Chloe's Vest - Interweave Knits Spring 2013

I'm a bit slow in posting about this pattern, but it is in no way a sign of being indifferent about the pattern. In fact, being included in this publication was something I've been imagining for a very long time.

My Chloe's Vest was included in the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Knits!

From the magazine:

"A simply shaped sweater vest is dolled up with a delicate lace inset. Vest is knit in three pieces with the inset worked from the center out."

The main portion of the vest is worked using two strands of fingering-weight yarn held together while the delicate lace inset is worked using only a single strand. The pattern is written for 34 (38, 42, 46, 50)" bust circumference and is shown in the 34" size, modelled with minimal ease.



 

 

 

 

Salacia Cardigan

I am delighted that my Salacia cardigan  was included in the Spring 2013 issue of Knitscene magazine!

This little cardigan was designed to create an hourglass shape with the biased lace changing direction at the waistline, cinched with a drawstring tie. The cardigan is knit using Valley Yarns Longmeadow (60% cotton, 40% microfiber; 117 yd [107 m]/50 g) at a gauge of  18 sts and 32 rows = 4" in left-slanting lace patt. The pattern includes sizes 34½ (38, 42, 45½, 49, 52½)" bust circumference.

The front cardigan edges are trimmed with faux i-cord slipped stitches. The modified v-neck follows the bias of the lace before cutting straight back to the shoulder. The hem and sleeve cuffs are trimmed with reverse-stockinette stitch which rolls neatly to the back of the work. The short sleeves end mid-bicep and are worked in an all-over eyelet pattern.

The top is designed to be worn with about 2" of positive ease and ends just above the hip.

The Salacia was a fun knit for me. Everything just seemed to fall into place with this pattern, and it slid easily off my needles with very little of the fussing and adjusting that often comes with knitting up the first sample for a design.

Hobbit Knits - A Collection of Hobbit-Inspired Knitting Patterns

I am thrilled to announce the release of "Hobbit Knits - A Collection of Hobbit-Inspired Knitting Patterns".

 

The eBook contains five patterns, each inspired by a different scene from "The Hobbit".

 

The "Pony Rides in May Sunshine" fingerless mitts are inspired by the beginning of Bilbo's long journey during which he finds adventures to be quite pleasant. When the travelling becomes more difficult later on, he laments that adventures are not all "pony rides in May sunshine". The mitts feature a cabled cuff and are knit from a cheerful, rustic DK-weight yarn, and are designed to protect one's hands during a long day of holding the reins of a pony.

 

 

The Elvish Singing Shawlette is inspired by the warm welcome given to Bilbo and his companions one warm June evening as he and his companions approach the Elvish outpost of Rivendell. This delicate lace shawlette is knit from a single ball of sock yarn.

 

 

The Pocketses Vest is inspired by a Hobbit's waistcoat, with a double breast to display plenty of nice brass buttons, as well as two small pockets, just large enough for concealing a magical ring. It is knit primarily in stockinette stitch using worsted-weight wool.

 

The Mirkwood Satchel features a sturdy linen-stitch body and a long, cabled strap. It also has a cabled pocket on the side and is closed with a zipper. This bag came to mind when reading about Bilbo and his companions needing to carry weeks worth of food and water on their trek through the gloomy, unwholesome Mirkwood forest.

 

 

The Beorn Cardigan had a cabled waistband, from which the upper and lower body are picked up and knit. This heavily cabled cardigan is inspired by the wide fireplaces, large mugs of mead, and toast with butter and honey that welcomed Bilbo and Gandalf on their journey home when the visited their friend, Beorn, at Yuletide.

 

All patterns are available for sale individually in my Ravelry shop. As well, the entire collection can be purchased at a discounted price - just click the "Buy Now" button below to be taken to Ravelry. You do not have to be a member of Ravelry to buy patterns from their site.



The patterns are also available in my Craftsy pattern store, as well as in my Etsy Shop.

I hope you enjoy browsing and knitting these patterns as much as I enjoyed designing them. After all, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song* above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

*And knitting, I would add.

The Giveaway!
I have a copy of the Hobbit Knits collection to give away! This contest is open to anyone, in any country, until Dec 30, 2012. Please leave me a comment and include your contact information, such as an email address or Ravelry ID.

UPDATE: Some people have had trouble leaving a comment on this blog. You may also enter the contest by emailing me your contact info at SarcasticStitches AT gmail DOT com, or by sending me a message on Ravelry. Sorry for the inconvenience!

What is your favorite scene from "The Hobbit"? Did you first read the book as a child or as an adult?

UPDATE Dec 30, 2012 - Congratulations to the winner of the eBook, Unwindle! I have gifted you the book on Ravelry. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!
 

Imbolc Pullover - Winter 2012 Knitscene!

I am delighted to have my Imbolc pullover included in the Winter 2012 issue of Knitscene!

This pullover features two sunburst-like lace hexagons inset into the sweater so that they wrap around the ribs at the left and right sides of the pullover, creating waist definition. Each hexagon is knit from the center out and bound off. The front and back are each knit flat to the bottom of the hexagon inset, at which point stitches are bound off at each side. The pieces are shaped to accommodate the hexagon inset, after which more stitches are cast on and the front and back pieces are worked to the shoulders. The sweater has a feminine deep U neckline. The cuffs, hem and neckline are trimmed in tidy 1x1 ribbing.
 

