Tag Archives: lace

Where does the time go! and I need a name for my shawl!

Knitting, Lace Knitting, Original Patterns, , , , , , ,

After much consideration and reading lots of replies. . . I’ve decided it to call it. . .
Hannah’s Lace Shawl

It has already been a week since Yarnover, and Hop, Stitch, and Jump! I planned on blogging right away about the fabulous time I had and the new friends I made but I find that an entire week has lapsed.

I spend last Friday taking class with Cookie A. and Lucy Neatby. 3 Kittens Needle Arts and Steven Be’s collaborated on 2 days of great workshops and lots of fun evening events! I can’t thank them enough for a fun filled weekend.

But today’s message is really about needing a name for a new pattern I’ve written.

It is a lovely lace shawl, 10 stitch pattern repeats around. (read, easy to remember). And the bottom is scalloped with a 24 stitch repeat pattern. (also not too hard to get finger memory going on)

Here are photos of my niece, Hannah, modelling the three that I knit. I used 3 different fibers, the White one knit from a cone of weaver’s linen. . .the natural white one is knit in 3 ply super merino from Wool2dye4. . . and the blue one is Bamboo from South West Trading Company..

Send me a name suggestion and I’ll send you a free pdf of the pattern as soon as it is completed!

I’m really really going to blog more this week and show all my samples from the 18 (yes 18) hours of knitting classes I took last weekend.

New lace shawl

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

I’ve been working on this lace shawl for a while. Here is the first one I knit in linen. I used size 9 needles and it is very airy and light!
I’m trying to decide if I should dye it or not. I’m thinking of maybe dying it a dark indigo blue.

Front of my latest lace shawl

Increases on the front are generous and allow for a very nice fit! it won’t fall of your shoulders. In this view you get a sense of the gentle ruffle around the bottom. (in the other photos I pulled out the ruffles so you could see the pattern)
Another view of the front lace shawl
The pattern repeat across the back is only 10 stitches and very easy to follow!
Full view of the back of the lace shawl
Here are a couple close up views of the lace work.
close up of back
Close up of front at the bottom

I knit this shawl from notes and scratches and bits and pieces of graphs. I was lucky to figure out what I did so I could re-write it.
I re-worked some of my charts and created pages ins Illustrator. After all that computer work I knit another shawl. This one is in Bamboo. However it is still in the unblocked stage and not ready for public view.

I found some errors and some things to change to make it more symmetrical. So now I’ve fixed the charts and started writing the directions. (I like to include charts and written directions in my patterns).

During the my Olympics viewing this weekend I started a third one to triple check my pattern before publicizing. I am knitting this one in a 4 ply superwash merino that is supplied by Wool2Dye4. I love knitting with this yarn! It is so soft and comfortable, yet firm and holding the lace patterning very well! Can’t wait to finish it. This one is a “natural white” and I might look around to see if an indie dyer has some of this in a blue colorway. (For some reason I’m into blues this year)

So stay tuned for my first lace knitting pattern!

Garter Stitch Borealis Wrap

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I wanted something fun and easy and colorful to knit. I worked up this wrap using two strands of silk. I also did a few rows in Glace from Berrocco and then some novelty yarns that I had in my stash. Unfortunately the labels were lost long ago. The dark blue stripe(s) near the bottom were knit in a novelty yarn I bought in France in 1992. . . finally used up the last of it here.

I knit it from the top down using garter stitch.
The fronts are increased like EZ’s pi shawl and the back is increased along a center 10 stitches, similar to faroese shape.

This shawl definitely cured my itch.

Finally a new knit scarf for me!

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I found this pattern on Ravelry and just had to knit it!

The pattern is written in German and, not being fluent in German, I had to follow the charts. Luckily I knew enough crafting terms to realize there is some crocheting to this scarf/shawl as well.

Hand knit scarf

I had a bit of a time trying to photograph this project because the colors are so bright. . .red and purple are difficult to photograph without making them look like the colors are vibrating across the computer monitor.

