Monday, September 05, 2011
Meeting Nicky Epstein
This morning I was happy to have the opportunity to meet the fabulous knitwear designer Nicky Epstein when she came to Saint John (as a stop on her cruise ship tour). She's an inspiration to knitters all over the world!
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 10:50 PM
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Monday, February 21, 2011
Paris Mittens
I've been wanting to make a pair of stranded mittens that were a bit more fitted than the typical Norwegian mittens. My goal was to come up with something that was a touch Victorian, with a few fun elements that I'd like to wear - picot edging, a travel theme, some fitted seaming. One day I'll actually make it to Paris, but in the mean time, I can at least enjoy these...
If you are interested in purchasing this pattern ($6 CDN) you can get it here.
Labels: knitting, mittens, pattern design
Posted by Dre at 10:52 PM
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Saturday, February 05, 2011
More yarn for the stash
I stopped in to the Saint John City Market today and caught up With Elizabeth Miller, who has a craft table there on Saturdays. Shesells her own dyed roving, hand spun yarns, and lovely hand-knit and woven pieces. I couldn't resist this skein of baby alpaca, kid mohair & silk yarn... now to find a project for it!
Posted by Dre at 4:52 PM
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Sunday, January 16, 2011
Lingonberry Shawlette
The first knitting pattern I've ever designed - born of the need to teach a Continental knitting course. I wanted a pattern that used one skein of fingering-weight yarn and that started with regular stockinette stitch before getting into a lace pattern. This pattern may be used for free. It can be found wither below, or if you are a member of Ravelry.com, you can download the pdf there or right here: download now
MATERIALS
• Approx 330 yards of Handmaiden Casbah or other fingering weight yarn.
• Needles: 4mm 24” or longer circular needles. I also use a 6mm needle to bind off.
• Gauge: 20 stitches and 30 rows = 4”, although gauge is not crucial for this pattern.
• Finished measurements: approx. 54” wide and 20” long at center.
• Notions: tapestry needle, stitch marker(s)
ABBREVIATIONS
cs = center stitch
k = knit
k2tog = knit two together
p = purl
RS = right side
sl1 k2tog psso = slip one stitch, knit the next two stitches together, pass the first stitch over the stitch that you just knit
ssk = slip two stitches so that right leg is in back of needle
and knit them together as one stitch
WS = wrong side
yo = yarn over
INSTRUCTIONS
• Cast on 3 stitches.
• Knit 6 rows as garter stitch.
• Pick up and knit 3 stitches from the long edge, and 3 stitches from the cast-on edge. (9 stitches)
PART 1 (Stockinette)Row 1 (WS) k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3. (11 stitches)
Row 2 (RS) k3, yo, k2, yo, place marker, k1 (this is the center stitch), yo, k2, yo, k3. (15 stitches)
Row 3 (WS) k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3. (17 stitches)
Row 4 (RS) k3, yo, k to cs, yo, slip marker, k1, yo, k to last 3 stitches, yo, k3 (21 stitches)
Repeat rows 3 & 4 25 more times. (171 stitches)
Row 55 Repeat row 3 once more. (173 stitches)
PART 2 (Lingonberry Lace)
NOTES
• All WS rows are as follows: k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3.
• Charts are located after the written instructions for the charted areas.
Chart A Written Instructions
Row 56 (RS) k3, yo, k3, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1 *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k2, yo, k3. (177 stitches)
Row 58 (RS) k3, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k2, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k3. (183 stitches)
Row 60 (RS) k3, yo, k2, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k2, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k3, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, k2, k2tog, k2 yo, k3. (189 stitches)
Row 62 (RS) k3, yo, k4, ssk, k2, yo, k1, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, k3, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k4, *yo, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k1, repeat 8 times from *, yo, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k3. (195 stitches)
Chart B Written Instructions
Row 64 (RS) k3, yo, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k4, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k5, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, yo, k3. (201 stitches)
Row 66 (RS) k3, yo, k3, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k2, yo, k3. (207 stitches)
Row 68 (RS) k3, yo, k5, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k2, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k4, yo, k3. (213 stitches)
Row 70 (RS) k3, yo, k7, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k3, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 9 times from*, k6, yo, k3. (219 stitches)
Chart C Written Instructions
Row 72 (RS) k3, yo, k4, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, k3, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k4, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, k3, yo, k3. (225 stitches)
Row 74 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, k4, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k5, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k3. (231 stitches)
Row 76 (RS) k3, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k3, yo, k3. (237 stitches)
Row 78 (RS) k3, yo, k5, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k2, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k2, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, *ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k1, repeat 10 times from*, ssk, k2, yo, k5, yo, k3. (243 stitches)
PART 3 (Edging)
NOTE
All WS rows are as follows: k3, yo, p to last 3 stitches from end, yo, k3.
