How to: Lotus Stitch

     The Lotus stitch is a really easy pattern to memorize and is absolutely beautiful! It is also ridiculously hard to make with wooden knitting needles, so I would recommend you use metal.

     To make this, you will need to know:
How to Purl
P5togm5- purl five stitches together and make five
P3togm3- purl three stitches together and make three

    If you already know how to make all of those stitches, scroll to the pattern. If you don't, I will explain the bottom two.

p5togm5:
     Knit up to the point that you wish to p5togm5. With your yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle purlwise into five stitches on your left-hand needle.

     Now you understand why I said this was hard! Yarn over and pull it through all five stitches.

     (1) Yarn over, and insert your needle back through all five stitches.

     (2) Yarn over again and pull it through the five stitches.

     Repeat (1) and (2) one more time and pull the five stitches off of your left-hand needle. You will have 5 stitches on your right-hand needle!

p3togm3:

     With your yarn in front, insert your right-hand needle into three stitches on your left-hand needle.

     Yarn over, and pull the yarn through all three stitches.

     Yarn over, and insert your needle into the three stitches again.

     Yarn over one last time and pull up a loop. Now pull the three stitches off of your left-hand needle. You will have three stitches on your right-hand needle.

Lotus Flower Pattern:

     Cast on a number divisible by six (plus one).

Row 1: Purl all stitches

Row 2: p1, *p5togm5, p1; rep. from * to end of row

Row 3: Purl all stitches

Row 4: p3togm3, p1, * p5togm5, p1; rep. from * to last three stitches, p3togm3

     Repeat these four rows until your project has reached your desired length.

     The front of your work will look like this;

     and the back will look like this!

How to: Lazy Links

     The Lazy Links (or Waffel, I've seen it named both) stitch gives the impression of cables, all the while being easy and fairly quick to knit up. 
     You will only need to know the knit, purl, and cluster stitches to make this pattern! You will also need either a cable needle or a double pointed needle.


     First, I'm going to explain how to make the cluster stitch. If you already know how to make this, scroll down to the pattern! :)
Cluster 6:
 


     Knit up to the point that you wish to make the cluster.

  Now that you're there, slip six stitches purl-wise onto your cable needle.

     Wrap your yarn in a counterclockwise fashion around those six stitches twice.

     k2, p2, k2 off of the cable needle.

Pattern Instructions:

     Cast on a number divisible by eight (plus 10 stitches).

Row one (RS): p2, *k2, p2; rep. from * to end.

Row two: k2, *p2, k2; rep. from * to end.

Row three: p2, *cluster 6, p2; rep. from * to end.

Row four: k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.

Row five: p2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.

Row six: k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.

Row seven: p2, k2, p2, *cluster 6, p2; rep from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2

Row eight: k2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.

Repeat these rows and after a while your work will look like this!

        ...The Right Side...

     ...The Wrong Side...

     If you would like to make a hat with this stitch pattern, go to: Waffel hat - free knitting pattern - Pickles

How to: Woven Lattice Cable Stitch

     The woven lattice cable stitch adds a beautiful flare to scarves, hats, or blankets! It somewhat reminds me of entrelac in the sense that the cables intertwine.

     Before you begin, there are a few things you will need to know:
1. How to Knit
2. How to Purl
3. C4F- Cable Four Front
4. T4B- Twist Four Back
5. C4B- Cable Four Back
6. T4F- Twist Four Front
     I will demonstrate how to make the cables (don't worry, they're super easy) below. If you already know how to make them, just scroll down to the pattern instructions! :)

C4F:
     Slip two stitches purl-wise onto a cable needle.

     Hold the cable needle in the front of your work.

     Knit two stitches from your left-hand needle.

     Finally, knit two from your cable needle.

T4B:

      Slip two stitches purl-wise onto your cable needle, and hold it in the back of your work.

     Knit two stitches from your left-hand needle.

     Purl two from your cable needle.

C4B: 

     Slip two stitches purl-wise onto your cable needle and then hold it in the back of your work.

     Knit two stitches from your left-hand needle.

     Knit two stitches from the cable needle.

T4F:

     Slip two stitches purl-wise onto your cable needle, and hold it in the front of your work.

     Purl two stitches from your left-hand needle.

     Knit two stitches from the cable needle.

Now for the pattern!

Cast on a number divisible by 6 (plus 2) and knit one row.

Row one (WS): k3, p4, *k2, p4; rep. from * to last st. k1.

Row two (RS): p1, C4F, *p2, C4F; rep. from * to last 3 sts. p3.

Row three (WS): k3, p4, *k2, p4; rep. from * to last st. k1.

Row four (RS): p3, *k2, T4B; rep. from * to last 5 sts. k4, p1.
Row five (WS): k1, p4, *k2, p4; rep. from * to last 3 sts. k3.
Row six (RS): p3, C4B, *p2, C4B; rep. from * to last st. p1
Row seven (WS): k1, p4, *k2, p4; rep. from * to last 3 sts. k3.
Row eight (RS): p1, k4, *T4F, k2; rep. from * to last 3 sts. p3.

     Repeat these eight rows until your project has reached your desired length!

     This is what it looks like on the right side.

     This is what the wrong side looks like.

How to: Loop Stitch

     The loop stitch is super easy, and it gives otherwise plain objects interest. It's basically the same as the single crochet stitch, except a loop forms at the back. The size of the loop can vary, depending upon what you decide to make it around. In this example, I will make the loop around my finger.

     To begin, crochet up to the point that you wish to make a loop. Now, while holding the yarn over your index finger, insert your hook into the stitch beside your hook.

     Place your hook on top of the yarn that is in front of your finger.

     Now, grab both the yarn behind your finger and the yarn in front of your finger with your hook.

     Pull both of the loops through the stitch.

     Slide your finger out of the loop that you have just made.

     Wrap your yarn around your hook and pull the yarn through all three of the loops on your hook.

     You have just made the loop stitch! Keep doing this every other row and the front of your work will look like this.

     While the back of the work will look like this.

A Beady-Eyed Bandit

     While I was searching for amigurumi patterns for the foster children, I came across an adorable, fluffy raccoon. Normally I'm not a big fan of raccoons, but this one was just too cute not to make! I didn't have time to make both the rabbit and this, so, when I would work on the big blue bunny, Emily would work on this.

     If you would like to make this raccoon, go to: Bandit The Amigurumi Raccoon ~ Amigurumi To Go