Showing posts with label lace knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lace knitting. Show all posts
Monday 7 May 2012
Friday 4 May 2012
Design Digest: Ammonite - Part I
Ammonite and the Grey Cone...
If you are reading this
post, I suppose you have seen Ammonite on Ravelry or on Flickr and
you might want to know a little more about the design process and my inspiration for the pattern. Perhaps you have merely stumbled upon
this blog because you are interested in knitwear design or maybe good, old Google directed you to this page because you are interested in
fossils.
If you are looking for
fossil - related information (and I don't mean the knitted kind), I
have to disappoint you, as I am going to talk about a knitting
pattern and, unless you are interested in knitting, what follows will
not be a great deal of help to you.
So, Ammonite...It's
probably best to start at the beginning. Roughly a year ago I was
browsing in a local charity shop and found a cone of grey DK - weight
yarn. There was no further information regarding the identity of the
yarn, only a label inside the cone stating it was an acrylic / wool
mix (30% wool, 70% acrylic). Having done a bit of research, I now
believe that the yarn was manufactured by Yeoman Yarns in Yorkshire,
an interesting yarn manufacturer, especially for the thrifty knitters amongst us. Yeoman's yarns come wrapped around cones, presumably targeting machine
knitters. (And the big advantage of yarn on cones is of course the fact that you won't run out of yarn during your project.)
Mietze inspecting |
As this poor, grey cone
was looking a little lonely, I decided to buy it at a bargain price
together with two others, one in heather and another in a light
creamy brown. The lovely people at the shop must have been glad to
see them go and included a pair of knitting needles at the till.
Here I was with my yarn bargains. I took them home, where they were
subjected to the usual "scratch and sniff " inspection by a
member of the feline quality control squad.
Grey Cone and Friends |
Labels:
Ammonite,
Cartridge Rib Stitch,
Design Digest,
Destash,
Invisible Cast - On,
Knitting Projects - Easy,
lace knitting,
Open Cast - On,
Original Designs,
Provisional Cast - On,
Thrifty Knits
Saturday 28 April 2012
Ammonite - Free Shawl Knitting Pattern
Ammonite
Ammonite
is a generously sized, semi – circular, ruffled shawl. The garment
is knit from the centre top downwards / outwards, making the size
easily adjustable by adding or omitting sections when knitting the
body of the shawl. For a shawl measuring the same size as given in
this pattern, you will require approximately 290g (just under three
hanks) of 4ply Knitglobal sock yarn. The project is also suitable for
yarns of different weight. Should you wish to substitute yarn and
depending on the effect you are seeking to create, the needle size
has to be adjusted accordingly.
A gallery of Ammonites in a variety of yarns is available here.
A gallery of Ammonites in a variety of yarns is available here.
The
body of the shawl features a simple cartridge rib stitch, giving the
garment a subtle texture that blends into its semi – circular
shape, whilst the top outer edge is worked in garter stitch
throughout. Kfb increases are utilised to give the shawl a ruffled
look. The bottom outer edge of the shawl is worked in stockinette
stitch. This is followed by a playful picot border, adding further
drape.
I
got the idea for the name when I was in the process of completing the
first test knit of the pattern. As I was binding off more and more
stitches, the garment slowly started to resemble an Ammonite.
Prototype of Ammonite in generic DK weight yarn |
- Size:
One
size – Adjustable by adding or omitting pattern repeats, when
working the body of the shawl.
- Finished Measurements:
Length
of straight edge - 1.55m
Height
at centre - 0.68m
(Note:
Measurements were taken after the shawl was blocked.)
- Yarn:
Knitglobal
4 ply Sock Yarn - (25% nylon, 75% superwash wool) 437yds / 400m per 100g hank
Colour: Plum
Quantity required: Just under three skeins / app. 290grams
Colour: Plum
Quantity required: Just under three skeins / app. 290grams
- Recommended Needle Size:
US#6
/ 4mm circular needle
- Other Materials / Tools:
One
darning needle and two stitchmarkers.
- Gauge:
Cartridge
Rib Stitch:
Row
1 : Knit Row 7: Knit
Row
2: Purl Row 8: Purl
Row
3: Knit Row 9: Knit
Row
4: Knit Row 10: Knit
Row
5: Purl Row 11: Purl
Row
6: Knit Row 12: Knit
Directions:
Shawl
Centre
Cast
- on 4 stitches, using the provisional (invisible) cast - on.
