Solace Re-release!

Solace Cardigan

Originally published in Knit Now, Issue 24, Solace has been updated and re-released through my blog and Ravelry!

Totally seamless, top down with raglan shaping, Solace is enjoyable to knit and you will only have a few ends to weave in!...and maybe a button to sew on!  Worsted or Aran weight yarn also makes it a quicker knit than most cardigans.

Rounded front edges adds style but also a nice shape that looks good on a variety of body types.

A simple slip stitch pattern is worked throughout with wide ribbed bands for a classic feel.

Sizes XS-XXL, finished bust of 30"-54", included 0-2" of positive ease.

$2 off Solace Cardigan Pattern from December 11-13, 2013.  Discount is applied at checkout.  Happy knitting!  

Solace Cardigan Pattern PDF  $6

Waddle, waddle! Waddles Toque Pattern

Waddles Toque

...another little toque to go along with the Hoot Toque & the Twiga Toque...

Worked from the top down, seamlessly and in the round, Waddles is quick to knit and requires only minor embellishments to finish it off!  This is a fun toque to learn some new techniques and give as a gift.

Sizes Newborn, Baby, Toddler ,Child, Adult Medium & Adult Large.

A little bit of duplicate stitch is used to shape the eye arches and beak.  Buttons for eyes are too cute!  Pom poms accentuate the I-cord ties...

Loxley is SO happy to have a new toque as he outgrew his infamous Hoot Toque!!

Check out all the info on my Ravelry Pattern page HERE.

$1 off pattern from November 20-22, 2013. Discount applied at checkout. Happy knitting!

 Waddles Toque Pattern PDF  $4   

Sweet Hilda Returns!

Sweet Hilda

...a super sweet poncho for little girls in sizes 6 months up to 12-14 years!

Remember when this was originally released through Three Irish Girls back in November 2010? I can't believe it has been 3 years since then!  

I really love this little poncho and my girls have worn theirs for 3 years. Willow is still able to get another season out of hers.  I love garments that "grow" with the child and last through a few seasons.  

I am very happy to say that Sweet Hilda is now available through my blog and my Ravelry shop! It has been re-edited, clarified and has a new format and schematic.

 From November 17-21, 2013, receive $2 off at checkout!
This pattern is also included in the Indie Designer Gift-A-Long here.

Sweet Hilda Pattern PDF $6  

*~* Mister of Missus Mittens *~*

Mister or Missus Mittens

$2 off pattern from October 28-31! Discount applied at checkout.
Check it out on Ravelry!

Finally finished up this fun pattern!  Loxley likes his new mittens; just in time for the colder weather!

Mister or Missus mittens are the complimentary piece to the Mister or Missus Toque, found here. 

Sized Baby through to adult large, these unisex mittens are fun to knit and make great gifts.  

The baby and toddler sizes have a modified cable in comparison to the larger sizes, but they still match the toque :)

Mister or Missus Mittens $4  

From October 28-32, receive $2 off the pattern at checkout!

Happy knitting!!

Seamus Pullovers at Petite Purls

Seamus

@ Petite Purls, Summer 2012

Description:
 My little ones love to collect rocks, dip their toes into the bay, roam and explore and are always in need of a cool pullover that can withstand their adventures.  Seamus is the quintessential summer pullover with two  nautically inspired stripe patterns & semaless construction making it quick and easy to knit during the warmer months.  While the little ones are busy collecting & investigating, the sleeves can be rolled up and buttoned in place so as not to interfere with their activities.  This classic unisex pullover can be passed down to younger siblings and will continue to look loved the more it is worn.

Sizes: 3 months (6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2T, 4T, 6T, 8T, 10T)

Rating: Easy to Intermediate

Techniques & Stitches Used:  Knitting in the round, basic increase & decreases, carrying yarn up for color changes.

Yarn Requirements:  Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Worsted Cotton
                                    400 - 700 yards - see pattern for details

The sleeves roll up!

Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Worsted Cotton is SO soft.  I am not usually fond of knitting with cotton, but this was an exception :)  It has resulted in extremely soft and wearable pullovers which Levi and Scarlett love...

Available for free at Petite Purls Website.

Union Suit - Adult Sizes Pattern Release!

                Union Suit - Adults Pattern PDF - $7.00 

This has been a long while coming. mostly because I kept having to put my rather large sample aside to work on other more pressing projects.  However, now is the perfect time to start a Union Suit as it will be ready in time for Fall!  My dad is a great model and a good sport :) We all went camping and took the opportunity to shoot some photos for the pattern.

Toadstools & Tadpoles- NEW Pattern!

Toadstools & Tadpoles

Knit Now, Issue 10, June 2012

Now Available as a PDF download !

knitting baby toddler pattern mushrooms toadstools cap hat connet booties bootees

Photo courtesy of Tim Bradley for Practical Publishing

“Toadstools & Tadpoles” is a whimsical baby set including a cardigan, bonnet & booties.

The cardigan is worked seamlessly from the bottom up with a toadstool border along the bottom (either done in intarsia or duplicate stitch), and a “tadpole” cable pattern on the body. A cable is worked at the same time, along the front edge and incorporates buttonholes.

Union Suit - Children's Pattern Release!

