CableKnot Scollar

I have a new pattern up on Knit Picks through their Independent Designer Program.


I'm excited that they are offering this program for several reasons...

• the Designer retains all rights to the pattern;
• Knitpicks has a phenomenal customer base through their website and catalogs which will provide a lot of exposure;
• the Yarn is provided;
• the project is returned to the Designer;
• photographic assistance is available.
• all monies for sold patterns go to the Designer.

I didn't think my photos were so great but they did use them.


I designed this piece a few years ago when the Greater St. Louis Knitters' Guild participated in the Fall Folk and Fine Arts Festival at Faust Park by holding their first Knit-Out. There was a scarf contest as part of the Knit-Out; the scarves were later donated to a Women's group.


The design was inspired by an idea in Knitting Over the Edge by Nicky Epstein in the section titled 'Cords' and the pattern named 'Love Knots'.


I used the Love Knots idea for a scarflet/neckwarmer that begins with intertwined cords , the cords become cable, the cables end as intertwined cords at the opposite end of the scarf and the cords serve as buttonholes for the ball buttons (idea for ball buttons also taken from one of Nicky Epstein's books - I love her creative ideas).


CableKnot Scollar was posted last week the Knit Picks website.


It is also available in my Ravelry Store.

Ariel Socks - Updated

The Ariel Sock Pattern is now available on Knit Picks through their Independent Designer Program.

This pattern has been updated with a redesigned toe - I think it looks much better.

This is the fourth time I have knit this sock design and it is fun every time, these socks really seem to knit quickly and fit very well (Stacey at Knit Picks tried them on for a photo for this blog post and told me that they fit her perfectly).  I really liked the new Knit Picks Stroll Tonal yarn.

Ariel Socks are worked cuff to toe, instructions are given for double pointed needles, and the stitch patterns for the panels on the front and back are charted but the two charts are very easy to follow as there are only 7 patterned rows/23 stitches/very few symbols.

 

Check it out on Knit Picks or in my Ravelry Store.

A good day to write a blog post....

....because this is the view out my front door:

I apologize for the photo quality - I am having issues with my camera.

For example, even after consulting my photographer daughter I couldn't figure out how to deal with all the whiteness of snow.

The next two photos were taken with my camera phone because that day I couldn't get the digital camera to work at all and I needed to get these gifts wrapped.

Katie's Scarves
Two scarves for Katie (son's very sweet girlfriend):
First is another pompom ( Gnocchi by Lana Grossa) scarf in turqoise;

Second is a scarf knit in fisherman's rib with a ruffle at the edge. The yarn is Kollage's Glisten (although you can't see the 'glisten' in this photo) purchased at Kirkwood Knittery.

During my last blog photoshoot I managed to break the tripod, so the rest of these photos are not as clear as they could have been and obviously it's too snowy and cold outside to shoot in natural light.

Isager's "The Fan"
This is Marianne Isager's "Viften [the Fan]" from Japanese Inspired Knits

This sweater is knit in Southwest Trading Company's "Optimum DK"purchased from Flying Fingers. Other than the sleeves being way too long it was a satisfying project and a sweater that I might actually wear.

Rona Lace Shawl
Next up is "Rona Lace Shawl" by Anna Marie Jensen, knit in Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb from Kirkwood Knittery.
I really like knitting with this yarn although I had to take care not to snag it, especially withe tiny crochet hook that I used for beading.

The yarn is really fine and I'm a loose knitter so I used a Size 4 needle even though the pattern called for Size 5 for a 52" diameter shawl. I admit that I didn't swatch. It was a fun knit and the first shawl I have done that I added beads. It is gorgeous; however - it seems too small even though it blocked to 56" before I unpinned it, which is larger than noted in the pattern. I plan to undo the bind off and enlarge it somehow, there is plenty of yarn left on the second skein.

A gift for me...

I received a lovely pair of hand knit mittens from Fran and she even knit them in my favorite color: Pink. Luckily she takes better photos than I do (photo swiped from Fran's blog).

Barb and I modelling our new mittens:

A few more things..

Twisted Stitch Socks
I love the look of twisted stitches (knit through the back loop); that really makes the pattern stand out.


Ordered this book from Knitpicks:

The stitches look best if all rows are twisted so an object knit flat would have to have stitches that were 'purl through the back loop' and that can be awkward, so it would be easier to work twisted stitches in a project done in the round i.e. hats, socks, mitts, etc.
I am looking forward to playing with some of the stitch patterns in this book for a pair socks soon.

In the meantime I knit this sock design using two similar type of stitch patterns from other books in my library. Loved the feel of the yarn, not crazy about the pooling but I do like the colors. It is really difficult to take a decent photo of your own feet!!

Yarn: 

Twinkle Toes by Chameleon Colorworks Dyeworks & Fiber Studio; Merino/Tencel, 1 skein, 100g equal 360 yards, Color: Peacock

Pattern:

My own design

Son In Law Socks

Finished the second sock, although these look like argyle they are actually fair isle.

