. . . leaves, leaves and flowers . . .

There are 8 new patterns published with botanical details: flowers and leaves.

First comes Spring memories

Find the mitt if you can

Spring memories is a set containing a hat and fingerless mitts with stranded colorwork in three colors featuring delicate white dandelions with yellow hearts. The yellow hearts are added afterwards using duplicate stitch. It is perfect to work up some little leftovers.
You could also try to work the yellow hearts in ‘intarsia’ as @Maddish on Ravelry did because they are only a few stitches wide. See post 40 in the test thread.

The Spring memory mitts are worked bottom up from cuff to fingers. They can be worn with the band up for warm fingers or folded down when you need your fingers to work.
They come in three sizes: small, medium and large. The sample is the medium size.

Sizes
Finished measurement hand circumference: S, M, L: 17.5 cm / 6¾”, 20 cm / 8”, 22.5 cm / 8¾”
to fit hand circumference: 18 to 19 cm, 20 to 22 cm, 22 to 25 cm (7 to 7½“, 7¾ to 8¾“, 8¾ to 10“)

And then there is also a hat: Spring memory hat

Find out more and see more examples in other colors here and here

I also made some mini-mitts for my 18 months little niece. One daisy on a little mitt.
They arrived at destination and … I was afraid they woudln’t fit, the mitts looked so very tiny but they DO fit 😀

Next is Climbing leaves,

a set containing a hat, fingerless mitts and a cowl (3 patterns) with stranded colorwork in two colors featuring delicate leaves.

The Climbing leaves hat is worked bottom up with a large folded brim.

It comes in three sizes: small, medium and large. The sample is the medium size.

Sizes
Finished measurement hat circumference at the brim (slightly stretched): 49 cm / 19¼”, 52 cm / 20½”, 56 cm / 22”
to fit head circumference: 52 to 56 cm / 20½ to 22“, 55 to 59 cm / 21½ to 23¼“, 57 to 63 cm / 22½ to 24¾“

The Climbing leaves mitts are extra long. Instructions are included to make a shorter version. They are worked bottom up from cuff to fingers. They can be worn with the band up for warm fingers or folded down when you need your fingers to work.
They come in three sizes: small, medium and large. The sample is the medium size.

Sizes
Finished measurement hand circumference: S, M, L (17.5 cm / 6¾”, 20 cm / 8”, 22.5 cm / 8¾”)
to fit hand circumference: 18 to 19 cm, 20 to 22 cm, 22 to 25 cm (7 to 7½ “, 7¾ to 8¾ “, 8¾ to 10 “)

And an extra warm cowl: the Climbing leaves cowl

It is double layered for extra warmth, worked bottom up starting with a provisional cast on that will be unraveled to graft both layers together. It comes in two sizes: small and large. The sample is the small size with a diameter of 61 cm / 24”. The large size is a long loop double the length (122 cm / 48”). It can be worn as is or you can double it around your neck for extra coziness and warmth.

Sizes
Finished measurement circumference: Small: 61 cm /24”, Large: 122 cm / 48”

More examples in other colors and more info here, here and here.

Finally the last 3 patterns: Oak leaves which I am particularly proud of.

Oak leaves is a set similar to the Climbing leaves set containing a hat, a cowl and fingerless mitts in stranded colorwork (three colors) featuring delicate oak leaves and acorns. The acorns are added afterwards using duplicate stitch.

The Oak leaves hat is worked bottom up with a large folded brim as the others. It also comes in three sizes: small, medium and large. The sample is the medium size.
Tips on colorwork and duplicating stitches included.

The Oak leaves mitts that can be worn with the band up for warm fingers or folded down when you need your fingers to work.

Also in three sizes: small, medium and large. The sample is the medium size.

And finally the cowl: Oak leaves cowl double layered for extra warmth.

The complete set

More info here, here and here.

. . . 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

. . . florally . . .

And this is the last pattern from 2018: florally: a beanie with stranded colorwork, knit bottom up and seamlessly in the round.

It starts with some corrugated ribbing in 2/1.

From wherever you look at it, it is never the same.

There are no repeats, in fact it is one large chart covering the whole circumference of the hat.

There is only one size due to the complexity of the colorwork, but it is easy to alter the stitch gauge to obtain other sizes. See the note about changing gauge and size below.

I made two of them in a different color range. The first on above in a very contrasting black and white, and the second one in more harmonising colors. So much harder to photograph.

The colorwork is charted only. Tips to successfully knit stranded colorwork are included.

One size
to fit head circumference: 54 – 58 cm / 21¼ – 22¾“
finished measurement at the brim: ± 51 cm / 20”
brim slightly stretched: ± 54.5 cm / 21½”
finished height: ± 21 cm / 8¼”

A note on gauge and size
• For a larger head circumference you will need larger needles and DK weight at a gauge of 25 sts and 30 rows.
The finished measurement at the brim is 54 cm / 21½” and fits a head of 57 to 61 cm / 22½” to 24”
• For a smaller head circumference you will need smaller needles and fingering weight at a gauge of 28.5 sts and 34 rows.
The finished measurement at the brim will be 48 cm / 19” and fits a head of 50 to 54 cm / 19½” to 21¼”

What you’ll need
sport / 5 ply
MC (main color): dark blue ± 100 m / 110 yards
CC contrasting color: (violet in first sample and white in second sample) ± 80 m / 90 yards
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle
3 mm (US 2½) circular needle
4 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
27 sts and 32 rows in stranded colorwork with the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4”)

Check it out here

I added a few curls on the black/white beanie from this post.

and a crocheted pompom from the same post on the purple/black one.

