Tutorial for Cat Silhouette Bookmark

 

I have created this super-fast knitting pattern for the Cat Silhouette Bookmark in 2015 and it has been my most downloaded knitting pattern for some time, passing over the knitting pattern for Minions.  

Even though this pattern is available for free, I still try to help people if they contact me and ask for help. One of the most asked questions I receive about this, and my other bookmark patterns is how to knit the bookmark in the round. So, I decided to create a small photo tutorial which shows how I do that. 

I have spent one hour knitting the bookmark and since I have some leftover yarn, I created a new bookmark for the Cat Silhouette working flat in garter stitch. I will type up the notes (it is slightly different then just use a half amount of stitches given for the bookmark in the round).

The new pattern, which is written for flat knitting and have an additional updated version of the original Cat bookmark in the round as a bonus is available on: 

Lovecraft: Cat Bookmark

Payhip: Cat Bookmark

Ravelry: Cat Bookmark 

Here is the picture tutorial for the original Cat Silhouette Bookmark 

Start with cast on the number of stitches, I prefer to use the long tail CO.

After I knit the first round, I join the stitches to continue to work in the round. With two double pointed needles, each holding half of the stitches, and using the third needle to knit.

Following the knitting pattern round after round. 

After the Cat Silhouette is finished, continue with the ears.

Then, make the I-cord tail.

In about an hour, the Cat Silhouette Bookmark is done. 

Happy knitting and reading.

Knitting Pattern for Mask Buddy (and perhaps future bookmark)

Mask Buddies

This is a simple half an hour project that might help with the face mask. I have seen variety of similar things on the internet. I decided to use cotton yarn for mine and make it double to keep the mask buddy from stretching too much. These I made in less than an hour, while talking to my mom on Skype. They are for my friends, and neighbors. I will be making few more for others. A friend of mine sew the mask on her sewing machine. I have added the elastic, knitted the mask buddies, added two buttons and I have a small gift of appreciation for my neighbor. Sewing the button took me the longest, or it seemed to be. 

Once this pandemic is over, you can use it as a book mark, or a needle holder. 

Finished Mask Buddy Size: 7" (18 cm) long.

Yarn: Cotton yarn in your favorite  color. For my sample I used Sugar and Cream yarn, I think.

Yardage: Approximately 30 - 40 yards (28 - 37 meters).

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US # 7 / 4.5 mm (set of 3).

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, two buttons.

Abbreviations:

CO = Cast On

DPN = Double Pointed Needles

K = Knit

K2tog = Knit two sts together, this decreases two sts to one st.

K3tog = Knit three sts together, this decreases three sts to one st.

KFB = Knit in front and bag of the same st, this creates two sts from one st.

PM = Place Marker

Rnd, Rnds = Round, Rounds

SSK = Slip st, slip st, and knit the two sts together, this decreases two sts to one st.

St, Sts = Stitch, Stitches

Gauge: 20 sts & 23 rows 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Instructions:

This mask buddy is knit in the round, in one piece. The two buttons are sewn on after finishing. 

With the yarn and two DPN, CO 6 sts. PM and begin to work in the round.

Rnd 1: Knit

Rnd 2: (KFB, K1, KFB) 2x (10 sts total)

Rnd 3: (KFB, K3, KFB) 2x (14 sts total)

Rnd 4: (KFB, K5, KFB) 2x (18 sts total)

Rnds 5 - 34: Knit

Rnd 35: (SSK, K5, K2tog) 2x (14 sts total)

Rnd 36: (SSK, K3, K2tog) 2x (10 sts total)

Rnd 37: (SSK, K1, K2tog) 2x (6 sts total)

Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining sts on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Finishing:

Weave in ends. Sew the two buttons on the knitted piece. If you need to make the mask buddy longer or shorter just add or substract few rounds between the increase and decrease rounds.  

Face mask and mask buddies 

Knitting Pattern for T-Bone's Bookmark

Cat Silhouette Bookmark

Apparently this is one of my most popular patterns on Ravelry in my store. Link to the pattern is here:

Cat Silhouette Bookmark

Few weeks ago I received a message from a fellow knitter, asking if I would consider to create a dog's bookmark version. I have to admit, I like requests like this. It is an interesting element of designing the challenge to come up with something. The dog's bookmark was more difficult to create since there are so many various breeds of dogs and their shapes are so different.  I decided to use our dog as a model.

