Baby shawl

Hi Friends,
This is my first big project with two colors. A baby shawl that has been gifted to Ooviya[Mangai's] daughter Baby Sai Dhanya.

The pattern I picked it up from my library book Harmony guide to knitting

Materials
Yarns 2 colors as per your choice
A pair of knitting needles size 8

The pattern:
Cast on 161 stitches
K1, p1,k 1, p1 for 6 rows [ this will become the edge rows so that it will not curl inside
Using A color
1 st row: k1,p1,k1,p1 knit entire row till last 4 sts , p1, k1 p1,k1
2 nd row: k1,p1,k1,p1 purl entire row till last 4 sts , p1, k1, p1 k1
Using B color
3 rd row: K1,p1,k1,p1 *k1 sl 1,  k2,sl 1*: rep till last 4 sts p1,k1,p1,k1
4 th row: K1, p1,k1,p1 * p1,sl 1,p1,sl1 * rep till last 4 sts , p1,k1,p1,k1

Repeat these 4 rows till you complete 60 cm or desired length

Then K1,p1,k1p1 [ thiw will become the other edge]

bind off

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
sl = slip
rep = repeat
* = repeat of pattern

1. Both ends of the shawl

2.Closer view of the design  

3. Reverse side of the shawl [ you can see how both color yarns are twined together]

4. Appearance of shawl when folded

5.The size of the shawl

6. The shawl [edges of both side. I used both the colors of the yarns]

Hope you will like this pattern 

Dotted ladder Stitch

Multiple of 8 + 5
1 st row [right side]: K2, p1, k2. * p3, k2, p1, k2; rep from * to end
2 nd row: [P1, k1] twise, p1, * k3, [p1, k1] twice, p1; rep from * to end
Rep the last 2 rows once more
5 th row: K1, * p3, k2, p1, k2; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1
6 th row: P1, k3, p1, * [k1, p1] twice, k3, p1; rep from * to end
Rep the last 2 rows once more
Rep these 8 rows

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
St[s] = stitches
Rep = repeat
*/parenthesis/brackets = the repetition of a sequence of stitches

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Ladder Stitch

Multiple of 8 + 5
1 st row [right side]: K5, * p3,k5; rep from * to end
2 nd row: P5, * k3,p5; rep from * to end
Rep the last 2 rows once more
5 th row: K1, * p3,k5; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1
6 th row: P1, * k3,p5; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1
Rep these last 2 rows once more
Rep these 8 rows

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
St[s] = stitches
Rep = repeat
* = the repetition of a sequence of stitches

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Heads or Tails

It is to be noted that when you toss a penny 10,000 times, it will not be heads 5,000 times, but only 4,950. It is so because the heads picture weighs more and hence ends up on the bottom

Sinking library

The main library at Indiana University is sinking over an inch every year. This is due to he factor that, when it was built, the engineers did not take into account the weight of all the books.

Ways to ease muscles cramps

Excessive exercise or lack of exercise before a tough work out can lead to muscle cramps.Muscle cramps that happen during the middle of night are usually caused by calcium and magnesium deficiency. The cure to a muscle cramp lies in proper diet and regular exercise.

Below are some techniques that will ease the muscle cramp for a moment.

1. Apply pressure: To ease a muscle cramp in your foot. Put your entire body weight on the front of the painfull foot as soon as you feel it starts to hurt. Lift the other foot completely off the ground.

2. Walk it off: Try to walk the pain off once the first spasm has passed. Remove shoes and socks. If you are wearing any garment, remove them as they might pose restriction of movement.

3. More pressure: Sit down and put pressure on the foot of your foot till it pains and repeat this until you can bear the pain.

4. Flex toes. Lift the front of your foot slightly off the ground, resting your heel on the floor.Curl your toes away from you and towards the floor, then pointing them back towards you. Repeat until the cramp eases.

5. Hand to toe: Pull your toes back towards you as far as they will go if the pain persists. Use your hands to pull the toes towards you and hold them there momentarily . Also massage the affected area with your hands.

6. Heat treatment: Apply heat to the affected area.Dip a towel in warm water and apply to cramped area or fill a hot-water bag with warm water and apply it. This can help relieve foot and leg cramps

Source:www.wikihow.com

LPG- cylinder

LPG burns cleanly as it does not have soot and has very few sulphur emissions. Hence it not hazards and does not pose no ground or water pollutions.
It was first produced in 1910 by Dr. walter Snelling. In 1912 the first commercial LPG products appeared.
LPG is also used as a refrigerant instead of chlorofluoro carbons. This is done to reduce the damage to the ozone layer.

