. . . kazual . . .

I am still playing with my new bind off method … Trying out a few new things …

And this is the result: Kazual, a ‘casual’ pullover worked top down and seamlessly in the round.

It starts at the top with a welted cast on. It features striped welts on the shoulders …

and elbows …

and it has two small pockets.

The welts are very easy to make: no difficult intarsia. Only one color is worked per row. You never need to join to the main color in the same row.
There are a few ends to weave in, but that shouldn’t scare you off: they are very easily hidden in the welts.

The body has a slight A-line adding up to the relaxed, ‘casual’ feel and the cuffs and hems have a ‘minimal finished look’ using the special bind off method.

Everything you need to successfully finish your Kazual is included, no need to search on the web:

• photo tutorials to work the striped welts and the special cast on technique
• tutorials for short rows and jogless stripes.

Tech edited by Sue-Cat

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 33 / 37 / 41 / 44½ / 48 / 52 “ (83 / 98 / 104 / 113 / 122 / 132 cm)
Intended to be worn with positive ease (10 to 25 cm / 4 to 10”). Model is wearing M with 15 cm / 6” of positive ease at the high bust (under the armpits).

What you’ll need
worsted weight or heavy DK
MC (main color) ± 650/750/800/880/950/1050 m (710/820/880/960/1050/1150 yards)
Instead of a worsted weight you can also pair a sportweight with a lace weight (mohair)
CC (contrasting color) between 80 and 100 m / between 88 and 110 yards
5 mm (US 8) circular needles and straight needles (optional)
4 markers

Gauge
stockinette stitch blocked: 17 sts and 25 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

More info here

. . . from braided leaves . . .

I am a bit (a lot) behind presenting my latest patterns. This post will cover the patterns from the last months of 2018.

Let’s start with ‘braided leaves’. I adored knitting and designing this pattern.

Looking at all the photos I took to illustrate this design, I think it’s better to make one blog post per pattern after all.

Braided leaves is a pullover with stranded colorwork and eyelets at the yoke. Some nice, colored or ‘twisted’ details make this a uniquely designed pullover.

tilting eyelets at the yoke

It is worked top down and seamlessly in the round. It starts with a twisted neck band followed by a few short rows to shape the back neck. The circular yoke is build up using eyelets on top of each other giving the yoke a dynamic twist.

A few more increases are added while knitting the colorwork of the braided leaves. The same idea of twist is used for the pocket bands, the cuffs and ribbing at the bottom.

twisted pocket band

A simpler version of the leaves is added to the sleeve cuffs and the inside of the small pockets is worked in stranded knitting.

stranded pockets and ’tilting’ hem

The colorwork is charted only, (no written instructions).
Tips on how to successfully knit stranded colorwork are included.

This pattern has been tech edited by Sue-Cat and test knit.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements (chest): 31½, 35½, 39½, 43½, 47½, 51” (80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 cm)
Intended to be worn with some positive ease.

What you’ll need
fingering weight / 4 ply
MC: ± 1000/1100/1200/1350/1450/1600 m (1100/1200/1310/14750/1600/1750 yards)
CC: ± 140/155/170/190/210/230 m (155/170/185/210/230/255 yards)

two 3 mm (US 2½) circular needles
3 mm (US 2½) double pointed needle
3 mm (US 2½) straight needles for the pocket bands
3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle for the stranded colorwork, if necessary
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle for the ribbing

4 markers
or 10/11/12/12/13/13 markers if you wish to place markers between repeats

Gauge
27 sts and 38 rows stockinette stitch with the 3 mm (US 2½) needle = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

Check it out here.

. . . linne tee . . .

Summer is coming, the sun is shining … It is time for skirts and light summer tops …

Hello yellow, my latest pattern has been published yesterday…

Linne tee: a simple, summery tee with an easy lace pattern at the top and bottom. Knit in linen or linen / cotton blend, it is perfect for sunny summer days.

It is worked seamlessly starting at the top lace section at the back.
Both sleeve caps and the back are worked bottom up at the same time. The edges of the sleeve are worked at the same time in a slip stitch pattern. It slightly pulls in the sleeve caps preventing them from flaring out too much.

Stitches are put on hold for the back neck and increases are made to shape the V-neck at the front. Once the sleeve caps are finished, the body is worked top down. But first, a few short rows are worked at front and back for a better fit / shape. Then the body is knit in the round and finished with the lace edge at the bottom.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements (chest): 31½, 35½, 39½, 43¼, 47¼, 51¼ “ (80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 cm)

Intended to be worn with some positive ease or no ease.

