Tag Archives: Knitting

Interview GAL 2018: Sara Huntington Burch

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Steph: Have you participated as a designer before this year? 

Sara: Yes, this is my 4th year! I love the camaraderie that you can find in the GAL. Everyone is always so excited and ready to share the love to support indie designers. I also love seeing all the FOs and discovering new amazing designs.

Are you participating as a knitter? if yes, what are you planning on knitting?

I’m going to try! I’m unfortunately quite busy this year but I hope to have some time later in the month. I’m thinking of trying my hand at some brioche in one of Leslie Anne Robinson’s beautiful designs, like Whisp.

I’m really busy too! I may knit some slippers as gifts, if I have the time.

Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?

If you happen to know someone who loves birds, you can’t go wrong with my birdy patterns like Charadrii and Charadriiformes, as well as Bramble Birds and Owl in the Thicket Hat.

Oh, I love those! I also love the science geek names.

photos © Sara Huntington Burch

 

Find Sara on Ravelry as DinosaraKnits, and check out all her designs here

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

Interview GAL 2018: Susanna Winter

One of the things I love most about the Indie GAL (Gift-A-Long) is the chance to discover and/or promote other designers’ work. Over the course of the GAL I’ll be publishing gift-knitting related interviews with designers whose work I admire.

Steph: Hi Susanna! Have you participated as a designer before this year? What’s your favorite favorite part of the GAL?

Susanna: This is my third time participating as a designer. My favorite part is admiring all the amazing patterns my fellow designers have come up with, finding new favorite patterns and designers, and of course the fun chatter and camaraderie in the group threads.

Me too! I love browsing the participating designer thread.

Are you participating as a knitter as well as a designer?

I am participating as knitter, too. My brother and his wife just had their first child a few weeks ago so I want to knit everything for my little nephew. Baby knits are so fast and cute.

I’d love to do the Opadoo (Steph note: the Opadoo is doing one project for each category), too, but holidays are so hectic anyways I’m trying to preserve my sanity. Maybe someday!

Which of your patterns do you think make the best gifts?

I think patterns with which you don’t have to care about sizing and fit too much make the best gift knits. My particular favorite is the Free Falling cowl – that’s also a great stashbusting, scrap yarn pattern. I’ve knit two myself and still have the makings of at least a dozen more in my scrap yarn bin!

That cowl is awesome! I love the interplay of the different stitch patterns with a unified palette.

photos © talvi knits

 

Find Susanna on Ravelry as Talvi, and check out all her designs here! Her website is here.

Don’t forget to check out the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry to join in the fun!

Indie Design Gift-a-Long 2018

 

It’s that time of the year!

Here’s the info: The Gift-A-Long (GAL), a 6-week KAL/CAL of holiday gifts, is running from November 23rd at 8 pm (US-EST) through December 31st at midnight (US-EST). Prizes galore (patterns, books, yarn, and more) will be available. Games, contests, recipes tips, and just general chat rounds out the festivities.

349 indie designers are participating this year! To join in the gift-a-long, simply knit or crochet any of their paid patterns and post all the required info in the appropriate thread in the group here.

From November 23rd at 8:00 pm US EST – November 29th, 2018 at 11:59 pm US EST the participating indie designers will be discounting between 10 – 20 of their patterns 25% for this event. Use coupon code: giftalong2018.

I have chosen some of my most popular popular patterns this year for the sale, ranging from quick gifts (Quercus, Manzanita and Ocotillo mittens; Artemisia Cowl; Chalk Hill Mitts; Aliso Mitts), medium effort gifts (Isn’t it Romantic?, Tafoni, Stonelace Cowl, Coronado Cowl, Wrought Mitts), to colorwork (Ravens in Snow fingerless mitts, Byzantine cowl), to two-colored cabled shawls (Sand Ripples, Alongshore), to bigger labours of love (Calliandra, Under the Sun, Flidais, Atlas Peak Stole). You can see the whole bundle here.

But don’t forget — any paid design by the participating indie designers is eligible for the GAL, not just the sale patterns! (You can see all my designs on Ravelry here.)

Check out the awesome infographic about the GAL by BraschElegance:

 

Pattern Release: Windansea Cowl

 

The Windansea Cowl is now live! It’s part of the Beachwalk Knits collection, worked in luscious Sweet Georgia Cash Silk lace.

Check out the test knit thread to see the design worked in different colors and yarns.

Here are the pattern details!

This lovely laceweight cowl pairs a modification of one of my favorite vintage lace patterns, Print of the Wave, with a lovely dot knit textured pattern and a geometric top and bottom edging. Wear it as a single loop or double it as shown below.

