A Little Update...

Hey! Sorry for the wait for a new post. I have been wrapped up in finals at school, and my pattern making has taken a hit and been replaced with studying. But I finished finals today, so a new pattern (a Holiday one none the less) will be up before the end of the weekend! But thanks for reading, knitting and crocheting.

Beginner Cables-Knitted

So, I have wanted to learn how to knit cables since I started knitting. But I needed cable needles first. I found one way of making cables without a cable needle (here: http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques), but I don't trust myself. But, on the same website, I found a way to make your own cable needles out of small dowels from the hardware store! I had some lying around the house from a school project, but they cost less then a dollar to make. All you need is a wood dowel, a pencil sharpener, and if you're horrible at pencil sharpeners, some sandpaper to smooth the tips.

Note: you can make knitting needles, even double-pointed ones for circular knitting, in this same way. Just cut longer sections of dowels, and use a gauge checker to know what size it is.

First, measure out about 3 1/2 inches on the dowel. You only need the cable needle to be about three inches, but you want to give a little extra length so it doesn't turn out too short.


Then, after you have it cut, simply sharpen both ends into a nice long point. Like a pencil.

If your sharpened ends are rough and catch on the yarn, then you need to sand them. Start with a bigger grade of sand paper, like a 150 grade. Then go to a smaller grade, like 110. It could be done then, but if i still snags the yarn, keep going down to a smaller grade of sandpaper till it doesn't anymore.


And there you have it! A basic, inexpensive cable needle. This will enable you to create cables in your knitting fairly easily.

Now it's time to learn how to use your new needle.
The simple basics of cable knitting are that you knit all the cable stitches, and purl all the other ones. It's really not that hard.

Cast on 14 stitches.
*we're going to purl the first four, knit the next six, purl the last four.
purl the next row completely.
go back to the * and do that pattern again
Continue in that style (pattern row, purl row) until your third purl row. Your next row will be the turn row, not the usual pattern row.
Purl the first four stitches as usual. Then, slide the first three knit stitches onto your cable needle. To make a right-turning cable, put your cable needle behind your knitting. For a left-turning cable, keep it in front. I'm going to do a left-turning cable this time.
Knit the next three. Then knit the next three directly off of your cable needle.
Purl the next row.
Do the * pattern for the next row.
Continue alternating between the pattern and purl rows until you are ready to put in another turn.
When you do put in another turn, make it go the same direction.
And there you have it! That's how you make a cable! Cast off when you feel comfortable cabeling, and save your practice piece forever!

Fabulously Simple Harry Potter Scarf-Crochet

I must admit, I am a Harry Potter lover. So I decided that I should make a scarf to wear to the premiers of the next two movies (Deathly Hollows part 1 and 2) in my favorite house's colors. In my case, I like Ravenclaw the most, and the book versions of the Ravenclaw colors the best (in the book they are blue and bronze, in the movies they are blue and grey). This scarf is very simple, and is done in all one stitch. It is perfect for those of you who:
a) love the Harry Potter books/movies
b) want to get better at changing colors
c) are going on a long trip or are sick and want a project that is simple and doesn't require too much yarn.

You can do this scarf in the Hogwarts house colors, or in just any colors you think look good. But for those of you doing the HP colors, here's a list of which house uses which colors. The bold ones are your main color.
Gryffindor (Harry's house): Scarlet and gold
Slytherin (the so-called "evil" house): Green and silver
Ravenclaw (the ones who like to learn aka the "smart" people house): blue and either bronze (books) or grey (movies)
Hufflepuff( Finders!): Yellow and black

What you'll need:
About 7 oz. of your main color (try the Caron brand simply soft yarn)
About 4 oz. of your secondary color
A hook to obtain the proper gauge (this can vary between yarn, but for the kind I used, a medium bulk worsted weight yarn, I used an I/9-5.40mm hook)
Tapestry (Yarn) needle

How to make it:
in main color, CH 24
skip the first 2 CHs, HDC in each CH across (22 stitches)
*CH 2, HDC across
Repeat from * until you have 18 rows (this includes the first row of HDC), for the last row, DO NOT chain 2, leave the last HDC unfinished so there are three loops on your hook.
That is your first main color block. Now you are ready to start the secondary color bars. It's easier than it sounds.
Start your secondary color by pulling it through the three loops like you would if you were doing another row of your main color, but leave about a 6 inch long tail, then chain 2.
Make two rows of HDC the same way you did with the main color block.
On the last HDC of your 2 secondary color rows, switch back to your main color, remembering to leave a 6 inch long tail.
Do 2 rows in your main color, then switch back to your secondary color and do 2 more rows of it.
When you finish two stripes in your secondary color (each stripe being two rows), you have completed one leg of the pattern!
Now all you have to do is make another block of 18 rows, then another set of stripes, and keep going until the scarf is as long as you want it to be. It gets long quickly, so remember to check the length after every few blocks of your main color.
Tie off when scarf is as long as you want, weave in all loose ends.