What you’ll need
linen ( or cotton or cotton/linen blend)
in sport weight / 5 ply
the yardage is an estimate (the yardage of linen is difficult to calculate: the testers all came out with a different yardage). This is an average:
± 600, 700, 770, 850, 930, 1000 m (660, 770, 850, 930, 1020, 1100 yards)

3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle
3.5 mm (US 4) straight needles (optional)
4 mm (US 6) circular needle

crochet hook for the provisional cast-on

6 markers

Gauge (with the smaller needle and blocked)
21 sts and 32 rows in stockinette stitch = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

. . . squared . . .

Oups, I am a bit behind … 2 patterns have been published last month …

Let me present the one I am very proud of: Squared, a casual, oversized pullover with a sporty look and an innovative construction.
There is no sewing, seaming or intarsia involved. It is based on the same principle as . . . wild rose: the cardigan . . . and . . . Greenhouse knits #6 . . . but it is quite different.

First, the sleeves are worked bottom up (perfect as a giant swatch). Stitches are picked up as you go and put on hold to shape the steps of the ‘squared’ raglan sleeve inset. Then back and front are worked top down with an easy stitch pattern that continues the same idea of the stair shape and forms a waffle* structure.

 

A stair shaped hem finishes the body.

Finally a small rolled neck band is added in a contrasting color.

The pattern has been tech edited by @sue-cat111 on Instagram, Sue-Cat on Ravelry.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 38½, 42½, 46½, 50, 54, 58 “(98, 108, 118, 124, 138, 148 cm)
Intended to be worn with positive ease (20 to 40 cm / 8 to 16” ). Model is wearing size M with ± 25 cm / 10 “ of positive ease.

What you’ll need
DK weight
MC1 (body)
± 700/780/850/930/1020/1100 m (770/850/930/1020/1120/1200 yards)
MC2 (sleeves)
± 380/400/440/480/520/560 m (420/440/480/530/570/620 yards)
CC: 45 to 90 m ( 50 to 100 yards)
two 4 mm (US 6) circular needles
and straight needles (optional)
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle or double pointed needles
6 markers

Gauge stockinette with larger needle size and blocked: 21 sts and 32 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

. . . wild rose: the cardigan . . .

The pattern for the cardigan has been released . . . The set of wild roses is complete.

Wild rose is a cardigan with an innovative construction in the same manner as her sister Babe.

There is no sewing, seaming or intarsia involved. First, the sleeves are worked bottom up featuring delicate branches and flowers in stranded colorwork.

Then the body is worked top down with a stretchy, leafy lace stitch pattern. Finally, stitches are picked up to work the button bands. The colorwork is charted only and is bundled in a separate pdf providing more tips on working fair isle and stranded knitting.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 33, 35½, 39¼, 44, 48, 54¼ “ (84, 90, 100, 112, 122, 138 cm)

Intended to be worn with positive ease (6 to 25 cm / 2½ to 10”). To decide which is the best size for you, measure your high bust (under the armpits) and check also your arm circumference. Model is wearing M with ± 10 cm / 4“ of positive ease.

What you’ll need
fingering / 4ply weight
MC1 (main color of the body) ± 950/1050/1150/1300/1400/1600 m (1050/1150/1260/1450/1550/1750 yards)
MC2 (main color of the sleeves) ± 470/500/550/600/660/750 m (520/550/600/660/720/820 yards)
CC1 (green in the sample): 45 to 90 m ( 50 to 100 yards)
and CC2 (white in the sample): 45 to 90 m (50 to 100 yards)
2.75 mm (US 2) circular needle for the cuffs and buttonbands
two 3.25 mm (US 3) circular needles and straight needles (optional)
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle or double pointed needles to work the sections with the stranded flowers (if necessary)
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle or straight needles to work the bottom part of the body
6 markers
6 buttons (diameter 18 mm / ¾” )

Gauge
stockinette with the 3.25 mm (US 3) needle and blocked: 28 sts and 40 rows
= 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Find out more here

. . . lavandula . . .

Gone live today on Ravelry: my latest design: Lavandula

It is an open front cardigan with a lace collar, large cozy pockets and the same lace on the hem and cuffs.

It can easily be altered to have buttons and buttonholes. The body is worked flat, top down and seamlessly in one piece. The shoulders and sleeve inset are worked using the contiguous method of Susie Myers.

The sleeves are worked top down and in the round ending with the same lace pattern on the cuffs. An incorporated I-cord edges the lace pattern all along. Off the needles and ready to wear apart from a few stitches to sew down the pockets at the inside.

 

I used Cascade Superwash to knit the sample. It grew and grew. Superwash, I should have known. It’s a bit long. But I think I like it long. it will be so cozy for colder weather 🙂

This is how it looked like. I like it but it is also quite heavy.

