Tag Archives: sock yarn

Another Meghan’s Wrap, Hand knit Shawl

Knitting, Knitting with beads, Original Patterns, , , , , ,

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.

Knit shawl with beadsThe 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. Hand knit scarf with beaded fringe

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.

Finally a new knit scarf for me!

Knitting, Pattern from Ravelry, , , , , , ,

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

Another pair of hand knit socks in the drawer!

Knitting, Original Patterns, , , , ,

I woke up this morning, put on my favorite pair of hand knit socks and blew out BOTH heels! Dang, I hate it when that happens. I always darn them and keep wearing them but my darning pile is starting to grow almost as big as my knitting UFO pile!

I finally finished these socks yesterday! I started them last summer. . .geesh. . .nothing like leaving work on needles forever.

Hand KNit Socks
Grey Arrow Socks Front view

I knit them in Alpaca Sox by Classic Elite Yarns. The fiber is soft and scrumptious and all the hardwork I did with my travelling stitches barely shows! Between the alpaca in the yarn and the marbled grey/black of the yarn my work gets a bit lost. Live and learn. At least they fit, are toasty warm, and the recipient loves them!

Hand knit socks
Grey Arrow Socks Back Fiew

The “arrows” are travelling stitches – worked over 6 stitches – they look like little railroad tracks except there are three rails. The front, back and top and bottom of foot have the stitches pointing down. Sure wish they showed up better.

hand Knit Socks
Grey Arrow socks side view

I was going to write out the pattern for these but you have to move the stitches around so much I’m not sure if it’s worth it.

Now I need to get to my darning pile!

Freeform knit and crochet fans

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blueyarnsamples72

I’ve started to destash my fancy yarns and am selling it on Ebay

Check it out!!

There is a total of 390 yards of 39 different colors of yarns in 10 yard increments.

Yarns included are silk/mohair/cotton/wool/ribbon.

Save money and get some fun yarn to play with.

Right now all I’ve put together are blues – but stay tuned or more colors!

Good deal for knitters!

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

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.

Beaded hand knit socks

Knitting, Knitting with beads, , ,

I had fun this summer knitting with beads. I forgot I knit these fun socks until it got cold enough to wear them. What a treat to find hand knit socks ready-to-wear in this cool weather.

beadedsocksfeet.jpg

The pink ones are knit in Liisu Yarn. This sock yarn is left over from my Fingerless Glove pattern. In the Glam Glove pattern I describe three ways to add beads to knitting. If you have a favorite plain sock pattern, try adding a beaded anklet! Even my sturdy peasant ankles, (great for support while dancing but not as skinny as current design deems attractive) look great adorned by beaded anklets.

beadedsockscloseankles.jpg

The blue socks are knit in Cherry Tree Hill yarn left over from the swing jacket that I knit.

I bought the beads for these socks at a great bead store in St. Paul, Storm Cloud Bead Company, located on Snelling at Minnehaha Avenue. Really fun place to go! I took about a yard of yarn with me to the store and shopped around until I found beads that fit the yarn and in the color I wanted.

I also found that I didn’t want to keep moving a bunch of beads down the yarn while knitting the cuff and sock leg so I knit to where I wanted the beads, cut the yarn, strung the beads, and then continued knitting. The ankle bracelet on the blue socks is not as wide as the one on the pink sock. But I think they both look great!

Happy knitting,

Shawn

Cherry Tree Hill swing coat

Knitting, , ,

Hello again. Yes, it’s actually me! I haven’t written since May! Wow, where did the summer go!?!

Finally, here are those promised photos of my swing coat that I sent to Cherry Tree Hill for their design contest. It looks great on my friend Ellen!

I am still in the process of writing the pattern. . . I want to make one that fits me! I really love working with this sock yarn. The colors are so nice and vibrant and the feel of the fabric is luscious!

cherrytreehillback.jpg

cherrytreehillside.jpg

cherrytreehillfront.jpg

I’ve been busy knitting lace scarves for the MN Textile Center Artwear Show boutique. For the last 2 years I have had pieces in the runway show, but not this year. However, I will have my hand knit sweaters and many lace items for sale at the boutique that coincides with the Runway show.

This is the perfect time of year to knit! I love, love, love, it. I started a new sweater for myself from a wool/silk blend yarn from Blackberry Hills. Though it is hard to find time to knit for myself, I deserve this one. I’m knitting it from the neck down and it will have cable pattern repeated around the body. The sleeves will be reverse stockinette with the cable design down the center of the sleeve and cables for the cuffs. I love the tweedy look of this dark green yarn. Mmm, mmm, good!

Well, I’m going back to my knitting and I promise to write again soon. (before 5 months have passed anyway:))