knitting

Nov

01

NaKniSweMo

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November may mean NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for a lot of folks, but I am more attracted to NaKnitSweMo. I’m not sure if I’ll get it done,as I have plenty of other projects on the go, btu hey – what a great time to start, right?

NaKnitSweMo - Knit a sweater in the month of November

 The pattern I’ve chosen is Levenwick – an asymmetrical cardigan by Gudrun Johnston. You can find the pattern here. I picked up some great burnt orange yarn (Mirasol Qina – 80% baby alpaca, 20% bamboo) on sale and it’s soft and great to work with…

Levinwick 1

Levinwick close-up

The collar and the start of the yolk

Oct

31

Completed Knits for the Neck

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I‘ve been working on these primarily during D&D games, or while waiting (in line for groceries, at the dentist/doctor’s, etc.)  Eventually I’ll get around to blocking Herbivore (pattern by Stephen West can be found here) but it’s even wearable now…

Herbivore shawlette

Herbivore

Once I finished knitting herbivore, I returned to a fun yarn that I’ve had for a while. I thought it would suit a crosshatch stitch that I’d used in a previous pattern, but I made a number of modifications so that it became the following cowl:

Crosshatch Neckwarmer

Crosshatch Neckwarmer

Sep

05

Meeting Nicky Epstein

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This morning I was happy to have the opportunity to meet the fabulous knitwear designer Nicky Epstein when she came to Saint John (as a stop on her cruise ship tour). She’s an inspiration to knitters all over the world!

Feb

21

Paris Mittens

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I‘ve been wanting to make a pair of stranded mittens that were a bit more fitted than the typical Norwegian mittens. My goal was to come up with something that was a touch Victorian, with a few fun elements that I’d like to wear – picot edging, a travel theme, some fitted seaming. One day I’ll actually make it to Paris, but in the mean time, I can at least enjoy these…

If you are interested in purchasing this pattern ($6 CDN) you can get it here.

Feb

05

More Yarn for The Stash

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I stopped in to the Saint John City Market today and caught up With Elizabeth Miller, who has a craft table there on Saturdays. She sells her own dyed roving, hand spun yarns, and lovely hand-knit and woven pieces. I couldn’t resist this skein of baby alpaca, kid mohair & silk yarn… now to find a project for it!

Jan

16

Lingonberry Shawlette

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The first knitting pattern I’ve ever designed – born of the need to teach a Continental knitting course. I wanted a pattern that used one skein of fingering-weight yarn and that started with regular stockinette stitch before getting into a lace pattern. This pattern may be used for free. It can be found wither below, or if you are a member of Ravelry.com, you can download the pdf there or right here: download now

MATERIALS
• Approx 330 yards of Handmaiden Casbah or other fingering weight yarn.
• Needles: 4mm 24” or longer circular needles. I also use a 6mm needle to bind off.
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 30 rows = 4”, although gauge is not crucial for this pattern.
• Finished measurements: approx. 54” wide and 20” long at center.
• Notions: tapestry needle, stitch marker(s)

ABBREVIATIONS
 cs = center stitch
k = knit
k2tog = knit two together
p = purl
RS = right side
sl1 k2tog psso = slip one stitch, knit the next two stitches together, pass the first stitch over the stitch that you just knit
ssk = slip two stitches so that right leg is in back of needle
and knit them together as one stitch
WS = wrong side
yo = yarn over
INSTRUCTIONS
• Cast on 3 stitches.
• Knit 6 rows as garter stitch.
• Pick up and knit 3 stitches from the long edge, and 3 stitches from the cast-on edge. (9 stitches)

PART 1 (Stockinette)
Row 1 (WS) k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3. (11 stitches)
Row 2 (RS) k3, yo, k2, yo, place marker, k1 (this is the center stitch), yo, k2, yo, k3. (15 stitches)
Row 3 (WS) k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3. (17 stitches)
Row 4 (RS) k3, yo, k to cs, yo, slip marker, k1, yo, k to last 3 stitches, yo, k3 (21 stitches)

Repeat rows 3 & 4 25 more times. (171 stitches)

Row 55 Repeat row 3 once more. (173 stitches)

PART 2 (Lingonberry Lace)


