And now for a footnote

Have you sent in your measurements yet for Knitty's foot size survey? They're working along with Sock Summit and Cooperative Press to make sock sizing in patterns more accurate. Designers, knitters, & recipients benefit with better-fitting socks. There are no two ways about it, it's win-win-win! Info and instructions can be found on the Knitty blog.

A versatile bias-knit scarf: Scattered Snowflakes

The Scattered Snowflakes Lace Scarf is an easy accessory that combines bias (diagonal) knit fabric and an easy snowflake lace pattern. Variegated yarn accentuates the diagonal lines, and pooling and flashing enhances the simple lace. The scarf shown used less than two skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in colorway “Icehouse.” Solid-color yarn could be used instead if desired.
  Gauge is not critical - the scarf can be worked in any yarn using appropriate needles.

Available now for $5.95 from Ravelry.

Haven't you always wanted a night-cap?

I know I have! That's why I designed Abigail, a ruffled and beribboned night-cap. An old-fashioned design meets modern practicality and a bit of whimsy. The Abigail nightcap warms your head, covers your curlers, or makes a unique chemo cap. It's comfortable for sleeping, and I especially look forward to using mine when the weather turns cooler.

The project is an easy knit that takes about 230 yards of yarn. Skills required are: knit, purl, yarnover, knit 2 together, and working in the round. Gauge is not critical - any yarn and appropriate needles may be used and knit to the dimensions shown in the schematic diagram. The project is begun on dpns. When the piece becomes large enough, it is transferred onto a circular needle.

 Until next time, happy knitting!

The Abigail Nightcap
$4.95 at Ravelry
coming soon on Patternfish

Princesa de los Andes: from start to finish

First, the concept sketch:

Then charting and swatching possible lace motifs. I was aiming for a "feather"-looking yoke and sun-rays around the hem. I like pencil and graph paper for my preliminary charting. The computer comes later.

A preliminary schematic, and then the math. Oh, the math! But don't worry, the finished pattern is much more understandable.

Then knit, knit, knit, and knit some more, tweaking the math as the knitting goes on. Once the knitting is complete, block the garment. This, in case you've ever wondered, is why a gauge swatch is important:

 

The finished garment, which I look forward to wearing:

... And as of today, the end result is available to you as a PDF pattern.

Princesa de los Andes*
$6.95 at Ravelry

*Princess of the Andes

Yarn shown: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Lace, colorway "Incan City". Any heavy laceweight or light fingering weight yarn could be substituted.
Gauge: 22 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch
Needle size: US 1 - 2.25 mm (circular & dpn) or size to achieve gauge

Sizes and yarn requirements: The sweater is designed to have 2-4 inches of ease for a body-skimming, not overly tight fit. The pattern includes 6 sizes ranging from Women's XS - 2XL.

XS fits 28–30” (71–76 cm.) bust, requires 920 yd of yarn
S fits 32–34” (81–86 cm.) bust, requires 990 yd of yarn
M fits 36–38” (91.5–96.5 cm.) bust, requires 1130 yd of yarn
L fits 40–42” (101.5–106.5 cm.) bust, requires 1350 yd of yarn
XL fits 44–46” (111.5–117 cm.) bust, requires 1500 yd of yarn
2X fits 48–50” (122–127 cm.) bust, requires 1700 yd of yarn

Notes: Top-down, seamless construction. Lace motifs are provided in chart form only. The pattern includes instructions for side shaping. These may be omitted for straight sides, which will require more yarn.

KnitPicks IDP

... aka the Independent Designer Program, of which KnitDesign by Caroline is now officially a part! They've been a pleasure to work with. The patterns now available through KnitPicks are:

Octavia's Garlands Lace Shawl (abridged version) - $4.99 US

Octavia's Armwarmers - $3.99 US

HarpStrings Double-Knit Accent Scarf - $4.99 US

So, you ask, what are the differences between patterns sold through KnitPicks versus those sold through Ravelry or Patternfish?

