Knitting Daily : Scarf Knitting Patterns

Knitting for Dad

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 29 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

I think I knit my dad five hats in the last two years, all from the same pattern. He likes super bulky, tightly knit, stockinette hats with a two-inch ribbed brim. And he likes them longer than normal so they cover his ears. He wears them out! Or he accidentally felts them . . . But they're so quick to knit that I can just whip up a new one in an evening.

For Father's Day, I think I'll knit him three of them, which should be at least one winter's supply!

Are you knitting for your dad for Father's Day? If so, it's time to get started. Knitting for men can be a bit of a challenge. Are they pickier than the gals, or is it just me? Anyway, here are some suggestions for things he'll (probably) like:


		Fitz Fingerless Mitts By Catherine Shields These mitts are attractive, but more importantly for Dad, useful. The Fitz Mitts are knit from a sturdy wool yarn so they look great and last forever, whether Dad is working outdoors or taking the dog for a walk.

		The Frost Hat By Ashley Rao Everyone loves a little surprise! Knit this hat and use Dad's favorite color for the contrasting facing. The all-over cable pattern is fun to knit and the double-layer brim will keep Dad's ears toasty-warm.
Three for the Road by The Knits Staff Are you feeling ambitious? If so, knit Dad a set of winter accessories for Father's Day! This pattern includes three projects: a roll-brim hat, a pair of fingerless mitts, and a lovely cabled scarf. You can whip out the hat and mitts in a couple of evenings; the scarf will take an average knitter two to three weeks of evening knitting, but since Father's Day is just over three weeks away, you've got time. Plus Three for the Road is on sale for only a buck, so get it while you can!
Whitman Cap By Kristen TenDyke Does your dad have a funky style? Indulge him with this earflap hat! Begin with the earflaps and work your way through Fair Isle snowflakes. Choose Dad's favorite colors and this is sure to be a winner.

The Whitman Cap is so cool. I wonder if I could push my dad a little out of his comfort zone and introduce a little funky-cool into his wardrobe. An accessory is the perfect way to try something new style-wise, so maybe I'll include the Whitman in Dad's hat package. Who knows? He might love it.

Download one of these patterns for your Dad, and cast on. He'll love that you made something for him, for sure. And if none of these designs say "That's my dad!" to you, we have more to choose from!

Cheers,

P.S. Do you have a go-to pattern for your dad? Tell us about it in the comments!

For the Graduate

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Every year when graduation time rolls around I can't believe these little babies I've known since day one are graduating from high school (or college!).

When I graduated, I got lots of checks, which was great, but I also got a handknitted blanket. I still have that blanket, and every time I see it, I remember so fondly the great-aunt who knitted it for me.

So I send a check to my graduates, but I like to include a little knitted goodie as well. I haven't knitted a blanket for anyone yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. Here are some ideas for knitted gifts for the graduate in your life:


		Plein Air Tote By Amanda Scheuzger Every girl needs an oversized tote, and this one is really special. Counterpane cables make up the sides of this knitted tote. The bag features a dense knit in a blend of llama/wool yarn, great structure, a fabric lining, and leather handles. It's perfect for carrying large, heavy objects—like school books! Knit this for a high-school grad, and she'll be the envy of all of her college buddies with their boring backpacks.

Professor Jackson's Scarf By Ivete Tecedor A blown up houndstooth pattern is classic made modern in this knitted scarf. It's also the perfect customizable gift. Make it in your grad's college colors and he'll wear it constantly! It's fun to knit, too—you'll want to keep going to see the pattern emerge. The stranded colorwork scarf is knit as a tube with seamed ends so there's no messy wrong side.

		Saffron Cables By Kathy Zimmerman Wrap your grad in a giant hug with this beautiful knitted afghan. Kathy scaled her striking arrangement of cable crossings to the generous proportions of this cozy blanket. Ropelike strands weave in and out on a background of reverse stockinette stitch, and seed stitch forms a deep border around the edges. A cushy blend of wool and alpaca will keep your grad warm on chilly mornings. This one would be great in school colors, too!

Friday Slippers By Kristen TenDyke These slippers are super-fast knits. They're unisex and easy to size, too, so you can knit a pair for all of the grads on your list. Short-rows shape the instep and the button closure keeps the slippers snugly on the feet! Recipients will love these cozy slippers.

