pattern • The Knitting Vortex • Page 6

Block Theory

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Aug 042016

Bold blocks of intarsia decorate the front and back of this long and lean tank. Worked flat from the bottom up with a slightly longer back, the built-in rib edging is seamed at the sides, leaving slits at the hem. Waist shaping and an a-line flare at the hip emphasize the casual breeziness, and deep v-shaped armholes add to the strong linear styling. Construction: Block Theory is worked separately for front & back from the bottom up, beginning with an Italian tubular CO that flows beautifully into narrow ribbing, and then transitions to stockinette stitch with intarsia color blocking. The narrow rib continues up the sideseam and armhole edge, with shaping worked within the body for hip, waist and bust, making it simple to seam the front and back together beautifully, and eliminating the need for armhole finishing. A shallow scoop neck worked with a few short rows balances the cut-out armholes, the shoulders are seamed with a 3-needle bind off, and then tidy minimalist applied I-cord finishes the neckline. The width and spacing of the . . .

Indium

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Jul 062016

Worked simply, in summer yarn with a bit of lace, Indium is a bubble tank perfect for lazy warm days. Topdown seamless construction with no shaping makes a carefree top with a casual fit; wear it longer like the sample, or make a cropped version and accentuate the easy shape. Construction: Indium is worked seamlessly from the top down all in one piece; the straps are CO provisionally and worked as I-cord, then stitches are cast on to the live straps and joined in the round for the top edge. After the lace and cable top edge is complete, stitches are increased for the body and worked straight to the hem, where a rapid decrease pulls in the bottom ribbing, creating the bubble shape. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, I-cord, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, working in the round; pattern instructions are fully written, with a chart also provided for the lace stitch pattern. Size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48)” bust; sample shown in second size worn with 1” negative ease at bust and 4” negative . . .

Vamping

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Jun 162016

In jazz music, vamping is playing the same short phrase over and over; in this shawl you create a glamorous vampy piece by working a simple syncopated eyelet repeat on a wrap with an intriguing shape. Knit asymmetrically from side to side, the long gradient color change builds slowly as it expands with the shawl. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; instructions for this pattern are fully written. Size: 70” length and 20” depth. Yarn: KnitCircus Yarns Lavish (70% superwash merino wool, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 600 yards/548m/170g); 1 skein, shown in Vampire Boyfriend. The sample as written used approximately 585 yards, but instructions are included to customize your shawl for different amounts of yardage. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Removable marker (1); Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 30 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 shawl, and different yardage requirements. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read . . .

Diamond Lanes

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Apr 192016

Geometric lace forms textured diagonal diamond lanes leading upward and outward on this simple but stunning triangular shawl. Techniques & Skills Used: knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace; this pattern is both fully written and charted. Size: 52” length and 21” depth, customizable. Yarn: Seven Sisters Arts Apex (60% superwash merino wool, 20% yak, 20% silk; 400 yards/366m/100g), shown in bleu grey; 1 skein, or 400 yards of wool blend fingering weight yarn with good drape. The sample as written used the entire skein; you may want to have additional yardage on hand as insurance, as the shawl may easily be enlarged using any amount of yarn. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle or size to match gauge; Markers (3); Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 40 rows/4” in garter stitch, 18 st and 34 rows/4” in diamond 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.

Sweet Chilly

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Mar 172016

As comfy as your favorite sweatshirt but made stylish with special details, Sweet Chilly uses seamless topdown construction and textured stitches in a modern knit sweater. Shifting Broken Rib panels create the look of a deep raglan, while the Twisted Rib featured on the dolman sleeves continues along the sides providing natural shaping. Construction: Sweet Chilly is worked seamlessly from the top down with textured stitches. The back is cast on and the back shoulders are shaped with German short rows worked in Twisted Rib, then the textured Broken Rib panel is set up and the back is worked to the armhole depth. Stitches for each front are picked up from the CO shoulders, and shaped similarly to the back while also shaping the front neck. The fronts are then joined and worked to the armhole depth, where stitches are bound off at the underarms to create the dolman sleeves, then front and back are joined to work in the round to the hem. The Broken Rib panel moves toward the sideseams, consuming the . . .

