WoooT! (100k...)

We here at the Knitty Professors would like to thank you all for pushing us past the 100,000 visitor mark today. We're officially at 100,100 and counting...

Remember, we would love to see your finished objects that you've knit with our patterns--and we'd love to show them off here on the blog. Email FOs to knittyprofessors@gmail.com.

Thanks again. We like to think that, given the nature of our blog, our readers are the smartest.

Pattern: Gamekeeper Pullover

When I was trying to come up with the name for this sweater--a no-fuss, hardworking men's pullover with some small cable detailing on the sides--I thought of the consummate working man from English literature.

Mellors, the gamekeeper in Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence, is the "Lover" of the title--and what a lover. I mean, really. Check out this book cover:



That's just crazy.

I don't promise that this sweater will cause pants to drop, but it will look good on a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, optional short row shaping makes the neck and shoulders fit nicely.



The cable detailing is cute without being fussy or getting in the way of yard work:



Sizes: Available in chest sizes 38 to 62.
Yarn: Cascade 220 (green), Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool (white), any other worsted weight yarn will do.
Needles: US Size 7 circulars

Available as an automatic PDF download for $6.



The pattern is also available as part of our Winter 2008-2009 Pattern Collection.

Read earlier posts about this pattern here and here.

ESTELLA Cabled Cardigan

Estella is named after the hero Pip's love in Great Expectations. She was the adopted daughter of Miss Havisham; Havisham raised Estella to be the preeminent heartbreaker.

The Estella Cabled Cardigan is elegant and warm, inspired by fashions of the late Victorian era. Backs of dresses and jackets had great interest:



The cable across the back of Estella attracts attention whenever I wear it.



Victorian women wore dramatic cover-ups like this puffy-sleeved number:



Of course, the Bloomers are my favorite:



FYI, Estella works well when you are "increasing"...



... as I discovered by accident.

To knit Estella, you first knit the cable panel, like you were knitting a scarf. Then, you pick up and knit the ribbing around the collar. Then, you pick up and work down from the cable, working some raglan increases to shape the sleeves. After separating the sleeves, you work the body in plain stockinette. Lastly, you pick up and knit the button plackets.

Yarn: Paton's Shetland Chunky
Needles: Size 10 circulars
Buttons: 1" or so in diameter
Sizes: 35" bust through 55" bust.

Available for $6.


Also available as part of our Winter 08/09 Pattern Collection.

Free Pattern: Sediment Skinny Scarf

My Sediment blanket has been really popular, and other knitters out there working the pattern inspired me to create this new pattern. This one goes REALLY fast.

Sediment Skinny Scarf

Yarn: You need to gather all of your ball ends and bits; the shortest can be 12 inches long. Sort them into major color groups. I sorted mine into yellows, greens, reds, and blue/purples--but you can choose whatever organization your choose based on the colors you have.

Needles: One pair size 10 circulars, 30 inches or longer.

Cast on 150 stitches, using the backwards-loop method or the least aggravating method of your choice. At the beginning of the cast-on, leave a tail of 6-7 inches. When you finish casting on, cut the yarn, leaving a tail of 6-7 inches.

Now, at the end of every row you work, you will leave a tail of 6-7 inches at either end. These tails become the fringe of the scarf.

Work through one color group, changing yarns every row--after you break the yarn at the end of each row. The changing colors will create the "sediment" effect with the garter stitch.



Adding Yarn Mid-Row

Here you have a philosophical decision to make. You may, of course, Russian-Join the ends together, creating a seamless piece of yarn. You may also leave tails to weave in later (knowing they will show on one side or the other of this reversible scarf). Or you may do what I did: tie square knots.

I tie the square knots as I work. When the scarf is finished, I tighten the knots as best I can by pulling on the tails. Then, I get out my steam iron to block the scarf and thoroughly steam the fabric, which (in my mind, if not reality) encourages the fibers of the knots to grab ahold of one another. Then I snip the ends of the knots and let the yarn be texture-y.

Once you have worked 20 or 30 rows (or as many rows as you want, really), bind off your last row loooooosely, and break the yarn leaving a tail for fringe as usual.

Tie Fringe

In order to make the fringe more stable, you should tie adjoining pieces in square knots once you have finished knitting the scarf. I just knotted adjoining pairs of fringe together--the fringe from rows 1 & 2 knotted with the fringe from rows 3 & 4, and so on.

