Pattern: Snowflake Hot Water Bottle Cozy

Who would have thought that I would use my just recently released Snowflake Hot Water Bottle Cozy myself in such a short time?!

But with single digit and teen temperatures over night and with my hubby out of town, I have nowhere to warm my icicle feet! And cold feet sure keep the sleep from coming and that is not a good thing if you have your mind going at a hundred miles an hour anyway...

I've found that a cup of hot chamomile tea with a teaspoon of raw, unfiltered honey nicely warms up my body from the inside, the chamomile aroma calms down my soul and the warm snowflake clad bottle by the feet chases away my cold feet... ah, bliss and I am off dreaming...

What are you doing to fall asleep when your mind is still busy?

BTW, the snowflake cozy fits a standard 8" x 10" hot water bottle and sports the snowflake on both sides. It has a cute picot bind-off and you can either use a 20" long ribbon or crochet a foundation chain for the tie.

I've used Lion Brand's Cotton Ease #113 Cherry for this cozy and it is really soft against your skin. I was pleasantly surprised and you can machine wash it too.

The pattern has written out instructions to knit it flat or in the round as well as instructions to work it off a chart flat or in the round. It knits up really quickly and uses less than one skein of yarn! Love it. :)

Well, it is getting late and my cup of chamomile tea is calling my name. Have a wonderful night of sleep with nice warm feet.

Beartooth Wrap Finally Out!

Whoo-hoo, the Beartooth Wrap pattern is finally out and available for purchase!

The wrap was inspired by the rows and rows of mountain ranges forming the Rocky Mountains

It seems like I nearly got lost on the many switchbacks of the ~68 mile (~110 km) long Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212), a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road, that traverses the Beartooth Mountain range along the Montana and Wyoming state border to meet up with the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, which forms the northeast gateway to the Yellowstone National Park... or perhaps the thinner air atop the Beartooth Pass (10,947 ft/3'337 m) slowed me down... :)

Approaching Beartooth Pass (photo: Phil Armitage)

But, finally the wrap has been finished, the pattern written, photos shot and all has been put together as a pattern.

It's not like I've forgotten this wrap. I've actually been enjoying its warmth during our wonderful Fall weather here in Colorado that consists of nearly constant sunny weather, blue skies and an occasional surprise winter weather with short-lived snow in the foothills. It has been unseasonably warm so far (lots of warm Chinook winds blowing) and we are enjoying day temperatures that allow you to go outside in jeans and a light sweater (~60F/16C) at the end of November! I wonder if we will have white Christmas this year...?

Since I've been using my own wrap (I like designing things that I like to wear or be seen in), I can say that it has just the right warmth and feels nice an light. With mohair you always have to be careful because it can be very warm. So I came up with a fun zigzag design that not only uses a smart distribution of "mohair warmth" but it also allows the mohair to become the focal point by highlighting its contrasting airy texture to the surrounding solid wool stripes.

I also love the tactile nature of this wrap catching myself "petting" the mohair repeatedly... :)

The funny thing is that the two yarns I've used for this wrap have been lingering in my stash for a couple of years and have been purchased independently from each other! And I only made the connection after re-organizing my stash a bit and them accidentally ending up close to each other. That's when it hit me that they were a great color match. Yes, I was able to actually use yarn from my stash!

But as so often with mohair, the wonderful brushed mohair by Plymouth Yarn called Outback Mohair has been discontinued since I bought it so that I went on a little substitute yarn hunt. I was looking for a brushed mohair and not the lacy type.

The brushed mohair on the right is what you want, NOT the lace type on the left.

As my first stop, I visited my own website, LocalFibers.com, to see if I could find some US mohair that could fit the bill. And yes, indeed, there is a company called Mountain Colors Yarns that produces a brushed mohair called "Mohair",  available in just gorgeous colors. You can choose from hand-painted colorways and solitary colors so that you should have no problems matching it up with your wool yarn for this wrap.

After a quick email exchange with Mountain Colors I received a small Mohair yarn sample in the mail to double check if it would work as a substitute  - and it's a perfect replacement for the Outback Mohair by Plymouth Yarn. Yippee!

BTW, their other yarns are a real find too and the colors are just amazing...

