Relaunch: Top Down Shoulder Warmer

I’ve been meaning to do this for ages! I picked up some gorgeous Malabrigo Rios and knit up a new version of my Top Down Shoulder Warmer.

Top Down Shoulder Warmer

The 2015 version features expanded sizing (to fit 28-56″ bust), new photos, schematics and a spiffy new layout.

Top Down Shoulder Warmer

Oh, and the option to work the sleeves in the round rather than flat! Both sleeve options are given.

Top Down Shoulder Warmer Top Down Shoulder Warmer

I actually really enjoyed knitting this one again – simple knitting in lovely yarn.

If you’ve already bought the pattern before, you should receive an email and/or Ravelry message with a link to the updated pattern.

Queue and fave on Ravelry!

FO: Loads of Garter Stitch

Finished object: hat and booties!

hat + booties

I think they are pretty cute!

Patterns: Cutest Booties by Stephanie; hat pattern is my own – it was surprising to me that I couldn’t find a good garter stitch hat pattern for babies!
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 ply – very soft and nice, but splitty. Good for making the pompoms though, it fluffs up really nicely.

hat + booties

Speaking of pompoms, I could swear I bought a set of the Clover pompom makers ages ago but I guess that was just in my head! I used cardboard to make the hat pompom and a fork to make the small ones. I sewed through them with thread and a sharp needle so hopefully they’ll hold together for a good long time.

rios-sleeve

Now that the hat and booties are done, I can get back to this shoulder warmer. I’m knitting the sleeves in the round, so the new version of the pattern will have options for both flat (seamed) or circular (seamless). It’s going fast and the Malabrigo Rios is so lovely to knit with!

it’s a gift!

I’ve been knitting some adorable booties. For a GIFT! Not for me! Don’t get any ideas!

bootie (for a gift)

Pattern is Stephanie’s Cutest Booties, in Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply, which is one of those really round multi-plied machine washable wools. So soft!

bootie (for a gift)

It took me a few tries to get going on the first one, actually. I cast on with a regular long-tail CO and got nearly done the cuff before I changed my mind and ripped it out. Tried a few more different cast ons before settling on a long-tail CO, with the yarn doubled for a firm edge, and then I began the garter stitch on a purl round.

bootie (for a gift)

So cute! The only downside is that I must keep my coffee/tea/food far away from my knitting, lest I spill something not-white on them. Now where are my pompom makers?

Pile of finished sweater pieces! Blocking and seaming imminent. #knitting #knitdesign

I finished the pieces of a sweater I’ve been working on for rather too long – feels good to have finally made some progress! Needs seaming, collar, blocking, all those fun things.

top down rios

Of course, I started yet another project – this is Malabrigo Rios in Jupiter. Haven’t done worsted weight top down in awhile and it’s good fun! I’ve been slowly thinking of revamping some older patterns, and this is the Top Down Shoulder Warmer. It definitely needs some new photos, and along with that will come my updated pattern format and lots of extra notes and tips.

I haven’t decided whether to reformat ALLL my older patterns, but the Ravelry/Loveknitting EU sales integration did push me to do a few already. Castlegar, Fred+Ginger, and Tephra have all been updated and are now available to the EU through Ravelry and Loveknitting.

pretty mecha

I guess I’m pretty into purple right now (as well as bulkier knits!) but I’m trying not to cast on with this awesome yarn just yet!