Neck Strap Beer Can Holder

Since I'm on crutches and was heading out to the hash, I needed something tol hold my beer while I hobbled around. I came up with this little number. I referred to several different patterns on the net most of which were knitted from the top down; I wanted mine to be from the bottom up. As I knitted and made this up I wrote it down as this...

Material: size 5 dpns
Yarn: A small amount of two colors of sugar and cream cotton.
dpns - double pointed needles; size 5
crochet hook - Size G
Fabric Tac or needle and thread matching (SC)

Abbreviations:
st(s) - stitch(es)
K - Knit
KFB - Knit into the front st then before slipping st off knit into the back of the same stitch.
(MC) - main color
(SC) - stripe color

Cast on 6 sts in (MC). Divide the sts so there are 2 sts on each needle

Row 1: K

Row 2: KFB in each st (12 sts)

Rows 3-5: K

Row 6: KFB (24 sts)

Rows 7-10: K

Row 8: *K1, KFB* repeat to end (36 sts)

Rows 9 - 13 K

Rows 14 - 18: K with (SC)

Rows 19 - 30: K with (MC)

Rows 31 - 35: K with (SC)
Rows 36 - 38: K with (MC)

BO - I used a double crochet bind-off. For a regular BO I would K one more row before BO.

Neck Strap

Cast on 110 in (SC)
Row 1 -2: SC to end

I used Fabric Tac to secure the neck strap to the body. You could also sew it on.

IF I were to make another, I would spread out the increases for the bottom of the can to avoid a pucker; otherwise I'm pretty darn happy with it!

Sample - fitting the pop tabs together

I've been doing research on the web on how to weave beer and pop tabs together to make a purse. These are a couple samples I put together before starting the real project. The left is with yarn and the right with nylon cord. I definitely like the nylon cord look better. I'm making a purse :)

Morning Glory & Wisteria

I finally got a bloom. I must have 5 of these planted in various places and only one bloom so far.

The Wisteria that I planted to climb on the arbor (which I built) is doing very well. I am concerned that it will be too strong for the arbor and break it over time though, but for now I'm happy with it.

Update - Browning Ivy

The Ivy wreaths that I hand wrapped back on August 13 are really starting to turn brown now. They are hearty wreaths and have a nice look and feel to them. I'm still not sure what I will do with all of them yet :)

ACL Surgery - Week 1

Although I do have a whole other blog devoted to my ACL surgery and recovery, I figured since a week has gone by that I would throw a quick update on this blog. I can tell you that not much has happened in a week.
Recap:

Day 1: wasn't too bad as for pain because of the nerve block. But that weird feeling of a dead leg and the dragging foot was getting to me by night time. Took Oxycontin for the first time in my life.

Day 2: Between the 20th and 30th hours were the worst for the pain. Yes, I feel my leg again which is why. I've figured out that butt sliding is the best way to go up and down the stairs. I removed the post surgery bandages and got my first look. Not too bad; not too swollen. Still on the Oxy.

Day 3: I'm still on the pain pump. Began anti-inflammatory meds. Swelling looks a little less than yesterday. The stitch that was bleeding has stopped.

Day 4: Today I got a new "quick release" bending brace, I removed the pain pump IV, and I went outside for the first time. Swelling looks the same. Bruising showing up.

Day 5: Swelling the same so is the bruising.

Day 6: Swelling maybe a tad better; the bruising is spreading. Today I left the house to go with the hashers. I even drove my car; which due to the bending brace wasn't hard at all. Getting in and out of the car was the hard part.

Day 7: I've noticed that I don't have a calf muscle anymore. The swelling hasn't changed since yesterday. The bruising is significant on the inside of my knee up my leg.

