Munchkin Rumps Bloomers Pattern to be merged with MR Universal Soaker Pattern

I had intended to create 4 different sizes of the Munchkin Rumps Bloomers Pattern (toddler - pre-teen) and maybe change the gusset a bit before releasing this as a new pattern. However, I've decided that the modifications are not significantly different enough to warrant having two separate patterns. Instead, the Munchkin Rumps Universal Soaker (xls) pattern will absorb the gusset variation. And with the customization page, anyone can make a size for an older child...plus the bloomers leg style is already integrated into it.

The MRUSP will still be available through my etsy shop at www.munchkinknitworks.etsy.com
Furthermore, there will be NO CHANGE IN THE PURCHASE PRICE.

I probably won't get to this for another week or so...gotta finish up Christmas celebrations :)

YO! Stitch markers, Stay where I put you!

When I knit short rows, I like doing YO short rows as described by Mandie here. So much so that I linked to her page in my Munchkin Rumps Universal Soaker Pattern for any knitters who had not done short rows before. Well it was brought to my attention that it was a bit confusing how to do YO short rows at the marked stitches and still keep the marker in the right place.

Here are the options for turning at the indicated stitch in the Munchkin Rumps pattern...

Option #1: Use "wrap & turn" short rows. They do not interfere with the location of the stitch marker.

Option #2: You can move the stitch marker one more stitch away from center back, then do the turn at the stitch before the marker. That way the turn is in the appropriate place.

Option #3: You can work w/o markers & just watch for the second to last knit stitch before the side ribbing (like I do).

Option #4: Here’s the YO short row way with markers in place…my camera’s busted otherwise I would take pics. You’ll need markers that are bigger than your needles (not the same size).

Knit to the 1st marker past center back.
Pass marker to RIGHT needle.
Turn work.
Move yarn to back for wrapping.
Insert needle purlwise into the marker AND the next st…Purl one st. You should now have a YO & a st with a marker around …that’s ok. (see note below)
Purl to the next marker.
Pass marker to the RIGHT needle.
Turn work.
Wrap RIGHT needle clockwise for the YO.
Pass marker to RIGHT needle.
Knit one st…you should now have a YO, a marker & a new st on the RIGHT needle.
Knit to the st that has the first marker around it. With this st on the LEFT needle, lift the marker back onto the LEFT needle.
Knit 1, pass marker, K2tog.
Continue around until the st before the next YO.
SSK, pass marker, knit…

NOTE: If you pass the marker to the RIGHT, then purl, you run the risk of the marker slipping beyond the wrap to the wrong position.

I borrowed a camera for some pics.
Click on any picture to see it larger.
Mock soaker with center back in the middle & two stitch markers on either side.


Knit to first marker.


Pass marker to R needle & turn work around.


Move working yarn to back & purl into the marker & the next stitch.


Sorry for the blurry photo...
The green stitch marker is around the purled stitch.


Purl to the next marker.


Move marker to the R needle, turn work & wrap R needle clockwise.


Pass marker to the R needle & knit across.


The stitch with the marker around it should be on you L needle.
Lift it up & on to the L needle.


Knit 1, pass marker, K2tog.
Knit around till the next YO is the first stitch on the L needle (2 sts before the next marker).


SSK, pass marker, continue around till the next short row.

HTH :)

Bloomers leg style added to Munchkin Rumps Universal Soaker Pattern

Pattern revisions are finally complete!
I have made the calculations more user friendly.
Added and changed some directions to be more concise.
And most exciting of all...I've added instructions for a
BLOOMERS LEG STYLE!

In my etsy listing, I have also added this picture of a cover made with the bloomers leg.


For anyone who purchased the pattern previous to Aug 16, 2008, I will send you a revised pattern file if you email, PM, or convo me (on Ravelry or Etsy).

The Munchkin Rumps Bloomers Pattern is still in the works...it will include worksheets with sizes ranging from 4/5 to 14/16 and will also include a customizable worksheet.

A Ltttle of Everything...

Oh man have I been working on a BUNCH of projects all at once!
Here's the run down...in no particular order (cuz I don't remember :)LOL

1) Listed annual & lifetime cottage licenses on etsy of for my knit pattern.
2) Been selling some old clothes on ebay.
3 & 4) Won some black BFL & ordered some undyed BFL too.
5) Wrote crochet versions of Munchkin Rumps Soaker...I have 2 very different versions.



