T-Bone and the bookmark

The pattern is available now and you can purchase the pattern in my Ravelry store, or by clicking on this button:

T-Bone and his Bookmark

Work in Progress IV

T-Bone's Bookmark

As you can see I have been working on several projects. First of all, after a success of my Cat's Silhouette Bookmark, link to pattern I was asked if I could create a bookmark in dog's shape. This one is more tricky as there are so many varieties and breeds and shapes of dogs, but in the end I have picked the dog in our house and based the bookmark shape upon his back profile view. The knitting pattern is at the testing stage and will be published next month.
In the meantime, we have discovered that our dog, T-Bone has started an online diary, I guess he got inspired by all of the dog's Instagram accounts that we have seen lately. Since he doesn't have his own phone he uses the computer...
Link to his diary:
T-Bone's Diary

Also, as in the previous years, I am participating in the festivities of Gift-a-long. More details about it will come soon.

GAL 2018

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Portfolio

Portfolio

Long time ago, I was accepted into an English - Creative Writing Program. It has been a long journey, and quite challenging as well. English language is not my native language and I still struggle with certain grammatical rules and everything takes me much longer to write in English than it would take me in my native language. I still speak English with an accent, and I tend to write with an accent as well.  My specialty are run on sentences and putting the "a" and "the" in places where it shouldn't be and not in places where it should be. Whenever I have a hard time with the language I always remember the struggles of Mr. Kaplan in Leo Rosten books.
What seemed like an eternity at times is coming to an end and this semester is my last semester at school and I will finally graduate. I am not sure what I will do next. I need to see the piece of paper in front of me to actually believe that it's true.
An important part of the writing degree is to create a writing portfolio and presented it to the writing department in your last semester. I have spent some time working on the portfolio, and when I met my advisor, we talked about my knitting. I did not consider knitting patterns to be creative writing, but she thought otherwise. I guess she is correct, since there is creativity involved in the process of turning a skein of yarn into a piece of knitted item accompanied by the knitting pattern that is easily reproducible by someone else.
My advisor mentioned that it would be awesome if I could somehow include a piece of my knitting in my writing portfolio. I thought about it and let my imagination create....

Portfolio I

Portfolio II

Portfolio III

Portfolio IV

... the knitted cover for my writing portfolio and a bookmark for the reader.

The bookmark is my Fred, the frog bookmark worked flat in garter stitch instead of in the rounds, using half of the required stitches. The words Portfolio and Read me were knit in stranded colorwork technique. The dot above the letter i in word Portfolio was done in duplicate stitch technique, because I forgot to knit it at first, and if the knitted book cover is going to be viewed by professors of English language and Writing I better present my book cover with correct spelling.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Cat Silhouette Bookmark

Cat Silhouette Bookmark

This adorable Cat Silhouette Bookmark is easy and fast to make. Using about 40 yards ( 36.5 meters) of medium weight yarn, knitted in the rounds. Finished bookmark measures about 7" (180 cm) in length.
The pattern is free and you may download the PDF file with the pattern by clicking on this button or in my Ravelry store.

download now

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Knitting Pattern for Snake Bookmarks

Snake Bookmarks

These snake bookmarks in coral snake and king snake version are about 12" (30.5 cm) long.
The samples are done in Cascade 220 Superwash in Red, Yellow and Black.
Each bookmark uses approximately 40 - 50 yards / 36.5 - 46 meters total.

You may purchase the pattern in my Ravelry store or by clicking on this button.

Coral and King Snake Bookmarks

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Knitting Pattern for Squirt, the Squirrel

Squirt, the Squirrel

An accidental bookmark.

Knitting Pattern for Squirt, the squirrel is available now.

Finished bookmark/ toy size:  approximately 13" (33cm) including the tail.

To knit your own Squirt you will need about 1.5oz (44gr) total of medium weight yarn in grey, white, and Fun Fur or other type of novelty yarn for the tail. You will use about 100 – 120 yards (91 – 110 meters) of grey, about 15 yards of white, and 20 yards of Fun Fur.  Small amount of black yarn for the eyes, and tire track, small amount of red yarn for the tongue.

