. . . waterverf aka aquarelle . . .

I started this a while ago…

The photo has the date: February 2018… ^^

I wanted to use up some stashed yarn. Hmmm, I think these colors work well together.

Started writing a pattern… But it took a year (or more) to finish the pattern, make photos, tech edit, testknit and finally publish it. But here it is: Waterverf aka Aquarelle.

Aquarelle was its first name, but someone pointed out that a few days ago, another pattern with that name was published on Ravelry. I also found out there were more ‘Aquarelle’ patterns. Better to change the name, but not the idea behind it.

Mixing colors in slow or fast gradients just have the feel and look of watercolors being applied wet and blending together… So its name is now : Waterverf (Dutch for aquarelle)

Do you have three, four or five matching fingering weight skeins in your stash?
Waterverf: a short-sleeved or long-sleeved tee, tunic or dress as long as your yarn and inspiration takes you.

The pattern provides instructions for a tunic with elbow sleeves as the sample, but feel free to make body and/or sleeves shorter or longer as desired or as your yarn allows you.

The shoulder and sleeve construction is an improved version of the one I use in a lot of my designs (inspired by the contiguous method of Susie Myers). I found a way to work them without breaking any yarn.

Instructions are included to make slow or quick gradients.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 32, 35½, 36¾, 41¾ , 45¾, 51 “ (78.5, 87.5, 93.5, 105, 117.5, 130 cm)
Intended to be worn with a little positive ease at the high bust (take the measurement just under the armpits).
Best worn with no ease, a little negative or positive ease.

Due to the nature of this sleeve inset you should choose the size closest to your high bust measurement (under the armpits). If you should want more ease, it is best to start with the numbers of the size closest to yours and add more increases for the body and sleeves, if necessary.

What you’ll need
fingering weight / 4ply
Yardage depends on length of body and sleeves, as pictured with elbow sleeves and tunic length: ± 1500, 1700, 1800, 2000, 2250, 2500 m (1650, 1900, 2000, 2200, 2450, 2750 yards)

3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
3.5 mm (US 3) circular needle
4 mm (US 6 ) circular needle
6 markers
crochet hook for the provisional cast on
one button, diameter: ± 15 mm / 0.6”

Gauge
26.5 sts and 40 rows stockinette stitch with the smaller needle and blocked = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

See more ‘gorgeous’ versions of the testknitters (they all look different and unique) and find out more about it here

. . . fading mosaic . . .

A new pattern is up today: fading mosaic.

It is a modern tee or pullover featuring an overall mosaic stitch pattern – only one color is worked per row or round – and a gentle high-low hem.

It is seamlessly worked top down.

The slipped stitch bands that edge the sleeve opening and the V-neck are worked as you go, so there is no extra finishing to do. When it falls off the needles, it is ready to wear…

Unless you want longer sleeves…

Several options are given: you can make a short sleeved, cropped summer tee in cotton with a ‘no finishing look’ bind off method, a longer pullover in wool for colder winter days with a hem and cuffs in corrugated ribbing, or you can make a mix of both.

And, you can – as most of the testers did – make a short sleeved version and wear it right away and add the sleeves later when it gets colder 😉

And let’s talk about yarn choice. What a difference a yarn makes …

The first one I made was a cropped summer version in cotton and short sleeved.

The D (dark color) is a variegated cotton with quite long color repeats. The lightest color is almost the same tint as the L (light color).

It gives a very special fading effect. I like it 🙂

That is where the name of the pattern came from: fading mosaic.

As you can see I changed the mosaic pattern at the bottom (coz’ I got a little bored and wanted to try something else). That variation is included in the pattern.

The hem, is my very special –  no roll, minimal finishing – bind off method that I used before in a few other patterns.

But then, I still had some D yarn left, and I will wear this much more if I add sleeves – me thinks.

I added them by picking up stitches along the slipped stitch edge. It gives them a layered look, which is fun. The sleeves are in D. Here you can see the long color repeats, I didn’t add a second color. The same special bind off is used.

I like the patterning of these mosaic motifs very much. They are repetitive and still, they look like some handcrafted block printed fabrics.

I wanted to try that same pattern in solid colors to see what it would look like.

Halfway…

Body is finished… still sleeveless

Phew, that was close… That is all what’s left of the L, light color…

The photos at the start of this post are also the winter version in wool with a hem and cuffs in corrugated ribbing. Here are some more.

Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL
finished measurements chest: 31½ / 35½ / 39½ / 43½ / 47¼ / 51“ (80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 cm)
Intended to be worn with some positive ease (6 to 15 cm / 2½ to 6 “) at the high bust (under the armpits).

What you’ll need
DK weight
cropped summer version
cotton or cotton blends
D (dark color) ± 320/360/400/450/500/550 m (350/390/440/490/550/600 yards)
L (light color) ± 320/360/400/450/500/550 m (350/390/440/490/550/600 yards)
if you add 3/4 sleeves you will need more.

woolen winter version with long sleeves
wool
D (dark color) ± 500/550/610/680/750/820 m (550/600/670/740/820/900 yards)
L (light color) ± 500/550/610/680/750/820 m (550/600/670/740/820/900 yards)

4 mm (US 6) circular needle and 2 double pointed needles
4 mm (US 6) straight needles
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle
4 markers

Gauge
stockinette stitch with the larger needle: 20 sts and 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)
mosaic stitch pattern: 22 sts and 38 rows (19 stripes) = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

The pattern has been tech edited and testknit.

Check it out here