Chart D Written Instructions
Row 80 (RS) k3, yo, k to marker, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k to last 3 stitches, yo, k3. (249 stitches)
Row 82 (RS) k3, yo, k1, *ssk, yo, repeat from * until 1 stitch before the marker, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, repeat from * until last 4 stitches, k1, yo, k3. (255 stitches)
Row 84 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, *k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, yo, k1, yo, repeat 12 times from *, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, *yo, k1, yo, k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, repeat 12 times from *, yo, k1, yo, k3. (261 stitches)
Row 86 (RS) k3, yo, k4, *yo, k2, sl1 k2tog psso, k2, yo, k3, repeat 12 times from *, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, *k3, yo, k2, sl1 k2tog psso, k2, yo, repeat 12 times from *, k4, yo, k3. (267 stitches)
Row 88 (RS) k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, *k1, yo, k1, sl1 k2tog psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, repeat 12 times from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, k1, sl1 k2tog psso, k1, yo, k1, repeat 12 times from *, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k3. (273 stitches)
Row 90 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, *k2, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, repeat 24 times from *, k2, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2, repeat 24 times from *, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, k3. (279 stitches)
Row 92 (RS) Bind off loosely, removing stitch marker (I used a 6mm needle).
CHARTS (click on photo for a larger image)
FINISHING
• Weave in loose ends with tapestry needle.
• Block lightly, pinning edges out at tips of triangles.
• Wear & enjoy!
Copyright 2011, Andrea Arbour. All rights reserved. Pattern for personal use only.
Designer can be contacted at: aarbour@nbnet.nb.ca or on Ravelry: username=Aelorra
Chart D Written Instructions
Row 80 (RS) k3, yo, k to marker, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k to last 3 stitches, yo, k3. (249 stitches)
Row 82 (RS) k3, yo, k1, *ssk, yo, repeat from * until 1 stitch before the marker, k1, yo, slip marker, k cs, yo, k1, *yo, ssk, repeat from * until last 4 stitches, k1, yo, k3. (255 stitches)
Row 84 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, *k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, yo, k1, yo, repeat 12 times from *, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, *yo, k1, yo, k3, sl1 k2tog psso, k3, repeat 12 times from *, yo, k1, yo, k3. (261 stitches)
Row 86 (RS) k3, yo, k4, *yo, k2, sl1 k2tog psso, k2, yo, k3, repeat 12 times from *, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, *k3, yo, k2, sl1 k2tog psso, k2, yo, repeat 12 times from *, k4, yo, k3. (267 stitches)
Row 88 (RS) k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, *k1, yo, k1, sl1 k2tog psso, k1, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, repeat 12 times from *, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, k1, sl1 k2tog psso, k1, yo, k1, repeat 12 times from *, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k3. (273 stitches)
Row 90 (RS) k3, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, *k2, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, repeat 24 times from *, k2, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k cs, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k2, repeat 24 times from *, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k1, yo, k3. (279 stitches)
Row 92 (RS) Bind off loosely, removing stitch marker (I used a 6mm needle).
CHARTS (click on photo for a larger image)
FINISHING
• Weave in loose ends with tapestry needle.
• Block lightly, pinning edges out at tips of triangles.
• Wear & enjoy!
Copyright 2011, Andrea Arbour. All rights reserved. Pattern for personal use only.
Designer can be contacted at: aarbour@nbnet.nb.ca or on Ravelry: username=Aelorra
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 8:53 PM
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Orchid Thief Shawlette
Finally got around to getting a better photo of the finished product...
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 8:32 PM
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Friday, November 26, 2010
Vines & Leaves Beret
I couldn't resist picking up a ball of the very fun & sparkly Vanna's Glamour Lion Brand yarn ($6.99 at Michael's) the other day. One ball of it was perfect for making the small size of the Vine & Leaves Beret from the Fall 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting magazine. It went up in two short evenings!
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 10:49 PM
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Friday, November 12, 2010
In Progress: Orchid Thief Shawlette
I love the design for the Orchid Thief Shawlette by Ysolda Teague and I'm almost done, but I ran out of yarn near the start of the last row, and the pattern doesn't lend well to ending things early. So I'll have to hunt down another skein of the yarn that I'm using - and hope to get the same color & dyelot. Sigh. So almost done.
