Nugget Peds

Nugget Peds

Above: Why am I always getting photobombed by Labradoodles?

At the beginning of this month, I got a notification that my next Laura Nelkin kit was coming in the mail soon.  I just couldn't wait!  I decided to cast on another pattern by Laura Nelkin called "Nugget Peds".  I purchased this pattern on Ravelry a few months ago and just had not gotten around to it; however, I did have my beads all counted and sorted out.  The yarn I selected is yarn I got from my mom.  It's Knit Picks "Stroll" in a color called "Duchess Heather".

I finished up the Nugget Peds in just a week and I have a number of photos of them here for you.  My new Laura Nelkin kit arrived on Saturday and I told myself I could not cast on the new project until I finished up this pair of socks first.  

As you can see, this pattern is a short sock with beads in the cuff.  The pattern calls for knitting the socks from the cuff down. 

If you like knitting with beads, I urge you to check out Laura Nelkin's designs on Ravelry. Right now many of her patterns are buy one, get one free. She is also offering a "First Quarter Knit Along" and she's offering some prizes. Fun stuff!  If you are interested in the KAL, here is a link with additional information (Click HERE).

Nelkin Designs "Lolatude" Kit #2

Nelkin Designs "Lolatude" Kit #2

Woo Hoo!  My second "Lolatude" kit arrived this week. I signed up to receive a kit every other month for 12 months. This is kit #2.  This kit included some tea, a stitch marker, a skein of 100 percent wool yarn, and a pattern for an octagon-shaped pot holder.  I have not yet felted my pot holder.  I have enough yarn to make a second pot holder so I will hold off on felting until pot holder #2 is done.

The pattern design is by Laura Nelkin and the pattern is called "Another Context(A)".  When I downloaded the pattern, I also received a copy of Laura Nelkin's pattern called "Contexta".  Contexta is an afghan or shawl pattern and the projects are made by connecting knit octagons and mitered squares.  The Contexta pattern contains instructions for how to make the octagon centers differently (six different designs).  My octagon is called "Luminary Octagon".  Since I have enough yarn to make a second pot holder, I plan to try out a different design from the "Contexta" pattern.

It sure is fun to receive a mystery kit every other month.  I also love that I always learn a few new techniques from each pattern.





Here are some pattern links if you'd like to see these patterns on Ravelry.

Another Context(a) pot holder pattern: Click HERE.

Contexta afghan or shawl pattern:  Click HERE.

Nelkin Designs "Lolatude": Kit #1

Lolatude Kit #1

Back in August, I was looking at knitting designs by Laura Nelkin.  I stumbled across her blog where she was advertising an upcoming event where you could purchase project kits and have them mailed to your home for one, three, or six months.  I decided to treat myself to six months of project kits since my 50th birthday was in September.

I received my first kit in the middle of September. This is what came in the package.

• A Gale's Art Hand Dyed Sock blank (about 33 grams)
• some beautiful beads
• a Japanese bead needle
• some coordinating thread 
• some candy
• a post card with keycode to download the project pattern 

This was a pretty quick knit since it was only about 1/3 the size of a regular sock blank.  The instructions have you knit a boomerang shaped, asymmetrical triangle. You start at the narrow end then and, at the end, you work a number of rows in what's called "linen" stitch.  Finally, you bind off with an "I-cord bind off".  Next you create three tubes out of small (size 6) seed beads using needle and thread.  Thankfully the pattern had a great video link for how to make these Peyote Stitch Tubes.  It was a little tricky at first, but I enjoyed the bead work.  At the end, you sew the tubes to the linen stitch border of the scarf and then you insert the narrowest tip of the scarf through the three Peyote Stitch Tubes.  Each of the tubes is a different size depending upon the number of beads you use when you start the Peyote Stitch Tube.  

Eeeeek!  I made a mistake. I sewed my tubes on in the incorrect order.  I could not insert the narrow end of my scarf in the correct direction so I had to insert it in the opposite direction.  Thankfully it still works, it's just not as the designer intended.  So there you have it... a one of a kind scarf!

Here are some photos to show you what the kit looked like when it arrived.  I am also posting some photos of what the project looked like while in progress. I sure am looking forward to receiving and making my other "Lolatude" projects!