Tag Archives: pattern

Pattern: Snoqualmie Cowl

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New pattern day!  I’m excited about this one. (Though, I suppose I’m always excited about a new pattern.)

It’s a super simple cabled cowl in the most luxurious yarn have left in your stash.  (I don’t know about you, but I have a bunch of little balls of bulky wool and alpaca that I can’t bring myself to throw away.)OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACovered in tons of simple cables, the Snoqualmie Cowl looks way more complicated than it is.  It’s a great way to practice cable knitting and play with colors.  And because it’s knit in super-thick yarn on great big needles, it works up in about fifteen minutes (OK, that’s an exaggeration, but it does go really fast)!OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIf you want to give this cowl a shot, grab a copy of the free pattern here:

Snoqualmie Cowl

Dishcloth Winner!

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It’s drawing day!  I always get so excited for drawing day!  (And I hope you do too!) (And I hope you forgive all the exclamation points!)

So, without further ado, let’s see who wins a beautiful copy of KnitPick’s 52 More Weeks of Dishcloths!32978[1]Drumroll please!

(Here’s where I’d put a picture of the bowl with everyone’s entry slips if I hadn’t forgotten to charge my camera this morning… whoops!)

And the winner is:  Sue!  Congratulations!

Sue, I’ve sent you an email so that you can send me your address and I can get this book in the mail real soon!

Until next time.

(And remember, if you’re not Sue, you can still find all the patterns available for free on the KnitPicks website!)

 

A New Sweater On My Needles

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It’s time for a new sweater!  This one’s for my husband, and I’m not going to make it into a pattern or anything (which feels oddly luxurious- I guess I’ve been writing a too many patterns).

I actually ordered the yarn back in the fall, when the plan was to knit this sweater as a Christmas present.  Of course, things happened, and I ran out of time.  Isn’t that the way it goes?

Anyway, I ordered a bunch of skeins of KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Cobblestone Heather in their last big sale.

25697[1] Now, this is a 100% acrylic yarn, which is not something that I would normally use to make a sweater.  But my husband picked it out.  He tends to run warm, and Seattle basically never gets below 40 degrees, so he refuses to wear anything with wool.   (OK, maybe I’m being dramatic. But the point still stands, he won’t wear wool.)

Brava seems like a decent alternative to wool.  It’s nice and soft and squishy, and actually has a bit of wool-like spring.  Unfortunately, it has a bit of that “acrylic sheen” to it, so I think it looks a little cheap- but that’s probably something that only a knitter would notice.

I’m thinking of doing either a crew-neck or a heneley sweater, top down (because I love me a good top-down sweater.  Seriously, if you’re even thinking of improvising your own sweater, try Ann Budd’s book Top-Down Sweaters.  It’s the best!).

I want to keep the sweater fairly plain (because that’s what my husband likes), stockinette, but featuring some subtle texture across the shoulders and chest.  Something like this:OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe top portion is a simple moss stitch, which I think would look good across the top part of a men’s sweater.  The bottom is just stockinette (so I can measure gauge).  In between, I tried a couple things to figure out the transition.  On the right, I just went straight from moss stitch to stockinette, and on the left, I added a couple rows of reverse stockinette.  I think I like the reverse stockinette stripe, I think it would add structure and a bit more visual interest to the sweater.

But I have a little time to figure it out before I get down to the transition point.

What do you think?

Pattern: Split Back Tank

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As promised!  Another brand new free pattern!  This one’s a little different than my usual knits.  You know I love bulky yarn, and anything with wool.  I love big winter sweaters, cozy socks and fluffy blankets.  Basically, I like anything that you would hibernate in.

This pattern, on the other hand, is a definite departure.  It is light and summery, drapey and girly.

It’s the Split Back Tank!55759220_mediumKnit in a lovely washable cotton-linen blend at a nice big gauge, this tank top is both fast-knitting and lightweight.  The Split Back Tank is worked from the bottom up in a single piece with literally no sewing-up!  (A three-needle bind-off finishes the straps and a row of single crochet closes up the neckline and arm holes.)  And, the A-line shape and open back makes it flattering on just about everyone, yet incredibly comfortable.  I like to wear mine with jeans and sandals for a cute-yet-put-together look!55759220_5_medium2Get the free pattern here!

Drumroll, Please!

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It’s time for a drawing!

Last week I showed you the newest collection from KnitPicks, Petite Presents, and offered up a drawing!32768

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, get ready because now it’s time to do the giveaway!

14 people responded to my post, so I headed over to Random.org.RandomorgAnd clicked on the number generator:RandomAnd Commenter Number 10!  You’re the big winner!  (That’s Chickie Brewer, if you’re wondering.)  Chickie, I’ll be emailing you with details so that I can get your copy of Petite Presents to you as soon as possible!  That way, you can start working on your Mini Kitty Poufs with your granddaughter!32768124[1]

(And don’t forget, I’m still giving away a Knitting-themed tea towel designed by my mother!  Sign up here to put your name in the drawing before Wednesday!)

WHAT!? MORE PATTERNS?

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Yes, my friends, it’s true!  More Patterns!  Beautiful ones (if I say so myself)!  And, better than that, free ones!

These patterns are Ultimate.  The Ultimate Knit and Crochet Palette Blankets!

The whole idea was to make two blankets that:

  1. Looked similar, even though one is knit and one is crocheted.
  2. Use every single color of Palette yarn.
  3. Are awesome.

I think I’ve delivered (if I say so myself).

The Ultimate Crochet Palette Blanket is based on a blanket my Great-Grandmother Anna left to one of my various second-cousins, but this one has more colors.  I think she would approve.

