Free Pattern: Greywacke Cowl

Greywacke is a thick, chunky cowl inspired by sedimentary rocks composed of feldspar, quartz, and clay. They are commonly found in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England, where a cowl like this would usefully shield you from the wind and rain.

Materials:

Yarn: Approximately 300 yards of bulky weight yarn, held triple-stranded. Shown in Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky (85% wool/15% alpaca; 100g/141yd per skein) in Grey (above) and Cascade 128 (100% wool; 100g/128yd per skein) in natural (#8010) – below.

Other options: Cascade Magnum, Twinkle Soft Chunky, Classic Elite Aspen or any super-bulky yarn, held single-stranded.

Needles: Size 19 circular

Notions: stitch marker, yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: Not crucial, but approximately 1.5-2st/inch in Greywacke stitch pattern.

Pattern:

Greywacke is knit in the round, using a simple pattern.

Cast on 48 stitches using long-tail method.

Optional: To make the twist (shown in the cream colored version), rotate the first stitch one full turn around the needle.

Place marker, and join to work in the round.

Knit 1 row, then begin pattern, which is a 6 row repeat:

Row 1: *k1, p2; repeat from * to end of round

Row 2, 4, and 6: knit

Row 3: p2, *k1, p2; repeat from * to end of round; end k1.

Row 5: p1, *k1, p2; repeat from * to end of round (you'll end with a k1, p1).

Repeat Rows 1-6 until cowl measures approximately 8” in length.

Bind off.

Finishing

Weave in ends. You may also spritz the cowl with water and toss it in the dryer for a few minutes to make it softer and denser.

Lillooet Deep-V Pullover

Lillooet is part of the Knitty Professors Winter 2009/2010 Collection.

 

Lillooet is inspired by the Lillooet ice field in British Columbia, Canada. Ice fields are large areas of interconnected glacial valleys, formed over hundreds of years when snow accumulates, freezes, and turns to ice. The Lillooet ice field surrounds a river of the same name, and it measures over 19 miles from east to west. Viewed from above, the Lilooet ice field is breathtaking. This sweater echoes the swirls, ripples, and crevasses visible in aerial views of the ice field.

Lillooet is knit from the top-down, with minimal seaming. You will cast on for the neck and work back and forth until the garment reaches to the waist. The cable and lace pattern begins at the neck and continues down both sides of the placket. Then, you will join and work in the round to finish the bottom of the sweater. Later, you will add crochet edging and buttonholes to the placket.

The sleeves also feature edging in the same cable and lace pattern.

For this sweater, I used Manos del Uruguay silk blend (70% wool, 30% silk; 150 in color 300C “Powder.” Other suitable yarns would be Malabrigo Silky Merino, Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca & Silk, or any DK weight yarn.

Sizes: XS[S,M,L,XL]

Finished Chest Measurements: 30[33,36,40,42]

Check out my Ravelry page for more details.

You can buy Lillooet separately for $6.00 . . .

Or as part of the Winter 2009-2010 Collection, which features 7 great patterns for just $21.00.

Tenley Cowl

Tenley is part of the Knitty Professors Winter 2009/2010 Collection.

 

Knit seamlessly from the top-down, Tenley is a flattering, fitted cowl-neck sweater. Shown in Malabrigo Merino Worsted (Colorway: Orchid), this sweater would work in any worsted weight yarn, such as Paton’s Classic Merino. Cascade 220, or Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted.

Tenley is inspired by Tenley Albright, the first female American figure skater to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games. Though never a professional skater, she entered and won the 1956 Olympic Games. What we love about Tenley was that she didn't stop there—she went on to study medicine, graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1961. She then became a surgeon.

The center medallion cable motif on this sweater reflects Tenley Albright's Olympic success. The twisted cables on either side evoke the caduceus, the familiar symbol of the medical profession.

Tenley is designed to flatter a woman’s figure. The cable and rib motif slims your waist, while optional hip increases provide an hourglass shape.

We hope you'll find Tenley a very wearable sweater. The slouchy cowl neck makes it a great pick for cold days, but the cable and rib pattern throughout the body still gives you a flattering, shapely silhouette. Tenley is perfect for watching a figure skating show at the arena, or just for taking a walk on a crisp winter day.