Rows
1 - 8: Knit
Row
9: Following completion of row 8, do not turn piece. Instead, turn
work on right hand needle 90 degrees clockwise. With left - hand
needle pick up and knit 4 stitches from the garter knots on the edge
of the piece. Once these stitches have been knit, you should have a
total of 8 stitches on the right hand needle. Turn piece on right
hand needle once again by 90 degrees clockwise. Remove waste yarn
from provisional cast – on edge and transfer all stitches to the
left hand needle. Knit the 4 remaining stitches. 12 stitches are now
on the right hand needle. Continue as follows:
Row
1[RS]: k4, pm, k4, pm, k4
Row
2 [WS]: k4, sm, p4, sm, k4
Row
3: k4, sm, [k1,
yo]
3 times, k1, sm, k4. 15
sts
Row
4: k4, sm, p7, sm, k4
Row
5: k4, sm, k7, sm, k4
Row
6: k4, sm, p7, sm, k4
Row
7: k4, sm, kfb in each st
to next marker,
sm, k4. 22
sts
Row
8: k4, sm, p14, sm, k4
Row
9: k4, sm, k14, sm, k4
Row
10: k4, sm, p14, sm, k4
Shawl
Body
- Note: Whilst the first and last four stitches on every row are knit throughout to produce a garter stitch edge, all stitches between the garter stitch edge are worked in cartridge rib stitch. In the following directions, “working in pattern” means to knit in cartridge rib stitch. Instructions for the cartridge rib stitch are set out above.
- All increases will take place on row 10 of every section.
1st
Section:
Row
1 [RS]: k4, sm, k to next marker, sm, k4
Row
2 [WS]: k4, sm, p to next maker, sm, k4
Row
3: k4, sm, K to next marker, sm, k4
Row
4: k4, sm, k to next marker, sm, k4
Row
5: k4, sm, p to next maker, sm, k4
Row
6: k4, sm, k to next marker, sm, k4
Row
7: k4, sm, k to next marker, sm, k4
Row
8: k4, sm, p to next maker, sm, k4
Row
9: k4, sm, k to next marker, sm, k4
Row
10: k4, sm, kfb in each st to next marker, sm, k4. 36 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p28, sm, k4
Row
12: k4, sm, k28, sm, k4
2nd
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, kfb in each st to next marker, sm, k4. 64 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p56 to next marker, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k56 to next marker, sm, k4.
3rd
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k2, [k1, kfb] 13 times, [kfb, k1] 13 times to final two
stitches before marker, k2, sm, k4. 90
sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p82 to next marker, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k82 to next marker, sm, k4.
4th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k2, [k2, kfb] 13 times, [kfb, k2] to final two stitches
before marker, k2, sm, k4. 116
sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p108 to next marker, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k108 to next marker, sm, k4.
5th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k3, [k2, kfb] 17 times, [kfb, k2] to final three stitches
before marker, k3, sm, k4. 150 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p142 to next marker, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 142 to next marker, sm, k4.
6th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k3, [k3, kfb] 17 times, [kfb, k3] to final 3 stitches
before marker, k3, sm, k4. 184 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p176, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 176 to next marker, sm, k4.
7th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k4, [k3, kfb] 21 times, [kfb, k3] 21 times to final 4
stitches before marker, k4, sm, k4. 226 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 218, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 218, sm, k4.
8th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k4, [k4, kfb] 21 times, [kfb, k4] 21 times to final 4
stitches before marker, k4, sm, k4. 268 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 260, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 260, sm, k4.
9th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k5, [k4, kfb] 25 times, [kfb, k4] 25 times to final 5
stitches before marker, k5, sm, k4. 318 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 310, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k310, sm, k4.
10th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k5, [k5, kfb] 25 times, [kfb, k5] 25 times to final 5
stitches before marker, k5, sm, k4. 368 sts.
Row
11: k4, sm, p 360, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 360, sm, k4.
11th
Section:
Rows
1 – 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k6, [k5, kfb] 29 times, [kfb, k5] 29 times to final 6
stitches before marker, k6, sm, k4. 426 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 418, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 418, sm, k4.
12th
Section:
Rows
1 - 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k6, [k6, kfb] 29 times, [kfb, k6] 29 times to final 6
stitches before marker, k 6, sm, k4. 484 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 476, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 476, sm, k4.
