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May the Fourth be with you!
Today is Starwars day (May 4th) and I have been busy updating my Etsy shop with all my patterns.
All patterns are now available as direct PDF downloads which is great as you will receive your pattern straight away!
To celebrate I am offering a sale of 20% on my Etsy listings only with the code STARWARSDAYSALE until the 11th May.
The force is strong with this one.
Today marks a very special day - 100 days to go until the Tour de France comes to Yorkshire! I'm very excited as the cycle race will pass very close to where I live and I plan to go to Huddersfield to watch the race come through.
It seems the perfect timing to introduce my two new crochet patterns - Handlebar Hands and Cadence Cowl. Both of these patterns have a cycling theme and were inspired into being after the release of my Helmet Head pattern in the Bespoke book - a whole book of cycling related designs inspired by the Tour de Yorkshire as it is locally known.
I love matching sets and found Helmet Head really fun to crochet so I just had to design a matching cowl and mitten set. All three of these designs are suitable for beginner crocheters as they use only a few stitches and have very little shaping involved. I'm just in love with the striping pattern and especially in these bright colours of Rowan Tweed that are all named after local places. Great to brighten up my outfits as spring arrives!
Cadence cowl is crocheted in the round and it can be made shorter or longer, or wider or thinner as required by adding or subtracting rows or stitches from the pattern. I like it at this length though as it can be comfortably wrapped around the neck twice as a very warm cowl or to keep it out of the way whilst cycling, or draped long and loose as an infinity scarf.
The Handlebar Hands can be made as fingerless mitts or full mittens and instructions are included for both. They come in three sizes to fit small, medium or large hands. They are unisex, just like Helmet Head and can be made more 'manly' by changing the colours of the yarn. I like the fingerless ones best for cycling with as I can use my fingers to ring the bell on my bike, but having a full mitten is great in cold weather.
The photos were taken by my dad and my sister kindly modelled for the photos. We had great fun on the photo shoot although it nearly was a disaster. I've learnt that you should not ask models to cycle alongside a canal without their glasses on. Disaster was narrowly diverted by catching Lucy before she fell into the water! She has forgiven me (I think).
Both patterns are available in my Ravelry shop and on this website. For the next 100 days both patterns are available for 50% off their normal price to celebrate le Tour Yorkshire. Use the code LETOURYORKSHIRE to activate this offer when paying!
Kali
This month has been very exciting as I have had a pattern published on Knitty.com. Kali is a sleeveless top that is great for spring, summer and autumn.
The inspiration for Kali came from wanting to knit something that was bright and colourful that used a simple slip stitch to create a pattern that looks more complicated than it really is. The pattern reminds me of visiting sweet shops with rows of jars that were filled with brightly coloured sweets that I visited when staying with my grandparents or on holiday. I have always had a sweet tooth and the sherbet filled flying saucers were one of my favourites, along with the pink shrimp or yellow bananas, milk bottles or gummy bears.
The pattern is knitted flat in two pieces. It starts with a corrugated garter stitch rib pattern. The main body of the garment is a slip stitch pattern that is easy to do and the knitting just flies by.
The armholes and neck are finished off by the same corrugated garter stitch rib. There is a cute contrasting stripe in both the ribbing and at the bottom of the vest that adds just a splash more colour.
Kali can be worn as a layering vest over t-shirts, long sleeved tops or shirts in spring or autumn, or on its own as a sleeveless top in summer. The pink and grey sample is knitted in Debbie Bliss 4-ply Rialto which is 100% wool and the yellow and red sample is knitted in Rowan Cotton Glace for a more summery top.
Kali is in the 2014 spring and summer issue of Knitty.com which means the pattern is available for free! Knitty is an online magazine that has great articles as well as interesting patterns. I often use it for their really easy to follow tutorials and I plan to try some of their spinning techniques soon.
I hope you enjoy knitting this cute top!
Tunisian crochet techniques was the theme of the February meeting of the local Knit and Crochet guild meeting. We had a short talk on the history of Tunisian crochet before learning how to do different stitches with the help of Fiona Mannifield. For those who have not seen it before, Tunisian crochet uses a crochet hook that has a very long handle and no hand grip. The stitches were all formed by picking up a row of stitches onto the hook and then casting them off. The different stitches are made by changing the way the stitches are picked up. It creates a very dense fabric that would be warm but use much more yarn than normal crochet.
