Tag: pattern

Knitting

A Free Sample Of My New Pattern

Iris Rose

New pattern in the works, two in fact! I have been busy, busy trying to get the new patterns ready for you and, guess what? I didn’t make it. I do so want to get these patterns done but life just keeps interfering. You all know how that goes, I am sure.

Anyway, you will have to wait for the crocheted one as the sample is just not complete and it is pretty hard to post a pattern with no photos. Who wants to gamble on a pattern looking great if you can’t see how it looks? I actually have a pet peeve about patterns being released with just a corner or shadowy artsy shot of the finished project. Why would I spend my time and money making something that is a mystery in the hope that it turns out like something I would wear?

But, I digress, a frequent failing of mine, and I was discussing my own patterns, not someone else’s. So, the crochet one will have to wait but I do have a sneak peek for you at the knit one. It is a super easy kid’s cardigan. I haven’t finished the edging, but it will be the same as the machine knit version that I featured earlier this month. I am working on a knit edging for those who don’t crochet as an alternative.

          Three needle bind off on the shoulders

I am still not ready to officially publish the pattern but here is one size (5/6) of the basic cardigan for you to try as a gift from me to you. I will post the edging pattern as another gift next week. The pattern will be available in multiple sizes as a paid pattern, including both knit and crochet edgings once all of the test knits are done.

Don’t forget about the 50OFF coupon code to save 50% on my Gradient Cable Poncho and Northern Rose Shawl patterns in my Ravelry store. At $4.99 regular price these are a bargain!
Enjoy the freebie!

Worsted Kid’s Cardigan, Short Sleeved, Size 5/6

Material: 325m (360 yds) worsted weight yarn, I used Loops and Threads, Impeccable.

Tools: 5.5mm needles, straight or circular, two stitch holders, another needle or crochet hook for 3needle bind off at shoulders if you choose to do that, tapestry needle for sewing and end weaving.

Instructions:
Back: Cast on 30 stitches. I used the cable cast on. Knit side will be the right side of the cardigan.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: P1, M1, P to last stitch, M1, P1.
Row 3: K1, M1, K to last stitch, M1, K1.
Rows 4 to 11: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 four more times. You will have increased a total of 20 stitches, 2 per row over ten rows. You should have 50 stitches on your needle and a nice curved bottom edge.
Row 12: Cast on 4 stitches at the beginning of the row. P all stitches.
Row 13: Cast on 4 stitches at the beginning of the row. K all stitches.

Your stitch count should now be 58. Work 44 rows of stocking stitch or until piece measures and you have completed a purl row. The sleeve increases will start on the right side on a knit row.

Sleeve increases:
Row 1: Cast on 12 stitches at the beginning of the row. K all stitches. 70 stitches on your needle.
Row 2: Cast on 12 stitches at the beginning of the row. P all stitches. 82 stitches on your needle.
Work another 28 rows of stocking stitch (30 rows total from sleeve first increase), ending with a purl row so you are ready to shape the back neck on the right side with a knit row.

Shape Back Neck:
Row 1: K33, cast off 16 stitches, K33. You will finish the left side then go back and repeat on the right.
Row 2: P31, P2T, turn your work.
Row 3: K2T, K30. Place these stitches on a stitch holder for 3needle bind off and cut your yarn leaving a 15cm or 12” length. If you wish to sew the shoulder seams instead, bind off all 31 stitches.
To complete the other shoulder, start at the neck edge from the purl side with Row 2.
Row 2: P2T, P31, turn your work.
Row 3: K30, K2T, place stitches on a holder as Row 3 above or bind off for sewn seams and put this piece aside.

Front: You will make two pieces, mirroring the instructions for the right side.
Left Front: Cast on 15 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: P to last stitch, M1, P1.
Row 3: K1, M1, K to end.
Rows 4 to 11: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 four more times. You will have increased a total of 10 stitches, 1 per row over ten rows. You should have 25 stitches on your needle and a nice curved bottom edge.
Row 12: P all stitches.
Row 13: Cast on 4 stitches at the beginning of the row. K all stitches.

Your stitch count should now be 29. Work 44 rows of stocking stitch or until piece measures and you have completed a purl row. The sleeve increases will start on the right side on a knit row.

Sleeve increases:
Row 1: Cast on 12 stitches at the beginning of the row. K all stitches. 41 stitches on your needle.
Work another 14 rows of stocking stitch (15 rows total from sleeve first increase), ending with a knit row so you are ready to shape the front neck purl row.

