Pomona Mitts

 Accessories, New Release, Patterns  Comments Off on Pomona Mitts
Jul 182013
 

Among my favorite design themes, Harry Potter is undeniably one which keeps appearing as if by magic in my knitwear. The Magickal Quidditch Socks, Amortentia and Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love have been expressions in knit of my love for the wizarding world. Now I can show another small item, the Pomona Mitts, which I designed for The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits Special Issue from Interweave.

Professor Pomona Sprout’s fingerless mitts reflect her personality; earthy, robust, and ready for hard work. Cast on provisionally at the outer edge of the hand, the fingerless Pomona Mitts are worked flat using short rows, then grafted for a seamless finish. The cuff is shaped into a point with increases and decreases, and made to flare with a short row wedge. The finger opening is embellished with a spikey picot edge worked by repeatedly casting on and binding off stitches, and an optional narrow decorative satin ribbon is laced through the eyelets on the back of the hand as embellishment. A rich and tweedy yarn brings depth and texture to the fabric, making a rustic contrast to the sleek and shiny ribbon.

Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, knit, increasing/ decreasing, short rows, grafting; a link is included to my short row tutorials.

Size: S (M, L); 6 (7, 8.25)” palm circumference; 7 (7.75, 8.75)” length from cuff point to tip. The stretchy garter stitch will fit a wide range of hand sizes; sample shown in size S worn on a 7” circumference hand.

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed DK (50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose; 191 yards/175m/50g), shown in 154 Ginger; 1 skein.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) needles, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (1 color A, 1 color B); Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle; ¼” wide satin ribbon (2 x 1 yd).

Gauge: 22 st and 44 rows/4” in garter stitch. Row gauge determines hand circumference, while stitch gauge determines length in this sideways knit.

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

The magazine has some fun pictures channeling Pomona Sprout in the greenhouses (middle pic), using the mitts for a bit of protection with the mandrakes.

Arcady

 New Release, Patterns, Sweaters  Comments Off on Arcady
Jul 122013
 

Highly textured lace and seamless top down construction give Arcady a simple and pretty appeal. A narrow applied I-cord edging at the front and neckline makes delicate button loops for small pearl buttons. The narrow ribbing flows smoothly from the lace, for refined sleeve and body hems with a tiny garter edge. Light and delicate, this cardigan adds whimsy to jeans or a romantic finish over a dress.

Construction: Arcady is cast on at the neckline and worked in lace pattern with raglan construction to the armhole depth. The sleeves are divided and placed on hold, while the body is worked in the  continuous lace pattern, with no shaping to the narrow hem. Stitches are picked up along the front edges and neckline, and a tidy applied I-cord with integrated buttonholes is worked to finish the edges. Finally, the cap sleeves are finished with a narrow rib and elegant slender garter edge, matching the hem.

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, easy lace, applied I-cord (cable CO); Arcady is both written and charted, and includes instructions for increasing in pattern, and a video tutorial for the applied I-cord.

Size: 30 (33, 35, 37.5, 40, 42, 44.5, 47, 49.5, 52)” bust; shown in third size worn with no ease.

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu (60% Merino, 40% Bamboo; 620 yards/ 567m/226g), shown in Winter Solstice; 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, or approximately 500 (575, 650, 750, 800, 875, 975, 1050, 1125, 1200) yards of sportweight wool blend yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; US 5 (3.75mm) 60” circular needle for edging; optional US 5 (3.75mm) dpn for I-cord; Stitch markers (10); Removable stitch markers 12 (13, 14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 18, 18); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle; 3/8” buttons 13 (14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18, 18, 19, 19); Matching sewing thread and needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 28 rows/4” in Arcade Lace pattern, after blocking.

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