Play Park

My kids and I spend many long hours at the local play parks during the fall. I wanted a cute, fitted cardigan that I could slip on when the weather turns cool. When I couldn’t find what I wanted, I came up with this design. Play park falls just to the hips, is fitted at the waist, and has a scoop neck. Right now it is only in my size, to fit a 35-36” chest. If I get interest, I will provide other sizes. Enjoy!!

Materials

6 balls of Bellezza Collection Tesoro (100% wool, 87 yards/50 grams), lime (MC)

3 balls of Bellezza Collection Tesoro (100% wool, 87 yards/50 grams), lilac (CC)

Note: Any worsted weight wool would be fine. You can easily make this solid color. It would also look really cute with the seed stitch in one color and the remainder in a second.

US 8 circular needles, or size to obtain gauge

Zipper, mine was 10” but I suggest waiting until you are finished and measure for best fit

Gauge

18 st and 23 rows to 4 inches

Main Body

Cast on with CC 39 stitches, place marker (pm), 74 stitches, pm, 38 stitches.

Work in seed stitch as follows for 1 inch: K1 *P1, K1* repeat between the stars to the last stitch, K1.

Purl 1 row.

Change to MC and work 2 rows in st st.

NOTE: Colors are now changed every 6 rows.

Waist shaping

Decrease Rows

Row 1 (RS): * K to 3 st before marker, ssk, K2, slip marker, K2tog* repeat, then K to the end of the row

Row 2-4: Work even in st st.

Row 5-6: Change to CC. Work in st st.

Repeat rows 1-6 (keeping 6 rows per color) four times (135 stitches).

Work 4 rows even

Increase Rows

Row 1 (RS): *K to 2 st before the marker, m1, K2, slip marker, K2, m1* repeat, then K to the end of the row

Row 2-6: Work even in st st in stripe pattern

Repeat rows 1-6 four times (151 stitches).

Work even to 13” (~12 more rows) or desired length, ending with a WS row.You are now at the armholes and will be working each section separately.

RIGHT Front

Knit 1 row. BO 6.

Row 1: K to the last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2

Row 2: P

Repeat two more times.

BO 8 stitches for the neck.

Decrease 1 st at every end four times.

Work even to 6 ¾” from the armhole (19 ¾ total from cast on)

Shoulder

K one row. BO 8.

Repeat these two rows.

LEFT Front

Join yarn with RS facing. BO 6 stitches.

Row 1: P

Row 2: K2, K2tog, K to the end.

Repeat these two rows 2 more times.

BO 8 stitches for the neck.

Decrease 1 st at every end four times.

Work even to 6 ¾” from the armhole (19 ¾ total from cast on)

Shoulder

BO 8. Work one row.

BO 8.

BACK

Join with the RS facing.

BO 6 at the beginning of the next two rows.

Row 1: K2, ssk, K to four stitches from the end, K2tog, K2

Row 2: P

Repeat these 2 rows 2 more times.

Continue to 6 ½”.

Shoulders

BO 8 at the beginning of the next 4 rows.

BO 24.

Sleeves (make 2)

CO 36 stitches in CC. Work 1” seed stitch.

Increase Row 1: K3, m1, K to the last 3 stitches, m1, K3

Rows 2-6: Work even.

Switch to MC and repeat these 6 rows 7 times (62 stitches).

Continue straight to 16 inches (or ~ 1 inch less than desired length)

Shape top

BO 6 at the beginning of the next 2 rows.

Row 1: K2, ssk, K to the last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2.

Row 2: P

Repeat these 2 rows 2 more times. BO all stitches.

Finishing

Block all pieces. Join shoulder seams. Center sleeves and sew in place. Sew sleeve seams. Attach zipper. If desired, using CC, K 4 stitch strips to length of zipper. Sew in place to cover facing of the zipper. I think this gives a more finished look but it is completely optional!

Zip up and Enjoy!!

Warm and Toasty Cabled Earwarmers

(I promise better pictures when I return)

Warm and Toasty Cabled Ear Warmers

These make a nice warm band style earwarmer. They have 2-3 buttonholes so it can fit a variety of sizes as a gift. Plus, it is a great use for both leftover yarn and a single cool button!

