Patterns available on Ravelry
Accessories available on Etsy

Instead of featuring one of my new patterns on today’s blog, I’m going to begin reporting on my adventure in knitting a man’s cardigan jacket (2 of them, actually). This is something I’ve been putting off for quite a while, and decided it was time to get started.

Another reason for not featuring a new design is that I’ve submitted 3 of my original designs to yarn companies to be considered for their collections, and can’t share them at this time.
(Update: I just received notice that one of the patterns has been purchased! I’m waiting to hear about the others.)

Here’s my progress on the man’s cardigan jacket so far:

1. After looking for just the right pattern for a long time (over a year), I found it – and decided to knit 2 cardigan jackets! Check out the pattern on this site. It’s perfect for what I wanted, and it’s free!
http://maddycraft.com/wp/mens-patterns/ml184-mens-jacket-cardi

2. Next I chose the yarn. This also took quite some time because I wanted a tweed-like look in a high-quality yarn. I found Rowan hemp tweed and that met my requirements. You can see the yarn by clicking on the following link:
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/hemp-tweed
(I chose the color teal for one and granite for the other)

3. Here’s a step that I no longer skip! I knit a swatch incorporating the various stitch patterns to determine the needle size I’d need to use to get gauge. Here’s a photo of the blocked swatch.

The size suggested in the pattern didn’t work for my knitting tension and the yarn I selected, so I had to go down a size and found that I was able to get gauge.

4. Then I researched a cast on suitable for k1p1 ribbing, and found one that I really like, and is just stretchy enough to match the k1p1 pattern.
http://easyknittingdesign.com/k1p1-rib-cast-on/

5. Thinking ahead about seaming edges I chose to add a selvedge stitch on each side. The link below will take you to a variety of selvedge options.
http://tessknits.com/1973/on-the-edge

6. Although there are many ways to knit increases, I wanted to find the best method for creating increases in k1p1 ribbing. Scroll down to the middle of this webpage to see this technique:
http://www.arendaholladay.com/2012/03/stitches-west-stitches-was-tons-of-fun.html

7. I’ve had to join new balls of yarn many times before, but I was looking for advice on joining a new ball of yarn in this type of project. I found a few sites that were useful and thought I’d share one with you here:
http://blog.shopmartingale.com/crochet-knitting/joining-new-yarn-in-knitting/
I chose joining at a selvedge edge.

8. 17-1/4 inches later…

More next week as I finish the armholes, and shoulder and neck shaping – and move on to the left front.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

Patterns available on Ravelry
Accessories available on Etsy

BUDS and FLOWERS: PRICE REDUCED!

Easy to care for and versatile in its use, this hand knit reversible heart shaped bandana/shawlette is one of my original – and most popular – designs.

The yarn is a hand-dyed exquisite blend of 20% bamboo, 70% super wash merino wool, and 10% nylon. The colorway is called Lavande (lavender), and there is a row of 6mm jadeite beads incorporated into the flower pattern.

Wear with the point in front or in back, tie the ends, or add a vintage pin. This is an accessory that’s suitable for casual as well as evening wear.

The accessory measures:
20 inches (50.5 cm) from the center of the top to the bottom point
45 inches (114 cm) across at the widest point
53 inches (134.5 cm) measured across the top edge

Note that the first photo is the closest to the actual color.

PATTERN AVAILABLE

If you’d like to knit this shawl, the pattern is also available in my Ravelry shop.  Refer to the first variation on the Ravelry pattern page to knit this with beads.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

Patterns available on Ravelry
Accessories available on Etsy

58×7.5 inches (147.25x19cm)
Sideways Knit Summer Scarf

I saw this cotton yarn in a department store in Zaragoza, Spain, and couldn’t resist the colors, even though I had no idea what I would make with it!

By the time I returned home I envisioned a top-down/sideways knit summer scarf that featured a garter section with feather and fan border – in 2 colorways.

This is a very easy knit – with the only real challenge being tension consistency, as cotton isn’t all that forgiving!

You’ll need 1 50-gram ball each of 2 different colorways – in this case, Colorin by Rosas Crafts, 526 and 522. If you like the example in the photos, you’d start out with 522.

I’ve made this pattern free on Ravelry. Find it at:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sideways-knit-summer-scarf

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

Patterns available on Ravelry
Accessories available on Etsy

Here’s my progress so far on this top-down/sideways-knit cotton summer scarf. It might not look like I’ve gotten very far, but I’ve been busy preparing a couple of new designs to submit to an upcoming collection of scarves and shawls.

Hopefully one of the designs will be chosen, but regardless, at some point you’ll get to see them both!

The beginning section of this scarf was knit in garter stitch, and I continued until I used up the first ball of cotton variegated yarn. I then switched to another variegated color (containing some of the same colors as the first) and changed the stitch pattern to a simple feather-and-fan lace.

You’ll notice that there are some wavy lines forming, and that was the purpose of incorporating the feather-and-fan stitch pattern. When it’s completed, blocked, and photographed (next week) you’ll see the interesting shape this gives to the overall scarf.

I’ll also make the pattern available next week – so I guess I’d better get back to work on it!

Happy Knitting!
MikeH

Patterns available on Ravelry
Accessories available on Etsy

I’m working on a design for a summer scarf that’s knit from the top down – or as some might say, sideways.

The process involves casting on enough stitches for the length of the scarf, as opposed to the width. I prefer the Cable Cast On for this type of accessory, as it’s strong, and just flexible enough to allow for some stretching. You wouldn’t want the length of the scarf to be worked too tightly.

See how neat the cast-on edge of the scarf is, in the photo above. The Cable Cast On also leaves you set up to start with a knit row (which is particularly useful if your pattern is in stockinette stitch).

After casting on, the first half of the scarf width will be knit in garter stitch, and the second half will be knit in a feather and fan lace stitch pattern.

I have patterns available for two scarves that have a similar construction, if you’d like to see what they look like:
Garter and Lace: Fruitcake; and
Garter and Lace: Silky Wool

Be sure to check in next week to see progress on this new design.

Happy Knitting!
MikeH