Knitting Amy

Too many KAL's or what?!?

2012-02-12T02:45:00.000-08:00

Well. . .I'm addicted. To KAL's.(KAL = Knit ALong) Sometimes I just like saying I'll do them even if I don't. But most of the time, I finish them.Sometimes I finish because there are prizes, but mostly I just like the encouragement from the other people involved to keep going. . .I did this for a recent KAL: (The Anadara by Allison Janocha)

And I'm almost done with this one: (The Susanna IC January Mystery KAL)

And I didn't even know much about it, but now I have started knitting for the Mittens for me Mystery KAL by Laura Linneman, which isn't far enough yet for a picture. . .but I'm using yarn with silk in it. . .that's always good, right?

I'm also working, slowly, on a cool bag (The Fulfillment Bag by Trisha Paetsch) that is also not all that far completed yet. . .but it has two color knitting (fair isle) and looks really really cool so far :)

Yeah. Lots of KAL's. Too many? Nah. There is no such thing :)

Some Funny YouTube Videos for Knitters

2012-02-10T14:04:00.001-08:00

This could be me :)

And this one is hysterical. . .:) :)

Exciting news!

2012-02-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

I am getting two patterns publish early this summer by Three Irish Girls, so be on the watch for those. I won a $25 gift certificate to The Loopy Ewe because of the last summer camp loopy drawing, which was not done until a couple of days ago . . .AND I ended up winning $300 for taking 3rd place for my sweater! Thanks to everyone who voted. . .

Lately, I've been working on shawls. . .check out my projects on Ravelry. My user name is AmyKenagy.

Here are a couple of teaser photos. This is the Anadara shawl by Allison Janocha.

My cozy warm sweater! Help me win!

2011-11-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

I've entered this sweater in a contest and hope to get a few more votes before November 15th. You can check it out here! If you feel led to vote, you can click on this link and click the little box in front of my entry. It's the third entry down. . .Thanks for voting! :)

Not exactly knitting but lots of fun

2011-11-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

These were SO much fun to make!! We used glitter glue and buttons and scrapbook paper and made one for each of the grandmas. :) Washable paint made me a little less nervous about the handprints :) Definitely a fun craft!

I-cord tasseled hat

2010-09-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

I-cord tasseled hat

By Amy Kenagy

This hat is easily adjusted for bigger or smaller heads. Just contact me for math help! The given size fits my larger headed 4 month old with an 18 inch head circumference. This yields a very stretchy hat fabric, perfect for growing heads!

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors. 55 yards of main color and 25 yards of contrasting color.

Needles: Size 10 circular needles (I did magic loop, so either a long cable for magic loop or short cable for circumference knitting and dpn's for closing up the top)
Size 4 dpns or circular needles for completing the i-cord

Gauge: 16 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches using size 10 needles in stockinette

PATTERN
Stretchy cast on 56 stitches in main color. Join without twisting.
1x1 rib (*K1, P1*) for 2.5 inches.
K2 rounds.

The next 7 rounds are garter stitch in contrasting color. (K rows 1, 3, 5, 7 and P rows 2, 4, 6)
Continuing with contrasting color * K5, k2tog * repeat to end.
Switch back to main color and K in stockinette (K every row) for 3.5 inches.
Begin decrease rounds.
(K6 K2tog) Repeat to end. (42 stitches)
(K5 K2tog) Repeat to end. (36 stitches)
(K4 K2tog) Repeat to end. (30 stitches)
(K3 K2tog) Repeat to end. (24 stitches)
(K2 K2tog) Repeat to end. (18 stitches)
(K1 K2tog) Repeat to end. (12 stitches)

You should have 12 stitches left.
Knit the next three stitches onto a smaller double pointed or circular needle. Using your working yarn, make an i-cord six inches long. Break yarn.
Move to the next three stitches and make a four inch long i-cord with your main color. Break yarn.

