Berroco – Newedist Handknits

April 20, 2013

Aidez Cardigan

My sister is rightly concerned that I’ll never pop this cardigan in the mail. I love it! I have some Cascade Ecological Wool in my stash that is now destined to be an Aidez for me. Since the pattern calls for a super bulky yarn, it was indeed a quick knit. I finished the majority of it on the train and plane a few weeks ago. It made for perfect travel knitting; the five different cable charts are easily memorized.

Detail of seed wishbone pattern on sleeves

The pattern is a free one from Cirilia Rose via Berroco. I used the 100 per cent wool yarn called for – Berroco Peruvia Quick in Fumar – which is a really lovely, soft yarn that results in a lightweight but warm fabric.

[Photos courtesy of Christopher]

[Ravelled]

May 15, 2012May 15, 2012

Sylkie + Norfolk

Two alpaca knits to share with you! This is Gudrun Johnston’s Sylkie knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. The slipped stitch pattern is worked without a cable needle, which was quite nice once I got the hang of it and trusted that I wouldn’t drop the stitch! It’s knit lengthwise and grafted together at the end so you could easily knit it as long as you like.

And this is Amy Christoffers’ Norfolk Hat. This was a very exciting project for me – my first using the tubular cast on technique. I’m in love. Seriously. It results in such a neat, flexible edge. I used these two tutorials.

Now for more projects using tubular cast on…

[Second photo courtesy of Christopher]

[Ravelled: Sylkie + Norfolk Hat]

February 19, 2012February 26, 2012

Reversible Cable Scarf & Gloves

This set was a combination Christmas and birthday gift for my dad. I searched for a suitable fingerless glove pattern for a while and finally settled on this one — Kurt Fausset’s Beer Gloves from Son of Stitch ‘n Bitch. Natalie Selles’ Lomo Mittens were a close second. Either would be a good fit for sport/ dk-weight yarn. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light in Salt & Pepper leftover from the matching scarf.

The only modification I made was to work the gloves entirely in reverse stockinette stitch, rather than incorporating the cable chart and seed stitch palms. I wanted something simple and textured that would be a good match for the reversible cables in the scarf.

Chris took this awesome photo of my dad in my parents’ backyard in Powell River while we were there over the holidays. You can really tell that we’re in a rainforest! Everything was so damp and lichen-covered. I think it’s safe to say that my dad was very happy with his new scarf – I’ve seen plenty of photographic evidence since! The pattern is from Bruce Weinstein’s controversial Knits Men Want. I didn’t pay any attention to the “rules every woman should know before knitting for a man,” but I did enjoy the pattern… Library special!

[Photo #3 courtesy of Christopher]

[Ravelled: Beer Gloves and Reversible Cable Scarf]

November 10, 2011

Twisted Woolly Topper

This has quickly become my favourite baby hat pattern. I love the cabled brim, twisted top and short row earflaps. It’s Brownie by Woolly Wormhead from her book Twisted Woolly Toppers. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca for this one but used some leftover Malabrigo Merino Worsted for an undocumented version with predictably smooshy results.

A big thank you to Jane for helping me during our coffee break/ photo shoot. It’s always a challenge for me to photograph baby knits so I appreciated the extra pair of hands!

[Ravelled]

October 30, 2011

Garden Gnome Mittens

My cousin’s wife Brenda is a huge fan of garden gnomes – she has a varied collection in her garden that goes back further than Amélie or Gnomeo & Juliet. As soon as I came across Betsy Farquhar’s Garden Gnome Mittens pattern I had to get on it for Brenda’s birthday. Spillyjane’s Gnome Mittens pattern is another good one. Decisions!

These mittens are too small for me but I think they should fit Brenda. If I make the pattern again I’ll definitely change the tab thumb to a thumb with a gusset. It’s a bit of a kick that I’m on at the moment while I draft my first thumb gusseted mitt pattern but it just makes sense given hand anatomy. The gnome chart is awesome but there’s room in the pattern for modifications.

I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in Cardinal and Winter White. Can’t get enough of the Ultra Alpaca – it’s great for colourwork.

[Photos courtesy of Christopher]

[Ravelled]

July 3, 2011July 17, 2011

Daphne and Delilah Monsters

Rebecca Danger designs the cutest monster patterns around. This was my first time using one of her patterns — Daphne and Delilah the Momma and Baby Monster — and I love the resulting monster nuggets! The only modification I made was to pick up stitches on either side of the bodies to work the arms, rather than knitting them separately and sewing them on at the end.

I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Pastel Blue and Pastel Yellow for my friend Kiran’s soon-to-be-born nephew. Kiran especially liked that the monsters look like teeth since her sister is a dentist. I hope her sister also appreciates the fact that these monsters could use some braces! I cut the teeth out of white felt and used fabric glue to attach them.

I had some trouble choosing just one of Rebecca’s patterns so Jerry the Musical Monkey, Zeke the Aloof Alpaca and Napoleon the Nervous Narwhal are on my list! And maybe the narwhal will be just for me — I’ve always had a soft spot for the tusked whales.

A belated Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians and a Happy Fourth of July to the Americans!

[Ravelled]

April 18, 2011July 17, 2011

Frank Mitts

I learned something new while making these mittens. Check out those Latvian braids at the cuffs! A very nice touch indeed in Lauren Osborne’s Frank pattern. The first time around I was lax in my interpretation of the instructions. Ahem. And what resulted didn’t look much like a braid at all. My second try worked nicely though and I’m very pleased with the nice finish the braids give.

I tried to relax my gauge a bit more with the second mitt and I think it worked out more evenly. I wasn’t focusing on keeping my stitches evenly spaced on the right needle in either my Fiddlehead mitts or the first in this pair. So a little tip if you’re new to stranded knitting as I am, make sure those stitches on the right needle don’t get bunched up! It makes a huge difference. Thankfully not too huge though, since I think these two still make a nice pair.

I used about a half skein each of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine in peat mix and steel cut oats so I should have enough for another pair of stranded mittens. More practice on getting an even gauge!

Thanks for a great pattern, Lauren!

[Ravelled]

July 11, 2010July 11, 2010

Wast Side Shawl

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]

[Ravelled]

May 16, 2010

Veyla

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]

[Ravelled]

December 19, 2009November 26, 2011

Muff & Mitts

I’m almost at the end of my holiday knitting, which is good since I leave for Vancouver tomorrow morning! Hints were dropped for a muff, so I decided on a slightly modified version of Cirilia Rose’s Hanne. I’m not sure if it was the stitch pattern or me but I ended up with the wrong stitch count two times. Not a believer in third time lucky, I switched to a similarly shaped stitch from Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Powder Puff on pg. 136). It was a fun project to make. There was some assembly required – it’s knit in two separate layers, then padded with batting and secured with running stitches to anchor all three layers.

These are Those Mitts by Leslie Friend. This pattern, along with other great ones (hello, toast and toasty!), is available as a free download in her blog sidebar. I can see why this is her “go-to” pattern for mitts. I love them!

I used Mission Falls 1824 wool in Raven for both the muff and mitts. Can’t get enough!

[Muff photos courtesy of Chris]

[Ravelled Hanne Muff; Ravelled Those Mitts]