Hei there Krissy!

...and...some more patterns now available as pdfs

My poor blog has been neglected this year, but with good reason: I have gone back to school to study Health and Psychology, leaving me limited time for knitting.

However, I am (slowly) working on a few new designs, as well as converting many of my previously published patterns to pdfs, and making them available via my Ravelry store.

Here are the latest offerings:

Two Color Baby Cardigan

A unisex sweater knit from cuff to center, sized for
0-3 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months.

An adult version of this pattern is available as well, from the Shibui Ravelry store:
Echo

Nordland Hat
Nordland is a tam style hat, inspired by the colors and patterns of the garments of the Sami people of Northern Scandinavia.

Jane.2
These fingerless mitts are knit flat, and have one pattern on the palm, another for the back of the hand.

The mitts can be worn on either hand,allowing the wearer to choose which pattern they want featured on the back of the hand.

(bonus...photoshoot cupcakes!)

"New" patterns added to Raverly store

I am slowly but surely working on converting some of my older patterns to pdf's and making them available via my Ravelry store.

Here are the latest offerings:

Cable and Rib Wrap

 

Elinor
(similar to the Cable and Rib Wrap, but scaled down to scarf dimensions)

Catherine

 

Zipper Cardigan

More pdf's coming soon!

"New" books: "Knit Bright" and "Crochet Bright" now available!

My first two books, "Knits from the Heart" and "Crochet from the Heart" have been re-published in simplified formats.

The new versions, titled "Knit Bright" and "Crochet Bright" respectively, feature the most popular projects from the original books. Both are available as printed books and as e-books.

All three of my Martingale are also available in their original formats as e-books. The originals feature a few more projects than the newer re-prints, and also include a "how-to" section covering the techniques used in the books.

Find a complete list of my Martingale titles, and links to e-book downloads, here.

Valerian Shawlette now available on Ravelry

(photo by Vivian Aubrey)

The Valerian Shawlette, originally published as the July 2012 installment of Twisted's Shawlette Club, is now available to the public on Ravelry.

The yarn used is Black Trillium Fiber Studio Lilt Sock,  in the color Brown Sugar (custom dyed for Shawlette Club members). It was truly one of the most beautiful colorways I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and the shawl was designed to show off the color to its best advantage.

As to the name, I was sitting on my front porch one morning, having my coffee and admiring the flowers in my front yard, when it struck me that the clusters of flower spikes on my red valerian plants have a shape reminiscent of the shawl motif. So there was the name for the shawlette--Valerian.

Learn more about/purchase Valerian here.

(photo by Vivian Aubrey)

Snow Bird Stocking (Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2012)

Out September 4, the 2012 edition of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts.

Included in the magazine is my Snow Bird Stocking, a design inspired by Nordic decorative arts.

Birds perch at the top of the stocking, above a field of stars and vines on the front side; the stripes on the back side of the stocking are an abstract rendering of bird prints in the snow. Duplicate stitch accents (in green) are added to the design after knitting.

The stocking was knit with MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino, and measures approximately 16" around and 20" long--big enough to fill with lots of goodies!

Oregonian article on "My Grandmother's Knitting"

A nice article from Nancy Haught from the Oregonian, profiling Larissa Brown, Leigh Radford, Chrissy Gardner, and me. She interviewed us in the context of our all being contributors to Larrisa's book, "My Grandmother's Knitting: Family Stories and Inspired Knits from Top Designers".

That's my design on the cover (yay!).

It was great to have another chance to talk about and honor the influence our families had on our work as designers.

A bit about the book (from the Amazon web page):
When most people think of their grandmother’s knitting, they might not immediately see the connection to a modern knitter’s life. But in My Grandmother’s Knitting, Larissa Brown shows us that nothing could be further from the truth. Many of today’s hippest and most popular knitters found their passion for knitting under the tutelage of their grandmother or another revered family member, and in this book, they share stories and patterns inspired by their memories and their gratitude.

Pattern Store: Scarves and Shawls

Welcome to my online pattern store!

This floor: Scarves and Shawls

The patterns below are available to purchase as pdf downloads; new patterns are added frequently, so be sure to visit again soon.

