Category Archives: Original Patterns

Peace Fleece Vest for Sean

Knitting, Original Patterns,

Oooh I love how this vest turned out. I orderd some Peace Fleece this fall (the grey background is called “Father’s Gray”) with the intentions of making a vest for my father-inlaw. I wanted something a bit sophisticated but also a color pattern. I am very pleased with my results!! The pattern for this vest is in progress and hopefully I’ll have it done soon.

It worked up very quickly since it is knit in the round with steeked front and armholes. The ribbing edges were done last.

These photos aren’t the best  – can’t wait to photograph it on Sean!!

Sean's Vest Front view
Fair Isle hand knit vest

The buttons are from a jacket that I had ages ago. . .when the jacket was worn thin and I retired it to the trash, I saved these nice metal buttons.

Sean's vest back view
Hand knit fair isle vest

Look for the pattern in the near future!

Twined Knitting

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Well, I must say I LOVE how this knittin looks. I even got used to spinning the ball of yarn to untwist it.

For my recent birthday my family gave me the book “twined Knitting, a Swedish Folkcrafrt Technique”. It was too expensive for my blood but I love this book. Now I have to return the copy I was using to the Textile Center Library.

A friend commissioned these mittens to match a new coat.

The mitts were knit in black, Gems Merino DK weight yarn. For some reason my camera didn’t work very well. I’ll need to get better photos!!

Black Twined knit mittens
Twined knitt mittens

The beads on the cuff were knit in as I went. Notice how I did the thumb gusset. I wanted these to be a one of a kind!

Twined knit mittens
Black twine knit mittens

Here they are after I crocheted beads onto the back of the mitts. The coat these were made to match is red with half  circle designs in black. I think the mitts match very well. Now I just need to figure out what is wrong with my cameral!

New knitting pattern available & a new love!

Knitting, On My Needles, Original Patterns, ,

Charlotte’s Tam pattern is now available on my etsy site! I’ve made three of them now and they work up so nicely!

The one shown on the pattern is knit  in Gale Woods Farm’s sock yarn and it was perfect. I knit another one using two skeins of  Mission Falls 136 Merino and that turned out very nice as well. 136 Merino is sooo soft and fun to work with.

I tried one in a worsted weight to see what would happen. . .it is a bit big! The diameter across the top is 13″. . . looks a bit funny on my head!

twined knit mittenI’ve found a new love!!! Twined Knitting.

While at the library at the Minnesota Textile Center I found a book  “Twined Knitting, a Swedish Folkcraft Technique”. The book is full of great pictures, mitten, glove and hat patterns and history. I became so entrigued I started a project right away. I have some New Zealand wool I picked up at a sale somewhere and it is perfect for twined knitting.

This must be the definitive book on Twined knitting since I’ve been searching on line for one and the cheapest one I’ve found is 86$. . ouch. . .too much or my book budget, but I’m keeping it on my wish list.

Charlotte’s Tam

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I’m so excited about this pattern!!
I have knit two of these tams now and I must say they are quite fun and the pattern is easy to memorize.

charlottes_tam01Start knitting in the round at the top and increase out to the brim. . . the top is 8 pattern repeats of small two stitch cables and twisted stitches.

The brim is ribbed and then finished with an I-cord. The diameter of the top is 11.5″ and the brim is 18″ around, unstreteched.

charlottes_tam02

At the very edge of the top – I never realized how hard it is to photograph patterns in white – is a diamond pattern that weaves in the middle.

charlottes_tam03

I knit this tam in yarn from Gale Woods Farm on size 6 needles. I used about 225 yards of a dk weight yarn. The crispier the yarn the better.

I knit another one in 136 Merino Superwash from Mission Falls, 100% Merino. That one turned out great too! The softness of the merino make that tam floppier resulting in a different style hat. . .just as cute!

The pattern is getting edited right now. . . and as soon as it it done you’ll be able to find it on Ravelry and Etsy. I plan on knitting another one in worsted weight yarn, just to see what happens.

Good deal for knitters!

