Pattern Book available at Blurb.com

I've just compiled a volume of my first 9 patterns.  The book, sold through Blurb.com, is 94 pages and has complete pattern information and photos, as well as visual tutorials on short row shaping, beading, creating button holes, and more.   Check it out!

Knit Picks - great yarn; great prices

I've been quite happy with the Knit Picks yarn I've purchased lately (www.knitpicks.com).  I used Wool of the Andes for my Enchanted Forest Fingerless Gloves and it is strong, the colors are vibrant, and the cost was low.  I used three skeins (three different heather colors) for two gloves, and it cost me $2.19 per skein plus shipping - under $10!

I'm looking forward to starting a new project with the Shadow yarn I just bought.  It is very soft, lace weight, wool yarn.  Feelin' inspired.....

Enchanted Forest Fingerless Gloves featured on Lime & Violet blog!

Thanks so much to Lime & Violet for featuring my Enchanted Forest Fingerless Gloves on their blog The Daily Chum!  Check out the other fabulous knitwear and patterns discussed there.

Box-Pleat Clutch - Double Clasp

I finished the little red clutch.  Kind of an involved project, as I had not made a purse before with a metal frame.  

I first knit the beaded bag.  Then I sewed the pleated inner silk sections.  Next I sewed the knitted bag and silk sections to one another.  Finally, I used textile glue to attach the bag to the frame.

Enchanted Forest Fingerless Gloves

I love the falling leaf edging, but I'd only seen it in one direction.  So I endeavored to create it in the other direction as well.  After looking at it, and dreaming of autumn colors, I came up with this glove.  The thumb hole is created by leaving the top layer of leaves partially open.

Rose Garden Scarf

I've decided it will be a scarf.  It's a bit too big to be a stole, and it drapes nicely as a scarf.  The strands are braided together and then I sewed the flowers to one another with regular sewing thread.  Very satisfied!

Rose Garden Flowers

I'm not sure yet whether I will fashion these flowers into a lariat, scarf, wrap, or stole (it's fun having to make these kind of decisions in life, rather than the ordinary ones).

I've begun with knitting a variety of flowers from Nicky Epstein's "Knitted Flowers" (Sixth & Spring Books, 2006).  As I wanted to mainly knit roses, I have tried the patterns for the Scallop Rose, Cabbage Rose, Florets, and Basic Flowers.  The yarns are Lions Brand Homespun, Super Saver Cot'n Blend, and Bernat Felting yarn.  Here are a few photos:

Box-Pleat Clutch - Double Clasp

Purses are fun! ... and a beaded evening bag is a project I've long thought about.  So, using my box-pleat design, I've fashioned a little clutch.  I really like the look of 1920s and 1930s fashion, and I thought that using a double clasp frame would conjure up the feel of days gone by.  I'm going to use textile glue to attach the frame.  Work in progress.....

Ballybrae Fingerless Gloves

These are thick, a bit rough, and certainly warm.  I've put them on http://seasideknitting.etsy.com

      

Box-Pleat Top - Ivory

I just finished the ivory version.  I knitted it in the round, and I used faceted, glass roller beads with a gold color on the inside.  Here's the result:

Box-Pleat Top - Pattern CORRECTION

Thank you to all who have purchased my Box-Pleat Top pattern!!!

One correction: when you reach the row where you will form the box pleats, please note the the pattern instructions count the edge stitch twice.  Therefore the pattern should correctly read, "edge stitch, knit the first 9 (10) 11 (12) sts and then....."

Sorry for any headaches this may have caused. 

Happy Holidays and best wishes for the coming year!

Box-Pleat Top - Knitting in the Round

So, the Box-Pleat Top pattern is easily converted to knit in the round.

Simply omit the "edge stitch" on either side of both the front and back sides when you cast-on (i.e.,  size large would have 248 cast on stitches, rather than 252).  The "edge stitch" provides the selvedge edge that you would use when sewing a side seam.  If you've knit the garment in the round, you won't need the extra stitches.

After casting on the proper number of stitches, be mindful not to twist the stitches before attaching end-to-end for knitting in the round.

Knit Row 1 as per the pattern instructions.  However, Row 2 is now a "knit" row, rather than a "purl" row, and you just continue knitting around in the circle you have started.

Follow the pattern instructions for front and back simultaneously. Once you reach the bottom of the arm opening, you will need to stop knitting in the round, add the edge stitches back in, and follow the pattern instructions for front and back separately.  You can either leave stitches on the circular needle while not working on them, or you can move them to another circular needle for safe keeping while you finish knitting the first side.

Winter Solstice Cuffs - Construction

The Winter Solstice Cuffs are knit conventionally (RS, WS) for the lace and beading section and are then knitted in the round on double-pointed needles for the stockinette stitch portion.  A crochet edging is added to the bound off edge, and a ribbon is woven through the last row of lace holes.

The initial edging is a bit tricky, and I needed to try it several times before I got it right.  The stitches naturally decrease from the original cast on count as you work the first several rows.

Winter Solstice Cuffs - Beading

So for the Winter Solstice Cuffs design, I've decided to pre-bead the yarn.  I've taken 2mm freshwater pearls and used a large eye beading needle (Deadalon Collapsible Eye Needle from AC Moore) to thread the Ornaghi Filati Superkid yarn.

The Box-Pleat Top is finished!!

... and I'm thrilled!  It turned out just the way I wanted.  Of course I had to knit and re-knit several sections to get things just right.  But in the end, I'm a happy camper.  The top is knitted with Stacy Charles Siam yarn.  Here are some photos:

Bathing Beauty Cloche - Short Row Shaping

I've used short row shaping to create the brim shape and open ripple design of the navy blue lines.

In order to reduce the separation of stitches on short rows, the following technique is used:

1. After turning the work in order to knit in the other direction, slip one stitch from the right hand needle to the left hand needle.

2. Wrap yarn around to the back.

3. Place slipped stitch back onto the right hand needle.

Box-Pleat Top - Beading

I've been working with beads on the Box-Pleat Top, using 6x4 Czech Glass Faceted Large Hole Roller Beads that I bought at a local bead store.  Knitting with beads is fun and easy once you get started.  When knitting with beads, you can either string all of the beads on the yarn before you start your project, or you can add the beads to the yarn as you go using a crochet hook.  For the Box-Pleat Top, I have employed the second method.

Here are some photographs of the process I've used for placing beads on the Box-Pleat Top:

1) place one bead on a crochet hook and use the crochet hook to remove one loop on the left hand needle.

2) slide the bead from the crochet hook onto the loop. 

3) replace the loop onto the left hand needle. 

4) knit the loop.