Hand knit scarf in 100% wool

I love the lace and the way this is put together. Short rows create the first shape that goes around your neck, then you crochet cast off. Then the beautiful leaf pattern begins and every other row you pick up at the crochet edge. When the leaf pattern has been knit from point to point, you pick up 400 or so stitches across the edge of the leaf pattern and knit the final lace pattern. To cast off you crochet again, chains in between crocheted off stitches. This pattern was really fun and kept my interest throughout.
Close up of hand knit scarf

It was also fun to see how the color repeats worked up. I bought this yarn ages ago from Blackberry Hills booth at Yarn Over about 5 years ago. It is a lovely 100% wool, sock weight yarn. I was waiting for just the right project to knit with it. It is so soft and light and warm. You know how some of the yarn in your stash gets put away in a box and you sort of forget about it? Well not this yarn. I kept it out on a shelf for 5 years. . . I kept looking at it and knitting swatches until finally I decided to knit this scarf with it.
Another way to wear this hand knit scarf
If I were a few inches smaller (okay quite a few inches smaller) around, I could wear this as a shawl/vest.

Hand knit scarf turned into shawl

Even as a scarf there are lots of ways to wear it!Hand knit scarf100% wool hand knit scarf

Tree Hugger on Patternfish

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I am so excited I can hardly stand it! I have another pattern posted on Patternfish. . .now available in downloadable .pdf format!

This is my treehugger neck cuff or cowl or neck warmer, whatever you want to call it.  If you like a bit of a challenge try this pattern

Hand knit neck cowl

It is warm and toasty! Great for wearing in a chilly indoor environment, there are no scarf ends to get in your way!

Knitting with bunny fur!

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Last year while at Shepherd’s Harvest I bought some hand spun angora from  Cozy Rabbit Farm. I love this stuff! It is super soft, a dream to knit, and super warm.

Hand knit Angora Scarf
Hand knit Angora Scarf

This scarf took 1.5 oz of this yummy angora. The scarf measure 38″ x 3 1/2″ and is so light and airy! I wrap it around my neck and it keeps me comfy all evening while knitting! The pattern is a very simple rib on size 7 needes: Row 1-knit, Row 2-k1,p1. Repeat.

Cozy rabbit Scarf
Hand knit angora scarf

I can’t wait to order more of this yarn!

I also knit this scarf with “novelty sheep yarn” from the same Cozy Rabbit Farms. It is also hand knit and hand dyed. This scarf used 200 yards of 2 ply.

Acme KNits Scarf
Hand Knit Lace Scarf

I modified the lace pattern for this scarf from one I found in Mary Thomas’s Book of Knitting Patterns. She calls this pattern “horseshoe imprint” and it is found on page 175 in her book. She has the repeat occuring over 10 (+1) stitches. I made it 12 stitches wide instead, adding a stitch to each side. On the sides of the scarf is running a “faggot” lace stitch over 4 stitches.

mobius knitting

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I finally tried Cat Bordhi’s method of casting on and knitting a mobius the long way. (as opposed to the short way and having to graft a seam)

mobiuscb03

I learned from her video and then found her gifted pattern on her web site. I adjusted the pattern because this yarn I’m using knits at a smaller gauge.

mobiuscb01

This multi color mobisu measures 32″ and I knit it on size US 6 needles. The yarn is from Blackberry Hills about 3 years ago at Yarn Over.

I also changed the edge pattern from what Cat did. This pattern was lots of fun, easy to do once I got past the first 2 rows, and didn’t take long.

mobiuscb02

This was the perfect project to knit while walking in the dog park.

mobius-mollybrown

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)

New knitting pattern now available!

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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

Hand Knit socks with feather and fan lace pattern

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I need some help deciding which one is better. . . or shall I keep them both?

I knit these socks using the feather and fan pattern with a 4 stitch cable in between. The fun part is that I moved the pattern around.

I was thinking of writing up a pattern for this and couldn’t decide how to place the patterns. . . so I made two socks slightly different.

Each sock has 3 feather lace patterns and 3 4-st cable patterns.

Sweet warm toes
Sweet warm toes

One sock has the feather lace going down the center of the front with cables at the sides. This puts two feather patterns in the back with the cable in the center of the back. On this sock I ran this center cable down the entire heel.

Who said she was a dancer?
Who said she was a dancer?

The other sock has the cable running down the center of the front with two feather patterns down the side. This puts two cable patterns on each side of a centered feather lace down the back of the sock. I ran these cables along the side down into the heel too.

Standing tall
Standing tall

The placement of the designs also gave the top of each sock a different scallop. . . I still can’t decide which I like better. I think I like the one with the feather lace down the center front and the cable running down the center back and down into the heel.

Let me know which one you like better!

Happy knitting,
Shawn