I hope you'll knit one of these fantastic projects for the graduates in your life. There are lots more projects in the Knitting Daily Shop, too.

Cheers,

P.S. What was your favorite graduation gift that you gave or received? Share it with us in the comments!

Knitted Shawls and How to Wear Them

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT


	Basilica, draped in front

	Euclid, side wrapped

I've worked lots of scarf knitting patterns and several large wraps, but I've only knit a couple of shawls. As much as I like them, I just haven't been able to incorporate them into my everyday wardrobe. I have a friend who knits amazingly intricate lace shawls. I asked her where she wore them and she said, "Oh, wherever. Albertson's, mostly." I love this attitude, though I don't have the chutzpah to pull it off.

In her new book, Free-Spirit Shawls, Lisa Shroyer shared some advice about actually wearing the knitted shawls, which really opened my eyes to the possibilities!

Wearing Your Shawl

Let's talk about style. Many knitters enjoy knitting shawls but aren't quite sure how best to show them off. There are so many possible ways to wear your shawl, and it can be fun to experiment.


Lindsay, side knotted

Mineral, front knotted

For smaller shawls: A shawl about 26" (66 cm) across the top edge makes a great kerchief. Simply hang the point in front and wrap the ends around the neck, knotting them in place—or bring the ends forward after wrapping them around the neck. Small and medium-sized shawls can also be wrapped around the shoulders off-center, so that the opening hits near the front of the shoulder. Knot the ends there or pin with a brooch.

For delicate lace or larger-sized shawls: Think about ensemble. A large "traditional" looking shawl doesn't have to look frumpy if you pair it with fresh styles and remember that it's an accessory. Use these shawls as part of your look—go Boho with torn denim, big jewelry, and flowy fabrics, or go dress-up with a slinky dress and dramatic earrings. A lace shawl can always be bundled and looped around the neck like a scarf. Though you won't see all the detail, the effect can still be striking.

Of course, almost all shawls can be worn traditionally, with the deepest part of the center straight down the back and the ends draped in front. You can wear sweet little semicircles and crescents this way and look very stylish today. Top a strapless dress with one and you have instant romance.

Some shawl designs lend themselves to a tougher, more urban aesthetic. Tuck a bold little shawl into the collar of a coat or leather jacket, bundle it like a cowl, grab your sunglasses, and you're ready for the city. Long, narrow shawls can be worn like scarves, slung around the neck, or wrapped and tied.

—Lisa Shroyer, Free-Spirit Shawls

Knitted shawls are so beautiful. And, as you can see, they come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns, and you can use any yarn you like. Pre-order Free-Spirit Shawls today so you can start knitting up some wonderful accessories as soon as the book comes out in April!

Cheers,

P.S. How do you wear your knit shawls? Leave a comment and let us know!

Our Facebook Contest Winners!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:07:00 GMT


	Morgana Scarf from Juey Yarn

Congratulations to Debbie Askegran of Boulder, Colorado for winning our Grand Prize!

Debbie will be getting the Morgana Scarf knitting kit from Juey Yarns.

We have more winners, too. The following people have won magazine packs from Interweave!


Geraldine Scott Tamara Shelley Adele L. Hoppe Sara Oldenburg Karey Westfall		Judy Modica Kris Orona Adirane Gelatt Linda Lindsay Stephanie Bergeron

Thanks for being such wonderful (and lucky!) fans!

Cheers,

Lady Eleanor, I Presume?

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT


	Lady Eleanor by Kathleen Powers Johnson, from Scarf Style

One of my Knitter's Resolutions this year is to work with different stitch patterns. Kathleen Power Johnson's Lady Eleanor, from the book Scarf Style, has been on my list for years, and I think it'll finally make its appearance in 2013.

It's my birthday today, and I think I'm going to give myself a gift in the form of yarn for Lady E!

Lady Eleanor (shown at right) is one of those scarf knitting patterns that combines a stitch pattern with its perfect yarn. The woven look of entrelac shows off the beautiful colors of hand-dyed, self-striping yarn, breaking up the colors in such a pleasing manner. And I really love the long, knotted fringe; it's beautiful.

