Category Archives: Knit

Busy weekend of entrelac, frog hats, music

Posted on December 8, 2025 | 6 comments

I was grumbling to myself about having to finish all those ends, and the rest of the design work for this project, when I reminded myself that I had successfully done small circumference entrelac in the round before.

I knit these on dpns, and had no trouble with them. Hmm. Easier than magic loop or flexi-flips. I never thought I’d say that!

It seems a lot less fussy this way. And I do love Brittany birch dpns. I’ll see if I can make this piece be what I want it to be…

We took a stroll to see some Christmas decorations in the neighborhood. Froggy shenanigans continue! I was pleased to receive a letter this week from a church group that knit 27 frog hats, sold them at their holiday bazaar, and donated $550 to Oregon Food Bank. And I received a note from Northeast Emergency Food Program thanking me for the $100 donation from my frog hat sale. I’m glad the hats help people get fed!

winter choir concert — Alameda Women’s Choir

Our choir concert was on Saturday. We sing pop music, and it is fun!

I had a fun solo at the beginning of this song. It’s such a gleeful piece, all about loathing!

Back to work. I’m prepping handouts for Vogue Knitting Live NYC and Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat. My goal is to have them all turned in by tonight. Wish me luck! And register for these events now, if you’d like to come.

6 Comments

Posted in classes, Knit, music, pattern design

Tagged Alameda Women’s Choir, entrelac, portland frog hat

Onward!

Posted on December 2, 2025 | 5 comments

It’s been a hot minute since I last checked in! I finished the Portland Frog Hat and sent it off to Sheryl, and donated her $100 to Northeast Emergency Food Program. And I started swatching a new project.

So far I’ve established that yes, you can do entrelac in the round on magic loop or 2 circulars or Flexi-Flips, but no, it would be terrible to try to write that pattern. If it’s confusing for ME, it would only be more confusing for someone trying to learn from it!

My Athena Entrelac Neck Warmer is knit in the round, and knit flat for the split at the bottom (top, really). It works because it’s on an appropriate circular needle with no extra cable to fiddle with. For a small circumference item like my current project, I’d need a 9 inch circular, and I don’t like working with those.

So the project is flat, and that means a lot more ends to weave in later. I could use a color changing yarn so I don’t have to work in different colors for each tier, but it’s supposed to be a stashbuster. Well, I have color changing yarns in my stash! But I’ll figure that out later. I have a couple other things I need to puzzle out with this swatch first.

Since I last checked in, I’ve had two Thanksgiving celebrations, one in St. Louis and one in Portland. I get around!

When in St. Louis, we have to acknowledge one of DH’s favorite things growing up. We actually had a box of 30, not 20, for a group of 9.

Calvin the Christmas CATcus sends you the greetings of the season.

It’s December, and I already have the lights on my house…because I didn’t take them down last spring! I just didn’t turn them on until now. Winning!

5 Comments

Posted in cat, Knit, pattern design, travel

Tagged cat, entrelac, white castle

Frogging a frog hat

Posted on November 17, 2025 | 2 comments

This Portland Frog Hat is a little too big. I have a big head, and it’s big on me. So I started knitting another one, 4 stitches smaller. It turns out I don’t have enough yarn to finish the smaller one, so…I’m frogging this one! The hat will be going to Sheryl in Spokane (proceeds going to Northeast Emergency Food Program), and she’d prefer the smaller size, too.

I had steam blocked the hat shown above, so the yarn was pretty kinky. I didn’t want to soak it, in case there’d be any color change. Steaming is my best option. But first, I’d have to wind it into a hank. You can’t steam a ball of yarn!

new hat WIP, and previous hat yarn on niddy noddy

I wound the yarn on my Kromski niddy noddy. I don’t spin, but this thing comes in handy sometimes, anyway!

I had to look up how to wind on a niddy noddy; it’s been a while.

I steamed it on my ironing board with my steam iron, and it went from curly to smooth.

I’ll be done re-knitting tonight. And then I’ll weigh the FO, and see if there’s enough for a second hat in the smaller size.

2 Comments

Posted in Knit, Portland area fun, spinning, yarn

Tagged niddy noddy, portland frog hat, reclaiming yarn

VK Virtual class winner and more frog hats

Posted on November 12, 2025 | 1 comment

Wow, 11/13 of the commenters want to cut their knitting! We could all use a friend when it comes to that first steek. I’m that friend!

The winner of a Vogue Knitting virtual class with me is Judith Grant. I used a random number generator to choose. Congratulations, Judith!

If you’re interested in cutting with me, you can still register for this class here. Use coupon code NOV25 for 25% off the class. We’ll discuss ways to reinforce your steek before cutting, cut the steek, and pick up stitches for finishing. Class is on Friday Nov. 14, but it’s also recorded and available for 2 weeks after the event.