You can purchase the pattern by clicking on this button or on Ravelry:



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Squirt, the squirrel

Squirt, the squirrel

It is snowing again, where I live. I must admit I enjoy the unexpected snow days when I can spend the day inside and work with my knitting needles instead of the daily chores and scheduled commitments.

Of course I still have the unfinished project of 100 snowballs, and I slowly work on it, but when I look outside and see snow everywhere I want to create something different.

Squirt, the squirrel, is a funny bookmark that I created during the last snowstorm.
During this snowstorm, I plan to write up the knitting pattern.

Then I would like to knit something in bright colors, because I am getting tired of the grey sky, and the piles of white snow.

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Knitting Pattern for Fred, the Frog

Fred, the Frog (bookmark)
by Stana D.S.

Finished bookmark /toy size:  10.5" (27cm)

Yarn: Less than a ball of green yarn in sport to medium weight. Yardage about 52 - 55 yards.

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US#3/3.25mm (set of 4). Or use your preferred needles for knitting in the round.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of white yarn for the eyes, small amount of red yarn for tongue, small amount of black embroidery yarn.

Abbreviations: KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, it creates 2sts from 1st.
SSK = Slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together, this decreases 2sts to 1st.
K2tog= knit two stitches together, this decreases 2sts to 1sts.K3tog= knit three stitches together, this decreases 3sts to 1sts.

INSTRUCTIONS:
This frog is knitted in the rounds, start at the bottom of the body. The eyes, arms and legs are knitted separately and sewn on.

Body:
With the green yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 2: *KFB , knit 1, KFB; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (10sts total)
Row 3: *KFB, knit 3, KFB; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 4: *KFB , knit 5, KFB; repeat from * around, 9sts per needle (18sts total)
Row 5: *KFB, knit 7, KFB; repeat from * around, 11sts per needle (22sts total)
Row 6: *KFB, knit 9, KFB; repeat from * around, 13sts per needle (26sts total)
Row 7: * KFB, knit 11, KFB; repeat from * around, 15sts per needle (30sts total)
Row 8 - 42: Knit around 35 rows (30sts total) Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, stitch to secure.
Row 43: *SSK, knit 11, K2tog; repeat from * around, 13sts per needle (26sts total)
Row 44: *SSK, knit 9, K2tog; repeat from * around, 11sts per needle (22sts total)
Row 45: *SSK, knit 7, K2tog; repeat from * around, 9sts per needle (18sts total)
Row 46: *SSK, knit 5, K2tog; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 47: *SSK, Knit 3, K2tog; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (10sts total)
Row 48: *SSK, knit 1, K2tog; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (6sts total). Cut the green yarn and attach the red yarn.
Row 49 - 53: Knit around 5 rows(6sts total)
Row 54: K3tog, K3tog (2 sts total) Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Eye balls (make 2):
With the green yarn and three DPN cast on 9sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (9sts total)
Row 2: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: * KFB, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (15sts total)
Row 4: Knit around (15sts total). Change the green yarn to the white yarn.
Row 5: Knit around (15sts total). Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the eye ball with fiberfill.
Row 6: *SSK, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 7: *SSK, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (9sts total) Finish stuffing the eye ball. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. With the black embroidery yarn embroider the pupil on the eye ball, using the picture as a guide. Sew the eye ball on frog's head using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second eye ball.

Arms and legs (make 4):
With the green yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 20: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 21: *KFB, knit 1, KFB; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (10sts total)
Row 22 : Knit around (10sts total)

Row 23: *KFB, knit 3, KFB; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 24 : Knit around (14sts total)
Row 25: Knit and cast off from both DPN at the same time. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the tail on a yarn needle and stitch to secure. Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle and sew the arm (leg) on the body of the frog using the picture as a guide.
Repeat for the second arm, and for both legs.

Finishing: With the black embroidery yarn embroider the fly on the frog's tongue using the picture as a guide.

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S.
The pattern is for personal use only.  Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.

Fred, the Frog

Fred, the frog

I needed a little break from "the snowballs knitting project".

For a while I had an idea to knit a bookmark. I sketched a bunch of ideas, and then I left the project unfinished. Not too long ago I went to a yarn store and saw this beautiful green yarn. I couldn't resist and bought it, thinking that perhaps this is the perfect color for some kind of frog, and then it clicked.  Fred, the frog was created.

A fun, and fast knit. The pattern will be out soon.

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As you can see Fred, the frog fits nicely into various sized books.