Knitting entrelac is easy once you get going. I've taken a couple of classes on this knitting technique and it's one of those stitch patterns that you don't want to stop knitting because you're dying to see what comes next. Check out Eunny Jang's free tutorial on knitting entrelac; you'll see how simple it really is.

Eunny also has a DVD workshop available, Entrelac Knitting, Basics and Beyond, which expands on the information presented in her free tutorial. It's a wonderful learning tool.

I hope you enjoy knitting entrelac. Maybe you'll want to knit Lady Eleanor with me!

Cheers,

P.S. Are you already an entrelac knitter? If you have any tips, leave a comment and share them with us.

Knit Scarves: 7 Free Patterns!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Scarves are a knitter's staple. They're wonderful gifts, fabulous stash-busters, and a fun way to work with new stitch patterns and yarns.

The 7 patterns in our new free eBook, Knitting Scarves for all Seasons: 7 Free Scarf Knitting Patterns, offer a range of difficulty from easy scarf knitting patterns to challenging (and fun!) patterns. I know you will find at least one knit scarf pattern, most likely two or three, that will strike your fancy!

1. Spiral Scarf; 2. Rittenhouse Scarf; 3. Wavy Orange Scarf; 4. Modern Quilt Wrap; 5. Juliet Scarf; 6. Blooming Cotton Scarf; 7. Building Block Scarves.

THE SPIRAL SCARF: Laura Bryant's Spiral Scarf appears to be in constant motion, giving the wearer a vibrant look even during one of the most exhausting times of the season.

THE RITTENHOUSE SCARF: Marilyn Murphy's Rittenhouse Scarf design is a fun, fast knit that is reversible! It's worked in single rib that grows into cables.

THE WAVY ORANGE SCARF: The Wavy Orange Scarf is a lace scarf pattern created by Rebecca L. Daniels. It is a version of the popular feather and fan stitch, knit lengthwise.

THE MODERN QUILT WRAP: If you're looking for colorful a colorful scarf, you've found it in Mags Kandis' Modern Quilt Wrap. Created square by square in the easy and satisfying mitered-square method of color knitting, it is a conversation starter at any event and one of our most popular knitted scarf patterns.

THE JULIET SCARF: Louisa Harding's design is a romantic lace scarf that's adorned with a little rosette brooch, pattern included!

THE BLOOMING COTTON SCARF: Challenge yourself with Eunny Jang's Blooming Cotton Scarf. This is color knitting at its best, a great knit for lifting your spirits during the wintertime.

BUILDING BLOCK SCARVES: Sarah Hoadle's Building Block Scarves pattern comes in two sizes. It's knit with mitered corners and a center graft line, worked in the round from the outside in.

Whichever scarf pattern you choose, you'll end up with an incredible designer accessories. I hope you enjoy these free knitted scarf patterns!

Cheers,

A Wonderful Weekend: Knitting Lab 2012

Kathleen Cubley — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Interweave Knitting Lab in San Mateo, CA. It was so much fun, meeting people and learning new things.

I attended three workshops: Basic Brioche, Two-Color Brioche (both with Nancy Marchant), and Roositude Inlay (with Nancy Bush). Here's what I made:



Basic Brioche swatch	Two-Color Brioche swatch	Roositude Inlay—A finished object!

I took a brioche-stitch workshop a few years ago, but I wanted to brush up on my skills. It's amazing how you loose a knitting technique when you don't practice it. In the Basic Brioche class, I felt like I was just learning to knit! But as I worked the stitch more and more, it started coming back. Nancy Marchand is the master of brioche stitch, and it was an honor to take classes from her. She's funny and very supportive of students, and she clearly loves the beautiful brioche stitch.

The two-color brioche class was really interesting and fun. Brioche stitch is unique in that it's easier to do in two colors because you can really see the stitches. In the two samples above, the stitches are the same at the bottom, but it's so much easier to see the knits (white) and the purls (blue) in the two-color version.

Nancy brought many beautiful, inspiring samples with her—I have a scarf on my list already.

Roositude Inlay is an Estonian technique where you embroider, for lack of a better term, as you knit. The technique is deceptively simple, and Nancy Bush is a treasure trove of information.

