Well, somewhere I’m going to have to find some time to knit this, because I’m going to give one away via the Salt of the Earth Urban Farm Facebook page! When we hit 100 likes, I will randomly select one of those 100 folks to win a mason jar cozy in their choice of colors.  Only 7 spots left, so click on the sidebar link, and like us on FB for a chance to win!  Thanks!

(For those inclined to knit their own, here’s the free pattern!)

The mason jar – gotta love it for carrying coffee, tea, ice-water – you name it.   Since it’s glass, a mason jar is non-reactive (unlike plastic water bottles).   The screw-top lid keeps drinks from spilling in the car/in my backpack.  And they’re super convenient (I’ve got stacks of them in my cupboards).

I used to tie a dishtowel around my jar to catch condensation (on iced drinks) or help insulate (hot drinks).  I figured a knitted cozy would work much better than a towel, and, yes,  there are knitted jar cozies you can purchase online.   But buying one would take all the fun out of working out a pattern myself and doing some stash-busting/saving some pennies at the same time!

I wanted the cozy to 1) be made of wool to wick water and insulate well, 2) fit snugly, so it wouldn’t slouch and slump down, and 3)have a handle for carrying or attaching to a carabiner.

So, here’s the finished pattern to share with you (In two sizes – quart wide-mouth, and pint wide-mouth)!  You know the drill -please, don’t reproduce the pattern or use it for profit without my express permission, but feel free to knit oodles for yourself and as gifts (they are quick to make, taking less than a day!).

Larksong’s MASON JAR COZY PATTERN

copyright 2010 by Angela Baker

For the Quart Jar: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, content: 85% wool, 15% mohair; 190yd/173m per 113g skein; Color: Aqua Waves; #: half a skein or less

Set of US #6/4.0mm double-point needles

Quart wide-mouthed canning jar

Tapestry needle

2 stitch holders

Gauge

19 sts/30 rows = 4 inches stockinette stitch before blocking

Pattern

For the Quart Jar (with optional handle)

CO 8 sts  Divide amongst 3 needles

Join sts, being careful not to twist.

Base -

Round 1- (k1, kfb) repeat around.  You will have 12 sts.
Round 2- (knit 2, kfb) repeat around.  16 sts.

Round 3 and all subsequent odd rounds – k around.
Round 4- (knit 3, kfb) repeat- 20 sts.
Round 6- (knit 4, kfb) repeat- 24 sts.
Round 8- (knit 5, kfb) repeat- 28 sts.
Round 10 (knit 6, kfb) repeat- 32 sts.
Round 12 (knit 7, kfb) repeat- 36 sts.
Round 14 (knit 8, kfb) repeat- 40 sts.
Round 16: (knit 9, kfb) repeat.  44 sts

Round 18: (knit 10, kfb) repeat, 48 sts

Round 20: (knit 11, kfb) repeat, 52 sts

Body and Neck–

knit around for 30 rounds

[If you want to add a handle - Divide for handle starting here  –

work in (k2,p2) rib all around, on sts 21-26 k1fb of each st, placing each increased st (the one knit into the back) on a stitch holder to the inside of the work.  (You will have 6 sts on a stitch holder).

Continue in k2, p2 pattern, repeating the increase/stitch holder portion for sts 47-52 (putting 6 more sts on a 2^nd stitch holder.).

You should now have the original 52 sts on double points, and 6 sts on each of two stitch holders.

(k2, p2) repeat for 7 more rounds (8 rounds total)]

(If you do NOT want a handle, simply (k2,p2) repeat for 8 rounds instead.)

K around for 4 rounds

Loosely BO.

Optional Handles –

With two dpns, work 6 stitches (from one holder) in I-cord for ten inches.

K1, k2tog, k2 tog, k1 (4 sts)

CO and weave in ends.

Repeat with 6 sts on other holder.

Finishing

If making a handle – tie ends of I-cords together in a knot to form the handle.

