Accessories • The Knitting Vortex

Honeydana

Nov 112024

Deeply textured honeycomb cables decorate this seamless double layer bandana cowl. Begun flat and then joined in the round, the shawl structure shows off the beautiful stitch pattern, with all the convenience of an easy to wear cowl. Construction: Honeydana is knit seamlessly from a topdown provisional CO and begins like a triangle shawl, worked with elegant tubular edges. Once a comfortable neckline circumference is reached, stitches are joined in the round and worked like a cowl, with a honeycomb cable pattern on the body and continued shaping to create the bandana front. The lower edge is finished with a sculptural ruffle. Pull the neckpiece over your head, tuck in the top, and enjoy your comfortable, stay-in-place bandana cowl. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, knit/purl, increasing, cables, working in the round. This pattern contains fully written instructions, with a chart also provided for the cable repeat. Size: 32” circumference at bottom edge and 16” tall. Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Mewesic (100% fine American wool; 180 yards/165m/58g), sample shown in Purple Rain 8951; 2 skeins, or . . .

Ink Scarf

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Nov 102024

Worked in the round from one end to the other, Ink Scarf uses the helix knitting technique to create easy jogless one-row stripes on a long tubular scarf. Completely reversible thanks to invisible color changes, one side displays stockinette stitch and the other reverse stockinette, each with a slipped stitch decorative linear detail. Pair two contrasting tonal yarns as in the red sample, or introduce an array of leftovers as shown in the blue. Versatile fingering weight yarn makes a lightweight scarf that can be knit to any length. Construction: the helix knitting technique avoids the jog in color between stripe rounds, as well as removes the ridge where yarns are carried on the reverse of the work, making the scarf delightfully reversible. Helix knitting is used in the striped sections of the Ink scarf, with 8 stationary markers to indicate the position of the vertical slipped stitch columns. No EOR marker is needed, as the “round” is constantly spiraling around the work. The solid sections utilize normal circular knitting, where an EOR marker is . . .

Ink Hat

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Nov 102024

Worked in the round from the brim to the top, Ink Hat uses the helix knitting technique to create easy jogless one-row stripes. Completely reversible thanks to invisible color changes, one side displays stockinette stitch and the other reverse stockinette, each with a slipped stitch decorative linear detail. Pair two contrasting tonal yarns, or match a neutral main color with a self-striping contrast or an array of leftovers. Versatile fingering weight yarn makes a comfortably chic lightweight hat. Construction: the helix knitting technique avoids the jog in color between stripe rounds, as well as removes the ridge where yarns are carried on the reverse of the work, making the hat delightfully reversible. The Ink Hat offers two brim variations; cast on using the tubular method with color A for a smooth, infinity edge and continue 1” in double knitting for a stockinette appearance, or transition to comfortable K1P1 ribbing. Add color B for the helix stripes section, worked with just one color every round. For my video tutorial of helix stripe knitting & the special . . .

Rhombic Flow

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Oct 032024

A current of rhombus shapes flows along the length of this stole, expanding and contracting within a bed of comforting garter stitch. Worked in ethereal lace weight yarn, this scarf can be made as long as your yardage allows, while maintaining a featherlight quality that spans the seasons. Construction: Rhombic Flow begins at one end and is worked to the other, with geometrically expanding and contracting interlocking lace diamonds and a wide garter border. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: 108” length and 13” width, customizable. Yarn: Forbidden Fiber Company Whisper (70% alpaca, 20% silk, 10% cashmere; 875 yards/800m/100g); 1 skein, or 870 yards of luxury wool blend lace weight yarn. Any amount of yarn may be used. The sample was made with discontinued Whisper shown in color Winter Dusk, and as written used approximately 823 yards. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 24” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (3, or more if marking repeats); Yarn needle. Gauge: 17 st and 34 rows/4” in garter . . .

Courser Loop

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Mar 162023

Worked in the round with a half-twist, Courser Loop is a moebius infinity cowl that alternates long rounds of slipped stitch, broken rib, and reverse broken rib patterns, and is finished along the outer edge with K1P1 ribbing. The reverse of the stitch patterns each create a unique and beautiful fabric, taking advantage of the moebius structure which magically displays the RS on one half of the length, and the WS on the other, making the cowl attractive on both sides and completely reversible. Designer’s Notes: This infinity loop is worked in the round outwards from the cast on, which becomes the middle of the loop, until the outside edge is reached and bound off. To adjust the length of your loop, CO more or fewer stitches in multiples of 2; to customize the width, work the various stitch patterns in any combination, for any number of repeats. Techniques & Skills Used: moebius CO, knit/purl, slipped stitches, working in the round; instructions for stitch patterns are fully written, and a link to the moebius CO tutorial . . .