Move the next three stitches onto your double pointed needle or circular needle and, using contrasting color make an i-cord five inches long. Break yarn.
Move the last three stitches and with your contrasting color, make a four inch long i-cord. Break yarn.
Weave in ends.

Updated sizing for Girly Girl Skirty Soaker

2010-09-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the pattern updated to include the larger size:

Girly-girl Skirty Soaker
By Amy Kenagy

This pattern was one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants patterns. The yarn I used was considered DK weight, though I found it to be slightly thicker than that. On the soaker part of the pattern and for the first couple of rows of the skirty I double stranded, which made my gauge differ on the skirt versus the soaker body. The choice to double strand for the first couple rows of the skirty was to add a little detail and fullness, so you can single strand there, too, if you want to. This is more a recipe than a pattern. I have had people just attach the skirty to their favorite longies or shorties by purling a row one to two inches below the waist band and then picking up those stitches like the pattern does to begin the skirty. There are two sizes of the pattern listed. If one of those won't work for you, just remember that your cast on number needs to be a multiple of 4 and then changing the pattern where needed to make the skirty pleats and the weird ribbed pattern at the top work out. I did not add short rows but feel free to add them to the back of the soaker if you need extra room.

Note: Yarn amounts for the small size assumes a double stranded soake rand single stranded skirty with DK weight or light worsted weigh yarn. The Large size assumes single stranded with a heavier worsted weight yarn.

Yarn: Small size: 280 yards (125 grams) of DK or light worsted weight wool
Large size: 350 yards (166 grams) of worsted weight wool

Needles: size 4 circular needles (16 inch) AND size 7 circular needles (24 inch)

Gauge: 5 stitches single strand (4.5 sitches per inch double strand) and 6 rows on size 7 = 1 inch

Abbreviations: k = knit p = purl
kfb= knit front and back of stitch
k2tog = knit next two stitches together
pfb= purl front and back of stitch
p2tog=purl two together

SOAKER:
On your smaller needles, cast on 72(96) stitches and join, being careful not to twist. Mark the beginning of the row. (This marker will note the start of the rows and the back of the soaker).

Knit in a 2 x 2 rib pattern for 1.5 inches. Then the pattern switches up a bit. It opens it up a bit, makes it a little wider as it extends to the hip and I like the look of variant patterns so I did this: (If you don’t like this or you cast on a number that is not a multiple of 8, just continue the 2x2 rib for 2.5 inches).

*k3 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1* for 5 rows.
Next row: k3 *p1 k1 p1 k5*(repeat between * until last 5 stitches) p1 k1 p1 k2. Repeat this row for 4 more rows.
Switch to larger needles and purl entire row.
Knit in stockinette stitch for 5.5(6.5 inches) from your cast on row.

Begin the leg holes on the back of the soaker: k19 (k25), bind off next 5, k25(k37), bind off next 5, k16(k24). Remove marker. Knit until 2 before bound off stitches. Move yarn to the front. Slip next two stitches purlwise to right needle.
Turn your work. Move yarn to front and p2tog.Continue in stockinette until two before your BO stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip last two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn your work. Move yarn to back and k2tog. Knit until two before your bind off stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip next two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn work and move yarn to the front. P2tog. Continue purling until two before your bind off stitches. Continue in this pattern until 18 (20) stitches remain between your bind off stitches on either hip. Leave these stitches live but cut the yarn (you’ll weave it in later) and return to the front of the soaker.
Begin the leg holes on the front of the soaker: Join new yarn (double stranding if you've been doing that) and knit until two stitches remain before the bind off stitches. Move yarn to the front. Slip last two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn work and move yarn to the front. P2tog. Continue in stockinette until two stitches remain before the bind off stitches.Move yarn to back. Slip these two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work. Move yarn to back. K2tog. Continue in Stockinette until two stitches before your bind-off stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip these two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work. Repeat this pattern until 18(20) stitches remain. Then work these stitches without decreasing until the leg holes measure between 10(12) inches in circumference. If your baby has chubby legs, you can do this part longer to make larger leg openings. If you'd like to maintain the finish pattern around the leg holes, move yarn and slip the last stitch of each row purlwise. Then turn work and continue in pattern. Cut yarn and leave a long tail to graft with.
To finish, graft seam using the Kitchner stitch. Weave in ends. If your finished leg openings aren’t to your liking, you can add a cuff, but mine turned out looking finished so I just left them as is.