One size each version
Cowl with lace (with garter) edging

Finished Measurements
Height with lace edging: 8” / 20.5 cm
Height with garter edging: 8½“ / 21.5 cm
Circumference: 42” / 106.5 cm

Yarn
Sweet Georgia Cash Silk Lace, 55% Silk / 45% Cashmere (400 yds / 365 m per 50 g), 1 skein. Shown in Sapphire colorway. Sample weighed 52 g and used 416 yds / 380 m.

Needles
US 2.5 / 3 mm (your choice straight or circular), or size to obtain gauge

Gauge
27.5 sts and 40 rows over 4” / 10 cm in Kelp Repeat lace and textured pattern
Gauge is important. Alterations in gauge will affect yarn requirements and finished size.

Notions
yarn needle
1 stitch marker
waste yarn or stitch holder

Skills
lace knitting, knitting in the round, picking up stitches
Both charts and line by line instructions are provided

Pattern Release: Garrapata Hat

The Garrapata Hat‘s rich texture and cozy folded ribbed brim makes this unisex hat a go-to!

Sizes
Unisex S (M, L, XL), to fit head circumference: 20 (22, 24, 26)” / 51 (56, 61, 66) cm

Finished Measurements
Head circumference: 19 (20¼, 21¾, 23¼)” / 48 (51.5, 55.5, 59) cm
Height including folded brim: 9 (9, 9½, 9½)” / 23 (23, 24, 24) cm

Yarn
Sunday Knits Nirvana 5 ply, 92% select fine Australian merino / 8% premium Mongolian cashmere (137 yds / 125 m per 50g), est 143 (153, 179, 186) yds / 131 (140, 164, 171) m, shown in Earth.
Shown in Size Large.

Needles
US 5 / 3.75 mm or size needed to obtain gauge for Dot Knit stitch in the round
US 4 / 3.5 mm or one size smaller than size for body of hat for brim
US 3 / 3.25 mm or one size smaller than size for ribbing for tubular cast on
Your choice of circular needles or DPNs for working in the round

Gauge
22 sts and 36 rounds over 4″ / 10 cm in Dot Knit stitch pattern, blocked

Notions
(4) stitch markers, (1) unique for beginning of round; yarn needle; waste yarn for provisional cast on

Skills
working in the round, optional tubular cast on

Pattern Release: Russian Gulch Stole

This lush, cozy stole just begs to be wrapped around you. The Aran Lace pattern evokes rocky, pebbly streams and estuary as the Russian Gulch Creek enters the Pacific Ocean.

The Russian Gulch stole is part of the Beachwalk Knits collection.

The pattern includes both a chart and line by line instructions.

One Size (easy to alter)
Can by altered by working fewer or more repeats

Finished Measurements
19½“ / 49 cm wide
73” / 185.5 cm long

Yarn
YOTH Father, 100% Domestic Rambouillet (220 yds / 201 m per 100 g), 6 skeins, shown in Spring Water.
Actual yardage: 1311 yds / 1199 m

Needles
US 6 / 4mm or size needed to obtain gauge for cable pattern
US 5 / 3.75 mm or one size smaller than size for body for tubular cast on

Gauge
22.5 sts and 23 rows over 4” / 10 cm in cable pattern, blocked

Notions
yarn needle
waste yarn for optional tubular cast on
spare needle for optional tubular bind off
Optional: JUL Designs leather screw-in closures

Skills
maintaining stitch patterns
increasing/decreasing
cabling
optional tubular cast on / bind off
both line by line instructions and chart included

 

Pattern Release: Point Lobos Hat

Here’s the Point Lobos Hat!


And the details:

This lovely hat combines texture and Aran Lace. The Aran Lace brim is worked first, with stitches picked up along the edge for the body of the hat.

Point Lobos is a beautiful State National Reserve just south of Monterey, off Highway 1.

Sizes
Women’s S/M (M/L), to fit head circumference: 20-22 (22-24)“ / 51-56 (56-61) cm

Finished Measurements
Brim circumference: 17½ (21)“ / 44.5 (53.5) cm
Head circumference: 19 (21¾)” / 48 (55.5) cm
Height including brim: 9 (10)“ / 23 (25.5) cm

Yarn
Sunday Knits Angelic 5 ply, 75% extra-fine Australian merino / 25% ultra soft French angora (137 yds / 125 m per 50g), est 127 (166) yds / 117 (152) M, shown in Sky.
Shown in Size S/M.