55756220_11Cats like it.55756220_16It’s pretty close up.55757220_2And it’s pretty from far away.55757220_23The Ultimate Knit Palette Blanket is perfect for those early-morning strolls in the greenhouse.55757220_7It’s a fun experiment with an insane number of nupps and bobbles.55756220_3But it’s also is a fantastically beautiful finished product.55756220_22Of course, you don’t have to get the whole 150 colors of Palette Yarn to make a beautiful blanket.  You could split the collection with a few friends and have enough for everyone to knit up a blanket of their own.  Or, since the pattern is essentially for one square, you’ve got lots of room for creativity.  You could pick your favorite jewel tones, or just use shades of gray.  You could make an afghan with your school colors, or just use the colors you’ve got laying around in your stash.  Or, of course, you could make the pattern as it’s photographed- it is really pretty.

Get the Crochet pattern here!

And get the Knit Pattern here!

(And don’t forget to sign up for the giveaways!  Petite Patterns!  Calendar Tea Towel!)

New Pattern! And a Giveaway!

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Hey, guys!  Remember when I kept complaining about not being able to share all my secret projects with you before Chritstmas?  Well, it’s about time that I start telling you what’s going on.

A brand-new pattern that I designed was just published in the newest KnitPicks collection, Petite Presents!  This collection is all about small projects that you can make with less then 150 grams of yarn (often much less).

32768Exciting!

My pattern is the tiny (and cheerful) Juliet Bag, named after one of my sewing students, who is also tiny (and very cheerful).51989220_3[1]The Juliet Bag is knit in the round, from the top down, and uses only a few yards of each color- so it’s a perfect project for using up leftover scraps of sock yarn.  And, the simple colorwork is a great way to get your Fair Isle toes wet without jumping straight into the deep end of a big sweater or something.

51989220_2[1]But, I think my favorite part of the Juliet Bag is the drawstring.  It’s a continuous I-cord that is threaded through a series of eyelets at the top of the bag.  I don’t know why, but I think it’s really cute (and it’s quite functional).

Speaking of really cute, look at these other adorable projects that are also included in the collection:

These Mini Kitty Poufs are not-so-mini (They’re just the right size to be utterly huggable).

32768124[1]And the beautiful Merrifield Hat plays with color and texture in a gorgeous way.32768104[1]Want to win your own copy of Petite Presents?  Just comment below with your favorite pattern from the collection, and I’ll do a drawing on January 18th!

A New Year, A New Pattern!

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Happy New Year!  Yay!  *Noisemaker sound* *Glasses clink*

What’s that?  After all that holiday knitting (and maybe one too many glasses of champagne last night), don’t you want something fun, quick and easy?  Don’t you want a brand-new pattern, hot off the presses?  Don’t you want something impressive-looking, yet dead simple?

Well, I’ve got the washcloth for you!

It’s the Snowbank Spa Cloth!  (It’s a “Spa Cloth” because it’s fancy.  It’s knit in silky smooth Comfy Sport, but you could make it in whatever cotton yarn you’ve got laying around.  Because who has time to go to the yarn store today?  I’ve got leftover cookies to eat and new books to read.)

55831220[1]It’s all knit in a single piece (so only two ends to weave in!).  It’s a lovely square of slipped stitches and rows of purls, that, if you look at them the right way, look a little like snowflakes (hence the name).  The whole thing is enclosed in a thin border of garter stitch that’s knit as you go for a super-easy, yet classy-looking washcloth.

And the best part?  It’s free!  And available on the Knit Picks website!

Inspiration: Last Minute Gifts

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We’re in the home stretch, folks!  So, today, I’m highlighting a few (FREE!) patterns for last-minute gifts from yours truly.

If you’ve got a week until Christmas, think about knitting up a Lazy Susan Beanie.  Worked in the round with worsted-weight yarn, this little hat goes super quickly.  And, the clever spiral stripe technique creates jog-less joins with virtually no effort.  Try knitting one up in your nephew’s favorite colors, or your cousin’s school colors.

P8265286_medium2[1] Get the pattern here:  Lazy Susan Beanie

What’s that? You’ve only got the weekend?  Maybe try working up a Cabled Coffee Sweater!  These use just a fraction of a skein of yarn, so you probably have plenty hanging around your stash.  After all, everyone likes coffee!  (Or is that just Seattle?)

coffee_sleeve_medium2[1]Get the pattern here:  Coffee Sweater

Oh no!  You’ve only got a half hour?  Well, then you’ve got to break out your scrap yarn, glue and toothpicks and make yourself a WIP Ornament.  With a total of only about 50 stitches, these ornaments knit up in literally no time.  And they’re so cute!

PB175734_medium2[1]

Get the pattern here:  WIP Ornaments

What is your go-to last-minute gift pattern?

Totally Bare Bears!

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Or at least one bear.

My bears are coming along!  I’ll admit, I’m slowing down a little bit, but that’s just because I’m actually working on the projects I should be working on.  You know- Christmas presents, birthday gifts, etc.

Unfortunately, that means that I’m working a little less on my bears.

This one, I believe, is number 5!   (So, still not bad)

But, there’s something missing on this one… What can it be?

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Oh right!  Clothes!

I had a big, full skein of this bright shade of blue, so I thought, “Hey, why not?”  Thus was born the naked blue bear.  (I followed the pattern, but instead of changing colors for the sweater and pants, I just kept going with blue.)

The only problem is, he looks a little oddly proportioned without differentiation between top and bottom.  (Look at his stubby little legs!)

See?  Here’s one of my other bears:

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I think he looks much more well-proportioned.  But, maybe it’s just me?  Or maybe it’ll look better once I stuff the bears and give them little faces and everything?

How are your Mother Bears going?

What’s that?  You haven’t ordered your pattern yet?  Click here to help out!