AFGHAN CONTEST WINNERS!!
As promised, we would like to share photos and stories, and patterns of the beautiful afghans submitted to us for the Afghan Contest. Judging is hard work! All entries are unique in the skills and original ideas used. So, let me share with everyone what we have based our decisions on. We have awarded points to each knitter in the following categories:
We have a total of 7 entries. They are all winners, so special and unique!
First Place goes to Connie Mauger for her AJ’s Baby Blanket. Congratulations!
Second Place has resulted in a tie. Congratulations to: Annette Roa with a beautiful Kitty Afghan for her 4 year old niece, and Ella Roby with a unique design with vertical stripes called”Stripes Afghan“.
Connie Mauger’s AJ’s Baby Blanket is a blanket that any little tot would love to curl up in. Connie has used some wonderful techniques including the double 8 caston, cross over stitches, and beautiful crochet edges. Her instructions contain lots of diagrams for following the stitch pattern that is repeated in each strip of the Afghan.
Annette Roa knit for her little 4 year old niece. What child would not love all the adorable little kitties on this beautiful afghan. It is knit with one repeated design completed 4 times in each of the 3 strips. Each kitty is unique just by the choice of leftover yarn used. This entry also has a beautiful crochet edge.
Ella Roby calls her afghan simply “Stripes”. We love this one because of the unique way that the vertical stripes were worked with the weaving of the different colors. Ella does a great job of explaining the concept with much detail. The instructions are very well done!
Great El Paso Afghan was knit by Jacque Darra. What a wonderful job on all counts. Jacque uses 2 different stitches to create the warm look of this one along with lots of great fringe. We also love that it was knit on a 38″ heavy duty board for a nice warm afghan with a lot of texture in just one piece. The instructions are very easy to follow and this is important for all knitters.
Sue Kreitzer has once again come up with a wonderful afghan in unique squares- The Fall Christmas Afghan. What is so very special about Sue’s afghan is the theme that surrounds the whole design. It represents Christmas in the pretty red and green colors of the outer strips; Snow with the fleur de lis patterns on the green; and the center strip represents the season of Fall with the colors of the fallen leaves. Thank you, Sue for your offer to donate your afghan to our Christmas donation box.
Ella Roby knit up another great one. This one is called the Winter Afghan. It is a pretty combination of stripes with the unique technique of vertical stripes. Pretty winter colors make it feel very special. Great job, Ella.
Another beautiful design by Annette Roa was a wedding gift with a rose pattern knit right into the afghan. This one is knit in large squares with some of them showing the pretty rose pattern.
All AFGHAN PATTERNS will be shown in the “files” catagory of www.groups.yahoo.com/group/knittingboards
Great Job by everyone and thank you all for sharing your afghan photos and ideas with all of us. May you all have a wonderful Holiday Season. Stay warm and keep the ideas coming for the new year.
If you are one of the winners please email Kim at kim@knittingboard.com with your address information. All entries will recieve a one time 30% off discount on Knittingboard.com. Please email for coupon ID.
How is everyone doing with the boot kit pattern? I know many of you are working on the boots so I would like to give some pointers to make the knitting supper easy especially for the new knitters using the board for the first time.
The pattern begins with the Ribbing stitch. Here is short video that goes over this stitch.
Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com
I put together a brief “How-To add stitches” with photos to explain how to add stitches to each side of your knitting. The pattern requires depending on size,to add 8 or 9 stitches to each side. Take a look at this link, it might be helpful.
If you have any other questions on making your boots feel free to ask in ” Comments.” We are here to help.
Good Luck and enjoy your cozy boots!
On the rib stitch do you go from the #1 nail to the #3 nail on each row? I think I did my boot in the stockinette stitch instead of the ribbing stitch.I guess I will wait to here from you before I do more. I just received my board on Friday soooo I am really new to this.
Thanks for your time.
Sandy
Having problem in Willobee Boot pattern, decrease row 2- shifting loops over center to cover empty needles. This is not very clear. Do you shift from left to right, moving all loops over to cover needles #21, then #14, then #7. When you shift loops, do you shift the 2 decreased loops,too? The movie about the ribbing stitch was very informative.
Sandy,
Yes, the rib stitch is from pin #1 to pin #3. If you are going from 1 down to 2, that is the stockinett stitch. Hope this helps. Good luck on your boots. Take pictures
Hi, the ribbing stitch is done by weaving from the first top pin down to the 3rd pin on bottom row. Then weave every other pin to the end. When you return, you will see that you again are weaving on 1st pin to 3rd pin. Each end of board will have 2 consecutive pins in order to weave to end and cover all needles. You start this way on every row. After you do some of the inc and dec rows, the ribs will shift and that is part of the plan and design, so don’t try to adjust your ribs.