I have 3 hooks in my collection, all of which I inherited. All the samples I made with the smallest hook (it appears to be a size 4mm - there is no marking on any of them to let me know) and Shilasdair organic cotton (100% cotton). For each sample I cast on 10 stitches so I could see the change in gauge with the different stitches. I also had an idea that I could use these little squares as eco-friendly cleaner pads. I've made cotton pads before but I go through them so quickly that having a larger supply will be useful.
This first sample is the simple tunisian stitch. This creates a square stitch with a vertical loop. The stitches are apparently square so we saw examples from the guild collection of cushion covers in simple stitch with a cross stitch pattern embroidered onto it. It was the easiest of stitches and probably my favourite.
Then we tried the knit stitch. This gives the appearance of knitting but feels much denser.
The next pattern was the crossed stitch. This was a little more tricky as the hook has to twist round to do the second stitch in each pair but gives a pretty pattern with little crosses between rows.
We then tried a variation on the crossed stitch - the biased crossed stitch. This alternates rows of crossed stitch with a row of 1 simple stitch, crossed stitch to 1 stitch before end and then 1 simple stitch. This gives a diagonal line across the fabric.
Finally I was shown the purl stitch which was a little tricky to get the hang of to begin with as the hook goes into the vertical bar back to front but it does create a purl 'bump' on the fabric and repeating this gives the look of reverse stocking stitch.
Feeling 'hooked' on Tunisian crochet (pun intended) and now rather confident with my new Tunisian crochet skills I then tackled a couple of stitch patterns in a stitch dictionary I own. The first was a Tunisian stitch double which involved making a simple stitch and then doing a double crochet (single if in US) after each stitch was made. This made a slightly less thick fabric that has almost a woven appearance.
Finally I tried the plain Tunisian stitch. This was a very easy stitch and felt more like crochet but it gives lots of vertical bars.
I'm now looking at easy patterns on Ravelry that I might give a try. I've found this Generic Tunisian Crocheted Computer Sleeve that looks quite cool, but does mean I now need to learn to use multiple colours and manage it in the round. Perhaps a bit more practice is needed.
Last friday saw the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. I'm a big fan of the winter olympics and always get caught up in the excitement of the events and wish I could be there cheering on Team GB. This years olympics has many serious human rights issues that deserve just as much attention as the event itself and I have joined in with Ravellenics (a Ravelry event that takes place at the same time as the olympics) in support of those who are affected by these issues. The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in Russia are currently subject to terrifying levels of persecution, discrimination and abuse. It needs to stop. Now.
My first Ravellenics project is Slalom Slipstream socks. This pattern has intrigued me for a while and been sitting in my queue, just waiting for a time where I can knit for myself.
The pattern is Slipstream by Stephanie McIntosh. It features slip stitch cables and mock cables that wind around the ankle and foot in a very pleasing way.
I cast these on at the start of the opening ceremony and I finished them on friday evening - so just over a week which is probably a record for me. I rarely get so much tv time to just sit and knit and I have enjoyed being able to concentrate on just one project for me.
I'm so pleased with how they have turned out. I had a couple of issues with the charts (partly because I was not observant enough to notice that the charts are listed in the opposite order to the pattern instructions) and because there are a few mistakes, but overall these are great socks and look fabulous.
The yarn is Bouncy Extra by Laal Bear in colourway Virginia Stocks. I chose it for its rainbow colours (as support for LGBT issues) and because this pattern just lends itself to multicoloured yarn. The slip stitch cables show off the colours really well. It has been in my stash for a while and I'm pleased I found such a good project for it.
My ravelry project page can be found here: Slalom Slipstream.
My next project, cast on already is going to be a super chunky sweater so hopefully I can get it done, I have just over a week to complete it. It's a good excuse to stay in out of the terrible weather we are having at the moment, watch the olympics and knit!
This week I received my copy of Bespoke - a beautiful book of knitting and crochet patterns inspired by all things bicycle.
What I am the most excited about though is seeing my first book published pattern - Helmet Head!
This is a simple slouchy beanie that is crocheted from 3 different colours of DK weight yarn to produce a kaleidoscope of colours. It is easy enough for beginner crocheters to tackle and looks great with a variety of hairstyles.
