This January the editor of Patternfish newsletter became intrigued with a new technique I’m developing – a new way of putting knit and purl rows together. I’ve written three patterns using this technique and she featured them in the newsletter.
Take a look!(Scroll down the newsletter a bit to find me)
Gayle found my knitted brass piece on my blog and included that in the bottom of the newsletter too.
I love days like this!
The most current pattern I’ve written using this technique is called Anna Dorothy – in honor of my maternal grandmother.
I adored my Grandma, Dorothy, and after she died we found her birth certificate: she was christened Anna Dorothy. Knowing this makes me miss her more.
I love the local library! I found a gem of a book titled,”Latvian Dreams, Knitting from Weaving Patterns” by Joyce Williams. It was full of charts with geometric designs. The sweater patterns in the book were fashioned after the gansey, very little shaping, with the focus on the two color patterns. The sweater is knit in a traditional style of knitting in the round and using steeks at armholes and collar.
I decided to try the “High Park Pullover”. In the book it is shown in blue and white – but I think (and am hoping) that I have enough fine weight alpaca to knit this (with long sleeves). Years ago I bought tons of alpaca yarn from Richness Alpaca. I’ve been looking for a project to use it all up and I have found it!
I am racing the snow – my goal is to be wearing this sweater the first time I shovel!
15 more rows and I am at the collar!
The first inch of rows were the hardest. Now that I have figured out the repeats I don’t have to look at every stitch on the chart while knitting. I’ve had to frog a few rows but luckily not too often.
Bottom of alpaca hand knit sweater
The book has a fun approach to the sweater patterns. Charts show the geometric patterns in the shape of the sweaters. Gauges for different weight yarns are listed and depending on which yarn you use you adjust the pattern by number of repeats. For my sweater I added 20 stitches to the charted pattern in order to get the correct size – One 10st repeat for the front and one for the back.
Alpaca sweater, center stitches
I can’t wait to get to the sleeve – see how clever the design is where the sleeves meets the body of the sweater! I’ll have to walk around waving my arms in the air to show it off.
Photo of underarm for High Park pullover
I can get one round done in about 20 minutes. The sweater is charted at 270 rows. . . (not including the sleeves, I haven’t looked at those yet) I don’t want to do the math! I’m planning on working both sleeves at the same time because I’ll have to tweak the pattern and also because I’m not sure how far my different colors of yarn will stretch. Knitting both sleeves at the same time will help me use up the yarn and make sure the sleeves look the same. The sleeves are worked from the top down, picking up sts at the armholes and working down to the cuffs, and that’s a lot of fabric on my lap. Doing both sleeves at the same time prevents sleeve slap (that happens while turning the sweater to knit the second sleeve and the one that is done swings around and slaps you).
I love allforloveofyarn! Angela’s colors are great and the variegation doesn’t pool!
This cowl was knit in Eloquence–70% Bluefaced Leicester, 20%silk, 10% cashmere. It is super soft and drapy, light yet warm!
here’s how I knit it:
1 skein-100gms/430 yds fingering weight yarn.
Gauge: 7sts/11rows=1″. Cowl is 23″ around/15″ long.
US Size 2 needles (for working in the round) cast on 192 stitches. Join being careful not to twist stitches.
Rows 1-3, (K10, p1, k2, p1, k10) 8 times.
Row 4 (K10, p1, k2tog and DO NOT take off needle, knit into first stitch again and remove both stitches, p1, k10) 8 times. Repeat these four rows until desired length or until you have about 3 yards left, bind off loosely.
I took some photos and was visited by my friend Molly Brown. it took me a while to get her attention. There was a trick in the shape of a little green ball.
I just finished another Meghan’s Wrap. It is knit in Sockittome (brown) from Cherry Tree Hill and the white is a yarn is from Yarn2Dye4.
The high contrast of these colors shows off the fun shapes of the blocks of color.
The pattern is easy to knit and fast! It takes a bit of getting used to knitting sock yarn on size US 10 1/2 needles and moves along quickly once you do. A nice drape results from such open knitting
Instead of adding the beads up the fringe as I did on my first wrap, I put three beads on the end of each fringe.
I love love love this yarn! I knit this beautiful cowl/scarf/hood/wrap using two skeins – one of each color – and it is soft and scrumtious! Look for the pattern on Ravelry & Patternfish soon!
button the ends and wear it as a cowl
Meghan’s Wrap is knit on large needles (10 1/2) in garter stitch and works up into a light, stretchy and versatile accessory. The fringe is added before each 8th and 9th row by casting on, then immediately casting off. This one has 4 tiny (8o) beads in each fringe. It would also be fun with one bigger bead at the end of each strand of fringe!
Meghan's wrap worn as a hood
9 1/2 inch buttons are sewn on the ends, 5 on one end, 4 on the other. Button the ends and it becomes a cowl! Unbotton and wear it open and the buttons add pizzazz to the ends!
Meghan's wrap worn as a scarf
The sock weight yarn knit on such large needles makes for a very nice open weave. It’s warm, yet light weight and knits up fast!
Oh yea, and you can wear it as a belt!
Meghan's Wrap worn as a belt
The pattern is at the test knitters and will be available soon!
Thank you to my great model (who was modeling in 90 degree weather with no air conditioning) and my new friend and great photographer Andrea Cole.
I am such a lucky girl! Last weekend I was surround by fiber artists at the Surface Design Association Conference and had a great time learning, looking, and networking!
Pat Hickman was the keynote speaker – showing lots of beautiful images of her work and inspiration to keep experimenting and allowing our creativity as artists to flow in whichever direction we are inclined to go.
Here is a video of one of her works which chronicles the creation of the commissioned entrance gates to the Maui Arts! Fiber to metal in a large scale!
Here are two pictures of a fiber to metal project I did with my sisters a few years ago. Knit rope that I cast and then poured. Thank you Felicia and Veronica for all the beautiful art you give to the world and the work you do in creating community around art!
While driving to a local coffee shop to “work”, Ellen brought the car came to a screeching halt so I could look at this lovely turtle! – sorry about the quality of these photos – I have an old phone and the camera isn’t as good as a new fancy phone.
Turtle at Como Park
I know absolutely nothing about turtles other than that they carry their houses around with them.
This guy, or maybe gal, has been building its house for a long time, I’m guessing because of the size of it.
Turtle at Como Park
Isn’t this a beauty!
Como Lake is about 3 miles from my house and a great lake to walk around with Molly Brown. Sometimes I even walk to the lake, around the lake, and home again.
However, I think both MB and myself are getting a bit long in the tooth for 6 miles walks.
Turtle at Como Lake - close up of his back foot
These toe nails were so impressive I had to get a close up!
Turtle at Como Lake
When the turtle turned toward me and took a step, I had the feeling he didn’t want any more photos taken. He was looking right at me! It was awesome!
What a fun way to start my day – a visit with a turtle!
I love this technique of working two rows in the same direction!
Here are some pics of my latest Falling Leaves Shawlette. Yes it is red and green – a bit cliche – but it works for me!
This yarn is wonderful to work with and though it is difficult to tell from these pics, the slight variegation in the color is quite lovely.
I bought this yarn at Shepherd’s Harvest – the booth was directly across from mine and Angela’s yarn was so sweet that I could have spent all my money there!
The name of this blend is “Opulence” and that is what it felt like to knit – 80% superwash Merino wool, 10% Cashmere and 10% Nylon. All for the Love of yarn! can be found and purchased on line and I can’t wait to buy some more.