SKIRTY:

This is one of those places where the math would change if you cast on a number that, when multiplied by 2 is not a multiple of 12. (EX: In this case, I cast on 72 which has increased to 144 at this point in the pattern. 144 is a multiple of 12 so I knit 11 and purled 1 on the first row and went from there. If I had cast on 80 at this point in the pattern it would have increased to 160 stitches, which is a multiple of 10, so I could have knit 9 and purled 1 or since it’s a multiple of 16, I could have started with knit 15 purl 1. ) Now back to the pattern. . .

Pick up the 72(96) purled stitches back near the top of the soaker on your larger needles. I did the first two rows double stranded to add more bumpy detail and fullness at the top of the skirt, but this is optional. With the top of the soaker facing you, knit one row. On the next row, kfb of each stitch to increase to 144(192) stitches. At this point, if you used a double strand to knit your first two rows, cut one strand of yarn, leaving tail to weave in later.
Continuing with uncut strand, *k11, p1*. Repeat until end of round. Do this for another 4(6) rows. (or more rows if you want the finished skirt longer – this applies to each of the repeated rows below)
On next row, *k11, pfb*. Contine to the end of round. (156(208)stitches)
*k11,p2* for 4(6) rows.
On next row, *k11,p1, pfb*. Continue to the end of round. (168(224)stitches)
*k11,p3* for 4(6) rows.
On next row, *k11, p1, pfb, p1*. Continue to the end of round. (180(240)stitches)
*k11,p4* for 4(6) rows.
On next row, *k11, p2, pfb, p1*. Continue to the end of round. (192(256)stitches)
*k11,p5* for 4(6) rows.
To add length to your skirt even after adding in extra repeats above, you can also continue to knit in pattern at this point until the skirt reaches desired length.
Bind off in pattern.

Weave in ends. Make an i-cord or other tie and weave through waist band.

This pattern was designed by Amy Kenagy (username: AmyKenagy on Ravelry). Please direct questions regarding the selling of skirty/soakers made from this pattern to the designer. If you love this pattern, please make a donation to the March of Dimes in honor of Samuel Hunter Kenagy.

Girly-girl skirty soaker

2009-05-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

Girly-girl skirty soaker
By Amy Kenagy

Ravelry link to the pattern!

This pattern was one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants patterns. The yarn I used was considered DK weight, though I found it to be slightly thicker than that. On the soaker part of the pattern and for the first couple of rows of the skirty I double stranded, which made my gauge differ on the skirt versus the body. The choice to double strand for the first couple rows of the skirty was to add a little detail, so you can single strand there, too, if you want to. This pattern makes a size small but can easily be modified simply by making your cast on number a multiple of 4 and then changing the patterns where needed to make the skirty pleats and the weird ribbed pattern at the top work out. I did not add short rows but feel free to add them to the back if you need extra room.

Yarn: for a small size: 280 yards (125 grams) of DK or light worsted weight wool

Needles: size 4 circular needles (16 inch) AND size 7 circular needles (24 inch)

Gauge: 5 stitches per inch single strand (4.5 sitches per inch double strand) and 6 rows per inch on size 7

Abbreviations: k = knit p = purl k2tog = knit next two stitches together

p2tog=purl two together

kfb= knit front and back of stitch pfb= purl front and back of stitch

SOAKER:

On your smaller needles, cast on 72 stitches and join, being careful not to twist. Mark the beginning of the row. (This marker will note the start of the rows and the back of the soaker). I use long-tail cast-on but any stretchy cast on method is fine.

