. . . A Mazing pullovers . . .

I really like mosaic knitting. It is so easy; only one color is worked per row or round. Colors are switched every 2 rounds…

But most of all they give quite special op-arty line drawings, especially when using large motifs, it is almost mesmerizing … So I really had to explore the possibilies and experiment with the technique.

One pattern with two different mosaic panels and  two sleeve options to choose from.
Mix and match…

A Mazing pullovers are worked in two colors. First the front panel is worked bottom up followed by the back panel which is worked top down.

The pattern includes a choice between two different mosaic stitch patterns and two kinds of stripes for the sides.

This is the yellow pullover with striped sleeves:

And this is the blue pullover with a slipped stitch variation on the sleeves:

The top of both panels with the neckline and shoulder shaping is written out but the basic mosaic pattern is charted, no written instructions.

Stitches are picked up & knit along the center panel to work the sides. Here you can easily adapt the size by working more or less rows.

A few short rows at the shoulders and beginning of the sleeves assure a better fit. The sleeves are worked top down in the round.

Finally the neckband is worked with an estonian braid and 2/2 corrugated ribbing.

What you’ll need
Sport weight or light DK weight
Yarn choice is important.
For the best effect, choose a round, bouncy wool with a lot of stretch

D (darker color):
610/680/750/830/900/980 m (670/750/830/910/1000/1100 yards)
L (light color):
500/550/600/660/720/800 m (550 /600/660/720/800/880 yards)

3 mm (US 2½) circular needle
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle
3.5 mm (US 4) straight needles or extra circular needle for the 3-needle bind off
crochet hook
4 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
Stockinette stitch blocked
23 sts and 34 rows with the larger needle
= 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

Slipped stitch variation blocked
25 sts and 38 rows with the larger needle
= 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

Find out more about them here

. . . mosaiX scarf . . .

Published today: mosaiX scarf – or wrap, because it is quite large – that goes with the mosaiX hats from a previous post.

It combines two well known knitting techniques: mosaic knitting and entrelac knitting which makes it quite unique. (Well, that is what I like: combining, experimenting and see if and how it works 😉

Here is a detail of the texture it makes mixing both techniques.

The **mosaiX scarf** is worked in entrelac with squares in a mosaic stitch pattern. It is the same mosaic square throughout but there are some variations that can be used, if you should get bored.

It looks more difficult than it is. Only one color is worked per row, the advantage of ‘mosaic knitting’: only the stitches in the working color are knit, the others are just slipped.

The scarf is finished with an I-cord all around and two large pompoms, one on each side.

I made two large pompoms, the diameter is about 13 cm

Here are some ideas how to make pompoms, or tassels

The basic mosaic stitch pattern is charted and fully written out. The variations of the basic chart are charted only.

one size but easily adjustable in length
at the given gauge, width: ± 40 cm / 16”
length: ± 186 cm / 73½” from point to point

What you’ll need
DK weight: yardage will depend on length of the scarf
As pictured (without the pompoms):
D: (dark color) ± 570 m / 625 yards
L: (light color) ± 500 m / 550 yards
4 mm (US 6) straight needles
two 4 mm (US 6) double pointed needles to work the final I-cord
tapestry needle
4 markers if you wish to place them between the squares (optional)

Gauge
The gauge is not crucial but will affect the size of your scarf / wrap.
garter stitch (unblocked): 20 sts and 10 ridges (= 20 rows) = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

 

MosaiX scarf is available as a stand alone pattern or in an e-book together with the mosaiX hats from a previous post: mosaiX.

. . . mosaiX hats . . .

It is slowly getting colder, it is almost hat time…

A new pattern release this month: mosaiX hats, one hat, four different stitch patterns.

This is mosaiX hat #1,

 

mosaiX hat #2,

 

mosaiX hat #3,

 

and #4

MosaiX hats are worked bottom up starting with a clever tubular cast on.

They are worked in mosaic knitting: only 1 color is worked per round: the stitches in the working color are knit (or purled) and the stitches in the other color are slipped.Very easy colorwork 😉

Pretty, well thought decreases shape the crown and form some surprising line drawings on top of the hat.