Needles
US 5 / 3.75 mm or size needed to obtain gauge for Dot Knit stitch in the round

US 4 / 3.5 mm or one size smaller than size for body of hat for brim

Your choice of circular needles or DPNs for knitting in the round (main body of hat) and flat (brim)

Gauge
22 sts and 36 rounds over 4” / 10 cm in Dot Knit stitch pattern, blocked
Brim Pattern: 1 repeat is 3½“ / 9 cm wide and tall, blocked

Notions
(4) stitch markers, (1) unique for beginning of round; yarn needle; waste yarn for provisional cast on

Skills
working in the round, provisional cast on and grafting (or) seaming

Pattern Release: Aliso Mitts

Meet the first pattern from the Beachwalk Collection, the Aliso Mitts!

Here are the details:

These mitts are both luxurious and practical. Perfect for beachcombing!

If your fingers get cold, unfold the top cuff; otherwise, fold it as shown for a cute, cozy look.

The textured pattern is easily unisex and is offered in four sizes.

Small details like an option tubular cast on and bind off and a subtly accented thumb gusset elevate these otherwise simple mitts.

Sizes
Unisex Small (Medium, Large, XL); to fit 6 (7¼, 8¼, 9¼)” / 7 (8, 9.5, 10.5) cm hand circumference

Finished Measurements
Palm circumference: 5¾ (7, 8, 9)” / 15 (17.5, 20.5, 23) cm

Yarn
Sunday Knits Angelic 5 ply, 75% extra-fine Australian merino / 25% ultra soft French angora (137 yds / 125 m per 50g), est 89 (109, 139, 155) yds / 81 (100, 127, 142) m, shown in Sky. Note: You can substitute any of the Sunday Knits 5-ply yarns.
Shown in Size Large, actual weight 48 g.

Needles
US 5 / 3.75 mm or size needed to obtain gauge for Dot Knit stitch in the round
US 4 / 3.5 mm or one size smaller than size for body of mitt for ribbing
US 3 / 3.25 mm or one size smaller than size for ribbing for tubular cast on
Your choice of circular needles or DPNs for working in the round

Gauge
22 sts and 36 rounds over 4″ / 10 cm in Dot Knit stitch pattern, blocked

Notions
yarn needle, waste yarn, 3 stitch markers

Skills
maintaining stitch patterns, increasing, decreasing, picking up stitches, knitting in the round, optional tubular cast on / bind off

Pattern Release: Stonelace Cowl

In the mood for a quick but lovely knit? Welcome to the the Stonelace Cowl!


Here are the details:

Tafoni is a type of sandstone that has intricate holes and lacy patterns worn into it. Stonelace is another descriptive term for tafoni.

The Stonelace Cowl incorporates a geometric top and bottom edging, with an Aran Lace and textured body.

An option is included for working a simple garter stitch edging.

Both charts and line by line instructions provided.

One size each version
Cowl with lace (with garter) edging

Finished Measurements
Height with lace edging: 7½“ / 19 cm
Height with garter edging: 8” / 21 cm
Circumference: 25½” / 65 cm

Yarn
Anzula Luster, 50% merino / 50% silk (405 yds / 370 m per 4.02 oz / 114 g), 1 skein of Saffron. As shown cowl used approx 234 yds / 214 m.

Needles
US 3 / 3.25 mm needles or size to obtain gauge

Gauge
24 sts and 32 rows over 4” / 10 cm in Textured Repeat, blocked into final shape.
See Swatch Section in Pattern Notes

Notions
yarn needle
cable needle
1 stitch marker
waste yarn or stitch holder

Skills
Knitting in the round, special stitches (directions given), cabling, lace, picking up stitches for version with edging

Pattern Release: Calliandra Shawl – Craftsy Kit

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to say my shawl pattern, Calliandra, was just released as part of a Craftsy kit today.  Check it out here.

 

One of my favorite plants in our yard is the Baja Fairy Duster, Calliandra californica. Per its name, it’s native to Baja, California, but the plant itself loves our yard and has self-seeded, producing multiple young plants.

This shawl uses a modification of Barbara Walker’s Mexican Edging for the pretty scalloped border.

One size, easily altered

Finished Measurements
Length 56½“ / 143.5 cm
Width at top 46.5” / 118 cm

Yarn
Cloudborn Alpaca and Highland Naturals, 50% Superfine Alpaca / 50% Fine Highland Wool (247 yds per 50 g), 5 skeins (1220 yds / 1116 m). Sample shown in Flax.

Needles
US3 / 3.25mm circular needles or size to obtain gauge

Gauge
36 sts and 34 rounds = 4” / 10 cm over lace pattern, blocked firmly

Notions
yarn needle

Skills
lace knitting, reading charts