originaldesign • The Knitting Vortex • Page 4

Throwing Shade

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Oct 052017

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. Save

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 . . .

Rozachakra

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May 102017

Find your inner balance and serenity with Rozachakra, a cocoon sweater perfectly suited to the changing seasons. Textured stitches and cables, worked seamlessly from the top down, create an easy layer to wear over any outfit. Construction: Rozachakra is worked seamlessly from the top down in shifting textured stitch patterns with a central cable panel. Stitches are cast on at the neckline and the front neck is shaped for a few rows before joining the body in the round. The body is increased sharply along two lines placed close together at the outer edge of the sleeve, creating a long and steep shoulder line worked to low sleeve cuff openings, where front and back are divided and worked separately back and forth. The body is then joined in the round again and finished with a garter hem. Stitches are picked up around the sleeve openings and finished with garter cuffs, then stitches are picked up around the neckline and worked in a relaxed matching garter turtleneck that can be folded over or worn draped. Techniques . . .

Brae

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Apr 292017

Journey along this asymmetric garter based shawl, as colorful stripes and simple slipped stitches build upon each other. The Brae shawl is knit on the bias from one end to the other, with stripes flowing into a rippled slipstitch pattern, interspersed with solid bands of color. Pair two contrasting colors, or a variegated or tonal skein with a neutral complement, and have fun watching the colorful contrast advance across the shawl while knitting. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipped stitches. Instructions are fully written, with a chart also provided for the slipstitch section. Size: 65 (75)” length and 13 (15)” depth, customizable. Instructions are included for two finished sizes; choose the larger version to use up most of two full skeins, or the smaller version when working with partials, see Designer’s Notes. Yarn: Miss Babs Yummy 2-Ply (100% superwash merino wool; 400 yards/366m/113g); 1 skein each A and B. Small version shown in Pewter and Lotus, and large version in Parchment and Denim, respectively. The sample used approximately 250 (360) yards A . . .

Kline Shawl

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Apr 212017

Originally published in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2016, the Kline pattern is now available as an individual download in my usual pattern format. Bold strokes of alternating smooth and rough texture stretch fluidly across this asymmetric shawl. The strict monochromatic palette is broken with colorful accents that transition to dominance at the far edge; try pairing a speckled yarn with a bold contrast for a striking visual result. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing. Size: 80” length and 21” depth, customizable. Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh merino light (100% merino wool; 420 yards/384m/100g), shown in Optic (MC) and Edison Bulb (CC); 1 skein each MC and CC. The sample used approximately 420 yards MC and 340 yards CC, 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; Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 32 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 . . .

Love Me True

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Apr 072017

Subtly different textured stitch patterns define the front and back of this boxy cardigan. The back and shoulders feature an unusual construction that creates a casual, modern silhouette, with dropped shoulders and a shallow v-shaped back neckline echoing the deep v of the front. The mid-length oversized body is cropped enough to wear with pants and skirts without overwhelming them, but still long enough to work with casual leggings. Slim sleeves also balance the oversized body, and an uneven split hem further reduces bulk; applied pockets make it even more practical. Worked seamlessly from the top down with a knit-in buttonband, finishing is minimal, and style is major. Construction: Love Me True is cast on at the crossback and worked to the armscye depth in an alternating broken rib stitch pattern. The back is put on hold while stitches are picked up for each shoulder and worked separately in a similar steady broken rib stitch pattern with a worked-in rib button band; short rows shape the “shoulder” height, then fronts continue to the armscye depth, . . .

Rib Run

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Mar 212017

There’s nothing more classic than a ribbed hat, and Rib Run adds just a little twist by morphing the ribs into twining cables that run from brim to crown. Techniques & Skills Used: Twisted German CO, knit/purl, cables, decreasing, working in the round; instructions for stitch patterns are both written and charted. Size: 18.75” brim circumference and 8.5” tall, unstretched, shown on a 22” head. The rib-based pattern is very stretchy and easily accommodates heads from 20 – 23” in circumference; to adjust the size further, go up or down a needle size. Yarn: Brim Collections Breakfast DK (100% merino wool; 230 yards/210m/100g), shown in Earl Grey; 1 skein, or approximately 175 yards of DK weight wool yarn. Other Materials: US 4 (3.5mm) 16” circular needle for brim and US 6 (4mm) 16” circular needle or size to match gauge for body; cable needle; Stitch markers (5); Yarn needle. Gauge: 25.5 st and 36 rows/4” in cable pattern, unstretched after blocking; 1 cable repeat of 24 st and 36 rows equals 3.75” wide and 4” . . .

ChevRiot

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Mar 162017

A moving riot of chevrons sweeps diagonally, creating texture across this garter based long crescent shawl, while contrasting color stripes expand and contract. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit, increasing/decreasing. Size: 98” length and 18” depth. Yarn: The Periwinkle Sheep PURPOSE (90% superwash merino wool, 10% nylon; 410 yards/375m/100g), 1 skein each colors A, B and C, shown in Ghost of Molly, Brownstone and Gold Rush, respectively. The sample used approximately 380 yards A, 400 yards B and 210 yards C. See Designer’s Notes for suggestions on adjusting for different yardage. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Scrap yarn for provisional CO; Stitch markers (4); 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. Save Save

Avix

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Feb 152017

Avix was designed in collaboration with Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarn for Stitches West 2017; print patterns in their house format will be available from the Miss Babs booth at the many yarn shows they attend; stop by if you can, and see the samples in person! Digital pdfs are available from my Ravelry store, and are formatted with my usual layout style and photography. Mesh and eyelet lace columns highlight expanding lace panels inspired by the wings of soaring birds, making a flowing cardigan with a swing shape. Avix is worked seamlessly from the top down in stockinette with lace panels, and short row set-in sleeves. Minimal shaping and simple lace textures make an easy to knit sweater that flatters a wide range of sizes. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, easy lace, increasing/decreasing, German short rows. Stitch patterns are both written and charted. Size: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)” bust based on twice the back width; shown in second size worn with 5” positive ease. Yarn: Miss Babs Yowza . . .

Flylette

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Feb 152017

Flylette was designed in collaboration with Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarn for Stitches West 2017; print patterns in their house format will be available from the Miss Babs booth at the many yarn shows they attend; stop by if you can, and see the samples in person! Digital pdfs are available from my Ravelry store, and are formatted with my usual layout style and photography. Flower eyelets decorate the front and back of this feminine cropped cardigan. Worked seamlessly from the top down, compound raglan sleeve shaping ensures a great fit in the shoulders and sleeves for all sizes, and deep single rib hem and cuffs maintains the body-celebrating style. A simultaneously worked garter button band and minimal finishing keep it simple. Construction: Flylette is a fitted cardi designed to be a light layer, with a scooped neckline and three-quarter length sleeves. Worked seamlessly from the top down with raglan shaping and a garter button band, the knitting is complete once the body and sleeves are finished, except for adding the ribbed neckband and sewing on . . .

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