Fringe (optional):
You have 22 stitches on each end with which to put fringe. That means you should cut eleven strands of equal length in each color.
Start with your main color. Fold it in half, then take your crochet hook and pull the folded part through the end little loops. You will now have a loop on one side and 2 strands on the other. Pull both strands through the loop and pull tight. Repeat that technique while alternating colors all along the bottom, and then repeat on the other side.
Once you've done that, your scarf is done! Congratulations!

"beePod" iPod cozy- Knitting

I originally made this adorable little cozy for my older sister, who is obsessed with bees. It is mostly knitted, but the wings were crocheted. It is fairly simple to make, but you need to be able to do both knit and purl stitches. The crochet is merely the single crochet stitch.

"beePod" iPod cozy:

What you'll need:
US size 8 knitting needles
size F/5-3.75mm crochet hook
medium weight yarn-
one skein yellow
one skein black
cotton crochet thread-white
button
tapestry (yarn) needle
thread and sewing needle for button*

*My button has the one little hole in the back, and I just used some of my crochet thread (which is the really thin stuff you sometimes see in the yarn department-look for sugar n' cream yarn, for example) to tie it on. Most other buttons will need regular sewing thread and needles.


How to make it:
In yellow, cast on as many stitches as you need to go a little past the width of your iPod. For my sister's iPod video (I don't know if there's more than just the 1st gen, but hers is the 1st gen one) I cast on twelve.
*do three rows of stockinette stitch in yellow
switch to black
stockinette stitch three rows of black

repeat from * until it is twice as long as your iPod, making sure the stripes match up with each other when you fold it in half.
I had six stripes of yellow, five of black
cast off.

Then, pick up the four middle stitches on one needle. To do this, just put your needle through one of the top loops of the middle four cast off stitches so that you start with the next stitch to continue the stockinette pattern. Do four rows of stockinette.

In the next row, knit (or purl) the first stitch as usual. Then knit (or purl) the next two stitches together. wrap your yarn over the top of your loop, and then knit (or purl) the next stitch as usual. This should give you a space for a button to go through.
knit or purl the next row as usual

in the next row, knit or purl the first two stitches together, then the remaining stitches together. You will have only two stitches now.

Knit or purl both stitches together, then cast off the last stitch.

Weave in all ends.

Fold piece together, right sides together. Sew up the sides, making sure the stripes are even with each other. Your button hole strap should be the only part not sewn up. Weave in those ends.

Now you have the body of the bee!

To put on the button, put your iPod in the cozy and fold the strap over. Put your finger through the button hole, and then put the button on the spot where your finger was, sew it there. This should be a pretty accurate place for your button.

Now all that is left are the wings. If you are a knitter who has never crocheted, this could look pretty daunting. But it's not, don't worry.

With the white crochet thread and your little hook, chain two.
single crochet five stitches into the first chain.
*chain 1, single crochet in every single crochet across.
repeat from * four more times.

Using your yarn needle, sew wings on, making sure to sew down the entire straight side of the wing.

Repeat the whole wing process, sewing the new one on to the other side directly across from the first one.

Once you have finished sewing on the wings, you are completely done! Yay!

Go forth knowing that your iPod is now protected from scratches and cold!

Starry Night Stripes Scarf-Crochet

This is an advanced beginner pattern. Once you have a good feel for all the basic stitches up to the triple crochet (that's in the American terms, people), this scarf will be a piece of cake, but may take a few hours to work up due to the length of the thing.
The finished product is a long, supple and warm scarf. It is great as a stash buster, or for using just a small amount of yarn in each of the colors. I created it for my astronomy camping field trip, hence the lovely sky colors I used. You can use whatever colors you like, though.

STARRY NIGHT SCARF
What you'll need:
American size K 10.5 mm crochet hook
tapestry (yarn) needle
Seven different colors of yarn. These can all be the same kind of yarn in different colors for a uniform appearance, or you can do what I did and jump around between different types.

Chain 223

1st Row: Skip first three CH, DC in all CH across
2nd Row: with color B, chain three, DC in every DC across
3rd Row: CH two in color C, SC in every DC across
4th Row: CH two in color D, HDC in each SC across
5th Row: CH two in color E, SC in each HDC across
6th Row: CH three in color F, DC in each SC across
7th Row: CH two in color G, HDC in each DC across
8th Row: CH two in color A, DC in each HDC across
9th Row: CH one in color B, SC in each DC across
finish off, weave in ends.


Abbreviations (still American terms, people):
CH: chain
SC: single crochet
HDC: half double crochet
DC: double crochet

Welcome!

Hello, welcome to the first post of Teens With Yarn!

As a teen who loves to crochet and knit, I've always found it somewhat difficult to find a pattern that isn't too much like something my great grandmother would make, doesn't call for more yarn than I can afford to buy, and is written in terms that are easy to understand. So, I started creating my own patterns, first in crochet, and then eventually in knitting. I tried to make thing I knew my friends would love and use, and that are practical in that they won't cost you a fortune in yarn and odd hook and needle sizes.

So, take a look at all of my FREE patterns, look at all the tips and tricks, or even take the time to learn a new hobby! And if you don't know how to knit or crochet, and can't learn, I will soon have links to my up-and-coming etsy.com store where you can purchase some unique crafts.