2017 February • The Knitting Vortex

Avix

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Feb 152017

Avix was designed in collaboration with Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarn for Stitches West 2017; print patterns in their house format will be available from the Miss Babs booth at the many yarn shows they attend; stop by if you can, and see the samples in person! Digital pdfs are available from my Ravelry store, and are formatted with my usual layout style and photography.

Mesh and eyelet lace columns highlight expanding lace panels inspired by the wings of soaring birds, making a flowing cardigan with a swing shape. Avix is worked seamlessly from the top down in stockinette with lace panels, and short row set-in sleeves. Minimal shaping and simple lace textures make an easy to knit sweater that flatters a wide range of sizes.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, easy lace, increasing/decreasing, German short rows. Stitch patterns are both written and charted.

Size: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)” bust based on twice the back width; shown in second size worn with 5” positive ease.

Yarn: Miss Babs Yowza (100% superwash merino wool; 560 yards /512m/226g), shown in Shale; 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins, or approximately 1000 (1100, 1200, 1300, 1500, 1600) yards of light worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; US 6 (4mm) 60” circular needle for collar; Stitch markers (14); Removable stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 28 rows/4″ in stockinette stitch, 16 st and 28 rows/4” in mixed lace pattern, after blocking.

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

Flylette

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Feb 152017

Flylette | The Knitting Vortex

Flylette was designed in collaboration with Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarn for Stitches West 2017; print patterns in their house format will be available from the Miss Babs booth at the many yarn shows they attend; stop by if you can, and see the samples in person! Digital pdfs are available from my Ravelry store, and are formatted with my usual layout style and photography.

Flower eyelets decorate the front and back of this feminine cropped cardigan. Worked seamlessly from the top down, compound raglan sleeve shaping ensures a great fit in the shoulders and sleeves for all sizes, and deep single rib hem and cuffs maintains the body-celebrating style. A simultaneously worked garter button band and minimal finishing keep it simple.

Construction: Flylette is a fitted cardi designed to be a light layer, with a scooped neckline and three-quarter length sleeves. Worked seamlessly from the top down with raglan shaping and a garter button band, the knitting is complete once the body and sleeves are finished, except for adding the ribbed neckband and sewing on buttons. The flower eyelets add a pretty touch; the deep sleeve and hem ribbing adds to the feminine silhouette, but may also be adjusted in length as needed.

Techniques & Skills Used: raglan construction, knit/purl, easy lace, increasing/decreasing, cable CO, purlwise cable CO, backwards loop CO. Stitch patterns are both written and charted.

Size: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52)”; sample shown in second size worn with 1” positive ease.

Yarn: Miss Babs Keira (100% superwash merino wool; 560 yards/ 512m/235g), shown in Moroccan Door; 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins, or approximately 700 (800, 950, 1050, 1200, 1300) yards of heavy fingering weight wool yarn with good stitch definition.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (10 color A, 2 color B and 1 color C); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle; 5/8” buttons 8 (8, 9, 10, 10, 11); Matching sewing thread and needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 32 rows/4″ in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

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

Making Advances

New Release, Patterns, Wraps Comments Off

Feb 012017

Making Advances back view | The Knitting Vortex

Alternating textures in two colors decorate a bold triangle shawl, then advance unexpectedly to one side, for an asymmetric finish. Color choice is the focus, the shape is long and easy to wear, and the knitting is simple and relaxing.

Construction: Making Advances is worked topdown from a garter tab CO for the main triangle, then stitches are bound off on one side and the remaining side is worked in a long asymmetric extension.

Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing.

Size: 75” length and 22” depth.

Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (100% merino wool; 400yards/366m/100g), shown in Urchin (A) and Vengeance (B); 1 skein each of two colors. The sample used approximately 355 yards A and 395 yards B. Using a drapey single or loosely plied yarn will help minimize rolling at the long bottom left edge.

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

Gauge: 19 st and 38 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.

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

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