PatchRib Loop

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Dec 292022

Choose the PatchRib Set ebook, and make the matching collection of scarf, hat and infinity loop. Create a patchwork infinity cowl using fluffy, two-color Fisherman’s rib. The fully reversible stitch pattern allows a different color to dominate on each side, while the shifting color blocks provide plenty of visual interest. Loop it once or twice, wear it twisted or straight; this neckwarmer presents so many styling options. Construction: Worked back and forth from one end to the other, the PatchRIB Loop is cast on using the provisional method, and grafted closed. Using just one color per row, the fluffy Fisherman’s rib stitch pattern is a four-row repeat, in which two RS rows are worked with alternating colors by sliding the stitches to the other end of the circular needle, then the work is turned and two WS rows are worked similarly. Slipped stitch edges keep the color changes invisible and create a sophisticated appearance. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit/purl, working into the stitch below, grafting. This pattern contains written instructions, with links to my tutorials for . . .

PatchRib Hat

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Dec 292022

Choose the PatchRib Set ebook, and make the matching collection of scarf, hat and infinity loop. Accessorize with this slouchy topper, worked in Fisherman’s rib with two colors that swap places partway through. Fold up the brim, or wear it long and loose; the fully reversible construction means you’ve got two new hats! Construction: Worked in the round from the bottom up, the PatchRib Hat is cast on using the tubular method with MC for a smooth, infinity edge, then continued with the addition of CC for the Fisherman’s rib colorwork, which is worked using just one color every round. At every color change, make sure to bring the new color from under the color used in the previous round. Techniques & Skills Used: tubular CO, knit/purl, working into the stitch below, decreasing, working in the round, optional pompom. This pattern contains written instructions, with links to my tutorials for the tubular CO and working into the stitch below. Size: S (M, L, XL) to fit approximately 20 (22, 24, 26)” head circumference; 16 (18, 20, 22)” brim circumference . . .

PatchRib Scarf

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Nov 142022

Choose the PatchRib Set ebook, and make the matching collection of scarf, hat and infinity loop. Two colors interact in a fluffy reversible Fisherman’s rib, dominating and receding to create an overscale patchwork effect with a different appearance on each side. Add fun pompoms and fling it about your neck for a fashionable frosty season. Construction: Worked back and forth from one end to the other, the PatchRib Scarf is cast on and bound off using the tubular method for a smooth, infinity edge. Color 2 is introduced after the CO for the Fisherman’s rib colorwork, which cycles through the color progression. The fluffy rib stitch pattern is a four-row repeat, in which two RS rows are worked with alternating colors by sliding the stitches to the other end of the circular needle after the first row, then the work is turned and two WS rows are worked similarly, using only one color at a time. Slipped stitch edges keep the color changes invisible and create a tidy and sophisticated appearance. Techniques & Skills Used: tubular CO, knit/purl, . . .

Chunnel Warmers

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Oct 272022

The Chunnel Leg Warmers have fitted rib cuffs with an optional heel split opening, and deeply textured legs which can be scrunched down or worn up straight. The half fisherman’s rib makes a fluffy and warm texture perfectly suited to artful rumpling. Weave the ends in neatly, and the legwarmers are completely reversible, showing a slightly different but equally attractive pattern on the reverse side. Construction: Worked in the round from the top down, the Chunnel Warmers are cast on and bound off using the tubular method for smooth, infinity edges. Cuffs are worked in K1P1 rib on smaller needles, then continued on larger needles in opulent scrunchy half fisherman’s rib for the leg section. To adjust for different amounts of yardage, in addition to the size range in the instructions, the length of the rib cuff and leg sections may be easily customized by knitting more or fewer rounds, depending upon your yardage and fit preferences. Techniques & Skills Used: tubular CO, alternate cable CO, knit/purl, working into the stitch below, working in the round, . . .

Crioh Cowl

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Jul 182022

Crioh Cowl was the October 2018 featured design in the PostStitch KnitStitch subscription club, and is now available as an indie digital pdf. One skein of luscious alpaca makes a reversible cowl featuring softly textured stitches. The three sets of buttons attached back-to-back allow you to style this versatile neckwear with either side facing out, and partly or fully buttoned. Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, Twisted Purlwise CO, knit/purl; instructions for this pattern are written only. Size: 10” tall and 18” circumference. Yarn: Oh! from HiKoo by Skacel (100% super baby alpaca; 191 yards/175m/100g); 1 skein shown in Baby, or 185 yards of alpaca bulky weight yarn. The sample as written used approximately 185 yards. Other Materials: US 10 (6mm) 24” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (2); Yarn needle; six ¾” buttons; matching sewing thread and needle. Gauge: 18 st and 20 rows/4” in 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, . . .

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