Shape Left Front Neck:
Row 1: (Purl or wrong side of work), bind of 6 stitches at the beginning of the row. P34.
Row 2: (Knit or right side of work), K all stitches.
Row 3: P2T, P33.
Row 4: K all stitches.
Row 5: P2T, P32.
Row 6: K all stitches.
Row 7: P2T, P 31.
Row 8: K all stitches.
Row 9: P2T, P30. Your stitch count is 31 stitches to match your back shoulder.

Work stocking stitch straight until you have worked a total of 32 rows from the sleeve increase. Join the front to the back left side with a 3needle bind off here. To do this pick up the stitches from the back off of the holder onto a needle and bind them off together with a third needle or crochet hook. There are YouTube videos that can show you how if you need that instruction.
If you are sewing your shoulder seams, bind off the shoulder and put this piece aside with the back.

Right Front: Complete as the left side. Make sure that you reverse the increases and decreases to make a mirror of the left side.

Sew up the side seams and your cardigan is done except for the crochet edging that includes the buttonholes.

Travel

Weekend Off and My Dream Machine

Iris Rose

I got a little sidetracked this week. My computer crashed at work and DH has been really wonderful about getting me up and running again but was using my home desk and monitor for the work. He is all done now so this is better late than never!

We spent the weekend, a wonderful weekend by the way, at Nakiska, a ski resort in Kananaskis here in the Alberta Rockies. The weather was great, cold and sunny, perfect for skiing. I don’t ski; I know how but hate the feeling of sliding down a steep hill so DH skied to his heart’s content and I did what I love best, crafting with a little hot tub time thrown in. We do really live in a spectacular country, so scenic and friendly too!

         

I worked on my mystery crochet pattern. It is almost done and would have been if not for the computer crash and other life distractions. I seem to be on a better late than never trend, don’t I? I did finish the basic piece, however and just need to complete the embellishments. I can’t wait to see if the reality matches my imagination.

While we were away, I spotted an ad for a used knitting machine that I have been lusting after since I first saw this beauty in the early 90’s. I bought myself a little used and in great shape Singer 580 with all of the bells and whistles for a great bargain price. I am one happy lady! I just need to finish up the cleaning (only the ribber to go) and I will be digging into my cone yarn stash.

In order to fit everything new into my tiny craft room (6’ x 9’), I did a major cleanup and rearranging. I really have got too much stuff and I mean that in a big way. I have managed to stick to my no new yarn policy for two and a half months and have made some inroads but not enough by any stretch on the imagination. I just need to craft faster or sleep less!

         

Don’t forget about my 50OFF coupon code for my Gradient Cable Poncho, which will look good in any worsted yarn and for my Northern Rose Shawl patterns, knit in worsted or sock yarn, that you can use for both of the patterns at half price in my Ravelry store.

Yarn, Knitting and Crochet

Fun With Food!

Iris Rose

It has been a really busy, busy week and I haven’t had time to finish anything for you by blog time. So, instead of babbling on about something knitting or crochet related, I thought that I would turn to my next great love, food.

         

Every morning we have a mix of fruit and berries with our breakfast. I always top DH’s with a little cereal and yogurt for some extra protein. A little while ago, I got bored with the plain white yogurt on top of everything else and decided to jazz it up a bit.

         

We have a tradition of making faces with the components of the rest of our meal anyway so what is one step further? Animal faces, of course and the trend was born.
These are some of the little faces that I make to bring a smile to my sweetheart’s face and what better way to start the day than with a smile?

         

I have been working on the crochet pattern that I promised you and, with luck and some spare time, should have it the sample finished this weekend.

I have also finished a couple of machine knit cardigans like the one I posted a couple of weeks ago to add to my craft sale stock. These are just so soft and cozy feeling that I want one for myself!

I have almost finished the hand knit sample of this little sweater and hope to get that pattern to you in the next couple of weeks.

Knitting

Whining About the Cold and Some Cute Hats

Iris Rose

It is winter and still snowing (and snowing and snowing).  It is really cold again here and I am ready for spring.  Okay enough whining already, I can hear you thinking that.  Maybe I should be wining and then I wouldn’t care about whining or snow!

I wrote a pattern last summer for a little jumper (tunic not sweater) that is sized from six months to three years.  I made the sample up in a light pink colour, hence the name Pink Ice Cream, available to you as a paid pattern on Ravelry here.  It is a very easy and straight forward knit in the round piece if maybe a bit boring, think TV knitting, as it is mostly knit stitch.