13th
Section:
Rows
1 - 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k7, [k6, kfb) 33 times, [kfb, k6] 33 times to final 7
stitches before marker, k7, sm, k4. 550 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 542, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 542, sm, k4.
14th
Section:
Rows
1 - 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k7, [k7, kfb] 33 times, [kfb, k7] 33 times to final 7
stitches before marker, k7, sm, k4. 616 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 600, sm, k4.
Row
12: k4, sm, k 600, sm, k4.
15th
Section:
Rows
1 - 9: Work in pattern.
Row
10: k4, sm, k8, [k7, kfb] 37 times, [kfb, k7] 37 times to final 8
stitches before marker, k8, sm, k4. 690 sts
Row
11: k4, sm, p 682, sm, k4.
Stockinette
Edging
Once
Row 12 of Section 15 has been completed, continue in stockinette
stitch for 13 rows as follows:
Row
1 [WS]: k4, sm, p to next marker, sm, k4.
Row
2 [RS]: k4, sm, k to next marker, sm, k4.
Rows
3 – 13: Continue in pattern (stockinette stitch) as outlined in Row
1 and 2, purling all stitches between the markers on uneven rows and
knitting all stitches on even rows.
Row
13 [WS]: k4, sm, p to next marker, sm, k4.
Picot
Bind – Off
*Using
the cable cast – on, cast - on two stitches. Next, bind off three
stitches. Return the single stitch on the right hand needle back on
to the left hand needle. Repeat from *. Continue until all remaining
stitches have been bound off.
Finishing:
List
of abbreviations:
co
– cast - on
k
– knit
kfb
– knit in front and back of stitch
p
– purl
pm
– place marker
sm
– slip marker
st
– stitch
sts
- stitches
yo
– yarn over
Should you require pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry or leave a comment below.
This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission.
Monday 2 January 2012
Citron - Finally Finished
Citron in Patons UK Misty |
It's taken a fair bit of time to complete this project, three months to be precise. Nevertheless, Citron, a semi - circular shawlette, is finally finished. The pattern designer is Hilary Smith Callis and written instructions can be found in the winter 2009 edition of Knitty.
For this project I decided to attack my stash of Patons UK Misty, which I bought as a substitute for Rowan Kidsilk Haze. (More on substituting Rowan Kidsilk Haze with Patons UK Misty can be found in a previous blogpost.)
Citron in Patons UK Misty |
On the whole, I am happy with the yarn, even though it split unexpectedly on two occasions, but this was easily rectified.
Labels:
Destash,
Easy Lace,
Hilary Smith Callis,
Kidsilk Haze,
Knitting Projects - Easy,
Knitty,
lace knitting,
Patons UK Misty
Monday 13 June 2011
Meandering Vines
It's off the needles, it's finished blocking and here it is....
Meandering Vines in Paton's UK Vintage
For further blog entries about the project, please look here (on blocking
the garment) and here.
P.S. Now that I am the proud owner of a shawl, I will need to source a shawl pin.
Labels:
Artqualia,
Easy Lace,
Knitting Projects - Easy,
lace knitting,
Patons UK Vintage,
Susanna IC
Sunday 12 June 2011
Meandering Vines by Susanna IC - Almost Finished...
According to an earlier blog entry, I began to work on "Meandering Vines" back in March 2011. It seems so long ago and I started several other projects whilst knitting the shawl.
Meandering Vines |
Finally, after three months of knitting on and off, it is finished. Well, ... almost finished. It's currently blocking. The shawl is knitted in a relatively thick cotton / acrylic yarn (Paton's UK Vintage) and blocking was an absolute must on this project.
The pattern is simple and straightforward, and, as promised by the designer, it can be knit in pretty much every type of yarn. - An easy knit for the beginner lace knitter.
My blocking method is a little quirky (see below). I neither own a blocking board, which would accommodate the full length of the shawl, nor do I have blocking pins, which would be strong enough to hold the fabric in place.
Meandering Vines in Patons UK Vintage - Blocking in Progress |
Meandering Vines in Patons UK Vintage - Blocking in Progress |
After some deliberation I decided to suspend the shawl with the help of two pegged coat - hangers from the top shelf of the wardrobe. The triangular corners on either side of the shawl are fastened to both sides of the wardrobe with the help of some scrap yarn (inserted in the eyelet stitches and then tied to the sides of the wardrobe). A further two coat hangers keep the garment in place at the bottom of the wardrobe.