You don’t need to print all the pages, just the one you want to make and the instructions you prefer: chart, or written instructions. Both are provided.

one size
to fit head circumference: 54 – 60 cm / 21¼ – 23½ “
finished measurement at the brim: 50 to 52 cm / 19¾” to 20½”
finished height: ± 19 cm / 7½”

What you’ll need
DK weight
L (light color): ± 90 m / 100 yards
D (dark color): ± 90 m / 100 yards
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle or double pointed needles
3 mm (US 2½) circular needle or double pointed needles and straight needles (optional)
4 mm (US 6) straight needle for the tubular cast on
crochet hook
3 to 6 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
The mosaic stitch pattern is variable in width and height due to the slipped stitches. It has a lot of stretch in both directions making it fit most head circumferences. Garter stitch
24 sts and 46 rows (23 ridges) = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)
with the medium needle (3.5 mm / US 4)

Read more and see more examples from the testknitters here

Next up will be the mosaiX scarf, stay tuned …

. . . 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

. . . A Mazing Tee . . .

Fancy a summer tee in cotton ? Or cotton / linen blends ?

Here is one: A Mazing Tee, a short sleeved summer tee worked in two (or more) colors. First front and back panels are knit top-down featuring a slip stitch mosaic pattern.

Only one color is worked per row. The top of both panels with the neckline and shoulder shaping is written out but the basic mosaic pattern is charted only.
The front and back panel are finished with a ‘no finish look’ bind off method, the same I used before in manneken and kazual. I really, really like that bind off.

This is the first one I made using three different yarns that had been in my stash for ages.

But then, I found that it would be better to change the mosaic pattern a little. And it might be a good idea to add some short rows at the shoulders and sleeve inset for a better and more natural fit.

So I made a second one. Also from stash yarn.

I used two colors for this one.

You can see the short rows shaping the sleeve /  shoulder. But first the small saddle shoulder is worked sidewise joining back and front at the same time.

Stitches are picked up & knit along both panels to work the sides. Here you can easily adapt the size by working more or less rows.

The sleeves are worked in the round and bound off in the same manner.

The pattern has been tech edited by Sue-Cat

Sizes:
XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL
finished measurements chest: 30 / 34 / 38 / 41½ / 45½ / 49½ “ (76 / 86 / 96 / 106 / 116 / 126 cm)
Intended to be worn with some positive ease at the high bust (under the armpits): 5 to 20 cm / 2” to 8”.
It is very easy to alter the measurements by working more or less rows at the sides.

What you’ll need
cotton or cotton blend in heavy DK weight or worsted weight
D (darker color in mosaic): 380/420/460/500/530/600 m (420/460/500/550/580/660 yards)
L (light color): 310/350/390/430/470/510 m (340/380/430/470/520/560 yards)
4 mm (US 6) straight needles
4 mm (US 6) circular needle
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle
crochet hook
4 markers

Gauge
Stockinette stitch blocked: 20 sts and 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4”x 4”)

Read more here

Well, I don’t think these will be the last ones using mosaic patterns. It is so easy and fun…

 UFO’s and WIP’s…. to be continued …

. . . manneken . . .

And this is how 2019 starts…

A light weight pullover or tee with stripes and some mosaic knitting at the bottom of the body and sleeves.

Manneken is a pullover with a special construction…

There is no sewing, seaming or intarsia involved.

First the top of the sleeves is worked bottom up starting with a provisional cast on. Then, the body is worked top down, seamlessly joining to the sleeve tops as you go.
The provisional cast on is unraveled and the sleeves are worked top down.

A mosaic stitch pattern finishes the bottom (only one color is worked per round).

A special, clever bind off method is used to obtain a ‘minimal finishing look’ and to prevent stockinette stitch from rolling. A photo tutorial is included.

Did I mention I learned something from the knitted faces I made during last summers’ heatwave ?

And doesn’t this cherry blossom match perfectly with the pink yarn ?

The yarn is Olann Hand Dyed in Ireland Sock Lite, colorway ‘Manneken Pink’ custom dyed for my LYS: Kaleidoscope (yarnshop in Brussels)

Tech edited by Sue-Cat.

Sizes:
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 34 / 36 / 39½ / 45 / 48½ / 53 “ (86 / 92 / 101 / 114 / 122 / 135 cm)

What you’ll need
fingering / 4ply weight
MC ± 550/620/680/760/830/910 m (600/680/750/840/910/1000 yards)
CC body ± 185/200/220/245/260/290 m (200/220/240/270/290/320 yards)
CC sleeves: ± 250/280/320/350/380/400 m (270/310/350/380/420/440 yards)

two 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles and straight needles (optional)
3.75 mm (US 5) circular needle for the mosaic stitch pattern
two 3.5 mm (US 4) double pointed needles or a circular needle for the I-cord at the neckline
3 mm (US 2½) circular needle for the other neckline (optional)
6 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
stockinette with the 3.5 mm (US 4) needle size and blocked: 26 sts and 38 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

More info here