. . . 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.

. . . Florally – the pullover . . .

More info and examples here

When I was drawing the chart for this hat, I knew I would do more with it.

The original chart was much larger than what the part I used to make the hat…

I just didn’t know yet what I would make of the whole chart…

Until I dug up two beautful dark colored skeins of Dye For Yarn… and a blueish-greyish-natural skein from Snail Yarns.

They work so well together, the dark bordeaux looks almost velvet against the naturals.

Florally is a loose pullover with a V-neck, drop shoulders, 3/4 sleeves and a unique colorwork pattern at the bottom. Starting with a provisional cast on, the back is first worked bottom up and back and forth.

Stitches are bound off for the back neck, a subtle patterned saddle shoulder is worked followed by the fronts that are knitted top down to the armpits.

The saddle shoulder is quite subtle with a leaf motif in purl stitches and a third color – if desired.

Here is a little trick when joining both fronts of the V-neck worked top down. When you have knit both fronts to the right length and you join them, it often looks sloppy with a few elongated stitches at that join. To reinforce the join there is a simple trick: twist the last stitch of the right front and the first stitch of the left front you are joining to…

So, knit to the last stitch (or two stitches) of right front – in the photo above you can see that I twisted 4 stitches (2 at each front) -, place those stitch(es) on a cable needle and hold in front, then knit 1 or 2 stitches at the beginning of the left front, knit the stitches from the cable needle and continue the row (of course you don’t need a cable needle to twist those stitches, you can do it without, I only used it to explain the principle).

Another – even easier – method is to k2tog those 2 stitches, but you will end up having 1 stitch less.

From this point the body is worked further down in the round.
Stitches are picked up for the sleeves which are worked top down and in the round with a smaller motif at the cuffs.

Finally an applied I-cord finishes the neckline.

Sizes
XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL / XXXL
finished measurements chest: 31½, 34½, 39, 43, 47, 50½, 54“ (80, 88, 100, 109, 119, 129, 138 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
MC1: ± 730, 820, 950, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 m (800, 900, 990, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400 yards)
CC: ± 180, 200, 220, 250, 280, 300, 340 m (200, 220, 240, 280, 310, 330, 370 yards)
MC2 (optional) a small quantity ± 50 m (55 yards)
with elbow sleeves
add 200 to 350 m / 220 to 380 yards of MC1
and 60 m / 66 yards of CC

3 mm (US 2½) circular needle and straight needles (optional) or size to obtain gauge
3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle
2.75 mm (US 2) circular needle
3 mm (US 2½) double pointed needle
cable needle
4 markers
scrap yarn or stitch holders

Gauge
10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”) = 27.5 sts and 40 rows stockinette with the 3 mm / US 2½ needle
or 27.5 sts and 38 rows in stranded colorwork with the 3.25 mm / US 3 needle.

More info and examples here

. . . pull – o – mousse . . .

Fancy some bubbles ?

A while ago I made these socks: sock-o-mousse and I also made a pattern for it. They look fun, don’t they ?

I really like those random bubbles. There is more to do with them, me thinks.

I searched my stash and found several lonely skeins in tints of blue and some white yarn too. Perfect… Ready to start pull-ô-mousse.

It starts with a small double neckband. Then, a few short rows are worked to shape the back neck. It became a cropped pullover worked top down and seamlessly in the round.

The circular yoke features a fun colorwork with randomly placed bubbles. Well it looks random, but it is not really random. Hard to tell, but the yoke is made of repeats of the same bubble chart.

• 

• 

It looks a little different from traditional circuar yokes, doesn’t it ?

The colorwork is charted only. Don’t worry if you make mistakes in this part, nobody will see it 😀
Tips on how to successfully knit stranded colorwork are included.

The white bubbles on the body and sleeves and the blue bubbles on top of the yoke are added using duplicate stitch.

If you like to use up some stashed yarn and work gradients (fades) as in the sample, instructions how to work slow or quick gradients are included.

About the pattern: pull-o-mousse

Available for sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
finished measurements (chest): 30 / 34 / 38 / 42½ / 46½ / 50 / 54” (77 / 87 / 97 / 108 / 118 / 128 / 137 cm)
Intended to be worn with some positive ease.

