HRYC

October 02, 2013

Just adding knitting projects to the Ravelry queue.

Again.

It all started when I spied this Dagmar Sweater pattern in Ravelry's Hot Right Now list. The best use of a cable to emphasise shape i've seen, maybe ever. Too often this idea is played out and turns into this weird thing that splits the body in two, but here the cable serves as an elegant frame rather than an overwhelming design feature. I'm also smitten with the shaped hem, and the overall texture.

 

The one thing you'd want to be careful with knitting this pattern though would be the yarn - nothing too stretchy. I'd rule out alpaca or cotton to prevent ending up with the dreaded over stretched bum area. Cascade 220 in a nice heathered shade, though? Perfect. 
Going into Summer I probably shouldn't really be looking at big, warm, cosy jersey patterns. The colour of the Camelia Tee caught my eye first, like a magpie to silver, colour just leaps off the screen to grab all my attention. I love, love, love the lace detail on the shoulder and the relaxed shaping. Not being a summer person, I like garments with room to move in so I don't feel trapped in the heat. 
One little thing - i'd definitely do a nice tight bind off for that neckline. As it is, it looks like it has the potential to fall off one's shoulders. And I'd go for some Knitsch Yarns Sock, maybe in Yellow Brick Road or Pencarrow.  
And this. Cirrostratos reminds me of soft-like-clouds, floaty days. I can just imagine the fabric of it being the perfect combination of lightness plus warmth. Just the thing for lazy hazy days turning into early evenings with a touch of chill. Or for Wellington summers picked by wind that shouldn't ever surprise us but always does.

 

Zealana Kiwi in laceweight would make this something really special. Or Malabrigo Silkpaca Lace (once we get more in, hopefully it'll arrive before Christmas). 

Argh! There's that word already! The dreaded Christmas. I can't believe it's sneaking up on us so gosh darn quick. I think i'll go back into my nice cave of denial and instead give you this:

 

Cat's Mane by Mer Almagro.

 

You're welcome.

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August 29, 2013

Droplet Socks - a new free pattern

A few weeks ago Wei Siew of the Kiwiyarns blog sent me an exciting email - a sock pattern designed with Knitsch Sock! It also contained a special request for a fresh batch of West Janney. 

The Droplet Socks pattern is exquisite. I adore the texture and the directional pattern design. I'm a sucker for anything that stands out against a reverse stocking stitch background. And the best part of all? It's free! Hooray! 

 

 

Image thanks to Wei Siew

 

Thanks so much for choosing Knitsch for your pattern Wei Siew! I can't wait to knit my own pair. If you fancy knitting your own lichen-inspired socks, West Janney is now back in stock (along with lots of other colours, hooray!).

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June 24, 2013

Warm Woollen Mittens

Is it 'woollen' or 'woolen'? I don't know. Either way, it's definitely time to be wearing them. I've never been much of mitten knitter. I'm not sure why. 

So I asked on Facebook for some pattern suggestions, and here's what was suggested:

 

Susie Rogers Reading Mitts by Susie Rogers (free!)

 

Birdies Mitts by Julia Davies (free pattern!)

 

Rainbow Kid Mittens by Emilie Williams (free pattern!)

 


Snap Dragon Flip-top Mitts by Ysolda Teague

 

And one person requested an image of kittens in mittens, so how about kittens on mittens?


Meow Mitts by Tiny Owl Knits

 

Happy knitting!

xx Tash

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February 22, 2013

Dream Mitts - Free pattern!

Dream Mitts

I dreamed this mitt. Seriously. And when I started knitting it, I was all concerned that I wouldn't do the stripes justice. (I still feel that I haven't, really). Also, Blue Sky Alpaca Sport is a dream yarn - 100% baby alpaca is beyond words. 

Feel free to freestyle the stripes: starting them after the thumbhole will make life easier, and allow for nice big chunks of the two colours at opposite ends.  

The mitts are designed so you can either hide your thumb inside the mitt on super cold days, pulling the mitt up and scrunching it around your wrist, or wear them the usual way, so you have full dexterity for important things such as carrying your coffee on a brisk morning walk to work. 

Thanks ever so much to Shelley for being our model, and Barbara for the use of her Zealana 4ply version in the photos. If you'd like a pdf copy of this pattern, you can hop over to the project page on Ravelry

Yarn:

Blue Sky Alpaca Sport 100% baby alpaca

100m / 50g

1 skein nat light grey

1 skein citron 

or

Zealana Kiwi Fingering

124m / 40g

1 ball Majesty colour 14/4

1 ball Papura colour 06/4

 

Needle: 2.75mm 80cm fixed circular (for magic loop)

 

Gauge: 25 sts x 36 rows = 10cm

Abbreviations:

K – knit

P – purl

Kfb – knit into the stitch as normal, without taking the stitch off the left hand needle. Knit into the back of the same stitch, slide stitch off needle


Pattern:

CO 52 sts

Join in round, being careful not to twist. Place marker at beginning of round. Work using the magic loop method.

Next row: *k2 p2 repeat from * to end

Work in rib pattern for 2.5cm

 

Next row: knit for 3.5 cm

Next 2 rows: p2, k 46, p2

 

From here you will be working the mitt as if it were flat - turning your work when you reach the end of the row. When the thumbhole is completed, you will join your work in the round again.

 

Work back and forth for the next 12 rows

row 1: k2, p 46 to last 2 sts, k2

row 2: k all sts

repeat rows 1 & 2 four times more (12 rows)

next row: knit to last 2 sts, p2

 

re-join in round, p2, k to end

next row: k to last 2 sts, p2

next row: p2, k to end

 

Knit 14cm in stripe pattern (carry ends to you don’t have to weave lots in).

 

Continue stripe pattern, and:

k1, kfb, k to last st, kfb, k1 (54sts)

repeat increase row every 4th row four more times (62 sts)

 

Knit until the arm is as long as you'd like (the mitt I knit is 21cm from the last row of the thumb hole to the beginning of the ribbing)

 

Next row: *k2, p2 repeat from * to end

Continue in rib pattern for 2.5cm

 

Cast off using a stretchy bind off - I like Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn bind off.

 

Here are the stripe patterns we used, however feel free to have fun with them J

First stripe pattern:

second stripe pattern:

after thumbhole

1 row grey

1 row citron, 5 rows grey x 2

2 rows citron, 4 rows grey x 2

3 rows citron, 3 rows grey x 2

4 rows citron, 2 rows grey x 2

5 rows citron, 1 x grey x 2

continue in citron

after thumbhole

4 rows grey

1 row citron, 1 row grey x 4

1 row citron

2 rows grey, 2 rows citron x 3

2 rows grey

3 rows citron, 2 rows grey x 3

4 rows citron, 2 rows grey x 2

5 rows citron, 2 rows grey

continue in citron




Thanks to all our pattern testers as well! xx

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September 14, 2012

Weekend Treat - there's two!

 Hip hip hooray it's FRIDAY!

Which means it's time for another Weekend Treat. This time round it's 20% off all printed patterns in store....and as they are only stocked in store, to make it fair we'll throw a free tote bag into every order placed online from 5pm Friday 14 September to 9am Monday 17 September.


Hooray!




And because i'm loving the excuse Saturday Sit & Knit gives me to bake, i've got all the ingredients assembled to make this tasty treat...



I hope you can join me in eating it, or i'll be sporting a big fat tummy full of chocolate tart.

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