My mom taught me how to knit when I was just a kid, and I have pretty much consistently had at least one project on my needles for the last 18 years. I mostly knit garments (I love making sweaters and shawls), but I have done some other weird projects, too (I knit an anatomically correct worm model when I worked in a biology lab for a couple years). I enjoy designing my own patterns, and dying and spinning my own yarn, because I am a little bit of a control freak.
When I’m not knitting around Seattle, I kick ass and take names for the Tilted Thunder Rail Birds, the Pacific Northwest’s only banked track roller derby league. I also enjoy typical boring things like watching TV, reading books, and cooking.
You can follow me on Ravelry as onemilljellybeans, and on twitter as @on_the_needles
If you have questions, comments, find mistakes in my patterns or if you just want to say “Hi!” feel free to contact me at knittingontheneedles@gmail.com
I hope to hear from you soon!
😀 Allison
On the Needles 
I would like to learn about how to dye yarn. Can you help???
I found a link to this place at the bottom of your sock pattern. Maybe it was the wine, but let me tell you, you had me laughing and i almost forgot how painful it is to learn something new. Thank you!
Aw, Shucks. I’m so glad you liked it! And a glass (or three) of wine never hurts when learning a new pattern. 😀
Hi, my name is Ellen. I’ve been knitting your pattern called “split back tank.” I love the top. It’s for my daughter. I’ve managed to get through most of it with a very patient friend. I won’t be seeing her again for 2 weeks, and I’ve come to another problem and I was hoping you could help me. I’m at the point where I have to bind off 2 sts at the back edge for the next 2 row on a WS. But, I am on a knit side. I’m not sure what to do. If you can help me great. If not, I’ll wait the 2 weeks. Thank you
I’m a fairly new knitter and am now finishing your lace edged shawl. I’m on the lace pattern section. The picture seems to show that the center increases are maintained through the lace pattern, but I don’t see it in the directions. Help!
Hi Marcia!
You’re right! The increases do continue through the lace edge. In row 1 of the lace edging, you’ll see that the pattern says: “k2, *pm, yo, (k1, yo, k4, k3tog, k4, yo) 7 times, k1, yo, pm, k2. Repeat from *” You’ll K2, then work the rest of the instruction (through the () repeat 7 times, as well as the last few sts (the increase). Then you’ll go back to the first * and work through the end of the row again.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any more questions!
🙂 Allison
Good day Allison,
I have the same pattern problem ,”the Lace-Edged Shawl” sorry your explanation above did not help me. When you say repeat 7 times (k1 yo k4 k3tog,k4 yo) those are only 12 existing stitches x7 =84 + the 2 stitches at the beginning and end makes it 88 of the existing stitches now the total after the plain pattern is 176. Also the knit 1 after the () not sure if it’s for the edge only or part of the pattern that is repeated since it is not included in the () I am trying to find how many stitches is in the pattern itself but it does not compute. I am missing something somewhere. Sorry!
I will make it longer 224 or 248. Hope you can help. Thank you so much.
Lovely pattern, I have this nice 100% Merino wool fingering weight that your shawl will be exquisite in.
Hi! Sorry you’re having trouble! You’re super close! You actually repeat that whole section twice (once for each “wing” of the shawl).
Row 1 of the Lace Pattern says: K2, *sm, yo (k1, yo, k4, k3tog, k4 yo) 7 times, k1, yo, sm k2. Repeat from *
That means you K2, sm, yo (k1, yo, k4, k3tog, k4 yo) 7 times (just like you said), then you k1, yo, sm k2 (You just finished the “spine” of the shawl). Then you go back to the *, and work the second half of the row: sm, yo (k1, yo, k4, k3tog, k4 yo) 7 times, k1, yo, sm k2.
Does that make sense? Please let me know if you still have questions!
🙂 Allison
It makes perfect sense. Sorry I did not realize it was 1/2 of the shawl and somehow did not compute now it does. I really appreciate, I will get to it. Thanks for the gorgeous pattern and clarifying for me.
So glad that made sense! Happy knitting!
Hello! Would you please add a pattern to your Noob Hat instruction sheet thingy? Love the design, it’s just that I already know how to do these stitches and would love somewhere where I can assess everything! Thank you!
I am starting to knit your split back tank pattern (knit Picks) I am having difficulty interpreting the pattern directions. What do you do after row 5 when you place the markers and row 6 where you knit 6 p and knit the last 6 stitches? Do you repeat these 2 rows 5 times or 10 times. Am I correct in interpreting that you do both row 5 and row 6 as the established pattern?
after the next decrease row what is the pattern? is it row 5 and 6
thank you for your help with these directions. Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, Sorry for the slow reply- I’m on maternity leave, so I haven’t been checking in as frequently as usual. If you’re still having trouble, shoot me an email and we’ll see if we can figure the pattern out together! Happy knitting, Allison (knittingontheneedles at gmail dot com)