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.

Pinwheel Vigil

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Nov 152018

Pinwheel Vigil cover | The Knitting Vortex

Simple stranded colorwork with a modern graphic design, Pinwheel Vigil combines traditional fit with geometric contemporary visual style. Use a combination of bold or neutral colors, suitable for both men and women; color choices are endless, allowing you to select the perfect match of colors for the wearer. Pinwheel Vigil is one of a bundle of modern stranded hats featuring strong motifs for fresh style, and is pictured with some of the companion designs.

Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, stranded colorwork, decreasing, working in the round. Colorwork is charted only.

Size: 19” brim circumference and 9” tall, unstretched. The pattern consists of a 13 st and 12 row repeat, and accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size.

Yarn: Harrisville Designs Harrisville Highland (100% pure virgin wool; 200 yards/182m/100g), Cascade 220 (100% peruvian highland wool; 220 yards/200m/100g). Hat shown in Harrisville 81 Mustard (A) and Cascade 8010 Soft White (B); 1 skein of each color, or approximately 140 yards A and 35 yards B of worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle and dpns, or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 19 st and 24 rows/4” in stranded pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 repeat of 13 st and 12 rows is 3” wide and 2” tall.

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

Flower Lines

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Nov 152018

Flower Lines cover | The Knitting Vortex

Simple stranded colorwork with a modern graphic design, Flower Lines combines traditional fit with fun contemporary visual style. Make a pop-art punch with bright colors, or pair a saturated color with a neutral. Flower Lines is one of a bundle of modern stranded hats featuring strong motifs for fresh style, and is pictured with some of the companion designs.

Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, stranded colorwork, decreasing, working in the round. Colorwork is charted only.

Size: 18” brim circumference and 10” tall, unstretched. The pattern consists of a 24 st and 36 row repeat, and accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size.

Yarn: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool Worsted (100% merino wool; 250 yards/229m/113g). Hat shown in Stonehedge Raspberry (A) and Lilac (B); 1 skein of each color, or approximately 110 yards A and 50 yards B of worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle and dpns, or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 18 st and 24 rows/4” in stranded pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 repeat of 24 st and 36 rows is 4.75” wide and 6” tall.

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

Goblin Queen

Featured, New Release, Patterns, Wraps Comments Off

Oct 052018

Alternating checks created by slipped stitches trail uniformly across the topdown triangular shape of this shawl in ever-widening bands. When one edge is bound off, the other then zooms off to one side in a long tail, for a simple graphic wrap that winds elegantly and stays in place easily.

Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch colorwork.

Size: 80” length and 23” depth.

Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (100% merino wool; 400yards/ 366m/100g); 1 skein each colors A and B, shown in Typewriter and Goblin, respectively. 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 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 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.

Polytope

Featured, New Release, Patterns, Wraps Comments Off

Aug 222018

A bias rectangle worked from one short edge to the other, Polytope is more than a parallelogram. A line of centered double decreases zooms diagonally across the shawl from one corner to the other, creating a chevron dip where the stitches change direction. A repeating mix of easy to work garter stitch stripes, plus mesh lace, both highlight the angles and keep the knitting interesting. The resulting asymmetric shape has four sides that are not quite parallel, not quite straight, and not the same length – but they make a wearable and fun shape that can be styled to show off any of the stitch patterns depending on how it’s worn.

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with a chart also provided for the mesh lace.

Size: 68 (76)” length along longest edge and 14 (16)” depth at shallowest part of rectangle; diagonal center spine measures about 50 (56)”. Sample shown in smaller size.

Yarn: Miss Babs Hand Dyed Yarn Yummy 2-Ply (100% superwash merino wool; 400 yards/365m/115g), shown in MC Shale and CC Cordovan; 1 skein each of MC and CC, or MC 230 (260) and CC 325 (365) yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Removable marker (1); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 16 st and 32 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.