I was away for the weekend, and talked a friend through cutting some knitting! She doesn’t knit, but she wanted to make a frog hat. She bought a green chenille cardigan at Goodwill. The back of the sweater was wide enough that we could use it for the hat, including the ribbing for the bottom. It’s just a rectangle straight up, seamed to make a tube (she put the seam at the back, since there was only one seam), then seamed across the top. It turned out great.

I finished my worsted weight frog hat, too. Free pattern from me, for worsted and super bulky weight yarns! This yarn was burlier than most worsted, so it’s a little bit big on me.

Green knit hat and Feminist Knit Club patch

I’d like to sell it for a good cause. $100 for the hat and a Feminist Knit Club patch, with all money going to my local food bank (Northeast Emergency Food Program).

Thanks to Thao from Nerdbird Makery for the patches! These are the last of the last; there are no more patches or other Feminist Knit Club swag available. Come and get it!

How was your weekend?

1 Comment

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit, Other craftiness

Tagged NerdBirdMakery, portland frog hat, steeking, Virtual Knitting Live

VK Virtual class giveaway

Posted on November 8, 2025 | 12 comments

I’m teaching two classes next weekend for Vogue Knitting’s November virtual event. This is the last VK Virtual event of 2025; the next one will be in February. They’re running a sale, use code NOV25 for 25% off all remaining classes. The classes are recorded and available for 2 weeks after the event, so you can sign up for class even if the time isn’t convenient for you. I’m signing up for a class that’s at the same time as one of mine, and I’ll watch it a bit later.

I’m giving away a spot in one of my classes; would you like to win that spot?

Tink Drop Frog teaches you how to identify and fix mistakes in your knitting. This is a great class for advanced beginner to early intermediate knitters. This class is on Saturday November 15.

Sheepy Steeky Coasters walks you through reinforcing and cutting your first steek. You knit your coasters before class, so there’s some homework. This class is on Friday, November 14.

If you’re interested in winning a spot, leave a comment telling me which class you’d like to take. I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday November 12. Good luck! (Edit: I’m changing this to Tuesday Nov. 11, to give time for homework…)

12 Comments

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit

Introducing Jelly Jewels

Posted on November 2, 2025 | 3 comments

Necessity is the mother of invention. I was frustrated by my box of tangled silver necklaces. Every time I wanted to wear one, I had to untangle the pile in my necklace box! Some problems can be solved by knitting, and this was a perfect opportunity.

Jelly Jewels are wall hangings designed to serve as a jewelry organizer.

They are knit in the round from the center out with fingering weight yarn, and feature assigned pooling
petals on a stockinette stitch background. Choose a yarn that is dyed for assigned pooling, with an accent color run of about 8-10”/20-25 cm long. One skein of pooling yarn is enough for five or more pieces, depending on what size you make. I used a skein of Cadillac Sock, colorway April in Paris, from Garage Dyeworks.

cat clip stitch markers on assigned pooling knit fabric

I used these Cat Clip stitch markers to hold my necklaces. The stitch markers are from Twice Sheared Sheep in the large size (affiliate link). Cute, and the ears help hold the stitch markers in the fabric. More information on the pattern page for Jelly Jewels.

The pattern includes video tutorials for the center out cast on, and for the assigned pooling petal motif. There’s also a written tutorial for blocking and finishing your Jelly Jewels.

The pattern is available through Ravelry, and also through Payhip. Use coupon code TANGY for 15% off the pattern through November 10, 2025.

Why are these called Jelly Jewels? I knit these at the coast, and the jellyfish reminded me of my knitting. Pictured: Knitting and Twin Rocks in background, Moon jelly, Lion’s Mane jelly.

Tidy is as tidy does!

3 Comments

Posted in cat, Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged Garage Dyeworks, Jelly Jewels, jellyfish, jewelry organizer, Oregon Coast, stitch markers, Twice Sheared Sheep

Steeks, log cabin knitting, and a tidy bind off

Posted on November 2, 2025 | 1 comment

Collage of me and my Log Cabin Love steeked coasters

I’m very pleased to be teaching my second class with Modern Daily Knitting in January. It’s a workshop on cutting your first steek! We’ll be using my Log Cabin Love Coasters pattern, which also features a log cabin knitting border. That’s peak MDK. The virtual class is on Friday January 16. It will be on Zoom, and also recorded. You can register here.

While working on my log cabin edges, I’ve been annoyed by the loose stitch at the end of my bind off. It doesn’t matter in the middle of a project, because I’ll be picking up stitches all the way around the edge, but at some point there will be an outside edge that lets that loose stitch show.

I went poking around on the interwebs, and found a great tutorial by Patty Lyons on the Modern Daily Knitting site. She demonstrates five methods; some of them take pre-planning. All of them are shown with stockinette stitch, and they look great.

