Jennifer

Recovering attorney and emigree from 7th Avenue, I now combine my technical and creative passions to design knitwear. My design viewpoint is all about making simple, attractive garments and accessories, using a bit of interesting construction or an intriguing detail.

Rivelley

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Sep 302022

A one-skein shawl for that special luxury yarn, Rivelley is a long stole that forms a plane of smooth stockinette with a textured valley of garter rivels that emanate outward diagonally from the center line. With a gradual slow shift in shape, and a subtly nuanced texture from the decorative rimples, this sophisticated stole is perfect for an elegant solid or tonal semi-solid yarn.

Construction: Rivelley is cast on at the pointy tip, and worked on the bias in a long sweep with shaping at both the edges and the center. As the stole grows, the subtly textured central rivels expand slowly and move gently with the overall shape of the shawl. To adjust for different amounts of yardage, work more or fewer repeats within any section after the setup. The sample yarn is discontinued, some suggested substitutions include Seven Sisters Arts Apex, Magpie Fibers Swanky Sock, Dream In Color Smooshy Cashmere, or 400 yards of any cashmere/silk and wool blend fingering weight yarn.

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing; instructions for this pattern are fully written.

Size: 68” length and 15” depth.

Yarn: String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn Caper Sock (80% merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 400 yards/366m/113g), shown in Moonstone; 1 skein, or any amount of soft wool or wool/cashmere blend fingering weight yarn. The sample as written used almost all of the skein.

Other Materials: US 5 (4.5mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 24 rows/4” in stockinette stitch after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished shawl, and different yardage requirements.

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Ikinngut

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Sep 212022

Friends – you go on adventures with them, knit with them, and sometimes just appreciate them from afar in the comfort of your own private space. Ikinngut is the Greenlandic word for friend, and this modern rustic sweater is the perfect thing to wear for comfortable, casual rendezvous of all sorts with your besties.

Construction: Ikinngut is cast on at the back, the shoulders are shaped with a few short rows, then the back yoke is worked in a textured broken basket rib stitch pattern. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each front shoulder and worked similarly to the armscye depth, with deep V front neck shaping. Back and fronts are united and fullness is added at the empire line with rapid increases creating gathers, then the body is worked in stockinette in the round to the split hem, which is worked back and forth in K2P2 rib. Slim, three-quarter length sleeves begin with picking up stitches around the armholes, then the caps are shaped with short rows, and the sleeves are worked seamlessly to the long textured cuffs. Stitches are picked up around the neck and a narrow garter neckband is worked, with a mitered V to maintain the shape of the neckline.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, working in simple pattern, German short rows with link to my tutorial, picking up stitches.

Size: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54)” bust, shown in third size worn with 7” positive ease. I chose an oversized fit; consult the schematic for bust and other measurements, and choose a size that provides the amount of ease you prefer.

Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Cotton Comfort (80% fine wool, 20% organic cotton; 180 yards/165m/58g), shown in Storm 8651; 5 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8) skeins, or approximately 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400) yards of DK weight wool/cotton or wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge, and US 6 dpns for sleeves if not using Magic Loop; Stitch markers (2); Removable stitch marker (1); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 19 st and 24 rows/4″ in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

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Fleet Cardigan

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Sep 192022

Everyday, everyway . . . this topdown seamless raglan cardigan is perfect for so many outfits and situations. The cropped and boxy body hits at the high hip to pair well with a dress or high waisted pant, and the roomy full sleeves layer nicely while still being anchored with fitted ribbing at the cuffs. Highly textured seed stitch and a ribbed lapel & collar finished with a rolled edge elevate the style; wear it as a basic or a special sweater every day.

Construction: The Fleet Cardigan is knit seamlessly from the top down in allover textured seed stitch, using raglan construction with a compound rate of increase to ensure a proper fit for all sizes. Stitches are cast on at the neckline, then fronts, back & sleeves are worked to the bottom of the armhole. Increases are made on fronts, back and sleeves every RS row initially, then on fronts and back every RS row and sleeves every other RS row until the correct armscye depth is reached for each size. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked without shaping to the ribbed hem. Long, full sleeves are then continued to the matching ribbed cuffs. Stitches are picked up along the front edges and neckline, and worked in single rib with a rolled stockinette edge, ending above the hem.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, working in the round, picking up stitches.

Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)” bust; sample shown in sixth size worn with 5” positive ease.

Yarn: HiKoo by Skacel Simpliworsted (55% merino wool, 28% acrylic, 17% nylon; 140 yards/128m/100g), shown in #051 Raffi; 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10) skeins, or approximately 700 (750, 800, 850, 900, 950, 1000, 1050, 1125, 1225, 1325) yards of aran weight wool or wool blend yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 60” circular needle for ribbed edging; Stitch markers (8); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 16 st and 24 rows/4” in seed stitch, after blocking.

