Category: design

  • FAQ: Simple Yet Effective Shawl

    Sorry for the lack of posts lately – I’ve been hit HARD by some kind of nasty flu! Today I’ve got a really sore throat, a slight fever and chills. Oh and the headache from hell. Luckily, I’ve already prewritten more of these FAQs! On to it!

    Doesn’t it start from the point? How come you say it starts from the neck?
    The shawl does begin from the center back neck and worked down – the increases at the beginning, middle, and end of the RS rows shapes the shawl so that the rows are getting longer and longer. The bind off edge is along the bottom of the shawl, the two long edges that meet at the point.

    What will happen if I don’t divide the ball? How do you make the stripes?
    If you are using Noro yarn and don’t divide your ball in two, you’ll get wider stripes of colour and more of an ombre effect. I divided my ball by putting the full ball on a kitchen scale and winding off until there was 50g left on the scale. Then I wound the other half in the same direction.

    To change colours, join the second ball at the first stripe and work X rows – don’t cut the first ball! Simply leave it at the beginning of the row. When you need to change back to the first ball, leave the second yarn hanging and pull the first ball loosely up the side. Carrying the yarn up this way will not be noticeable.

    I’m a retailer, can I purchase your pattern wholesale?
    Not quite yet, but I’m working on making my pattern line available for wholesale – stay tuned!

  • FAQ: Just Enough Ruffles

    So I’m thinking that based on emails I get, there are a few questions that get asked over and over for various patterns. Time to put up an FAQ to reference! Today, Just Enough Ruffles!

    Do I have enough yarn?
    I didn’t use the full amount of 2 skeins of Malabrigo – I used approximately 380 yards.

    What counts as 2 rows of stockinette stitch?
    Two rows of stockinette stitch is one row knit, one row purl. One trip across your needle is 1 row, regardless of how many different rows there might be to comprise a stitch pattern.

    Is it 14 wraps total, or 28 wraps total?
    You should have 14 wrapped stitches on each end, so 28 total.

    I don’t have the right number of stitches after the increase row!
    Are you doing the increase correctly? The increase is knit front, back and front again – creating three stitches out of one. You knit into the front of the stitch but don’t remove it, swing the needle around to the back of the stitch and knit through the back loop but don’t remove it, and finally bring the needle back to the front and knit the front loop again.

    How do I bind off purlwise?
    To bind off purlwise, purl 2 stitches, pull the first one over and off the needle. *purl 1, pull the first stitch over and off the needle*, repeat to end. It’s the same as a usual bind off except that you are purling the stitches instead of knitting them.

    How to I make it ruffl-ier?
    You can add more stitches to the ruffle – I would do the increase row as written, work one row plain, then do another increase row (either tripling or doubling the number of stitches in this row) before working plain.

    How do I block my scarf?
    I block nearly everything the same way – soak with Eucalan, then dry flat. Keep the cast on edge straight when you lay it out, and shape the ruffles with your fingers, then let it dry!

    I’m a retailer, can I purchase your pattern wholesale?
    Wholesale patterns are available from Deep South Fibers!

    After the increase row, I’m on the purl side! How do I do Stockinette Stitch?
    Keep the pattern correct. Since the increase row is on the knit side, the next row is purl. The 4 rows of Stockinette are purl, knit, purl, knit.

    If you have any other questions you’d like to see the answer to, email me!

  • Delicious Knee Socks Pattern!

    The Delicious Knee Socks pattern is now up for sale!

    delicious stripey knee socks!

    You’ll have lots of fun knitting and wearing these striped knee socks! Knit a custom fit in a variety of foot sizes and calf sizes – over forty size combinations. A slipped stitch “seam” up the back of the leg hides the usual jog between the stripes and looks pretty too. If you don’t want stripes, just knit them in a beautiful solid colour for socks you’ll reach for all the time!

    These socks are knit in the round from the toe up, with a Turkish/Eastern cast on and short row heel. Also included are notes on how to knit a pair of over-the-knee socks!

    TO FIT SIZES
    Foot Size: 7 [7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5. 10] inches / 17.5 [19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24.5, 25.5] cm foot circumference.
    Calf Measurement: 12 [13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18] inches / 30.5 [33, 35.5, 38, 40.5, 43, 45.5] cm around the widest part of the calf.

    FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
    Foot Sizes: 7 [7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5. 10] inches / 17.5 [19, 20.5, 21.5, 23, 24.5, 25.5] cm foot circumference.
    Foot Length: approximately 8 [8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11] inches / 20.5 [21.5, 23, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 28] cm.

    Calf Sizes: A [B, C, D, E, F, G]
    Finished Calf Sizes: 10.5 [11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13.5, 14.5] inches / 26.5 [28, 29.5, 30.5, 32, 34, 37] cm.
    Leg Length: 17 [17, 17, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 18] inches / 43 [43, 43, 44.5, 44.5, 44.5, 45.5] cm from bottom of heel including top ribbing. Notes are given for how to adapt for a shorter or longer leg.

    Knitted fabric is stretchy and requires negative ease! If you are between sizes, knit the smaller size.

    MATERIALS
    Needles and Notions
    2.0mm/US 0 set of 5 double pointed needles, 2 circulars or 1 long circular needle for magic loop; or size needed of obtain gauge.
    Split stitch marker or safety pin; tapestry needle; thread covered elastic if desired.

    Yarn
    Fingering Weight yarn of approximately 370 yds / 336 m per 100 g.
    Shown in Indigo Moon Fingering Weight, 370 yds/100 g, 1 skein each in Chocolate and Raspberry.
    Note: I split each skein into 2 balls by weight, and used 1 Chocolate and 1 Raspberry ball per sock, with a small amount of leftovers.

    Yardage Required varies greatly on foot/calf combinations! Here’s a range:

    MC (raspberry/thin stripe): 246 – 376 yards
    CC (chocolate/thick stripe): 301 – 460 yards

    (Email me if you want more specific amounts for your size and I’ll be happy to send the info along!)

    GAUGE
    32 stitches and 48 rounds = 4 / 10cm square in stockinette stitch worked in the round.

    ...fun in the back!

    TO DOWNLOAD

    This eight-page PDF file contains instructions for knitting your very own custom-fit pair of knee socks. It also includes instructions on how to turn your knee socks into over-the-knee socks with a cabled leg detail! Shown in Dream in Color Smooshy, 2 skeins for foot size 8, calf size D.

    Payment is by Paypal (credit card or balance) and download through Ravelry. You should receive a pattern download email from Ravelry shortly after you pay (or after your eCheck clears).

    $6.50 CAD

    Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.