A close fitting cowl with alternating cables, Laura is worked seamlessly in ribbing from bottom edge to top. The clean, sculptural lines of the ribbed cables complement every style, and careful finishing makes the cowl completely reversible.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, cables, knitting in the round; the cable is both written and charted.
Size: 18” circumference and 8” height.
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Uva. The sample as written used 130 yards.
Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Cable needle; Stitch markers (8, one different color); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 21 st and 28 rows/4” in unstretched K1P1 Rib, after blocking.
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Fingerless handwarmers with mirrored ribbed cables, the Laura Mitts are worked from cuff to tip with a gusset thumb. The clean, sculptural lines of the ribbed cables offer a classic complement to every outfit.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, cables, knitting in the round; this pattern contains written instructions only.
Size: S/M (M/L), to fit 8 (9)” palm circumference.
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Paris Night. The size M/L sample used 95 yards.
Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle or dpns, or size to match gauge; Cable needle; Stitch markers (4, one different color); Yarn needle; Scrap yarn for thumb holder.
Gauge: 20 st and 30 rows/4” in stockinette st, after blocking.
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A close fitting, reversible ribbed hat, Azul has alternating cables that decrease in width until they disappear at the crown. The clean, sculptural lines of the ribbed cables and the beanie fit make Azul a perfect hat for everyday.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, decreasing, cables, knitting in the round; this pattern contains written instructions only.
Size: 18” brim circumference and 8” crown, unstretched.
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Azul Bolita. The sample as written used 125 yards.
Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle or dpns, or size to match gauge; Cable needle; Stitch markers (8, one different color); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 21 st and 28 rows/4” in unstretched K1P1 Rib.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
I’ve been a bit obsessed with the honeycomb brioche stitch pattern lately. It’s great for variegateds, helping to break up weird pooling and striping, and it makes a thick, fluffy fabric. I like it best in an accessory, or as an accent – as on the shoulder detail of my new sideways cardigan Blue Honey. The picture above shows lovely but challenging Malabrigo Rios in Azules, as stockinette, garter, and the honeycomb pattern.
When I say challenging, I mean the variegated nature of the color, particularly for garments. When Rios was first released, for some reason I bought a sweater quantity in this color. Why? I have no idea. It’s beautiful, and I love blue, but I dont make multi-colored sweaters, or wear them. Anyway, I finally decide this would be the right yarn for this sideways idea I’ve had for a while, and it’s really working out. The Rios is springy and lovely, and the little bit of patterning is just enough. Incarnation #1 is finished but the thing is still a WIP, because I strayed from my initial vision and added buttons, which are less than successful. I need to take them off and rip back to the buttonholes to redo the front band. You KNOW I’m not motivated when I choose to work on the grading before that.
It will be ready for testing soon, though, so maybe I ought to attempt making the redo my FO for friday.
The Contiguous cardigan continues, although beset by various little problems. Of course it’s been knit flat, back and forth to the underarm and for the body. And of course I KNOW that my flat gauge is typically larger than my gauge in the round.. Well this sweater proved to be typical; after knitting what should have been almost to the cuff on the first sleeve, with my carefully calculated rate of decrease, I tried it on and found that it was about 3″ too short. No good fix available, except to rip and redo.
I decided first to do the other sleeve, using a larger needle and consciously looser tension – no pulling tight in a stranglehold around the Magic Loop! No excessive worrying about ladders! It came out much better, and true to desired gauge; see the difference:
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I was fairly immobilized on the couch with three separate balls of yarn attached, but happily managed to eliminate one by finishing the left cuff. It’s going to need a steam to stop the rolling, but I think the fullness is good.
It matches the couch! So now I’ve ripped the right and am about halfway re-done; the next issue is that I will certainly not have enough yarn. There looks to be some possible destash on Ravelry, so once the second sleeve is finished, I’ll try to calculate what’s needed and procure some.
Wide sleeves and a cropped silhouette bring stylish attitude to the River Union Cardi. Extended raglan lines and volume sleeves create a blouson shape, while deep ribbing defines the waist. The full sleeves are balanced by their three-quarter length and deep ribbed cuffs, which match the figure-flattering waist ribbing at the hem. Knit seamlessly from the top down, it’s a fast knit with a fresh feel.
Construction: River Union is worked seamlessly from the top down in one piece with raglan shaping, in stockinette stitch with a deep, ribbed hem and cuffs. Stitches are picked up for the ribbed collar and buttonband, which finish the cardi with no seaming required. Instructions for working the simple, neat buttonholes are included in the photo tutorial with this pattern, and also appear in my video tutorial.
Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, twisted purlwise CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing, picking up stitches; pattern instructions include a photo tutorial for the buttonholes.
Size: 32.5 (35, 37.5, 40.5, 43.5, 47.5, 50.5)” bust; sample shown in third size worn with 2.5” positive ease.
Yarn: Berocco Pure Merino (100% extra fine merino; 92 yards/84m/50g), shown in #8568 Teal; 8 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) skeins, or approximately 650 (700, 775, 850, 950, 1075, 1175) yards of aran weight wool yarn. This yarn has been discontinued; see Designer’s Notes for suggested substitutions.
Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle; US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle for picking up stitches; Stitch markers (10); Stitch holders (2); Scrap yarn; Yarn needle; 3/4” buttons, 6 (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7); Matching sewing thread and needle.
Gauge: 16 st and 24 rows/4” in stockinette stitch with larger needle, after blocking.
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