New Pattern: Boysenberry

This adorable waist-length cardigan was brought to my mind by the designs of the 1950’s, when accentuating a tiny waistline was the fashion. The allover lattice pattern and seed stitch accents are simple and striking. The collar flows into the front bands, which are folded back and sewn at the waist edge, creating two small pockets. The pockets may not be truly useful for holding anything other than your hands, but for me, that’s all they really need to do.

The pattern is available at Tangled Magazine or Ravelry for $6.50.

SIZES
To fit bust size 32 (36, 40, 44)"

YARN
Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport (100% wool; 184 yd [168 m]/1.76 oz [50 gm]: Color 157 boysenberry; 7 (8, 9, 10) skeins.

NEEDLES
Size US 5 [3.75 mm]: straight
Size US 3 [3.25 mm]: straight

NOTIONS
2 stitch markers
2 stitch holders
tapestry needle

GAUGE
24 sts and 38 rows = 4” [10 cm] in lattice pattern on size 5 needles
13 sts and 24 rows = 2” [5 cm] in seed st on size 3 needles

Arabella Pattern

It's officially spring and the weather has been great. But it's never too early to start knitting your next sweater for winter. Or you can knit this sweater in a lighter yarn such as cotton and wear it during cool summer nights or early fall.

Arabella takes advantage of the gathering effects of smocking and ribbing to cinch in the waist of the sweater. The square neckline complements the diagonal lines of the smocking, while the slightly blouson sleeves add an element of curviness in contrast to the neckline.

This is the second pattern I am self-publishing. It is available as a PDF for purchase through Ravelry for $7.00. I hope you like it!

SIZES
Finished bust size 27 (30, 34, 37, 41, 44, 48, 52)” / 68 (77, 86, 95, 104, 113, 122, 131)cm
Length 19.75 (20.75, 21.5, 22.25, 22.75, 23, 23, 23.25)” / 50.5 (53, 54.5, 56.5, 58, 58.5, 58.5, 59)cm

YARN
Cascade Yarns Wool 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 220 yards [201 meters]/100 grams): Color 9429 Mossy Rock; 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins.

NEEDLES
Size US 5 [3.75 mm]: straight and 16” circular
Size US 7 [4.5 mm]: straight

NOTIONS
8 stitch markers
2 stitch holders
tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 sts and 26 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st on size 7 needles
20 sts and 29 rows = 4” [10 cm] in k1, p3 rib on size 5 needles

Ruffled Mini Skirt Pattern

Spring is here and it's the perfect time to knit yourself a mini skirt with a fun flirty ruffled edge. This skirt is knit in the round from the waist down so you can try it on as you go. Since I hate seaming, the elastic waistband is encased as you knit the skirt. Two options are providing for finishing the ruffle, one of which also requires no seaming.

SIZES
The waist measurements are for a low waist as opposed to true waist, so pick the measurement closest to where you would wear the skirt.
To fit low waist: 24.5[27, 29, 31, 33, 35.5, 38, 40]inches / 62[69, 74, 79, 84, 90, 97, 102]cm
Length: 12.5[12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5]inches / 32[32, 33, 34, 35.5, 37, 38, 39.5]cm

YARN
600[630, 670, 700, 730, 760, 790, 830]yd / 550[580, 610, 640, 670, 700, 730, 760]m Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton

NEEDLES
1 24-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle
1 24-inch US #6/4mm circular needle

NOTIONS
24.5[27, 29, 31, 33, 35.5, 38, 40]inches of 1.5-inch wide elastic
10 stitch markers
safety pin or other individual stitch marker
contrasting waste yarn 42[44, 46, 48, 51, 53, 55, 57]inches long
tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 sts and 25 rows to 4 inches stockinette stitch on US #6 needles

This is the first pattern I'm self-publishing. It is available as a PDF for purchase through Ravelry for $5.00. I hope you like it!

Buttons

My friend Sharon (Ravelry user coffeecrisp) sent me these awesome buttons that she made. She also made a ring of the same design, but I decided not to include a picture of my short, stubby fingers. She's thinking about selling these on Etsy, so keep your eyes peeled.

Now I need to create some patterns worthy of such attitude.

Spring Fibertarian!!

The spring issue of The Fibertarian, which features two of my patterns, is live! The first pattern, Lacey Tunic, features a cowl neck, empire waist, and lace pattern. The second pattern, Bat Wing, is a striped bat wing sweater, which is knit in four pieces and then sewn together.

Spring+Summer Knitty!!

The spring+summer issue of Knitty, which includes my second published pattern Petrie, is live! This pattern is a simple tank top with a cowl neck, named after Mary Tyler Moore's character on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Laura Petrie. I love cowl necks so I wanted to incorporate one in my next design. Since spring was coming up, I decided a sleeveless top would be most appropriate.

The top above is knit with Berroco Pure Pima cotton. The first incarnation of the top shown below, was knit with ColourMart silk yarn, which I think has better drape. But I think both yarns work well with the pattern.

Thanks to my sister and her boyfriend for the amazing pictures shown on Knitty!

Sneak Peek

Go to The Fiber Republic! You'll see the cover of the forthcoming spring issue of the Fibertarian, which features one of my patterns.

When the issue goes live, the patterns will be available for free!

ruffled skirt and new blog design

I came up with a new knit skirt pattern featuring a ruffled edge in anticipation of spring.



pattern: my own
yarn: Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton
needles: size US 6

Also, my boyfriend has been bugging me to make my blog prettier for a while now. So here it is!

modified quadrat

Ravelry user mimizuku made my Quadrat sweater with modifications which I think really improve the sweater. I love her version.

You can see more of Mimizuku's knitting on Ravelry or her blog.

more fingerless mitts

I decided to brave the tons of snow in order to take a picture of these beautiful fingerless mitts.


pattern: Cafe au Lait Mitts
yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton
needles: size US 3

more knitted gifts

Here are some more last minute holiday gifts I knit.

pattern: star crossed slouchy beretyarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted
needles: size US 11

pattern: aran gauntlets
yarn: Morehouse Farm Merino 3-Strand
needles: size US 7

pattern: humanity wristwarmers
yarn: Rowan Pima Cotton DK
needles: size US 5

pattern: garter-cuff gloves
yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
needles: size US 4

knitted gifts

I spent the holidays with my family in New York, knitting a bunch of last minute holiday gifts which my sisters were kind enough to model.

pattern: chunky cabled beanie
yarn: Patons UpCountry Wool
needles: size US 11

pattern: an unoriginal hat
yarn: Patons UpCountry Wool
needles: size US 11

pattern: turn a square hat
yarn: Cascades Yarn 220 Wool & Noro Silk Garden
needles: size US 6 & 7

pattern: quant headband
yarn: Noro Silk Garden
needles: size US 8

I also went to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio to see the fiber artist Nathan Vincent which was a fun talk.