This was 2018 … Up to 2019 in next posts …

. . . 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

. . . babe . . .

No intarsia, no picking up stitches, no sewing yet it is seamless and in one piece.

Babe is a pullover with a special construction.

First both sleeves are worked bottom up and in the round – perfect as a giant swatch 😉

They are extra long with randomly placed stripes for a playful effect. The raglan shaping is worked flat with ‘live’ stitches at both sides. Then stitches are cast on for the back which is worked top down with a squishy, stretchy, extra-soft, textured stitch pattern joining to the sleeves as you go until the armhole is reached. The front is worked in the same manner.

a few photos of the WIP (work in progress)

Then front and back are joined to work the body in the round. A split hem that is longer at the back finishes the body.
Finally, a small rolled neck band is added.

Sizes:
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 29½, 33, 36¼, 41, 44, 48½ “ (75, 84, 92, 104, 112, 123 cm)
Intended to be worn with no ease or a little positive ease.

What you’ll need
fingering / 4ply weight
MC ± 1150/1300/1450/1650/1750/1950 m (1250/1450/1600/1800/1900/2150 yards)
CC ± 125/140/150/170/185/200 m (135/155/165/185/200/220 yards)
CC2: a small rest: 45 to 90 m (50 to 100 yards)
two 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles and straight needles (optional)
3 mm (US 2½) circular needle or double pointed needles
6 markers

Gauge
26 sts and 37 rows in stockinette stitch with the larger needle and blocked

more info here

. . . Greenhouse knits #6 . . .

#6 is a tunic or a dress worked bottom up. A branch of leaves grows along the left front.

The raglan sleeve inset is quite special. It is worked using short rows with live stitches that are put on hold. Then the stitches are slipped to a needle and the sleeve is worked top down and seamlessly also using short rows.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements: 28¼, 32¼, 36¼, 40, 44, 48 “ (72, 82, 92, 102, 112, 122 cm)
Intended to be worn with no ease or a little positive ease.

What you’ll need
± 900/1000/1100/1200/1350/1500 m (1000/1100/1200/1320/1480/1650 yards) fingering / 4ply weight

3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle and straight needles (optional)
3 mm (US 2½) circular needle and straight needles (optional)
6 markers
one button

Gauge
25 sts and 36 rows stockinette with larger needle size = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

. . . doble . . .

Dreaming of a summer breeze … in the sun on the beach …

Doble is a double layered tee. Started this one about a year ago. But when I finished it summer had already gone.

It is worked top down and seamlessly in the round with a delicate lace edge on the sleeves and bottom of the top layer … or the bottom layer …
… because it is completely reversible. The two layers are only attached at the neck band.

If you use linen – as in the sample – the inside layer shines through and gives a special effect. You can also make it in cotton or wool using a lighter yarn – lace weight for example – for the top layer to get the shine-through effect.

Available for size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements: 29½ / 32½ / 36 / 39½ / 43½ / 48 “ (75 / 83 / 92 / 101 / 111 / 120 cm)

Best worn with a little positive ease.

What you’ll need
Linen: fingering weight / 3ply
or cotton / wool heavy lace weight

Yardage (as pictured).
Top color (yellow) ± 600, 690, 750, 820, 930, 1020 m (660, 750, 820, 900, 1020, 1120 yards)
Inside color (grey) ± 640, 730, 800, 870, 990, 1100 m (700, 800, 880, 950, 1100, 1200 yards)

3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
2.5 mm (US 1½ ) circular needle
two 2 mm (US 0 or 1) circular needles
for the provisional cast on
8 markers

Gauge
23 sts and 36 rows stockinette with the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

 

Check it out here

. . . appelblauwzeegroen . . .

The word ‘appelblauwzeegroen’ to designate the color of the sample (between blue and green) is only used in Dutch speaking Belgium.

Learned that from wiktionary

Beautiful colors from Wollmeise in Pure.

And this is what it became …

Apple blue, sea green is a short sleeved henley pullover with an asymmetrical high low, faux-pleated peplum worked top down seamlessly in the round. There are different options included to place the asymmetrical peplum: a peplum starting high on the left side and low on the right side as the sample, or high at the front and low at the back or vice versa.

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

Best worn with no ease or a little positive ease. Choose the size that is equal or a bit larger than your high bust measurement (under the armpit). If you should want more ease or if you are large busted, it is best to start with the numbers of the size closest to yours and add more increases for the body and sleeves.

Sizes:
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL finished measurements: 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48 “ (72, 82, 92, 102, 112, 122 cm)

What you’ll need
fingering weight / 4 ply: 4 colors, but it would equally look good in just one color.
Total yardage: ± 1060, 1170, 1290, 1435, 1640, 1800 m (1160, 1280, 1410, 1570, 1800, 2000 yards)

Detailed yardage (as pictured).
color A (top) ± 180, 200, 220, 245, 270, 320 m (200, 220, 240, 270, 300, 350 yards)
color B ± 230, 250, 270, 300, 330, 370 m (250, 275, 300, 330, 360, 400 yards)
color C ± 160, 180, 200, 230, 250, 280 m (175, 200, 220, 250, 275, 310 yards)
color D (bottom) ± 490, 540, 600, 660, 720, 780 m (540, 590, 660, 720, 790, 850 yards)

3 mm (US 2½) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
2.5 mm (US 1½ ) circular needle
3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle
4 markers
crochet hook for the provisional cast-on
bobbin (optional)
4 buttons: 15 mm / 0.6” diameter

Gauge: 27 stitches and 36 rows = 10 cm
in stockinette stitch with the larger needle

Check it out 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