Bubble Tea

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Nov 162017

Bubble Tea cover | The Knitting Vortex

Simple stranded colorwork with a modern graphic design, Bubble Tea combines traditional fit with fun contemporary visual style. For the samples, I used a combination of bold and neutral colors, suitable for both men and women; color choices are endless, allowing you to select the perfect match of colors for the wearer. Bubble Tea is one of a bundle of modern stranded hats featuring strong motifs for fresh style, and is pictured with some of the companion designs.

Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, stranded colorwork, decreasing, working in the round. Colorwork is charted only.

Size: 20” brim circumference and 9” tall, unstretched. The pattern consists of a 24 st and 36 row repeat, and accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size.

Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Worsted (100% fine highland wool; 123 yards/112m/50g), Cascade 220 Heathers (100% peruvian highland wool; 220 yards/200m/100g). Grey hat shown in Woolstok 1304 Grey Harbor (A) and 1317 Midnight Sea (B), red hat shown in Cascade 9488 Christmas Red (A) and Woolstok 1314 Deep Velvet (B); 1 skein of each color, or approximately 120 yards A and 60 yards B of worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle and dpns, or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (4); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 19 st and 24 rows/4” in stranded pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 repeat of 24 st and 36 rows is 5” wide and 6.5” tall.

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

Venn Diagrams

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Nov 162017

Venn Diagrams cover | The Knitting Vortex

Simple stranded colorwork with a modern graphic design, Venn Diagrams combines traditional fit with geometric contemporary visual style. For the samples, I used a combination of bold and neutral colors, suitable for both men and women; color choices are endless, allowing you to select the perfect match of colors for the wearer. Venn Diagrams is one of a bundle of modern stranded hats featuring strong motifs for fresh style, and is pictured with some of the companion designs.

Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, stranded colorwork, decreasing, working in the round. Colorwork is charted only.

Size: 19” brim circumference and 9” tall, unstretched. The pattern consists of a 13 st and 18 row repeat, and accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size.

Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% peruvian highland wool; 220 yards/200m/100g), Harrisville Designs Harrisville Highland (100% pure virgin wool; 200 yards/182m/100g), Patons Wool Worsted (100% wool; 210 yards/192m/ 100g), Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Worsted (100% fine highland wool; 123 yards/112m/50g). Grey hat shown in Cascade 8400 Charcoal Grey (A) and Harrisville 81 Mustard (B), maroon hat shown in Patons Plum Heather (A) and Woolstok 1301 Storm Cloud (B); 1 skein of each color, or approximately 120 yards A and 50 yards B of worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle and dpns, or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (7); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 19 st and 24 rows/4” in stranded pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 repeat of 13 st and 18 rows is 2.75” wide and 3.5” tall.

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

Venn Diagrams maroon | The Knitting Vortex Venn Diagrams flat | The Knitting Vortex Venn Diagrams side |The Knitting Vortex

Down Arrows

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Nov 162017

Down Arrows cover | The Knitting Vortex

Simple stranded colorwork with a modern graphic design, Down Arrows combines traditional technique with contemporary visual style. For the samples, I used a combination of bold and neutral colors, suitable for both men and women; color choices are endless, allowing you to select the perfect match of colors for the wearer. Down Arrows is one of a bundle of modern stranded hats featuring strong motifs for fresh style, and is pictured with some of the companion designs.

Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, stranded colorwork, decreasing, working in the round. Colorwork is charted only.

Size: 20” brim circumference and 9” tall, unstretched. The pattern consists of a 24 st and 18 row repeat, and accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size.

Yarn: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool Worsted (100% merino wool; 250 yards/229m/113g), Patons Wool Worsted (100% wool; 210 yards/192m/100g). Brown hat shown in Stonehedge Midnight Lake (A) and Lilac (B), purple hat shown in Stonehedge Lilac (A) and Patons Plum Heather (B); 1 skein of each color, or approximately 110 yards A and 95 yards B of worsted weight wool yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle and dpns, or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (4); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 19 st and 24 rows/4” in stranded pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 repeat of 24 st and 18 rows is 5” wide and 3” tall.

