Stop Tickling me ..... and just Rub My Tummy Please

Finally, I have taken Rub My Tummy Please pattern to the market.  It is now on sale in my store in Ravlry.com.

I need to thanks all the testers that had participate in the pattern testing and for their valuable feedback :)

This pattern is the start of my journey in knitting the round and perfect disc. For experienced knitters, the most logical way is to knit from center out. It is easier for sizing as well, so one can stop when the size (diameter) is reached. Really no brain work in here. The drawback is that you will need to know some kind of special cast on, like Emily Osler's cast on, Judy's magic cast on. Those cast ons are not that difficult but practice does make everything perfect ;)

The challenge then presented was the untamed wavy edge. The stockinette stitch likes to curl up and in a disc shape, it becomes wavy instead of curling up at both edges as in a long rectangular scarf, for example. So I did a "mock cuff" ("real one" will involve double knitting lol) to stabilize the edge. It also gave me a chance to add in the little cutie paws too.

The head and tail are fun to make too.  Different facial expression and tail curling will certainly bring out the charm and resemblance to your feline friends at home.

And if you are an intermediate beginner or an advance knitter looking for challenge, there are two more patterns, Black Sheep (CAT) In The Family and Over CATchievers coming up that might be right down your alley. Similar cat coasters but different in construction :) Stay Tune

To find out where my inspiration for this pattern came from, visit my other page in this blog.

Happy Knitting :D

Over (C)A(T)chiever

Could your cat be an over achiever?  You ask how will I know.  The answer is simple. Did you recognize all the meows and their corresponding commands? I do. Firstly, I can differentiate the meows from my two cats. Secondly, when Oscar meows in distress, it means he needs human elevator service.  Not that he cannot find his way to ground floor, but that he is just too special and need his beloved human to climb the two step ladder and gently pick him up, tell him he is a silly cat, a kiss on the forehead and off he goes four paws on the floor. Thirdly, when I talk to him and he meow back, it means he is in total disagreement with me, and he always has the last meow. Nowadays, when he stared at me while I was knitting, it means he needs his food bowl filled. My other cat, Moo Moo, will meow loud when he needs a human goon to follow him around the place while he is patrolling for intruder. So the name of this pattern is inspired by my two cats and the difficulty of this pattern compared to the last two patterns, Rub My Tummy Please and Black Sheep (or is it Cat) of the Family.

This should be my last cat coaster pattern and to mark the end of my journey in studying the round and perfect knitted disc. I go all crazy to set out to "conquer" the pinwheel intarsia pattern. The challenge is to make a flat tummy (yes, it is for both human and coaster lol), or at least as flat as possible.

 

The small coaster will be able to hold mug / cup / glass about 3 - 3.5" in diameter; the big one can hold water bowl about 6 - 6.5" in diameter

This time I made it two ways to achieve the pinwheel pattern and both has its pros and cons.

Actually, I tried out with the Pinwheel Kitten when I developed the Rub My Tummy Please pattern. It did not go the way I wanted it, so I left it aside. I picked it up again when I had more time and here it is. Make sure you pull the body in all direction after it is done, pay more attention to the centre, to loosen up the stitches.  I am using a one direction / hand to change colour, but perhaps using two strands technique (that is, the Fair Isle technique) will be better in term of achieving a looser tension needed in this piece. I welcome a tester to try out both ways for me if anyone interested.

The Pinwheel Kitten will also need the knowledge of crochet, maybe intermediate beginner level, to do the cast on. It is not just simply magic circle cast on but need to switch colour yarns too.  So it will need someone to be quite comfortable with the cast on technique together with the know how to switch colour in crochet

The Quick Silver (Blue) Kitten is really quick to make, at least for the body, as soon as you get the hang of the pattern. So far, this is the pattern I like the most for simple cat coaster. It took me some time (counts in days please lol) to find a perfect solution for the ridge problem. If you have test knitted my other cat coasters, you will see how different it is :D

As for Happy Papa, he is a pinwheel as well but constructed differently to his kitten. There are many roads to Rome lol. I hope you can see, once you finish the project, how the kittens are related to their Papa :)

Happy Testing :)

Black Sheep (or is it CATS?) of the family

Everyone must have at least one in the family lol and if you are looking at sheep coasters, I am sorry to disappoint you. Although sheep are nice, CATS are nicer (I have the furball CEOs staring at me while writing this). I named them Black Sheep because they are constructed differently compared to the Rub My Tummy Please coaster, but they look nearly the same ... yes, if you look closer, you will see the difference.  It is not a bad thing though, we are all different after all, and Happy Mama likes her litter all the same.