Knit in a 2 x 2 rib pattern for 1.5 inches. Then the pattern switches up a bit. It opens it up a bit, makes it a little wider as it extends to the hip and I like the look of variant patterns so I did this: (If you don’t like this, just continue the 2x2 rib for 2.5 inches). (This is one of those places where the math would change if you cast on a number is not a multiple of 8. Change pattern accordingly. I’ll help if you need it. )

*k3 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1* for 5 rows.

Next row: k3 *p1 k1 p1 k5*(repeat between * until last 5 stitches) p1 k1 p1 k2. Repeat this row for 4 more rows.

Switch to larger needles and purl entire row.

Knit in stockinette stitch for 18 rows. (0r about 5 ½ inches from your cast on row when measured on the front of soaker)

Begin the leg holes on the back of the soaker: k19 , bind off next 5, k25, bind off next 5, k16. Remove marker. Knit until 2 before bound off stitches. Move yarn to the front. Slip next two stitches purlwise to right needle.

Turn your work.Move yarn to front and p2tog.Continue in stockinette until two before your BO stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip last two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn your work. Move yarn to back and k2tog. Knit until two before your bind off stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip next two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn work and move yarn to the front. P2tog. Continue purling until two before your bind off stitches. Continue in this pattern until 18 stitches remain between your bind off stitches on either hip. Leave these stitches live but cut the yarn (you’ll weave it in later) and return to the front of the soaker.

Begin the leg holes on the front of the soaker: Join new yarn (double strand) and knit until two stitches remain before the bind off stitches. Move yarn to the front. Slip last two stitches purlwise to right needle. Turn work and move yarn to the front. P2tog. Continue in stockinette until two stitches remain before the bind off stitches.Move yarn to back. Slip these two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work. Move yarn to back. K2tog. Continue in Stockinette until two stitches before your bind-off stitches. Move yarn to front. Slip these two stitches purlwise onto right needle. Turn work. Repeat this pattern until 18 stitches remain. Then work these stitches without decreasing until the leg holes measure between 9 and 11 inches in circumference (I did mine 10 inches but it depends on the chubbiness of the baby J ). If you'd like to maintain the finish pattern around the leg holes, move yarn and slip the last stitch of each row purlwise. Then turn work and continue in pattern. Cut yarn and leave a long tail to graft with.

To finish, graft seam using the Kitchner stitch. Weave in ends. If your finished leg openings aren’t to your liking, you can add a cuff, but mine turned out looking finished so I just left them as is.

SKIRTY:

This is one of those places where the math would change if you cast on a number that, when multiplied by 2 is not a multiple of 12. (EX: In this case, I cast on 72 which has increased to 144 at this point in the pattern. 144 is a multiple of 12 so I knit 11 and purled 1 on the first row and went from there. If I had cast on 80 at this point in the pattern it would have increased to 160 stitches, which is a multiple of 10, so I could have knit 9 and purled 1 or since it’s a multiple of 16, I could have started with knit 15 purl 1. I’ll help if you need it J ) Now back to the pattern. . .

Pick up the 72 purled stitches back near the top of the soaker on your larger needles. I did the first two rows double strand to add more bumpy detail at the top of the skirt, but this is optional. With the top of the soaker facing you, knit one row. On the next row, kfb of each stitch to increase to 144 stitches. At this point, if you used a double strand to knit your first two rows, cut one strand of yarn, leaving tail to weave in later.