Block finished cozy on the jar (taking care, Lamb’s Pride felts easily.)

Materials:

For the Pint Jar:  Scraps of any heavy worsted weight wool yarn – a great way to showcase small skeins of handspun! – about 70 yds total.

MC: Lamb’s Pride Worsted.  Content: 85% wool, 15% mohair; 190yd/173m per 113g skein; Color: Winter Blue

CC: any handspun or remnants of any (Pint shows some spindle-spun 100% merino)

# set(s) US #6/4.0mm double-point needles

Pint wide-mouthed canning jar

Tapestry needle

2 stitch holders

Gauge

19 sts/30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch before blocking

Pattern

For the Pint Jar (with optional handle)

With MC, CO 8 sts  Divide amongst 3 needles

Join sts, being careful not to twist.

Base -

Round 1- (k1, kfb) repeat around.  You will have12 sts.
Round 2- (knit 2, kfb) repeat around.  16 sts.

Round 3 and all subsequent odd rounds – k around.
Round 4- (knit 3, kfb) repeat- 20 sts.
Round 6- (knit 4, kfb) repeat- 24 sts.
Round 8- (knit 5, kfb) repeat- 28 sts.
Round 10 (knit 6, kfb) repeat- 32 sts.
Round 12 (knit 7, kfb) repeat- 36 sts.
Round 14 (knit 8, kfb) repeat- 40 sts.
Round 16: (knit 9, kfb) repeat.  44 sts

Round 18: (knit 10, kfb) repeat, 48 sts

Body and Neck–

knit around for 12 rounds

[If you want to add a handle - Divide for handle starting here  –

With CC, work in (k2,p2) rib all around, on st 21-26 k1fb of each st, placing each increased st (the one knit into the back) on a stitch holder to the inside of the work.  (You will have 6 sts on a stitch holder).

Continue in k2, p2 pattern, repeating the increase/stitch holder portion for st 47-52 (putting 6 more sts on a 2^nd stitch holder.).

You should now have the original 48 sts on double points, and 6 sts on each of two stitch holders.

(k2, p2) repeat for 7 more rounds (8 rounds total of ribbing)]

(If you do NOT want a handle, simply (k2,p2) repeat for 8 rounds instead.)

K around for 4 rounds

Loosely BO.

Optional Handles –

With two dpns in CC, work 6 stitches (from one holder) in I-cord for ten inches.

K1, k2tog, k2 tog, k1 (4 sts)

CO and weave in ends.

Repeat with 6 sts on other holder.

Finishing

If making a handle – tie ends of I-cords together in a knot to form the handle.

Block finished cozy on the jar  (taking care, Lamb’s Pride felts easily.)

Another baby wave!  Lots of friends are having babies in the next several weeks, so every spare moment, it’s knitting, knitting, knitting (I’ve even been knitting in church on Sundays!  I actually absorb the sermon better – multitasking prevents the mind from wandering!)!

My knitting tends to go in a seasonal rhythm – winter babies always get hats (usually a pixie or a Debbie Bliss pattern with little earflaps) and spring/fall babies usually get booties.  But what to make for summer babies?  SOCKS!

I found that a lot of baby sock and bootie patterns (you know, the teensy ones) never fit my kids’ feet, even as newborns.  As a result, I took what I like best about some of my favorite adult sock patterns, and adapted it to a bit larger baby sock.  It should fit a size 6-12 months.  If you’d like a larger sock, simply make it a bit longer in the foot, or for a smaller sock, go down a needle size.

Here’s the pattern :

Larksong’s Baby Socks

Size – 6-12 months (for size 3-6 months, use a smaller needle (1 or 0))

Needles – Set of 4 double-pointed needles,  US  size 2

Yarn – any sock or fingering weight yarn, leftovers from adult socks work great!  (about 100 yds, to be safe)

CO 40 sts, divide over three needles as follows: 20 sts on ndle 1, and 10 sts each on ndles 2 and 3.