Remind me not to knit with three colors on the same row again.

Here's David showing off his new socks:

Life is better with good lighting.......

Last week I bought the cutest little "Mini Ott Light" at Tuesday Morning.

It is so much easier to knit in the evening with the bright light that this provides, should be easier to knit dark colors - I'd like to make a black shawl one of these days.

Gnocchi Scarf

The other day at Kirkwood Knittery, Susie was working on the cutest scarf made from Gnocchi by Lana Grossa.  

It reminds of cattails and looks like cotton balls when knit up.

This is the simplest and quickest project, it is nothing but garter stitch.

You knit the chain between the puffs.

You would think it would have been easy but I can make things so hard 

I cast on too many times to count:

Didn't see any option but to use a backwards-e cast on.

Very bulky stuff, first needle I tried (size 9) too small to keep control.

Also I am a continental knitter but found that it was easier to work this 'yarn' by throwing with from my right hand. Frog.

Change to Size 11 Denise needles, cast on and knit a few rows. Too tight.  Frog.

 Settle on Size 10.5 Denise needles, cast on and knit a few rows.

Still seems loose, maybe I should twist the stitches. Frog.

 Cast on, knit a few rows with twisted stitches, still not right. Frog.

 Cast on and knit a few rows regular.

Looks weird along the side edges, puffs sitting vertically v. horizontally across the row.

Don't remember Suzie's looking this. Frog.

 Look up this yarn on Ravelry. See 8 similar projects. One is by my friend Anita who noted that she slipped the first stitch of every row.  Cast on and knit slipping the first stitch - should I slip knitwise or purlwise? Try a few rows both ways. Decide on purlwise. Frog.

Cast on and knit about 8". Hold it up to check my progress. Slipped stitches are tighter than the other stitches causing the scarf to bow/arc at the bottom edge. Frog.

Decide that life would be easier if I'd ever learn to put KISS into practice (keep it simple, stupid). Keep it simple: Cast on 8 stitches with backwards 'e' method. Knit 8 sts. Turn. Knit 8 sts. Turn.  Finally - success! Well, success until I reach the bind off....

Regular bind off, too tight, frog the bind off

 What would work? Needs to be loose like Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.

Couldn't remember exactly how that went and I was too lazy to look it up.

Decided that my bind off needs backwards 'e' 's to be similar to the cast on.

Here is what I came up with:

  *Knit one.
  Create a backwards 'e' stitch with the chain between the next two puffs.
  Pass the knit over the 'e'.
  Knit the next stitch.
  Pass the 'e' over.**
  Repeat from * to ** to the last stitch.
  Bind off previous stitch and draw the tail through the last stitch.

Final step: Sew (with matching thread and needle) in all the ends.

Voila - Finished!!

Fall Finished Objects

Beaded Scarf

This was a fun project, nice yarn, pretty colors, easy pattern:

Very Pretty Yarn:

Swiss Mountain (65% Cashmere/35% Silk) by Handmaiden from Loopy Ewe.

Beads:

Size 8 from Ladybug Beads.

Pattern:

Center portion of Waves of Grain by Rosemary Hill available free at Knitty, Fall 2008.

Recipient:

Lovely daughter.

Twisted Candle Flame Cardigan

As I wrote in a previous post My friend Gerta lent me her copy of "Omas Strickgeheimnisse" and I was enchanted with the stitch pattern "Tulpen mit verschrankten Maschen".   Not sure what that translates to but I'm calling this Twisted Candle Flame Sweater:

Yarn:

Adrienne Vittadini Alexa,

100% cotton tape yarn, worsted weight;

16 skeins, 50g and 100 yards per skein,

purchased at Kirkwood Knittery.

Stitch Pattern:

Twisted Candle Flame from Omas Strickgeheimnisse.

Buttons:

From Joann's.

Designer:

Me

Cute Baby Sweater

I saw this cute ball of yarn at The Weaving Dept. at Myers House - tucked inside the ball are darling little buttons and two sweater patterns (cardigan and pullover).  It isn't the greatest yarn (lots of thick and thin) but it turned out cute, it's machine washable and was quick to do - now we just need someone in my family to have a baby who can wear it!

Yarn/Pattern/Buttons:

Cotton Kisses by Plymouth Yarn Companypurchased at

The Weaving Dept at Myers House.

One skein, 200g, 396 yards

Stitch Pattern:

Made it up.

Recipient:

To be determined.

Sock in Progress?

I love the glitter sock yarn from Berroco and bought a skein in pink/green/orange.  

Of course after many swatches I couldn't settle on stitch pattern.

In the meantime I ordered some Gloss sock yarn in Black from Knitpicks.

I thought it would be nice to have some black handknit socks - what was I thinking?

Very hard to see to work on black yarn. Need to try some better lighting.

It occurred to me that I could combine these two yarns and came up with this. Finished the first sock but it is loose at the ankle even though done on 64 stitches with Size 1 U.S. needles; the Gloss sock yarn is a bit on the heavy side.

This may end up in the frog pond.

More to follow soon...............