DykemaKnits

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

DIY Lace Accent on Toddler Dress

My daughter was given a beautiful cotton dress with lavender flowers all over it. She loves the dress, but the back of the dress is very low and the sleeves kept slipping down. I knitted a simple lace insert and sewed it to the dress. It adds just the right amount of coverage and support to keep the sleeves in place. I hope this inspires you to look at your wardrobe and add some custom knit or crochet lace to make it new and functional! I have a few tunics that could be a little longer, and I might add a lace trim to them. 😉

Simple lace pattern:

- Garter stitch for 5 rows

- Sl 1, *k2tog, yo; repeat from * to end

- Sl 1, *purl; repeat from * to end

- Sl 1, *yo, k2tog; repeat from * to end

I repeated this pattern, incorporating a 2 stitch decrease about every other row, until I had the right length.

© Kaylan Dykema

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Lattice Dish Set

By: Kaylan Dykema

Support me and download a pdf of this pattern.

Finished Measurements

Dish Scrubby: 4.75” x 4.25”

Dishcloth: 8.5” x 10.25”

Dish Towel: 20.5” x 18.25”

Yarn

Redheart Scrubby (100% Polyester; 78 yards/85g): Almond (1) ball; Mainstays (100% Cotton; 180 Yards/100g): Blue Shell (2) balls.

Needles

US 8 (5mm) straight needles, or size to obtain gauge

Notions

Yarn Needle
Crochet Hook 3.5 mm US 8 (5mm) Double Pointed Needles (DPN)

Gauge

16 sts and 22 rows = 4” in St st, blocked

Notes

Seed Stitch Row 1: (K1, P1) to end
Row 2: (P1, K1) to end
Repeat rounds 1-2 for pattern

Garter Stitch Row 1: knit to end
Row 2: knit to end
Repeat rounds 1-2 for pattern

CO: cast on

K: Knit Kf&b&f: Knit through front loop, back loop, and front loop again to increase

P: Purl

SC: Single crochet

Sts: Stitches

Pattern instructions follow

Dish Scrubby

Using Redheart Scrubby yarn, CO 18 sts

Work in Garter Stitch for 4 inches

Bind off in pattern.

Using Mainstays yarn, CO 18 sts

Slip 1 st purlwise, *K1, P1, repeat from *

Slip 1 st purlwise, *P1, K1, repeat from *

Continue working in Seed Stitch for 4 inches, slipping the first stitch purl wise

Bind off in pattern

Assembly: Lay both squares of fabric on top of each other. With crochet hook, sc through both fabrics with cotton yarn. When you reach a corner, 3 sc, then continue in sc through both fabrics. Once you have made it around all four sides, chain 20, slip stitch the chain back onto the base of the chain to the dish scrubby to create a loop. Slip stitch through each chain to add some strength to the loop.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block.

Dishcloth

Using Mainstay yarn, CO 45 sts

Rows 1-6: Work in Garter Stitch

Row 7: K4, *K1, P1, K9, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 8: K5, *P1, K1, P7, K1, P1, K1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9: K4, *[K1, P1] twice, K5, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 10: K4, P1, *[P1, K1] twice, P3, K1, P1, K1, P2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 11: K4, *K3, P1, [K1, P1] 3 times, K2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 12: K4, P1, *P3, K1, [P1, K1] twice, P4; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 13: K4, *K5, P1, K1, P1, K4; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 14: Repeat row 12

Row 15: Repeat row 11

Row 16: Repeat row 10

Row 17: Repeat row 9

Row 18: Repeat row 8

Rows 19-54, repeat rows 7-18 for Diamond Seed Brocade pattern

Rows 55-60: Work in Garter Stitch

Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends. Block.