For the cuff:

Join (careful not to twist) and knit in K2, P2 rib for 24 rounds (optional – 40 rounds for a folded cuff)

For the heel flap:

Using only the 20 st on ndle 1, knit back and forth as follows -

Row 1 (outside of sock):  (Sl one knitwise, K1) repeat these two stitches to end of row

Row  2 (inside/wrongside): Sl 1 purlwise, P to end

Repeat rows one and two a total of 18 times (you will count 9 sts on the slip rows on the knit side) ), ending after a (Sl1, K1) row.

Turn of the heel:

Row 1: Sl first st Purl wise, P to two sts beyond center (12 sts total), P2tog, P1, turn

Row 2: Sl 1, K5, K2tog, K1, turn

Row 3: Sl 1, P to one st before the gap (also known as “within 1 st of last turn”), P2 tog, P1, turn

Row 4: Sl 1, K to one st before the gap, K2 tog, K1, turn

Continue in this manner until 12 sts remain (you will end with K2togs w/o a K1 following).

You will have just completed a K row.

For the gusset:

With needle on, pick up (PU) and K 10 sts on the left side of the heel flap (continuing in the knit direction).  (To avoid gaps, twist stitches as you pick them up, or K into the back of the stitch).

Knit across needle two (option – continue to in ribbing K2, P2 pattern on ndle 2 only until beginning of toe decrease.  This will make for a more snug-fitting sock.)

PU and K (again, twisting sts) 10 sts along the other side of the heel flap and then K6  from ndle 1 to the end of ndle 3.  (The begging of your round will now be halfway across the back of the heel, and ndle 1 will be the needle on the left side of the heel, ndle 2 will be the 20 sts across the top of the sock, and ndle 3 will be the 2nd half of the heel.

For the decrease portion of gusset:

Round 1: K around (if doing optional pattern, remember to (K2, P2) repeat across ndle 2 only)

Round 2:  Ndle 1 – K to last three, K2tog, K1.  Ndle 2 – K across (or, for option, (K2, P2) repeat across ndle).  Ndle 3 – K1, SSK, K to end

Repeat these two rounds until you have decreased to the original 40 sts

For the body of the foot:

K for 18 rounds (my kids have long feet, and I did 20-22 rounds for them.  If using smaller needles for a smaller sock, you may wish to do 14-16 rounds, depending on foot size of the infant.)

(Remember, if doing optional ribbing – continue (K2,P2) rib on ndle 2 – stopping the rib at the end of this section.

For the toe (No grafting here!! Woo-hoo!):

Round 1:  Ndle 1 – K to last two sts, K2 tog.  Ndle 2 – K8, K2 tog, K8, K2 tog.  Ndle 3 – K to last two sts, k2tog.

Round 2: K around.

Round 3:   Ndle 1 – K to last two sts, K2 tog.  Ndle 2 – K7, K2 tog, K7, K2 tog.  Ndle 3 – K to last two sts, k2tog.

Round 4: K around.

Round 5: Ndle 1 – K to last two sts, K2 tog.  Ndle 2 – K6, K2 tog, K6, K2 tog.  Ndle 3 – K to last two sts, k2tog.

Round 6: K around.

Round 7: Ndle 1 – K to last two sts, K2 tog.  Ndle 2 – K5, K2 tog, K5, K2 tog.  Ndle 3 – K to last two sts, k2tog.

Round 8 – end : Continue decreasing in the manner above, but every row instead of every other.  Decrease until 8 or 4 sts remain (your preference, 4 will give a bit pointier toe).

Cut a tail (6 or 8 inches), thread with a darning needle, and sew through the remaining stitches.  Pull tight and sew in ends.

Block if you desire.

(Note – a baby who fits these socks may be pulling up and/or walking, so please remember that wool socks are VERY slippery on wood or tile floors – if your baby is going to wear these socks without shoes, you may wish to add some puffy paint designs to the bottom for traction.)