And on top of this great yarn find, it turns out that the Mountain Colors company is located in the state of Montana which happens to be the home of the Beartooth Mountain range that I chose to name my wrap for! Can it get any better? This really came together so smoothly that you know it just had to be this way, right?

The other neat thing about this pattern is that it is a quick and easy introductory project to the Intarsia color knitting technique. Actually, I think you will be more occupied staying on top of your seed stitch border pattern than worrying about managing your few balls of yarn. And since they are generous sweeping color sections, you will have a minimal number of yarn tails to weave in at the end. Love it! :)

To make the pattern more knitter friendly, the pattern instructions come in written out format as well as a charted design. Pick the method that works for you best and let me see your great mohair/wool wraps.

I will head out now and enjoy the mild late Fall days with my wrap as a companion and dream up some more nature inspired designs...

Happy Knitting, Daniela

Pattern: Semblance Cap

This pattern is the result of me trying to come up with a multi-color design that can easily be personalized for a quick knit gift. :)

Cap knit once in school colors and once in favorite sports team colors

It uses 3 colors and a simple slip stitch pattern so that you actually work in only one color per round at any given time. :)

The cap is worked in the round from the bottom up and fits children (8+) to adults with a head circumference of 20-23" (~51-58 cm). The instructions are written out or you can work off a chart. You can find more pattern details by following this link to the Ravelry pattern page.

My oldest son chose his school colors for his cap and my youngest son picked his favorite sports team's colors (the Rockies, our local professional baseball team).

The caps were definitely a success as I now have a request from the boys for matching mittens and a cowl... but then feel free to use more girly colors for a quick gift for the women in your life...

Pattern: Dolman Borealis

Did you notice that the sun is going down earlier and that the temperature drops rather quickly once the sun disappears? The mornings are nippy and even during the day you need something small to cover up a bit?

Photo by: Shane Baskin/Blackbox Studios

My latest pattern "Dolman Borealis" is just in time for those Fall days. The design for this cute little cropped Dolman cardigan takes full advantage of self-striping yarns.

Universal Yarn's Classic Shades yarn with the matching Classic Shade Solids are a perfect example of how self-striping yarns can be shown off, without the sometimes dreaded horizontal lines. By working the cardigan sideways from cuff to cuff, the stripes are turned on their side to create a wonderful array of vertical stripes that reminded me strongly of the Aurora Borealis in the Northern skies. Hence the name for the pattern

Classic Shades has wonderful "painterly" color changes

Classic Shades has really pretty, long and short subtle color changes that made it exciting to watch how the stripes were developing. I've used color #724 "Campfire" for this cardigan but this yarn comes in many, many fascinating color combinations that make the choice quite difficult. :)

And Universal Yarns has now matching Classic Shades Solids to coordinate the ribbing with your self-striping color choice. Pretty cool!

Alright, back to the pattern. The cardigan is worked in one piece from cuff to cuff which makes it a quick knit. The neckband and buttonbands are worked from the center back neck downwards and then joined with picked up stitches for the bottom ribbing. This further supports the fresh and slimming vertical lines with vertical ribbing down the front and around your waist.

The pattern is sized for 6 (!) sizes and comes with detailed schematics and an Appendix for special techniques used in this pattern. They are: a One-Row Buttonhole, the Knitted Cast-On (for "growing your sleeve to the full body length), the Cable Cast-on (for the button hole) and the Provisional Crochet Cast-On (for the neckband). You are always welcome to replace them with your own favorite technique.

If you are interested in this pattern, you can purchase it for $4.50 through Ravelry (you don't need to be a member) by clicking on .

Happy Knitting and have a wonderful Fall season!

Knitter's Magazine #108: Jubilee

Yippee, the first Fall oriented pattern of mine has just come out in the new Knitter's Magazine issue #K108 and it's called Jubilee! What a fitting name for this Fair Isle collar and cuff jacket. :D

© XRX, Inc.

It's a wonderful jacket to throw over your solid colored t-shirt or turtleneck and you are dressed to go.

With this design I tried to do something different than the traditional placement of Fair Isle colorwork and used it for a wide collar and cuffs to steal the show of an otherwise slick, slightly shaped and classic cardigan.

Invisible shaping rows create a gentle curve in the collar

I absolutely LOVE how the Fair Isle collar turned out after incorporating 2 invisible shaping rows that don't interrupt the Fair Isle pattern and give the collar extra fabric to nicely curve around your back neck.