(Click on the images to see a larger version of the photos)

Modern Fana Scarf
$5.00 buy now

The striped section of the scarf is knit in a simple rib variation; stitches are then picked up along the edges for the two halves of the lining, which are joined with 3 needle bind off.
Finished size: 5.25" x 55"
Yarn Requirements: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift
Needles: Size 3 straight needles; size 3 circular needles, 24” or longer; second set of circular needles, needles, size 2 or 3, 24” or longer (used for BO)

Learn more about the Modern Fana Scarf here.

Lancaster
$3.00 buy now

Lancaster is knit in a simple garter stitch variation, with a little edge treatment thrown in to make it more interesting. It’s knit loosely, on large needles, and combination of yarn, stitch pattern, and big needles results in a fabric that is springy, soft, reversible, and has incredible drape.
Finished Size: 5.25" by 70"
Yarn requirements: 1 skein Twinkle Baby Chunky by Classic Elite
Needles: Size 15 needles

Learn more about Lancaster here.

Pioneer Shawl
$5.00 buy now

The Pioneer Shawl is inspired by a traditional Norwegian design, and is made to wrap around the body and tie at the front. Read the full blog post about the development of this design here.
Finished Size: Approx 30” deep; approx 76” from lower center back to point; approx 53” from upper center back to point of tail.
Yarn requirements: 1100 - 1500 yards dk weight yarn
Needles: Size 7 circular needle, 24” or longer

Back view of Pioneer Shawl

Pattern Store: Hands and Feet

Welcome to my online pattern store!

This floor: Hands and feet

The patterns below are available to purchase as pdf downloads; new patterns are added frequently, so be sure to visit again soon.

(Click on the images to see a larger version of the photos)

Go Anywhere Gloves
$5.50 buy now

The twisted knit pattern used for these gloves adds visual interest while also making a sturdier fabric. Included are options for open fingered and fingerless versions, as well as simple but effective color work.
Finished hand circumference: 6 1/2 (7 1/2, 8 1/2, 9 1/2)”. Sizes S (M, L, XL).
Yarn Requirements: Koigu KPM or KPPPM as follows-
Full gloves: 2 (2, 2, 2) skeins
Open fingered gloves: 1 (2, 2, 2) skeins
Fingerless gloves: 1 (2, 2, 2) skeins
Needles: Size 2 dpn, size 3 dpn

Learn more about the Go Anywhere Gloves here. 

Go Anywhere Gloves, 2-color, fingerless version.

Fjord
$4.50 buy now

Fjord is a fingerless mitt worked in a faux cable pattern.

The pattern as written knits into a mitt that reaches the mid-forearm; for an elbow length mitt, simply knit a few more repeats of the main pattern before beginning the thumb gusset shaping. A second skein of yarn would be required to knit a longer mitt.
Finished Size: Women's sm/med (med/lg).
Yarn requirements: 1 skein Shibui Knits Merino Alpaca
Needles: Size 7 dpn


  
Tingvoll Slippers
$4.50 buy now

Slippers require @ 30-75 gms each of two colors; exact amount will vary according to fiber content and size made. All yarns listed below are from Brown Sheep Company.

Small
Sport weight yarn knit at a gauge of 26 sts and 26 rounds = 4” in chart patten
Suggested yarn/needles: LanaLoft Sport
US 3 (3.25mm) dpn

Medium
Worsted weight yarn knit at a gauge of 22 sts and 22 rounds = 4” in chart pattern
Suggested yarn/needles: Lamb’s PrideWorsted
US 6 (4mm) dpn

Large
Bulky weight yarn knit at a gauge of 18 sts and 18 rounds = 4” in chart pattern
Suggested yarn/needles: LanaLoft Bulky
US 8 (5mm) dpn

Learn more about the Tingvoll Slippers here.

Pattern Store: Hats

Welcome to my online pattern store!

This floor: Hats

The patterns below are available to purchase as pdf downloads; new patterns are added frequently, so be sure to visit again soon.

(Click on the images to see a larger version of the photos)

Modern Fana Hat
$5.00 buy now

The “Fana” design of checks and stars originates on the west coast of Norway.

The traditional Fana hat is knit in 2 colors, and worked as a continuous tube, without any decreasing, then gathered at the crown and topped off with a pom-pom.

