Indie Design Gift-A-Long

 Patterns  Comments Off on Indie Design Gift-A-Long
Oct 312013
 

Indie Design Giftalong

Finally I can share with you a super-big, super-exciting event of which I am part, created by many of the independent designers on Ravelry! The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a knitting and crochet-along that is taking place from November 1 to December 31, 2013 in the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group on Ravelry – with participation threads for all categories of items, and hundreds of prizes donated by designers and yarnies. To kick off the event, participating patterns are on sale for 25% discount with the Ravelry coupon code “giftalong” from November 1-15 (GMT).

From the description in the group:

Prepping for the holidays as only fiber folks can, with special deals from tons of indie designers! What is Gift-A-Long? It’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear! Put plainly, from November 1st until November 15th (GMT) any pattern listed in the “List of Participating Patterns” thread is 25% off when you use the code “giftalong”. Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, we encourage you to join a relevant KAL/CAL! (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the cowl KAL/CAL.) KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes (check out the Prizes thread for details) but you gotta post to win! KAL/CALs will run until December 31st, plenty of time to knock out all your holiday knitting and crocheting. On your mark…get set…. GIFT!!

All of my individual, self-published patterns, as well as my Hail, Tartania!, Silt & Stone, and Crimp Hat & Crimpy Mitts ebooks, are included in the sale. Here’s a teaser sample of some included patterns; you can see them all in my Ravelry store The Knitting Vortex – Designs by Jennifer Dassau.

Indie Design GAL 2013 teaser

Tartania Mitts

 Accessories, New Release, Patterns  Comments Off on Tartania Mitts
Oct 292013
 

Hail, Tartania! Plaid hands are glad hands, and these tartan fingerless mitts make the technique easy. The horizontal colors are knit as stripes using one color at a time per row in a wide rib, then the vertical stripes are added at the end with a crochet hook in the purl columns; no crochet skills are needed.

The Tartania Cowl is part of Hail, Tartania! an ebook collection which also includes a matching hat and fingerless mitts.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, knitting in the round, increasing; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a chart and table for the plaid; a video tutorial is provided for the non-stranded plaid technique.

Size: S (L); 6.75 (8)” circumference and 7 (8.75)” length; size S shown on 7” circumference hand.

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% Merino; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein each MC, CC1, and CC2, shown in MC Tortuga, CC1 Hollyhock and CC2 Cadmium; the sample used approximately 75 (95), 10 and 10 yards respectively.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 24” circular needle for Magic Loop, or dpns, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (3); Size H/8 (5mm) crochet hook; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 18 st and 26 rows/4” in stockinette stitch on larger needle; 18 st and 36 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. Size S (L) plaid repeat of 10 (12) st and 12 (16) rows is 2.25 (2.5)” wide and 1.75 (2.25)” tall.

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

Folderol-over-and-over-again

 New Release, Patterns, Wraps  Comments Off on Folderol-over-and-over-again
Oct 282013
 

I promised another indie re-release of a design initially published in a magazine, and since it’s getting chilly, what’s better than a soft and warm tucked wrap made with worsted merino? The individual pattern download features a link to my video tutorial for the tuck stitch, and expanded notes and photos, all presented in my user- and printer-friendly format.

Folderol | The Knitting Vortex

“Folderol” means foolish nonsense, but this worsted crescent shawl is no trifle; the cozy wrap is made extra thick and warm with triple folds, curved gently with short rows, and finished neatly with applied I-cord. Knit from the bottom up and given texture and shape with tucks and decreases, Folderol is completely reversible and absolutely worthy.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable and provisional CO, knit/purl, tucks, picking up stitches, short rows, decreasing, applied I-cord; this pattern includes written instructions as well as a link to my tuck stitch video tutorial.

Size: 58” length, and 10” depth.

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% Merino) 210 yards/192m/ 100g; 3 skeins shown in Tuareg. The sample used approximately 525 yards.

Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 47” circular needle; US 7 (4.5mm) 47” circular needle for picking up stitches; Stitch markers (2) optional, to mark SR turning points; Smooth scrap yarn for provisional CO and marking tuck row; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 14 st and 24 rows/4” in stockinette stitch on larger needle. 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.      

Folderol was originally published in Issue 1 of the digital Knit Edge Magazine from Cooperative Press, that went beyond patterns to explore the art behind our craft. Of course there are not only fabulous designs, but also informative articles and opinion pieces. Issue One is available to download on Ravelry.

Roam Cowl

 Accessories, New Release, Patterns  Comments Off on Roam Cowl
Oct 272013
 

Roam around in this luxury moebius cowl, featuring the reversible Roman Stripe lace stitch pattern. Using a moebius cast on, this infinity scarf is knit outward from the cast on edge, which becomes the middle of the cowl, until the outside edge is reached and bound off. Long rounds are balanced by a simple 7 row repeat that looks beautiful from both sides and lends itself to the infinity structure.

Techniques & Skills Used: moebius CO, knit/purl, working in the round, easy lace; the lace stitch pattern is both written and charted.

Size: 46” circumference and 10” tall.

Yarn: String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn & Fiber Caper Sock (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 400 yards/366m/113g), sample shown in Oban; 1 skein, or 400 yards of fingering weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40” circular needle or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 14 st and 35 rows/4” in Roman Stripe stitch 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. 

Mission: Rhinebeck

 Random Thoughts  1 Response »
Oct 212013
 

I usually go to fairs, and even stores, with the “look around and see what I find” sort of mentality. Several things are at play there; I design around stash that I have (those yarns I’ve “found”), I like the thrill of discovery, and if I really NEED something I go straight to sourcing it online and ordering. But this year at Rhinebeck it was different, because I was hunting the Tiger.

Tigers . . . quick, what do you think of? Orange and black, and fierce. I have a concept, and it requires orange and black yarn – which is alarming. Especially the orange part. Fortunately, I had my best orange-loving peeps with me. If anyone knows orange, it’s Amy and Jenny.

Amy & Jenny at Rhinebeck 2013    lunchtime at Rhinebeck 2013

They know when it’s too rusty, not golden enough, or just plain pumpkin overload. We must’ve looked at every orange yarn at the festival, plus taken in the foliage inspiration, and visited the wool sources themselves.

fall foliage at Rhinebeck 2013  Rhinebeck 2013 sheep  Plaidscape at Rhinebeck 2013

And as if orange weren’t enough of a challenge, black is NOT a good color in which to design. Even a deep, rich, tonal black sucks the life out things, at least in photographs. We tried greys – I love grey! – but even dark charcoals did not read as Tiger. So many issues; not too black, not too Halloween orange, ideally both from the same source. I was prepared to leave empty-handed, and then we got to Cephalopod.  On the Bugga wall, my orange friends located Red Eft, and even though it looked looked scarily pow! to me, even I could see its appeal. Fate was sealed when I found Copper Demoiselle, a purple-black that read Tiger and surprisingly, not Witch.

Rhinebeck 2013 tiger yarn

I’m feeling the feline.

 

Tartania Hat

 Accessories, New Release, Patterns  Comments Off on Tartania Hat
Oct 172013
 

A plaid hat is just the thing for fall, and this easy tartan method requires no stranding and produces a graphic result. The horizontal colors are knit as stripes using one color at a time per row in a wide rib, then the vertical stripes are added at the end with a crochet hook in the purl columns; no crochet skills are needed – it’s as simple as picking up dropped stitches. Mix and match your colors with the cowl and mitts for an eye-catching accessories set.

The Tartania Hat is available as part of the Hail, Tartania! ebook collection, which includes the cowl, hat and fingerless mitts. If you are using Malabrigo Merino Worsted, you should be able to make all three accessories with a total of 3 skeins, one in each color, if you use a different MC for each as in the sample photographs.

Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, cable CO, decreasing, knitting in the round; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a chart and table for the plaid; a video tutorial is provided for the non-stranded plaid technique.