This pattern is copyright 2010 by Angela Baker.  Please feel free to use this pattern for personal, gift or charity knitting only – not to be used for socks made for sale without approval of the designer.    Do not copy this pattern/distribute it without permission.  Thank you.

We are feeling a bit like hermits, cooped-up in the house for days and days – the little ones are still wrestling with sickness, and we had to miss church again this week.  Little Hen, still healthy, escaped to Grandma’s house for the weekend (a BIG thank-you to Grandma for inviting her up!).

After homemade pecan-chocolate pie for breakfast (hey, we’re sick!), Daddy read to us from The Lightning Thief, which is turning out to be an excellent choice for Firecracker, who is captivated by Greek mythology.

Another good thing is that I’ve been able to get quite a bit of Christmas-gift knitting done (and give the dog a hair cut, and mop the floors…).

We are trying to make the best of our isolation, and finding we are blessed by the quietness today.  Firecracker is getting up from a rest, so I’d best go, so Daddy can read a few more chapters to us out of The Lightning Thief.

Some Greek Mythology Resources we love :

D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths

Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Greek Myths (although, the stories are re-imagined a bit)

Classic Myths to Read Aloud

Greek Myths for Young Children

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (well, it has a smidgen of Greek Mythology in it, with Hephaestus and Aphrodite, and we like it)

By Jove, a board game

and we’d love to find this board game and try it out.

Sigh… I’m getting a bit repetitive in my blogging and my knitting both, but I can’t stop knitting candleflame shawls!!  I think this pattern is this fall what Toasty was for me last winter (and I’m still cranking those out for Christmas gifts again this year).  It’s easy to memorize, easy to knit while doing other things, and I love the results.

This time, I’m going to keep the shawl for myself.  Pink is not a favorite color of mine, but the shawl is so warm and big and cozy, I can’t part with it.  It’s knit in Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky, Victorian Rose (and that does go nicely with brown, which IS my favorite color).

It was very economical to knit (less than $12 worth of wool), because I used seconds .  There is a slight color variation throughout (not sure if it shows up in the pictures), so the yarn was very inexpensive, despite taking nearly 4 skeins.  Knit on size 11’s, the whole shawl took less than two weeks including blocking, with several other knitting projects going in the background.

I hate to say it, but I’ve already begun another shawl, in gold 50% mohair 50% wool ( I picked up a 2 lb cone at an estate sale a few years ago for $2).  I already know who it’s going to when I’m finished.  It will be interesteding to see the contrast between the heavy pink shawl and the airy, lacy mohair version when it’s finished.

Do you have a knitting pattern you love to knit up over and over?  ( Please share!  I’m NWKnitterMama on Ravelry.)

Look who’s knitting on two needles!

We are all recovering from a pretty awful family-wide bug, so the past two days we’ve taken things very easy.  Sunday afternoon, Little Hen said she wanted to get some knitting done and set to work on her first real “project” -  a little wool cape for her beloved Waldorf doll, Princess Rooth.  It’s going to be a simple garter stitch rectangle made from purple heather worsted-weight wool (from my stash) on size 8s.   We’ll lace a purple velvet ribbon through one side when she’s done to make it into a cape for her doll.

Firecracker had fun sitting next to her big sister, pretending to knit for a while, but eventually moved to the dining table to doodle monsters and princesses and such.

Even the baby took an interest – attempting to disassemble the shawl I’m working on. 

My ambitious girl has said next she’d like to make a scarf for her sister.   Just like her mama, she’s already thinking ahead to the next project.  I think we’ve got another knitting addict in the family!

Another Candle-Flame shawl off the needles.  I had just enough alpaca yarn left from the first shawl to make another.  This pattern is so addictive and simple – it makes a heavy, warm shawl, especially in this fluffy alpaca (the original pattern calls for Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky 85% wool, 15% mohair), although there is a cone of deep gold mohair in my stash that may end up as a lighter-weight version of this shawl sometime soon.