The bottom hem, collar and cuffs all have a "mouse tooth" edging and folded over lining for a clean finish. And the front button bands are knitted in together with the body.

Construction

The cardigan body is worked in one piece, from the bottom up to the armholes, then split into fronts and back.

The collar is knitted on and worked back and forth.

The sleeves are worked flat from the shoulder down, then joined to work the cuffs in the round.

 Yarn

I have to admit that this was the first time that I've worked with Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Sport and I've enjoyed it quite a bit. It held up really well to my many unraveling sessions until I got the shaping and collar increases just right.

It's definitely a great fit for an outer layer like a cardigan and the colors are nice and rich. I will have to come up with a couple more designs of this very pleasant to knit with yarn.

Hope you will enjoy not only this pattern in the new Knitter's Magazine but also all the other inovative cardigans in this issue.

Happy Knitting!

Chevron Sweater (for Kollage Yarns)

Yippee, I can finally blog about my exclusively designed Chevron Sweater (product #3807) for Kollage Yarns!

Photos by Kollage Yarns

 

It's the perfect sweater for those in between seasons, i.e. Spring and Fall, and it works well with your jeans as it is knit with yarn made from recycled jeans! Love it! :D

The yarn is called Riveting Worsted, is made of 100% recycled yarn from recycled blue jeans and comes in 9 wonderful colors (163 yd/149 m per 3.5 oz/ 100g). And even though it is a typical, thicker weight cotton, it makes for a nice, soft drape as you can see in the photo above.

The sweater itself is an A-line sweater with a square neckline and instead of just straight horizontal stripes at the bottom, I've turned the stripes into a variation of a chevron pattern with vertical eyelet columns.

Swatch knit with Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend

My original swatch was a bit more colorful (I love color) and I've posted it here to give you another color combination option.

Construction

The body is worked in the round from the bottom up, then the piece is split into front and back and worked separately back and forth.

For the top part, the eyelets are replaced by M1 increases to from a less revealing fabric.

The sleeve is worked back and forth and and has a sleeve cap for a nice fit. A double eyelet column runs down the center of the sleeve for added visual interest.

I think it makes for a fresh but classic sweater design.

You can purchase this pattern for $7.50 via Kollage Yarns' website.

Happy Knitting!

Seaglass Shell Follow-Up

Wow, I am blown away by how well the Seaglass Shell has been received by the knitting community! It really seems to have hit a cord... The number of hearts this design has received so far on Ravelry is just amazing! And it's rapidly closing in on a 1000 hearts!

Thank you, thank you so much for your love and posting wonderful pictures of your completed projects. :)

It's always a nail biter for me to see how a design turns out when somebody else knits it. Sure, I've knit the sample and done the math but you never know if it looks the same/similar when knit with different yarn and for different body types. So far, they all look fabulous! Great job, fellow knitters! :D

We even started a KAL thread on Ravelry where you can ask questions if you need help and where you can show off your finished piece.

One of the requests I've noticed on some of the forums was to see the front of the Seaglass Shell. Here are my personal (non-professional) pictures that show the Seaglass Shell from different sides including the front:

Different views of the Seaglass Shell (photos by Daniela Nii)

Hope this helps you to decide if you would like to cast on for this wonderful summer shell.

Best,

Daniela

Interweave Knits: Seaglass Shell

The hot topics for this summer are lace and showing off your back. :)

© Interweave Knits Summer 2012: Seaglass Shell

The design for this top was inspired by my memories of hiking in the mountains during the snow melt when you can admire beautiful waterfalls and creeks full of water rushing around rocks and boulders, tumbling towards the valley floor and then hurrying along to the sea...

Considering that I made my sketches for this design at the end of last year (winter) I must have already been looking forward to Spring, haha!

On the other hand, if I transport myself to summer, I can also totally see how Interweave's team came up with the name "Seaglass Shell" for this piece. Just imagine the boulders becoming glass pieces that are being rolled around by the waves (Rivulets) and becoming more and more rounded...  ah, yes, the beach! :)

I really like how the front of the top looks so deceptively simple (Stockinette stitch) with just a bit of lace peaking over the shoulders...