Gingerbread Sampler Afghan Square

[50sts x 60]

Pattern: Gingerbread

I wanted the cable pattern to be on both edges so I modified the chart a bit. Here's my new chart. (Note, my picture only shows there being 3 repeats; but my "fix" for the sizing is to do 4 repeats)

Abbreviations:

• 
  
  SL1 = insert needle as if to purl, but just slip the stitch from the left needle to the right
• 
  
  cn = cable needle
• 
  
  LC = Slip 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k2, k2 from cn

CO 50

Row 1 (RS) K1, *P1, k4; repeat from *, end p1, k1

Row 2 *P1, k1, p4, k1, p1, k2; repeat from * 4 times, p1, k1, p4, k1, p1

Row 3 *K1, p1, LC, p1, k3; repeat from * 4 times, k1, p1, LC, p1, k1

Row 4 *P1, k1, p4, k1, p1, k2; repeat from * 4 times, p1, k1, p4, k1, p1

Row 5 K1, *P1, k4; repeat from *, end p1, k1

Row 6 *P1, k1, p4, k1, p1, k2; repeat from * 4 times, p1, k1, p4, k1, p1

Repeat rows 1-6 (ten times)

BO purlwise

Russian Join

I just finished a new knitting video on how to join yarn using a technique called the Russian Join. I use this one exclusively when adding a new ball of yarn in the middle of a project. There are many other ways to add more yarn, but I like this the best because once I make the join, I'm done with it and don't have to go back later and fiddle with weaving in ends. Plus this join is super strong!

Check it out...

Reversible Diamonds and Lozenges Sampler Afghan Square

[38sts x 59] Good

Pattern: Reversible Diamonds and Lozenges

Slip 1st purlwise stitch and purl last st of every row.

CO 38
Work pattern rows once then work rows 1-12
BO knitwise

Out for a run

It was a gorgeous day today. The temperature was hot, but there was a slight breeze that stirred the scents of the freshly mowed lawns filling my senses with the joys of a summer run. I quickly approached Essex and forgot all about the ACL surgery that I tore back in June. My pace was quicker than I would have liked as I held a steady 7:55 for the first 1/2 mile but I didn't want to back off so I pushed forward letting the music in my ears guide each step on the asphalt. Before I knew it I had rounded Windmill Point and was now running into the wind. My breath labored as I tried to keep up the pace, but soon I would surrender to the heat and the current wind direction. "I'll just run up the fire hydrant" I thought to distract myself from falling further from my initial pace.
 
A man turned down from one of the side streets and was now only about 1/10 of a mile ahead of me; his appearance and stride led me to believe that he was an experienced runner. I always wonder where other runners have been and where they will go once they are out of my sight and I often wonder if they don't question the same thing about me. I appeared to be keeping the same pace with him which made me feel good considering my condition and as much as I wanted to keep going, I knew it was time to head back.

After making the turn at the fire hydrant I had the wind at my back. It's funny how it doesn't seem nearly as strong when it's at your back as it is when you're running into it. My pace had dropped significantly on my return though and I was now clocking only an 8:20 for the last 1/4 mile. I wanted my over all pace to be below 8:15 so I had a bit of ground to make up. I dug deep and found what seemed like my last piece of energy and picked up the pace. I distracted myself with images crossing the finish line after running a great race; one particular race that I enjoyed was the Boston Marathon in 2007. It was one of those races that started out with absolutely horrible weather. The wind howled and the rain came down at severe horizontal angles, but despite all that was bad in the beginning I was able to pull off a great PR time of 3:51:29 which made the pain I endured all worth it in the end. Not all events that I draw upon for strength when I feel like I'm going to die like the Grand Prix Shakedown recently where I ran a 41:39 in the heat of the evening on the 26. Then there was the joy I felt when my team the Aardvarks and Artichokes placed 4th overall at the Great Lakes Relay! These are the things that help me focus on the moment and make it happen.

I didn't look at my Garmin for that last mile and my legs were feeling heavy. It seemed like I would never make it home; I had gotten some sweat in my eyes but didn't stop to wipe it out and kept on going all the way home. My overall pace... 8:14! That was pretty darn good considering the events of the day and temperature. I was happy as a lark, crashed on the couch and fell into a deep peaceful slumber.