As for the decrease and shift-once you do the dec and have the empty needles, you will have 2 loops on some needles. Do the shift either way as long as you bring all the sts together. The pins that have 2 loops, just move both loops over.
After the next weave on the smaller number of sts, you will lift both loops over on those dec stitches.
Pat
Any tips if the boot sizes run small or large? I wear both 8 1/2 and 9 shoe sizes depending on the brand. I want to know which kit to get. Thank you!!
Hi Pat
Because of the postage costs to UK for the kit, have you any plans to publish just the pattern for the boots. This would also mean I wouldn’t have to buy another kit when knitting more than one pair.
Thanks
Hello I was wondering is this boot made on a authentic knitting board? If so where can I get the board and pattern to create these boots and also what did you use for the sole? I would like them to be worn outside.
Thank you for taking time to response to me
Lorri
Bella Designs
I was thinking about buying this boot kit but wanted to select my own yarn. Do you have any suggestions on what type to buy? I wanted something fairly thick and sturdy.
Thanks.
I bought this kit awhile back and am just making it now. Trying to adjust for not having a knitting board, but instead using a plastic knitting loom. The gauge is a little larger than a knitting board, so for the boot, I’m using the small size, then for the foot I will use medium measures. Also, unsure on the decrease row 2… do you decrease stitches on both the top and bottom rows? From the picture illustrations, it appears so. Any advice would be appreciated.
Would someone out there explain step 4 under Foot of Boot? There are several ways to interpret:
4. The next (2) rows will be repeated for each size….Increase row…Knit this row. (check)
Knit (1) regular row in Stockinette stitch. Hook… (check)
Size medium (me): Continue the (2) above rows 4 more times. (HUH?)
Does that mean increase, and knit two rows, increase, knit 2 rows, increase knit 2 rows, increase knit two rows? Or does it mean knit two rows 4 times. (why not just say, “knit 8 rows”?
Or does it mean something different?
Re; Sydney’s question. I decreased stitches on both top and bottom. I guess your boots will be more of an open stitch? Do you have any idea about step 4. Let me know what you think when you get there! Let me know if you have any more questions too!
Kanina
What’s a Toggle? I say, its my ‘saving grace’, when I neglect to make a buttonhole and now my sweater needs a button, or my bag needs a strap that is secured with a button.
So, we make toggles. They are also a great accent for certain styles of knitwear or closures. Make them by braiding 3 strands of yarn or crocheting a chain. You can do the crochet chain with a single strand of fine yarn for a delicate look or use a double strand of thicker yarn for a very thick Toggle. We can also use longer Toggles for drawstrings and hat straps.
Make the toggle just long enough to slip over the button with ends long enough to be tucked into the knitting. So, if you are using a button that is 1″ wide, your toggle will be about 3″ long. Place the ends into the knitting with a stitch between. Pull the tails out together at the same place on back of knitting. Tie the tail ends and trim. Now pull the toggle into the knitting so the ends are not exposed. Sew several stitches so that the toggle is secure in the knit and the button loop does not slip.
Another effect with toggles is to make the toggle longer. Sew into the knitting. After sewing the toggle in place, sew the loop together leaving just enough open to slip over the button. Lay the toggle onto the knitting and stitch down making a ‘stripe’ effect with the toggle. You can do this with different color yarn so that the toggle is a contrast to the knitted piece.
Sue Kreitzer in
Just a few more thoughts about these afghans by Sue. the pink and cream one was knit by sewing the squares together. each square is knit using many different stitches. I wish all could see it up close-its really pretty.
The red-white-blue one is all one piece and Sue used a design that she had just learned from a loom knitting book. What a great job.
Thanks, and there’s more to come to update on this project.
thanks, pat
Thanks Pat for your wonderful comments on my afghans. I am so hoping more people will join your efforts and submit just 1 or 2 squares. I am looking forward to having many squares to sew together to create many blankets. I am having so much fun to see what I can come up with for the next blanket. PLEASE, everyone make a square or two for this very worthy cause.
