Comments

Hi everyone, just a quick note to say sorry for not replying to comments. I wasn't getting any notifications and it completely slipped my mind that people might actually look at/respond to these posts! The situation has now been rectified...

Column of Leaves Chart

No, we have not abandoned this blog permanently... I (Bridget) have just been insanely busy, and I haven't gotten the chance to teach my mom how to use Blogger yet. Hopefully more regular updates will start to happen eventually. In the meantime...

Right now I'm about eight repeats into Brooke Nelson's beautiful Column of Leaves scarf. You can see my version (in Schaefer Judith) on Ravelry. Since I had a hard time with the three separate charts, I've Excel'd it into one big chart (it prints onto one page in landscape format). I thought it might be useful to other people, so you can download the PDF here.

Okay, back to work for me! Gotta get everything done fast today so I can pop over to Windsor Button later this afternoon...

[7/22/08: Brooke has now posted an updated version of the pattern with a new, single chart.]

Bind-off tip

Here is a tip for you from our friends at Skein, a LYS in Pasadena, CA. If you are having trouble with your bind-off not being stretchy enough, here's what you can do: begin binding off as usual. Every few stitches, rather than collecting two stitches on your right needle and passing one over the other, do a yarn-over while there is one stitch on the right needle and pass the worked stitch over the yarn-over. This creates an extra stitch in the chain and makes for a stretchier edge.

Happy New Year!

Happy holidays from Woodvale! Yes, we are still here. Too much knitting to get done before Christmas meant no time for posts! Mom made an intarsia stocking for her sister, along with multiple pairs of slippers: pink piggies for me; for my sister, Chelsea, a pair made to look like her favorite horse, Rex. She's working on some socks now. I was less productive: the only gift I managed to get done was a scarf for my advisor's wife. A few days ago we hit up a sale at one of our many LYSes and I bought a bag of gray Jo Sharp DK Tweed that is sure to become a beautiful sweater. We'll put pictures of the slippers up soon, but for now, wishing you all the best in 2008!

Pink Bunny Slippers

Here's our pattern for bunny slippers, cobbled together from various sources and modifications. These make a very quick and easy weekend project.

Yarn & notions

• 2 skeins worsted-weight yarn [main color] I used Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Superwash. You'll only need one skein's worth, but you'll hold the yarn double throughout.
• Scrap yarn for the tail, nose, and eyes if desired. Button eyes would also be fine.
• US #9 needles
• Darning needle
• Scissors
  

Yarn is held double throughout pattern.

Body & toe
Cast on 29 sts
Row 1 and all odd rows (RS): K across
Row 2 and all even rows (WS): K9, P1, K9, P1, K9
Repeat rows 1 & 2 for approx. 22 ridges (for an average woman's foot) or until slipper is 2.5" shorter than desired finished size. Finish an odd row (RS)
Change to K1, P1 ribbing to begin toe.
Continue in rib for 2". Finish an even row (WS).

End of toe
Row 1: (RS) Work rib for 7 sts, SSK, K, K2tog, work 5 sts in rib, K2tog, K, SSK, work last 7 sts in rib.
Row 2: Work rib for 7 sts, P3, work 5 sts in rib, P3, work last 7 sts in rib.
Row 3: Work rib for 6 sts, SSK, K, K2tog, work 3 sts in rib, K2tog, K, SSK, work last 6 sts in rib.
Break yarn, leaving enough yarn to draw end through all stitches and sew the ribbed portion together.

Ears (x4)
Cast on 6 sts. Leave a rather long tail for sewing the ears onto the body
Row 1 and all odd rows (will be outside of ear): K across
Row 2 and all even rows (will be inside of ear): K1, P4, K1
Repeat rows 1&2 for approximately 2" or until ears are almost desired length.
Next row (odd): K2tog, K2, K2tog
Next row (even): K1, P2, K1
Next row (odd): K2tog twice
Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Secure end.

Finishing
Fold cast-on edge in half and sew edges together for back of heel. Fold ribbed toe portion in half and sew together. Sew the ears onto the juncture between the slipper body & ribbed heel. I added a pompom tail and embroidered eyes & nose, but you could do whatever you like.

Welcome to Woodvale Knits

I never intended to have a knitting blog. And really, this isn't a knitting blog! I'm just doing this so that the patterns we work out will have a place on the web and therefore can be added to Ravelry (look me and my mom up!)

I'm Bridget. My mom, who I hope will be posting here as well, is Nancy. We've both been knitting since the summer of 2004. That's enough about us! Enjoy!