I finally removed one pattern repeat and now the length is much better. To do so I cut the thread in the 4 rows without lace pattern, undid one row in the same manner as I did with the afterthought pockets (see this post ) and frogged 27 more rows leaving me with 2 pieces: a top and a bottom piece with live stitches. I then grafted both sides together using the kitchener stitch.

Available for size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 32 / 35 / 39¾ / 44½ / 48¾ / 53½ “(81 / 89 / 101 / 113 / 124 / 136 cm)

Intended to be worn with 6 to 15 cm / 2½ to 6 “ of positive ease.

What you’ll need
± 1100/1200/1360/1550/1700/1850 m (1200/1320/1480/1700/1850/2000 yards) worsted /10 ply weight
4 mm (US 6) circular needle and straight needles (if you prefer)
markers: it is best to use 2 different kind of markers:
· 4 markers to use in the lace pattern (m’s)
· 4 markers to mark the sleeves (M1 to M4)

Gauge: 19,5 sts and 27 rows in stockinette stitch

Check it out here

. . . mont blanc . . .

Now that autumn is around the corner it is time to present a pattern to you that I made a while ago, but never showed. I called it ‘mont blanc’ as the colorway I used for it. The yarn is Wollmeise DK in the so called colorway.

The design grew as I was knitting it (top down, of course). The only element that I was sure of is the deep cabled V-neck that starts at the back.

A bad photo of the WIP, such a pity I didn’t take more photos of the construction. I got too carried away to see if it works, I guess. Here you see the start of the cables at the back neck. At the right you see the stitches that are picked up & knit to start work the back and right sleeve.

Cropped or longer ? I like it cropped as some kind of sleeveless vest, but making it a bit longer is maybe a better idea.

Sleeveless ?

or sleeves ? and what kind of sleeves ?

I opted for skinny ribbed sleeves. What do you think ?

A pic of the back 🙂

One could even make a cardigan of it (instructions included in the pattern) I don’t have pics to share. I am more of a pullover kind of ‘gal’.

Mont blanc is a sleeveless vest … or a pullover with fitted sleeves … or a cardigan … all with a large V-neck and a gentle A-line. The cable panel is first worked bottom up at the back. Then stitches are cast on to work the sleeve caps and from here on, mont blanc is worked top down …

Sizes
Available for size: XS, S/M, M/L, L/XL and XXL
finished measurements: 36½, 42, 46½, 50, 54 “ (93, 108, 118, 128, 137 cm)
Mont blanc is intended to be worn with lots of positive ease: 15 to 25 cm / 6 to 10”
Model is wearing the M/L size with 26 cm / 10 “ of positive ease.

What you’ll need
DK weight / 8ply
Yardage pullover without sleeves
± 900, 1000, 1100, 1250, 1450 m (990, 1100, 1200, 1360, 1600 yards)
Long sleeves
Add ± 200 to 300 m / 220 to 330 yards
If you make a cardigan you might need a little more.

4 mm (US 6) circular needle and straight needles or size to obtain gauge
3.5 mm (US 4 circular needle
8 markers

Gauge
20 sts and 30 rows stockinette with
the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

. . . p’tits trous . . .

des p’tits trous, des p’tits trous, toujours des p’tits trous …

Do you recognize that song ?

P’tits trous is a shrug or cardigan. It is first worked sideways and back and forth starting in the middle of the back with a provisional cast on and a large hole (instructions included if you should want to omit the hole). Stitches are joined to work the sleeves top down in the round.

• Now it can become a shrug by adding ribbing all around.
• Or it can grow into a A-line cardigan with delicate eyelet lines that flare out and naturally flow in the lace border.

The cardigan is finished with an applied I-cord along the fronts and neckline.

P’tits trous est un boléro ou une veste. Commençant avec un montage provisoire au milieu du dos, le haut est travaillé en allers-retours et en travers. Puis les mailles sont jointes pour tricoter les manches en rond ‘top-down’ (du haut en bas).

Quand les manches sont faites, c’est le moment de choisir:

• un boléro fini par quelques tours de côtés 1/1.
• un gilet aux traits délicats formés par les jetés qui deviennent petit à petit plus grands et coulent naturellement dans le bord en dentelle.

