originaldesign • The Knitting Vortex

Honeydana

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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 . . .

Chunnel Vest

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Aug 122023

Chunnel Vest features a relaxed modern silhouette worked in textured half fisherman’s rib. European shoulder shaping places the shoulder seams toward the back, eliminating bulk and creating a flattering smooth drape at the front. Fully fashioned shaping emphasizes the neckline, armholes and sideseams above the hem, for visible style lines that contour to your shape. An elegant tubular bind off finishes the ribbing at the hem, armholes and neck. Construction: Chunnel Vest is cast on at the back neck, then the shoulders are shaped with increases to create an ergonomic fit. Once the shoulder width is reached, the upper back is worked with integrated shaping, to the bottom of the armhole. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up along the shoulder edge for each front, then worked to the armscye depth, with rounded crew neck shaping. Back and front are united, then the body is worked in the round, with shaping above the ribbed hem to emphasize the fitted bottom finish. The hem is worked in K1P1 rib, finished elegantly with . . .

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, . . .

Rivelley

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Sep 302022

A one-skein shawl for that special luxury yarn, Rivelley is a long stole that forms a plane of smooth stockinette with a textured valley of garter rivels that emanate outward diagonally from the center line. With a gradual slow shift in shape, and a subtly nuanced texture from the decorative rimples, this sophisticated stole is perfect for an elegant solid or tonal semi-solid yarn. Construction: Rivelley is cast on at the pointy tip, and worked on the bias in a long sweep with shaping at both the edges and the center. As the stole grows, the subtly textured central rivels expand slowly and move gently with the overall shape of the shawl. To adjust for different amounts of yardage, work more or fewer repeats within any section after the setup. The sample yarn is discontinued, some suggested substitutions include Seven Sisters Arts Apex, Magpie Fibers Swanky Sock, Dream In Color Smooshy Cashmere, or 400 yards of any cashmere/silk and wool blend fingering weight yarn. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing; instructions for this pattern . . .

Ikinngut

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Sep 212022

Friends – you go on adventures with them, knit with them, and sometimes just appreciate them from afar in the comfort of your own private space. Ikinngut is the Greenlandic word for friend, and this modern rustic sweater is the perfect thing to wear for comfortable, casual rendezvous of all sorts with your besties. Construction: Ikinngut is cast on at the back, the shoulders are shaped with a few short rows, then the back yoke is worked in a textured broken basket rib stitch pattern. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each front shoulder and worked similarly to the armscye depth, with deep V front neck shaping. Back and fronts are united and fullness is added at the empire line with rapid increases creating gathers, then the body is worked in stockinette in the round to the split hem, which is worked back and forth in K2P2 rib. Slim, three-quarter length sleeves begin with picking up stitches around the armholes, then the caps are shaped with short rows, and the . . .

New Dune

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Aug 302022

A light-as-air tank top, New Dune offers an updated sleek and cropped silhouette for the high-waisted modern moment. The laceweight yarn creates a whisper soft garment, perfect for layering over a cami or pretty underpinning, and suitably sleek under a voluminous blouse or a light jacket. New Dune goes from morning to night, the beach to the bistro, with a figure-conscious yet body skimming fit. The slim tapered straps and dramatic deep back neckline celebrate your skin, while the relaxed body and fitted rib hem enhance and accentuate your shape. Construction: New Dune is an update of my early Dune tank for Classic Elite Yarns, featuring a sleek and streamlined tank strap, and a modern cropped length to wear with all of our high-waisted pants and skirts. It retains the classic architecture of the original, with slim shoulders, a deep V back neck, and smooth stockinette body with a deep ribbed hem. Cast on provisionally at the shoulders, the back and front are each worked back and forth to the armscye depth, then the body is . . .

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