What you do to work the inlay is knit to the stitch where you want the inlay to start, bring the colored yarn to the front of the work, knit the number of stitches you need to cover with the inlay, and then bring the yarn to the back. That's it! You never knit with the colored yarn, you just cover stitches with it as you knit. I love it. I can see so many uses for this technique, from hats to baby knits.

Nancy knows so much about knitting, Estonian knitting especially, and she was very generous with her knowledge, sharing fascinating stories about her time in Estonia and showing beautiful pieces knit by herself and by Estonian knitters. It was a wonderful class, and I ended up with a finished object! The little case fits my iPhone perfectly.




	Muhu Gloves by Nancy Bush

I also had the joy of attending an evening presentation from June Hiatt, the author of The Principles of Knitting, a book that every knitter should have on his or her shelf. It's really the Bible of knitting, covering hundreds of knitting techniques, with commentary from master knitter, June. Years in the making, this book is absolutely invaluable.

The presentation was wonderful; it was really a conversation between Interweave founder Linda Ligon, June, and the audience members. June talked about what it took to develop both the first and second editions of the book; the second edition has just been released and it's 736 pages long! (And I think it weighs about 10 pounds.) It was fascinating listening to June talk about the history of the book and how she researched the material. No knitting-knowledge stone was left unturned for this definitive book. If you don't have it, get it.

There was also the trade show, of course, which took a lot of my money! But I came home with so much fabulous stuff! I bought four balls of fabulous Friea Handpainted Yarn and a cowl pattern, three skeins of Toots LeBlanc angora/merino and a hat and scarf pattern, a Jordana Paige bag, a striped cowl kit, and a hilarious ceramic coffee to-go cup that says "Give me my coffee, hand me my knitting, and slowly back away." Just how I feel in the morning!

I also got a kit to make the Muhu gloves on the cover of Knitting Traditions Fall 2012 (shown at right), designed by Nancy Bush. I saw these gloves in person in Nancy's class, and darn it, she wouldn't give them to me. So I'll just make my own.

Here's a bad (sorry!) photo of the trade show floor. It was hoppin'!

I loved every minute of Knitting Lab, but perhaps my favorite time was spent in the Knitting Daily Knitting Lounge just hanging out with other knitters. It was so much fun to meet friends I've only known online, to see their works in progress, hear about their knitting communities, and knit together. So good to meet you in person, friends!

So that's about it. What wonderful memories I made! I hope you'll have a chance to attend Interweave Knitting Lab next year. It'll be in San Mateo again, October 31 through November 3, 2013. I hope to see you there.

Cheers,

P.S. Did you go to Knitting Lab this year? How was it?

Wrapped Up in Scarves

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Most of us began our knitting careers with scarves. One of my first "real" projects was a simple garter stitch scarf, which I gave to a friend. She still wears it, almost ten years later. I cringe a tiny bit when I see her in it, but the rest of me is honored that she's loved it all these years.

I knitted so many scarves in my first couple of years as a knitter, and as my knitting skills improved, I advanced from scarves to hats, mittens, and finally sweaters. I had left scarves behind, only knitting them by very special request.

But I've been coming back around to scarf knitting. There are so many beautiful stitch patterns—cables, dropped stitches, lace—to explore and scarves are the perfect palette. Here are some of my favorite scarf patterns from the Knitting Daily Shop:


		A combination of fisherman's rib and welting makes for textural contrast in the Two Ribs Infinity Scarf. Susan Pierce Lawrence's piece is designed to be completely reversible, too. This is an infinity scar, which is knit in the round. It's about fifty-six inches in circumference, so you can wind it around your neck two or three times. Or be extra fashionable and wear it in one long loop!

		Inspired by Mercedes Tarasocich-Clark's love of the paper-pieced hexagons in quilting, the Sweet Hexagon Cowl is constructed of interlocking hexagons that are knitted in the round. Pieces are connected to each other using a combination of picked-up and cast-on stitches. I especially love the color combo in this scarf. There are four skeins of yarn used, two in buttery colors and two in lavenders. Lovely!

		Hannah Cuviello's Saxony Scarf is an attractive braided cable scarf that is reversible. Braided cables are simple to work, but pack a big design whallop! This design will make a dense, cuddly scarf. You can make this scarf in many different yarn weights, too, just do a gauge swatch to see how many repeats will be necessary to get the width you desire. Work the cable charts for as many repeats to make this scarf a customized length.

