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.
Geometric lace forms textured diagonal diamond lanes leading upward and outward on this simple but stunning triangular shawl.
Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted.
Size: 52” length and 21” depth, customizable.
Yarn: Seven Sisters Arts Apex (60% superwash merino wool, 20% yak, 20% silk; 400 yards/366m/100g), shown in bleu grey; 1 skein, or 400 yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn with good drape. The sample as written used the entire skein; you may want to have additional yardage on hand as insurance, as the shawl may easily be enlarged using any amount of yarn.
Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; Markers (3); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 20 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, 18 st and 34 rows/4” in diamond 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.
As comfy as your favorite sweatshirt but made stylish with special details, Sweet Chilly uses seamless topdown construction and textured stitches in a modern knit sweater. Shifting Broken Rib panels create the look of a deep raglan, while the Twisted Rib featured on the dolman sleeves continues along the sides providing natural shaping.
Construction: Sweet Chilly is worked seamlessly from the top down with textured stitches. The back is cast on and the back shoulders are shaped with German short rows worked in Twisted Rib, then the textured Broken Rib panel is set up and the back is worked to the armhole depth. Stitches for each front are picked up from the CO shoulders, and shaped similarly to the back while also shaping the front neck. The fronts are then joined and worked to the armhole depth, where stitches are bound off at the underarms to create the dolman sleeves, then front and back are joined to work in the round to the hem. The Broken Rib panel moves toward the sideseams, consuming the Twisted Rib until a few inches above the hem, where the Twisted Rib continues straight providing natural shaping at the sideseams. Sleeve stitches are picked up from the armholes and the low sleeve caps shaped with short rows, then the sleeves are worked in the round to the end. Twisted Rib finishes the hem, cuffs and neckband.
Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, cable CO, backwards loop CO, 3-needle BO, working in the round, German short rows. Pattern instructions are fully written, with charts also provided for the stitch patterns, and a link to my short row tutorials.
Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; US 6 (4mm) 24″ circular needle for neckline; Stitch markers (10); Removable stitch markers (2); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 21 st and 28 rows/4″ in stockinette stitch, 32 st and 28 rows/4” in Twisted Rib, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
A topography of shadow cables is knit as a flat rectangle and folded, then two short seams form this cocoon cardigan. Short rows shape the wide ribbed edging, creating a warm and dramatic shawl collar that hugs all the right places; an elegant applied I-cord neatly finishes the edges and cuffs.
Construction: Shadowling is cast on provisionally and worked as a flat rectangle to the final body row, which is left live. The piece is folded horizontally and seamed, leaving armhole openings; stitches are picked up around the openings and worked in the round for long ribbed cuffs, and finished with applied I-cord. CO and final row stitches are then worked in the round in rib with short rows to shape the shawl collar, and the long edge also finished with applied I-cord. Instructions are written for the German short row method, but your preferred method may be substituted.
Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, knit/purl, cables, short rows, working in the round, applied I-cord; stitch pattern is both written and charted, with a link to my short row and I-cord tutorials included.
Size: S (M, L); 28.5 (31, 33.5”) measured at crossback. Sample shown in size S on a 35” bust, and this garment fits many bodies; see Designer’s Notes for an extensive discussion for modifying the fit.
Yarn: Rowan Cocoon (80% merino wool, 20% kid mohair; 126 yards/115m/100g), shown in Cloud; 6 (7, 8) skeins, or approximately 650 (775, 925) yards of bulky weight wool/mohair blend yarn; a fiber blend that blocks to a soft and drapey fabric is recommended to achieve the silhouette and ease of this cocoon-shaped garment.
Other Materials: US 11 (8mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; US 11 (8mm) 60” circular needle for ribbed edge; Stitch markers (1); Cable needle; Yarn needle.
Gauge: 15 st and 20 rows/4” in Shadow cable pattern; 14 st and 18 rows/4” in K1P1 Rib, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
Embrace Me Mitts are the second pattern in the Winter 2015-2016 Shalimar Yarns Indulge Me! Club, and feature an exclusive, embraceable color of Breathless Cush yarn. For more information about Kristi’s lovely bases and colorways, check out Shalimar Yarns.
Luxurious bulky yarn and a subtle Crossover Twist stitch pattern make these fingerless mitts special. Written in two sizes, they feature an atypical thumb gusset which creates a natural fit that is both comfortable and elegant.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, working in the round.
Size: S/M (M/L); 6.5 (7.5)” length and 7 (8)” palm circumference, measured flat and unstretched.
Yarn: Shalimar Yarns Breathless Cush (75% superwash merino wool, 15% cashmere, 10% silk; 145 yards/132m/114g), size M/L shown in Embrace Me; 1 skein, or approximately 90 (100) yards of chunky weight yarn.
Other Materials: US 9 (5.5mm) dpns or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (2); Stitch holder; Yarn needle.
