A Day of Cabling

Today's latest fashionable knits are cable knit headbands. Who knew how this classic stitching technique would not go out of style and flourish even more as it did before. For those who don't know what Cable Knitting is, its a technique where you pretty much knit in the wrong order which casts the knits to overlap each other and create a twisting form.
Here's a quick example:

With this cool pattern you can change it up however you like or keep it classic. A few patterns are:

I decided to venture off and create my very first cable knit headband. Since I didn't know how to cable stitch I had to do some research, and being a visual learner I went to youtube and searched for videos as well as google. I came across this video on VideoJug which really helped me understand what exactly I was doing. 

Here's the link: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-knit-a-cable-stitch 

It  was as easy as knitting or I thought it was…But, I didn't give up. Once you start there's only one thing to do and its to succeed! I reread the instructions, and got my supplies out and began from scratch.  I had maroon yarn and my 2 double pointed needle, I think I used a size 4. Step by step I followed somewhat of the instruction but with my own twist. Instead of knitting and purling, I made one side all knits and the other all purls then I followed the cabling part and it turned out wonderful after a few tries. 

In the end this is what it looked like:

I made it for a good friend of mine and she loved it so I decided i'd make more and try different designs of the cable stick pattern. It's actually not as hard as it looks like, here's the steps for Cable knitting a headband:

Step 1: You will need

• Some yarn
• A pair of knitting needles
• A cable needle

Step 2: Cast on

Begin by casting on 18 stitches.

To learn more about casting on see our video 'How To Cast On'

Step 3: Rows 1-4

On row one, purl 6 stitches, knit six stitches then purl six stitches again.

On the next three rows, knit the knits and purl the purls.

Step 4: Rows 5--8

On the fifth row, purl six stitches then slip the first three knit stitches purl wise onto a cable needle.

Let the cable needle with the stitches dangle to the front of your work.

Knit the next stitch on the needle, pull the yarn tight, and knit the next two stitches.

Now knit the first stitch off the cable needle, pull the yarn tight, and knit the last two stitches.

Put the cable needle to one side and purl the last six stitches.

On the next three rows, simply knit the knits, and purl the purls.

Step 5: Row 9

On the ninth row repeat the cable twist with the cable needle once more.

Magically, a cable stitch will appear.

Step 6: Reversing the cable row

Cables can be made to twist in the opposite direction. 

Lavender Delights

Today, I decided to crochet another pair of baby boots with a slight addition to them. Using two different shades of purple I wanted to add some patterns at the top. And that's exactly what I ended up doing. The bottoms are a dark shade of purple while the boot is of a lavender shade. For the rims I created a pattern alternating the colors to create a pattern. These boot, much like the other ones I have made don't take much long to create and look lovely in the end. 

Let make some Baby Boots!

Hello! Thanks to days like this I call them Yarndays. From waking up and thinking "What shall I knit or crochet today?" Its days like these that I'm thankful for having tons of yarn. 

Today I decided to crochet newborn baby booties, these boots only take me about less than a half an hour to make. I tend to make these boots for friends and family and anyone who wants a pair. The Blue shoes look like this when completed:

The last pair I made for my friend's daughter looked like this:

They were bright pink with sparkles on the bottom and a very light pink to contrast with the bold bottoms. Since it was a girl, I had to place a bow on top for cuteness.

These shoes are quite easy to make and look very professional when completed. 

To make these lovely boots here are the instructions: 

Materials:

3.0 mm hook

8 Ply Bamboo Yarn

Round 1- The Sole

Step 1: Chain 10 stitches (measures 9cm sole, fits 8cm baby foot)

Step 2: Single Crochet (SC) into the 2nd chain from the hook (hk), and into the next 7       stitches (sts)

Step 3: Single crochet 5 times into the last chain stitch; (work these 5 stitches around to the other side)

Step 4: 1 single crochet into each of the next 7 unused loops.

Step 5: 2 single crochets into the last loop 

step 6: join at the first stitch with a slip stitch.

(22 stitches)

Round 2- Sole Cont'd

Step 7: Chain 2

Step 8: 1 half double crochet in the same stitch as chain 2

Step 9: 1 half double crochet into the next 7 stitches

Step 10: 2 half double crochets into the next 5 stitches

Step 11: 1 half double crochets into the next 7 stitches 

Step 12: 2 half double crochets into each of the last 2 stitches

Step 13: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

Round 3- Sole Cont'd

Step 14: Chain 2

Step 15: 1 half double crochets into chain 2

Step 16: 1 half double crochets into the next 12 stitches

Step 17: 2 half double crochets into each of the next 3 stitches

Step 18: 1 half double crochet into each of the next 12 stitches

Step 19: 2 half double crochets into each of the last 2 stitches

Step 20: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

Round 4: The Curve

Step 21: Chain 2

(Working in the back loops for this round only)

Step 22: 1 half double crochet into the back of each stitch 

Step 23: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

Round 5: The Sides

Step 24: Chain 2

Step 25: 1 half double crochet into each stitch right round

Step 26: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

Round 6: The Sides Cont'd

Step 27: Chain 2

Step 28: 1 half double crochet into the next 11 stitches

Step 29: double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) 6 times

Step 30: 1 half double crochet into the next 12 stitches

Step 31: join at the top of chain 2 with a slip stitch

(30 stitches)

Round 7: The Sides Cont'd

Step 32: Chain 2

Step 33: 1 half double crochet into the next 10

Step 34: double crochet 2 together 4 times

Step 35: 1 half double crochet into the next 11 stitches

Step 36: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

(26 stitches)

Round 8: The Sides Cont'd

Step 37: Chain 1

Step 38: single crochet in the next 11 stitches

Step 39: single crochet 2 together twice

Step 40: single crochet in the next 10 stitches 

Step 41: join at the top of chain 2 with a slip stitch

Round 9-11:The Sides Cont'd

Step 42: Chain 2

Step 43: half double crochet right around till the end

Step 44: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

Round 12: The Edging

Step 45: Chain 1

Step 46: single crochet each stitch right to the end

Step 47: join with a slip stitch at the top of chain 2

Step 48: tie off the end, and cut any extra yarn. (Alternative is to sew the remaining inside the shoe along the backbone.