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Knit an Infinity Scarf

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Knit an Infinity Scarf

Some time ago I was fortunate to win an Instagram giveaway offered by Kathryn at The Australian wool Store.  I won a hand dyed skein of beautiful 100% Superwash Merino. I was so thrilled with the prize that I decided to  knit an Infinity Scarf for myself and to find a pattern I looked to spin the pins. So here it is –  my Spin the Pins  to knit an Infinity Scarf.

I decided on a scarf but thought that it would need to be ‘lacy’ to ensure that I had enough (being hand dyed the skein is unique).

I should tell you that I was experiencing a bad ‘Fibro’ time so that’s my excuse!  I was at the local Spotlight store and thought “Oh I need some circular needles – mm I think it was size 19” and so home I came with 19mm needles.

I  started to wonder when I couldn’t find the pattern that I was so sure used 19mm needles (I thought Pinterest must have hidden it!!) so I thought I would experiment a little.  You can see that I had wound the skein into a lovely woollen ball.

Well that was a  big NO-NO (read failure) but you have to love the fluro green needles!

I searched the pins again and decided on the Emerald Isle Cowl by Linda at Natural Suburbia.

I finally got back to the shops to end up with the right size needles and started again.  I think over the next few days I knitted, unpulled, knitted, unpulled until Poppy said ” I’d just put the scissors through it!”  I explained (very patiently) that it was not about the unpulling and restarting but rather the process. It was making me feel like I was doing something useful while the rain continued and the fibro flared and it was actually keeping my mind busy.  I know fellow fibro warriors will appreciate my efforts.

Anyway, I did get started, I did continue and I did complete my project.

I  followed the pattern as stated. (I should add my problems were not due to the pattern – just my fibromyalgia and foggy brain)

I  reminded myself of these things to think about when using circular needles:

  1. When you join the cast on stitches, you want to use a method that will avoid a gap etc.
  2.  Before you join the cast on stitches, make sure you have no twists in the length.  I think it is easier to see what I mean in this photo

I loved it when the  pattern began emerging

and I loved how the colours were appearing.

To avoid the “Oh I hope I don’t run out before I cast off” thoughts, I decided that I should prepare for the casting off requirements. As I was using wool from the centre of my ball, I took the other end and measured out 4 x the length of the project, rolled it up and secured it and continued on with confidence.

The pattern was looking great – open,  with a little bit of interest, without taking away from the effect of the gorgeous hand dyed wool.

When It was time to cast off I decided to try a new method (to me) as demonstrated by Knit Purl Hunter called Grandma’s Favorite Bind Off (Loose Bind Off) . 

I used a larger needle and it worked beautifully.

So, after all that, I am happy to report that I did finish my Infinity Scarf and I love it!

Thank you to Australian wool Store for the gorgeous Merino wool, Linda for the easy to follow pattern and Knit Purl Hunter for the great video instruction – what a great Spin the Pins!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make an Ohio Star Quilt Block from Charm Squares

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Today we will be making Block number 15 in our 9 Patch Sampler, the Ohio Star.

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

LIGHT:  5 x 5″ squares

DARK:  3 x 5″ squares

OTHER:  1 x 5″ square

LET’S SEW!

  1.  Take a DARK and an OTHER and make into HSTs using our narrow 1/8″ seam again
  2.  Take a LIGHT and a DARK and make HSTs using our narrow 1/8′ seam again

3.  Rule a diagonal across the LIGHT/DARK squares

4.  Place the LIGHT/DARK squares on top of the DARK/OTHER squares with the seams on top of each other.

5.  Put a pin  through where the line meets the seam and then turn it over so you can see that the pin comes through at the same point on the other square

6. Pin along the seam line – the pin will lie across the line you have drawn

7.  Stitch either side of the line using our narrow 1/8″ seam and cut on the line (as you do when making HSTs) and you will have Hourglass squares

with perfect joins


6. Trim your Hourglass squares by:

Placing the 2.25″ mark on your rule on the point where all seams intersect

where the unpicker is pointing

8.  Trim the top and side .

9.  Now turn the square and repeat using the 4.5″ line along the side and bottom and the 2.25″ mark on the centre point again. Trim the other two sides.

10.  Organise your squares

11. Sew your 9 Patch and press.  Admire your Ohio Star.

Great job!  You are a STAR!

We now have one more block to go – can you guess what it will be?

Until next time

Nanny xx

All links to the Blocks can be found here.

 

Catch-Up Week for the 9 Patch Sampler

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I have noticed that the number of photos of finished blocks that I have received has declined and so this week I have decided to give everyone a ‘catch-up’ week.

I know what it is like when you have fallen behind and have that dreaded feeling that you are never going to catch up !

I want you to finish this Sampler and so I am giving you a chance to get back on track  – so lets do it!

WHAT YOU NEED:

  • a plan of attack
  • some time
  • belief in yourself
  • chocolate

WHAT YOU DO:

  1.  Find where you are up to –  all tutorials can be found by clicking on the Block names below.
  2.  Print the tutorial if that helps – you will find a green ‘Print Friendly’ sign at the top left of each tutorial – this will print without all of the ‘other stuff’
  3.  Complete your block and lodge a photo.

