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Dots Dabbles Designs

modern knitwear with a twist

What an exciting website with so many knitting resources. 

Baby Blanket

Yesterday I helped my friend Alicia to knit a baby blanket on the knitting machine (Brother KH260) for a baby shower today.

Sock Yarn - Michaels, Joann's, Hobby Lobby ...

I visited my 89-year-old uncle in Arizona. Before I left, I asked him if there was anything I could do for him. He smiled at me and said… I like to have knitted socks in blue, please. I smiled back and said it is my pleasure to knit him a pair, or two of blue socks.

Looking at my two hundred plus skein yarn stash I realized I do not have blue sock yarn. I do not have any sock yarn I noticed.

I went to my neighborhood Joann’s store - no sock yarn, Michaels, the same and the last Arts and Crafts store I visited - Hobby Lobby, the very same results.

I have never ever, ever, left a yarn shop without finding something I “need.” There was always a skein of yarn calling my name. I came to realize, sadly, that all three stores carry a limited number of yarns, and most are in acrylic fiber. I noticed an extremely limited selection of higher quality yarns in the three stores.

I think I can add yet another valid reason to my “I need to open a yarn shop” agenda.

Reason # 33 Availability and or lack of high-quality yarns in our neighborhood!

Reason # 34 Lack of quality sock yarns such as Opal.

To knit the socks, I asked a friend to swap some of my yarn for two skeins of her sock yarn.

Novelty Vintage Neckband II

 

Novelty Vintage Neck and Headband

In a move to reduce the stash of my yarns, I am trying to come up with some design ideas. Being inspired by knit projects from the 60ties, 70ties, and 80ties, I believe sometimes, the success of a knit project depends on small tweaks and novel ideas like this popular twisted headband.
Yarn used: Ella Rae Classic 100 % Wool, colors 60 (yellow) and 11 (rose)

Noro Matsuri Cowl's

Both Cowls both knitted on a Brother KH-260, both knitted in stockinette stitch, however, Cowl in top picture was knitted in the length (cast on fifty stitches 350 rows) and sewed together. The other one (picture below) was knitted in two pieces (horizontally, cast on 100 stitches 55 rows)., sewed together in a circle. 

Yarn used Noro Matsuri in Color 6 dye lot B 87% Cotton, 13% Wool.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

 

Made for Ella 12 years ago.

Strada Scarf with Headband

Trying to reduce my yarn stash. Using up the last cone of Strada Spectrum Aran yarn, 20% wool, 80% Acrylic I just started to knit without a pattern just an idea in my head. Knitting and crocheting combined to create this scarf and headband. 

Hairbands

Using Soft Secret yarn from Yarn Bee in soft pink the plan was to knit a beanie. Somehow in between I felt the yarn is more suited for crochet. Putting my knitting needles aside I started to experiment with some crochet stitches.