Lace peeking over the shoulder to the front

 (© Interweave)

...and then, the back has a little surprise in store: the top drops away into a low back line revealing a misty lace of rivulets and boulders - or sea-glass and waves. Perfect for the upcoming summer parties!

Rivulet and Boulder lace (© Interweave)

The lacy back panel is sandwiched and sewn together with the low cut back panel and the front piece at the side seams so that there are no peek-a-boo accidents. :)

Now, this lace is a bit more challenging as both lace patterns, the Rivulet and Boulder lace, are worked on RS AND WS rows so that you will have to pay a bit more attention when knitting. But then again, it's just for one panel and not a whole garment or a long scarf.

It makes for a great little project to try your hand in "Knitted Lace" (pattern worked on RS & WS rows) instead of just the RS rows (= "Lace Knitting").

And if you can get your hands on this Manos del Uruguay Serena (60% baby alpaca, 40% cotton, sport weight, distributed in the US by Fairmount Fibers) or similar yarn, you are going to feel like being in heaven! It is so buttery soft and a dream to work with that you don't want to let go. When you wear the shell, it's so misty light that you barely feel that you're wearing something. Better double-check before you step out of the house, haha! :)

---

And here is a little peak behind the scenes:

When a design is accepted by Interweave, you are usually required to size your pattern for 5 (!) sizes. Keep that in mind when you start working on your sample size model. I highly encourage you to think your design through before you knit a single stitch to ensure that your pattern can be naturally sized for the larger sizes.

You want to look at any areas that require shaping (e.g. waist, armholes, necklines) to make sure any patterns can flow nicely or are centered for ALL sizes.

In the case of this back lace panel, for example, I dreaded the waist shaping because I would have to figure out a nice degrading of the lace designs at the side seams...not fun...

That's when it hit me that it actually wouldn't be visible because it was underneath the Stockinette back panel! Then why bother? How about having a small strip of just Stockinette stitch run along the side seams that will absorb the decs and incs for the waist shaping and keep the lace going straight up? - Better make sure that it works out with the armhole shaping when it becomes visible again...

It was a good thing that I took a moment to think it through because it saved me a major headache and made the instructions for you that much simpler. :)

Sizing calculations for centering & placement of lace patterns on back panel

The pattern is currently only available by buying the Interweave Knits Summer 2012 issue. Down the road it will be added as a single pattern for purchase in the Interweave store and thereafter through my own website and Ravelry.

Happy Knitting!

Beaded Family Wrist Warmers

I am busily getting ready for my full day "Knitting with Beads" workshop that I will be teaching this year at the Estes Park Wool Market on Thursday, June 7, 2012. I am really excited about this opportunity to share my love of knitting with fellow knitters. And add to that a full day of play with beads! It can't get much better than that. :)

Besides learning how to read/create charts and finding out about the many different techniques for knitting with beads you will actually design and start knitting your own beaded Garter stitch wrist warmers!

Beaded Family Wrist Warmers

Obviously it would be a great idea for me to have a couple of beaded wrist warmers along as samples to show not only what works well but also what might not be the best choice. Don't we all learn from mistakes more than from successful projects? And I sure had some disappointments when designing these wrist warmer samples which I will be happy to share at the workshop. :)

But here is a successful design that I call the "Beaded Family Wrist Warmers".

It all started out with me wanting to use one of those traditional Norwegian patterns of dancing children or adults and convert it for beads. But as I was fiddling around with the beading chart my mind wandered off on one of its typical "what else can you do with this design" explorations and oh, boy, did I come up with lots and lots of other ideas. I wish I had more time in the day to keep up with my mind! :)

The one idea that made me pop up, literally, and was nearly a 'duh' moment was when it occurred to me that I could make a whole family circling the wrist warmer - just like you see on some decals on cars. I myself would LOVE to wear my family around my wrists and be constantly reminded of how lucky I am. :)


And as an added bonus, I would have a great Mother's Day or birthday gift for my mom that was coming up very soon. Ooh, I liked that idea.

Now, as I was thinking this idea through, it would make sense to allow other knitters to customize their family line-up to their needs to make it a really useful pattern. So, back I went to fiddle with the charts some more to allow a mix and match of the individual designs. I ended up with a chart for a

• mother
• father
• son
• daughter
• dog
• cat

that can all be put together so that they are holding hands, well except the dog and cat; they are free standing.