This pattern took me about one week of experimentation. It is a bit of a challenge to handle the curly edge of a knitting a disc in stockinette stitch, but I think I made a good solution to the problem

This line of coaster is technically downgraded so more can enjoy knitting it. It is suitable for intermediate beginners which are now comfortable knitting in rows and ready to progress to knitting in rnd. No specialty cast on necessary, no make one increase stitches. There is a lot of pick up stitches practice but totally manageable.  And with that in mind, I only kept it at small coaster.  Don't expect me to pick up 104 sts soon after making Happy Mama :D

One important note to the technique of the coasters: for intarsia of Pink Lady Kitten, I recommend anchor every stitch to make the WS neat and tidy; otherwise, if using 2 or more floats, might need to sew on a piece of fabric, e.g. felt, to finish

I will bring it to test soon and hope it wont be a disappointment to my testers :D

Happy knitting!

How cool is your cat?!

Cool Cat is my latest knitted cat toys pattern inspired by the self entertainment writing between me and my friend, Cornwall. What could be cooler than my magical cat in the story, Oscar, laying on his back, putting on his sunglasses and sun tanning.

It is a seamless design with the tail sewn on. It is a good knitting work out for advance beginners to practice knitting in rounds (instead of the old boring scarf with 4 row pattern repeat :p) The cast on and bind off as well will be challenging but not to the point of mission impossible for advance beginner level; and since everything is in small scale, so it is much easier to handle compared to trying out in larger projects like hats or mittens.

This is my first pattern tested by volunteer testers :) and they were very helpful. Through the testing, I found that the most tricky and challenging part is the final bind off which involves transition from 3 needles bind off to Kitchener stitch. Most testers read the Round's instruction too fast and completed the work with 3 needles bind off from ear to ear. There is nothing wrong with it. I can see it is logical and easy to keep on doing the same bind off to the end, but the 3 needles bind off leaves a ridge / seam that could be improved by switching to Kitchener stitch. The transition from front to back will look totally seamless.

So I add a mini photo tutorial to assist the knitters to complete the bind off and learn a new trick :D All the resources on the other knitting techniques used in this pattern, they will be very easy to search on the internet.

As you are familiar with the pattern, you can use variegated yarns or intarsia to customize the look according to the intent recipient (above, right is my Moo Moo :D). I particularly enjoy posing the cat tail at the back as we all cat lovers know how expressive the cat tails are.

From the cat's prospective, Cool Cat has a big tummy to hold a lot of catnip for hours and hours of enjoyment.

The pattern is now available for sale at in my Ravelry store
Happy Knitting :)

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I like tummy rub :)

My 4th knitting pattern has come to a brick wall. I was trying to fix it with mini photo tutorials, and smoke came out from my ears. In order to preserve my sanity, I went off for a detour and looked for knitting ideas from the web.

And here I was, came across the crochet cat butt coasters. They are so cute and those talented crafters had made so many different variations, It nearly made me want to pick up my crochet hook. Looking deeper, I find that there weren't any knitting version available, either free or paid. I am sure there are at least two good reasons knitting version does not exist. Firstly, crochet is so much faster than knitting, so this little coaster that could be done in 20 minutes will take up to 1.5 hrs in knitting. I am sure crafters looking for this kind of pattern would like a speedy one. Secondly, crochet makes a thicker and sturdier fabric which is more suitable for coaster. Keeping that in mind, I challenged myself in drafting up a knitting version.

After a few trials, finally knitted one up and showed it to the broad of directors of my company ( that will be my two furball CEOs ). They gave me a dirty look. I knew they wanted more respect and butt exposure is not acceptable. So off I went back to the drawing broad and made a Disney version :D No butt nor nipples exposure lol

In this final pattern, Rub My Tummy Please, Happy Mama is teaching her two little sleepy kittens on Human Control 101 - how to make human rub my tummy :D Just roll over and start purring, human will be mesmerized and rub the cute little cat's tummy by reflex :D

Rub My Tummy Please composed of 2 coasters for human (for Mommy and her significant other) and 1 coaster for cat's water bowl. Well, and for those others humans that dare to enter the house, they will hold their own drinks lol

One advantage of this knitted coaster compared to the crochet one is the ridge around the outside. If the cup is of the right size, the ridge will cling onto the cup, so anywhere the cup goes, the coaster will be there to do its job :D So it wont be that difficult to make size to fit coaster for your cups in the cupboard by altering the needle or yarn size.