To help inspire you, I am going to share some of the completed blocks (with permission).  I love how different they look depending on the fabric choice and I cant wait to see them come together in a few weeks time!

BLOCK 1 – 9 Patch

 

BLOCK 2 –  RAILFENCE VARIATION

BLOCK3 – Half Square Triangles 

 

BLOCK 4- SHOO FLY

 

BLOCK 5 – FRIENDSHIP STAR

BLOCK 6- CONTRARY WIFE

 

BLOCK 7 –  SPOOL

BLOCK 8 – CHURN DASH

BLOCK 9 – FORMAL GARDEN

BLOCK 10 –  GREEK CROSS

BLOCK 11 –  CHEVRON

BLOCK 12 –  BIRDS IN THE AIR

BLOCK 13 – DOUBLE 9 PATCH

 

Thank you for sharing your photos – I hope they help to get you going….

 

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Double 9 Patch from Charm Squares

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Today we are going to take a break from Half Square Triangles as we make a Double 9 Patch block from charm squares.

WHAT YOU NEED:

LIGHT: 4 x 5″ squares

DARK:  6 x 5″ squares  (my DARK is the check)

OTHER: 7 x 5″ squares  (my OTHER is Black)

NANNY NOTE:  As you can see there will be some wastage (opportunities)using charm squares.  If you would prefer to cut strips I will add details for you at the end of this tutorial..

LET’S SEW:

  1.  Take each of the DARK and OTHER squares and cut  strips (1 and 7/8)” wide.  You will have two at that width and a smaller strip left over that you will be able to use in another project.

2.  Join  strips DARK, OTHER, DARK  – do this 3 times.  You will see that they now will be 4.5″ wide

3.   Join strips OTHER, DARK, OTHER – do this 5 times

4.  Now turn so the strips are horizontal and cross cut each strip into (1 and 7/8)” strips (as in step 1)

5.  You will need  5 of the DARK, OTHER, DARK strips and 10 of the OTHER, DARK, OTHER strips

6.  We are now going to join the strips to make small 9 patch blocks

7.  Trim all blocks to 4.5″ and press.

8.  Organise your squares


9.  Sew your 9 patch and press.

NANNY NOTE:  If you prefer to cut strips you will need to:

  1. Cut strips:

DARK: 2 strips 10″ x (1 and 7/8)” and 1 strip 20″ x (1 and 7/8)”

OTHER: 1 strip 10″ x (1 and 7/8)”  and 2 strips 20″ x (1 and 7/8)”

2.  Sew the  10″strips  DARK, OTHER, DARK and the 20″ strips OTHER, DARK, OTHER

 

Now continue from Number 4 above.

That is our Double 9 Patch block all done!

 

I decided to use my Eiffel Towers again – I look forward to seeing your choices!

Until next time

Nanny xx

NANNY NOTE:  All previous block tutorials for the 9 Patch Sampler can be found at the end of the first tutorial.

 

Make a Spool block from Charm Squares

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Today we are going to make the 7th block in our 9 Patch Sampler.  We are going to make a Spool block using our Charm Squares.

The spool is so called because it is designed to look like a spool of thread.  With more experience, you will be able to vary the size and shape of the spool, but for today, we will stay with our 4.5″ squares made into a 9 patch.

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

The Spool is the first block where  we will be introducing another fabric to our 9 patches – I have called it OTHER so I now have, DARK, LIGHT and OTHER.  It is simply an accent fabric that will add to the design.  I am using Black and you can see that it represents the thread on the spool.

Dark: 4 x 5″ squares – 2 are left at 5″ and the other 2 are trimmed to 4.5″

Light:  4 x 5″ squares – 2 are left at  5″ and the other 2 are trimmed to 4.5″

Other:  1 x 5″ square – trimmed to 4.5″ (this is the thread on the spool)

LET”S SEW:

  1.  Take the two 5″ Dark and Light and make  4 HST’s
  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines
  • trim to 4.5″ and press OR press and trim to 4.5″

2.  Sew a 4.5″ Light either side of the 4.5″ Other

YOU NOW HAVE :

  • 2 x 4.5″ Dark
  • 4 x 4.5″ HSTs
  • Light – Other – Light

3. Organise your squares:

4.  Sew your 9 Patch.  Take care to match the joins carefully to finish the spool.

 

5.  Press and add it to your growing samples.

Make a Spool Block from Charm Squares

Thank you for sharing your photos to our Facebook page Nanny Sews and Crafts – it is fun to see how different each block looks with the different fabric choices!

 

Until next time

Nanny xx

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All content and images belong to Nannycraft4u unless otherwise indicated. You are welcome to link back to my blog, but you may not copy whole posts, tutorials or photos without my permission. Please give credit for my work and link back to the original post at Nannycraft4u.com If you use one of my ideas, I would love to know about it. Designs and tutorials are for personal use only.