I have modified the design to incorporate many colors, and have added crowndecreasing for a smoother fit. I kept the contrast color ribbed hem, turned with a picot edge and left unsewn (to avoid a seam line across the forehead). Used in both men’s and women’s garments, it’s a very common element in Norwegian knitting.
Finished Size: 21.5" head circumference
Yarn requirements: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift
Needles: Size 2 and 3 circular needle, 16” long; size 3 dpn

Learn more about the Modern Fana Hat here.

Elizabeth
$5.00 buy now

Elizabeth is a textured, slouchy tam created with a combination of slipped and twisted stitches.
Finished Size: 20.5" head circumference
Yarn requirements: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift
Needles: Size 5, 7, and 9 circular needles, 16” long; size 7 dpn

Learn more about the Elizabeth here.

 

Arctic
$3.00 buy now

Arctic is knit with the yarn double stranded, making it very warm and super fast to knit. The rib pattern is very elastic, so the hat will fit a wide range of adult head sizes.
Yarn requirements: 1 skein Twinkle Baby Chunky by Classic Elite yarns
Needles: Size 15 needles, 16" circular and dpn

Learn more about Arctic here.

Fischer
$5.00 buy now

Finished Sizes: Toddler (Adult)
18.75 (22)” head circumference
Yarn requirements: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift; 2 skeins color A, 1 skein color B
Needles: Size 2 and 3 circular needles, 16” long; size 3 dpn

Note: Pattern is written at a gauge of 7 sts per inch. If you'd like to make a baby-sized hat, you will need yarn and needles that work up to a gauge of 8 sts per inch in chart pattern. This is because the chart repeat is quite wide, so the best way to get a 16.5” hat is to knit in a finer yarn.

Learn more about Fischer here.

Fana Hat
$5.50 buy now

The motifs used are in the “Fana” style, originating from the west coast of Norway. I have offered two options for handling the top of the hat. The first option--a gathered tube with no crown shaping--is quite traditional. This option should be finished with a large pom-pom, as the pom-pom hides the dramatic gathering at the crown. This version is shown below.
The second option is to work some final decrease rounds after completing the charts. This creates a more conventional hat shape, and is the version shown above.
Finished Size: Fits average adult
Yarn requirements: Brown Sheep Lanaloft Sport Weight; 1 skein each of 3 different colors
Needles: Sizes 4, 5, and 6 circular needles, 16”; size 5 dpn


(Fana Hat with unshaped crown with pom-pom)

Greenland Hat
$5.50 buy now

This hat is inspired by the Eskimo Sweater created by Unn Søiland, a pioneer of Norwegian knitting. Learn more about Unn Søiland and her illustrious career here; and the company she founded here. For those of you who read Norwegian and/or enjoy lots of historic photos of Norwegian knitwear design, check out To Rette og en Vrang, a book about Unn Søiland's life and work.

This hat takes 5 colors to knit. Because only a small amount of each color is used, there will be plenty of yarn left over after knitting the first hat to make at least one more, and probably two more, provided the knitter is willing to get creative with the color placement.
My second hat, with alternate color placement, is shown on the right.
The pattern includes charts for both of the above hats. Beyond that, it’s up to each knitter to create their own version.
Finished Size: Fits average adult
Yarn requirements: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift; 1 skein each of 5 different colors
Needles: Sizes 2 and 3 circular needles, 16” long; size 3 dpn

New patterns available

I haven't been posting much, but I have been a busy knitter. In addition to quite a few designs for various publications, yarn companies, sock clubs, etc, I have a couple new patterns for my line.

The first is the (almost) Instant Baby Cardigan (modeled by my friend's adorable little lady, Odella). Knit with a single skein of Malabrigo Yarn's Rasta, this sweater can be knit up in an afternoon. The pattern is sized for 2-5 months (depending on the size of the baby), and can be adjusted by changing the yarn weight and needle size.

Also recently published,  the Go Anywhere Gloves, which originally appeared in my book The Knitting Man(ual). The book is now out of print (but still available online and at many yarn shops). I will be releasing patterns from the book as pdf's over the coming year or so.

Knit with Koigu KPPPM, the gloves can be knit as shown above, with open-fingers, or fingerless.

Finished hand circumference: 6 1/2 (7 1/2, 8 1/2, 9 1/2)”; sizes S (M, L, XL).

Find these and other patterns in my Ravelry store.