		Stephenie Gaustad's source of inspiration for the Variation Scarf was her love of things with frills, as diverse as exotic undersea creatures and flamenco dancers' skirts. Frills give the illusion of movement even when they are stock-still. The process of making the scarf is an adventure in three-dimensional knitting, too. These days, there are lots of patterns for ruffled scarves out there, but none as beautiful as this one (in my humble opinion!).

Get back into scarf knitting with one of these beautiful patterns!

Cheers,

Jane Austen Knits. Again!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT


	Soutache Spencer by Annie Modesitt

It happened again. I was innocently sitting on my couch at about 11 p.m., thinking that I needed to go to bed. "One more flip through the guide," I thought, and lo and behold, Sense and Sensibility. "Record it." I said to myself, so I did. I also sat there and watched it. I'm its prisoner, I tell you! I can not resist Jane Austen in any form.

The new issue of Jane Austen Knits is out, and you, like me, won't be able to put it down. Here's editor Amy Clarke Moore to tell you all about it!


Kellynch Tunic by Anne Podlesak, left, and Emma's Overdress by Heather Zoppetti, right

A Sensible Shawl by Celeste Young

Inspired by Jane

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest-there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved." —Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, Chapter XXIX.

As a lover of textiles, I'm really intrigued at how Jane Austen uses some of the details of dress to paint a portrait of her characters. She does it with such a subtle hand—at least for her modern readership.

Most likely her descriptions of clothing gave clearer hints and insights into lifestyles and situations of her characters to her contemporary readers. They would have known the steps involved in having a new dress made up for a ball, that owning a white muslin dress meant employing servants to keep it pristinely white, or that miles of lace on a gown equated to wealth and connections during times when supplies were limited by war.

" ‘Oh my dear,' continued Mrs. Bennet, ‘I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst's gown . . .' " —Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Chapter III.

Though I imagine that Jane Austen had Mrs. Bennet exclaiming about the lace on Mrs. Hurst's gown to illustrate the former's shallow nature (as well as the wealth of the latter, for that matter), I would really love the opportunity to examine that lace in detail.

I try to visualize what it must have looked like—perhaps it was intricate handmade bobbin lace from handspun linen. Even Jane Austen, busy with her writing, took time to contemplate lace as more than a literary device. She drew a simple line drawing in a letter to her sister, Cassandra, illustrating a bit of lace that appears on her cloak.


	A Sensible Shawl, back view

With this, our third special issue of Jane Austen Knits (and with issues four and five in the works), we've been able to delve into these questions concerning textiles from the Regency era. In fact, as we asked questions such as "What kind of knitting yarn would Jane Austen have encountered?" or "How did Regency-era ladies learn about fashion trends?" more questions arose than were answered, leading to ideas for articles in future issues.

It is as if we've been tending a garden—small, but abundant in color and heavenly scents. Each time we move a bulb, we discover more bulbs emerging.

Join me in discovering more beautiful blossoms—download a digital copy of Jane Austen Knits today, or pre-order the printed edition!

Happy knitting,

Happy 4th of July! Celebrate with three free patterns!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Let's hear it for the red, white, and blue. Here are three free knitting patterns in those colors to help you celebrate our great country today.



RED: Rivulet Scarf	WHITE: Tabard Vest	Blue: Shauna Sweater

Download all three patterns for the perfect red, white, and blue knitted collection!

Cheers,

A Knitted Cowl: The new go-to accessory

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:00:00 GMT

It seems like cowls are everywhere today, in stores and on the needles. I can see why they're popular—they're useful, quick to knit, and they're often one-skein wonders. A knitting trifecta if I've ever seen one.

Knitted cowls can be real stash-buster patterns, too. One of my friends used to own a yarn shop, and she has more yarn than she knows what to do with. She decided to use up some of her onsies and twosies knitting cowls. She knit one a month, mostly in just stockinette with garter-stitch edging. She used an easy knitting pattern that she developed using her gauge swatch.

She was working with Aran-weight yarn, getting 4 stitches to the inch. She wanted her cowl to be about 22 inches around, so she cast on 88 stitches. She knit (in the round) six rows of garter stitch, about eight inches of stockinette stitch, six more rows of garter stitch, and then she bound off. Voila! A cowl.