What you’ll need
fingering weight / 4 ply
Color A (white in the sample):
± 240/270/300/330/360/390/420 m (260/300/330/360/390/420/460 yards)
Color B (blue in the sample):
± 900/1000/1100/1230/1340/1450/1560 m (1000/1100/1220/1350/1470/1600/1700 yards)

3 mm (US 2½) circular needle
3.25 mm (US 3) circular needle for the stranded colorwork, if necessary.
2.75 mm (US 2) circular needle for the hem and cuffs
two or three 2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needles
crochet hook
4 markers
or 8/8/8/8/10/10/10 markers if you wish to place markers between repeats

Gauge
27 sts and 39 rounds stockinette stitch
with the 3 mm (US 2½) needle
27 sts and 39 rounds stranded knitting
with the larger needle
= 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

Check it out here

. . . three easy pieces, #1 . . .

Sometimes I need an easy knit for watching tv or reading…

That is how this started: a quick knit on large needles (5 mm / US 8 needle) with an easy raglan shaping using only yarns from my stash.

I held several yarns together: a lace weight from Bart en Francis held double and a Lace yarn from Wollmeise. It is knit at a loose gauge, so it grew quite fast.

• 

• 

I wonder if I should add sleeves or not ? I always find short sleeves or sleevecaps very cute, but I don’t wear that very often.

First let’s finish the body and decide later.
I got kinda bored, of course and added a few subtle flowers in stranded knitting at the bottom.

The bind off (and the cast on) method is a welted bind off / cast on that prevents stockinette stitch from rolling too much. It gives it a no-nonsense, minimal finished look.

• 

• 

Hmm, cute, but I think I will add sleeves, I still have some yarn left from the B&F lace and Wollmeise.

#1 of Three easy pieces is a simple tee or pullover with a basic raglan sleeve inset knit at a loose gauge. It is worked top down and seamlessly in the round.

It is an ideal project to work up some stashed yarn. Use a worsted weight… or hold two fingering weights together, pair a sport weight with a lace weight… whatever you find in your stash and looks good together.

Knit a cropped tee with sleeve caps, a longer tee with 3/4 sleeves or a pullover with long sleeves. Add some stripes, a gradient (fade) or some stranded knitting. Instructions for slow and quick gradients and a chart of flowers are included.

• 

• 

The neck edge, hem and cuffs are finished with a welted cast on or bind off giving it a minimal finished look that prevents stockinette stitch from rolling.

I made two other versions of this pattern, but they look completely different. I wrote them up in two more patterns. They will be ‘mix and match’ patterns bundled in one e-book called: three easy pieces. More about them in next posts.
At any time you could switch between the three patterns. They all start in the same way and have the same stitch counts. Check #2 if you want to embellish your sweater with some steeked fents and sewn-in petals (there is also a version if you don’t like to cut in your knitting). Go to #3 if you want to add a turtle neck and balloon sleeves.

Sizes:
XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL / XXXL
finished measurements chest: 32 / 35 / 39 / 43 / 47 / 50 / 54 “ (81 / 88 / 99 / 109 / 119 / 128 / 137 cm)

What you’ll need
worsted weight, two fingering weights held together or a sport weight paired with a lace weight or mohair

total yardage for a 3/4 sleeved cropped pullover as pictured
± 750/820/900/1000/1100/1200/1300 m (820/900/1000/1100/1200/1320/1420 yards)
if you use yarn held double, you need to double the amount

5 mm (US 8) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
6 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
stockinette stitch blocked: 16.5 sts and 25 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

Check it out here or the bundle here

. . . botanica . . .

