Tag Archives: Knitting

The Wild West: Stranded is now available for preorders!

Use code STRAND on Ravelry for $2 through midnight PST May 27th 2014.

Tucson was one of the first patterns for the Wild West Collection.  I wanted to design something with a bit of flare — the bicolored cables, contrast color inside hem, contrast color edging to the collar and button band — but something very classic and wearable.  Like nearly all of my sweater designs, this one features flattering waist shaping.

Romance

I wanted to make a tailored, versatile cardigan that you can dress up or down.

I found the shell buttons at a local antique store, and sewed them on shiny-side down, so you get the cream, gray, browns and taupes of the “wrong” side.

Pattern Notes
The sweater is knit from the top down, with stitches picked up from the shoulder straps, fronts and back joined at the armholes, and continued in one piece.

The sleeves are worked by picking up stitches along the armhole, working short rows for the cap shaping, then continuing in the round.

Waist shaping is easily modified, as decreases and increases occur in the stockinette panels adjacent to the cabled panels.

Total length is also easily modified in the hem–to–armhole area by working even longer prior to hip decreases, by working the waist longer, or by working even longer after the bust increases.

Sizes
Women’s XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)

Finished Measurements
Bust: 30½ (34½, 38½, 42½, 46½, 50½, 54½)in / 77.5 (88, 98, 108, 118.5, 128.5, 138.5)cm
Length: 20½ (20¾, 21¾, 22¼, 23¼, 23½, 23¾)in / 52 (52.5, 55.5, 56.5, 59, 59.5, 60.5)cm
See schematic for full measurements.

Yarn
Black Water Abbey 2 Ply Sportweight, 100% wool, (330 yds / 300m per 3½oz / 100g), 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins (1100 (1240, 1420, 1590, 1780, 1940, 2100) yds MC; 1 skein CC. Shown in Autumn (MC) & Ash Violet (CC). Also available in 82 yds / 25g.

Needles
US4 / 3.5mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge
US3 / 3.25mm needles (or 1 size smaller than needles used to obtain gauge) for ribbing

Gauge
20 sts and 28 rows in 4in / 10cm in St st
Twisted stitch motifs average 9 sts in 1in / 2.5cm

Notions
(8) stitchmarkers; (6) ¾in buttons; waste yarn or extra needle for provisional cast on; yarn needle

Skills
twisted stitches, cabling, simple intarsia and stranding for cables, picking up stitches

I can’t tell you how many times I reworked the body of the hat til deciding that simple stockinette was best to highlight the beauty of the yak/cormo yarn and to let the brim details of Oak Creek really pop!  Sometimes simple is best…even if not always easiest at first.

I’ve played with the cluster stitch in other patterns (Sweet Cicely (not currently available), Exakta Hat & Exakta Cowl) and still think it’s a really fun lacy background stitch.

This is a great 1 skein pattern for gifting as well.

Oh, I love this back cable pattern.  I’m a sucker for dense, elaborate cable patterns, and this one totally fits the bill.

For Sedona, I combined elements of the main cable from Jackalope with the undulating side cable and seed stitch from Slide Rock.

I also devised the wavy twisty cable that sits between the outer cables and the main motif.  It was fun playing with it to get it to nestle up against the main cable but also keep an allowable distance between it and the outer cables.

Want a closer look?The back outer cables are repeated on the front. Simple I cord edging, similar to that on the neckline of Bisbee, makes for tidy finishing.

Pattern Details

Romance

This vest / waistcoat takes elements from both Jackalope and Slide Rock for the motifs. I-cord finishes all the edges. The back has short rows to lengthen it a bit.

I’m not done with this stitch pattern! Look for Sedona Deconstructed, a pullover, this coming winter.

Pattern Notes
This vest is worked initially in pieces from the top down and is then joined at the armholes, and continued in one piece.

The shoulder short rows are charted for each size.

All of the cable patterns for the back repeat are included in one chart for ease of reference.

Sizes
XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X).

