Advent Calendar

Now I have seen MANY neat ideas for advent calendars. I pulled my idea from Family Fun Magazine a couple of Christmas's ago. They took kids socks and hung then on a ribbon and filled with goodies each day. I liked the idea, but never found the socks I liked. Then I saw on ravelry, Annie Purls idea for knitting a bunch of small socks for christmas - and BOOM the inspiration hit. Spring of 2008, I started knitting 22 small socks and a couple of bigger socks. I had them done last Christmas and I am reusing this Christmas. In 2008 K got a piece of choclate each day and a little animal. This year is a getting a fun size bag of M&M's and a small character from Wall-E, Cinderella, or Alddin. I have the character mixed, so she is getting a same set about every three days. I was able to find these sets at the Disney store when they were on sale. Unfortunately they had sold out of Sleeping Beauty already - which is K's favorite.

All the socks knitted up. The two larger one are for Dec 6th (St.Nick Day) and Dec 24th.

2008 hanging up

The first half of 2009

Last half of 2009

The garland is our christmas garland and I have have clothspins hanging up the stocking and they have numbers on so we know where we are at each day.

mitred football

Football pattern


This pattern was created when I was working on mitred square blocks for my daughter. When I got the fourth block done it looked like half of a football. I like patterns when there is limited finishing and sewing – so I like to pick up stitches when I can. I hope you enjoy these as much as I have. The football makes a great gift for babies and toddlers as well as that favorite football fan in their favorite school/team colors.

Gauge – not necessary, I have found Worsted weight makes a nice size ball.

Supplies –
One ball of sugar and cream in Brown and one in white (or any Favorite worsted weight yarn in the colors you want)
Pair of size 7 needles or favorite needle for your yarn choice


First Square
Cast on 31 stitches in brown/MC
Row 1: Knit 14, slip 1, k2tog, PSSO, K 14
Row 2: knit 14, Purl 1, knit 14
Row 3: Knit 13, sl1, K2tog, PSSO. K13
Row 4: K13, P1, K13
Row 5: K12, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K12
Row 6: K12, P1, K12
Row 7: K11, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K11
Row 8: K11, P1, K11
Row 9: K10, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K10
Row 10: K10, P1, K10
Row11: K9, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K9
Row 12: K9, P1, K9
Row 13: K8, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K8
Row 14: K8, P1, K8
Row 15: K7, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K7
Row 16: K7, P1, K7
Row 17: K6, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K6
Row 18: K6, P1, K6
Row 19: K5, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K5
Row 20: K5, P1, K5
Row 21: K4, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K4
Row 22: K4, P1, K4
Row 23: K3, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K3
Row 24: K3, P1, K3
Row 25: K2, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K2
Row 26: K2, P1, K2
Row 27: K1, Sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K1
Row 28: K1, P1, K1
Row 29: Sl1, K2tog, Psso, cut yarn and secure

Here is what the first Square should look like



Second square
Cast on 16 stitches and then pick up 15 from one side for First Square in brown/MC.
Follow directions for First Square
What the cast on and pick up stitches for the second look like

The first two squares

This is the center four squares that make the center of the ball

Third and Fourth Square you cast on and pick up the same amount of stitches. You will have a row of four squares when you are done.

The sides
Along one of the long sides of the strip of 4 squares pick up 62 stitches with the white/CC yarn.
Row 1: K14, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k28, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k14
Row 2: Knit 14, purl 1, K28, P1, K14
Row 3: K13, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k26, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k13

Then Pick up Brown/MC Yarn
Row 4: K13, P1, K26, P1, K13
Row 5: K12, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k24, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k12
Row 6: K12, P1, K24, P1, K12
Row 7: K11, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k22, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k11

Then Pick White/CC yarn up
Row 8: K11, P1, K22, P1, K11
Row 9: K10, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k20, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k10
Row 10: K10, P1, K20, P1, K10
Row 11: K9, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k18, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k9

Then Pick up Brown/MC and finish side
Row 12: K9, P1, K18, P1, K9
Row 13: K8, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k16, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k8
Row 14: K8, P1, K16, P1, K8
Row 15: K7, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k14, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k7
Row 16: K7, P1, K14, P1, K7
Row 17: K6, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k12, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k6
Row 18: K6, P1, K12, P1, K6
Row 19: K5, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k10, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k5
Row 20: K5, P1, K10, P1, K5
Row 21: K4, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k8, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k4
Row 22: K4, P1, K8, P1, K4
Row 23: K3, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k6, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k3
Row 24: K3, P1, K6, P1, K3
Row 25: K2, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k4, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K2
Row 26: K2, P1, K4, P1, K2
Row 27: K1, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K2, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, k1
Row 28: K1, P1, K2, P1, K1
Row 29: Sl1, K2tog, Psso twice
Row 30: Bind off

Complete second side.

