Written to be worked on two circular needles, the pattern can easily be done on dpns or magic loop. The fourteen page pattern includes both charts and written instructions.

Price: $5.00

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Skill Level: Intermediate

Yarn: 375 (400, 400, 500) yards/ 343 (366, 366, 457) meters any MCN blend (Merino, Cashmere, Nylon) fingering weight yarn with 8 sts/inch.

Sample: Zen Yarn Garden ‘Serenity 20’, (400 yds/366 meters; 70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein) 1 (1, 1, 2) skein(s) in Toffee Crunch

Finished Sizes (after blocking):
Small, (Medium, Large, X-Large)
Circumference of foot – 6 (7, 8, 9) inches/15 (17.5 , 20 23) cm, unstretched
Fits up to – 8.5 (9.5, 10.5, 11.5) inches/21.6 (24 , 26.7 , 29.2) cm, stretched
Leg Length – 5.5”/14 cm, measured from end of heel flap

Other possible yarns:
• Handmaiden Fine Yarns ‘Cashbah’, (355 yds/325 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.06 oz/115 grams per skein).
* The Sanguine Gryphon ‘Bugga’, (412 yds/377 meters; 70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein).
• String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn ‘Caper Sock’, (400 yds/366 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4 oz/113 grams per skein).
• Indigodragonfly ‘MCN Sock’, (375 yds/343 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.06 oz/115 grams per skein).
• Creatively Dyed Yarn ‘Luxury’, (360 yds/329 meters; 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.44 oz, 126 grams per skein).
• Tanis Fiber Arts ‘Purple Label Cashmere Sock’, (400 yds/366 meters; 70% merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 4.06 oz/115 grams per skein).

Other Materials:
• Stitch markers (2)
• Glow line tape (to mark current row on chart – optional)
• Tapestry needle

Skills Required:
• Increasing and decreasing
• Knitting in the round
• Toe up sock construction
• Short rows/wrap & turn
• Lace
• Following charts
• Blocking

Hard (paper) copies of this pattern can be ordered from Shall We Knit?

Once payment has been received, you will receive a link to download a PDF of this pattern.

The original photo shoot was done in fall and so the shawl had to be reshot to go with the deep winter theme. I’ve included both photo shoots here so I could show off my lovely friends (thanks Anita and Alana!) and the fantastic photography of Shawn.

I was paging through Japanese stitch dictionaries and found the main pattern used in this shawl. It reminded me of an Egyptian cartouche and I visualized it in a deeper vibrant red, the colour of life and victory for Ancient Egyptians.

In this top-down shawl, the stitch patterns flow seamlessly one into another. To accomplish this, transitional charts are used. These are marked as such and must be followed with extra care as stitch patterns are altered to flow into the next design.

The shawl is worked in Koigu KPM, one of my favourite yarns, but can be worked in any fingering or laceweight yarn. Several of my wonderful test knitters knit their shawls in laceweight and they are absolutely stunning.

The pattern on Knitty.com includes only the charts; however, I know many people prefer to work from written instructions. These are available for download as a PDF here.

Price: Free!

Skill Level: Advanced

Yarn: 1,400 yards of fingering weight, wool or wool blend yarn with a gauge of 5.5 sts/inch; preferably in a semi-solid or solid colour.

Sample: Koigu Premium Merino (100% Merino Wool, 175 yds / 160 m per 50 gram skein); colour 2120, Red, 8 skeins.

Finished Size:
Width: 72 inches
Length at center: 37 inches
Note: Measurements given for shawl after blocking.

Other Materials:
* Yarn needle
* Stitch markers (4)
* Cable needles (2)
* Glow line tape (to mark current row on chart)
* Fine cotton thread in contrasting colour for life-lines
* Tapestry needle
* Waste yarn in constrasting colour for grafting rows
* Blocking wires and pins

Skills Required:
* Increasing and decreasing
* Lace
* Following complex charts
* Blocking

Errata:

Chart B1
Row 11 – should begin “yo, k1” and the last two stitches should be “k1, yo.”

Row 17 is missing a yo in stitch 15.

Chart B2
Row 5 – The cable at stitch 11-12 & 27-28 is crossed the wrong way. It should be a C2BP.

Row 37 – Second stitch from beginning and the end should be a purl.

Chart B3
Row 15 – Second last stitch should be a purl.

Chart D2
Rows 36-38 – the Flower in the middle of the first and last shape are dropped one stitch down. The flower bud should start on row 37 and end on 39.

Row 42 – the first stitch is missing from the chart. It should be a purl.

Updated Charts:
Revised Chart B1
Chart B2 revised

Credits:
Photographer: Shawn Miller, Distractions in Focus
Models: Alana Krause, Anita Cloutier

Modeled by the ever beautiful Anita and stunningly photographed by Shawn, she cuts an elegant swath, wrapping her wearer in cozy warmth.

Combs Cowl

The second in a planned quartet of linen/hemp summer cowls, the lace pattern reminded me of the combs women used to wear in their hair.

During a time of remembrance, I chose to knit this lace cowl in the Lotus lace pattern in Firefly, a yarn that has a subtle sheen. The meaning of a red lotus is love, compassion, and all the activities of the heart.

