New Pattern: Irisa Cowl

I'm doing a guest post over on Tanis Fiber Arts,  and I've got a new free cowl pattern:

A super simple single skein of gorgeousness. 

Irisa Cowl

Head  on over to Tanis Fiber Arts to get the details on this awesome one-skein worsted weight beauty! 

New Pattern: Lilacs for Lila

Way back in April, I knit this sweet little bonnet for Lila. I'm a sucker for knitted bonnets on babies, and I wanted something that would look vintage and gorgeous, but knit up super fast. It's perfect for using up DK weight yarn you have kicking around! It's easy to knit in a day or two, and you could make it even faster by using ribbon for the ties, instead of i cord. The pattern has sizing for babies 1 month- 4 years.

Check out the details on the Ravelry pattern page, here.

Hedgehog Love Scarf- Free Pattern Notes!

Remember this post, where my pretty, newly-knit hat was upstaged by my super cute hedgehog scarf?

Well, I finally got around to writing up the pattern notes. Because hey, gotta share the hedgehog love.



But there are disclaimers here- I didn't knit the cute scarf that's in these pictures, this is the store bought scarf that Guy got for me from Primark, a chain store in the UK. You can't buy it any more, so I thought that at least other knitters could knit their own, if they were so inclined. So I wrote out the notes, and charted out the design. A machine made knit is always quite different once interpreted by a knitter, and that is the case for the ribbed edging- which is clearly machine made and seamed on. In the pattern notes I wrote the edging to be seed stitch, to make it easier to knit. But if you want to pick up a gazillion stitches to knit on the ribbing, or seam it on, by all means, go for it.



Would you like to knit your very own Hedgehog Love Scarf? Then by all means, check out the free pattern here!

New (FREE) Pattern: Gin & Tonic Hat

 

You may recall seeing this hat on the blog way back! I was working on a hat pattern for a new yarn base for Tanis Fiber Arts, which is now known as Orange Label. It's a blend of merino, cashmere, and silk that is out of this world soft.  I wanted to design a great little one-skein hat that would be a quick knit and the perfect use of a little luxury like this, and the Olive colourway was right up my alley. I've been wearing this hat a lot. 

Pattern can be found here, and the Ravelry pattern page is here. 

New Pattern: Velvet Morning

I'm so excited that the new issue of Knitty has gone live, and my latest pattern is in it! Everyone, please meet Velvet Morning:

It's knit up in Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label, with Midnight as the base colour, and three contrasting colours: Sand, Mallard, and Atlantic. Tanis graciously test knit it for me in a totally different colourway, and you should check out her photos here.

I LOVE this sweater. it's such an easy thing to wear- pants, long sleeved tee, Velvet Morning. Done. 

It was ridiculously hot when we did this photos, I was getting cranky from the heat (I was also very early days pregnant, I may not have been feeling awesome, either- I was so tired all the time in the first trimester). So  I'm not as smiley as I usually am! But trust me- I wear this sweater all the time, and I'm so glad that it still fits now that I'm pregnant. That's the best part when all the growth is up front- open, drape-y cardigans still fit like a dream.

 The sweater is meant to be oversized, with lots of positive ease, and lots of cozy warmth.   The sweater knits up surprisingly quickly in the aran weight, and for those that aren't crazy about stranded colourwork, I bet this would look amazing in two colours- one base colour and one contrasting colour. I hope someone does it so I can check it out!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

The new issue of Knitty is out, and I've got a pattern in it!

You would never know that it was the dead of February when we took those photos. We found a stone wall that seemed to look 'warm', and I ditched my coat while we took as many photos as quickly as possible. I was freezing!!

The Make Up Your Mind racerback is designed to be a layering piece, worn over another tank top or t shirt. The Kollage yarn is really breathable, and has awesome yardage. I highly recommend

This is my first time sizing a garment pattern, and I was really nervous about it. I read lots of books about designing garments, but nothing was really out there for grading pattern sizes for racerbacks (I guess it is kind of a niche item). If anyone has any trouble at all with it, please feel free to send me an email, and I'll try to help anyway I can. My email is over there on the right, underneath my profile picture. I want you to be as happy as possible with the finished results!

Pattern: Stockholm Scarf

I did promise you all a free pattern, right?

I'm excited to introduce the Stockholm Scarf, which is a luxuriously large and cozy infinity scarf. This scarf looks good with dressy and casual coats, and adds a great pop of colour on a dreary winter (or in this case, a very pretty November) morning. This is a quick knit, and so easy to wear.

I was inspired to create this after all the great compliments I got on the big infinity scarf I bought in Stockholm in August. I was a bit embarrassed when people asked if I had made it and I had to say no (although I then got to say that I got it in Stockholm, and that part was pretty fun).