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New Dune

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Aug 302022

A light-as-air tank top, New Dune offers an updated sleek and cropped silhouette for the high-waisted modern moment. The laceweight yarn creates a whisper soft garment, perfect for layering over a cami or pretty underpinning, and suitably sleek under a voluminous blouse or a light jacket. New Dune goes from morning to night, the beach to the bistro, with a figure-conscious yet body skimming fit. The slim tapered straps and dramatic deep back neckline celebrate your skin, while the relaxed body and fitted rib hem enhance and accentuate your shape.

Construction: New Dune is an update of my early Dune tank for Classic Elite Yarns, featuring a sleek and streamlined tank strap, and a modern cropped length to wear with all of our high-waisted pants and skirts. It retains the classic architecture of the original, with slim shoulders, a deep V back neck, and smooth stockinette body with a deep ribbed hem. Cast on provisionally at the shoulders, the back and front are each worked back and forth to the armscye depth, then the body is joined and worked in the round to the bottom of the hem. Slipped stitches create a minimalist, clean edge, and the only other finishing is closing the shoulders with a 3-needle bind off.

Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, increasing, 3-needle BO.

Size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” bust; sample shown in third size worn with 1” positive ease. For a similar fit, choose a size close to your actual bust measurement; consult the schematic for garment measurements, and choose a size that provides the amount of ease you prefer.

Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace (70% alpaca, 30% silk; 440 yards/402m/50g), shown in Gentian Violet 2405; 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins, or approximately 350 (400, 425, 475, 500, 550, 575, 675, 750, 825, 900, 975) yards of laceweight alpaca/silk or wool/silk yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 24” circular needle or size to match gauge, and spare US 6 needle for shoulder BO; US 4 (3.5mm) 24” circular needle for hem ribbing; Stitch markers (2); Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 st and 32 rows/4” in stockinette st on larger needle, after blocking.

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L’Heure Verte

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Aug 232022

This sweater’s color recalls the silvery green foliage of the artemisia plant, used to make the storied spirit absinthe. Drinking absinthe became so popular in French cafés that by the mid-nineteenth century, happy hour there was called l’heure verte (“the green hour”). Deeply textured waves flow from the neckline of the sweater, expanding along with the yoke until they reach the stockinette body and disappear. The transition gives a slight A-line shape to the cropped body, while short rows shape the back neck and body for a good fit, and create the rounded hems. Simple rolled edges at the neckline, hem, and cuffs are clean and practical.

Construction: L’Heure Verte is knit seamlessly from the top down using round yoke construction, with an expanding stockinette-based wave texture on the yoke, a plain stockinette body, and rolled neck, cuffs, and hem. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the back neck is shaped with short rows, then the yoke is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked without shaping to the rolled hem. Bracelet length sleeves are then continued to the matching rolled cuffs.

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, backwards loop CO, seamless round yoke construction, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing. The yoke pattern repeat is both fully written and charted, and a link is included to my short rows tutorials.

Size: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52)” bust; sample shown in second size worn with 5” of positive ease.

Yarn: Purl Soho Worsted Twist (100% merino wool; 164 yards/150m/100g), shown in Artemisia Green; 6 (6, 7, 7, 8) skeins, or approximately 850 (950, 1050, 1125, 1225) yards of worsted weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 16” and 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; Stitch markers 10 (11, 12, 12, 13); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 18 st and 28 rounds/4” in yoke pattern, 17 st and 24 rounds/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

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Walnut Street

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Aug 122022

A touch of plaid decorates this open front cardigan, with long contrasting lines intersecting on the generous reversible collar. The plaid is created using simple techniques, in which the vertical lines are knit as contrasting stripes, while the horizontal lines are first worked as a purl column in the main color, then the contrast color is applied to the surface later using a crochet hook.

Construction: Walnut Street is cast on at the back neck and worked to the armscye depth with a few short rows to shape the shoulders. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each front, and worked separately with a bit of short row shaping to the armscye depth. Back and front are united and worked with gentle waist shaping to the hem. Sleeves are picked up around the armholes and the caps shaped with short rows, then worked seamlessly to the cuffs. Stitches are picked up along the entire front edge and neck, then the reversible collar is worked with contrast horizontal stripes and the long vertical stripe is applied last as surface crochet in the purl columns. No crochet skills are needed; it’s as simple as picking up stitches!

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, German short rows, picking up stitches, increasing/decreasing.

Size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52, 56)”; sample shown in fourth size worn with 3” positive ease.

Yarn: Dream In Color Classy (100% superwash merino wool; 250 yards/229m/113g), shown in MC 17 Torchwood and CC 611 Blue Sulk; 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) skeins MC and 1 skein CC, or approximately 1150 (1200, 1250, 1300, 1375, 1450, 1525, 1600, 1675, 1775) yards MC and 60 (60, 60, 60, 60, 60, 65, 65, 65, 65) yards CC worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 60” circular needle for collar; Stitch markers (2); Removable stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle; H8 (5mm) crochet hook for plaid collar contrast.

Gauge: 18 st and 24 rows/4” in Stockinette stitch, after blocking.

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Crioh Cowl

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Jul 182022

Crioh Cowl was the October 2018 featured design in the PostStitch KnitStitch subscription club, and is now available as an indie digital pdf.