Chart for mother

I was able to size the designs so that a typical 7" cuff can accommodate 2 adults and up to 6 children! If you don't have that large a family, you would center your family line-up and have just the triangle edging around the back.

Then came the next decision: How wide should the wrist warmer be? I know that for at home use I like them to be on the shorter side whereas in fall/winter I like them to be longer to keep the draft out from my coat sleeves... So, I made one sample cuff shorter and one longer with instructions on how to adjust them to your need. And watch out when you work the longer version: depending on which side of the chart you will add the extra length will determine the direction the family will face - looking at you or at your fellow friends. :)

Writing the Pattern

Now that I had my samples knitted up it was time to tackle the pattern writing. It's always quite time consuming because you have to be so precise in your instructions and can't assume anything. I don't know the level of knitting experience the purchaser will have. Or, at least that's the standard that I am using.

The other thing I like to do with my patterns, besides precise instructions, is to add pictures to show visually a perhaps tricky spot or to help you double-check what your work is supposed to look like at a certain stage...and sometimes I forget to take those progress pictures while I work up the sample because I am so enthusiastic about finally knitting or trying to finish... that I need to knit another one just to take that important picture!

Yep, I should know by now to keep my camera close. But then I do knit all over the place, at my boy's soccer practice, waiting to pick them up from school, at knitting groups, late at night, etc. when the setting is not right to take that progress picture. What to do then? Obviously, I should stop knitting and set it aside until I can take the proper picture. But do you know how hard it is to stop and wait!? It takes a mighty dose of will power - at least for me. :) So it comes down to - is it really worth to finish now and then redo a portion - or - can you wait, take the picture, and finish then?

Pattern was written, charts were made, progress pictures and a short photo tutorial for how to work a "Bead Stitch" were in the camera, and now it was time to format everything and get that all important cover page photo - the one that represents your work - that sells the pattern.

A brainstorming session was in order to figure out what I wanted to convey with my cover photo. And how do you photograph wrist warmers so that you show enough of the design but don't give it away? It also can't be too busy, else it would distract from the design. So what items would help me tell the story without overpowering the piece?

That's when I realized that I LOVE to receive snail mail and it would be a great gift to my mom to write her a letter, take some time out of my busy day and just think of her. The photo shoot was set: a cup of coffee with great chocolates (received from a friend over at ButterflyForge.com), a nice letter paper, the cuffs and my husband to take pictures. :)

And there you have it - a finished pattern.

If you would like to purchase your own copy for $4, here is the link:

Book: Cable Ready - Bobbles Beyond Compare

 

Photos by White House of Birches

Yippee! This is my first pattern "Bobbles Beyond Compare" that was picked up to appear in a book: Cable Ready - A Collection of 10 easy-to-master cable knitting projects.

It's a great first cable and bobble project with super bulky yarn that will work up really quickly. The great thing about this scarf is that you will work only one cable twist and one bobble every 8th row! And look how much more intricate it looks... :)

Actually, all the projects in this book look so much fancier than the straight forward knit that is required would ever let on. I LOVE those kind of projects: they look complicated but are easy to knit.

Interweave Knits: Grace's Bag

I was super busy at the beginning of the year with design submissions for the Fall season. Luckily this design was a super fast knit that is now out in Interweave Knits Weekend 2011 issue or as an individual pattern for download in the Interweave store.

Photos by Interweave Knits

The bag is knit in Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Thick & Quick which is a super chunky yarn. It makes for a no-nonsense sturdy bag that will hold all your essentials and is a great companion for your spare time.

I've used again the shaped intarsia technique (other project: the Hourglass Pillows) that makes for smooth edges around the blue diamond, even with this chunky yarn - no ragged steps at the color changes.

The bag has a 3-colored braided strap ending in playful tassels and running along side the height of the bag. And the brown and white argyle diamond lines are applied afterwards using a chain stitch embroidery stitch or you could crochet a foundations chain straight onto the bag (or sew it on).

I definitely like the bold pattern and bright color splash for the colder months when we need a bit of cheerfulness in our days.

Creative Knitting: White Mountain Kimono Coat

My super warm Rowan Cocoon coat design is out in the Creative Knitting Magazine September 2011 issue! Yippee!