Once this arrangement was in place, I lightly misted the garment with cold water.
Pictures of the blocked garment can be found here.
Labels:
Artqualia,
blocking,
Easy Lace,
Knitting Projects - Easy,
lace knitting,
Meandering Vines,
Patons UK Vintage,
Susanna IC
Sunday 1 May 2011
Substituting Rowan Kidsilk Haze
Kidsilk Haze must be one of Rowan's bestselling yarns. As I am writing this entry, Kidsilk Haze has been stashed 11813 times on Ravelry, knitters have produced 14396 garments with the yarn and it's a consistent favourite amongst designers. I have personally met the yarn in my local yarn store, I have touched it, my eyes have feasted on the fantastic colourways in which it is produced and I regularly drool over photos of Kidsilk Haze and other yarns in the Kidsilk family when browsing through online yarn shops. Yes, there are several members in the Kidsilk family: Kidsilk Spray, Kidsilk Night and Kidsilk Aura, which I believe has now been discontinued. I love them all.
Rowan Kidsilk Haze |
And yet, I have resisted buying Kidsilk Haze. I first came across Kidsilk Haze in a pattern book by Laura Harding. I had been knitting for a mere few months then and didn't know anything about yarn and the price tag that comes (quite rightly) with certain materials - Kidsilk Haze is a blend of Super Kid Mohair (70%) and Silk (30%). Blissfully ignorant, I looked it up on the internet and was quite simply taken aback by the price. Just about having completed my first fingerless glove in an awfully cheap acrylic yarn, I was after a yarn that was a bit more luxurious, yet affordable, a yarn with a purchase price, which I, an absolute beginner, could justify in case my project went horribly wrong. Therefore, I was unable to buy Kidsilk Haze. I didn't think my level of skill would do the expense and the beauty of the yarn justice.
Nevertheless, if I didn't allow myself Kidsilk Haze, I at least wanted something like Kidsilk Haze. And so the endless quest for a substitute had begun - alongside the perennial search for Kidsilk Haze at a knockdown price: That illusive skein of Kidsilk somewhere on sale for less than £3.50. (Yeah, I know...it's never going to happen.) Considering that 25g currently retail at just over £8.00, you are lucky if you are able to locate a skein for £5.95, and that would be in a discontinued colour, of which probably only one skein is held in stock. It has crossed my mind that instead of buying gold bullions for investment purposes, it might be just as prudent to have a few skeins of Kidsilk in your vault. I don't think prices for the stuff are about to drop any time soon and it might be a good hedge against inflation.
Patons UK Misty |
In the light of all this praise, I need to make absolutely clear that I don't think any substitute not equivalent in materials will ever come close to Kidsilk, but this is not necessarily the task a cheaper alternative is supposed to fulfil. When substituting yarn in this particular case, I am aware that a cheaper alternative will produce an approximation in texture and look. I am perfectly happy with this - for the time being.
Patons UK Misty |
After months of searching for this alternative, I found a possible candidate: Patons UK Misty, a blend of Mohair (70%) and Polyamide (30%) with a recommended needle size of 3.25 - 5.00mm (US: 3 - 8). Due to the Polyamide replacing the Silk content, Misty is a lot shinier than Kidsilk Haze. I haven't started to knit with Misty in earnest, but as far as first impressions go, I think Misty could be a frugal alternative. The yarn looks and feels luxurious. Whether it can live up to my expectations will soon be put to the test.
I have ten skeins of Misty in my stash and a few suitable patterns in mind. I will probably start swatching next weekend. Ice Queen by Rosemary (Romi) Hill, which is available free on Knitty's website, or Branching Out by Susan Lawrence, a pattern which was the subject of a previous article and which is also available on Knitty's website, are two possible candidates.
Update: I decided to use Patons (UK) Misty for Citron by Hilary Smith Callis. For more on this, please have a look at my Citron blogpost.
Another update: I have used Misty for another project. This time, it was a stole designed by Cheryl Niamath. Project notes are now available on the blog. For a preview picture, please see below.
Wisp by Cheryl Niamath |
Labels:
Kidsilk Haze,
Knitty,
lace knitting,
Patons UK Misty,
Patons UK Vintage,
Romi Hill,
Rowan,
Substituting Yarn,
Susan Pierce Lawrence
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