The Prinz Eisenherz Hat is a test knit for katushika. I love the texture of the stitch pattern and crocheted seams. The hat is knit in one piece, with the border stitches picked up and crocheted after the body is complete. The pattern release will include matching fingerless mitts as well.
This was my first time working with Manos Silk Blend and I loved it. So soft!
[Photo 1 courtesy of Chris]
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I loved working with this colour. There’s just something about greens! I’m definitely looking forward to autumn, and this shawl will be perfect for chillier days. The pattern is Gudrun Johnston’s Wast Side Shawl and the yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Peat Mix. I’m a big fan of Gudrun’s patterns. In fact, this is my second in a row. The shawl is worked from the edging inwards, so once you move to the body you feel like you’re almost done!
Wishing my knitting partner for life a very happy birthday today!
[Photos courtesy of Chris]
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This is Gudrun Johnston’s Bousta Beret – a birthday present for Jane. I love the Horseshoe lace pattern, and the fact that the name – Bousta – means farm in Old Norse. It seemed like the right beret for Jane!
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My dear friend Erin has a brand new niece! I picked up some sweetgeorgia Superwash Merino in Savory (a nice, vibrant colour for a baby, I think) and knit up a cardi and hat set for little Madeline. The cardi is Debbie Bliss‘ Ribbed Baby Jacket and the hat is my go-to pattern for baby hats – the Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch ‘N Bitch.
It’s been so warm and summery here in Toronto that it really doesn’t feel right to be modelling knits! I can imagine though, that once the summer is over this will make quite a cozy cowl. It’s a simple, infinity-style knit with dropped stitches forming ladders at either edge.
Destroyed Cowl is a free download by Martha Merzig (Ravelry link) and takes just one skein of worsted-weight yarn. I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Pearl. Love it, but I’m giving it up!
[Photos courtesy of Chris]
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I made these fingerless mitts in thanks for a box of mystery wool. I was the lucky recipient of a box of super bulky yarn and a mix of brightly-coloured fleece. A friend of a friend gave it to me and thinks it may have originated with family in Poland. I think these mitts should make it a fair trade! I’m really happy with how they turned out – delicate and feminine with their buttoned lace cuffs.
The pattern is Veyla by Ysolda Teague and I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Pitch Black. I love the yarn and I should have enough leftover for another project. Something soft and lightweight!
[Photos courtesy of Chris]
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Wabbit Season
Doublish
Catacomb
There’s so much to love about Malabrigo – it comes in fantastic colourways and is unbelievably soft. The Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry love it so much they’ve named an entire month after it – Malabrigo March.
Alexandra Tinsley of Presents Knits has designed five cute and easy accessories using Malabrigo yarns. I love her take on the earflap hat, Wabbit Season. It’s so sweet with the pompoms and flaps that double as little pockets. This pattern also placed first in the Malabrigo Junkies Malabrigo March 2010 Design Contest. Congratulations Alexandra!
The collection includes two hats and a shawlette (pictured here) as well as a ruffled scarf and headband/ neckwarmer. You can buy the patterns separately or together in the ebook Go Go Malabrigo. If you’re not on Ravelry, you can also buy them from Alexandra’s Etsy store.
[Photos courtesy of Alexandra Tinsley]
When I first started knitting I was more inclined to make up my own patterns. Sometimes they worked out, other times not so much. I was more adventurous in a way, less focused on proficiency and more on experimentation. I had completely forgotten about an early hat I made for my brother, but when I saw him over the Christmas holidays he told me he still wears it. Since I can barely remember making the hat, I figured it was high time to replace it. Or at least add to his collection!
I decided on Jared Flood’s Turn a Square – a toque with raglan decreases and subtle striping. I used Mission Falls 1824 Wool and Noro Silk Garden. The hat takes less than a ball of each, so it could be a great project to use up some of your yarn leftovers.
Here are some other man-friendly patterns I came across in my search for my brother’s birthday hat:
Windschief (Ravelry link) by Stephen West
Golden Autumn (Ravelry link) by Lucy Sweetland
Thorpe (Ravelry link) by Kirsten Kapur
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Have you heard of Magpie Patterns? I came across this great collection of knitting, sewing, crochet and embroidery patterns through their blog, Crafty Bird. They’re based in Portland, Oregon (as so many good things are!) and some patterns are printed and mailed, and others are downloads. I really enjoyed browsing Magpie’s collection of handpicked designs. Some designers I knew, but more were new to me! Here are just a few.
Kalea and Malia by Kids Tricots (Images courtesy Kids Tricots)
Kids Tricots is the work of French knit designer Muriel Agator (Ravelry link). Magpie carries six of her English patterns. These are some seriously cute kids’ knits. I’m glad my friends are giving me plenty of little people to knit for!
Hooded Cardigan and Floral Wrap by She's Crafty Handknits (Images courtesy She's Crafty Handknits)
New Zealand-based Hadley Fierlinger (Ravelry link) is the designer behind She’s Crafty Handknits. More adorable knits for little people! Hadley designs beautiful baby knits and is the author of Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. One of my absolute favourites has to be the Floral Wrap (above right). The next baby girl in my life will definitely be getting one!
Pasha and Elizabeth by Jane Richmond Designs (Images courtesy Jane Richmond)
Canadian designer Jane Richmond has designed some perfect slouchy hats and chunky scarves. I have a skein of Burly Spun that has her Autumn toque written all over it. Jane also has some really cute, and seamless (hurrah), baby patterns as well.
Jane has a great pair of mitts knitted by her BFF’s mother that she wished could be a bit cozier. Oh, and also covered with dozens of love hearts. Afterthought thrums seemed to be the perfect solution. Thrumming would typically be done as you knit, with each thrum knitted in with a stitch. It’s a technique attributed to the folks in Newfoundland and Labrador, who I suspect would know a thing or two about keeping their hands warm.
To afterthought thrum, I embroidered the mitts with merino fleece using the duplicate stitch technique (video tutorial below). The result is very similar to conventional thrumming – with the added advantage of my hands felting the roving nicely as I embroidered… Try it out and give your mitts a cozy makeover!
Materials
one pair of knitted mittens
one ounce (28 grams) of fleece (I used white merino top)
tapestry needle
Thrum Placement
I used a diagonal pattern for the thrums.
Tutorial: Afterthought Thrumming from Laura Michelle / Newedist on Vimeo.