Ooh, if you have not yet touched the Rowan Cocoon yarn, you are missing out on a treat. It is such an buttery soft yarn that you just wish your project would never end...well, you do want to finish but at the same time you don't want to let go of this yarn...

Photo by DRG

You might remember that I was playing around with all different kinds of slip stitch patterns for my final 5 piece collection (hats) for the finale of the Yarnway Project. That was actually a result from exploring pattern options for super bulky and bulky yarns. I really like cables but didn't want the bulkiness it would create with these specialty yarns. Slip stitch cables, or I like to call them "mock cables", are a great way to give the impression of cables but without the thickness and awkward cabling of super bulky stitches.

The mock cable for this coat came about through a happy accident - when I was experimenting with different slip stitch patterns my swatch escaped and fell to the floor. As it turns out, it had rotated so that when I was looking down to pick it up it was upside down and my imagination saw flower heads with leaves staring back at me...

I quickly grabbed another color to try out my "vision" and was happy to find that the pattern lent itself well for a two color variation that really turned the original slip stitch pattern into something new...

Left: Swatch is knit from the bottom up

Right: Swatch turned upside down

Doesn't that look like flowers? :)

This happy accident was quite an eye-opener for me and I now routinely turn my swatches every which way to look at it from different directions. I even look at the wrong side of a swatch because you never now what you will find there... and another thing happened: this small act of looking at a swatch from a different direction than the "traditional" way somehow freed me from my own rules (I didn't realize I had them until then) and allows me now to "think out of the box" more often. So, turn you work around and see what you might discover. You will be surprised. :)

Well, that was all fine but it also meant that I needed to knit this coat upside down or top down. I've never done that before! This was going to be a learning experience and all under a submission deadline...

Photo by DR

It definitely forced me to think the whole design through before casting on my first stitch. I couldn't just begin at the bottom and as I was working my way up I would figure out what to do for the sleeves, neckline, etc.

It was a bit unnerving because I felt the time ticking away and I still didn't have any stitches on my needles... but in hind sight, it did teach me another valuable lesson: you should always think your design all the way through before casting on because then you will become aware of iffy design decisions or problem areas, especially if you to size the pattern for multiple sizes...

Okay, more seasoned designers will most likely know this already but for me, this was a major insight. I guess, it's one of those things you learn when you move from a single-size-family-and-friend-knitter to a designer-who-publishes-patterns-in-multiple-sizes... ;)

The coat knit up very quickly thanks to the thick yarn (Rowan Cocoon held double throughout) and the very easy and addictive slip stitch pattern (just one more flower row, and one more...). I was making good time... and then came the finishing.

Photo by DRG

I should know by now that the finishing just takes time if you want to do it right. And considering that the magazine might want to show close-ups of some detail, there were no short-cuts allowed.

It was important to get the knitted on I-cord right and then the hunt for buttons is on. I don't know about you, but I seem to spend a lot of time looking for the "right" button. I still have to come up with some good sources for buttons. You know, buttons that are somewhat special but won't break your bank?

I've been pretty lucky so far with finding some at the local sewing stores and I do have a card of a button lady I met at a crafts fair. Finding the right closure is such a crucial step. You don't want a button to distract from you design, unless it is the focal point, but at the same time you don't want to use cheap looking ones either as it will devalue your lovingly, hand knitted garment. So, make sure to take your time to find the right fit but don't let it keep you from wearing it either. Use a decent button as a placeholder and change it out as soon as you score "the one." :)

Vogue Knitting: Cabled Poncho

I am so excited to introduce to you my latest design, the "#25 Cabled Poncho" that was picked up by Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2011!

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2011, photo by Rose Callahan

Currently you can enjoy a Vogue Knitting 360 view video of this design.

This is my first design for Vogue Knitting so that I am totally excited about this great opportunity and exposure I received. Yippee!

Although I have worked with their design team before for my Feel-Better-Buddies and a V-Neck Vest for men. And as before, it was a pleasure to work with them. :)

Alrighty, back to the design at hand:  It's the perfect topper for a chilly day (Fall or Spring) when you need just a light but warm layer to take the bite out of the air.

Worked as 2 rectangular pieces with shaping only at the neckline and boasting an intricate cable panel worked with twisted stitches and tasteful bobbles to add a traditional flavor. The generous cowl collar has a ribbing that is repeated on the sleeves.