Sue, a loomer in Texas
Hi Sue, well your wish has come true. I have received 12 beautiful knitted squares from Laura Carlos in Neptune, NJ. They are all different and using lots of pretty yarns and stitches. They are 12″ X 12″. You will love sewing these together for our next blanket. As soon as we get it together, I will take some photos for everyone to see. I am getting really excited about this. Thank you so much Laura Carlos.
Also, I am sending the red, white, and blue afghan to the veteran hospital to be shared with some of our recovering young men. I know they will greatly appreciate it. I’m also sending some scarf kits to them to help with the down time of recovery. I think they will enjoy learning to knit someone a nice gift while spending time there. What do you think?
Pat
Pat,
What a wonderful idea. I think the red,white and blue to a recovering vet is wonderful. My son spent almost 20 years in the special forces I have a special place for the arm forces. I am looking forward to receiving the squares to sew together. I have 11 squares made for another one and another that will be in solid piece. I think the idea of kits for scarves is WONDERFUL. They can always use things to help with rehab. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Regards,
Sue Kreitzer, a loomer in Texas
Pat,
I am so glad to hear you have squares ready to sew together. Look forward to receiving them. I have about 11 ready to sew, and another that is all one piece. I am so glad to hear that the red, white and blue one is going to the vets. My son spent 20 years (Green Beret) in the Army so vets hold a special place for me. I think the idea of scarf kits is great (so does my son). It will give them something to do other than think about things. A lot of vets from WWII learned to knit and crochet while in rehab at vet hospitals. Your thoughtfulness is wonderful. Thanks for all you are doing. If there is anything else I can do, please let me know.
Regards,
Sue Kreitzer, a loomer in Texas
Hi Sue and everyone, I have photos of the last 2 blankets that you sent after sewing. I will get them up after Labor Day weekend. they look just great-you did another splendid job of sewing and knitting. Thanks for all that you do and everyone else for their contributions. Pat
I have completed a new rug and this I would have to say is the jazziest one. I am quite happy with the way the fringe turned out – it just makes me smile. We will post the instuctions up for free if anyone would like to give it a try. I used Lion Brand, Wool Ease, only 5 skeins to complete whole rug and that is including fringe. The complete size is 20″x40″.
Please tell me what board you used to complete this rug and what setting you used (how you set the board up).
The rug is very pretty and I would like to make one.
Thank you, Martha
Hello!
This rug is soo adorable!
I downloaded your pattern from Lion Brand yarn. I just wanted to know which size spacer you used between the boards? 1/2″ or 1″?? I can’t seem to find it in the instructions.
Thanks much!
CrazyCatMadame
Hi, this rug was knit on the 28″ small gauge board with the standard 1/2″ spacer to keep the knit tighter. It makes a tougher knit for a rug. If it’s too tight, you may like to do it with the more open spacing or on the heavy duty boards. Pat
Hello!
Just want to say, I love your patterns, I went to this website called “You Knit What?” and not one of your patterns (or patterns that are similar looking) was in there. I think it’s because your stuff and dalooms.com look very professional and simple. No fads, no gimmicks and it is a relief to find such pretty stuff that CAN be knitted, timeless and useful.
I was also wondering how do you drop stitch on a knitting board? I just learned how to do it on a normal loom I was just curious….
Keep Up the great work!
I’ve been working on a new rug and I wanted to share. I experimented with doing the “box stitch” throughout adding 2 stripes with the “open rib” to add a change in texture. (Really, you can only see one in this picture because the other stripe was just knit).
It is really easy to do and knits great with the new heavy duty knitting board. I will put pattern up for free when I’m finished. I used Raliwool but any really heavy bulky yarn would work.
Pat,
How can I get/purchase the pattern for this rug?
Are you going to have other rug patterns? thanks, Martha
Hi, sorry for the delay in response. We are working to have many rug patterns or projects. We will put this one up on the site in couple days for you as a free pattern. Did you get the last rug free pattern? thanks, Pat
Hello!
I love my Knitting Board and the website is awesome, I have question on the yarn, I am a Vegan who loves to Loomy and Board Knit….So no wool for me :O). Will you guys be getting in some nice cotton yarn or other fun animal free stuff? Love Love LOVE the site though! As we speak I am making a super thick Pima Cotton Blanket..expensive but YUMMY.
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Will the Rose afghan pattern be added to the Yahoo site? All of the entries were beautiful and I can’t wait to try some of them.
Karen
Hi Karen,
The Rose afghan photo is here but Annette didn’t give me instructions. I will try to get the pattern for the rose design from her. It is beautiful!
Kim
Such diversity in these projects. Love it!