World's longest frontier

It is to be noted that the border between Canada and the US is the world's longest frontier. It stretches for 6,416 km

Nibelungenlied

It is to be noted that the Nibelungenlied is the song of the Nibelungs. It is a German epic. It talks about the dragon-slayer Siegfried and how his wife avenges his death

Yale university - name

Did you know how did Yale university got its name? Initially it was named as Collegiate School in Yale. It was renamed in honour of Elihu Yale, who was the then governor of the British East India Company.

Ant population is the heaviest

It is found that the total combined weight of the ant population in the world is heavier that the weight of human population.

Honey is always edible

It is to be noted that honey is the only food that does not get spoiled. When archaeologists during their excavation of the tombs of the Egyptian tombs found honey. When they tested it was noted that the honey was still edible.

Indian Postal network -largest in the world

India has around 1,55,618 postoffices. Its employee strength is over 5,66,000 of work force. Hence India has the largest postal network in the world

Playing card turns into map

It is to be noted that during World War II Playing cards were issued to British pilots. This was done so when they were captured, they could soak the card in water . When the card got soaked into water, this would unravel and reveal a map that would aid them to escape

Oz in Wizard of Oz

The name of Oz in the 'Wizard of Oz' was thought up when the creator, Frank Baun, looked at his filling cabinet and saw A-N and O-Z, hence 'Oz'

Puppies for Sale

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the Eyes of a little boy.

Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer.

And with that he let out a whistle,"Here, Dolly!" he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared; this One noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

Courtesy : indiachild.com

The Bermuda triangle

A long time ago, a new sailboat set sail from Florida. It had twenty-five sailors aboard. The crew was heading south towards the Bermuda islands.
         During the voyage, dark clouds began to form over the ocean. One of the sailors used the radio to talk to the crew on a large navy ship.
      "Do you have any information about this storm? Repeat: Do you have..." he said. The sailor's message stopped. The radio stopped working.
      A young naval officer heard the sailor's message. He tried to use radar to find the sailors to help them. But the sailboat had completely disappeared.
      Five years later, the same naval officer was on a search vessel. His radar found a sailboat drifting near Florida.
       The young sailor boarded the sailboat. He did not find any people. But it looked like people had recently been on the boat. A warm cup of coffee was on a counter top near the stove. A board game was neatly set up on a table.
      When the young officer got back to shore, he looked in the navy's sailing records. He found that this was the boat that had been missing for five years! The records showed that the twenty-five crewmen were never found.
       Just southeast of the United States, below Florida, is an area called the Bermuda Triangle. It is in the Atlantic Ocean between Miami, Puerto Rico, and the Bermuda islands. When sailors draw a line from Miami to Puerto Rico, from Puerto Rico to the Bermuda islands, and from the islands back to Miami, what is left on the map is a large triangle.
       Many sailors and airplane pilots try to stay far away from the Bermuda Triangle. They report that unusual, unexplained things happen in that area.
      Their compasses, the tools that help navigate their direction, spin wildly in the Bermuda Triangle. Clocks and other equipment also display very jumbled numbers. Strange lightning storms are another reason sailors and pilots stay away from that part of the world.
      There are also many reports of ships, planes, and all of their passengers just vanishing in the Bermuda Triangle. Some researchers say that over a hundred ships and planes have disappeared. One minute they are there, and the next minute they are gone without a trace.
Even stranger things have happen in the Bermuda Triangle. A missing ship has reappeared, but without any crew aboard. What could cause things like this to happen? What could explain these strange disappearances?
       For years, scientists have been trying to figure out what is so different about the Bermuda Triangle. Why do so many odd things happen there?
        One answer might be the weather in the area. Hurricanes are common there. It is possible that fast-moving storms surprise sailors and pilots.
         But other scientists say the mysteries cannot be explained by bad weather. An accident from a storm would leave some wreckage behind. Usually, rescuers do not find any broken pieces.
       Other experts think there might be unusual magnetic energy in the Bermuda Triangle. The magnetic energy draws objects towards it. It makes compasses and clocks break or malfunction. But why does this strange energy cause some vessels to disappear and not others?
         Most likely, the pilots and sailors of these crafts are to blame. People who sail for fun sometimes make mistakes or take risks that could cause an accident. Many pilots of small planes are new to flying. It takes a lot of skill to fly a small plane or sail a yacht in bad weather.
        But even the most experienced pilots and sailors are afraid of the Bermuda Triangle. They think the dangers of the region can never be explained. Until someone proves that it is safe, they will avoid the Bermuda Triangle.