NOTES
• All WS rows are as follows: k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3.
• Charts are located after the written instructions for the charted areas.Chart A Written Instructions
Row 56 (RS) k3, yo, k3, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1 *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k2, yo, k3. (177 stitches)
Row 58 (RS) k3, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k2, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k3. (183 stitches)
Row 60 (RS) k3, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k2, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k3, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, k2, k2tog, k2 yo, k3. (189 stitches)
Row 62 (RS) k3, yo, k4, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k3, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k4, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k3. (195 stitches)

Chart B Written Instructions
Row 64 (RS) k3, yo, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k4, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k5, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, yo, k3. (201 stitches)
Row 66 (RS) k3, yo, k3, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k2, yo, k3. (207 stitches)
Row 68 (RS) k3, yo, k5, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k2, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k4, yo, k3. (213 stitches)
Row 70 (RS) k3, yo, k7, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k3, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k6, yo, k3. (219 stitches)

Chart C Written Instructions
Row 72 (RS) k3, yo, k4, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, k3, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k4, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, k3, yo, k3. (225 stitches)
Row 74 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, k4, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k5, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k3. (231 stitches)
Row 76 (RS) k3, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k3, yo, k3. (237 stitches)
Row 78 (RS) k3, yo, k5, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k2, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k5, yo, k3. (243 stitches)

PART 3 (Edging)


NOTE
All WS rows are as follows: k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3.Chart D Written Instructions
Row 80 (RS) k3, yo, k to marker, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k to last 3 stitches, yo, k3. (249 stitches)
Row 82 (RS) k3, yo, k1, *ssk, yo, repeat from * until 1 stitch before the marker, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, repeat from * until last 4 stitches, k1, yo, k3. (255 stitches)
Row 84 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, *k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, yo, k1, yo, repeat 12 times from *, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, *yo, k1, yo, k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, repeat 12 times from *, yo, k1, yo, k3. (261 stitches)
Row 86 (RS) k3, yo, k4, *yo, k2, sl1 k2tog psso, k2, yo, k3, repeat 12 times from *, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, *k3, yo, k2, sl1 k2tog psso, k2, yo, repeat 12 times from *, k4, yo, k3. (267 stitches)
Row 88 (RS) k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, *k1, yo, k1, sl1 k2tog psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, repeat 12 times from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, k1, sl1 k2tog psso, k1, yo, k1, repeat 12 times from *, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k3. (273 stitches)
Row 90 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, *k2, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, repeat 24 times from *, k2, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2, repeat 24 times from *, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, k3. (279 stitches)

Row 92 (RS) Bind off loosely, removing stitch marker (I used a 6mm needle).

CHARTS (click on photo for a larger image)

FINISHING
• Weave in loose ends with tapestry needle.
• Block lightly, pinning edges out at tips of triangles.
• Wear & enjoy!

Copyright 2011, Andrea Arbour. All rights reserved. Pattern for personal use only.
Designer can be contacted at: aarbour@nbnet.nb.ca or on Ravelry: username=Aelorra

Nov

28

The Orchid Thief Shawlette

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Finally got around to getting a better photo of the finished product…

Nov

26

Vines & Leaves Beret

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I couldn’t resist picking up a ball of the very fun & sparkly Vanna’s Glamour Lion Brand yarn ($6.99 at Michael’s) the other day. One ball of it was perfect for making the small size of the Vine & Leaves Beret from the Fall 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting magazine. It went up in two short evenings!

Nov

12

In Progress: Orchid Thief Shawlette

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I love the design for the Orchid Thief Shawlette by Ysolda Teague and I’m almost done, but I ran out of yarn near the start of the last row, and the pattern doesn’t lend well to ending things early. So I’ll have to hunt down another skein of the yarn that I’m using – and hope to get the same color & dyelot. Sigh. So almost done.

Nov

11

In Progress: Moulin Rouge Mittens

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One down, one to go. Mare gave me the pattern as a gift, knowing it’d be right up my alley. The yarn is Madeline Tosh sock in Tart (red) & Antler (cream). I enjoy the slight variations in tone, and I like the fact that the yarn is more of a light fingering (3 ply) than regular sock weight (4 ply) yarn. I’m also knitting this on 2mm needles, instead of the 2.25mm ones that the pattern calls for (since I have long yet narrow hands).