Category: patterns

  • a frolickin’ good time

    Whew. I am totally bagged – and I still have to make an attempt to study tonight! At least for a little while.

    The Knitter’s Frolic was awesome. Tons of familiar faces, lots to see and buy, of course! And it was certainly different to be on the vendor’s side of things for once. Both good and bad – mostly good, but the bad part: I was driving to the JCCC last night to help megan set up everything. Now, I don’t usually drive much – I like driving but hate traffic! I don’t think I get along with cars very well.

    Long story short, I snapped a drive belt which caused my power steering to fail. The battery light was on. I drive a minivan – the turning without power steering? Not so fun. I was close to the JCCC and managed to park in a nearby parking lot, and after setting up the booth with megan (I had to walk from my broken car to the Centre) I met up with my dad who had the car towed. Yep. This is why I don’t drive cars. I know I was vastly lucky that it happened the way it did.

    Anyway. Yarn.

    Full recap on buys (and there were many) tomorrow, but for now:

    Vino sweatercoat

    Vino Cardigan/Sweatercoat
    Pattern: cosmicpluto handmade (aka me)
    Yarn: 7 skeins Dream in Color worsted, 250 yards/4oz, In Vino Veritas
    Needles: Denise US 9

    Fabulous. Just perfect. I love it! And quite the steal at $20 per skein for squishy handdyed superwash merino. I used 5 buttons from Earthenwood Studios to close it.

    Vino sweatercoat closer

    It comes down to my knees, and anyone who tried it on at the Frolic will agree that it’s just super cosy and yummy to wear, but also clean and sleek looking.

    Pattern and yarn are available through lettuce knit, by emailing or phoning us at (416)203-9970, 11am-6pm EST. The pattern is $8, and comes in sizes 36″, 40″, and 44″, requiring 7 (7, 8 ) skeins of the Dream in Color yarn.

    I will wear this sweater all the time. I’m already thinking about knitting another one!

  • P.S.

    If you’d like to order the Belle Shrug pattern (hard copy), email lettuce knit – the pattern is $7 CDN and we take credit cards over the phone or Paypal (once you’ve confirmed the shipping to your location).

    Today I’m making cake, knitting lara and finished up a paper due tomorrow (which is actually already done now!).

  • bewitching shrug

    I’m home with crying-over-nothing disease (ie. general malaise). Yep, it’s a legitimate reason for skipping class. At least when you have people who will provide you with the notes!

    sexyback

    Very, very simple really. Here’s sort of the “pattern”, although all parts can be highly modified for size and shape!

    Aran weight yarn – I used Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran, 75% merino, 20% silk and 5% cashmere (I wonder why they put the “cashmere” in the name first?). It’s super soft and squooshy, and tightly spun with lots of plies. It reminds me of DB’s cashmerino, but all natural fibres! And yes, I am that much of a yarn snob. I used four balls, 94 yards each.

    Anyway. Stitch pattern is “stockinette lace ladder” from Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Vol. 1, otherwise known as the blue one).

    Multiple of 4 sts.
    Row 1 (RS): * ssk, yo twice, k2tog *, repeat from * to * across
    Row 2: *p1, (p1, k1 into double yo), p1 *, repeat from * to * across.

    I wanted the sleeve to be quite fitted all the way up, so I began by casting on 32 stitches and doing 4 rows of garter stitch, on 6.5 mm needles. I then began the stitch pattern thusly:

    Row 1: k2, pattern across 28 sts, k2
    Row 2: p2, pattern across 28 sts, p2

    Work even for about 12″. Increase each end every 4 rows until you have enough stitches to add another ssk, double yo, k2tog at each end, with one knit selvage stitch.

    Work even for another 5″ or so, then do another bout of increases. This is the widest point. Work even until the piece goes across your back – I sewed up the first sleeve so I could make sure to have the correct starting point for the back, and just tried it on periodically to check the size, stretching slightly.

    body hole?

    My “back hole” is about 19″ – this isn’t a cross back measurement, as it needs to go around the top part of the shoulder as well. When it’s long enough, make another sleeve, mirroring the placement of the sleeve decreases and ending with four rows of garter stitch.

    Weave in the ends and go! I was originally going to do some kind of edging around the back, but didn’t get around to it. Doesn’t matter, really.

    That Sublime is nice stuff. I might have to get some more and make a sweater out of it! Mmmm, soft.