Shadowling

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Jan 192016

A topography of shadow cables is knit as a flat rectangle and folded, then two short seams form this cocoon cardigan. Short rows shape the wide ribbed edging, creating a warm and dramatic shawl collar that hugs all the right places; an elegant applied I-cord neatly finishes the edges and cuffs. Construction: Shadowling is cast on provisionally and worked as a flat rectangle to the final body row, which is left live. The piece is folded horizontally and seamed, leaving armhole openings; stitches are picked up around the openings and worked in the round for long ribbed cuffs, and finished with applied I-cord. CO and final row stitches are then worked in the round in rib with short rows to shape the shawl collar, and the long edge also finished with applied I-cord. Instructions are written for the German short row method, but your preferred method may be substituted. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, cable CO, knit/purl, cables, short rows, working in the round, applied I-cord; stitch pattern is both written and charted, with a link . . .

Snowsweep

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Dec 012015

Sweeping rows of eyelets, placed gradually further apart, curve along this reversible shawl. Worked from a few stitches at one tip, the garter stitch grows asymmetrically with picots at one edge, to a matching picot finish. A simple knit with dramatic results, Snowsweep may be customized to use any amount of yardage, and to adjust the frequency of eyelet accent rows. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, picots. Size: 74” length and 24” depth, customizable. Yarn: Woolfolk Sno (100% Ovis 21 ultimate merino wool; 223 yards/204m/50g), shown in Color No. 1+2 (pale grey and off white); 4 skeins. The sample as written used approximately 780 yards, but any amount of fingering weight yarn may be used; see Designer’s Notes. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 36 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 . . .

Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2015

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Nov 232015

It’s that time of year again; the Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2015 brings together 100s of designers and 1000s of crafters, prepping for the holidays together. The event runs now through 12/31 and kicks off with a 25% sale on select patterns until November 27 with code giftalong2015. These are my sale patterns, and you can find them in the Gift-A-Long 2015 bundle on my Ravelry designer page. Join us on Ravelry, and Happy Gifting!

Seedstripes

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Nov 102015

Worked in the round from the top down, Seedstripes is an earflap hat that is full of interest. Disappearing loop cast on, textured knitting and a few simple, well-placed short rows combine for an engaging knit; add a pompom for even more fun! Techniques & Skills Used: disappearing loop CO, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing. This pattern includes links to my disappearing loop CO and short row tutorials. Size: S (M, L) to fit about 20 (22, 24)” head circumference; hat measures 17.75 (20, 22.25)” circumference and 8.5 (9, 10)” height at earflap. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein, or approximately 140 (150, 175) yards of worsted weight yarn. Sample size Small shown in Natural. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needle or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; US 5 dpns or circular needle for CO; Stitch markers (4); Yarn needle. Gauge: 18 st and 34 rows/4” in seed stitch, after blocking. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or . . .

Not Quite Plaid

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Oct 082015

Colorblocks, stripes and vertical dropped stitches – it’s Not Quite Plaid, but looks vaguely tartan. An asymmetric bias shape and an atypical approach to creating a stitch pattern result in a fabric on which to combine colors for a nontraditional and modern shawl that is infinitely customizable. Choose colors and yarns that speak to you from your stash for your own perfect (not quite) plaid. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing; instructions are both fully written and charted. Size: 84” length and 32” depth, customizable to any size. Yarn: Baah! La Jolla (100% merino wool; 400 yards/366m/100g); 1 skein each of color A/Night Sky, color B/Obsidian, color C/Grey Onyx and color D/La Perla. A plied sock yarn with a somewhat tight twist helps maintain the integrity of the dropped stitches. The sample used approximately 275/100/205/215 yards respectively of colors A/B/C/D 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; marker (1); removable markers (optional); Yarn . . .

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