My favorite is the one that takes the least planning and effort. Yep, that’s me; git ‘er done. It does show a little bit more in garter stitch knitting, but I think I prefer that to having a loose stitch on the outside edge. I made a video for my log cabin knitting classes.

What do you think? Does that little blip bother you, or does the burble in the garter stitch bother you more? Knitter’s choice! I haven’t found a perfect solution, but this is good enough for me. For now. And I’ll definitely be using it for stockinette stitch.

Do you have a better way? I’d love to know that, too!

1 Comment

Posted in classes, Knit, tutorial

Tagged binding off, first steek, knitting, knitting class, log cabin knitting, log cabin love coasters, modern daily knitting, steek, steeking, tidy bind off

Cheating at Yarn Chicken

Posted on October 30, 2025 | 10 comments

Can I just say, a yarn scale is one of the best knitting tools you can have.

I just finished knitting In Threes, one of my favorite baby knits. I can knit the smallest size with one skein of Malabrigo Rios. I don’t remember the name of this colorway; it was in my stash. Lots of pinks and oranges.

As I was approaching the bottom garter stitch edge, I started weighing my yarn. It was taking 3 grams for every two rows, or 1.5 grams per row. I figured out how many rows I would need to finish following the instructions (6 rows garter plus 2 rows stockinette, plus bind off which I always equate to two rows, so 10 rows total). That meant that I would need 15 grams to finish, whenever I left off from the stockinette body. I could see that I’d have to short the body a little, knitting 2 rows fewer than what would get me to the preferred length, in order to have 15 grams left for the finishing. No big deal.

Yarn scale and 1.8 grams of leftover yarn

After binding off, this is all I had left. Not enough for 2 rows of stockinette (the ones I skipped), which would have used 3 grams. If I had knit 2 more rows of stockinette, I would have had to rip back. Nope. I WIN! (Also, this picture is more representative of the true color of the yarn.)

These are the sweet buttons I bought from Tracy at Hap Bee at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. I love how they’re just enough color to show up, but not take away from all the different colors in the Malabrigo yarn.

Now to get this off to the sweet recipient!

10 Comments

Posted in Knit, yarn

Tagged buttons, hap bee creative studios, Malabrigo yarn, yarn chicken, yarn scale

Portland Frog Hat

Posted on October 24, 2025 | 13 comments

I finished knitting my second frog hat while peacefully protesting down at the ICE facility yesterday. It’s a quick knit, but I knit it twice because the first one was a bit bigger than I wanted. I’ll ravel it and knit a second (third?) hat. Knitting it a bit smaller also means that I have enough yarn for two hats.

Do you want to knit your own super bulky weight Portland Frog Hat? I wrote up detailed instructions; you can find them here. I just updated it with notes for worsted weight yarn, too.

I doubled down on my bag game yesterday. Both discontinued, but well-loved.

words of encouragement — Words of encouragement

knitters and painters — 3 needle bind off time!

I was heartened to see protesters (knitters, painters, readers), aid workers from Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, and clergy support yesterday.

13 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design

Tagged artifa, Craftivism, knitifa, No Kings, peaceful protest, portland frog, portland frog hat

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival 2025

Posted on October 22, 2025 | 4 comments

I spent the weekend in Albany, Oregon teaching at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. I taught entrelac, Darn It! (mending), and log cabin knitting.

I think the mending was the most challenging for me, because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve taught it. But I was ready, and we had fun.

I didn’t have a lot of time in the market, but I managed to snag a few things.

Yarns for frog hats, and some sweet buttons for a baby sweater.

How do you start knitting a frog hat? Rib it! Rib it! 🐸 This super bulky is knitting up quickly on US 15 needles. I’m riffing off Pussy Hat for 4 gauges by Sarah Keller, pattern free on Ravelry. I’ll add buttons and felt for eyes.

Flock and fiber festival isn’t just for knitting. There are animals (I only saw the bunnies), spinning, weaving, crochet.

This wet felted hat with needle felted ornamentation was my favorite piece in the exhibition. It’s by Val Kinman, who was in my log cabin class on Sunday.

Needle felted pygora goats. I didn’t catch the name of the artist. If I find out, I’ll update here. Edit: Lester Nishimura is the artist, and he has only been needle felting since early this year!

Navajo style weaving by Bob Van Slyke

Saw lots of fiber friends over the weekend; it’s always great to catch up! You can see more of my pictures on Instagram, if you’re so inclined.

Karen’s frog hat is fabulous! I was going to use the green worsted for a brioche beanie and add eyes, but I really like the shaping on this one. We shall see…this pattern is Frog Hat by Annanitato Lolo, available on Ravelry. The eyes are crocheted.