. . . vive la FF… fête . . .

I started a new project some time ago. I have lots of fingering weight skeins in tints of blues; a few full skeins but also a lot of half skeins and small leftovers…

And I liked the spiraling colorwork of the festive mitts I just made.

Plus, I have a pattern that is just perfect to play with colors and charts: my FF backward

I wanted it a little bit less wide so I followed the numbers for S (I usually take M). I started the front with a provisional cast on (167 sts) because I was not sure yet how to do the hem. After 5 repeats + 1 row (= 116 rows) the armhole shaping starts which takes another 72 rows.

My gauge = 29 sts and 33.5 rows. That looks OK.

Front and back are knitted separately back and forth, then sewn together at the sides and the top. I am quickly bored so the back will have another chart, a little more squared, not round or spiralled. Worked it the same way as the front to the armhole (provisional cast on, 116 rows, …) with a difference: some intarsia labels in other blues to create some variety.

Intarsia is so much easier worked back and forth instead of in the round.

The front is ready and the back is finished with a striped band in very dark blue and white. They are ready to be assembled… The sides and top are sewn. Then I wanted a simple hem, no ribbing or anything fancy. I unraveled the provisional cast on’s and knitted a 3 cm folded hem with 2.5 mm needles an sewed the live stitches to the wrong side of the body.

The front

and the back

For the neckband I picked up & knit sts with a 2.5 mm circular needle: 82 sts at the front and 52 sts at the back. I worked it inside out because I knit faster than I purl. Knitted 7 rounds and bound off very loosely for some curl.

Then the sleeves: I picked up & knit 100 sts with needle 2.5 mm.
Knitted 50 rounds straight alternating 2 blues every round. Then I started decreasing every 10 rounds.

I wanted long sleeves and I was not sure I would have enough of the darker blue to knit both sleeves the same … so I changed colors at the end of the first sleeve.
Finally I knitted 200 rounds per sleeve and I will add a folded cuff as the body.

Well, in the end I hàd enough of the darker blue for the second sleeve, and as I like assymetry, I changed the striping in 2/2 rounds 😀

The front looks good but it can have a bit more excitement, haha 😀

I added duplicate stitch to two circles. Not sure if I will add more… Still needs blocking but I like it already.

. . . 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

. . . never say never . . .

About a year ago I told a friend I would never, ever knit socks. Maybe I could try to knit one pair … But then after that one pair I would never do it again … swear.

Now – a few socks later – I am getting obsessed by socks, haha.

‘Never say never’ has been published today.

These socks are knit toe up with stripes at the toes, heel and ribbing. The instep and leg have a cute little stitch pattern with nearly perfectly round holes. The heel is worked with short rows (instructions included) Tutorials to work the increases are also included.

Sizes
S / M / L to fit foot circumference: 19.5 / 22 / 24.5 cm (7.5 / 8.5 / 9.5 “)

Foot length: EUR 36 / 37, 38 / 39, 40 / 41
US 5 / 5.5, 6.5 / 7, 8 / 9
UK 3.5 / 4, 5 / 5.5, 6.5 / 7.5

Finished height = ± 22 cm / 8½”

What you’ll need
fingering / 4 ply
MC (main color): ± 270 m / 300 yards
CC (contrasting color): a few rests of sock yarn

2.5 mm (US 1½) circular needle
or 5 double pointed needles

tapestry needle

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

. . . Stripeology . . .

Today a collection of 2 large shawls has been published.

Stripeology is a collection of 2 large garter shawls with a generous size … and jazzy feel. As a jazz player would pick a ‘Jazz standard’ and improvise on the melody, this modular shawl gives you the fun and opportunity to play with rhythm (the stripes) and improvise the colors.