La veste est finie avec un I-cord appliqué tout le long des devants et de l’encolure.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements: 32 / 35½ / 38½ / 43¾ / 48 / 52 “ (82 / 90 / 98 / 111 / 122 / 132 cm)

Intended to be worn with some positive ease (5 to 15 cm / 2 to 6 “)

What you’ll need
fingering / 4ply

shrug only
± 380, 420, 450, 500, 560, 620 m (420, 460, 500, 550, 620, 680 yards)

complete cardigan
± 1300, 1350, 1400, 1500, 1620, 1700m (1400, 1480, 1530, 1650, 1780, 1900 yards)

3 mm (US 2½) circular needle or double pointed needles and straight needles (optional)
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle or double pointed needles and straight needles (optional)
stitchmarkers

Available in English and Français: The pattern is split in 2 pdfs per language: 1 pdf for the smaller sizes (XS-S-M-L) and another pdf for the larger sizes (XL-XXL). So you will find 4 pdfs: 2 in English and 2 in French. Make sure you use the right pattern.

Check it out here

. . . to be continued . . .

To be continued is a striped pullover with a cute little slipped stitch pattern at the bottom that refers to the buttons on the shoulder.

I hesitated a long time if I wanted sleeves or not, what kind of sleeves if so ?

Sleeveless

With ‘elbow sleeves’

They look equally good, but in the end I think I prefer it with the sleeves.

It has little pockets.

The hems are double knit and quite cleverly cast off. The cast edge off lies very flat and falls just at the inside of the hem and is therefore invisible.

On the left you see the right side: what you see at the bottom of the hem is a cute slip stitch row that makes the folding ridge. And on the right you see the wrong side with the cast-off edge at the bottom.

The pattern starts with a provisional cast on, the back is first worked bottom up and back and forth. Stitches are left on hold for the back neck and new stitches are cast on for the front neck. The front is worked top down. When reaching the armpits the body is worked further down in the round. It is finished with pockets and double knit hems.

A tutorial to cover the buttons with knitted fabric to refer to the dots of the slipped stitch pattern is included as well as a lot of schematics and illustrations of all techniques used.

The sleeves are worked top down and finished with a double knit cuff.

I made a second one in cool linen. It is now my favorite summer tee.

I switched the main color and contrast color when separating for sleeves and body because I had more of the dark color but I wanted the periwinkle at the top.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements: 31½ / 35½ / 39½ / 43½ / 47½ / 51 “ (80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 cm)
Intended to be worn with 7 to 13 cm / 3 to 5” of positive ease

What you’ll need

fingering weight / 4ply
sleeveless tee
MC (main color): ± 730, 820, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200 m (800, 900, 990, 1100, 1200, 1300 yards)
CC (contrasting color): ± 180, 200, 220, 250, 280, 300 m (200, 220, 240, 280, 310, 330 yards)
CC2: a small quantity ± 50 m (55 yards)

with elbow sleeves
add 250 to 400 m / 270 to 440 yards of MC
and 60 m / 66 yards of CC

3,25 mm (US 3) circular needle and straight needles or size to obtain gauge
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle
3 mm (US 2½) circular needle and straight needles (optional)
4 markers
3 buttons in CC2 color + 1/1/2/2/2/3 buttons in MC

Gauge
27 sts and 41 rows stockinette with
the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

 

Check it out here

. . . atropa . . .

In the same spirit as ’embossed alu’ (see previous post) but more oversized: Atropa

I  used Wollmeise Pure this time. That Tollkirsche is amazing. It changes color during he day. In morning light, shade, evening light, electric light. It really glows. Wow, love it. I combined it with ‘All inclusive’ for the stripes and a rest of the 13 Al from ’embossed alu’ with some ‘Natur’.

A new favorite pullover for any occasion. It is casual and chique at the same time. I am so happy with it.

Atropa: an oversized boxi-type pullover with fitted lace sleeves. A little bit of stripes, a little bit of lace. Worked top down seamlessly in one piece. Two finishes are proposed for bottom hem, neck and cuff: I-cord or a small folded hem.

Included in the pattern are:
a lot of illustrated tips on

• increases used,
• short rows,
• schematics for every section

And in a separate pdf
– richly illustrated photo tutorial on working an estonian braid (I wrote a separate blog post on how to make one) and a small folded hem with knit or sewn bind off.

Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL
finished measurements chest: 105, 125, 145 cm (54, 59, 64.5”)

Intended to be worn with lots of positive ease (20 to 40 cm / 8 to 16”)

What you’ll need
in fingering weight, 3 or 4 ply
MC (main color)
± 1050/1200/1400 m (1150/1320/1550 yards)
CC (contrasting color)
± 130/150/180 m (145/165/210 yards)

CC2 and CC3 (contrasting color2 and 3 for the neck, hem and cuff finishing) : small leftovers in fingering weight (50m/55 yards)

3.25 mm (US 3) circular ndl or dpns or size to obtain gauge
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle or dpns for the edgings
6 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
28 sts and 41 rows stockinette
= 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here