Fantasy Queue: Summer 2011 Interweave Knits

May 18, 2011May 18, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

I received my Summer 2011 issue of Interweave Knits a few weeks ago, and although I read it right away, I’m only just now getting around to making up my fantasy queue. Let’s make this interactive though — tell me true, dear reader, which pattern would you make from this issue, and out of what yarn?

Things I want to try (from articles and ads):

Addi Turbo “Natura” tips — bamboo Addis? I did not know such a thing existed!
Lion Brand “Wool Stainless Steel” fiber — sounds really fun and interesting.
Square needles — everyone keeps talking about them, so I must try them.
“Fern” by Universal Yarns — the “TARDIS” pattern on a pullover, cool!

#1 — Torch Lily Tee (p.36)

I like the collar detail, and tiered columns of lace on this deceptively-simple tee. I’m also intrigued by the suggested yarn — 100% silk, worsted weight, but tweedy? Heichi sounds really cool. If I had money to burn, I’d go ahead and get some Heichi in “Fountain.” More realistically, I think I’d try swatching in Shine Worsted (maybe “Platinum”?) and see if I liked the effect.

#2 — Dockside Cardigan (p.75)

I love the gentle curve of this slip-on cardi. I know I’d probably die from knitting the lo-o-o-o-ng ribbed edging (twice!), but it would definitely be worth it to have this pretty and useful item in my wardrobe. This begs to be made from KP’s Stroll Tonal sock yarn — I’d hem and haw and then go with “Thunderhead” (my favorite of the new Tonal colorways).

#3 — Swirl Skirt (p.76)

Let’s pretend for a moment that I could pull off wearing this skirt … it is SO cool. Such nifty construction: bias! short rows! Cotton yarn and wool yarn in the same project! Cats and dogs, living together!With all that going on, I’d stick with the recommended yarn (and swatch like a crazy person).

#4 — Cumulus Tee (p.78)

This simple tee is designed to show off the amazing leaf edging, and it does its job well. I’d probably go with Cotlin is “Loden.”

FO Friday: Happy Feet DK Child’s Sweater

May 13, 2011May 13, 2011remilyknits 1 Comment

This week I’m featuring another of my pattern sample projects for Plymouth Yarns: a child’s sweater made from DK-weight sock yarn. The professional model is an adorable blond girl … but of course before I sent it out I had to take a home-photo on my slightly-too-large youngest boy — he was cooperative, if slightly silly. Please ignore his desperate need for a haircut!

Project: Happy Feet Sample Knit

Pattern: Cabled Sweater

Designer: Plymouth Yarn Design Stuido

Available: ask your LYS

Yarn: Happy Feet DK (color 61)

This was a fast & easy project — basic shaping and making-up, and the all-over cabled rib pattern looks great and is fun to knit. I’m a huge fan of Happy Feet DK, but you MUST wash & block a swatch with this yarn — it opens up and softens considerably with washing. Before washing and blocking the sweater, the fabric was tight and hard — almost crunchy. After washing and blocking, it was soft and had a nice give, lovely to touch.

New Pattern Release: Katydid Drop Everything Scarf

May 10, 2011remilyknits 4 Comments

Introducing my latest pattern: Drop Everything! This dropped-stitch scarf is knit on large needles with ribbon-style yarn, so it works up very quickly. This pattern was designed especially for Classice Elite Yarn‘s free weekly web-letter.

Pattern: Katydid Drop Everything Scarf

Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)

Available: free at Classic Elite!

Yarn: Classic Elite Katydid

Inspiration: When I’m working on a new design, usually I have some idea what I want it to look like long before I settle on a specific yarn. Often the yarn informs the design, telling me as I knit swatches and prototypes what it wants to be. The finished pattern is very rarely exactly what I started out with in my mind.

But for this scarf, the process worked in reverse on all counts. I began by fondling the soft ribbony goodness of Katydid at a local Knit Night with my friends. I knew the yarn’s unique flat nature could be hidden by knitting it tightly enough, but I didn’t want to hide it – I wanted to show it off!