The sample was knit in the gloriously soft yarn from The Fibre Company called Road to China Light (65% alpaca, 15% silk, 10% camel, 10% cashmere; 159 yd [145 m]/50 g). I used 3.5mm needles and got a gauge of 25 sts and 32 rows to 4".

As the circumference of the hexagon inset is 27", an optional co-ordinating tam can easily be made by knitting two inches of stockinette stitch around the outer edge of a third hexagon, followed by decrease rows to reduce the circumference to 22", and ending with two inches of ribbing.

While winter days start to get longer after the Winter Solstice in late December, the sun's strength doesn't noticeably return until early February, which is celebrated as the Irish festival of Imbolc, which derives its name from the ancient Irish i mbolg, meaning "in the belly", referencing the newly-pregnant ewes. The two sunbursts reference the "doubling" of the strength of the sun, as well as the date of Imbolc, which falls on February 2nd: 02/02.

Amma's Scarf - Canadian Cancer Society Fundraiser

I am happy to announce the release of a very special pattern!



The "Amma's Scarf" was designed for my mother in honor of her 65th birthday. She helped in choosing the yarn and stitch patterns. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this scarf pattern will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. This means that the entire purchase price, minus transaction fees, will go towards cancer research and improving the quality of life for cancer patients.

The scarf features a scalloped lace pattern at the ends, and uses a garter-stitch diamond lace pattern through the body of the scarf to show off the beautiful tonal variations of this variegated yarn. The pattern includes both charted and written directions for the lace patterns. Please note that the yarn used to knit the sample has a lot of drape (think 100% silk or rayon), so if you use a yarn that has more bounce, such as wool or acrylic, you may need more yardage to make a full-length scarf.



Amma’s Story
When my son was learning to talk, “Grandma” was too much of a mouthful for him, so he dubbed my mother “Amma,” a title she was more than happy to carry. She was delighted to be a grandmother, and even more delighted that she was in such good health that she could enjoy the company of an active toddler.

Two years prior, I told my mother that I was expecting her first grandchild. Not long after this, she told me that she had breast cancer. She was treated and fully recovered. Five years later, I told her that I was expecting another child. Only weeks later, she told me that she had again been diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she is once again cancer-free with a good long-term prognosis. Happy Birthday, Mom, and many more to come!

The pattern is available on Etsy, on Craftsy or on Ravelry. You can also purchase the scarf through Ravelry by clicking the button below:

Irresponsible Tam

I am thrilled to have my Irresponsible Tam included in the special Accessories 2012 issue of Knitscene magazine! I'm honored to be included with such an amazing collection of patterns, especially for my first ever pattern to be published in a conventional print magazine.

This hat was inspired by those that were popular in the early part of the 20th century. I had a lot of fun browsing through antique knitting and crochet patterns online to find out how the original berets were made (just like today, there's top-down or bottom-up patterns, as well as those knit flat and those knit in the round).

The name of this hat comes from the female love interest in Meredith Nicholson’s 1905 book, “The House of a Thousand Candles”, in which the young heroine wears her jaunty red tam at an “irresponsible tilt”.

The color was inspired by another line from the same book: "There is something jaunty, a suggestion of spirit and independence in a tam-o'-shanter, particularly a red one."

Photos are courtesy of Knitscene magazine.

Coffee and Cream Beanie

I had a lot of fun working up the pattern for this little coffee-themed beanie.

One, 100g ball of white yarn is divided into three smaller balls, two of which are dyed with coffee. One ball gets a quick dye in weaker coffee to produce a pale brown, while the other is dyed more slowly in stronger coffee to produce a darker brown shade.


The colorwork pattern is inspired by the swirling shapes made by cream as it is added to a hot cup of fragrant coffee. The white crown of the hat represents the cream; the light and dark brown swirls are the coffee as it mixes with the cream; and the white ribbing at the bottom of the hat represents the thick-walled white ceramic mug holding the coffee.

This hat is knit from the bottom up and worked in the round.

Sizes:

Teen or Small Adult (Medium Adult, Large Adult)

To Fit Head Circumference: 20 (22, 24)"/51 (56, 61) cm

Finished Hat Circumference:19 (21, 23)"/48 (53, 58.5) cm

Finished Length: 8 (8.5, 9)"/20 (21.5, 23) cm

Materials:

1(1, 1) ball Patons Classic Wool, 100% wool (210 yds/192 m) per 100g/3.5 oz ball) in color 00202 Aran. Divide into three balls: one dyed light brown, one dyed dark brown, and one left undyed. Dyeing instructions are provided at the end of the pattern.

Note: if you don't wish to dye your own yarn, you can use Patons Classic Wool in the following amounts and colors:25 (27, 30) g of 00202 "Aran" (white)20 (22, 24) g of 77514 "Sesame" (light brown)10 (11, 12) g of 00227 "Taupe" (dark brown)

US Size 7/4.5 mm dpns

US Size 6/4.0mm dpns

Darning Needle

Stitch marker

Mild laundry soap

Materials and Equipment For Yarn Dyeing:

12 tablespoons instant coffee, divided

2 teaspoons alum (available at large grocery stores or bulk food stores)

1 teaspoon cream of tartar (available at large grocery stores or bulk food stores)

Large pot

Microwave and large microwave-safe dish (optional)

Measuring spoons and cup

Large stir spoon

Waste yarn - use smooth, non-felting, pale yarn (white acrylic is ideal)

Water

This pattern is available for sale on Ravelry for $5.00 CAD!