A good shawl blocking tutorial can be found at See Eunny Knit! If you’d prefer to use blocking rods or are interested in the dental floss technique (which I think I’ll be trying next time) see Deborah’s blocking page. I couldn’t find my blocking pins, and just used straight pins from my sewing drawer.  Hopefully, all will turn out well.

I have a few things I wanted to share in the upcoming days, but we’ll see how things go – this is going to be a very over-full week, which includes prep for and teaching two different knitting classes amongst a host of other projects.  Oh, and thanks to a broken tooth, I have to squeeze a root canal in somewhere this week and next. (How do other homeschoolers make it to appointments?  This is a continual issue for me – I’m never “free” during the day while my kids are in school, so making time for dentist appointments, doctor visits, errands and coordinating childcare is tough! I know I’m by no means alone in this, and would love to hear how other folks with little ones manage!)

We’re looking forward to a break from the craziness the weekend after next – we’re traveling to visit with dear friends on the coast (where we used to live).  We all need some relaxation pretty badly, and I think a little yurt camping, a little cider pressing, a little wave-watching, and a lot of good conversation will be exactly what we need to recharge.

We are having absolutely glorious fall weather, and so have been spending a lot of time outside the past few days, working the garden  and making chalk drawings on the front steps.  The yard work has been a bit daunting – hazelnuts to coppice, wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows of manure and mulch to spread, garlic and leeks and shallots and onions to plant, beds to prepare for the ridiculous amount of spring flower bulbs I’ve ordered.

However, today, while the baby takes his afternoon nap, I think I’ll let the yardwork go, and just sit in the sunny window seat and watch the girls race their scooters around the driveway.    And, I may attempt to finish these socks.

I think it’s best not to put too many things on the “to do” list for a Friday afternoon, don’t you?

I hope you have a relaxing Friday afternoon as well, and a peaceful and refreshing weekend.

Over the weekend, we took advantage of the Smithsonian’s annual free pass day to visit the World Forestry Center, located right across from the Oregon Zoo.  The building is light and open, and the exhibits are well designed, educational, and attractive to children.

There were displays appealing to many senses – here Firecracker is smelling the oils from different culinary trees and trying to guess their origin.   Euclayptus had her stumped – she said it smelled like “Burt’s Bees something…but that’s not quite right.”

Little Hen played the tongue drums for a LONG time – and has been reminding me daily how “if we ever find any tongue drums on Craigslist, maybe we could get them.”

Of course, all Tum Tum cared about was the MACHINES!  That boy signed “more car” and made engine revving sounds all morning.  “Driving” the timberjack and the jeep totally made his day.

Little Hen spins a Tibetan prayer wheel.

Hope you get a chance to visit the World Forestry center – for my kids, it was a chance to try their hand at some really fun virtual experiences – like parachuting as a smoke jumper, running a timberjack, river rafting and riding a jeep in Africa.  But, it was also a chance to learn more about good stewardship of our resources, the importance of conserving forests, and the blessing that their products are to us and to people all over the world, and the value in renewing those forests for future generations.  A very nice little museum -I’m glad we got a chance to visit.

A day of sorting clothes for the change of seasons found lots and lots of dresses that are too small and will be passed down to a friend’s little girl.   Some were handmade for my girls, and It was bittersweet to see how much they had outgrown and to realize how quickly they’re growing up.  Seemed a very short while ago that these dresses were Little Hen’s, and then Firecracker’s, and now they’ll be another little girl’s.

The girls reminisced for a bit (”Remember when I wore this dress to so-and-so’s birthday party?”, “Remember when you wore this outfit to the beach and we caught that crab?”, “Remember when Auntie Jen got me this dress?”), which seriously made me misty-eyed, and then we packed them up.

Glad to be able to bless someone else with them, but I wish my girls would stop growing up so fast!!