As for the technical part of the pattern, I have kept the complication to a minimum and advance beginners should have no problem following it. Please keep in mind that this is not a tutorial pattern, meaning all techniques will not be demonstrated in words. One needs the basic to proceed. For example, the special treatment of the working yarn in turning in German short rows will not be explained but simply stated as sl1k^ and sl1p^. In this digital world, it is easier to research on the net for videos for techniques. I do not put in link for those videos etc. because those videos are not my production and I can not guarantee they will not be taken down, and you somehow got a blank link.

The pattern will be tested soon and hope to publish in the near future. I am incline to make this a half charitable pattern to help out cat / animals shelter, but need to work out the logistics and final details.

Happy Knitting

Don't sweat it ..... it's just PEANUTS!!!

The two little munchkins at  home were planning for their auntie's birthday. Through an elaborate discussion of me asking the questions and they meowed in reply, we agreed on the good old gluten free peanut butter cookies.



"Happy Birthday, Auntie Cathy. We will have our catnip tea and you have your peanut cookies!!"

I always tried to do some experimentation each time I make them, and this time, I made four varieties. I read about the current trend in adding salt to baking, probably to enhance the sweetness, and in my recipe, I cut down the sugar by half, so it could use a little boost. Diabetes and hypertension are a concern for most people but hey you only go around once.



From left to right, top to bottom, chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, salts, and everything included

I only tried two cookies so far and they were delicious and froze the rest. I confess to keeping my cookies in the icebox for months without problem :p I used the basic flour-less peanut butter cookies recipe. The general proportion is 1 egg, 1 cup of peanut butter and 1 cup of white caster sugar (1/4 tsp. of baking soda optional). Each time I made these cookies, I would change the recipe a little bit to see how far I can stretch it to reduce the amount of sugar used. I figured the structure of these cookies, without flour, would be solely resting on the egg and sugar, so cutting down sugar might make a difference. The amount of peanut butter used will also do something to the dough as it is rich in protein. Although with all these proteins from eggs and peanut butter, still without gluten, do not expect these cookies to look like the "floured" type, as it is more delicate and holding its shape is not their strong suit :(, meaning those crisscross markings will not be as nicely and properly displayed.



Salted peanut butter cookie with a trace of the crisscross pattern

Let me write down the recipe I used this time for future reference :)

Ingredients
2 extra large eggs (room temperature)
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
1/4 cup white granulating sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chunky peanut butter (room temperature)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts, toasted and salted (room temperature)
1/4 cup gluten free chocolate chips
pinches of salt (preferably coarse grain)


1. In a large mixing bowl, beat 2 eggs lightly with a whisk. Add in the brown and white sugar, and continue beating until the mixture looks slightly thicken up and creamy.
2. Change to a large spatula or wooden spoon and fold in the peanut butter. Add more peanut butter if needed, to get the mixture into a smooth and thick consistency.  The mixture should be easily scrapped off from the side of the bowl. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or more (overnight will be fine).
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degree F and lined the cookie tray with parchment paper.  Take the chilled dough out. It should be firm enough to be handle without overly sticky. Scoop out heapful of tablespoon of the dough and gently roll it into a ball around 1.5" in diameter. Place the dough ball onto the cookie tray about 2" apart. Use the palm of your hand to press it down slightly.  Sprinkle and press in peanuts, chocolate chips and salts as preferred. Return the cookie tray with its content to the ice box for a few minutes before putting into the oven for baking.
4. Once you put the cookie dough into the oven, stared at it and when the top of the cookie starts to crack, it is time to come out :)  Let the cookies rest on the hot tray for another 5 minutes or until firming up before transferring to the cooling rack. Makes 21 cookies.

For me, I made one tray (6 cookies) of plain with salt, one (6 cookies) of salted peanuts, one (6 cookies) of chocolate chips and half tray (3 cookies) of salt, salted peanuts and chocolate chips.  The dough did spread, so make sure they are given enough rooms in between on the tray. I did not have coarse grain salt at home, so I used table salt instead :(  I am expecting a better presentation with a coarser grain and better taste as well compare to fine table salt .... oh well.

When I am doing step 3, I did not need to use any oil or starch to handle the dough on the spoon or my hands. The chilled dough should be firm enough and the oil in the dough will prevent it from being too sticky.

