originaldesign • The Knitting Vortex • Page 7

Lurlene

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Jul 142015

Lurlene is a flirty belle, not complicated but eye-catching, engaging and pretty. This one-skein crescent shawlette is worked sideways in garter stitch, beginning and ending with a few stitches. Decorative eyelets frame the stockinette short row godets which shape the curving lower edge, and look lovely on both sides. Lurlene is part of Three Belles and One Beau, a collection featuring three diverse sideways shawls with short row details, plus one simple sideways textured wrap. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, short rows; pattern includes a link to my short row tutorials. Size: 50” length and 12” depth. Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% merino wool; 420 yards/384m/100g), shown in Baltic; 1 skein. The sample as written used approximately 375 yards of fingering weight yarn, but any amount may be used; see Designer’s Notes. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (3); Yarn needle. Gauge: 22 st and 28 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, 22 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, after blocking. Gauge is not critical for this project, . . .

Pax Vobis

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Jul 102015

Let Pax Vobis bring peace to you, as rhythmic baby cables flow into a gentle A-line silhouette. Seamless topdown raglan construction and an intuitive cable twist stitch pattern enable serene and uncomplicated knitting. The cropped length, elbow sleeves and deeply scooped neckline are perfect with a summer outfit, and the lightweight yarn brings a whisper soft harmony. Construction: Pax Vobis is knit seamlessly from the top down using raglan construction. Stitches are cast on for front, sleeves and back, and the bodice is worked with allover Baby Cable twists easily created without a cable needle, stockinette sleeves and wide raglan style lines. Once established, the Baby Cable stitch pattern is very intuitive; both written instructions and charts (on p. 8) are provided for reference. Once the neck depth is reached, stitches are cast on for the front neckline and 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 in stockinette, creating a slight, natural A-line shape below the . . .

Dulcene

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Jul 072015

Dulcene is a gentle and shallow elongated triangle, worked side to side in a soft and yielding silk & wool yarn. Repeating textured eyelet rows accent the stockinette body, and grow organically into short row garter ruffles at the lower edge, giving this belle a delicate and feminine charm. Dulcene is part of Three Belles and One Beau, a collection featuring three diverse sideways shawls with short row details, plus one simple sideways textured wrap. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, short rows; pattern includes a link to my short row tutorials. Size: 60” length and 18” depth. Yarn: Great Adirondack Yarn Company Silk N’ Blue (50% silk, 50% blue faced leicester wool; 120 yards/110m/50g), shown in Light Cocoa; 4 skeins. For similar feel and drape, choose a loosely plied yarn with some luxe silk or bamboo content. The sample as written used approximately 450 yards of dk weight yarn, but any amount may be used; see Designer’s Notes. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (4); Yarn needle. . . .

Box Pleat

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Jun 112015

A softly structured top with flattering pleats that highlight the face and neck, Box Pleat plays with modern relaxed shaping in a romantic way. The neatly fitted shoulders and neckline emphasize a strong focal point – the central box pleat flanked by right & left side pleats below a pretty scooped neckline. Fitted in the back along princess seams, but with a swingy front shape, Box Pleat flatters all sizes. Construction: Box Pleat is cast on at the bottom and worked in the round, beginning with a narrow ribbed hem with a rolled edge, to the armholes. Shaping is worked on the back only along the princess lines, then the front and back are divided at the armhole and worked separately to the shoulders, with the extra ease in the front consumed by the pleating at the neckline. The short, fitted sleeves are picked up and worked with short rows for the sleeve caps, then finished with a narrow rib cuff and a rolled edge that matches the casual flirtiness of the bottom hem. Finally, . . .

Sorbetto Scoop

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May 142015

Blueberry, raspberry, pistachio . . . picking a sweater color is as hard as deciding your favorite flavor of sorbet. With stripes and colorblocking, the Sorbetto Scoop sweater lets you enjoy them all. Worked from the top down using the seamless, simultaneous set-in sleeve method, the silhouette is slightly relaxed with gentle waist shaping, curved cropped hems, a scoopneck, and bracelet length sleeves. Construction: The seamless, simultaneous set-in sleeve method allows you to work the back, front and sleeves at one time from the top down, while creating a tailored, set-in sleeve fit. Stitches are cast on for the back, and the back shoulders are shaped with a few short rows to create the shoulder slope; stitches are then picked up for each front shoulder, which is shaped with identical short rows. The back and fronts are united, while at the same time stitches are picked up at the shoulder edges for the sleeve caps, and sleeve cap shaping begins. The back, front and sleeves are worked simultaneously to the bottom of the armscye, with . . .

