Sunday, December 31, 2006
Peacock Scarf--January's Free Pattern of the Month!
Peacock
Extra Wide Mock Cable Scarf
In my infinite wisdom I packed no less than 12 pairs of shoes for my trip to shoot Knitty Gritty but neglected to pack even 1 coat. The weather was rainy in Burbank last month and the studio, a wee bit chilly. This scarf was my B/F/F for those three weeks away from home. It's extra wide and long, which makes it perfect for winter weather. The Eyelet mock-cable rib, combined with Noro's amazing colorway produces something vaguely peacock feather looking. Pretty + practical = good stuff!
Materials
4 balls Noro Big Kureyon
US size 13 needles
Tapestry needle
ONE SIZE
Approx. 14" x 85" STITCH PATTERN (from 365 days Perpetual Knitting Calendar) Row 1(rs): P2, *sl1, k2, psso, P2; rep from * Row 2: K2, *P1, YO, P1, K2; rep from * to end Row 3: P2, *K3, P2; rep from * to end Row 4: K2, *P3, K2; rep from * to end Rep these four rows. Directions CO 55 sts. Knit 6 rows. Row 7: K4, P2, *sl1, k2, psso, P2; rep * from to last 4 sts. K4. Row 8: K4, K2, *P1, YO, P1, K2; rep from * to last 4 sts. K4. Row 9: K4, P2, *K3, P2; rep from * to last 4 sts. K4. Row 10: K4, K2, *P3, K2; rep from * to last 4 sts. K4. Rows 11-14: Knit. Repeat rows 7-14 until wrap measures 60 1/4" or desired length. Knit 2 more rows. BO. Weave in ends and block. 
Happy New Year!!
xo, Vickie
Copyright Vickie Howell, Inc. 2007. All rights reserved.
Labels: free pattern, knitting, scarf
posted by Vickie Howell @ 6:22 PM
Friday, December 22, 2006
Recap. Barely.
I have to be honest, most of what happened during the taping of seasons 7 & 8 of the show is an absolute blur. Perhaps it's because we shot 26 episodes in 9 studio days; or that my kids respective birthdays are a week before and 2 weeks after Christmas and celebrations have thuslyensued; or maybe because we're prepping for the fact that the moment the mistletoe dries up, I'll be on a plane pretty much for the entirety of the next two months promoting Knitty Gritty Knits, The Vickie Howell Collection, The Superbowl Sunday Knitty Gritty Marathon and shooting a new DIY special. Who knows, really? I think though, that I was in a fugue state for most of those weeks of pre-production and taping.
Here are a few things I do remember, though:
1. Being out sarcasmed (let's pretend that's a real word) by the Yarn Harlot
2. Cookie giving me this look every time she had nothing to say.
3. Being given the most amazing gift bag extravaganza, ever (more on this later), by Scout (aka Jamie Dixon)
4. Having an continuity issue from past seasons pointed out to me, by an 11 year old Knitster.
5. Working with the most kick-ass production staff ever.
6. Stephen from HizKnits doing the splits on the studio floor, solely for our entertainment.
7. Meeting the gals from the San Diego Craft Mafia.
8. Running into both Amy Singer and Cecily Keim while I was visiting Suss at her shop.
9. Learning how to do hairpin lace from Jennifer Hansen (who, last year, also
taught me to Tunisian crochet).
10. Dressing up as a Jedi for a Knit Bit about light-up knitting needles.
For a more thorough account of KG production events, check out my photo album!
Ok, I'm off to finish my Christmas shopping. If you're feeling crafty and have the time to buckle down and knit or crochet for the next day or two, might I suggest making my Daisy Chain scarf from the Current Issue of Crochet Today
Or a mistake rib scarf like this one I just made for my brother in Noro Kureyon.
Here's how: Using size 10 1/2 needles, CO 31 sts. Work in K1, P1 ribbing to last 3 sts. K2, P1. Repeat every row. BO in mistake rib.
Good luck with Holiday preparations. Merry, Merry!
Mistletoe kisses,
Vickie
posted by Vickie Howell @ 11:07 AM
Monday, December 18, 2006
Gift Wrap--Free Project!
Need a quick holiday gift for the knitter in your life? Well this Christmas carrier is just what the secret Santa ordered!
Materials
1/4 yard of vintage holiday fabric (I used an old pillow case)
1/2 yard of coordinating fabric
1 yard of ribbon
Coordinating thread
Sewing machine
1 Set of Candy Cane Knitting Needles
Directions
Cut 1 piece of holiday fabric and 2 pieces of coordinating fabric, measuring
9" x 17" each.
Fold one piece of coordinating fabric in half, width-wise. Top stitch 1/8" from the folded edge.
Pin folded piece to bottom half of the other piece of coordinating fabric. To accommodate the six sets of needles, sew pockets as follows: 1- 1 3/4", 2- 1 1/2", 3- 1 1/4".
With right sides together, pin the coordinating and holiday fabric together along with the ribbon piece folded in half and placed facing inward about 6" up from the bottom.
Using a 1/4" seam allowance sew together, leaving an opening for turning.
Turn piece right side out, and press. Fold turning opening inward and top stitch around entire piece, about 1/8" in from the edge.
Stick your needles in the pockets, roll up the carrier and tie it closed
Merry Knitmas, everyone!
Copyright Vickie Howell, Inc. 2006
posted by Vickie Howell @ 10:17 PM
Friday, December 15, 2006
Want more Knitty Gritty on HGTV?
Hey all! I'm back from L.A, trying to catch up. I promise to update you on how the shoot went as soon as I can. In the meantime however, I have a favor to ask. As you may know, for a limited time only, Knitty Gritty is now on HGTV 5 times a week, with new episodes airing every Monday! If you're finally getting to see the show for the first time because you don't get DIY or you're just happy to have double the KG goodness, please let HGTV know. They're experimenting with craft programming right now so if they get enough viewer response, we may get an extended run! That said, I'll *heart* you forever and always if you'd go to the HGTV website and fill out this form, and let them know that you're happy about the show being on their network. Thanks a lot!
Knitlicious Kisses,
Vickie
P.S. For those of you who were guests during seasons 6-8, getting picked up by HGTV for longer would mean your episode would get to air on both networks, too!
P.P.S. For those of you who want to be guests on the show in the future, a longer HGTV run would increase your chances. They don't air the same seasons at the same time on DIY & HGTV, which means they need double the programming. If the demand is there, then they'll order more episodes to go into production which would mean we'd need more guests. I'm just saying. ;-)
posted by Vickie Howell @ 1:03 PM
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Post about not posting.
I have tons more to post about, including pictures with Stitch Diva, Amy Singer, Suss and a bunch of cutie-pie teens. I'd planned on writing it up last night but yesterday, although fun, was filled with technical problems that threw us into overtime and a Knit.1 article interviewee standing me up(even though my article is already past due), which left me scrambling. Soooo, I was a wee bit exhausted by end of day and fell asleep watching Studio 60 with knitting in hand. Oh, and I also have a small free project of the month that I vow to get up this week, too!
More to come...
xo,
Vickie
posted by Vickie Howell @ 8:23 AM
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Knitty Gritty Holiday on HGTV!
Hey all! Just wanted to let you know that Knitty Gritty makes its HGTV tomorrow with a never-been-seen holiday episode! Tune in at 11am ET/PT to check it out!
Mistletoe kisses,
Vickie
posted by Vickie Howell @ 11:00 PM
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