i like lemons

It’s a cherry kind of holiday weekend. Breyers Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream is keeping me company. Deliciously free of chocolate chunks, thankyousoverymuch.

Next pattern for me to develop is a simple tea cozy. Concept has been worked out, still have to knit and write. I think I’m going to take a break before tackling that one though. Knit a couple of patterns from my Ravelry queue first.

Finished the Claudia Hat on Sunday. It only took a day and a half at a normal pace. Very happy with the pattern and will keep it for future use (pictures and full notes next week).

The leftover Patons Natural Marl from knitting the Scrunchable Scarf (write-up coming soon) is being put to use in my first attempt at Kool-Aid dying. The hank is drying now. Also did a test dye on Lion Wool-Ease. I’m curious to see how they both turn out.

Rest of today will be spent curled up with tea, watching Becoming Jane.

More pictures at Flickr

On this Presidents’ Day weekend, we are suppose to remember US presidents. So let’s remember little Georgie Washington and his hatchet and him chopping down a poor, defenseless cherry tree (myth?) for a moment and knit some cherries.

I like/love lemons, but cherries are another favorite fruit. And, well, let’s face it, you can’t really eat lemons straight up the way you can eat cherries. A fruit shaped like a sexy little bomb? Oh yes please!

I don’t know what George had against cherry trees. Cherry pie, maraschino cherries, cherry ice cream (without chocolate chunks!), fresh Bing cherries that stain your lips a purple-y blue. What’s not to like?

Cherries are the Bomb

Do not reproduce this pattern elsewhere. This pattern is for personal use only. In other words, don’t try to make money off of it.

Materials
Set of five US size 6 double pointed needles
Worsted weight yarn in colors red and green
Stitch marker
Material for stuffing (yarn scraps or batting)
Yarn needle

Cherry Pattern
Using red yarn, cast on 6 sts and knit one row as for I-cord.
Divide sts equally among 3 dpns. Place stitch marker and begin to knit in the round.

Round 1: *k1, kfb; repeat from * (9 sts)
Round 2: knit
Round 3: *k1, kfb, k1; repeat from * (12 sts)
Round 4: knit
Round 5: *k1, kfb; repeat from * (18 sts)
Rounds 6-8: knit
Round 9: *k1, k2tog; repeat from * (12 sts)
Round 10: knit
Round 11: *k1, k2tog, k1; repeat from * (9 sts)
Round 12: knit

Stuff cherry with yarn scraps or batting

Round 13: *k1, k2tog; repeat from * (6 sts)
Round 14: knit

Transfer all stitches onto one dpn and switch to green yarn

Row 15: k2tog as if for I-cord across row (3 sts)

Continue knitting as an I-cord until cherry stem is the length you desire. Knit one stitch and k2tog the last two stitches (2 sts). Leave this cherry on the needle, cut a 6-inch tail and set aside. Using the remaining four dpns, make a second cherry in the same manner.

Once both cherries have been made, transfer the first cherry stem onto the dpn you are now using. You should now have 4 sts on one needle. Knit the 4 sts as an I-cord for about 4 rows to join stems. Cut yarn and leave a 6-inch tail. With yarn needle, pass yarn tail through stitches, knot discreetly and weave in ends. Poke, squish and mold your cherries into nice little balls.

Leaf Pattern
Leaf is knit flat. With green yarn, cast on one stitch.

Row 1: kfb (2 sts)
Row 2: k1, kfb (3 sts)
Row 3: k1, kfb, k1 (4 sts)
Rows 4-6: knit
Row 7: k1, k2tog, k1 (3 sts)
Row 8: k1, k2tog (2 sts)
Row 9: k2tog (1 st)

Cut yarn and leave a 6-inch tail. With yarn needle, pass yarn tail through last remaining stitch on the needle. Weave in tail so both cast on and cast off tails are at the same end of the leaf.

Sew leaf to joined cherry stems. Weave in all tails.

*****If you don’t have a fifth dpn, you can use any other US 6, or smaller, needle or a piece of yarn to hold your stitches while you knit the second cherry.

Sure, you can make a single cherry too (I made mine a maraschino). Knit as above, but once the stem is the length you want, kfb into first and third stitches so you have 5 sts on your needle. I-cord for 4 rows, pass yarn tail through stitches, knot discreetly and weave in ends.

Cherries are approximately 1.25 inches in diameter.

Pattern now available for download as a pdf file.

More pictures at Flickr

Number of olives knit this week: 4 (3 green, 1 black)
Total for the year to date: 22

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Quirkyalone Day!
Happy Ferris Wheel Day!

These knit hearts are so cute and were a quick knit. If you aren’t paired up this year, why not knit some for yourself? Everyone deserves some love. :)

Free pattern at Mochimochi Land.

I seem to rarely remember my dreams these days, but for some reason I remembered last night’s. Or I should say an aspect of it. It concerned a bowl of green peas. That’s all I can remember. A red bowl filled with green peas. I don’t particularly *like* green peas. They are ok to add color or as a garnish for a dish, but if you set a bowl of green peas in front of me expecting me to eat them plain, I’d give you a dirty look. Trying to analyze this is bringing up nothing.

There’s been a feeling of impending… not doom. Impending change, I guess. I feel as if this week is going to be a bit of a chore to get through.

I finished the knit cherries. Should have that pattern up next week. And I am almost finished with the collection of knit citrus.

Finally set up my Ravelry profile: ilikelemons.

Thinking of getting a new camera. It’s between the Canon Digital Rebel Xti and the Nikon D40x. I’m leaning toward the Canon. The new models come out around April so I am going to try waiting until then, hoping for a price drop on the existing models.

The weather has turned decidedly Spring-like here. 66 degrees and sunny yesterday, though the fog started to roll over the hills in late afternoon.