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 11:41 PM
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Thursday, November 11, 2010
In Progress: Moulin Rouge Mittens
One down, one to go. Mare gave me the pattern as a gift, knowing it'd be right up my alley. The yarn is Madeline Tosh sock in Tart (red) & Antler (cream). I enjoy the slight variations in tone, and I like the fact that the yarn is more of a light fingering (3 ply) than regular sock weight (4 ply) yarn. I'm also knitting this on 2mm needles, instead of the 2.25mm ones that the pattern calls for (since I have long yet narrow hands).
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 11:36 PM
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Saturday, November 06, 2010
Completed Laurel Beret
This went up nice & quickly over the weekend. :-)
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 11:33 PM
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Sunday, October 17, 2010
Completed Spiral Cowl
I'd picked the yarn for this up when I was in NYC. It's baby alpaca, so it's nice & warm...
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 11:30 PM
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Sunday, October 03, 2010
Completed Girasol Circular Shawl
The Girasol pattern by Jared Flood was something I'd wanted to do for a long while, and it felt great to complete it. Grace and Hunter tried to claim it as soon asi I put it down to photograph it...
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 11:23 PM
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Lumpy Bumpy Cowl
I'd picked the yarn for this up when I was in NYC. One skein & a lot of fun made for a quick & easy cowl...
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 10:17 PM
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Self-striping Vacation Socks
I knit one sock while on vacation and then I finished the second one the week after I returned to Saint John. It's just a basic sock pattern using KnitPicks self-striping Fellici merino sock yarn. I got most of the second sock done on the weekend of the 12th as mom came up for a "girls weekend" (consisting pretty much of knitting, window-shopping & watching chick flicks!)
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 9:46 PM
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Completed knitting cardigan - just in time for vacation!
Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston was a very enjoyable pattern to knit, and this yarn was lovely to work with and has a wonderful drape. It was a bit of a rush to try to complete it before my vacation but managed to get it done with a few hours to spare. I would make this pattern again, but next time, I'd make it longer.
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 5:46 PM
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Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Audry in Unst Cardigan - in progress
It's been a busy summer and I've really been enjoying working on this cardigan in between things. I hope to get it done before my autumn vacation. As many people on Ravelry have commented, it's a well-written pattern that is easy and fun to follow. I'm impressed with how quickly it's knitting up. The yarn that I'm using is delicious. It's called Mosco by Schulana and it's a rayon/mohair mix that's actually super-soft.
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 7:31 PM
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Daybreak Shawl for the office
I finished this a few weeks ago and have gotten a lot of use out of it already, but I hadn't gotten around to getting a photo of it. The pattern is called Daybreak and it's by Stephen West. I made the large size but I knit loosely and ran out of gray yarn on the border, so I wound up with a narrower border than the pattern called for though I'm happy with it as it is. :-)
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 7:25 PM
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Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday - a day of knitting
Since it was foggy and cool in town, and since I was a wee bit tuckered from a late night while the neighbors had their courtyard party, I opted to have a quiet day at home and get some knitting done. I've made a bit of progress on my Girasol, which I started months ago, and I finished the back to the floral cardigan. I've also started this small scarf, which is made with a strand of thread-weight merino and a strand of lace & steel.
The pattern can be found here on the Habu textiles website.
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 11:02 PM
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Monday, June 14, 2010
Citron One-skein Shawlette
This pattern is available at Knitty.com for free and can be found here. I'd picked up one skein of Malabrigo Lace (470 yards, 100% merino and oh-so-soft!) on sale at Tradewinds in Dartmouth, NS. It was the last day that her store was open so what was left was heavily marked down. The pattern says that one skein will suit it, but I only had enough to get to the outer edge of the 5th section of rushing, still, though, it is a wearable size.
I finished this scarf on Saturday, which was Wold-wide Knit in Public Day. That was an interesting time. I sat down to knit with a couple of women who were in town for a Red Hat Society convention. Missy joined us, and soon enough Mayor Ivan Court stopped by and told us a few stories. As the Red Hat ladies left to go to their luncheon, Elizabeth came along with her daughter and aunt (and Buffy, the aunt's chihuahua, happily clad in pinks and nested in a pink travel bag.)
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 10:48 PM
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Monday, May 31, 2010
Floral Cardigan - in progress
I can't wait to finish this so I can wear it! The pattern is from the Winter 1009/10 issue of Vogue Knitting and is by Josh Bennett. Since I have allergies to regular wool, I ordered some Merino from KnitPicks and I've chosen colors that I would wear more often. I've chosen to do the top portion as Fair Isle, but I am using intarsia for the centers of the flowers.
Labels: knitting
Posted by Dre at 7:43 PM
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Entangled Stitches Gloves - part 1
I've been looking forward to starting these. The pattern can be found here.
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Posted by Dre at 7:39 PM
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Copyright © 2010 Andrea Arbour. All rights reserved.