Stitch Guide: Stockinette Stitch

 Stockinette Stitch is on of my favorite simple stitches I love the way that fields of this stitch look in a garment.  Knitting stockinette flat can be trick for a few reasons:
1.) It curls, a lot.  The cast on edge curls up the bind off edge curls down, and the sides curl back wards onto them selves.  Because off this I suggest using a garter stitch boarder when knitting in stockinette. 

2.) You must know how to purl

3.) There is a wrong side to you knitting

wrong side of stockinette stitch, see all the purl bumps.

When all is said and done the stockinette stitch look great in sweaters and hats.  I like using in for a garment that has a public and a private side to it. 

Stockinette Stitch (flat)
Row 1: Knit all stitches
Row 2: Purl all Stitches

Stockinette Stitch (In the round)
Round 1: Knit all Stitches

Dress Making: Fatina

Fatina Pattern all taped together

 I was very productive this weekend, and managed to print and put together and cut out that pattern for the Fatina dress.  I am second guessing my fabric choice though.  Below are three differet silks.  The bright green and the bronzish one are duponi silk, very structure.  The gray is silk chine and unlike the duponi it is drape and floaty and I am not sure if it is right for the pattern. 

Some of my fabric choices.

I also need to find some cheapo cotton for a quick muslin.  The patten isn't difficult at all to make to I know I can whip my first on up in about an hour so now it's just deciding on which silk to use. 

New Pattern Sneak Peek

Here is a quick peek at my latest hat pattern.  It will be released in my Etsy store this Friday.  I was inspired by the hurricane season. 

Recipe: Vegan Brownies

Yummy Homemade Brownies.

I am by no means vegan (or remotely vegetarian), but my first roommate in Philly was.  One day I decided to make vegan brownies for him and this is my go to brownie recipe now.  (Also it's dairy free which is great since I am lactose intolerant.)  The recipe has gone through a few different versions, but this one is by far the best.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cup flour
1/4 coco powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 teas. baking powder
1 teas. salt
1 cup melted semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup soy milk (or any other milk alternative)
1/2 cup plain soy yogurt (or any other non dairy yogurt)
1 teas. vanilla 
1 medium sized banana

Directions
*Combine all dry ingredients into a bowl
*Using a double boiler melt semi sweet chips
*In a blender or food processor blend milk, yogurt, vanilla, and banana together
*When the chips are melted remove from heat and mix the banana mixture into the chocolate.  Make sure that the mixture is well combined
*Pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of dry ingredience and mix till all ingredience are combined
*Pour brownie batter into a 8"x8" greased baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 min. or untill the top of the brownies is solid and spingy to the touch. 

Link Love

Just Sharing some Links that I Love this month.
The Purl Bee, Chevron Baby Blanket
So cute I want to make an adult sized one.

Colletterie, Fitting pants
I want to make a few pairs of pants this fall (or at least I'm dreaming about making them), and this blog post from Colette's blog really got me thinking about it.

One Pearl Button, Spool of Thread Necklace
When I saw these I feel in love.  Now I've been searching through my local thrift stores trying to find wooden spools of thread.

Offbeat Home, Knitted plant holders I want to make these for me neighborhood, but I think it will have to wait till next spring.  I have also been thinking about how to make and display a few in our apartment.

Offbeat Home, Craft Basket I need about ten of these.

Upcountry Vintage, Chalk Board Tutorial
I have a major chalk board obsession.  I have been planing on where in our apartment we could turn a wall into a chalk board.


Burda Style, Fabric covered Bangles
I have seen a ton of these around the interwebs and love them since I can't bare to throw out my fabric scraps.  I swear there will be a use of them some day.  

New Pattern: Peaks and Valleys Beanie

Here it is, the Peaks and Valleys Beanie.  It is boy approved and is a fun and simple knit.  While I designed it with my Hubbie and guys in mind anyone can rock this hat.  The design element in the hat is executed with simple knits and purls which makes it a great hat for someone new to knitting.  It also knits up relitively quickly and is a great gift knit.

The motif of the beanie is reminiscent of mountain peaks and the valleys below.  You can find the pattern in my etsy shop.

Knitting Stitch Guide: Garter Stitch

Garter Stitch Swatch 4.5"x 4.5"

Garter stitch is usually the first stitch you would learn when knitting.  It is stretchy, lays flat and reversible making it a great stitch for things like scarves and shawls or anything you want to be reversible.  It is even the stitch used in my beginner scarf pattern.

This stitch pattern can be any amount of stitches.  While working flat all the rows are the same, but when working in the round it is a two row repeat.

Garter Stitch (Flat)
All Rows: Knit all Sts

Garter Stitch (In the Round)
Round 1: Knit All Sts
Round 2: Purl All Sts