See my Ravelry page for information on sizing, yarn requirements, etc.

Tenley is available individually for $6.00

or as part of the Winter 2009/2010 collection, where you’ll get 7 great patterns for just $21.00.

Free: Crochetastic Tote

First of all, new word: Crochetastic. Crocheting with plastic bags. And it's fantastic.

Here's a more specific pattern for a purse/bag, with more detailed numbers than the general bag recipe in the last post on this subject. That post also has instructions for making yarn out of plastic bags.



Free Pattern: Crochetastic Tote

Materials
Crochet hook, size P
Scissors
Brown/Tan grocery bags, XXX grams. This works out to be 3 basketball-ball sized balls of yarn--WAY more than you think.
Note on yarn thickness: Cut the plastic bags into loops that are between 2 and 2.5 inches wide. See my earlier post for instructions on making the yarn.
Optional: White grocery bags, if you want stripes. About a softball sized ball of yarn.

Skills Required
Chain crochet stitch
Single crochet stitch, worked flat
Single crochet stitch, worked in the round
Single crochet decreases.

PATTERN

Bottom of bag: Chain 20, turn. Work flat in sc for 8 rows. Down forget your turning stitch.

At end of 8th row, turn, and work down short side for 8 sts. Turn again, work down long side for 20 sts, then turn once more and work 8 sts along the second short side. You are now back at the beginning of the round.

**Base of my bag is 14" long by 5" deep.

Work Body: Work bag in the round for 17 inches, for a tall tote like mine. Add stripes if you want--I put in 2 rows of a white bag yarn to create the stripe near the top of my bag.

Decreases: 5 rows before the start of your handles, you need to add a few decreases. As you can see from my bag, the decreases don't look like decreases--the bag tends to fan out, though, and the decreases make it look straight on the sides.

Work a one stitch decrease at each end of the bag (on the "short" sides), 2 dec per round. Decreases work like this: sc, skip 1 st, sc. The next round, sc as normal. Then work one more dec round. 4 total sts decreased. Work 2 more rounds in regular sc, then start the handles.

Work handles: At start of next round, beginning on a long side, work 7 sc sts. Then, chain 6 sts. Skip 6 sts on fabric, reconnect and work to the end of the long side--7 sts--then across the short side--8 sts--then 7 sts down the second long side. Chain 6 sts, skip 6 sts on fabric, reconnect, and work sc to end of round.

Work regular sc for 3 more rounds. Break yarn. Weave in ends.

Done!

Teddy Bear Rollneck Sweater – Free!

This summer Grover received this lovely sweater as a gift.

He liked it so much he asked for another sweater to wear. So I designed the Teddy Bear Rollneck Sweater:

The Teddy Bear Rollneck Sweater is worked from the top down, using raglan shaping. No seaming required! The rollneck is simply formed by knitting everything in stockinette, with no ribbing or borders. This makes it a super easy and quick knit, because after all… it is for a teddy bear.

GAUGE:
18 sts & 26 rows over 4”

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Approximately 4 inches long and 6 inches wide. Should fit any medium‐sized bear. (For reference, the bear in the picture measures about 8” tall when sitting).

MATERIALS:

Needles:

Size 8 (5mm) circular needles (16”)

AND EITHER an additional size 8 (5mm) circular

OR double-pointed needles in size 8 (5mm)

Paton’s Classic Wool Merino, approximately ¼ skein (or probably less). Any worsted weight yarn will do. Shown in 00229 (Natural Mix).

PATTERN NOTES:

The Teddy Bear Rollneck Sweater is worked from the top down, using raglan shaping. No seaming required! The rollneck is simply formed by knitting everything in stockinette, with no ribbing or borders. This makes it a super easy and quick knit.

PATTERN:

Using doublepointed needles or double circular method, cast on 36 stitches. Join to work in round. To shape the collar, knit in stockinette stitch for 9 rounds.

Begin raglan shaping:

Place markers: k3, pm, k12 (front), pm, k6, pm, k12 (back), pm, k to end of round.

Start raglan increases: *k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sm, kfb; rep from * to last marker, k to end of round.

Repeat raglan increases on every round for 8 rounds.