Mindfulness Cowl

I give you Amplification, Gridwork and Tipsy!

Amplification Stole	Gridwork Scarf
Tipsy Scarf

All have their individual pages here in the closet and can be purchased through my Ravelry shop, just follow the links, purchase and download. Gridwork is a free pattern and the link will launch the PDF. Hard (paper) copies of these patterns can be ordered from Shall We Knit?

There are many more designs percolating in my brain so stay tuned, there’s more to come.

To celebrate the release of Mason-Dixon Knitting in paperback, Gardiner and Shayne have launched their newest homage (to the documentary Grey Gardens), Grey Garments. So grab your needles, your copy of Mason-Dixon Knitting and some cotton to knit a dish cloth with Ann and Kay. They’ll have you in stitches!

Harding views these patterns as a “starting point,” showing many of the designs knit up in multiple yarns and embellished with found objects, buttons, flowers, ribbons and embroidery. The items illustrating Knitting Little Luxuries have been embellished with treasures from her Grandmother’s button box. Her goal is to encourage knitters to make each piece as unique as the person creating it and customized to the recipient, rather than slavishly following a pattern.

The patterns in Knitting Little Luxuries are divided into four sections: Eclectic and Quirky where you “embrace embellishments to make your knitting one of a kind;” Textured and Modern, highlighting cables and interesting stitch fabrics; Pretty and Feminine that showcases luxury fibers, colour and lace; and Traditional and Folk that features fair isle with a twist.

Knitters who follow the latest trends will be eager to knit the Piper Purse, reminiscent of the cables purses carried by many celebrities this season. Those knitters entranced by vintage will be drawn to the Daphne Purse which is reminiscent of straw purses from the 50s, made unique by the addition of silk flowers.

Each pattern lists yarn requirements by weight (DK, worsted), followed by specific yarn information for the sample item. A small section on embellishment techniques is found at the end of Knitting Little Luxuries.

Free Pattern: Cecily Beanie (requires registration at Knitting Daily)

ISBN10: 1596680547
ISBN13: 9781596680548

Trade Paperback
128 Pages
Publisher: Interweave Press
Publication Date: November 1, 2007

Author Website: louisaharding.co.uk
Knitalong: knittinglittleluxuries.blogspot.com

tags: books book reviews knitting Louisa Harding

Indigo Knits is a great way for beginning knitters to learn to work with cotton. More than half the designs are suitable for beginners and the boxy shapes require minimal shaping. The finished chest range for the adult sweaters (after washing) is 32” – 57.5”, with the average falling in the 36” – 46” range. Children’s sweaters range from 1-2 years up to 9-10 years. For those seeking casual, comfortable items that will develop the patina of well loved denim, there is much here to recommend. My picks are the Newlyn jacket or Abstract Art sweater.

For a book billed as “the quintessential guide to denim yarn,” I was expecting new techniques or unusual designs so I was somewhat disappointed to discover that Indigo Knits is mostly about the embellishments; that is, what is done to the garment after it is knit with bleaching, beads, sequins, weave stitching and distressing. While indigo yarn is by default considered “casual” (so firmly connected with everyone’s favourite jeans), I was disappointed that Gottelier did not push the boundaries of what can be done with this yarn utilizing full-fashioned designs. I wish that there were a few patterns which featured something other than a boxy shape.

ISBN10: 030735220X
ISBN13: 9780307352200

Hardcover
160 Pages
Publisher: Potter Craft
Publication Date: November 13, 2007

tags: books book reviews knitting Jane Gottelier

As knitters gain in experience and begin to experiment, they will reach a point when they need to acquire a stitch dictionary. With so many to choose from, how does a knitter decide? Like many other decisions it comes down to personal preference. Field Guide to Knitting: How to Identify, Select, and Work Virtually Every Stitch, as its name suggests, is structured like a birder’s field guide rather than a typical stitch dictionary. The colour photos of the swatches are numbered and found in the centre of the book. Each entry has a number to the left of the stitch name which corresponds to its photo. A table of contents is at the beginning but to find a specific stitch, knitters will need to reference the index at the end of the volume.

Like many other stitch guides, designers have selected a single colour to work each “family” of stitch patterns (edgings in brown, ribbings in purple). Each pattern has standard information included: general description and history of the stitch, best stitch gauge to achieve pattern definition, stitch properties, suggested uses of the stitch and the stitch instructions. One item not found in other stitch guides is evaluating the stitch pattern on the amount of yarn consumed (1 skein (efficient) to 5 skeins, the black holes of knitting), a very useful tool when planning a garment.

Field Guide to Knitting: How to Identify, Select, and Work Virtually Every Stitch is not designed to be a knitter’s primary stitch dictionary. Its small size, and approximately 200 stitch patterns and variations, make it a wonderful tool to pack in a knitting bag; however, knitters will want to complement it with an exhaustive stitch dictionary for their reference shelf.

ISBN10: 1594741581
ISBN13: 9781594741586

Trade Paperback
384 Pages
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publication Date: October 15, 2007
Author Website: www.yarnish.com

tags: books book reviews knitting Jackie Pawlowski