Gauge: 16 st and 22 rows/4” in Crossover Twist stitch pattern and in stockinette stitch, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
Evenlight combines a textural check stitch on the body with repeating purl stripes on the sleeves; a wide raglan line and wider purl stripe spacing below the shoulders adds even more visual interest. Seamless raglan construction and simple stitches pair together with a casual fit in this easygoing pullover.
Construction: Evenlight is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction, in a textured check pattern on the body and stockinette with purl stripes on the sleeves. Stitches are cast on at the neckline, the front neck is shaped in a few rows, then the body is joined in the round and worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked without shaping to the ribbed hem. Long sleeves are then continued, with the purl stripes spaced further apart, to the matching ribbed cuffs. Stitches are picked up for the crew neckband and worked in garter stitch.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, purlwise cable CO, backwards loop CO, raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, working in the round; stitch pattern is both written and charted and includes instructions for increasing in pattern.
Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 24″ circular needle for neckline; Stitch markers (8); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 18 st and 24 rows/4″ in Check pattern, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
Sweeping rows of eyelets, placed gradually further apart, curve along this reversible shawl. Worked from a few stitches at one tip, the garter stitch grows asymmetrically with picots at one edge, to a matching picot finish. A simple knit with dramatic results, Snowsweep may be customized to use any amount of yardage, and to adjust the frequency of eyelet accent rows.
Yarn: Woolfolk Sno (100% Ovis 21 ultimate merino wool; 223 yards/204m/50g), shown in Color No. 1+2 (pale grey and off white); 4 skeins. The sample as written used approximately 780 yards, but any amount of fingering weight yarn may be used; see Designer’s Notes.
Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle.
Gauge: 18 st and 36 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.
PatternsComments Off on Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2015
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It’s that time of year again; the Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2015 brings together 100s of designers and 1000s of crafters, prepping for the holidays together. The event runs now through 12/31 and kicks off with a 25% sale on select patterns until November 27 with code giftalong2015. These are my sale patterns, and you can find them in the Gift-A-Long 2015 bundle on my Ravelry designer page.
Worked in the round from the top down, Seedstripes is an earflap hat that is full of interest. Disappearing loop cast on, textured knitting and a few simple, well-placed short rows combine for an engaging knit; add a pompom for even more fun!
Techniques & Skills Used: disappearing loop CO, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing. This pattern includes links to my disappearing loop CO and short row tutorials. Size: S (M, L) to fit about 20 (22, 24)” head circumference; hat measures 17.75 (20, 22.25)” circumference and 8.5 (9, 10)” height at earflap. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein, or approximately 140 (150, 175) yards of worsted
weight yarn. Sample size Small shown in Natural. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needle or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; US 5 dpns or circular needle for CO; Stitch markers (4); Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 34 rows/4” in seed stitch, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
Colorblocks, stripes and vertical dropped stitches – it’s Not Quite Plaid, but looks vaguely tartan. An asymmetric bias shape and an atypical approach to creating a stitch pattern result in a fabric on which to combine colors for a nontraditional and modern shawl that is infinitely customizable. Choose colors and yarns that speak to you from your stash for your own perfect (not quite) plaid.
Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing; instructions are both fully written and charted.
Size: 84” length and 32” depth, customizable to any size.
Yarn: Baah! La Jolla (100% merino wool; 400 yards/366m/100g); 1 skein each of color A/Night Sky, color B/Obsidian, color C/Grey Onyx and color D/La Perla. A plied sock yarn with a somewhat tight twist helps maintain the integrity of the dropped stitches. The sample used approximately 275/100/205/215 yards respectively of colors A/B/C/D but any amount of yarn in any combination may be used; see Designer’s Notes.
Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; marker (1); removable markers (optional); Yarn needle; 4mm crochet hook (optional) for dropping stitches.
Gauge: 22 st and 28 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.
A relaxed pullover full of of texture, Sangaree is perfect between seasons when you need a pretty layer over a shirt or tank top. Worsted weight cotton blend yarn, simple topdown raglan seamless construction and eye catching stitches combine in a versatile and high impact sweater.
Construction: Sangaree is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction, in an alternating wide stripe pattern of lace and elongated stockinette. Stitches are cast on at the neckline, the front neck is shaped in a few rows worked back and forth, then the body is joined in the round and worked to the bottom of the armhole. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold while the lower body is worked without shaping to the narrow rib hem. Bracelet length sleeves are then continued in pattern to the ribbed cuffs. Stitches are picked up for the neckband and worked in matching narrow rib.
Techniques & Skills Used: raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace, purlwise cable CO, backwards loop CO, working in the round; stitch patterns are both written and charted and include instructions for increasing in pattern.
Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32″ circular needle or size to match gauge; US 8 (5mm) 16″ circular needle or dpns for neckline; Stitch markers (4); Stitch holders (2); Yarn needle.
Gauge: 18 st and 24 rows/4″ in stockinette stitch; 17 st and 24 rows in 18- row stitch pattern, after blocking.
See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.