The final version of the Drop Everything scarf jumped into my mind fully formed: alternating sections of large horizontal drop stitches between rows of garter stitch, and vertical drop stitches between columns of stockinette. Worked on large needles, the scarf would be a quick, fun knit that should appeal to experienced knitters and beginners alike.

As I worked up the sample in a stunning orange, I didn’t change a thing from the original plan. The finished scarf has beautiful drape and is lightweight. Make it in bright colors for the perfect spring accessory!

Design/Skills Needed: Drop Everything is worked flat. The horizontal dropped stitches are created with extra yarn-overs (dropped on the next row); the vertical dropped stitches are laddered down from the top of each section. If you can knit and purl and are ready to try something a little extra, this scarf is within your skill set.

I would be delighted to answer any questions or help any knitters working on this project.

Ravelry Monday: Catkin, Lavandula, Spring Cloud

May 2, 2011May 2, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

First Pick: Catkin, by Carina Spencer ($7.00)

I love the clever construction and colorwork on this cozy shawl. The first version has bold autumnal colors that really pop. The second version shows how a subtle color choice can make a very different finished object — I love both. The colorwork at the hem is done with slipped stitches, so it is much more accessible to knitters who fear Fair Isle colorwork.

Second Pick: Lavandula, by Mia Rinde ($6.00)

There will always be more lace shawls out there that I want to knit, and this one just got bumped to the top of my “to do” list. I love the wide swaths of stocikinette (great for showing off some multi-colored yarn!), but what really got me is the 4-lobed hem edge — love it!

Third Pick: Spring Cloud, by Sachiko Uemura (FREE!)

For my last pick this Monday, I bring you this simple, elegant use of two yarns. The body is worked with a fingering-weight yarn held together with a lace-weight mohair yarn, and the feather-light cowl is worked with the lace yarn alone. It floats above the top like a separate cowl, but it matches and drapes perfectly.

Test Knitters Needed: Clewe Cowl

April 27, 2011April 26, 2011remilyknits 4 Comments

Last week I sent off the sample knit for my very first sweater design. It won’t be out for several months (at least), so I can’t share photos … but let’s just say I’m VERY happy with how it turned out, and I have high hopes that knitters everywhere will love it to pieces.

This week I’m working on two smaller projects: möbius cowls. The first pattern is done and ready for testing. Dear reader, do you have 4-5 hours to spare in the next two weeks, and a deep desire for your very own möbius cowl? Then this project is for you! I’ll email you a test version of the pattern, you supply the yarn and mad knitting skillz. You get to keep your finished object, and earn my undying gratitude ;).

Clewe: A Mobius Cowl

Design details: This cowl is knit from a true möbius cast-on. The two-sided staggered rib pattern is comprised simple knit and purl stitches. Made with chunky yarn on large needles, this is a fast and easy knit, once the cast-on has been conquered.

The pattern was designed to resemble the Minotaur’s Labyrinth. Like the hero Theseus, knitters follow their own “clew” (ball of yarn) to escape the Labyrinth. This cowl was designed especially for the Granite State Knit-In XX at Loon Mountain.

Craft: knitting
Number of Testers: 3-4
Sizes: one size fits most; appx 20” around and 4.5” wide
Approximate Hours to Complete: 4-5 hours
Deadline: Tues, May 10th (some flexibility)
Tools needed: size #10 circs (32”)
Gauge: 14 sts/28 rows = 4” in Labyrinth pattern
Material needed: about 70 yards of bulky yarn (prototype took just over half of the 100-g skein)
Pattern Difficulty: intermediate; skills needed include knit, purl, mobius cast-on, knitting on circs
Formats Available: PDF
Pattern Style: charted pattern with full written instructions

Testing needs: Check pattern for ease of understanding; error check Labyrinth Pattern (both chart and written version)

Ravelry Monday: Caffeinate, My Heaven, and Pull Capriate

April 25, 2011April 25, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

First Pick: Caffeinate! Press Style Coffee Maker Cozy, by Coryna Blasko (FREE!)

