FO & Free Pattern: T-shirt Yarn Pillow

This pillow was a quick knit thanks to size 19 needles and the thick t-shirt yarn I made the other day (directions here).

To make one, you will need:

Approximately 6 balls of t-shirt yarn (6 t-shirts worth). I used various shades of beige and white.
Size 19 needles
Darning needle
A square pillow insert (I used an old one I had lying around and just removed the cover)

Cover:

Front: Cast on 55 sts.
Row 1: k27, pm, k1, pm, k to end.
Row 2 (RS) (decrease row): K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Row 3: knit
Row 4:(RS) decrease row): K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Row 5: knit
Row 6: (RS) (decrease row): K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Row 7: purl

Repeat rows 2-7 until 3 sts remain. Remove markers, then slip 1, k2tog, psso. You will have one stitch remaining. This will be the center stitch on the mitred square that will form the back of your pillow cover. Cut yarn.

Back:

Now, starting at the corner to the right of your center stitch, with the right side facing up, pick up and knit 27 stitches along the right side of your square, pm, knit the center stitch, pm, and then pick up and knit 27 stitches along the top of your square. You are now ready to knit the mitred square for the back:

Row 1: k27, pm, k1, pm, k to end.
Row 2 (RS) (decrease row): K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Row 3: knit
Row 4:(RS) decrease row): K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Row 5: knit
Row 6: (RS) (decrease row): K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Row 7: purl

Repeat rows 2-7 until 3 sts remain. Remove markers, then slip 1, k2tog, psso. You will have one stitch remaining. Cut yarn and weave the tail through the remaining stitch.

Weave in all ends.

Your pillow cover will be connected to the front on two sides, so you can slip your pillow insert inside, like this:


















To finish, take a long length of t-shirt yarn and your darning needle. Starting on the bottom right corner, seam together the open sides of the pillow.

Enjoy!

Super Helpful Hubby

I'm making another bathmat for our new bathroom. I'm using bedsheets like I did with my first one.

This time, though, I got my husband to help out. He's cutting the little holes that you use to connect the strips of sheet together. I was connecting them and winding the big ball of yarn. While watching Grey's Anatomy. Awesome.

Thanks, babe.

FO: Another Tiny Tim

Just a short post on this rainy Saturday. Here's another Tiny Tim sweater, this one in a nubby blue tweed wool. I made this one in the 12-18 month size. I gave it to Katie for Edward to wear--hopefully we'll have some colder weather in the next few months!

I used Debbie Bliss Aran Donegal Tweed--a little bit heavier yarn than the pattern calls for, but since babies grow into everything eventually, I figured it would work anyway.

See more Tiny Tim FO's here and here.

F.O.: Recyled Cashmere Sweater Scarf

This scarf began as an argyle cashmere sweater, a gift from my mom that I loved, but was unfortunately stained and starting to pill. The flecks of brown and pink in the scarf come from the argyle pattern. Because it is cashmere, it is super soft and smooshy. But you could make a similar scarf using any sweater you have lying around that has started to lose its luster (due to pills, moths, or general wear).

To make this scarf:

1) Lay out your sweater flat.
2) Cut off the body underneath the armpits, and make yarn using the same technique as my t-shirt yarn.
3) Cut off the arms, and make yarn out of those in the same way, cutting horizontally across the arms much like the t-shirt tube.
4) For the remainder of the sweater, cut in a spiral, creating one long strip of fabric, starting at the outside edges and going around the neck.
5) Wind "swarn" into balls.

(I forgot to take pictures of this process, but I may create another one and provide pictures for these instructions).

One sweater should produce 4 balls of yarn, enough yarn for a skinny scarf.

Materials:

- "swarn" from one cashmere sweater
- size 19 needles
- darning needle

Cast on 8 stitches.
Knit in garter stitch (knit all rows) until you've used up most of your yarn (leaving enough to cast off). Slip the first stitch of each row to create a nice selvedge.

To join balls of yarn, just knot them--the fabric is bulky enough that the joins will not show.

Cast off.
Weave in ends.
Stretch the scarf gently to extend the length.

Wear everywhere.

FO: Mini Bed-Sheet Rag Bath Mat

Thanks Cocoknits.com for the free pattern [ravelry].

Pattern: Rag Bath Mat [my project on revelry]
Designer: Cocoknits.com
Materials: 1 queen size bed sheet cut into 1.5 inch strips
Needles: Size 19 Denise Interchangeables

My husband and I remodeled our bathroom. It's small. He calls it "European." It's super-nice, but our old bath mats didn't fit any more.

This fits perfectly.



I started with this pile of sheets. They were graciously donated by members of my neighborhood (via our amazing listserv).



I tore the sheets into 1.5 inch strips and bound them together following cocoknits.com's recipe.



Final product is squooshy and adorable. I'm in love with this yarn and this pattern.



Top view.



And in place. Ta-da. Not bad for one day's work.

What we did today

Lots of fiber, food, and fun projects. We'll share photos during the rest of the week.



Here's one peek. A felted-sweater netbook sleeve.

Tiny Tim and Longies - Second Time Around

Jordynn knit some pants for Adrian when he was a baby. I broke them out for Edward now that it's cold. (She used the Pimp My Longies pattern.)

I have only two words: Baby. Bottoms. They look so cute in knitted pants.

Jordynn also designed and knit Tiny Tim for Adrian many years ago now (it seems). Here it is on Edward. I think he looks smashing in his knitted outfit.

Since it was 23 degrees outside, it was nice to have him cozy, too.