Finished Measurements
Bust: 32 (36, 40, 43½, 47, 52, 56)in / 81 (92, 101, 110, 120, 132, 142)cm; to fit with 1–2in / 2–5cm ease.
Length: 18 (18, 18, 18, 19.75, 19.75, 19.75)in / 74.5 (74.5, 74.5, 74.5, 81.5, 81.5, 81.5)cm

Yarn
Anzula For Better or Worsted, 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon (Polyamide), (200 yds / 183m per 4.06 oz / 115g), 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins, shown in Seaside.

Needles
US6 / 4mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge
(2) US5 / 3.75mm DPNs for I cord

Gauge
22 sts and 36 rows = 4in / 10cm in Seed Stitch using US6 / 4mm needles
30 sts and 36 rows = 4in / 10cm in cabled patterns

Notions
(2) stitch markers (minimum); (5) 1⅛ buttons (buttons shown are JHB International Style 92547 Silversmith); cable needle; yarn needle

Skills
cabling, reading charts, short rows, I cord, applied I cord

You know how you’re not really supposed to have favorites but sometimes in your heart of hearts you do?  Jackalope is one of my favorites.
Even in SoCal, I can wear this in the winter at night if we go out to, say, a beer garden or some such.  If I get too hot, I just take it off; but when there’s that chill (and heh, give me a break, I’m from California!) it’s heaven to nestle up in this.

PATTERN NOTES

This stole just begs you to curl up with it. I love that the yarn, Mopsy, has angora in it; it just seems so fitting for a pattern inspired by a rabbit-like creature!

Although this is densely cabled, it works up quicker than expected on the US9 needles.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 69in / 175.5cm not including fringe
Width: 14.5in / 37cm

YARN
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Mopsy, 80% Merino /10% Nylon /10% Angora, (420 yds per 220g skein), 3 skeins, shown in Chestnutty.

NEEDLES
US9 / 5.5mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge

GAUGE
16 sts and 23 rows per 4in / 10cm in St st
28 sts and 23 rows per 4in / 10cm in cabled patterns

NOTIONS
Yarn needle
USG / 14mm crochet hook for attaching fringe

SKILLS
reading charts, cabling

Congrats to ikkinlala! I’ve emailed you.

Summer TNNA is now quite a bit (over 1.5 months!) earlier this year. It seems like we just had winter 2014 TNNA (see my post here).

If you’re a designer going to your first TNNA, read my Designer’s Guide to TNNA post here.

I’m now with Stitch Sprouts, and will be sharing a half booth with Mindy Wilkes.

Until this time, whenever I’ve had a booth, I’ve always been able to drive. This will be my first time bringing my stuff on the road.  I’ve bought a couple of items from Ikea that will fit into checked bags, though I’ve not fully decided what I’m bringing.  I’m planning a dry run set up in my dining room again before packing. Yay for Southwest - I can bring 2 checked bags if I so desire.  I really don’t desire to do so, but it’s nice to have the option.

I’m planning on bringing samples from CRK, Hitch, some old favorites, and a bunch from The Wild West Collection.  Although I don’t have individual patterns from The Wild West for sale on Ravelry (expect them late summer) I am planning on doing exclusive print for Stitch Sprouts prior to that.

Like I’ve noted other times, I don’t really have much of an agenda.  I’m going to be checking for yarn for a few projects, touching base with yarnie friends, showing off some samples, and hanging out with designer buddies I don’t get to see but once or twice a year.  I am going to bring out some order sheets for custom buttons, but that’s about the only new thing.

If you’ve read this far, here’s a teaser for The Wild West: Stranded, which will be coming out in May…. 4 stranded designs, 2 mitts, 2 hats.  Thanks to the Arizona-Sonora Desert museum for the pic of the Ringtail Cat, and to NPS for the pic of the Organ Pipe cactus.

…are now available!

If you just wanted a single pattern out of Hitch, now’s your chance!  Accessories (gloves, hats, cowls, small scarves, etc) are $6, sweaters and shawls are $7.  You can get them on Ravelry now, and soon on Craftsy, Etsy, and Patternfish.

Exakta Hat

On a sidenote, here’s a neat board on Pinterest with Saul Bass graphics.

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the contest for The Wild West: CABLES here!  Make sure to read the rules.