Maile

July 2011

Without wanting to sound like a bit of a one trick pony, a blog called What to Knit when you're Expecting is an incredibly handy thing to have discovered right about now. Especially when it contains free patterns as lovely as this one.

I first bought this yarn with Liam in mind, but it was such a dark grey that the black bits of the colourwork didn't stand out enough, so I ended up using something else.

So apart from having a suitable yarn and this being a freebie, the real appeal of this pattern was that I couldn't reverse engineer the lacy bits at the raglan seam just by looking at them, and I wanted to find out how it was done. I love tackling a project like that.

A lot of people seem to struggle with the section of this pattern where the arms are attached to the body. As I didn't have any 3.25mm DPNs, and I'm not keen on magic loop, I worked my sleeves flat (telling myself that the body had been worked back and forth, so strictly speaking I'd get a more consistent tension that way anyway). I think that must have helped a lot, because I didn't find it too much of a struggle at all.

The buttons (which are ceramic and will no doubt prove horribly impractical) came from Hobbycraft in Leeds.

Pattern: Maile by Nikki Van Der Car

Yarn: Cygnet Truly Wool Rich 4-ply

Amount: 1 skein

Colourway: 0044 Gray

Needles: 3.25mm

Size: Smallest

On ravelry: here

Tea Leaves

July 2011

So for reasons which will become increasingly apparent over the next few months, I'm on a quest for projects which will work as maternity wear but which I'll also enjoy wearing the rest of the time. This boat necked inverted v type shape is a real winner from that point of view, and the the ruched yoke of Tea Leaves really appealed to me.

After purchasing this pattern via the Madelinetosh website I managed to lose the first copy somehow by opening the pattern and then closing it again without saving it first. Madelinetosh were very helpful about it, though, and emailed out another copy as a .pdf.

I think there is a slight error with buttonholes, as a k2tog is followed by a double yo, which means an increase of two stitches in comparison to a decrease of just one. This means you end up with one extra stitch per buttonhole after the buttonhole row unless you work some additional decreases somewhere.

I also thought that picking up stitches at the recommended rate of 3 for every 4 rows created a button-band which was much too long in relation to the body of the cardigan, and puckered rather than hanging flat. I found picking up two then skipping a row, then three then skipping a row worked better.

I love this yarn, Cascade 220, HARD. I originally bought a big bag of it to make Heroine but having changed my mind it's since been used for a Seamless Hybrid, a pair of Susie's Reading Mitts, this and I still have enough left for a hat (probably a February Beret). Not bad at all for about £60.

Other mods: short rows in neckline and bust-darts. Four buttonholes rather than two and placed closer together. Sleeves shortened by about six inches.

Dress from H&M, buttons from Duttons for Buttons in York (and I'm very pleased with the colour match). This is me at 5.5 months :)

Pattern: Tea Leaves Cardigan by Melissa LeBarre

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers

Amount: 4 skeins

Colourway: 9448 Green

Needles: 4.00mm

Size: 36"

On ravelry: here

Sabbatical

June 2011

This project is very aptly named - it's the most labour intensive project I've undertaken for about 6 months, and perhaps not the wisest choice for someone participating in a challenge to knit 12 sweaters in 2011. The amount of work is obvious from the pictures, but it is worth pointing out that this is what is sometimes called "true" lace with yarn overs and decreases on both right side and wrong side rows, and that's partially what makes it such slow going.

I just couldn't resist it, though - in a magazine full of beautiful designs this one stands out a mile in my opinion. Now it's done, it feels like it was worth every minute, but I must admit that relief at having finally finished it is the main reason I'm smiling so broadly in the photographs.

There isn't a great deal else I can usefully say about this. It's worked flat and sewn up rather than seamless. I didn't modify it like I usually would, because adding short row bust darts in an allover lace pattern is way beyond me. In fact as far as I know, it's impossible...

I'm not sure about the amount of yarn used because it was partially frogged from a previous project (and kid classic stood up to frogging very well, I thought).

Connie Chang Chinchio is a stone cold genius, especially for fans of lace, like me.

Pattern: Sabbatical by Connie Chang Chinchio from Twist Collective Winter 2009

Yarn: Rowan Kid Classic

Amount: 8.5 skeins approx.

