Featured • The Knitting Vortex

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 . . .

Allotrope Cubes

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Oct 282023

Diamond is the compact and dense allotrope, or distinct structural element, that forms from carbon at very high pressure. This shawl is a lattice of interlocking cubic shapes in garter stitch and yarnovers, worked from the bottom up in an expanding structure. Wide garter borders on all sides create a simple frame for the strong and striking geometry of the diamond arrangement. Construction: Allotrope Cubes begins at the bottom center point, and is worked to the long top edge, with geometrically expanding 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: S (L); 83 (87)” length and 29 (32)” depth. Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy (85% superwash merino wool, 15% nylon; 420 yards/284m/114g); 2 (3) skeins, or approximately 750 (900) yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn. The size L sample was made with discontinued Dream In Color Stardust Experimentals (98% superwash merino wool, 2% nylon; 450 yards/411m/114g), shown in Persimmon; 2 skeins. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, . . .

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, . . .

Velvetine Lines

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Aug 312021

Velvetine Lines uses garter striped fabric to interpret the wales of corduroy, and is perfect for two saturated jewel colors in lighter and darker tones that mimic the shading created by the nap of velveteen. Pick shades of your favorite color, or take your shawl in another direction and pair two contrasting colors for a different, bold effect. Cast on at one end and worked sideways in two beautiful jewel tones, this deep-pointed triangle features skinny garter stripes that expand into striated lines, for a strong but simple visual impact. Easy no-wrap short rows in sets of three alternate between colors throughout the edging, while two-row stripes anchor the body and connect to the edge of this attainable and fun knit. Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, no-wrap short rows; instructions for this pattern are fully written. Size: 65” length and 36” depth, customizable. Yarn: Miss Babs Hand Dyed Yarn Yummy 2-Ply (100% superwash merino wool; 400 yards/365 m/110g), sample shown in Tulipa (color A dark) and Fig (color B light); 1 skein each color, . . .

Marliose

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Oct 222020

Cast on in the round from the center square, Marliose then expands in biased chevron wings to each side, for a super-snuggly and wearable color-blocked wrap. Relaxing garter stitch meets the fun of mixing and marling your colors with laceweight yarn held double. Let your stash and your color inspiration guide your artistry, as you create a uniquely personal statement for your handknit wardrobe. Techniques & Skills Used: disappearing loop CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing. This pattern includes links to my CO tutorial. Size: 120” length and 20” depth, customizable. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Lace (100% merino wool; 470 yards/430m/50g); 13 skeins in 7 colors, or approximately 5000 yards of laceweight yarn in as many colors as you like; yarn is held double throughout. Sample shown in Paris Night (A), Pearl (B), Natural (C), Apricot (D), Rhodesian (E), Zinc (F), and Tortuga (G), and used approximately 1, 1.5, 2, 1.25, 1.25, 1.5 and 2 skeins respectively. It’s not an exact science; gather an array of harmonious colors, and blend them as you are inspired, using as much or as little as . . .

Myrsine

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Oct 082020

Seven different slipstitch patterns construct intricate textures in this infinity loop cowl, pairing a self-striping contrast yarn with a neutral main color. Slipping stitches using only one color per row lets the yarn do all the work, creating a striking accessory. Fingering weight yarn makes a scarf with a versatile weight that can be worn as one long loop, or doubled for more warmth and a riot of textures. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit/purl, slipstitch colorwork, working in the round, grafting. Instructions for the slipstitch patterns are both fully written and charted, and a link to my grafting tutorials is included. Size: 54” length and 7” depth. Yarn: Urth Yarns Harvest Fingering (100% superwash merino wool; 435 yards/400m/100g), shown in Oleaster (A); 1 skein, and Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering (100% superwash merino wool; 435 yards/400m/100g), shown in 3017 (B); 1 skein. The sample used 427 (A) and 409 (B) yards, respectively; see Designer’s Notes for suggestions on adjusting for different yardage. Other Materials: US 6/4mm 16” circular needle (2); Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch marker; Yarn . . .

Issykol

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Mar 282019

Luxurious cashmere yarn and mosaic slipped stitch chevron patterns make a stunning bias shawl, featuring two rich colors alternating in a striking zigzag across a lighter contrasting background. June Cashmere’s ethically sourced and organically dyed yarn, which behaves like a light fingering weight, originates with fiber from small family farms in the mountain communities of Kyrgyzstan along the ancient Silk Road. As part of their mission to be an engine for social and economic change in the region, the company partners with local shepherds to bring fine quality fiber to the international market for fair compensation. Issykol is named for Issyk-Kul Lake, the seventh deepest and tenth largest lake in the world, located in the globally significant and biodiverse Issy-Kul Biosphere Reserve. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: 72” length and 17” depth. Highly customizable, with an adjustable 12-row repeat to alter the zigs and zags and infinite garter stitch bordering each end, . . .

Goblin Queen

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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 . . .

Polytope

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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; . . .

POPstripes

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Jul 202017

From light to dark and dark to light, two gradient yarn sets move across one another in reversing waves of color. Using just knit, purl and simple slipped stitches, lines of colorful stripes with exploding POPS sweep along this asymmetric bias shawl, and finish with a gradient stripe edging. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, slipped stitches, increasing/decreasing. Instructions are fully written, with a chart also provided for the slipstitch. Size: 90” length and 24” depth, customizable. Yarn: String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn Reversing Falls Gradient Pack (100% superwash merino; 435 yards/398m/100g), shown in Fog (A) and Rugosa (B); 2 packs of five colors each, OR 435 yards of two different gradient sets, OR 870 yards total of at least two but as many colors as you like, of fingering weight yarn. The sample used almost all of the yarn, but any amount may be used; 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 markers (2); Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 30 . . .

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