Size: S/M (M/L); 17.5 (20)” circumference, unstretched; knit in a soft and unstructured yarn, this hat will easily fit approximately 20-22 (22-24)” head circumference; size M/L shown on 22” head.

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% Merino; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein MC, 1 skein CC1, 1 skein CC2. Shown in MC Cadmium, CC1 Hollyhock and CC2 Tortuga, and using approximately105 (115), 20 and 20 yards respectively. A soft and lofty yarn is recommended for stretch and slouchiness.

Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 16” circular needle and dpns, or 32”circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Size I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 16 st and 24 rows/4” in stockinette stitch; 16 st and 32 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. One plaid repeat of 10 st and 12 rows is 2.5” wide and 2” tall.

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

Slaunter

 New Release, Patterns, Sweaters  Comments Off on Slaunter
Oct 082013
 

A slouchy sweater, good for sauntering around on errands and adventures when there’s just a bit of chill in the air, Slaunter has a boxy fit with a wide scooped neckline and longer back hem. The smooth reverse stockinette body contrasts with the highly textured hem, cuffs and neck trim, where the mistake rib stitch pattern turns up the style a notch. The side slits are neatly finished with self facings to keep the look polished, and extra fun comes from the knit detail that continues up from the hem along the sideseams. Wherever you Slaunter around, sweatshirt comfort meets stylish details in a modern and casual fit.

Construction: The front and back Mistake Rib hems are worked flat, transitioning to reverse stockinette stitch, and then joined and worked in the round from the WS, to allow for knitting instead of purling. The body is worked in the round to the armholes, then divided and worked back and forth separately to the shoulders, which are joined with a 3-needle bind off. Neckline and sleeve cuffs are picked up and worked in the round in Mistake Rib. I used the Twin Stitch method to work the small short row shaping section of the shoulders; this method makes the twinned stitches very inconspicuous in the reverse stockinette. The pattern instructions include the steps for working Twin Stitch short rows; I highly recommend this method for a successful result.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing, picking up stitches, Twin Stitch short rows, simultaneous shaping, 3-needle bind off.

Size: 36 (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54)” bust; designed to be worn oversized. Sample shown in third size, worn with 5” positive ease.

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK (100% superwash merino; 225yards/ 206m/110g), shown in Calligraphy; 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6) skeins, or approximately 800 (850, 875, 925, 975, 1025, 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250) yards of DK weight yarn .

Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 24” circular needle (2), or size to match gauge; Extra US 7 dpn for facings and 3-needle BO; Stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (3); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 26 rows/4” in reverse stockinette stitch; 22 st and 28 rows/4” in Mistake Rib, after blocking.

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

Tartania Cowl

 Accessories, New Release, Patterns  Comments Off on Tartania Cowl
Oct 022013
 

Hail, Tartania! Who isn’t mad for plaid? This tartan cowl uses an easy non-stranded method to produce a graphic plaid. The horizontal colors are knit as stripes using one color at a time per row in a wide rib, then the vertical stripes are added at the end with a crochet hook in the purl columns; no crochet skills are needed – it’s as simple as picking up dropped stitches. Worked in the round in your choice of three colors, the possibilities are endless for this colorful and stylish accessory.

The Tartania Cowl is part of Hail, Tartania! an ebook collection which also includes a matching hat and fingerless mitts.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, knitting in the round; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a chart and table for the plaid; a video tutorial is provided for the non-stranded plaid technique.

Size: 27” circumference and 10” height.

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% Merino; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein each MC, CC1, and CC2. Shown in MC Hollyhock, CC1 Cadmium and CC2 Tortuga; the sample used approximately 160, 35 and 55 yards respectively.

Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) 24” circular needle or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (1); Size I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 16 st and 24 rows/4” in stockinette stitch on larger needle; 16 st and 32 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. One plaid repeat of 12 st and 16 rows is 3” wide and 2.5” tall. 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.