Truly Plaidly Deeply

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Apr 062015

The best way to love? Truly, Plaidly, Deeply! Three colors and a non-stranded afterthought plaid technique make a fun and distinctive graphic plaid sweater. Construction: The sweater body begins with the shoulder saddles, then stitches for the back and fronts are picked up and worked back and forth to the bottom of the armhole, where they are joined and worked in the round to the hem. Contrasting seamless sleeves are picked up from the armhole, with the caps shaped using short rows then knit in the round to the cuffs. The contrast ribbed collar is picked up and knit to match the sleeves and hem. The plaid is simple to make, as it involves only knitting stripes, in a rib pattern – the vertical plaid lines are added later with a crochet hook in the purl ditches of the rib. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, short rows. Instructions are written, with additional charts for the plaid repeat and setup; a video tutorial is provided for the . . .

Truffle Hunter

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Mar 182015

A rolled stockinette edge, asymmetric ribbing and a subtly delicate textured stitch make Truffle Hunter a special hat of distinction. Short rows both shape the brim and add extra slouch at the nape, and the simple stitch pattern brings precious appeal to both sides of the fabric. Finished carefully, the hat is fully reversible for two lovely and unmistakably unique looks. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, short rows, decreasing. This pattern includes a link to my short row tutorials. Size: one size to fit most adults; 18” brim circumference and 9” height, measured flat and unstretched. Yarn: Shalimar Yarns Equus (100% superwash merino wool; 200 yards/183m), shown in Black Truffle; 1 skein. The sample used about 165 yards of worsted weight yarn. Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (9); Yarn needle. Gauge: 16 st and 24 rows/4” in Raindrop stitch, after blocking. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Frost Grape

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Feb 242015

Vitis Vulpina, known as the Frost Grape, becomes sweeter as the weather turns colder. Worked seamlessly from the top down in one piece, this aran weight raglan sweater is warm and simple. The defined raglan seamlines, and the purl welt detail at the ribbed turtleneck, deep hem and cuffs add just the right amount of style. A bit of shaping at the waist and back neck maintain a good fit, while at the same time making the chunky styling both cozy and modern. Construction: Frost Grape begins at the top with the turtleneck worked in the round, then the body is shaped with raglan increases calculated at a rate specific to each size for proper armscye fit, and a few short rows to raise the back neck. Sleeves are put on hold while the body is shaped through the waist and hips to the hem, then the sleeves are worked to the cuffs; seamless construction is worked in the round throughout. Techniques & Skills Used: raglan construction, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, cable CO, backwards loop CO, working . . .

Veruschka

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Feb 172015

Dolman three-quarter sleeves and an easy silhouette make Veruschka the perfect cozy sweater for casual autumn days. Knit in one piece from the top down, the body features gentle shaping to flatter your curves, and chunky ribbing to keep the mood rustic. A foldover turtleneck finishes the look and keeps out the chill. Construction: Veruschka is knit in one piece with minimal seaming. The back body and sleeves are cast on provisionally and worked to the armhole depth, then the CO stitches are worked in the opposite direction for the front sleeves and body, to the same point; there the sleeves are divided, and back & front are joined and worked in the round to the bottom ribbing. The sleeves are grafted at the underseam, then stitches are picked up for the ribbed cuffs. Stitches are picked up along the neckline, and the turtleneck is worked inside out with strategically placed increases, and finished with a narrow rib. Techniques & Skills Used: backwards loop CO, provisional CO, knit/ purl, short rows, picking up stitches, increasing/decreasing, working in . . .

Oryx

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Jan 062015

Originally published in Doomsday Knits: Projects for the Apocalypse and After, the individual Oryx pattern is now available as an indie design pdf in my usual format and style. Here’s a bit about my inspiration: Oryx is a mysterious female character who appears mostly as a haunting memory to the protagonist and survivor of biological pandemic in Margaret Atwood’s Oryx & Crake. Who was she in the past? Who were any of us – and does it matter, since much of humankind and all of human society no longer exists? The story inspired me to design a garment that would be useful regardless of the environment in which one might find oneself. Fitting snugly at the high hip, the tank increases in a semi-V shape to the bust, yet remains anchored close to the shoulders with sturdy buttoned straps. Choosing a size with plenty of ease at the bust ensures that there’s room for layering over that bralette into which you’ve tucked your essential tactical gear, or just over your underpinning of choice. The fitted . . .

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