That last second scarf pattern we all need

Here is the perfect thing to knit up at the last second when you need a gift. This can be knitted in the car on the drive to grandma's house. It is a one-skein-less-than-five-hours kind of pattern that we all need. I suggest using the nicest bulky weight yarn you can. I used Misti-Alpaca Chunky so this is very soft and warm.

Materials
1 100 gr ball, hank, or skein of luxury bulky weight yarn (if you have more time or want a longer scarf, you can use two)
size 13 needles

Finished Measurements
About 6'x45'

CO 17

Row 1 K1 P1 across row
Row 2 K

Repeat rows one and two until you run out of yarn.

End with Row 1 BO

Kitty Beds

Here are two little kitties at the LaPorte Co. Small Animal Shelter sleeping on their cat beds! The green one is clearly visible, but you need to look in the back to see the pink one the kitty on the right is half sleeping on.

I have made 7 so far and plan on making many more this weekend. Jen and Ann have also promised to help. I encourage all of you to make beds for your local shelter. The pattern is quick and easy. After making a few, it takes me around an hour to make a bed, and it can be done while watching TV! It is a great use of left over bits of acrylic yarn as well. All living things should have some place warm and soft to sleep. Just ask this guy!

He has a prototype pattern that I decided not to go with, but I still gave the bed to the shelter. The bias pattern is much easier and I think more practical. I have to make one for Mitters and adapt the pattern for Buddy the dog. They are very jealous of the time I spend with other animals at the shelter.

LaPorte Co. Small Animal Shelter Cat Beds

My local animal shelter requested cat beds as a charity knitting project I could do for them. Here is the pattern I created to make the beds.

Update: See the kitties sleeping on their new beds!

Materials
2 skeins Red Heart Super Saver yarn. I recommend Red Heart for its bulletproof quality. The beds will be washed in hot water and tumbled dry every day, not to mention what the cats will do to them.
size 13 needles
yarn needle for weaving in ends

Gauge is not real important here. Basically, these are 10 in x 18 in double thick blankets for the kitties.

NOTE: bed is made while holding 2 strands of yarn at the same time.
NOTE: this is bias knitting, which means that you are creating the fabric on a diagonal. There will be a long side and a short side. All decreases (k2tog) are worked on the SHORT side, and the increases (YO) are worked on the LONG side.

CO 3

Increase rows:
Row 1 k1, yo k to end
repeat row 1 until there are 40 stitches on needle. This will look like a half a square at this point.

Bias Rows:
Row 1 k1, k2tog, knit to end of row
Row 2, k1, YO, knit to end of row
Repeat these two rows until the long side is 18 inches.

Decrease Rows
Row 1 k1, k2tog, k to end of row.
repeat this row until there are 3 stitches left on needle, BO
Weave in the ends.

Toasty Fingerless Mitts

So, I searched though my rather large library of knitting books for a fingerless glove knit on DPNs. To my horror, there were mitts with thumb gussets that were knit flat, and mitts with *holes* in the side for the thumb knit in the round. Since I knew I wanted to use DPNs (I don't like seeming), and I knew I wanted a thumb guesst, I figured I better make my own pattern. This is what I came up with for a toasty warm mitten that allows the wearer to use her fingers!

Toasty Fingerless Mitts

1 skein Lamb's Pride Worsted (Should make 2 pairs)
1 set of 5 size 6 DPNs (or size needed for gauge)
2 stitch markers
Yarn Needle

Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch

Make 2

Cast on 40 stitches and dived evenly over four needles (10 on each needle). Join. (note, you can mark N1 if you need to, but the mitts are not that big. I just looked for the tail from my cast on edge).

Work k2 p2 rib for 2 inches

Work St st for 6 inches.

On n1: k1, pm, m1, k1, m1, k1 pm
Note: While the pattern states the thumb gusset is made on needle 1, it really won't matter too much where which needle is used to make the guest.
Note: I make one (m1) by knitting into the back loop of the stitch BELOW the next stitch.

*work 1 rd even
Rd 2: k1 sl marker m1 k to 1 st before marker, m1, k1, sl marker, k rnd*
Repeat between (*) until there are 24 stitches on n1 (54 total).

Next rnd, k1, remove marker, k1 BO 14 stitches, k1, remove marker, k rnd.

Next rnd, push sts close together and pop the thumb out, k2, k next st very tightly making sure that it is joined closely to the k2. K rnd.

Work 3 more rnds (until mitt measures 8 inches).

Work k2 p2 rib for 1 inch, BO.

Weave in ends, weave thumb gusset if necessary.