This hat was born the problem I always seem to have after I have been cycling - bike helmet hair! I wear a helmet as I have seen so many cyclist lives saved by wearing one when I worked in A&E. They really do prevent broken skulls. The trouble is, once I have taken off my helmet, I then have horrible hair for the rest of the day. This simple beanie fits in my pocket and can be taken out and worn to cover up my helmet head.
It looks so fab, I have been wearing it out and about before sending it off to be included in Bespoke.
It also goes really well with Woodrup - the gorgeous cardigan modelled here with my Helmet Head.
Bespoke features 10 patterns in total and is inspired by the tour de France coming to Yorkshire this year. Woodrup is a colourwork yoke cardigan designed by Ann Kingstone with really cute applied i-cord edgings. Then there is Picycle, a circular lace shawl by Karina Westermann which looks beautifully soft. Malliot jaune is a jumper that is sized to fit children, women and men by Alison Moreton. Hercules is a men's jumper by Sarah Hatton that has a wonderful cable pattern reminiscent of tyre tracks, a Courier felted messenger bag by Jo Spreckley and Frame Mitts by Rachel Coopley which manage to look snug and pretty at the same time. For those with kids there are the Chop Chop handlebar streamers by Verity Britton (or big kids like me that really want to make these for my bike!). The crochet patterns include Peachy, a bike seat cover by Ruby McGrath, Wickerton, a cute stripy bicycle basket with a pretty flower by Julie Glaze and my Helmet Head.
Bespoke is a really fun collection of patterns and it is hard to know what to make first! So if you love your bike or know someone who does, or just love cute and pretty accessories, it is well worth a look. I'm really excited about the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire and plan to wear a few of these designs when I go to watch the race pass through my area.
I will be releasing matching mittens and cowl for Helmet Head soon so you can have a matching set (I love having matching accessories). Helmet Head is only available in Bespoke which can be purchased from Baa Ram Ewe.
Last Thursday it was the monthly Knitting & Crochet guild meeting at Brew cafe and this time the theme was fair isle knits. We are lucky to be able to see some of the wonderful guild collection at our meetings. We started with an interesting talk on the history of fair isle from Barbara. Then the guild collection came out and was gently handled with white cotton gloves.
I love the colours and shape of this 1940's short sleeve sweater:
This one caught my eye as there are much fewer colours than many fair isles have, but it is still very pretty:
The big hits of the evening were these little baby jumpers. They have obviously been made for their intended recipients with lots of loving care. The detailing is amazing and the patterns so intricate.
Then we had a lovely show & tell with members bringing along their own knits and designs. It's great to see all the colour combinations, variation in styles and ideas.
I'm now wanting to design & knit my own fair isle jumper!
Have you seen issue 2 of The Crochet Project? The theme is Woodland Whimsy and there are some beautiful crochet patterns in there by some wonderful British designers.
My Xylia cardigan is in this issue too! Xylia means 'of the wooded land' and I think this name suits this pattern perfectly as the fancy granite stitch that forms the body of the cardigan has the wonderful texture of bark found on old trees found in the woodlands of England.
The cardigan has an asymmetrical design and manages to be both feminine with its pretty scalloped edges and yet functional with a handy little pocket and simple shaping. I think it is guaranteed to become a wardrobe classic.
Xylia is crocheted in one piece from the top down. Markers are used to note where yoke increases take place and once the armholes have been separated, the cardigan is crocheted straight down to the waist.
I love the fit of this cardigan as it sits on the high hip, perfect for pairing with skirts or jeans. The buttons allow the cardigan to be worn open at the top or bottom. I personally like the first two buttons open at the top as this shows off the asymmetrical design the best. It is available in 7 sizes from 34" to 56" chest.
I crocheted Xylia using Woolyknit DK classics yarn which is 100% merino wool. I like the soft brown shade that helps echo the woodland theme. The yarn is soft and warm and has the perfect drape for this cardigan. For substituting yarns I would suggest a 100% wool DK weight yarn that has a matt finish as this will show off the textured pattern to its best. Yarns such as Rowan Pure Wool or Purelife Organic wool, King Cole merino blend DK, Natural Dye Studio Dazzle BFL DK or Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop DK would be great alternatives.