Stripeology #1 has a circular spiral shape (diameter ± 90 cm / 35½” and a depth going from ± 32 to 44 cm / 12½ to 17¼”.
It is a very easy and fun project, ideal for mindless TV or travel knitting and a great way to use up stash yarns and combine colors. All the fun comes from choosing the next color and striping sequence. Completely worked in garter stitch with an incorporated I-cord edging worked at the same time. Only 5 purl stitches ^^ The first section is shaped using kfb increases. The next sections are worked using the easiest way of wrap and turn (no picking up any wraps)

 

Size of the sample
at the given gauge, diameter = ± 90 cm / 35½”
and a depth going from ± 32 to 44 cm / 12½ to 17¼”

 

Stripeology #2 has a crescent shape with a wingspan of ± 130 cm / 51” and it involves more techniques than stripeology #1: stitches will be picked up & knitted along an I-cord and it also makes use of a 3 needle bind off. Completely worked in garter stitch with an incorporated I-cord edging worked at the same time. Only 5 purl stitches ^^ The first section is shaped using kfb increases. The second section involves picking up stitches from the I-cord and the following sections are worked using the easiest way of wrap and turn (no picking up any wraps). Finally the shawl is bound off using a 3 needle bind off.

Size of the sample
at the given gauge, wingspan = ± 130 cm / 51”
depth ± 62 cm / 24½

What you’ll need per shawl
fingering / 4 ply
Different colors of single skeins and rests
Total yardage (as pictured)
± 1400 m / 1550 yards

3.5 mm (US 4) straight needles
3.5 mm (US 4) double pointed needles for the cast on
tapestry needle

Gauge
The gauge is not important but will affect the width of your shawl
gauge of the sample
24 sts and 26 ridges (or 52 rows) in garter stitch unblocked
= 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

 

Stripeology #1 and Stripeology #2 are bundled in one e-book: Stripeology

Check them out here and 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

. . . embossed alu . . .

I am so terribly behind … Never showed my latest ! patterns.

Embossed alu is a pullover with a large boatneck and some positive ease but with fitted sleeves. It has a lace mesh pattern on the sleeves and peplum.

That mesh pattern is a happy mistake. I found a pattern in an old knitting book. It had no picture and I was trying to work it in the round.
I have to admit that I definitely can’t make the difference between wrong from right side or knit and purl, haha … 🤣
This ‘wrong’ mesh stitch reminds me a lot of the embossed plates used in scale models. Combined with the name of the yarn I used : Wollmeise Twin, colorway 13 Al, it gave me the name of the pattern: embossed alu.

It is worked top down and seamlessly in the round. The neck and sleeves are finished with a special edging… a very small folded hem, but there is no sewing involved.

A A photo tutorial is included to work the edging.

Sizes
XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL: finished measurements: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52 “ (82, 92, 102, 112, 122, 132 cm)

Intended to be worn with 7 to 13 cm / 3 to 5” of positive ease

What you’ll need
MC: ± 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400 m (990, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500 yards)
CC a few left overs ± 100 to 170 m (110 to 180 yards)

3,5 mm (US 4) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
3 mm (US 3) circular needle
4 markers

Gauge
25 sts and 37 rows stockinette with the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Find more examples here

. . . zebraaaa . . .

Published a while ago: Zebra tee …

IT is a striped (!) – I do love stripes – pullover worked top down and seamlessly in the round. It starts in quite a special way by working the neckline at the back and front at the same time. Cleverly placed increases and decreases shape the yoke.

Doesn’t it look like a Zebra ?

Stitches are picked up to start the sleevecap. Sleeves, back and front are worked using a variation of the contiguous sleeve inset developed by Susie Myers.
After separating body and sleeves, the body is worked top down with extra ‘wedges’ at the sides. The sleeves are also worked top down and in the round.

Sizes
XXS/XS, S, M, M2, L, XL
finished measurements (chest): 27.5 / 31 / 34.5 / 38 / 41 / 45 ” (70 / 78 / 88 / 96 / 104 / 114 cm)
Intended to be worn with some negative ease or no ease. Choose the size closest to your high bust measurement (under the armpits)

What you’ll need
total yardage: ± 950, 1050, 1150, 1260, 1360, 1500m (1050, 1150, 1260, 1380, 1500, 1650 yards) of fingering weight / 4 ply
• the black / off white sample: 3/5 of MC (black) and 2/5 CC (off white)
• grey-brown-blue sample: uses 50% of MC and 50% of CC