Union Suit - Children's Sizes 

“Based on the one piece long underwear worn for the past century in the America’s, the Union Suit is a classic outfit that is designed for comfort and warmth. It features seamless construction with raglan shaping, a front buttoned opening from neck to gusset, a backside opening with buttoned flap, a roomy gusset, tapered arms and legs & twisted rib cuffs. Approximately 4” (10cm) of positive ease allows for comfort and room to grow.

Work in Progress....Treefort Jacket

 

A simple pattern that I am working on finishing up right now: "Treefort Jacket".  It is actually a gift for a friend that turned out pretty cute and fun to knit :)

Worked from the neck down, the Treefort Jacket is super easy and a great way to use up leftover yarn! It has raglan shaping, minimal amount of shaping, overlapping front closure with buttons. Hood is knit from the neck up & garter stitch button bands are worked by picking up sts along the fronts and hood.


Rated beginner; great way to learn new techniques, sich as, kfb, seamless knitting, picking up sts, provisional cast on, random striping.

Options for long or short sleeves & random striping using leftovers or 4-5 colors of yarn.
Pattern ready for testing in a week or two for easy spring knitting :) PM for details :)
Sizes Available for testing:
3(6, 12, 18)months & 2(4, 6, 8, 10, 12)years

The gory insides, not yet cleaned up :)



A little catching up...

Original post written January 2010...

Since December, I have managed to finish up some projects, start and finish many easy ones and start some more complex ones. Since I really do not have much knitting time, I have fallen back on some old favorites, such as Bellas Mittens. I have knit 3 pairs! I used Cascade 220, held doubled, in three different colorways; purple for Dee with a matching scarf, Teal for a friend, and Pea Green for India. I still have at least 3 more pairs to knit as they are chunky and warm and they knit up quickly. If I had more time, I could easily get a pair done in a day, but as time is limited and I only do a row or two at a time, it takes me a few days to a week. For Dee's pair, I shortened the cuff so that they are easier to take on and off when you have a coat on. I only posted Dee's photos.  The matching scarf is Gathered Scarf by Maryse Roudier.

For Willow, I knit a Pinwheel sweater using leftovers of Elann's Peruvian highland Wool. I had not initially liked this pattern but it really is fun to knit, quick, somewhat knidless and very cute once i is done! The really neat advantage to this sweater is that is fits 9 months to about 4 or 5 years old. If you flip is around with the larger part of the circle at the top, it acts as a hood for a baby/toddler and you just roll up the sleeves. Flip it the way it is shown on Willow, and it will fit an older child! Raveled here :)

Speaking of purple, I picked up an old project to finish; Wisp. I used Elann's Super Kydd in Gothic Grape. I started out with more stitches to make it wider. Raveled here :)

To match the Baby Legwarmers, I made a rainbow jacket using Knit Picks Palette. This is a Phildar pattern, that I don't think is listed on Ravelry yet.  Raveled here :)

India knit this adorable little sweater for Lox and I made the matching hat. It is another Phildar pattern (can you tell I love Phildar??).  It is from Tricotez Calin Printemps/Ete 2007.  We did some mods: seamless from the bottom up with raglan sleeves.  i think stripes look nice when they connect on the sleevers. Raveled here :)

I am going to be spending some time updating my blog and adding some new features.  It has been sadly neglected as I have been busy taking care of my family.  I also wasn't happy with how timeconsuming it was to load photos and links, but now it is so much easier!  So, stay tuned :)

January Aran

First of all...thanks to everyone for their encouraging comments! I am really not the blogging type and wasn't sure if I would be able to do this. I hope I can post more regularly and add more educational information on knitting and yarns in general. For now, I will just do pics and small blurbs :)

So, for my January Knitters Almanac Project, we had to do an aran sweater. I swatched the cable charts that were given, but they did not show up well enough in the yarn I chose, so I browsed through my books and picked out three cables that I really liked. They are separated by purl stitches. I also wanted to learn how to do a steek, so decided to knit my sweater in the round, then cut it up the side to make it into a cardigan. Yes, I CUT MY KNITTING! I also had to take into account the fact that my yarn is not %100 wool, it is %60 silk and %40wool. So, I researched the best way to stitch it before cutting to prevent unravelling. EZ recommends having a glass of wine before you cut your steek to calm the nerves. Well, it was Sunday morning, so not really wine time :) I just cut without agonizing over it....

My vest still needs buttons, which I ordered from Camilla Valley Farms. 8 Fir buttons with button loops will finish this off nicely. Right now, for my photos, I used a wooden double pointed needle to give you the idea of how it will look.

So, I learned quite a bit. How to steek and chart my own cables. I knit the entire garment in the round, right from the bottom to the finishing borders. If you were to find the end, you would be able to unravel the whole thing! I also made up my own pattern as I went as far as sizing and adding a hood. I used up almost all the yarn I had (hence it is only a vest) and have enough left to just do the button holes.

The yarn I used is Katia Scotch Tweed in the Dusty Lilac colorway. I used all 10 balls. It is a chunky weight yarn so I used 4.5mm needles and it knit up quickly, especially because there was no seaming, only a few ends to sew in. I think I will get alot of use out of this vest considering it was -31Celsius this morning!