6) Dyed two skeins of yarn for crochet demos to sell.














7) Got a Little Meggie (Mother Marion) kick spindle from www.heavenlyspinning.com & started spinning the gray BFL/Corrie batt :)











8) Been disassembling sweaters & felting.





















9) Owen helped me frog...and is walking now!















10) Knit Owen the "firestorm" shorties...FINALLY!


11) Still plugging away at Nate & Ann's socks...











12) Celebrated Serena's 5th b-day at Chuckie Cheese.











13) Found a baby painted turtle in the yard at the end of May & relocated him to the fish pond.














14) Then ~3 weeks later found an adult & put him in the pond too :)

Can you spot the adult & the baby among the lily pads??
Hint: look in opposite corners :)

15) Gotta get back to it...LOL

Munchkin Rumps CROCHET?

It seems that there may be quite a few people that would be interested in a crochet version of the Munchkin Rumps pattern. As I mentioned the first time I wrote about this, I was thinking of converting it...I guess now I have more motivation :)

I was planning on working on the bloomers pattern first, but maybe that'll have to wait.

Wow! That was fast!

One of the people who contacted me about the soaker pattern bought it last night! My first pattern sale, YIPEE! And she's in Australia, no less. Very Cool!
Insert lots of cheesy grins
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Munchkin Rumps Soaker Pattern...Now Available!

It's officially done! I'm so excited.
I spent all day putting the finishing touches on it and the "Munchkin Rumps Universal Soaker Pattern (xls) " is now available in my etsy shop.
This is only the MS Excel format. I still need to rewrite for the Ravelry pdf download.

Universal Soaker Pattern? It's almost done, I swear!

Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised.
I've had a few people contact me about my soaker pattern & ask when it will be ready :)
It's almost done, HONEST! I just have to do some final tweaking to the layout & calculations.

I'm planning on having two version available. One will be in MS Excel available for email delivery through my etsy shop. For this version, you will enter your gauge and desired measurements and it will do all the calculations for you. The other will be a pdf file available through Ravelry. I will have to rewrite the pattern for this format and calculations will need to be done manually.

As soon as the MS Excel version is ready, I will go ahead and have it available rather than waiting to finish the pdf version (I was hoping to have both at the same time).

Knitting my knuckles off...

Pheww!
I just finished three demo soakers for the Munchkin Rumps Soaker pattern. I've been knitting like crazy. I started 12 days, but really stepped it up ~1 week ago. I'm averaging about 2 days per soaker.
I think I'm gonna give it a rest for a little bit. I DO have other soaker & longies projects in mind, but I have the "necessities" done for now.

Oh yeah! A woman at church saw dd's bloomers under her dress at Easter & wants me to knit a pair for her granddaughter. My first customer!! :D
Gotta tweak the bloomers pattern next...

Take a look.
Boy/Girl soaker 3-6mos


Girl Soaker 6-9 mos


Girl Longies w/"mock" flared leg 6-9 mos

Munchkin Rumps Universal Soaker Pattern

I just had to enter the Munchkin Rumps Universal Soaker pattern I've been working on into the Ravelry database, for a test knitter that wanted to add it to her FO's...so I thought I should have an entry in my blog since it is listed as having more info.

I am nearly done with developing this completely customizable pattern & will be offering it up for sale soon...probably thru etsy.

Use any yarn, with any needles & any gauge to make custom fit soakers, shorties, or longies.
Currently, the pattern is for knit-in-the-round but I do want to develop one for flat knitting & maybe even crochet. I'm also going to finish the bloomers version that I made originally & maybe even make a skirtie version too.

This all came about after I spent three days obsessing over/translating/deciphering a Japanese pattern for ladies knit panties. The pattern was flat knit & written in Japanese. What I could decipher gave me a FO that was sized for a small adult woman...not very useful for cloth diapering.

So began the task of rewriting and resizing. With my severe gauge-matching impairment, I didn't think I could come up with a version that called for sticking to a hard & fast gauge so I started writing it in MS Excel. Also, the original flat knit called for two pieces seamed together down the midline...I didn't like that so I came up with a circular knit version. I also couldn't decipher the gusset area so I designed my own.

I've had some volunteer knitters testing it for me (they've been REALLY helpful) and have a few of my first attempts posted on Ravelry

Here's one of mine I really like (soaker w/extra long rise)

I'm still not quite ready for the debut...but hope to be within the month.

I'm VERY excited about this whole thing!