This scarf features a completely reversible stitch pattern with a 4 row repeat, and is easy to memorize. I knitted this scarf in two pieces and seamed them together, but this was because I didn't have a needle long enough for the whole scarf. The pattern is easy to knit either flat (back and forth in two pieces) or in the round. It's also a fast knit- it took me less than a week from cast on to cast off.

What are you waiting for? Grab the pattern here! Ravelry pattern link is here. It took me 4 tries to figure it out, so if there are 3 other versions of the pattern out there, my apologies. I left my cleverness in bed this morning, it seems.

A huge thank you goes to my husband G. Not just for the photos (and he always takes such great photos), but for designing the pattern layout and making it look great. In the title bar of the pattern, there is an odd shaping- that is actually an outline of a Stockholm city map. All his idea, and it looks incredible. Thanks, my love!!

Gobble Gobble!

Sometime in the summer, I agreed to knit a turkey finger puppet for my friend, Julie. Actually, we had just met that night and totally bonded over several martinis and the fact that we were both left-handed Julies. Since then, we have become friends even while sober, and it was her birthday this month. So I thought it was high time I came through on my drunken turkey finger puppet promise: Turkey Finger Puppet (great pattern name, I know. I'm so imaginative, it hurts.) Materials: - set of 3.25 mm dpns - any kind of worsted weight yarn (this makes for a stiffer puppet, but that helps keep the tail upright. Sport weight could also be used, but will result in a floppier tail) in dark brown, beige, white, burgundy, and some yellow for embroidering the beak. Body: Cast on 17 stitches in dark brown. Join for knitting in the round. Knit in the round until the body is 3 inches long. Change to burgundy yarn for ribbing. In burgundy yarn, *k1, p1*, and at the same time, increase 4 stitches evenly in this round. Do 3 more rows of k1, p1 ribbing (4 rows total). Knit(knit all stitches) 5 more rounds. Decrease: *k2tog, k1*, repeat to end of round. Knit one round. K2tog all stitches, then thread remaining loops with a tapestry needle and sew up tight. Tail: In beige yarn, cast on 50 stitches. The tail will be worked flat on two of the dpns. *k2, p2* for three rows. Switch to dark brown yarn. *k2,p2* for 3 rows. Decrease: k2, p2tog, until end of row. Next row: p2, k1 until end of row. Change to white yarn. k2, p1 to end of row. Change to beige. p2, k1 to end of row. Decrease: k2 tog, p1 to end of row. Next row: p1, k1 to end. Change to dark brown. k1,p1 to end. Continue in dark brown, in pattern, for another 3rows. Decrease: *p2tog, k2tog* until last stitch. k1. Next row: p1, k1, to end. k1, p1 to end. Change to white, contiue in pattern for one row. Then cast off, in pattern. Here's a clear shot of the back of tail, for reference: Wings: (make 2) In white yarn, cast on 4 stitches. Change to beige. Purl one row. Knit one row. Purl one row. Change to dark brown, do four rows in the established stockinette. Cast off. Finishing: Weave in all ends (this takes longer than it does to knit the thing, I found). Taking a small amount of dark brown, make french knots for the eyes. The beak is nothing more than one straight stitch down the middle. The red waddle is done by making a loose loop in burgundy, and then keeping your finger in the loop as your pull it taut. While keeping the loop intact, remove finger, and make another (much smaller) straight stitch across the loop to secure it in place. As for the tail, I used the white to secure the cast off edge to the puppet, and the dark brown to sew the bottom dark brown portion to the back of the puppet as well. This seems to provide a stable tail. Sew on wings wherever you would like them. I liked doing the ribbing for the head, since I find that without some kind of head definition, some finger puppets look like condoms. But not this little guy! Rumor has it that American thanksgiving is coming up soon (this week? next week? I have no idea), so I guess it's seasonally appropriate! And if anyone finds any pattern problems, let me know.

Book Review, Plus Free Pattern Link!

There doesn't seem to be any shortage of knitting books lately, that's for sure. I'm considering this tasty little treat as a future purchase: I admit, I'm a sucker for this kind of knitting book- so well styled, so beautifully photographed, that you barely notice that there is no way you would dress like that in your real life. Seriously, check out that cover model- she's tarted up like a refugee from Dangerous Liasions or something. But I admit, I covet that skirt like nothing else.... "An Affair to Remember"- I love the names of these patterns. And I love the following:










But then I see this, and I wonder how it got in there: Ahem. That's not romantic. That's not even classy. It looks like a lady of the evening has wandered into some country manor garden, and is hoping to make a bit of dough. Keep your eye out for the next pattern book to sweep the knitting world- The Hand Knit Hooker.

I think this might be my favorite, in terms of being quite romantic:

I would make the little sleeves smaller, though. Less wingy. But you know what's exciting? It's available online. Hooray for free preview patterns!!

If you are interested, there is a brand new KAL to join as well! I'll be subtly stalking it to see if anyone dares make that halter dress thingy. And I'll totally eat my words if anyone looks good in it.