Free Pattern: Yulia

This braided headband was inspired by former Ukranian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Known for her sense of style, Tymoshenko sported Victorian-inspired clothing and a signature blonde braid, wrapped around her head in traditional Ukranian style. Not just a fashion statement, though, the braid has been called “a calculated political tool with significant cultural resonance” by the New York Times.

Regardless of whether you want to evoke a Slavic peasant look or run for office, though, you’ll find Yulia both cute and practical. You can wear it behind your ears as a headband, or use it as a ear warmer in cooler weather.

Materials:

Needles: Size 15/10 mm straight or circular needle

7.0 mm crochet hook

Yarn: Rowan Big Wool (or any super-bulky yarn), 1 skein (87 yards/) Color shown is #27 (Best Brown)

Notions:

1” button

Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)

Matching thread (for button)

Sewing needle (for sewing on button)

Gauge:

Not crucial, but approximately 2.5 sts/inch

Abbreviations:

C4B – Cable 4 back: slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle.

C4F – Cable 4 front: slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle.

Kfb – knit front and back

Yo – yarn over

K2tog – knit two together

K2tog tbl – knit two together through the back loop

Directions:

Cast on 3 sts.

Row 1 (RS): Kfb, k1, kfb

Row 2 (WS): kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb. 8 sts total

Row 3: kfb, k2, kfb, kfb, k2, kfb. 12 sts. Total

Row 4 -6 knit

Row 7: k4, C4B, k4

Row 8&10: k4, p4, k4

Row 9&11: knit

Row 12: k4, C4F, k4

Row 13&15: k4, p4, k4

Row 14&16: knit

Repeat rows 7-16 until your band is long enough to wrap around your head (Approx. 16”)

Beginning on a RS row, begin decreases as follows:

Row 1: k2tog, k2, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2, k2tog. (This creates a buttonhole).

Row 2: k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog.

Row 3: k2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts remaining)

Do not break yarn. Pick up stitches all the way around the band.

Knit one round.

Bind off using this stretchy bind off method: *k2tog tbl, sl st back onto left hand needle; rep from * to end of round.

Finishing:

Sew on button. Weave in ends. Block if desired.

F.O.: Liliane

Here are final pictures of Liliane!Of course, it’s already getting a little to warm here in NC for wool sweaters, but maybe we’ll still have a cold snap and I’ll get to wear it some.

Project Details:

Pattern: Liliane Sweater Coat

Size: M/L

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia in Marron

The color looks closer to the above picture than the one below—a warmer brownish shade.

Mods: I separated the sleeves a little early and ended up with about a 34”. I added a few extra rows of garter stitch on the placket to make the end measurement about 36”. I wanted this to be a bit more close fitting than the pattern called for.

You can find out more on my Ravelry project page.

Sock it to me

So, Katie and I are both skeptical about sock knitting, but one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to try socks.

So I cast on for this simple Knit Picks Toe-Up Socks pattern. I figured that the only way that would make sense for me would be a try-on-as-you-go, two-at-a-time pattern. This one looks pretty basic. So far I’ve just started the tippy toes:

I’m using Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet. The color is a mocha brown with a bit of a bluish cast to it, but the picture makes them look greyer.

In other knitting news, I’m almost finished with Liliane. I just need to knit the pocket and sew on the buttons, and it will be good to go:

I’m not 100% sure about the buttons I laid out above. They were purchased (but not used) for a different project. But I think they might work.

I’ve got a couple of secret patterns that I've finished, too. One of them will probably appear here, while I’m going to submit the other, a sweater project, to a magazine. (Fingers crossed).

This week is Spring Break—a perfect time to catch up on knitting projects and plan some warm weather patterns. yay!

What are we DOING?

For those of you who are in academia, you know that the weeks leading up to Spring Break can be the hardest 2 weeks of the entire school year. Spring break is next week. Therefore, Jordynn and I are not blogging. We barely even have time to speak to each other, or anyone else for that matter. There's just way too much to do!

We have been knitting though. I've seen some fabulous things come off of Jordynn's needles lately, so there's some great surprises in store for you. Stay tuned. (please. and we're sorry.)