3,5 mm (US 4) circular needle or size to obtain gauge
3 mm (US 2 1/2) circular needle
crochet hook for the provisional cast-on

2 different kinds of markers
– 8 markers to mark the stitch patterns
– 4 markers for the sleevecap shaping

Gauge
23,5 sts and 38 rows stockinette stitch with the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

… winter wheat …

Winter wheat: an asymmetrical cardigan with large textured stripes and a crazy construction in fingering weight…

Winter wheat is worked top down and sideways at the same time. The left front and the collar are worked in one piece and the top stripes wrap around the neck as a shawl. The left front falls straight and the right front falls more fluidly.

The sleeves are also worked top down with at the right side the same large stripes. The left sleeve is finished with some smaller stripes at the bottom.

The cardigan can be closed with a shawl pin or an attached I-cord with a few afterthought buttonholes can be added in the end.

Even buttoned up wrongly it looks kinda cute

Sizes
XS, S, ML, XL, XXL: 32.5 / 36.5 / 40.5 / 44 / 48 / 52 “ (83, 93, 103, 112, 122, 132 cm)
Intended to be worn with 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6”) of positive ease
What you’ll need
fingering weight / 4 ply
You can use 4 colors as in the model or use different colors for each stripe.

fingering weight / 4 ply
total yardage:
± 1500, 1700, 1900, 2100, 2300, 2500 m
(1650, 1900, 2100, 2300, 2500, 2700 yards)

yardage as used in the model
C1 (light grey in schematic):
± 300, 325, 350, 400, 430, 460 m
(330, 360, 390, 450, 475, 510 yards)
C2 (light brown in schematic):
± 460, 510, 560, 610, 670, 720m
(510, 560, 620, 670, 740, 800 yards)
C3 (yellow in schematic):
± 360, 400, 440, 480, 525, 560m
(400, 440, 480, 525, 560, 620 yards)
C4 (dark grey in schematic):
± 360, 400, 440, 480, 525, 560m
(400, 440, 480, 525, 560, 620 yards)

A few left overs of contrasting colors for the garter ridges between the large stripes

3,5 mm (US 4) circular needle
3,5 mm (US 4) straight needles
3 or 4 large buttons (diameter: ± 2.5 cm / 1”

Gauge
24 sts and 36 rows stockinette stitch = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

Check it out here

. . . happy scrap . . .

Crazy and striped … haha

Happy scrap is a randomly striped pullover (perfect to work up all the little leftovers in your stash) with a circular yoke, a gentle A-line and long fitted sleeves. It is worked top down in one piece and completely seamless. Short rows are used to lengthen the neckline at the back and to shape the diamonds at the sides. These give the ‘happy scrap’ its’ high-low hem.

There is no length given because you can make the happy scrap as long or short as you prefer. The placement of the diamonds can also be chosen (high as pictured below or low as pictured above). I can very well imagine ‘happy scrap’ in a very short cropped version or as a longer tunic.

The pattern includes instructions and tips on how to work the short rows, how to work jogless stripes, weave in ends as you go, how to make a provisional cast on, and much more …

What you’ll need
Yardage depends on length of the pullover
± 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500m (990, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600 yards) of sport weight/ 5 ply

3,5 mm (US 4) circular needle
3 mm (US 2 1/2) circular needle
crochet hook for the provisional cast-on

2 markers
1 removable marker

Sizes:
XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL: finished measurements (chest) 26.5 / 30.5 / 38 / 41.5 / 45.5 / 49 “ (68, 78, 88, 96, 106, 116, 125 cm). Choose the size closest to your high bust measurement (just under the armpits

Gauge
24 sts and 35 rows stockinette stitch with the larger needle = 10 x 10 cm (4”x4”)

 

The pattern is split in 2 pdfs: one for the small sizes and one for the larger sizes

Happy scrap is also available in Danish. Thanks to the lovely Asta-Denmark on Ravelry.
The Danish text is in separate pdfs but all the illustrations are in the original English version, so you will have to check the English version for the schematics and illustrations.

Check it out here