Mini Cables Sampler Afghan Square

[fix: 53sts x 56rows]

Pattern: Mini Cable

Border:
The first st of every row is slipped purlwise followed by K1
The second to last st of every row is K1 followed by P1

CO 53
Work the pattern adding the 2 sts of border at the beginning and end.
There will be 12 mini cables across and 14 mini cables high.
BO purlwise

Upcoming Surgery and Lack of Blogging

So I did it again. But this time I tore the ACL in my right knee and am scheduled to have surgery on August 18. Yes, that sucks. When I'm feeling up to it I will blog about it and about the recovery. Googling and reading about other people's experiences helped me understand what I may experience and better prepare me for what is ahead.

Since I will have between 6-8 months most likely to recover, I will undoubtedly have plenty of time to catch up on blogging about my projects. Good thing I take pictures to remind me of what all I've done! Anywho, my last blog was about the beer pong table all the way back in February so I surely have a lot of time to cover and a lot of time to cover it!

May Square Sampler Afghan Square

[Fix = 52sts x 58 rows]

Pattern: May Square

The first stitch of every row is slipped purlwise, last stitch is purled. CO 54 and follow the instructions as printed except do not knit the 3 rows at the beginning and end. Work the pattern a total of 7 times.

Refinished Patio Tables

I salvaged (garbage picked) these 2 tables at different times from the curb. I took them apart and painted them with Rustoleum Hammered Spray paint. They turned out really good! The round one had some screw damage so I wound up putting new screw threads in the legs; this was not an easy task; it should have been but it wasn't. Both tables are made out of metal tubing. For $7 each table in paint they turned out great!

I think I finished the first table back in June, like that matters, but whatever. :)

Ivy Wreaths

I'm sure I've posted pictures of my ivy wreaths in the past. This time around I wrapped a lot more vines into the wreaths to make them heartier. These will be way cool when they dry. I saw the neighbor out across the street and since I had just wrapped up a bunch of wreaths I took one over to her. She immediately hung it on her door... green as all!

Diamonds and Pearls Sampler Afghan Square

[43sts x 60] Good

Pattern: Diamonds and Pearls

I worked this pattern once on the square with 16 sts on each side. Within those 16 sts I worked 1 set of Mini Cables on each side.

Work pattern rows as follows:

Odd Rows (RS) - SL1pw, K4, P5, cable pattern, P2, Diamond pattern, P2, cable pattern, P5, K4, P1
Even Rows (WS) - SL1pw, K9, cable pattern, K2, Diamond pattern, K2, cable pattern, K9, P1

Instructions:

CO 43
Work rows 1-20 of Diamonds and Pearls with cable and edging as described above (three times)
BO knitwise

Pink Cosmos

In late Spring I ran across some Cosmos seeds that I'd bought probably 6 weeks earlier so I decided to plant some in the front yard. I planted probably 16 seeds and only got 4 plants, but they sure are pretty. The do pretty well as a cut flower too, but you don't get a very long stalk with them unless you want to sacrafice some buds below the bloom; which isn't an option. Cosmos look very cool in bunches and they sway easily with the wind.

Drop Stitch Pattern Sampler Afghan Square

[38sts x 60 rows]; This knitted up way too narrow and much too tall. It's very springy like ribbing and loose too.
Fix = [48 x 54]

Pattern: Drop Stitch Pattern

Begin each row with SL1pw, P1, K1, work pattern row, K1, P2

CO 42
Work pattern rows 1-12  four times as indicated above, then rows 1-6 once.
BO purlwise.

Criss Cross Cable with Twists Sampler Afghan Square

I didn't like this pattern so much that I didn't even bother writing out the instructions. This square might not be used in the finished afghan. LOL

Pattern: Criss Cross Cable with Twists (originally a scarf pattern)

I worked this cable with alternating cable positions as you can see if you compare the picture of my completed square to the original pattern. Oh and I didn't do a very good job of following the pattern like this; which is one reason why I don't like the finished pattern. If I were to do this again, I would just work one pattern across the square and have the rest a plain background. Oh well.

I also miscalculated the number of sts and rows I'd need so I had to crochet on all sides. oops.