The Woodland Whimsy Collection can be found here and my Xylia cardigan here. I hope you like it. Please support this British design collection. I'm looking forward to the Knit Project issue 1 which will also be out soon.
Photo copyright for the top image is Kat Goldin of The Crochet Project.
Woodville is my latest design and features a matching tam and fingerless mittens set. It has a simple repeating geometric pattern that is easy to follow, quick to make and fun to knit.
I chose beautiful woodland shades for this set with the cuffs matching the main colour of the pattern. The yarn is Eden Cottage Bowland DK in Silver Birch (light green) and Dark Oak (brown). This yarn is one of my favourites and I always want to buy every colour they have when I see them at wool festivals. The colours are hand dyed and have a semi-solid appearance. The yarn is soft, has a slight sheen and works really well for this pattern. The best news is that it only takes 1 skein of each colour to make both the hat and mitts!
Both patterns are fully charted and the simple stranded pattern is suitable for beginners who are wanting to give stranded knitting their first try. I love the way the hat pattern looks on the top, the pattern merges to form a star or a snowflake. The mitts have a ribbed cuff around the fingers, wrist and thumb and the hat has a ribbed edge too. The stranded pattern makes this set warm to wear and perfect for autumn and winter.
My inspiration for this pattern comes from Elizabeth Woodville who was the wife of King Edward IV of England. She lived from 1437 to 1492 and reports say she was very beautiful and captured the young king's heart with an enchantment and used sorcery to help her cause in the War of the Roses. I have recently been watching the White Queen series on the BBC which is a drama based upon Philippa Gregory's The Cousins' War series of books. The 5 books that make up this series follow 5 different women during the War of the Roses and tells their stories. All the women are powerful in their own way and influence the events that take place around them despite having very few rights themselves. As a child I was fascinated by the story of the princes who disappeared from the tower after visiting the Tower of London and it was fun to read about the events and intrigue of the time. I'm very hopeful that King Richard III's body comes back to Yorkshire where he belongs. There is a fantastic little museum in York on Richard which is well worth a visit.
Elizabeth Woodville
Woodville Tam and Mitts set is released today and is available to buy here as individual items, or both together as an ebook.
Crowberry
Crowberry is a simple but pretty cardigan pattern that I published in July and never got round to making a blog post about - sorry if you have been waiting for more information!
This cardigan is ideal for spring/summer or warm autumn days where an extra layer is needed. It is knitted in DK weight yarn at a loose gauge to provide a soft, drapey fabric that provides warmth but not too much weight.
Knitted from the top down as one piece in reverse stocking stitch (which when knitted flat is just as easy as normal stocking stitch) it has 3 cute buttons to keep the top closed and then flares flatteringly over the waist and hips. The waist shaping gives those of us without any waist a flattering figure. It is the little details of this cardigan that I love so much such as the pretty eyelet holes that form the shaping of the yoke and the i-cord bind off that finishes the edges perfectly.
I don't know about you but the thing that puts me off reverse stocking stitch in the round is the row after row of purling.... This cardigan has none of that as the body is knitted flat and then the sleeves are knitted in the round on the wrong side(!) which means that you knit the sleeves rather than many rounds of purling.
The berry pattern and cardigan name was inspired by walking in the Pennine hills where I live. Crowberries (Empetrum nigrum) are lovely bright yellow-green glossy-leaved shrubs that can be found on English moorland. Every autumn they produce crops of dark purple berries that are edible and can be made into pies or jam.
The crowberry pattern has both charts and written instructions for the berry detail and a schematic to help with sizing and blocking. This cardigan needs a good block, particularly of the edges. Full instructions are given on how to make the berries and for the i-cord bind off so don't worry if you have not tried these before. They are easier than they look.
I knitted this cardigan in the very soft and pretty Woolyknit Bluefaced Leicester DK yarn. It gives the cardigan a lovely drape and shows off the berry pattern very well. It is such a soft yarn and the natural shades are perfect for knits with textured details. The sample has been hanging up in the Woolyknit yarn shop since July if you would like to see it in person. You can see all the lovely natural colours in their BFL range in this photo:
The pattern has been on sale on my website and on Ravelry since July, thank you to those who have purchased it. I hope you enjoy knitting it as much as I did! I will be uploading it to Craftsy and Patternfish today as well.