Continuing with uncut strand, *k11, p1*. Repeat until end of round. Do this for another 4 rows. (or 5 rows if you want the finished skirt longer)

On next row, *k11, pfb*. Contine to the end of round. (156 stitches)

*k11,p2* for 4 rows. (or 5 rows if you want the finished skirt longer)

On next row, *k11,p1, pfb*. Continue to the end of round. (168 stitches)

*k11,p3* for 4 rows. (or 5 rows if you want the finished skirt longer)

On next row, *k11, p1, pfb, p1*. Continue to the end of round. (180 stitches)

*k11,p4* for 4 rows. (or 5 rows if you want the finished skirt longer)

On next row, *k11, p2, pfb, p1*. Continue to the end of round. (192 stitches)

*k11,p5* for 4 rows. (or 5 rows if you want the finished skirt longer)

Bind off in pattern.

Weave in ends. Make an i-cord or other tie and weave through waist band.

This pattern was designed by Amy Kenagy. Please direct questions regarding the selling of skirty/soakers made from this pattern to the designer. If you love this pattern, please make a donation to the March of Dimes in honor of Samuel Hunter Kenagy.

first mittens

2009-02-16T18:32:00.001-08:00

first mittens
Originally uploaded by amykenagy

Warm woolen mittens. . .these are a few of my favorite things. . .my first attempt. . .and finished just in time for the big snow. Loved the colors in the yarn, the ease of the pattern. . .not bad for a first attempt at mittens AND cables :)

Tim's super soft hat

2009-02-16T18:31:00.001-08:00

Tim's super soft hat #2
Originally uploaded by amykenagy

This was my first project with Malabrigo. . .a hat for Tim. . .and it was not only soft, it actually fit. . .one of my favorites so far. . .love the ease of the pattern and the super soft yarn. . .

Cutey Zach in his hat

2009-02-16T18:28:00.001-08:00

Cutey Zach in his hat
Originally uploaded by amykenagy

This is one of my favorite things I've knit so far. . .a cute little baseball style hat with a brim, made out of super soft wool . . . love it!

Still knitting

2009-02-16T18:14:00.001-08:00

So I am finally updating. . .since my first blog on the subject I have now finished several items. Knitting has become my hobby, and my whenever I have a moment thing that I do. I LOVE it. I'm learning about what yarns I like and which I would rather not use. . .I'm learning how quickly you can become a yarn snob :) I'm also learning that for some people, knitting is more a way of life. . .which is not always the most accepting when you don't choose that same way of life. I know, that doesn't make much sense. . .but I'm not always the most "natural" mama. I sometimes use disposables and I sometimes buy yarn with a bit of acrylic mixed in. . .but that doesn't make me any less of a knitter, right? So here I am, months later. . .still knitting and still loving it. You can see the rest of my blog to view some of my favorite projects.

Super Easy Hat

2008-09-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

Super Easy Hat

Needles: Size 10 (16inch) circular needles AND size 10 double pointed needles

Yarn: 100+ yards of bulky yarn

Size: Normal sized head? (mine is 22 inches around and it fits loosely)

1. Cast on 77 stitches and join.

2. Work 8 rounds in garter stitch (knit one row, purl one row)

3. Knit two rounds.

4. Purl one round.

5. In the next round, increase 7 stitches by knitting into the front and back of each 11th stitch, ending with 84 stitches.

6. Knit 2 rounds.

7. Purl 1 round.

8. Knit 4 rounds.

9. Purl 1 round.

10. Knit 5 rounds.

11. Purl 1 round.

12. Knit 6 rounds.

13. Purl 1 round.

14. Knit 1 round.

**for the following steps, switch to double pointed needles when necessary**

15. Next round: (knit 5, knit 2 together) ending with 72 stitches.

16. Next round: (purl 4, purl 2 together) ending with 60 stitches.

17. Next round: (purl 3, purl 2 together) ending with 48 stitches.

18. Next round: (purl 2, purl 2 together) ending with 36 stitches.

19. Next round: (purl 1, purl 2 together) ending with 24 stitches.

20. Next 3 rounds: (purl 2 together) ending with 12, 6, and 3 stitches respectively.

21. Finish by either cutting yarn and sewing through remaining stitches, or by making an I-cord.