It is worked in a buttery soft, sport weight baby alpaca yarn by Blue Sky Alpacas, called Melange (100% baby alpaca, 110 yds/101 m per 1.75 oz/50 g) and was a pleasure to work with and just a dream to wear.

The cables and twisted stitches are all worked without a cable needle by either knitting the 2nd st on the left needle before the 1st st or by rearranging a couple of sts before knitting. This made for a quick knit despite the cables and intricate look of the decorative panel.

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2011, photo by Rose Callahan

The sweater worked up very quickly even though you work across a fairly large number of stitches, because for the most part, you knit in Stockinette stitch and you only need to pay attention during the center section. After a while you understand the pattern flow and don't even need to consult the cable charts (one of  the center diamond pattern and one for the bobble panel) any longer.

The finishing is straight forward with a 3-needle bind off at the shoulders, sewing up the sides and adding the arm cuffs and generous cowl by picking up stitches and working in the round.

This oversized sweater was so feathery light and soft that I just had to try it on before sending it in. Ooohhh, what a delight! I nearly felt like I was naked - it was so soft next to my skin and light... ooohhh! Can I keep it???

photo by NikkisStudio

And there really is some truth to the saying that "clothes make people" because the moment I wore it, I felt like I had to show some attitude and wear it with style. Haha! :D

The back has also the same decorative cable panel.

photo by NikkisStudio

photo by NikkisStudio

I am sure you will absolutely enjoy not only knitting this design but wearing it as well. You will feel like a queen in this Cabled Poncho. :)

Interweave Knits: Pebble and Reed Tunic

I was really busy for this issue of Interweave Knits Summer 2011 because I have two designs appearing in it! :D

This first one is titled "Pebble and Reed Tunic" and is a great summer tunic with 3/4 length sleeves that you can wear over a tank top with a skirt, capris or pants to the beach, your farmer's market or garden party.

photo by Interweave Press

The openwork pattern makes for a very loose and stretchy fabric, great for the "stiffer" linen/cotton based yarns. It will most likely grow with wear.

photo by Interweave Press

This model was knit with Rowan Purelife Revive (36% silk, 36% cotton, 28% rayon; 137 yds/125 m per 1/75 oz/50 g) and is made from used garments. Recycling at its best!

It's so nice to finally see it come out because this project got started all the way back during Thanksgiving break. The deadline was pretty tight especially with two projects for this issue, that I actually took the yarn along on my trip to visit my family and friends back in Switzerland and Austria.

It sure made for a conversation starter and felt rather weird to knit on a summer project when the Christmas markets in all the old town squares were just opening up for the season, my kids were baking cookies and build snowmen...

Interweave Knits: Bistro Lace Stole

And this is my second pattern for this Interweave Knits Summer 2011 issue: a Bistro Lace Stole.

photo by Interweave Press

This stole is KNIT not crocheted! The motifs are worked individually on double pointed needles and joined as you go => NO SEWING motifs together at the end! Yippee!

photo by Interweave Press

I always admire the many crochet motif stoles and even though I am an avid crocheter, I just didn't want to fall into the "granny squares" category...

... time to come up with a quick and easy knitted flower motif using thicker weight yarn that would still make an airy, elegant and drapey stole.

When Interweave sent me the yarn, I was in heaven: Loarna's Laces Lion & Lamb Multi (50% silk, 50% wool; 205 yds/187 m per 3.5 oz/100 g; aran weight/10 ply/8 wpi). This yarn was so buttery soft and has this incredible sheen to it... what a pleasure to knit with and then to wrap the stole around you...

photo by Interweave Press

The pattern is very yarn conscious, meaning that you get a rather nicely sized stole out of surprisingly little yardage. For this rectangular layout, ~63" x 19", you needed only 1 skein of each colorway for roughly a total of 600 yds.

At first the chosen colorways were a bit puzzling to me as I wouldn't have chosen that particular color combination and it took some trial and errors to come up with a layout that had the colors all play nice with each others. :) But in the end it was a great look and very satisfying.

I already had some yarn from my stash set aside to make this stole for myself. Now I just gotta find time to knit it...!

EDIT: The stole for myself knit up so quickly (done in 5 days!) and was so yarn efficient that I have plenty of yarn left for more!