sideways • The Knitting Vortex • Page 2

Alluvium

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters 2 Responses »

Mar 012013

Named for the free flowing organic matter which is eroded and reshaped into a new form by running water, Alluvium is a blanket-style cardigan with wide wrapped fronts, a cropped back, and a winding braided cable around the neckline and front edges. Cast on at one front edge, it is knit sideways around the body in one piece to the other edge, with afterthought sleeves worked from live armhole stitches. The comforting shape can be worn wrapped and belted or pinned, or left to wander freely; the shorter back and sleeve lengths reduce the bulk of the sweater and take off the chill without smothering you. A versatile and unstructured chunky knit, Alluvium is a transitional cardigan for the changing winter season. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, picking up stitches, cables. Size: 28.5 (31, 34, 36.5, 39, 42, 44.5, 47)”, based on the cross-back width doubled, and shown in third size. As this wrap cardi does not have a true bust circumference, choose a size based on cross-back measurement. Yarn: Knit Picks Biggo . . .

Rufflebye

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Jan 312013

A new take on the ruffle shawl, Rufflebye is a one-skein, reversible wrap worked sideways in three garter stitch wedges which cleverly intersect to change the knitting direction. Increases and decreases create the shape from tip to tip, while two sets of short rows throughout form the crescent shape and the gently ruffled edging. Construction: Rufflebye is cast on at one tip with a few stitches, increased to the halfway point then decreased again to the other tip, and shaped with short rows throughout. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, short rows. Size: one size; 45” length and 10” depth. Rufflebye forms a natural semi-circle and measures 40” along inner semi-circumference, and 72” along outer semi-circumference, measured without stretching. The 12-stitch ruffle is approximately 2.6” and begins as soon as there are enough stitches. Yarn: Indigodragonfly MerGoat Sock (80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, 400 yards/366m/115g); 1 skein, shown in My Boyfriend Had A Bicentennial (Buffy). See Designer’s Notes for instructions to adjust for differing yardage. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 40″circular needle, or size to match . . .

Blue Honey

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Apr 052012

Worked sideways in one flat piece from right to left sleeve cuff, Blue Honey is a long, open front cardigan with honeycomb stitch at the shoulders and a wide garter band finishing the collar and front edges. With just two sideseams, it’s a sweater that is easy to knit and flattering to wear, featuring long, lean lines and pretty textured stitch details that show off a beautiful variegated yarn. Construction: Blue Honey is cast on at the right sleeve cuff, then the right sleeve, front and back are worked flat to the center front/center back of the garment. Stitches are bound off for the right front opening edge, the back is continued, then stitches are cast on again for the left front, and the left front, back and sleeve are worked to the left sleeve cuff. Two long continuous seams from the undersleeve to the hem finish the sweater. In this sideways knit, row gauge determines body circumference, while stitch gauge determines length. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, seaming. . . .

Rhadamanthys

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Mar 022012

Rhadamanthys was the wise mythological Greek king who judged the dead and ruled the Fortunate Isles, where those heroes who had thrice been received into the Elysian Fields resided. Celebrate three blessings with this easy, sideways-knit sweater; it is knit in one piece with no seaming, requires no finishing, and is worked all in garter stitch. Three turning points in the short row shaping delineate body, yoke and collar, creating a shapely fit around the shoulders and upper torso. The garter stitch and extended front panels make it suitable for many shapes and sizes, and the fit may easily be further customized in length or circumference. Construction: Rhadamanthys is cast on at the left front edge, and worked sideways around the body to the right front. Except for the full-row front panels, it is knit entirely in short rows using the wrap & turn method; there is no need to pick up the wraps and knit them together with the wrapped stitch when you encounter them on the following row, as the wraps will disappear into . . .

Honey WIP

WIPs Comments Off

Feb 152012

I’ve been a bit obsessed with the honeycomb brioche stitch pattern lately. It’s great for variegateds, helping to break up weird pooling and striping, and it makes a thick, fluffy fabric. I like it best in an accessory, or as an accent – as on the shoulder detail of my new sideways cardigan Blue Honey. The picture above shows lovely but challenging Malabrigo Rios in Azules, as stockinette, garter, and the honeycomb pattern. When I say challenging, I mean the variegated nature of the color, particularly for garments. When Rios was first released, for some reason I bought a sweater quantity in this color. Why? I have no idea. It’s beautiful, and I love blue, but I dont make multi-colored sweaters, or wear them. Anyway, I finally decide this would be the right yarn for this sideways idea I’ve had for a while, and it’s really working out. The Rios is springy and lovely, and the little bit of patterning is just enough. Incarnation #1 is finished but the thing is still a WIP, because . . .

Iznik

New Release, Patterns, Wraps Comments Off

Sep 262011

Iznik shawlette is part of the Sailing To Byzantium Collection. A one-skein shawlette, Iznik is knit sideways in garter stitch with a knit-in floral lace border reminiscent of Turkish Iznik ceramic tile motifs. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, backwards loop CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, lace; the lace edging is both fully written and charted, with links to my special lace stitch tutorials. Size: 42” length and 17” depth. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock (100% superwash merino wool; 440 yards/ 402m/100g); 1 skein, shown in Playa, or approximately 370 yards of fingering weight yarn. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (2); Yarn needle. Gauge: 24 st and 32 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 and purchase the pattern.

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