One skein of luscious alpaca makes a reversible cowl featuring softly textured stitches. The three sets of buttons attached back-to-back allow you to style this versatile neckwear with either side facing out, and partly or fully buttoned.

Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, Twisted Purlwise CO, knit/purl; instructions for this pattern are written only.

Size: 10” tall and 18” circumference.

Yarn: Oh! from HiKoo by Skacel (100% super baby alpaca; 191 yards/175m/100g); 1 skein shown in Baby, or 185 yards of alpaca bulky weight yarn. The sample as written used approximately 185 yards.

Other Materials: US 10 (6mm) 24” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (2); Yarn needle; six ¾” buttons; matching sewing thread and needle.

Gauge: 18 st and 20 rows/4” in pattern. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished cowl, and different yardage requirements.

See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Crying Icicles

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Jul 052022

Like melting icicles, columns of slipped stitches drip down from the top of this two-color triangular shawl. Some are frozen midway, while others merge with the edging, pooling into the delicate snowflake border.

Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipped stitch colorwork, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted.

Size: 68” length and 26” depth.

Yarn: Anzula Luxury Fibers Squishy (80% superwash merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 385 yards/352m/114g); 1 skein each of MC and CC, shown in MC Periwinkle and CC Gravity. The sample as written used approximately 195 yards MC and 385 yards CC of fingering weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; Markers (4); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 17 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished shawl, and different yardage requirements.

See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Featherfall

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Apr 132022

Classic stitches and an unusual construction combine to make Featherfall, an open front cardigan worked seamlessly from the top down with modified raglan construction. Featuring shaped waterfall fronts, an undulating feather and fan hem & cuffs, and an elegant applied I-cord finish, Featherfall is both refined and at the same time simple.

Construction: Featherfall is worked back and forth from the top down with modified raglan shaping. The back and sleeves are worked in the raglan style to the bottom of the armholes, then the body and sleeves are divided and stitches are picked up along the front raglan lines to create the fronts, which are united with the back. Sleeves are worked in the round from the top down. Drapey waterfall fronts extend from the front raglan shoulder seamlines as the natural angles are shaped further with additional body increases. The body is finished with a wide lace hem; three-quarter sleeves are worked seamlessly in the round to matching lace cuffs. The front edges and neckline are finished simply with an elegant applied I-cord. Featherfall is meant to be worn open; the angled fronts will not meet at the bust, but will overlap at the hem if placed flat. The back is longer than the front, with an angled front hem that shows off the lace pattern.

Techniques & Skills Used: raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, cable CO, backwards loop CO, applied I-cord. The lace stitch pattern is both written and charted.

Size: 30 (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52)”; based on twice the back measurement at underarm; shown in second size worn with 3” of negative ease.

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino (51% silk, 49% merino wool; 150 yards/137m/50g), shown in Cloudy Sky, 6 (7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12) skeins, or approximately 900 (950, 1025, 1100, 1175, 1250, 1325, 1400, 1575, 1675) yards of wool & silk blend DK weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; US 5 (3.75mm) 60” circular needle for I-cord edging; Stitch markers (8); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 22 st and 30 rows/4″ in stockinette stitch, after blocking. The single ply silky yarn grows significantly when blocked; be sure to wash your swatch as you would the finished garment to check gauge.

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Akvavit

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Apr 042022

Tiny bowknots flavor the yoke of this topdown circular sweater, bringing a subtle contrast to the smooth stockinette body and sleeves. Ribbed hem and sleeve cuffs are worked on smaller needles, creating a slight blouson effect; alternate shaping instructions are also provided to substitute traditional tapered sleeves instead. Named for the “water of life”, a Scandinavian distilled spirit, the soft color and gentle halo result from using a strand of silken mohair laceweight along with a lofty wool & silk dk yarn.

Construction: Akvavit is worked seamlessly from the top down using round yoke construction, with a simple texture on the yoke and a plain stockinette body and unadorned neck. The hem and cuffs are worked in K2P2 rib on smaller needles to create a slight blouson shape to the body and sleeves. Stitches are cast on in the round at the neckline, the back neck is shaped with a few short rows, then the yoke is worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked without shaping to the hem. Full length roomy sleeves are then continued to the cuffs; alternate instructions are given for traditional tapered fit sleeves.

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, backwards loop CO, seamless round yoke construction, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing. Pattern instructions are fully written, with a link to my short row tutorials.

Size: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64)” bust; sample shown in third size worn with 5” of positive ease.

Yarn: Miss Babs Hand Dyed Yarn Killington (85% Polwarth wool, 15% Tussah silk; 700 yards/640m/240g), shown in Provence; 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins; held together with Miss Babs Moonglow (72% Mohair goat, 28% silk; 435 yards/398m/50g), shown in Quicksilver; 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) skeins, or approximately 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) yards each of DK weight yarn and laceweight mohair/silk yarn. OR approximately 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) yards of light worsted/heavy DK weight yarn held singly.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 16” circular needle or dpns, and 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; US 4 (3.5mm) 16” and 32” circular needle for hem and cuffs; Stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 18 st and 22 rounds/4” in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

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