You can see the crisscross markings on the plain cookies are not as neat as expected, so pretty sure you can take this decorative step off (or if that decoration is important to you, try to use the full amount of sugar .... that will be 2 cups of white caster sugar .... no brown sugar as the water in it will weight the structure down, cut down the baking soda to 1/4 tsp. or even to none, and really give the rolled dough a good final chill before putting into the oven .... good luck :p)

If you are making a genuine gluten free version, please ensure no cross contamination in the kitchen and check the ingredients in the peanut butter to ensure no added wheat or gluten components.  Baking soda should be pretty well free of gluten and making sure it is 100% sodium bicarbonate will ensure that. I am pretty sure eggs are 100% gluten free (they feed hens with corn I think, but I am no farmer :p)  The chocolate chips I used are everything free including soy, diary and gluten, so you will be pretty hard not to ask the question what is in it?  I am not going there :p, just have everything in moderation :D Peanuts too, should be 100% gluten free but could be contaminated during handling in the factory, storage and transportation. So I guess the lesson here is nothing is 100% guarantee in life (if there is, it will cost you a leg and an arm). For testing please send cookie samples to Mike.

"Yummy, we ate all the cookies ... good luck next time Auntie Cathy :p"

Counting SHEEP ............ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

While I was enrolled in a pattern testing works (which I might, time permitted, write about the experience in the blog later), I also came across this popular Baa-ble Hat by Donna Smith.  After looking at hundreds of beautiful finished project pics, I just had to try my hand on it.

Even Dave the duck falls asleep with the baa baa :D

I took the modified route as suggested by a few knitters that find the original pattern produces a hat that is on the big side, and knowing my knitting is on the loose side, I casted on 88 sts.  Still, 88 sts for the circumference for a hat could be a little bit tight with my experience, so to be on the safe side, at least I could put it on, I used German twisted cast on (instead of the normal long tail cast on) just to make sure the tightness on the cast on rows were kept to a minimum.  It works perfect.

Since the body of the hat is 90 sts (instead of the original 120 sts), the distribution of the flecks along the rows would need to be adjusted as well. The only two numbers that will give a even number after dividng 90 is 3 (30) and 5 (18), that will be the number of the pattern repeat for the flecks along the rows.  So the repeats are every 2 and 4 sts, you do a different colour.  When we got to the crown decrease, there was really no set number to evenly spread out the sparkles but need to look at the sts in between the 2 decreases and work from there.  It might be easier to set up a quick knitting chart and experiment it from there before actual knitting if wished. Also try not to put the flecks below the k2tog (I am using k2tog decrease, but we can be different too and do a ssk decrease; as long as we keep it consistent).  This will give you a half stitch colour look, but if that is what you are looking for, go ahead :p

Every sheep has its day :D

Or have a look at Susan Anderson's blog, she has all that written :)

Also the measurement from the top of the ribs (k2,p2) to where you want to start the crown decrease should be kept at around 4".  For my small head, it is a good fit in circumference and a slightly relaxed fit in length.  It will look perfect with a yarn or faux fur pompom.

It is a 2 colour work for any single row and easy knit for a lazy afternoon watching movie :D

Oscar counting sheep, made it to 1 ..........

Then came the Baa Ble mittens. You know, have to make a set :)



Happy Baa Baa !!

This took me a some time to decide on the final plan.  Although it will be consistent to do a normal ribbed type mittens to echo with the ribbed hat, but the problem with the position of the gusset and the sheep pattern bothered me.  I read a few comments and saw the pic. In order to have the sheep pattern around and near to the wrist, and they did it by using the afterthought thumb technique, not the normal gusset technique. Normal gusset should be starting immediately to 4 - 5 rounds above ribs for a good fit, while afterthought thumb opens up higher in the body of the mitten. I am not a fan of afterthought thumb for its fit and the overall appearance of the mittens as they were worn. Sometimes pattern will get  distorted. Remembering this is also a colour work, there will be not be enough ease to "give" for the fitting. So moving on ...... :p

If one wanted the sheep pattern around the wrist, it will not be joined but punctuated by the gusset stitches. So I decided to try again with the arch gusset technique that I saw on Purl Soho's website whereby it is a rolled up knit edge and gave me enough rounds to knit the sheep pattern before starting the gusset. 

Outside and inside of the mittens

I tried to knit the arched gusset mittens once before but the left thumb opening somehow made no sense to me then and I did what I thought best and that was it. This time the light bulb turned on and the instruction finally make sense to me but I still think it need rewriting.

So here it is my clumsy attempt :) 

After increasing up to 56 sts
Next rnd knit all the way to the marker, remove marker, slip the next st (unknitted st); then slip all the following sts till the end of rnd (15 in total) onto a piece of contrast colour yarn to hold; slip the unknitted st back onto the left needle and k2tog with the next st following on the left needle (that should be the start of the rnd st).  The resulting k2tog stitch will be the new start of the rnd st (40 sts)

You will also find that the thumb hole in the left is a round lower than the right to start, so when knitting the thumb, be sure to add 1 row more on the left side; or alternatively knit to length instead.

Moo Moo adding his hairs to the pieces as bonus :D

Enjoy !!!