Even though it is snowing (whining again here), it is a good time to consider spring knit and crochet projects.  If you have a little one that needs a little warmth for spring, this jumper is great over leggings and a long sleeved Tshirt.  The paid pattern is available on Ravelry here for download.

Speaking of spring projects, I designed these little hats for the grandkids a few years ago and they thought that they were great.  Crocheted with kitchen cotton, they were quick to make and a lot of fun to design.

If you are still in winter mode and need a cute hat for someone five and under, here is another hat that I designed.  It is a free pattern on Ravelry here and is also a fairly easy make.  Have fun with it!  Think about changing the colours and making the tiger into a teddy.

How about a snowman?  This is another free pattern of mine on Ravelry here.

Keep warm if you live in the Great White North and enjoy the warmth if you are not.  Happy crafting until next week!

Knitting

Foray into Machine Knitting

Iris Rose

This week, I thought that I would write about my third craft love, machine knitting.  I know that I have written about this in the past and I know that machine knitting is regarded by many as cheating or not requiring much skill, but nothing could be further from the truth.

I have caught up with my WIPs (actually ignoring the pile is more accurate) and decided to give the old standard gauge a whirl.  I have a couple of knitting machines, okay four, all of them Singers from the eighties, three are standard gauge and one is a bulky machine.  Three have matching ribbers.  My first machine was a gift and the others were just too tempting a price to refuse once I caught the bug.

Silk Noil Tank Top With Hand Crocheted Edging

I am self taught and learned before the era of Youtube and other helpful online resources.  I thought that using a machine would be breeze and, although I was already an accomplished crocheter and knitter at the time, I soon found out that this craft was a whole new ball game.  The instruction books that come with the machines are good but there is no substitute for hands on help with this type of knitting.  I joined a machine knitting group and that really helped to keep me going.  I have learned so much more these last few years through facebook groups and Youtube that I am light years ahead of where I was when I packed up my machines thirteen years ago.

A standard gauge knitting machine will handle yarn from very fine to about sport weight.  3ply and 4ply (sock) are the perfect weight in my opinion.  You can knit DK but it is a struggle and requires using only every other needle so is limiting in what you can make.  My favourite machine is my Singer 560 (I have two in case one dies on me) and has built in electronic patterning which was state of the art in 1984, the year it was made.

This last couple of weeks of been a fun test of all of the knowledge that I have acquired but not used recently.  I had rehabbed my machines a few months ago with new retainer bars and needles and, wow, what a difference!  I cast on without dropping everything on my toes and I was off.

    

Cashmere, Silk and Merino Wrap, the photo doesn’t do it justice!

The first thing that I made was a wrap for myself.  I collect yarn, did you know that?  I have a few, okay some, okay a lot, of luxury yarn on cones that I buy online from Colourmart in the UK.  I had a 150g cone of cashmere, silk, merino blend in a charcoal grey.  Perfect, I thought.  I played with some swatches (yes, you have to swatch for machine knitting too!) and settled on a simple tuck stitch pattern that gives the work some interest but allows the sheen of the yarn to come through.  Thirteen hundred rows later I had a gorgeous wrap that only required some crochet around the edge to stop the curl.  Three thousand single crochet stitches later and my wrap was done.  It is really lovely, soft and drapey, and is my new favourite wrap.

Bunny Hop Cardigan

Well, the simple work was done, and I ventured on to something more challenging.  I didn’t keep the patterns that I had written long ago but remembered enough to work out a simple girl’s cardigan.  Having a lot of sewing experience in garment construction really can make a difference in success or failure when designing for another craft.  A border of bunnies across the bottom above the ribbing made the sweater.  I still needed to block everything and sew it together but, when that was done, it is really cute and I am proud of the way it turned out.

Cable Sweater Back, Unblocked

Next up is a more complicated pullover with hand manipulated cables and raglan sleeves.  I had no trouble with the back but, of course, thinking that this would be a breeze, I needed to reknit the front a few times.  All in the learning curve I guess but whew, I was glad when it was done.  I have completed a sleeve and am working on the second.  I should be done this weekend, yay!

    

Wrap Knit from a Youtube Video, this took some patience but was fun!

If you think that machine knitting might be for you, I highly, highly recommend that you join a group in your area if you can find one.  I did that when I first started and it really does make a big difference in continuing or quitting in frustration.  Youtube is your friend and an active facebook group will keep you inspired and encourage you to keep going.