Trying a new yarn, a very local one: Les moutons bruxellois.
The sheep are ‘zwartbles’ and the yarn is surprisingly soft and a very beautiful dark brown.
The second sheep is a bluefaced leicester 😀

This is how this collection started. I had 2 skeins of the zwartbles and one pair of gloves used exactly 1 skein. I had enough left for another pair…

with another flower, of course

And then, I couldn’t stop drawing and charting other flowers, 😀

another pair, this time as fingerless mits in another local and plant dyed yarn

I changed the dark color in the round where the flowerhead starts in the chart…

It gives this effect in the palm…

Another …

two pair of gloves and two pair of fingerless mitts …

Yet another flower… very tiny rounds on a very long needle

And another … Two more pairs of gloves

The whole collection: Botanica

I am ready for the cold …

Botanica is a pair of gloves or fingerless mittens knit seamlessly in the round from the cuff up to the fingers featuring a botanic illustration in stranded knitting.
The colorwork is charted only.

Choice between 6 different wildflower charts.

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• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The gloves/mitts are fully charted per size and for left hand and right hand.
Tips on colorwork and stranded knitting included.

Sizes
S/M/L Finished measurement hand circumference: 18 / 19 / 21 cm (7 / 7½ / 8¼”)
to fit hand circumference: 18 to 19 cm /19 to 20 cm /20.5 to 22cm ( 7 to 7½ “ / 7½ to 7¾ “ / 8 to 8½ “)

What you’ll need
fingering weight
Dark color: ± 200 m / 220 yards
Light color: ± 100 m / 110 yards
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle
3 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
34.5 sts and 38 rows in stranded pattern = 10 x 10 cm / 4” x 4”

Read more about it here, here and here

. . . pythagoras’ new socks . . .

Pythagoras’ new socks are ready. The pattern has been published 😀

I first made this pair with two greys from Wolmeise Twin.

But then, I wanted to change some small details to the pattern and make a pair with the leftover yarn from pythagoras’ tee: some matching socks …

Pythagoras’ socks are worked from the cuff down with a short row heel and a heel gusset.

Special, cleverly placed increases following the colorwork pattern are worked in the heel gusset.

They disappear in the all over patterning and are ´almost’ invisible.

The basic sock pattern is written out; the colorwork stitch pattern is charted only.

Sizes
S / M / L to fit foot circumference: 20 / 22 / 24.5 cm (8 / 8½ / 9.5 “)
Length of foot and leg is adjustable.
Finished height as pictured = ± 23 cm / 9”.

What you’ll need
fingering / 4 ply
D (dark color): ± 220 to 250 m / 240 to 275 yards
L (light color): ± 175 to 200 m / 190 to 220 yards
2.25 mm (US 1) circular needle or 5 double pointed needles or size to obtain gauge
tapestry needle

Gauge
fingering / 4 ply
34 sts and 43 rows in stranded knitting and blocked = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)
If you can’t reach gauge with the smaller needle and your color work is a bit tight, it is a good idea to go up a needle size.

More info here

Pythagoras’ outfit is now complete:

a hat, a beret, a pullover, a tee, a pair of fingerless mitts and socks…

. . . sock – ô – mousse . . .

Happy New Year…

Happy New Socks…

This is my first pattern of 2020.

Sock ô mousse is worked toe up with a short row heel and heel flap.

The leg features a fun colorwork with randomly placed bubbles. The colorwork is charted only. Don’t worry if you make mistakes in this part, nobody will see it 😀

The blue bubbles on the foot and heel flap are added using duplicate stitch.Sizes
S/M/L to fit foot circumference: 20 / 22 / 24.5 cm (8 / 8½ / 9.5 “ )
Length of foot and leg is adjustable.
Finished height as pictured = ± 23 cm / 9”.

What you’ll need
fingering / 4 ply
color A (white in the sample): ± 250 to 300 m / 275 to 330 yards
color B (blue in the sample): ± 70 to 100 m / 77 to 110 yards
2 mm (US 0) circular needle or 5 double pointed needles or size to obtain gauge
2.25 mm (US 1) circular needle or double pointed needles for the colorwork
tapestry needle

Gauge
fingering / 4 ply
32 sts and 48 rows in stockinette stitch = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

Read more here

Looking forward what 2020 will bring. Hopefully it will be as bubbling and sparkling ;-D as the socks …

. . . pythagoras’ tee . . .

Do you remember these ?

Pythagoras’ mitts, beret, hats and pullover. I can’t stop playing with these triangular shapes… They have something fascinating.