Um, hooray! What a great way to brighten my day! Anything Doctor Who is awesome, and this Dalek-inspired cozy is extra awesome. It makes me want to buy a coffee press just so I can make a cozy for it.

Second Pick: My Heaven, by Patusha (FREE!)

Oh My Heaven, that’s some pretty lace! Check out blog for Patusha’s Knitting Club for free, beautifully formatting charts and pattern. As of right now, the pattern is available is … some language that uses a different alphabet (but the English version is coming soon). Experienced lace knitters know that all we really need is the cast on and the charts! 🙂

Third Pick: Pull Capriate, by Carole de Marne (in a book, in French)

I’m just charmed by this knit — even though the pattern book is in French, and even getting the book seems to require speaking French … if I had a little girl who’d wear it, I’d totally learn French :).

FO Friday: Vita Vest

April 22, 2011remilyknits 3 Comments

Last fall I started something new-to-me: sample knitting for another designer. Since then I’ve completed perhaps half a dozen projects for a staff designer at Plymouth Yarns. I really enjoy the challenge of knitting from a new pattern and working on a time table, even though sometimes the deadlines can be a little stressful. Working closely with an experienced knitwear designer has been educational and fun too. Best of all, this is paid work — the rate varies depending on the complexity of the pattern, but it is enough to make it worth my time.

The hard part, like anything associated with designing, is waiting to talk about it! Today I can share photos of my 2nd project with Plymouth: the Vita Vest.

Project: Vita Vest

Pattern: Vest 2045

Designer: Plymouth Yarn Design Stuido

Available: ask your LYS

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Vita (color 751)

This was a cute little project — a simple pieced vest with all-over moss stitch. I liked the interesting shape as the hem curved up to mean the V-neck at a single button. The Vita yarn was a pleasure to work with: soft and drapey.

Join The 2011 AMS KAL! (All The Cool Kids Are Doing It)

April 20, 2011April 20, 2011remilyknits 1 Comment

Two years ago, I was relatively new to lace knitting. In fact I had only one large lace-weight project to my name: my Cobweb Lace Stole. Finishing that project took almost an entire year (including large spells of languishing unattended, of course). The result was well worth it. I love the finished product and wear it all the time. It could use a good wash & block, but it has held up well otherwise.

Right around the time I was finishing the stole, I heard about a free lace knit-a-long offered by Goddess Knits (aka Renne Leverington). The thought of finishing a shawl all by myself was terrifying, but a knit-a-long seemed much more do-able. Weekly “clues” with just a little knitting in each, with a whole group of people working the same pattern at the same time–perfect! I signed up for the 2009 Anniversary Mystery Shawl Knit-a-long (AMS KAL) and completed my first lace shawl: Ultramarine (pattern: Victorian Romance).

The final clues took me a lot longer than a week, but I was still done by mid-July. I found out after the fact that I blocked the edge “wrong” (smooth instead of points), but I still loved it. The Faroese shape makes it easy to wear, both draped and tied.

The 2010 AMS KAL was a pi shawl, with four pattern choices at each tier. I took a risk and used a tonal colorway: Queen Anne (pattern: Mandala II). I think the results are stunning.

Clues 1 & 2 (choices A and D):

Clues 3 & 4 (choices D and D):

I finished the whole thing by the 1st of June — my fastest lace knit to date:

All this brings us up to the present day, where a growing group of knitters are eagerly waiting for the first clue in the 2011 AMS KAL. The start date is May 7th, but people are already swatching and chatting on the Yahoo Group. It’s FREE! to join, but you absolutely must join before the start date in order to participate. I believe Renee has about half a dozen of her own hand-dyed yarn still available, but you are not required to use her yarn of course. The pattern will be a half-hexagon, and uses about 1300 yards of lace-weight yarn worked on #4 or #5 needles.