Want more? Check out these designs:



Nederland Circle Scarf by Cecily Glowik MacDonald		The Surface Breeze Cowl by Courtney Kelley


The Shadow Rib Cowl by Amy Polcyn		The Midtown Cowl by Jenny Williams

Cute, eh? I knitted the Midtown Cowl as a Christmas gift, and it's absolutely stunning. The recipient said that she'd seen knit cowls like that at Nordstrom, but not as beautiful.

Download one of these patterns (or one of our many other cowl patterns) today—they're all on sale!

Cheers,

I can't stop thinking about Domino Knitting!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT


Knit a Domino Square Potholder in just one evening! (Patterns from Domino Knitting by Vivian Høxbro)

Ever since I watched the Knitting Daily Workshop, Domino Knitting with Vivian Høxbro, I've gotten really interested in learning how to knit mitered squares and figuring out how to put them together to make more things.

Vivian is the queen of what she calls "domino knitting," aptly named because the squares fit together like dominoes to make all kinds of knitted objects. And everything starts with one simple square!

My interest started in earnest when I first featured domino knitting in January, and I've been thinking about it on and off ever since. I figured I'd do something small to get me going and I found the simple potholder pattern in Vivian's book, Domino Knitting. It's knitted with just one square, and it's a large one so you really get the feel for the process.

Instructions for knitting smaller square are below right; the potholder has more stitches, but the technique is the same.

Domino Square Potholder

Measurements: 7.5" x 7.5" (19 x 19 cm) without border, 8" x 8" (20 x 20 cm) with border
Yarn: DK weight cotton yarn
Colors: Purple, fuchsia, and violet.
Needles: Dn 4 (3.5 mm). Circular needle 4 (3.5 mm) for the border.

Abbreviations
K-CO: knitted cast-on
dn: domino needle (see sidebar below)


	How to Knit a Basic Domino Square Using the knitted cast-on, CO 25 stitches. Row 1 (WS): Knit to the last st, p1. Mark the center three stitches. Row 2 (RS): (Note: The yarn tail hangs at the right side.) Sl 1 kwise, knit to marker before center 3 sts (=k10), sl 1 kwise, k2tog, psso, knit to the last st (= 10sts), p1 (=23 sts). Row 3 and all WS rows: Sl 1 kwise, knit to last st, end p1. Row 4: Sl 1 kwise, knit to marker before center 3 sts (= k9), sl 1, k2tog, psso, knit to last st (= k9), end p1 (= 21 sts). Row 6: Sl 1 kwise, knit to marker before center 3 sts (= k89), sl 1, k2tog, psso, knit to last st (= k8), end p1 (= 19 sts). Row 8: Sl 1 kwise, knit to marker before center 3 sts (= k7), sl 1, k2tog, psso, knit to last st (= k7), end p1 (= 17 sts). Continue in this manner until 3 sts remain. Next row (WS): Sl 1 kwise, k1, p1. Next row: Sl 1, k2tog, psso (= 1st) This is a live stitch that you will use when you knit the next square.

K-CO 75 stitch on dn and knit a square (see instructions above) with 9 purple ridges, 1 fuchsia, 1 purple, 10 fuchsia, 1 violet, 1 fuchsia, ridge and the rest with violet. When 3 stitches remain, knit a 2¾" (7 cm) long strip for the loop. Turn the loop to the wrong side and sew it down neatly.

Knitted "Mouse Teeth" Picot
With circular needle, purple yarn, and right side facing, pick up and knit 75-76 stitches in the stitches of the CO row. Knit 1 row.
New row: *Using the first stitch on the needle as the beginning stitch, K-CO 2 new stitches, BO 4 stitches, move the stitches on the right needle to the left needle*; repeat *-*. Cut yarn and pull tail through last stitch.

Domino Needles (Dn)
According to Vivian Høxbro, "A pair of domino needles is absolutely indispensable. The needles are only about 8" (20 cm) long, with a knob on one end so that the needle ends won't get stuck in your clothes or your knitting."

