slipstitch • The Knitting Vortex

Issykol

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Mar 282019

Luxurious cashmere yarn and mosaic slipped stitch chevron patterns make a stunning bias shawl, featuring two rich colors alternating in a striking zigzag across a lighter contrasting background. June Cashmere’s ethically sourced and organically dyed yarn, which behaves like a light fingering weight, originates with fiber from small family farms in the mountain communities of Kyrgyzstan along the ancient Silk Road. As part of their mission to be an engine for social and economic change in the region, the company partners with local shepherds to bring fine quality fiber to the international market for fair compensation. Issykol is named for Issyk-Kul Lake, the seventh deepest and tenth largest lake in the world, located in the globally significant and biodiverse Issy-Kul Biosphere Reserve. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: 72” length and 17” depth. Highly customizable, with an adjustable 12-row repeat to alter the zigs and zags and infinite garter stitch bordering each end, . . .

Goblin Queen

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Oct 052018

Alternating checks created by slipped stitches trail uniformly across the topdown triangular shape of this shawl in ever-widening bands. When one edge is bound off, the other then zooms off to one side in a long tail, for a simple graphic wrap that winds elegantly and stays in place easily. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork. Instructions for this pattern are fully written, with charts also provided for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: 80” length and 23” depth. Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (100% merino wool; 400yards/ 366m/100g); 1 skein each colors A and B, shown in Typewriter and Goblin, respectively. The sample used approximately 355 yards A and 395 yards B. Using a drapey single or loosely plied yarn will help minimize rolling at the long bottom left edge. Other Materials: US 5 (3.75mm) 32” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Markers (2); 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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

Slip Sliding Away

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Mar 242014

This graphic, topdown shawl begins with a garter tab, then is worked in narrow, two-color stripes with slipped stitches in reversed colors on each side of the central spine. The lower edging is a complementary slipped stitch rib which curves around the point and extends to each tip, emphasizing the strong linear elements of the shawl. Visually complicated but easy to work, only one color is used at a time, and the slipped stitches result in the pattern looking different on each half of the shawl. Increases on every row create a long v-shaped wingspan which accentuates the strong lines and showcases the changing optical interplay of colors. Techniques & Skills Used: garter tab CO, knit/purl, slipped stitch colorwork; this pattern is both written and charted. Size: 64” wingspan and 27” depth, after blocking. Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock (100% superwash merino wool; 395 yards/361m/100g), 1 skein each, MC and CC. Sample shown in MC Wood Violet and CC Victorian Gothic. This pattern may be adapted to any amount of yarn in two colors; see Designer’s . . .

Ravenclaw Socks

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Oct 192011

Knitting has been slightly stalled during The Visit From The InLaws, but fortunately I’m back on track for WIP Wednesday. As Harry Potter fans know, the game of Quidditch is essential wizard sport, as well as a chance to don House spirit regalia. And as knitting Harry Potter fans may know, the Ravelry Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup is a group of knitting, wizardly fans of all things HP. The House Cup, as we call it, is constantly evolving to provide more ways to knit stuff and be fanlike. This semester our lovely HeadMistress and tireless staff have introduced BROOMs as a new way to earn additional points for one’s house in the Cup; there are acronyms, secrecy and general role-play fun. And in my case, there are Ravenclaw Socks: Maybe I can get the second one started at Stitches East this weekend.

Sailing To Byzantium

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Sep 262011

For over 1000 years, the Byzantine Empire stood as a symbol of Christian power in the eastern half of what had once been the Roman Empire, symbolizing a final link to the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans. Renamed Constantinople in 330 AD by Constantine I, the ancient city of Byzantium remained a center of wealth and power despite its fall to the western knights of the Fourth Crusade in 1203. The future of the city changed forever in 1453, when it was besieged by Sultan Mehmet II and the Ottoman Turks, overrun, and reborn as Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. A city of ancient Roman stonework, early Christian domes, towering Islamic minarets and intricate Ottoman tile and mosaics, Byzantium now stands for a dream of splendor and beauty straddling Europe and Asia Minor. Byzantine architecture is notable for its stacked shapes; minarets towering over domes, above arches and blocks. The repeating geometric motifs create a strong visual effect, in warm tones of sandstone, clay, stone and lead. The geometry is enhanced . . .

Mosaic Socks

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Sep 262011

Mosaic Socks are part of the Sailing To Byzantium Collection. These slipstitch colorwork socks are knit from the cuff down with heel flap and gusset, using mosaic patterns reminiscent of Byzantine tile work. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, decreasing, corrugated ribbing, picking up stitches, slipstich mosaic colorwork, short row heel, grafting; this pattern contains full written instructions, as well as charts for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: S (M, L): 72 (80, 88) st, to fit Women’s US 6/7 (8/9, 10/11) shoe size. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock (100% superwash merino wool; 440 yards/ 402m/100g); 1 skein each MC and CC, shown in Azules (MC) and Botticelli Red (CC). Other Materials: US 1 (2.25mm) dpns or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (3); Yarn needle. Gauge: 38 st and 48 rows/4” in stockinette stitch, 48 st and 88 rows/4” in Twisted Stripe slipstitch pattern, 42 st and 72 rows/4” in Mosaic Weave slipstitch pattern, after blocking. Slipstitch colorwork is very dense; the slipstitch rows are also somewhat . . .

Lattice Mittens

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Sep 262011

Lattice Mitten are part of the Sailing To Byzantium Collection. These warm colorwork mittens feature three different slipstitch patterns, all reminiscent of Ottoman architecture. Techniques & Skills Used: Cable CO, corrugated ribbing, slipstitch colorwork, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, grafting. This pattern contains full written instructions, as well as charts for the slipstitch colorwork. Size: S (M, L): 6 (7, 8)” palm circumference and 7.5 (9.75, 12)” length, to fit 6.5 (7.5, 8.5)” hand circumference. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/ 192m/100g); 1 skein each of MC and CC. Size M shown in Tortuga (MC) and Applewood (CC). Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or dpns, or size to match gauge; Stitch markers (4); Yarn needle; Scrap yarn; Stitch holder for thumb. Gauge: 28 st and 26 rounds/4” in Twisted Stripe, after blocking. 22 st and 24 rounds/4” in Corrugated Rib; 20 st and 26 rounds/4” in stockinette st, after blocking. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip to read more and purchase the pattern.

Minaret Hat

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Sep 262011

Minaret Hat is part of the Sailing To Byzantium Collection. This slipstitch colorwork hat, designed in three sizes, recalls the dome and minaret shapes of Ottoman architecture. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, corrugated ribbing, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork; this pattern contains both fully written and charted instructions. Size: S (M, L): 18.5 (20, 21.5)” brim circumference and 8 (9, 10)” height, to fit 21 (22.5, 24)” head circumference. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/ 192m/100g); 1 skein each MC and CC. Size M shown in Tortuga (MC) and Applewood (CC). Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle or dpns, or 32” circular needle for Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker; Yarn needle. Gauge: 19 st and 38 rounds/4” in Lattice stitch pattern, after blocking. 19 st and 24 rounds/4” in Corrugated Rib; 18 st and 24 rounds/4” in stockinette st, after blocking. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more and purchase the pattern.

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