For one thing, the prices. KnitPicks has set prices from $1.99-$4.99 (US). Purchasing one of my patterns through them means you get a bit of a discount. However, I want to be fair to those who buy the patterns at the higher prices. The KnitPicks patterns, while producing the same garment, have a different layout and different photos. They are "Special KnitPicks Edition" versions. The yarn colors have been changed to reflect colors that are currently produced. As a knitter, something I appreciate is the Kit Builder option on each pattern page. It makes it easy for new knitters to find and order appropriate KnitPicks yarn for the pattern while showing images of the available colors for the chosen yarn.

Also, The Octavia's Garlands Shawl available from KnitPicks has two song options - Twinkle, Twinkle and up-and-down scales. The full price version from Ravelry and Patternfish contains seven musical options plus a blank chart to insert your own music. Choose your priorities. :)

And now, my little chickadees, you may be wondering why there haven't been new patterns in awhile. Rest assured, there will be some soon, once blocking and photography are completed. The past few weeks have involved working on the three KnitPicks patterns and a forthcoming yarn company pattern. That project shall remain nameless until such time as it is officially released this autumn, but I'll post about it then all right! The yarn is absolutely yummy, and I'm really enjoying working with it. Meanwhile, I've been helping clean and paint a house containing a "Mamie Pink" bathroom. The tiles are a combination of white and warm pink. It was a bit hard finding a way to decorate it that neither looked overwhelming nor required us to remove the vintage tiles. We chose "Coconut Scent" (pale warm yellow) for the walls and white curtains with battenburg lace edging. The end result was warm, pleasant and airy - I think we met our goals. Here's a photo:

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

Strawberry Diamonds Scarf

Traditional Orenburg patterns (large strawberries and diagonals) grace a delicate yet substantial reversible lace scarf.

The 3 page PDF includes color photos, including closeups of the lace medallion. Though it looks complex, the pattern works up quickly. Patterning occurs only on right side rows - all wrong side rows are knitted. The lace medallion pattern is included in both charted and written form. You can use whichever format which is easiest for you.

The scarf shown used 2 skeins of Reynolds Kids Wash-Day Wool (100% superwash) in color Red. Since gauge is not critical for this project, the scarf can be worked in any yarn. Using needles appropriate for your chosen yarn, follow the pattern until the scarf is the desired length or you run out of yarn.

Strawberry Diamonds Scarf
$5.95 at Ravelry

Busy busy busy! and a new pattern: Victoria's Violets

Despite the lack of new patterns, the past 3 weeks have been busy for me design-wise. Three of my already existing patterns will soon be available on KnitPicks as part of their Independent Designers Program. This is exciting to me as a long-term KnitPicks customer (I love their yarn, and I'd say that even if they weren't going to sell my patterns) and a relatively new designer. Since the original designs were knit with discontinued colors, they needed to be made again with colors that are currently produced. I hope you like the new color choices - I do!

The patterns that have been submitted are the Octavia's Garlands Shawl and Armwarmers and the Harpstrings Double-Knit Scarf. You'll find that the prices are different with KnitPicks - lower, though not by much. I do want to be fair to those who have already purchased (or who will purchase) these patterns at the higher prices. The KnitPicks versions are special editions, with different layout and photos than the originals. The shawl contains two music options (Twinkle, Twinkle and the scale), as opposed to the 7 options plus blank staff chart contained in the full-price version. I hope everyone will find a choice that works for them!

In other news, one of my designs has been accepted for a yarn company's fall pattern line. I can't say any more about it now, except that I'm very excited about this, too. The pattern is coming along well, and k nitting of the sample will hopefully begin within the week. I'll be sure to post when the pattern is released.



Meanwhile, a new pattern has been released today for your enjoyment: Victoria's Violets Lace Collar, available for $5.95 from Ravelry. It's dressier than a cowl and stays in place better than a shawl. It would make a lightweight yet very warm layer beneath a coat, thanks to the laceweight alpaca yarn. The 6-page PDF includes charts and written directions for the lace collar, border, and inset patterns, as well as closeup photos of each lace section. Detailed instructions guide you each step of the way.