Courtesy: HowStuffWorks.com

Finger and Thumb Method of casting on

This method requires only one needle and gives the same effect as casting on thumb method.Once mastered, this technique is extremely quick and efficient. It produces a very even cast on edge. If you find the edge is too tight, hold two needles in the right hand instead of one as this will give you a looser edge.

1. Make a slip knot about 1 metre [ 1 yard] or the required length from the end of the yarn and place it on a needle held in the right hand.

2. Wind the cut end of the yarn around the left thumb from front to back. Wind the ball end of the yarn around the index finger of the left hand from front to back as shown in below picture. Hold both ends of the yarn in the palm of the left hand.*Insert the needle upwards through the yarn on the thumb, down through the front of the loop on the index finger. Then back down through the front of the loop on the thumb.

3. Pull the yarn through, thus forming a loop on the needle.

4. Remove the thumb from the loop, then re-insert it as shown in below picture, using the thumb to tighten

Repeat from the * until the required number of stitches has been cast on.

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Reverse Stocking Stitch Chevrons

Multiple of 6 + 5
1 st row[right side]: K5, * p1, k5; rep from * to end
2 nd row: K1, * p3,k3; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1
3 rd row: P2, * k1,p2; rep from * to end
4 th row: P1, * k3,p3: rep from * to last 4 sts, k3,p1
5 th row: K2, * p1, k5; rep from * to last 3 sts, p1, k2
6 th row: Purl
Repeat these 6 rows

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
St[s] = stitches
Rep = repeat
* = beginning or to repeat the directions in between the two *'s until you reach the end of the row

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Double Basket Weave

Multiple of 4 + 3
1 st and every alt row [ right side] : knit
2 nd row: * K3, p1; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3
4 th row: As 2nd row
6 th row: K1, *p1, k3: rep from * to last 2 sts, p1, k1
8 th row: As 6 th row
Rep these 8 rows

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
* = begining
rep = repeat
sts = stitches

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Check Stitch

Multiple of 4+ 2
1 st row: K2, * p2,k2; rep from * to end
2 nd row: P2, * k2, p2; rep from * to end
Rep these last 2 rows once more
5 th row: As 2 nd row
6 th row: As 1 st row
Rep these last 2 rows once more
Rep these 8 rows

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
* = begining
Rep = repeat

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Inanna

A Sumerian goddess with a complex mythological persona. Perhaps the result of a theological/philosophical combination between a local Sumerian deity associated with Uruk. The west-Semitic Venus - star deity Ishtar, introduced by the Akkadian ruling dynasty in the middle of the second millennium BC. The former was regarded as the daughter of the supreme sky god An.The latter as the daughter of the moon god Nannar. The dual nature of the planet Venus was conceptual as a bisexual deity. This accounts for Inanna's association with warfare, aggression and lust of power, as well as childbirth and erotic attraction. The myths about Inanna either stress her irascible nature and the fatal consequences of her anger, and her sexuality.

Courtesy : World Mythology – Parragon Publishing India

Sudha's Ganesha Necklace

Hi Friends,

This necklace  was knitted for my friend Sudha who is in Baharain. I gifted to her to adorn her Lord GANESHA idol.
The pattern of this necklace

Materials:
Any color left over wool
Necklace string
Embelishments
Size 6 knitting needles

Method:
Cast on 1 stitch
knit the next row
Increase one stitch - 2 sts
knit the next row
increase one st in every st - 4 sts
knit the next row
increase one st in the first and last st - 6 sts
knit the next row
knit all rows - garter stitch for one meter
then decrease 2 sts at the first and last st - 4 sts
knit the next row
decrease 2 sts - 2 sts
knit the next row
decrese 1 sts - 1 st left - cut yarn and pull throw one stitch. Leave enough yarn as it will be required to attatch to the necklace string.

