stockinette • The Knitting Vortex • Page 2

Silt & Stone

Accessories, New Release, Patterns Comments Off

Mar 042013

The world is made of silt and stone, the granular material and solid minerals suspended in water or settled on the earth. As sediment forms a shape, so do the Silt & Stone Hat and Mittens grow from a mixture of stitches that settle together. For the hat, the wide garter and cable brim is knit sideways and grafted, then stitches are picked up for the crown and worked in the round with decreases to the top. The result is a chunky hat with a little slouch, both warm and textural from its mixture of elements.For the mittens, the long garter and cable cuff is knit sideways and grafted, then stitches are picked up for the hand and worked in the round with a thumb gusset. The extended cuff both hugs the forearm and slouches warmly at the wrist, while the comfy mitten keeps all your fingers warm. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, backward loop CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, cables, grafting. Hat Size: XS (S, M, L); 15.25 (17.5, 19.75, 22)” brim circumference, unstretched.Mittens . . .

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 . . .

Plixi

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters Comments Off

Oct 182012

Plixi is a long and lean open front cardigan, with gentle waist shaping and a flowing ruffle at the front edge and cuffs. Worked seamlessly from the top down in a drapey fingering weight yarn on larger needles, Plixi uses the contiguous method of seamless shoulder and sleeve construction, with a picked-up ruffle along the front edge, and a simple purled hem finish. Long, slim, and elegant, Plixi works with jeans or a dress, for a sleek and chic style to elevate any outfit. Construction: Plixi uses the contiguous method of construction, in which the fronts and back are worked from the top down using increases along the shoulder line, then seamless sleeves are worked simultaneously once the sleeve cap is reached. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail and backwards loop CO, contiguous construction, knit/purl, short rows, increasing/decreasing, lifted increases, picking up stitches, simultaneous shaping; links are included to my short rows and contiguous construction tutorials. Size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48)” bust; sample shown in second size worn with no ease. Yarn: RYC . . .

Pauroxo

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters 1 Response »

Oct 012012

A shapely topdown raglan with extended front panels, Pauroxo has a swingy A-line shape when worn open, and an enfolding cropped jacket vibe when closed with a shawl pin or belt. This easy cardigan is knit seamlessly with simple rolled front edges, Twisted Rib hem and cuffs, and a picked up collar band in Cable and Twist Rib. Pau Roxo is Portuguese for purple wood, and this cardigan is inspired by the striking deep violet wood from the Purpleheart tree found in tropical rainforests. Construction: Pauroxo is knit seamlessly from the top down with raglan sleeve shaping; the body and sleeves are worked in stockinette stitch to the armhole depth, then the body is divided from the sleeves and worked with gentle waist shaping to the narrow Twisted Rib hem. Relaxed sleeves are then worked to just below elbow length and finished with matching Twisted Rib cuffs. Stitches are picked up along the neckline and worked in a decorative Cable & Twist Rib. Waist shaping placement and length may be customised easily; just try on this . . .

Jilted

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters Comments Off

Sep 182012

Jilted, dropped, fallen . . . She may have been left ignominiously by that worthless boyfriend, but that just means her spirit is free. No more quiet evenings in, no more covered-up turtlenecks; she’s going out, and she’s going to wear something touchable and revealing, something imperfect and undone. And it’s going to be eye-catching, just like she is. Dressed up or down, Jilted is a simple sweater with a surprise – just like the girl wearing it. Construction: Jilted is a very simple, wide-neck blouson with a column of dropped stitches placed on each arm and asymmetrically on the front. Knit in sockweight yarn on larger needles, seamlessly from the top down with raglan shaping, the boxy fit hits at high hip with deep 2.25” ribbed hem, which echoes the rib cuffs on three-quarter length sleeves. With a simple purl neckline and stockinette body, the focus is on the dropped stitches, which are set up at the beginning and dropped almost at the end. There is no body and minimal sleeve shaping; instead the cuffs . . .

Sneak Peek at Folderol

FOs Comments Off

Aug 202012

Tucks and folds have been a little bit of an obsession of mine since last winter, and three weeks ago I got a lightning bolt idea for a soft, scrummy tucked shawl for the autumn season ahead. When something like this comes out of the blue, I like to go with it; thinking it might be a good fit, I sent off a pitch to Shannon at Cooperative Press, who is launching the new Knit Edge magazine. And so it comes about that Folderol is in issue 1, due to come out in the beginning of september. This piece takes those textural tucks like the ones used in the Crimp hat and Ruckle Mitts, and exaggerates them into long, deep folds along the curve of a thick crescent shawl. The top edge is finished with applied I-cord, making the entire wrap reversible, and lovely when wrapped around the neck. I’ve had these three skeins of Malabrigo Worsted in Tuareg hanging around in stash forever, and 2.5 of them are now this cozy schlarf (with enough . . .

Kelpen

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters Comments Off

Jul 242012

A casual tunic tee featuring a deep V-shaped back neckline with twisted cord ties, Kelpen is a simple topdown seamless knit from provisionally cast on shoulders. Stockinette stitch with no body shaping and a textured, drapey yarn focus attention on the details; the wide front and deep back neckline are finished with a casual rolled edge, and ribbing forms the short cap sleeves. Casual for daytime or just enough to keep off a summer evening chill, Kelpen is easily adjusted for length, and can also be worn with the V-neck to the front – just omit the ties or tuck them inside. Construction: Kelpen is cast on provisionally at each back shoulder and worked back and forth with deep V-neckline shaping, then joined and worked to the armhole depth where the back is put on hold. Each front is then worked from the provisionally cast on shoulder stitches with a wide boat neckline, then joined and worked to the armhole depth. Front and back are united, with stitches cast on for the underarm, then worked . . .

Sundry

New Release, Patterns, Wraps 1 Response »

May 042012

An elongated, asymmetrical wrap that combines the warmth and style of a shawl with the wearability of a scarf, Sundry means various or diverse, and this wrap features two colors, two stitch patterns and endless styling options. Cast on at the long, pointed end, Sundry has shaping at each end of rows that grow ever wider. Two colors contrast yet harmonize in solid garter stitch and houndstooth slipstitch sections; the slipstitch is easily worked using just one color per row. A simple picot bind off finishes the long straight end. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit, increasing/decreasing, slipstitch colorwork, picot BO; the slipstitch pattern is both written and charted, with a link to my video tutorial included for the picot BO. Size: 112” length and 24” depth, customizable. Yarn: String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn Selku (50% Silk, 50% Merino; 375 yards/113g); 1 skein MC & 1 skein CC, shown in Pewter (MC) & Alexandrite (CC). Any amount of yarn in two colors may be used. As written, the sample required almost every bit of yarn; see Designer’s . . .

Blue Honey

New Release, Patterns, Sweaters Comments Off

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. . . .

Sleeve in a Day

WIPs 1 Response »

Mar 302012

Deadlines really motivate me; I suspect I might achieve close to zero if I didn’t utilize them. The current challenge is to finish my second contiguous cardigan by saturday midnight. It’s worsted, yes – but still a whole garment. I think there’s a good chance; I had to rip the first sleeve because it was too small, and I updated the sizing while knitting the second. Happily, sleeve in a day was achieved. Next challenge is the front edging; last night I ripped the 2″ I had because I decided some short-rowing would be just the thing. So less than 48 hours for around 25 long 200+ stitch rows. I hope it comes out well.

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