I agree, knitting small pieces is easier if you use short needles! You can buy short needles if you want to, or simply place a point protector on a pair of double-pointed needles and use those. Double-pointed, bouble-duty! When you need to return the needles to their set, just take the point protectors off and you're good to go. I use DPNs all the time when I'm knitting scarves or baby clothes.

You could also use circular needles; I'd recommend 24-inch-long needles because 16-inch circulars are too short to comfortably work with and a cable longer than 24 inches can be awkward when you're turning your work all the time.

Another reason that short needles are great in this type of knitting is because you use less movement when you're turning the work, which is a good thing and helps avoid repetitive motion injuries.

I hope you'll try this fun, quick, and useful project, and then go deeper into how to knit the domino technique with Vivian's DVD workshop Domino Knitting with Vivian Høxbro; it's on sale, too!

Cheers,

More Fun with Garter Stitch!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The Summer 2011 issue of Knitscene featured an article by one of my favorite designers, Stephen West. I just bought his Spectra Scarf pattern, which is a circular scarf knit from a ball of self-striping sock yarn and a coordinating solid sock yarn. One of my knit-night buddies worked it up and it's just beautiful.



Striped Square Swatch

Intarsia Swatch

Curved Arch

Crescent-Shaped Swatch

Stephen loves garter stitch and he includes it as a design feature in many of his patterns; sometimes it forms the basis of the pattern and sometimes it's a design feature.

Here's an excerpt from Steven's Knitscene article, where he talks about garter stitch and its versatility.

Swatch Play: Garter Stitch

My first knitting project was a scarf-a radiant masterpiece, or rather a bright blue, acrylic, lopsided piece of fabric. As I worked on my masterpiece, I became familiar with the knit stitch, but as a beginner, I didn't appreciate the satisfaction of knitting every row. I quickly transitioned to new skills like purling, Fair Isle, and lace. In fact, I used to love purling so much that I modified all sock, hat, and sweater patterns so I could work them inside out, purling every round! Now as a more experienced knitter, I find myself constantly coming back to garter stitch.

The Swatches
The striped square swatch is a classic example of simple colorwork. It's easy to let the mind wander while inserting random stripes and blocks of color while knitting each row. Note that it takes two rows of one color in garter stitch to make a complete stripe. The blue/gray rectangle shows off basic intarsia, another fun technique to explore in garter.

Manipulating the fabric into different shapes with increases and decreases provides endless entertainment, as demonstrated in the solid triangle and parallelogram. The knit front-back (k1f&b) increase is perfect for garter stitch because it looks great on both sides, and the garter ridges hide the little purl bump formed by the increase.

A curved arch is achieved in the solid yellow crescent with short-row shaping. I'm drawn to clear graphic lines, and this short-row swatch really demonstrates the harmony achieved by the distribution of purl ridges.

The graphic effect is enhanced in the blue/gray crescent-shaped swatch. This example is a little combination platter of techniques, with the blue segments worked in intarsia while their sliced shape results from short-row shaping. Increases and decreases along one side add to the fabric's shape to create a scalloped edge.



Triangle Swatch		Parallelogram Swatch

It's times like these when I am most grateful for good ol' garter stitch—using colorwork and shaping techniques at the same time is much easier when you know that each stitch in every row is a knit stitch.

We knitters are fortunate to have so many yarn companies and indie dyers to supply us with stunning yarns. I often find it difficult to conceptualize a design for a special yarn; but whenever I find myself wondering what to do with that one skein, I know that a garter stitch swatch is the best place to start. It puts the focus back on the beautiful yarn.

Then, I can apply whichever techniques I want to explore within garter stitch. All it takes is a little dose of creativity to make this handsome textural fabric into something completely unique and pleasurable.

—Stephen West, from the Summer 2011 issue of Knitscene


	The Figurehead Shawl

Are you loving garter stitch again? Check out this pattern from Knitscene: The Figurehead Shawl by Alexis Winslow, shown at right. The kerchief-style shawl is worked in garter stitch in two-color stripes and finished with a scalloped edge. There's a button closure at the edge of the kerchief so it can be worn snug like a cowl. It can be worn with the kerchief point at the front (as shown in the photo) or at the back. Super cute and an easy knitting pattern, too.

Check out all of the fabulous garter-stitch designs (and the other groovy knitting patterns for women!) in the Knitscene 2011 Collection CD, available now.