Separate sleeves: Place sleeve stitches on scrap yarn.

Join and work body in round for 2.5” or until desired length. Bind off.

Using doublepointed needles or double circular method, move sleeve sts from scrap yarn to needles and begin working in stockinette stitch. At the end of the first round, pick up 7 stitches under armpit. Continue working in stockinette stitch, only decrease two stitches on the following row and every other row for 3 times total , as follows: K1, k2tog, knit to last three stitches of round, ssk, k1.

Continue until sleeves measure 2” from armpit, or desired length. Bind off.

FINISHING:

Weave in ends. Block if desired. But seriously, are you really going to block something that goes on a stuffed animal?

DESDEMONA Beaded Lace Shawl

[update 14 Mar. 10]



Desdemona Beaded Lace Shawl available for $6.




The story of Othello and Desdemona may be familiar, but did you know that the tragedy turned upon a lace scarf?

Early in their relationship, Othello gave Desdemona a gift: a lace scarf. Evil Iago stole Desdemona’s scarf then told Othello that Desdemona was having an affair. To support his lie, Iago told Othello that Desdemona gave the scarf to her lover.

Othello confronted Desdemona. Othello demanded that Desdemona show him the scarf, but she (obviously) couldn’t find it. This was the proof he needed of her infidelity, and he killed her.



Here she is, portrayed by Frederic Leighton (1888).


Tragic, yes. Also, great knitting inspiration. This scarf must be soft enough, delicate enough, and beautiful enough to honor Mrs. Desdemona.

Teardrop Lace: A simple eyelet lace pattern, easy to memorize, great for a beginning lace knitter. Pattern .pdf includes chart and line-by-line lace pattern instructions.


Includes instructions for optional bead detailing to signify sparkling teardrops on the scarf.


The Lana Grossa Babykid is the softest mohair yarn I've ever touched. And I've touched a lot of mohair.

Just $6.00 for a PDF download.

EUCLID, a Fair-Isle Tee

[updated 3-2010]

A new pattern, designed by Jordynn and Katie. It is available for purchase now, for $6.



Jordynn used Berroco Ultra Alpaca:


Katie used Cascade 220 wool:

We call the pattern "Euclid," in honor of the Greek mathematician, because of the elegant geometric pattern of the colorwork.

We don’t know much about Euclid, other than that he was Greek and partied with Plato and Aristotle in the third century BC. He hung out at the Library in Alexandria and is best known for providing the basis for modern geometry.


Euclidean geometry is complex in its simplicity, a lot like the color pattern of this sweater.

People will be impressed by your apparent knitting prowess when they see you working on this project, but really, the pattern is so simple and intuitive that you won’t even need to keep the chart with you.

You can wear this piece by itself during the warmer months of summer, or layered over a long-sleeve t-shirt or blouse in the fall. If you live in a warmer climate, substitute a mercerized cotton or a cotton/wool blend for a lighter garment.

The pattern is worked top-down using raglan shaping.


Waist decreases are incorporated into the pattern, providing an excellent, customized fit:



The pattern is available in many sizes: XS, S,M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X. It is shown in size M.

Any worsted weight wool or wool blend should work for this sweater. Choose a combination of three contrasting colors.

Check out Euclid on Ravelry.



Available for $6.

Plath Cropped Cardigan

My new summer pattern, Plath, is now available at for $4.95. The pattern comes in 8 sizes, from XS-XXL!



Born in 1932, Sylvia Plath was both a prolific author and sweater wearer. She attended Smith College, where she also later taught poetry. She is best known for her autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar, and for her poetry collection Ariel.
This sweater was inspired by Plath's classic 1950's sweater girl style, shown above.

Plath features a simple, but pretty, ladder stitch rib pattern, an easy and quick two row repeat.

The sweater is knit top down in the round. The bottom edge of the cardigan features a curved edge that you create by decreasing strategically at each end. After completing the body and sleeves, you will pick up stitches first along the placket and bottom hem, and then along the collar. In keeping with the 1950s “sweater girl” look, Plath is a fitted sweater. If you’d rather have a looser sweater, you can either knit one size up, or adjust the number of increases and decreases in the shaping. Or, use a larger needle size (as I did with my first attempt, below, knit on size 8s).