Colourway: 831 Smoke

Needles: 3.50mm

Size: 34"

On ravelry: here

Sprout Blanket

June 2011

I’m still on a “determined not to make baby things that are too pastel-y” kick, and so I was delighted to stumble across a pattern which just begs to be made in a real acid-green.

I had a bit of difficulty finding a washable aran in the right colour - the only other option at my LYS was some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, but that would have cost something like three times the £10 we paid for the yarn I did use. After much deliberation the solution we came up with was to use a 4-ply held double to make an Aran. I think it worked very well.

I’ve taken pictures of both sides of this blanket, because although the side which is predominantly reverse stocking stitch looks slightly prettier, it IS reversible and won’t need lining which is great and will make it nice and lightweight.

Pattern: Sprout Blanket by Hanna Breetz

Yarn: King Cole Zig-zag

Amount: 2 skeins

Colourway: 762

Needles: 5.00mm

Size: One size

On ravelry: here

Offset Wraplan

May/June 2011

I know, I know. Baby clothes made from 100% wool. But I’m the one who’s going to have to be in charge of washing it, so it’s okay.

I made this is just under a week whilst on holiday in Paris. I wanted something unisex and colourful, I think the colours in this yarn are just gorgeous. Slightly autumnal, which is great for a November baby. And it matches this guy’s scarf, which is everso cute. I’m also planning to make a hat out of this yarn, to match this cardigan.

The buttons are from Boyes in York. I make the button band in the same ribbed stitch as the neckline, waist band and cuffs, although the pattern suggested using stocking stitch. I found it easier to work out where to put the buttons this way by counting the ribs between each one.

The body of this was knitted back and forth on a circular needle, and the sleeves were knitted in the round on DPNs, so it’s a seamless knit. The button bands were picked up and knit at the end. Oh, and it’s a freebie pattern too, which is obviously a bonus!

Pattern: Offset Wraplan by Sarah Morris

Yarn: Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Spirit

Amount: 1.5 skeins

Colourway: Destiny

Needles: 3.50mm

Size: Smallest

On ravelry: here

Baby Berry Hats

May/June 2011

Last summer my favourite LYS, Ramshambles, was running a special offer which meant that anyone spending over £10.00 got a free magazine. Not one to let that sort of enabling behaviour pass me by, I grabbed a skein of purple Debbie Bliss Rialto, without any clear idea of what I was going to do with it. Then I remembered this hat, which is one of the first things I ever queued on ravelry, many moons ago.

I'm not sure what sort of berry this is supposed to be, exactly, but it's cute as hell anyway. I cast on the first hat on leaving home for a short holiday in Paris, and by the time I got there it was finished. So I made another one on the way back with the leftovers!

This is a lovely easy pattern - as long as you're okay with i-cord and DPNs, the only slightly tricky part is getting your colourwork to look tidy when you have to carry your floats for seven stitches.

Pattern: Baby Berry Hat by Micele Sabatier

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto (MC) / Sirdar Snuggly DK (CC)

Amount: Less than one skein of each

Colourway: 23028 Grape (MC) / 0260 Country Lime (CC)

Needles: 3.50 mm

Size: One size

On ravelry: here

Baby Bobbi Bear

May 2011

A little while ago one of my husband's colleagues gave me a bag of various chunky yarns which she couldn't use, including some Courtelle Chunky by Wendy. It looked like a very suitable colour for a teddy to me, and so I decided to make this pattern again. My first attempt at it is here.

This is a very quick and easy little pattern, with mercifully little finishing - it's basically seamless apart from the ears needing to be sewn on because they are made separately.

No mods, except that I made the body on a short circular needle rather than DPNs. I also skipped duplicate stitching around the neck and opted instead for a rather dapper scarf (made in sideways garter stitch using Twilley’s Freedom Spirit).

I found the instructions for the section labelled “Butt” a bit confusing, but that was my fault for not reading through the pattern properly because if I had, I would have realised that “sk” meant “skip”.

Pattern: Baby Bobbi Bear by Bobbi Intveld

Yarn: Wendy Classics Courtelle Chunky

Amount: 3.5 skeins

Colourway: 3022

Needles: 5.00mm

Size: One size

On ravelry: here