Cheers,

Ruffles: The perfect birthday treat

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT


	Angora from my stash: Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit

It's my birthday today and I feel like a little something girly. Ruffled angora scarf? Yes, please!

I have a skein of Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit in my stash and I've been looking for the perfect pattern to show it off. It's the most beautiful pinkish-red; I got it on a yarn crawl in Portland, Oregon a couple of years ago and every time I visit it my stash I'm sad to see it still in the skein and not knit up into a beautiful, fluffy knitted accessory.

Laura Bryant and Barry Klein from Trendsetter Yarns filmed a segment on Knitting Daily TV about how to knit ruffles, and Laura's Ruffled Scarf is a beautiful, feminine scarf that seems custom-made for my yarn.

The pattern is deceptively simple, too. You start by increasing in every stitch in the first row, in most of the stitches in the second row, and then you knit several rows straight.

Then you pick up stitches in the cast-on row and repeat the process. The resulting poof of ruffles is so lovely, especially in angora.


Ruffled Scarves by Laura Bryant of Trendsetter Yarn

My Peter Rabbit is slightly finer than the Trendsetter Angora that the pattern calls for, so I'll either run it with a sport weight yarn, decide to have a smaller scarf, or cast on more stitches to make it longer and knit more straight rows on each side to make it wider.

Angora is one of those polarizing fibers; people seem to love it or hate it. There are some drawbacks to angora, for sure, like how it can shed and make you sneeze (and cover your clothes with fibers!) but it's also so soft you can barely feel it! It whispers along the skin, providing softness, warmth, and coziness. I, for one, love it.

As my birthday gift to you, here's the Ruffled Scarf Pattern, for free! This scarf would look beautiful in just about any yarn, too, so don't hesitate to try it if you don't have angora on hand. Just check your stash for a yarn that knits up on size ten needles; a variegated yarn would be beautiful.

And in cast you haven't heard, there's a new season of Knitting Daily TV coming up! Here's a preview of the first episode, Needle Art Trends.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

It's going to be a fun season! Check your local PBS listings to see when Knitting Daily TV airs in your area, or if you're chomping at the bit, buy the entire season on DVD now! As you can see from the preview, the new season is full of wonderful stuff! Learn how to knit all kinds new patterns and use new techniques. I can't wait!

Cheers,

My Winter of Knitted Hats

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT


The hat from the Three for the Road ePattern for men

I think I've knitted five hats in the last month, with two more to go—including the Welted Toque for my sister, who's home now and keeps saying, "Hey, where's my toque?!?

I did give her a couple of my old handknitted hats to tide her over, lest you think I'm letting my beloved sister walk around with a cold head!

My Christmas knitting has taken precedence, and I still haven't started on an R2D2 hat from my nephew, so I actually have three to go! Good luck to me.

I got the classic "Hey, my buddy loves my hat. Can you knit him one?" from my brother, so I need to get a hat on the needles ASAP because I have to get that package in the mail. I've chosen a simple hat that's part of the Three for the Road collection for men: a scarf, hat, and mitt trio.

I love the scarf pattern, but I only have time for the hat.

I need to look in my stash for some yarn for this project; I'm sure I have some. Be right back . . .


	Lamb's Pride Worsted in Sable. Pretty!

Found some: Lamb's Pride Worsted in color Sable—see the photo at right; isn't it pretty? I think it's perfect for a man's hat. It's a darkish neutral with some variegation, too. I love variegated yarn and I love brown, so this is—you guessed it—perfect!

This is a really easy knit hat pattern with an interesting construction: top down. A top-down hat is a great idea because, just like top-down sweaters, you can try on the hat to make sure it'll be long enough. I hate it when I knit a hat and I have to keep pulling it down over my ears!

I usually don't knit roll brim hats because they're too loose at the brim and they don't stay snug. I'm going to try something with this hat, though. I'm going to knit to where I want the brim to start and then switch to a size (or two) smaller needle and finish the brim so it's a little tighter than the bottom of the hat. Or, maybe I'll add a ribbed brim. We'll see.

Join me in my winter of knitted hats! Download the Three for the Road pattern (or another hat pattern!) today and cast on.

Cheers,

P.S. Are you knitting hats for Christmas this year? Which patterns are you using?