Here is how one side look done with the second side ready to start.

Both sides done – before sewing

Sew up Side seam and stuff as you get to end of your seam. And enjoy the Football.

Any questions contact Sarah – Creativegal42 on Raverly.
For Personal Use only.

The circle afghan Pattern

I have had requests for my pattern on the circle afghan. If you have the MDK book -- it is based on the technique used for the circle of fun afghan -- I just use stockinette stitch instead of all knit and did a knit only border as I went. I hope you enjoy it -- and if you have questions let me know!!

Circular Afghan Pattern

I used Worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles. My gauge was about 4 stitches to 1 inch. I used this to decide how wide to make this afghan – keeping in mind that the number of stitches I casted on is half of the actual size of the afghan. So if you want to adjust the number of stitches or type of yarn – keep in mind that the stitch count should be divisible by 2.

Cast on 100 stitches.

Row 1 – Knit all stitches
Row 2 – Purl 92, knit 8
Row 3 – repeat row 1
Row 4 – repeat row 2

There is a border of stitches that we will be keeping all the way through. I did 4 stitches originally – I am writing the pattern for 8 stitches to be used on the outside border. These stitches will always be done as knit stitches while the body is done in stockinette stitch. I am using the colors in my afghan as a guide to where the stop and starts are – but you can use any color!!!

Row 5 – K2 in black, turn work
Row 6 – Sl1, K1
Row 7 – K4 in black, turn work
Row 8 – Sl1, K3
Row 9 – K6 in black, turn work
Row 10 – Sl1, K5
Row 11 – K8 in black, turn work
Row 12 – Sl1, K7
Row 13 – K8 in black, K2 in red, turn work
Row 14 – Sl1, P1 in red, K8 in black
Row 15 – K8 in black, K4 in red, turn work
Row 16 – Sl1, P3 in red, K8 in black
Row 17 – K8 in black, K6 in red, turn work
Row 18 – Sl1, P5 in red, K8 in black

Continue adding 2 more stitches to pattern until you have K8 in black and K88 in red. You will have 4 black stitches at the end unworked. I left those to make the center cleaner looking. After purling back those stitches you will have done about 96 rows in the first “pie”, you’ll be at row 100 in pattern.

Now will start decreasing the color “pie”

Row 101 – K8 in black, K 86 in red, turn work
Row 102 – Sl1, P 85 in red, K8 in black
Row 103 – K8 in black, K84 in red, turn work
Row 104 – Sl1, P83, K8 in black

Continue decreasing the color by two stitches on odd row until you are back at 2 stitches done – row 200. Remember you will always have the 100 stitches on the needle – you are just not working all of them every row.

Row 201 – Knit all stitches in black
Row 202 – Purl 92, k8
Row 203-208 – repeat 201 and 202 three more times

Repeat rows 5 to 208 four more times. Choosing different colors for the “pies”

On the fifth time (there will be 6 sections to the afghan) – repeat rows 5 to 204.

Bind off stitches – but do not cut yarn. Turn work and pickup 48 stitches along the inside edge of the afghan; you will have 49 stitches counting the last bind off stitch. Then follow pattern –

Row 1 -- knit to last 2 stitches K2 tog. – 48 stitches
Row 2 – K2 tog across row – 24 stitches
Row 3 – Knit all stitches
Row 4 – K2 tog across row – 12 stitches
Row 5 – knit all stitches
Row 6 – K2 tog across row – 6 stitches

Cut yarn and weave end through the last 6 stitches and tighten yarn. This will close the circle up. Then sew edge of purple to edge of red – this will be the spoke so the seam will be slightly hidden. Weave in ends and you are done!!!!


The pattern is copyrighted by Sarah McDonald and may be use for personal use only.

Mason dixon Bibs

A friend showed me the new Mason Dixon Knitting book the other day and I had a blast looking at it. I couldn't wait to get home and start playing. I started with the baby bib since I have a 3 month old and alot of sugar and cream yarn to play with. I loved the pattern, but I didn't like one thing. My daugther doesn't like things digging into the back of her neck when she is laying down. So I decided to play with the pattern and instead of two straps I made one long strap that wraps around her neck and then buttons in front. Plus it is easier because we don't have to go back and make the second strap.