Dish Towel

Using Mainstay yarn, CO 81 sts

Rows 1-6: Work in Garter Stitch

Row 7: K4, *K1, P1, K9, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 8: K5, *P1, K1, P7, K1, P1, K1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 9: K4, *[K1, P1] twice, K5, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 10: K4, P1, *[P1, K1] twice, P3, K1, P1, K1, P2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 11: K4, *K3, P1, [K1, P1] 3 times, K2; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 12: K4, P1, *P3, K1, [P1, K1] twice, P4; repeat from * to last 4 sts, K4

Row 13: K4, *K5, P1, K1, P1, K4; repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5

Row 14: Repeat row 12

Row 15: Repeat row 11

Row 16: Repeat row 10

Row 17: Repeat row 9

Row 18: Repeat row 8

Rows 19-42, repeat rows 7-18 for Diamond Seed Brocade pattern

Row 43: K across

Row 44: K4, P to last 4 sts, K4

Repeat rows 43 and 44 until desired length

When desired length has been reached, work in Garter Stitch for 6 rows

Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends. Block.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

DIY Pot of Gold

I made these pots of gold for my children and nieces this St. Patrick's Day. It was really fun, and everyone enjoyed their special gift! Here's what you will need to make yours.

Supplies:

Apple sauce container
Black acrylic paint
Acrylic paint sealer
Black pipe cleaner
Chocolate gold coins
Rainbow pattern -- the one I used is available at: What Mommy Does
Shamrock -- I crocheted one using a free pattern available at: Golden Lucy Crafts

Directions:

Wash and dry the apple sauce container. Paint the interior, and allow it to dry. Once it has dried, apply two coasts of sealer and dry. Punch two holes in the side of the container. Insert the pipe cleaner into each hole, and twist it to secure. Fill it with chocolate gold coins, a rainbow, and a shamrock! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Dykema Fiber Arts is open!

If you have enjoyed some of the things you have seen on this blog, I am happy to announce that you can now shop at my Etsy store, Dykema Fiber Arts. I hope you will visit my store and enjoy browsing through my current inventory!

Friday, January 29, 2021

Coming soon!

I am excited to announce that I will be opening an Etsy shop! I plan on selling handmade knits and other handmade crafts. More announcements to come!

Saturday, October 3, 2020

How to line knit slippers

I recently discovered a hole in the bottom of some slippers I knitted. I darned them and then discovered several places where the wool was wearing thin. I realized I needed to do something else to lengthen their life, so I lined them with leather and flannel. It has added a lot of comfort and durability to them. I used leather from a bag of leather scraps purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics. It did take some time, but it is worth it. Below I have outlined what you will need and how to do it.

Tools:

Leather
Flannel
Scissors
Awl
Mallet
Hard surface to hammer on, such as scrap wood
Paper
Pencil
Needle
Yarn

Instructions:

With slippers on, put your foot on a piece of paper and trace your foot. Cut out the shape. Trace your foot pattern on a piece of leather and cut it out. Turn the pattern over and trace again on the second piece of leather and cut it out. Adjust the size of the pattern to fit the inside of the slipper. Use updated pattern to cut out two pieces of flannel - remember to turn the pattern over so that the foot shape goes in the right direction for each slipper. Use the awl and mallet to punch holes around the edge of the leather. Place flannel inside the slipper, place leather outside of the slipper and stitch the two together with extra yarn used from knitting the slippers, or a yarn that best matches the slippers if you didn't knit them yourself.

If you want to avoid cutting your own leather and punching holes in it, you can find some kits online at places such as KnitPicks.com. You will get several pieces of leather - one for the pad and one for the heal. I personally really like having one seamless piece of leather covering the whole sole. I will be lining a second pair of slippers as soon as I have the time!

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Sugar Free Mint Iced Coffee

This is a really refreshing beverage. I recently started Weight Watchers (still have a little baby weight to loose!), and I'm on the green program. This delicious drink is only 1 SmartPoint!

Ingredients for 1 glass:

6 oz boldly brewed coffee (you can do this by doubling the amount of coffee grounds you would normally use, or select the bold option for the brew type - if your coffee maker has one).
5 fresh mint leaves
2 Truvia packets
2 Tbsp Coffeemate Sugar Free Italian Cream
Ice