Now braid the one meter length as per below picture

Attach the below necklace cord [picture below] to the braid

Now paste the below embelishments to the braid

Now the necklace is ready after stitcging the cord to the ends of the brais and with the help of fevicol fabric glue paste the embelishments on to the braid. Now you have a very beautiful necklace

Hope every body likes this piece

  

Enki

Enki - is the son of the sky god An. His mother was Nammu - a goddess of water and creation. He lives in the Apsu. It is located in the watery depths below the earth. It is the source of all fertility and organic life.Since water in Mesopotamia also had an important magical role. Enki was invoked in magic spells and ritualsHence he is regarded as a very wise one among the gods. He is the one who is called upon to find solutions to difficult problems. On the other hand his sexual appetite and his weakness for alcohol - accounted for less than perfect conditions of life on earth. He is not a war-like god and his major adversaries are various goddesses- especially Inanna, who tricked him into giving away divine prerogativees and powers.

Courtesy : World Mythology – Parragon Publishing India

Ninurta

Ninurta - originally was an agricultural and deity of rain. He became a young God. He was associated with violent storms and martial powess. In one mythology text known as the Splendid Storm King- in the begining of time,when there was no agriculture as profession that required to feed the people. Ninurta defeated a demon and then made a giant stone dyke to stop the waters of the Tigris from flowing eastwards on top of the remains of his slain enemy.

Courtesy : World Mythology – Parragon Publishing India

Sandy & Hunter tortoise

Hi friends - please do have a date with my Sandy and Hunter. These are lovely tortoises. I am sharing their pranks with you all.This is inspired from Molly Goddard’s book Make your own Knitted Toys

1. They seem to be in a different [angry] mood

2. They both love to climb

3. They are showing their love by cuddling

4.Ops not in a good mood

5. They love to embrace each other

6. Their first meeting

7. Ariel view of Hunter

8. Ariel view of Sandy

9. Face of Sandy

10. face of Hunter

11. Both engrossed in a play

12. Both relaxing

13.Both having a walk together

14. Both of them love to kiss each other

Double Fleck Stitch

Multiple of 6 + 4
1 st and 3 rd row[right side]: knit
2 nd row: P4, * k2,p4; rep from * to end
4 th row: P1, *k2, p4; rep from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1
Rep these 4 rows

Abb. used
k = knit
p = purl
St[s] = stitches
Rep = repeat
* = beginning

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Thoranam - festoons

Thoranam or festoons are part of hindu festivities. Which ever part of  India you go , you are sure to find this thorans on the threshold [ vasa padi] of every homes. Originally it is made of Mango leaves but of late alternate items have been developed. I have knitted these for you. Have kept the middle of the leaf empty. I have left it empty so that you can use your imagination and add your choice of items like God's photo, flowers.

1. Thoranam hanging



2. Thoranam  dangling

3. Thoranam placed in a circle



4. Thoranam in circle another picture  

Let me explain how I assembled it.
First I made an I-cord of one meter
Then I made small balls of  yellow wool

Then with a help of a crochet hook picked up stitches from the I-cord

The stitch picked with the help of a crochet needle is placed on the knitting needle

Now add 12 stitches as per picture below

Now the cluster of small woollen balls will look. Do not feel disturbed if it gets knotted. As we are going to work simultaneously to make 8 leaves.



Now the picked up stitches will look like the below picture on the reverse side



After picking up 12 stitches, please knit garter stitch [ every row knit] to get 10 ridges of pattern [ knit 21 rows]. Then start to reduce at both ends of odd rows and knit every even rows. When you have one stitch on needle bind up and leave a 6 cm of thread. I left this because during seasonal times you can thread any flower of choice and leave it hanging.

So now you have a great Thoranam [festoon] that will adorn your pooja rooms.

Develish octopus

Hi friends - this is my version of an Octopus. He looks Develish - with big big eyes and has a neet smile.I was inspired from the pattern of Molly Goddard  book - .Knitted Toys

It is about 4 inches across [ head to tentacles]
It consists of 3 parts -
the head or body - made 1
base made 1
tentacles made 8 - i used the i-cord method for making this
with the help of aclyric paint , drew up the eyes and the mouth.

1. Oct - is perched on the top to give blessings to one and all

2. Oct is watching

3. Oct is sitting

4. Oct is in a relaxing mood

5. Oct is lying/sleeping