Materials

Small amount of worsted weight wool (I used Malabrigo)

1-3 small buttons (depending on if you want one size or adjustable length)

Needles

Size 10 or size needed for proper gauge

Size

3 inches X 21 inches

Gauge

13 st = 3 inches, 6 rows = 1 inch

C2B – slip 2 st to cable needle in back, knit 2 st, knit 2 st from cable needle

C2F- slip 2 st to cable needle in front, knit 2 st, knit 2 st from cable needle

WAVES version (A, on the left of the closeup)

Directions

CO 14 stitches

Work in garter st for 4 rows

Row 1: Maintaining 2 st on each end in garter st, Knit 5, C2B, K5

Rows 2-6: Work in st st with 2 st on either end in garter stitch

Repeat rows 1-6 to desired length for first buttonhole (17” unstretched), ending with row 6.

Buttonhole row 1: K5, sl 2 st to cn in back, K2tog, yo, K from the cable needle, K5. This “hides” the button holes inside the cable.

Work rows 2-6 as above.

Repeat these 6 rows once more for a second buttonhole. Then work buttonhole rows 1-4 for a third buttonhole.

If you are making this for yourself, you can just size the band to your own head as you go and place a single button hole using the above directions. Either way, follow the final steps below after working row 4 of a buttonhole section.

Work 4 rows of garter st. BO loosely.

Double Waves Version (B, on the right of the closeup)

Directions

CO 14 stitches

Work in garter st for 4 rows

Row 1: Maintaining 2 st on each end in garter st, Knit 2, C2f, K2, C2b, K2

Rows 2-4: Work in st st with 2 st on either end in garter stitch

Row 5: Maintaining 2 st on each end in garter st, Knit 2, C2b, K2, C2f, K2

Rows 6-8: Work in st st with 2 st on either end in garter stitch

Repeat rows 1-8 to desired length for first buttonhole (17” unstretched), ending with row 8.

Buttonhole row 1: K2, C2f, K2tog, yo, C2b, K2. This places the button holes in the center.

Work rows 2-8 as above.

Repeat these 8 rows once more for a second buttonhole.

If you are making this for yourself, you can just size the band to your own head as you go and place a single button hole using the above directions. Either way, follow the final steps below after working row 8 of a buttonhole section.

Work 4 rows of garter st. BO loosely.

Finishing

Weave in all ends. Block lightly. Attach buttons. Enjoy warm and toasty ears all winter long!!

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick's...Sidekick

After knitting two of the cute Amanda's Squatty Sidekick pattern from Knitting daily, I decided that what I really needed was a smaller version to be used as a change purse or credit card holder. I often just grab my license, credit card, and a dollar or two when I run out to the store. So this littler sidekick had the same shaping, but no handle. It is perfect inside the Squatty sidekick or on its own for those who, like me, like to travel light!

Since I am away there is no picture. But I promise one as soon as I get home!

Amanda's Squatty Sidekick's Sidekick!

Finished Size
the size of a credit card (specific measurement to come)

Yarn
Cascade 220, or any WW feltable wool; leftovers

Needles
Size 10 1/2 : dpn

Notions
Button for closure

Bottom of the bag
Cast on 5 stitches. Work 22 rows, slipping the first stitch knitwise on each row.

Body
Knit the 5 stitches. Pick up and knit 11 along the side, 5 on the cast on edge, and 11 on the second side (32 stitches). Join for working in the round.
Rounds 1-2: Knit
Round 3: (K2, M1, K1, M1, K2), K11. Repeat once more
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: (K3, M1, K1, M1, K3), K11. Repeat once more
Rounds 6-8: Knit
Round 9: (K2, K2tog, K, k2tog, K2), K11. Repeat once more.
Round 10: Knit
Round 11: (K1, K2tog, k, K2tog, K), K11. Repeat once more.
Round 12: Knit
Round 13: (K2tog, K, K2tog, K20, K11. Repeat once more.
Round 14: Knit

Round 15: BO4, Knit 9 (for closure), BO remainder and cut yarn.

Closure
Join yarn on wrong side
Row 1-3: Work in St st
Row 4 (RS): Slip 1 st, ssk, K3, K2tog, K1
Row 5: Purl
Row 6: Slip 1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1
Row 7-9: Work st st
Row 10: Slip 1, ssk, K2
Row 11: Purl
Knit 2 st I cord for ~1 inch and then graft to other 2 stitches.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. Felt the purse (I did the felting by hand in the sink since it is so little). Attach the button and enjoy!!!