Monica Knits

The photo shows the cabled headband in process, after blocking, before joining in the round, since it is easier to photograph this way. This is the fifth cabled headband I've knitted, but the first in acrylic yarn. My girlfriend brought a skein of frosty green yarn over and asked if I could knit her a headband like mine, so that's what I did yesterday evening. The pattern is easy to memorize. Read more ....

Although these buttonholes are vertical in the completed Leg Warmers, they were knitted in a horizontal band from stitches that were picked up along the chain stitch edge between the cuffs, using the method described in the article Making a Horizontal Buttonhole Look Good. They feature a scalloped edge, self-facing and buttonhole stitch. Read more .... for detailed instructions.

The first leg warmer also had vertical buttonholes, but they were knitted along with the garment. In this case, only the first 4 rows were knitted along with the garment and then the 4 stitches of the buttonhole band were placed on a stitch holder, while the rest of the garment was knitted. This has 3 advantages, you can start the leg warmer before you decide on the buttons and button placement; you can sew the buttons on first and then fit the band to the buttons; and the start of the buttonhole band is at the same height as the buttonband, so you don't need to measure later. Read more.... for further instructions.

These colorful, straight needles came from my mother-in-law's collection and were in high use for over 50 years. They are British (pre-metric) sizes, so when I use them I have to employ my needle gauge.

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For information on the needles I use... Read more