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

Telos

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters Comments Off

Nov 022017

When there’s a little chill in the air but you don’t want to wear a coat, reach for Telos, a cozy coat-style cardigan. Practical warmth and knitterly interest meet, in a boxy silhouette with a heavily textured reversible alternating check patterned body and stockinette sleeves. The oversized shawl collar is worked seamlessly along with the body; the reversible stitch pattern allows it to be worn folded back or overlapped for more warmth. Dropped shoulders and wide ribbing at the hem and cuffs enhance the relaxed style, and hidden pockets in the bottom ribbing are there when your fingers get chilly.

Telos is worked seamlessly from the top down, beginning with the stitches cast on provisionally for the center back of the collar, which is worked sideways in Check pattern. Stitches for the back shoulders are cast on to the live stitches of the collar, and the back shoulders worked with a series of short rows to build up the center back and help the collar hug the neck, then the back is worked to armscye level. Shoulder stitches are picked up for the fronts, united with the held collar stitches, and worked simultaneously to armscye level where fronts and back are joined. The body is worked to the ribbed hem, where hidden pockets are created in the ribbing; the only seaming required is to sew down the pocket lining edges on the inside of the sweater. Sleeve stitches are picked up and the cap is worked seamlessly with a few short rows for gentle shaping, then the slim, tapered sleeves are worked to the ribbed cuffs.

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

Size: 34 (40, 46, 52, 58)” bust; sample shown in third size worn with 11” positive ease. This boxy cardigan is designed to be worn with plenty of positive ease. I chose a very roomy fit for myself, to layer over other garments; the sample is shown in the third size worn with 11” of positive ease; choose a size that provides the amount of ease you prefer.

Yarn: The Periwinkle Sheep INTENT (100% superwash merino wool; 185 yards/170m/100g), shown in Sandstorm; 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) skeins or approximately 1000 (1150, 1300, 1450, 1650) yards of heavy worsted weight yarn.

Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge, US 7 (4.5mm) needle for pocket lining; Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch markers (6); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 16 st and 22 rows/4” in Check stitch, after blocking.

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

Save

Lithofayne

New Release, Patterns, Wraps Comments Off

Oct 192017

Lithofayne is the name of the woman said to be the inspiration for Jimi Hendrix’ song Foxy Lady. Be your own muse when creating this asymmetric shawl, blending two colors with gentle transitions of stripes and slipstitch colorwork. Beginning with garter stitch, progress through stripes to the slipstitch body, which evolves from small scale slipped stitches to expanded lines on widening solid color bands. The result is a scattering of color that slowly shifts to more distinct definition, and ends with stripes and a solid band of garter on your inspired shawl.

Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, slipstitch colorwork, increasing/decreasing. Instructions are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch colorwork.

Size: 78” length and 28” depth; this shawl may be customized in length and depth to accommodate varying yardage.

Yarn: The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Foxy Lady (70% superwash merino wool, 30% silk; 428 yards/391m/100g); 1 skein each of colors A and B in fingering weight wool yarn, shown in Jellystone (A) and Winter Wolf (B). The sample used approximately 425 yards A and 410 yards B; see Designer’s Notes for suggestions on adjusting for different yardage.

Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 st and 30 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.

Save

Lithofayne back view | The Knitting Vortex

Throwing Shade

New Release, Patterns, Wraps Comments Off

Oct 052017

Throwing Shade | The Knitting Vortex

Throw this generous sportweight wrap around your shoulders for a lovely extra layer. Knit in luxe yarn from 2 stitches cast on at the tip, Throwing Shade features allover diagonal lace sweeping across a right triangle shape.

Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, lace, increasing. Instructions are both charted and fully written.

Size: 104” length and 44” depth, customizable.

Yarn: madelinetosh Pashmina (75% merino wool, 15% silk, 10% cashmere; 360 yards/329m/113g), shown in Composition Book Grey; 3 skeins, or 1080 yards of sportweight yarn. The sample used almost all of 3 skeins; see Designer’s Notes for suggestions on adjusting for different yardage.

Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle.

Gauge: 18 st and 24 rows/4” in lace pattern, 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.

Throwing Shade back view | The Knitting Vortex Throwing Shade crossover | The Knitting Vortex Throwing Shade side view | The Knitting Vortex