So now there is a new item in the collection: Pythagoras’ tee with triangles in stranded colorwork. I had this in my mind since I made the berets and the hats…

It is so fun and interesting to try out different increases to make them as unnoticeable as possible…

I am quite enjoying stranded colorwork now, since I learned to knit with one color in each hand – and I am getting better and better in it. 😀

Gosh, I see a mistake in the photo above that I never noticed before 😉

Pythagoras’ tee is a cute, slightly oversized tee or pullover with a nearly invisible sleeve inset.
It is worked top down and seamlessly in one piece. The colorwork pattern is easy, it consists of light and dark stitches that form a mix of triangles (pythagoras !). Tips on colorwork and stranded knitting are included.

Special, cleverly placed increases are worked following the colorwork pattern and that makes them nearly invisible.

Little striped pockets, a large hem with a checked pattern and a striped, turned hem finish the body.

The checked pattern gives the body a natural flare and a gentle A-line (no extra increases are worked).

A photo of the WIP (work in progress). It looks cute with short sleeves, doesn’t it ?

Not sure what I will do wih the sleeves. Short is cute, but I think I will get more wear of it has longer sleeves…

Short ?

Long ?

Both options are included: short sleeves or 3/4 sleeves at the same length as the body.

In the meantime, I am getting quite used to the different sleeves, haha.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
finished measurements chest: 34½, 37, 41, 45, 50, 54 “ (88, 94, 105, 114, 127, 138 cm)

Intended to be worn with some positive ease (6 to 15 cm / 2½ to 6 “) at the high bust (under the armpits).
The sample is size M worn with 16 cm / 6¼” of positive ease at the high bust.

What you’ll need
fingering weight
Total yardage for the short sleeved tee: ± 1250, 1380, 1500, 1600, 1800, 1950 m (1370, 1500, 1650, 1750, 2000, 2150 yards)
Half of each color (D and L)
If you add 3/4 sleeves, you will need about 200 m / 220 yards more per color.

3 mm (US 2½) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
two 3 mm (US 2½) double pointed needles or straight needles
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle
crochet hook
6 markers
tapestry needle

Gauge
29 sts and 34.5 rows in stranded stitch pattern = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

The pattern has been tech edited by Sue-Cat on Ravelry.

Check it out here

All pythagoras’ patterns are bundeled in one e-book: Pythagoras

I think Pythagoras needs a pair of new socks too…

 

. . . A walk in the fields . . .

Ha, a new pattern and I am particularly happy with this one.

I knitted these socks (photo below) two years ago with a very nice stitch pattern. Color is lovely too.

But … it is missing something.

It is a little too dull to my taste, it needs some punch and spices…

Then suddenly I had a lightbulb moment…

I made a little swatch to check if my idea would work … Drew a little chart …

And finally frogged !!! the top of the socks (luckily they are knit toe up ;-), and reknitted the top and the cuff.

Much better now, don’t you think ?
A little bit of cabling and a little bit of colorwork 

Me definitely loves them.

They make me smile and think of summer …

The socks are worked toe up with a reinforced heel flap and a short row heel. The foot and leg feature a cabled ‘stem and leaves’ stitch pattern.

The small cables can be worked with or without a cable needle. Instructions for both methods are given. The ‘stem and leaves’ pattern and the ‘flowers’ are charted and fully written.
The 3rd color in the flowers’ hearts is added using duplicate stitch. Tips on colorwork and duplicate stitch included.

Sizes
S/M/L to fit foot circumference: 20 / 22 / 24.5 cm (8 / 8½ / 9.5 “ )
Length of foot and leg is adjustable.
Finished height as pictured = ± 23 cm / 9”.

What you’ll need
fingering / 4 ply
MC: ± 280 to 320 m / 300 to 350 yards
CC1 and CC2: small rests of fingering weight
2.25 mm (US 1) circular needle or 5 double pointed needles or size to obtain gauge
2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle or double pointed needles for the colorwork
tapestry needle

Gauge
32 sts and 48 rows in stockinette stitch = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”)

See more 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 …