Gabrielle Cloche — in Time for the Holidays

What is more personal than a handmade gift?!  Just in time for the holidays, Knit Picks has released my latest pattern, the Gabrielle Cloche.  This Art Deco-inspired design is worked in-the-round from the bottom up.  It begins with a simple, lace motif and finishes with a star pattern at the crown.  The pattern has both an easy-to-read chart and written instructions for the lace motif.  Three sizes are included:  S, M & L (head circumference of 19.5, 22 & 24.5 inches/ 49.5, 56 & 62 cm)

Knit Picks Galileo is their gorgeous, new sport yarn with 50% Merino Wool and 50% Viscose from Bamboo.  It is silky soft, has a lovely sheen and comes in such rich, lusterous colors.  Galileo is a delight to work with and has excellent stitch definition.  It produces a luxurious cloche that will be sure to become a favorite, stylish accessory.

Thanks to my beautiful model for making the cloche look so good!

Avonleigh Scarf/Hood

Cooperative Press has recently released Fresh Designs: Scarves.

It includes knit patterns for 10 stylish & unique scarves.  My contribution is the Avonleigh Scarf/Hood.  It was inspired by “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”, (I know — a good, long time ago) and how beautiful and mysterious Meryl Streep looked wearing her hooded cape.  Knitted hats, while lovely, can mess with your hair, but a hooded scarf keeps you warm while leaving you well-coiffed!

The scarf begins with a lace edging and then transitions into a vine wandering back & forth across a reverse stockinette background, decorated with leaves & berries. The two sides of the scarf are knit separately and then grafted together. The rounded hood is knit in two pieces and seamed together. (No funny elfin point at the back of your head!) Then, ribbing is picked up around the bottom, making the hood billow nicely. Finally, the hood is attached to the center section of the scarf.

Intermediate knitting skills are required including a little lacework, cabling, bobbles and grafting. (Tip: Bobbles aren’t so bad if you learn to knit them backwards! This video illustrates the process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT-u3MBGFtI )

Nancy’s Garden Headband

My beloved test knitter, Nancy, lives in France in a stone house (can you imagine!?) and is a fabulous gardener.  I asked her what I should design next and she said she really needed a headband to wear when she’s working in her garden.  So I designed this headband for her and for you.

This one-piece, seamless headband has I-cord ties so it’s adjustable to fit just right.    The pattern includes both charts and written instructions.  It begins with an I-cord tie and fans out into the flower vine with simple yarnovers and bobbles.  Another chart is worked for the flower vine down the other side, finishing up with the second I-cord tie.  

You can purchase this knit pattern PDF through Knitpicks.com  here or  Etsy.com here.

Flowering Vine Hood

Knit Picks has just released my latest knit patterns, Flowering Vine Hood (Adult Size) and Flowering Vine Hood (Child – 2 sizes).  My beautiful friend and her gorgeous daughter graciously modeled for me.

 

Finished measurements for the child sizes: Top of the head to the neckband 11.5″/29.2cm (13″/33cm),   Neckband length 18″/45.7cm (20″/50.8cm),  One side of the face to the other 18.5″/47cm,  (20″/50.8cm).  The adult size finished measurements: Top of the head to neckband 13″(33cm), One side of the face to the other 21″(53.3cm).

The intermediate skills required are cabling, lace work, I-cord, kitchener stitch & simple embroidery.  If you’re unfamiliar with any of those skills, take heart!  This pattern would be a gentle introduction.  Both easy-to-follow charts and written instructions are included.

When I designed the hood, I thought it would be a stylish, lightweight cover for those chilly spring days.  Who knew we would bypass that season altogether??  Oh well, fall is just around the corner!

ERRATA:  If you purchased before November 8th, 2012 please take note of the following corrections:

Work st st for 6 sts, pm, work Right Vine Chart (page 4) over 12 sts, pm, work st st for 29(33) sts, pm (center marker), work st st for 29(33)sts, pm, work Left Chart over 12 sts, pm, work st st for 6 sts.  Work chart rows 1-4 only once.  Continue working Rows 5 – 16 until piece measures 4.5″/11.4cm (5.25″/13.3cm) from the top of the ribbing, ending with WS row. 

Also, Right Vine Chart, Row 5 should read:

K4, C4b, k1, yo, ssk, k1.

 

Lace & Cable Hooded Scarf

Knit Picks just released my Lace & Cable Hooded Scarf!  (You gotta love Knit Picks — They are awesome to work with!! )

 

The lace & cable scarf has a hood built in for style and warmth.  The cable forms a nice, ropey edge. The lace & cable section is a 23 st X 38 row repeat that is both charted and written out in line-by-line instructions. It requires intermediate skills including a little lacework, cabling, simple shaping and seaming.  It uses 730 yards of DK yarn.  For a really luxurious feel, use Knit Picks Capra Cashmere (as shown in the photos).  Or for a soft but more affordable scarf, use Knit Picks Swish DK Superwash Merino.

ERRATA:  If you purchased before Oct. 1, 2012, please note the following errata –

Row 1 (WS): Work Right-Winding Cable for 6 sts, k1, pm, work Lace & Cable Chart Row 1 (see page 3), pm, k1, work Left-Winding Cable for 6 sts.

Row 2: Work Left-Winding Cable for 6 sts, p1, work Lace & Cable Chart Row 2 between markers, p1, work Right-Winding Cable for 6 sts.

Row 24: K1, C3f, p3, k9, p3, C3b, k1.

Tree of Life Felted Bag

Knit Picks has just posted my latested design Tree of Life Felted Bag.

A cabled tree stretches across the front of this lightly felted bag.  It is roughly 13.5″ wide X 12.25″ tall.  This bag is knit in the round and is seamless except for one small graft connecting the handle.  You can choose between an I-cord handle (as shown) or a simple flat handle.  It is lightly felted for strength & durability.  It requires just 4 skeins of worsted weight feltable wool.  The pattern, including large tree chart with key, is available through Knitpicks.com for $2.99.

Happy Monster Pillow Buddy

KnitPicks.com has just released my Happy Monster Pillow Buddy!  He’s sweet & cuddly and ready for your favorite little one

to drag around and snuggle with.  This knit pattern includes a little intarsia, working with double pointed needles and some simple embroidery.  He’s roughly 12″ square, not including arms & legs.  (The back panel shows a sleeping monster.)  He’d make a great gift — the defender of happy dreams!!