selvedges.

How to Pick Up Stitches:

1.  Looking at the right side of the rectangle.  Hold knitted rectangle in Left Hand and insert right hand needle into first stitch as if to knit. (photo1)

2.  Wrap yarn around right hand needle and pull up a new stitch. (photo 2)

3.  Insert right hand needle into second stitch on knitted piece in left hand.  (photo 3 below)

4.  Wrap yarn as if you are knitting (you are!) (photo 4) and pull up new stitches (photo 5)

5.  Two stitches picked up.  Continue picking up stitches across row.  To pick up evenly, place a marker at the half way mark and try to pick up half of the stitches up to that marker.

Knitters and crocheters, continue working on your squares and I'll post the next part of the puzzle on Friday. 

More Classes added

Learn to dye, knit cables, knit lace and knit with two colors at Stitch DC.  This is just a few of the classes we offer.  Check out the calendar here.  We've made it super easy to sign up and register on line too! 

Thanks! 

An oldie and a goodie

This is one of our best selling easy, easy scarf pattern.  I made the original one back in 2004 when we first opened.  I've updated the sample recently with our new handpainted Dia Duit Mohair. 

Dia Duit is our new local handpainted yarns available exclusively at Stitch DC.  I hope to share more about this new venture very soon with all of you!

The Scarf Pattern
Materials:  1 skein Dia Duit Mohair (shown in colorway "Frankly my dear...") (silk mohair approximately 230 yards per skein)
US 8 knitting needles

Gauge:  4.5 stitches equal 1" in 3x3 ribbing

With US 8 needles, cast on 36 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 3, Purl 3 to end.
Repeate row 1 until desired length.  If you use the entire skein, it will be about 6 feet long and to make sure you have enough to bind off repeat Row 1 until approximately 1 yard of yarn remains and bind off loosely.
Weave in end and Enjoy!!!

Mystery Quilt Along -- Choose your craft!

Wanna join Stitch DC as we do an online quilt along? 

here are the rules...
1.  You choose your craft -- knitting, crocheting, quilting
2.  Materials are available at the store.  Mention the quilt along and receive 10% off your purchase.  We can ship too! 
3.  Check in each friday and following wednesday for the next 6 weeks for each set of instructions. 
4.  Share your pieces via email to me.  I will post them as they come in.
5.  Enjoy, Create, Enjoy, Create, Enjoy!

Week one... scroll down... i have instructions for sewing, knitting and crocheting!

QUILTING:
Cut the the following:
1.  twenty five 3 1/2"  squares,
2.  fifty 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" rectangles
3.  fifty 2 1/2" by 7 1/2" rectangles

Knitting: 
Gauge= 4 stitches equal 1" in garter stitch
Start by cast on 12 stitches
Knit every row for 3" inches.  Cast off. 
Pick up and knit 12 stitches along the left selvedge side of the initial square (change colors if you want, have fun enjoy!).  Knit every row until piece measures 2 1/4" from cast on row.  Cast off.
Pick up and knit 12 stitches along the right selvedge side of the initial square (change colors if you want, have fun enjoy!). Knit every row until piece measures 2 1/4" from cast on row. Cast off.

Looking so the the peice measures 7 1/2 inches across the top and bottom.  Pick up and knit 30 stitches (again you change color if you want now) across the top and knit every row until current section measures 2 1/4" tall. cast off.
Now repeat and Pick up and knit 30 stitches (again you change color if you want now) across the bottom and knit every row until current section measures 2 1/4" tall. cast off.
You now have a 7 1/2" square.  Repeat the square pattern until you have 25 total

Crochet
Gauge: 4 single crochet equal 1"


Chain 13, turn and single crochet into the second from the hook, then single crochet (SC) across row (12 SC) turn.
Chain 2, make first single crochet into first stitch, then sc across row, turn.
repeat for 3" inches. fasten off.

Turn to left selvedge of the initial square (change colors if you want, have fun enjoy!). Work 12 SC down the selvedge row, turn,  Chain 2, make first single crochet into first stitch, then sc across row, turn.

Repeat previous row until current section measures 2 1/4" inches. fasten off.

Turn to right selvedge of the initial square, and single crochet 12 stitches down the selvedge edge. turn,
Row 2: Chain 2, make first single crochet into first stitch, then sc across row, turn.

Repeat previous row until current section measures 2 1/4" inches. fasten off.

Looking so the the piece measures 7 1/2 inches across the top and bottom. Single crochet 30 stitches (again you change color if you want now) across the top turn,
Row 2: Chain 2, make first single crochet into first stitch, then sc across row, turn.

Repeat previous row until current section measures 2 1/4" inches. fasten off.


Now repeat and Pick up Single crochet 30 stitches (again you change color if you want now) across the bottom and turn,
Row 2: Chain 2, make first single crochet into first stitch, then sc across row, turn.

Repeat previous row until current section measures 2 1/4" inches. fasten off.
 
You now have a 7 1/2" square. Repeat the square pattern until you have 25 total