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hello all my knitter friends,

Have i got a deal for you! I recently designed a sweater for a new web site that sells patterns and yarns, Uptown Stitches.

The owner sent me a message recently with a special deal. . . . no shipping charges on orders between now and July 31st. To get the free shipping coupon, enter code W2D4-06.

The pattern on the front page is mine!! Knit in Belfast. A cotton/linen blend that is great fun to knit and wonderful for summer knits.

I can’t wait to get my hands on some of her lace weight yarn. It sounds heavenly.

So check out one of my recent projects, the Uptown Sweater, and don’t forget–free shipping coupon for orders between now and July 31. (W2D4-06)

Fun with New yarn

Knitting, My original hand knitting patterns, On My Needles, Original Patterns, , ,

I was given about 6 oz/ 311 yards of the new wool available at Gale Woodes Farm to see how it works up and create a project.

The yarn is a 2 ply, sock weight, about 10 wpi and available in this natural white color. It has great stitch definition and I can’t help thinking what a wonderful cabled cardigan I could knit in this yarn! I love knitting with natural whites and though I am not a dyer of yarn, I bet it’d be fun to see how this yarn dyes.

Here is what I came up with this weekend. The travelling stitch goes around the leg and when they meet there is a small medallion. It will be very easy to knit these in any size. After knitting your swatch to get gauge, cast on as many stitches as you need ot fit your leg and then knit around and around till it is as long as you want. I’m still contemplating the top of the leg warmer. I have a few options in mind and I’ll have to wait til I get there in my knitting to see which end I’ll feel like using.

I think I’ll work up the other one to this length and them work them both at the same time. I did a rough measurement of my swatch and figured out the area to see if I’d have enough yarn for 11″ leg warmers. If my math is correct I’ll be okay.

New knitting pattern now available!

Knitting, My original hand knitting patterns, Original Patterns, , , , ,

I’m proud to present my “Tree hugger neck cuff”

I have been having some great fun with this one! I’m happy I finished it before it got so hot!! I actually had a camping opportunity to wear it and it kept me cozy all night. . . . and I looked good:)

Tree hugger neck cuff on me
Tree hugger neck cuff on me

This pattern is now available on my Etsy site And I will put it for sale on Ravelry too!

Soft as fairy hare knit scarf
Soft as fairy hare knit scarf

This pattern is not for the weak of heart. Use a provisional cast on and work back and forth. The stitch count changes on every row. Whew, it took me a while to memorize this pattern. The pattern is both charted and written out. The scarf consists of three parts, each of which are written in a different color in the pattern for easy reference.

Grey Tree Hugger Neck Scarf
Grey Tree Hugger Neck Scarf

The blue scarf is knit using Kimmet Croft Fiber’s Fairy hare–a wool angora blend that I just love. Though for this pattern the silk/wool blend from Rovings, Inc. has better stitch definition.

Neck Cuff Cose UP
Neck Cuff Cose UP

I love how the leaves on the bottom have a scallop edge that sits so pretty.

Lovely neck scarf on Hannah
Lovely neck scarf on Hannah

The first scarf took a while but the second one (blue one) I was able to knit fairly fast. The stitch count changes every row, and it is included in the pattern so it is easy to double check your work.

Lace Neck Scarf
Lace Neck Scarf

Another new niece knitter!

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Taught Hannah to knit

Machine knitting felted hats

Two parties next week!

I’m desperately low on my felted caps and I have two big parties coming up. . . so, I thought I’d spread the wealth and hire/teach my niece Hannah to operate a knitting machine. She did very well and is on her way to being very productive. Thank goodness!

New pattern for sale! Knotty Tote!

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Three Linen and fabric totes
Three Linen and fabric totes

I’ve finally finished the pattern for my Knotty Totes! It is available on my etsy store

I knit three of them, using different colors of Geneva, Euroflax linen, and 100% cotton fabric. They worked up really fast.

I keep one in may car and whenever I run into a store for an item or two, I have my non-plastic, non -paper tote.

Good for me, good for the earth!

This one is my favorite
This one is my favorite

Happy Knitting,

Shawn