New Runner's Cuff Pattern to benefit American Cancer Society

Runner's Cuff Pattern

A needle knit pattern

This pattern is designed for a distance runner. Being a marathoner myself, I can never seem to get enough pockets to carry everything. This cuff will carry two GU packets within easy reach and without any pockets or zippers to deal with. Just grab and (keep) going!

I designed this pattern to help me raise money to fight cancer.  I am running the Philadelphia Half Marathon on November 23 for the American Cancer Society DetermiNation running team.

ALL proceeds from this pattern will go towards my fund raising efforts - minus the little bit Paypal takes out. 

I have a lofty goal of $1000.00 dollars to raise by November 23rd, 2014!

Runner's Cuff pattern
$4.00
PDF download

If you'd like to just donate directly to my fund raising page, please go here:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/lisa_sawyer

And click Donate!

Thank you!

My first finished WIP for 2013

 

My first finished WIP for 2013 has arrived. As previously mentioned, this sweater has been in my work-in-progress pile since 2009. It's my first ever recycled yarn project (made from an unraveled Goodwill sweater). I love the result and it'll be a great layering piece for work when Spring rolls around.

Stats on this sweater:
Yarn: Recycled 50% Linen and 50% Cotton
Needles: Size 4
Pattern: Ropes and Picots from 2008 Winter Interweave Knits (Ravelry link)
Alterations: The original pattern is made using a Tweed wool and is pictured on a model with about 2 inches of positive ease. I wanted a more tailored look so I went with only about a 1/2 inch positive ease. The Springy nature of the yarn led me to shorten the sleeves and for now I'm leaving the snaps off of it because I think it looks pretty good without any closure on the front. When knitting the sleeves I skipped all of the increasing and cast on the full amount for the top of the arm. I just made sure to knit enough rows to have the sleeve hit my elbow when complete.

This pattern was pretty easy to follow. The only hard part was the finishing work. The instructions are vague on seeming and I got confused when trying to fit the sleeve into the odd arm hole shaping. This might be a product of my inexperience with saddle shoulders. Also, there is next to zero instructions on how to fit the fronts to the shoulder shaping. I studied the pictures in the magazine (only 2!) and finagled it into place. I think I got it right and it fits and drapes really well so I guess I did it pretty well. The neck and front picot edging also takes a long time to complete. This sweater is not for the anti-finishing folks. Patience is required!

Overall I can't wait to wear this to work once the weather warms up.

WIP since 2009

Finally finishing my Ropes and Picots cardigan that I started in 2009. I was getting the urge to make myself a sweater and realized I already have one almost done. Granted it's the middle of winter and this is a spring sweater...but, I vowed to finish it before starting anything new. I started knitting on it again last Friday and finished 99% of the knitting on it this morning. It's currently blocking right now.

All that's left is seaming and creating the picot edge that runs up both fronts and the neck edge. Haven't finished a sweater for myself in quite some time...can't wait to model finished product.

Latest FO

Pattern: Basic Vest Pattern by Ann Bud in the Knitters Handy Little Book of Patterns

Yarn: Knitpicks - Wool of the Andes

Needles: Size 8

Fit: 38" w, 1.5 inches of positive ease.

Notes: It took me several tries to get the neck band done. First time I miscalculated the mid point for the point of the v neck reduction, Second time I picked up along the edge of the second shoulder seem (since the pattern states to sew the second seem after the neck band).  Third time was the charm.

FO: Blackrose Socks

Pattern: Blackrose Socks from Knitty.com
Size: Small (since my gauge was a little loose)
Yarn: Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock & Baby Yarn
Colorway: Love Letters from the Woolgirl sock club December 2010
Needles: Size 2 Circulars
Notes: Didn't change a thing about the pattern. Easy to follow and pretty results. If I make this pattern again I wont use such a variegated yarn.

Miri Bag

My latest finished project is a handbag I made using left overs. You saw my last project (Puzzle Ball) for my niece Miriam. I had lots of leftovers from that toy. Since I don't usually use acrylic yarn I was scratching my head over what to do.

I wanted to use three colors but I didn't want to use plain stripes. The bag is made using Linen Stitch. I love the look of this stitch but hate actually doing it. A small bag is all I could muster.

Bag Stats:
Pattern: My own design
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids & Heathers
Colorways: Grey Marble, Dark Grey Heather, Dusty Green
Needle: Size 8 Denise Circulars
Finished measurements (minus handles): 9.5” wide x 8.5” tall x 2” deep
Handles: Bag Boutique Purse Handles, 5.5” wide x 4.5” tall

A few more pictures....

Happy Birthday Miriam!

My only niece, Miriam, is turning 1 on March 2nd. My brother's family lives in Philadelphia so I can't make it down for her party but I definitely wanted to make her something to send. I have a whole set of favorited patterns for Miriam in my Ravelry queue. I needed something quick and I felt like making her a toy.

I decided on the free Braided Ball pattern. I had 3 different skeins of Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn that was given to me at my office secret snowman exchange this past Christmas. I never buy acrylic yarn, so having some on hand for a toy is too perfect. Easy washability is key.


The stats on this project:
Pattern: Gevlochten Bal / Braided Ball (originally written in German then translated) by Marleen Harto
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids & Heathers
Colorways: Grey Marble, Dark Grey Heather, Dusty Green
Needle: Size 8 Denise Circulars
Construction Option: 6, 20 stitch strips. 2 in each color.

It's made using 6 separate strips of stockinette. Mine is made using 2 strips in each color. The pattern designer gives tips on the easiest way to make your first one...I went with the easiest construction and knitting directions. You can make them using more strips and less colors which makes it harder to put together. I didn't have any issues with my construction so next time I'll be a bit more adventurous. I think it would be fun to use self-striping sock yarn. When putting mine together I used locking stitch markers on my strips before sewing all the ends.

Miriam's ball is 5.5inches in diameter. Soft and squishy and perfect for baby hands to grab and hold. I hope she likes it!