Here’s my yarn! Jaggerspun Zephyr in Blueberry … my first time knitting from a cone.

I was wondering if I should re-wind it, but a friend encouraged me to try knitting from the cone directly. The yarn feels HARD and inelastic on the cone, but the swatch came out beautifully, so I think I can safely skip the re-wind.

So, you know you want to join in the fun, right? There are new lace knitters (like me in 2009) and experienced ones too (ahem, me in 2011). If you have never done a KAL before, you are in for a treat–it is so much fun to have a group to knit with. This year I’m blessed with a physical group in addition to the virtual one–so far three knitters in my twice-weekly knitting group have decided to give it a try!

Ravelry Monday: Cascade Kid Seta Cardigan, Forgotten Garden Shawl, Ballycastle Tam

April 18, 2011April 17, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

First Pick: Cascade Kid Seta Cardigan, by Marelie Hurter (FREE!)

Frothy, drapey, pretty … and very, very simple. Made in laceweight yarn on big needles, the finished cardi should be lightweight and warmer than you’d expect … just the thing for spring. What really sells me on it though is that it reminds me of Annie’s cardi (the ghost in “Being Human”). This one made in into my queue! I think I’ll use something browny-grey?

Second Pick: Forgotten Garden Shawl, by Rose Beck ($5.00)

This elegant geometric shawl evokes formal gardens: box hedges and well-tended rosebushes in measured rows. I think I’d go with green or maybe shocking pink.

Third Pick: Ballycastle Tam, by Anne Podlesak ($5.50)

I love the subtle shading and simple pattern to show off the beauty of natural wool. Gorgeous. I’d be tempted to use my usual palette of blue/green/purple, but I hope I’d have the strength to stick to the lovely colors provided by the sheep themselves.

FO Friday: Coats for Gizmo and Golly

April 15, 2011April 15, 2011remilyknits 4 Comments

One of my agility friends asked me to knit custom coats for her charming mini poodles, Gizmo (left) and Golly (right). She wanted durable, washable yarn that was also soft and cozy, and came in her dogs’ signature colors. In terms of structure, the coats needed to have turtlenecks, front leg sleeves, and a high belly cut to allow pottying without soiling the coats. We looked at a couple different patterns before settling on the attractive and versatile “Biscuits & Bones” pattern, sized from XS to XL. The modified “X’s and O’s” cable pattern resembles circular biscuits and long bones–very clever!

(This week’s FO is a re-wind — I’ve been working like mad all week on a design sample that I can’t share just yet.)

Project: Gizmo’s Red Coat and Golly’s Purple Coat

Pattern: Biscuits & Bones Dog Coat

Designer: Patons

Available: FREE! at patonsyarns.com

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Eggplant and Red (3 balls per coat)

Don’t you just love Golly’s grin??

I made Golly’s coat first (purple!) and made very few modifications. The neck to tail is worked flat to the leg holes, where the work is split into three parts and worked separately for a few rows. Then flat work across the entire piece resumes, continuing through the butt decreases. Ribbing is picked up and knit in the round for the leg holes and around the belly/back (after the chest is seamed). My only serious modification was to keep edge stitches in stockinette, to make the picking up and seaming easier.

Gizmo is such a handsome fellow!

With Gizmo’s coat, I wanted to try knitting the chest in the round, to avoid seaming later on. At the leg holes I worked just two sections (back and belly) flat, then rejoined for more work in the round, then worked flat for the back after casting off for the belly. This ended up being trickier than I anticipated … if I ever make another coat from this pattern, I will probably just make it flat and deal with the seam.

Overall, the pattern is clear and well-written. The cable patterns were written, so of course I charted them to avoid going insane. (I work much better from a visual representation of a pattern.) I really appreciate that it came in so many sizes, and also that it accounted for the real chest shape of a dog (many dog sweater patterns seem to think dogs are shaped like humans, oops). Swish Worsted was, as expected, perfect for the job at hand. The boys look great and are cozy too!

Remily Knits

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