New Pattern: Wheels

January 5, 2016remilyknits Leave a comment

It’s time for the fourth (and final!) Steampunk Oz design! This time I’m using two skeins of Iachos in “Patchwork Girl” and “Deadly Desert.”

The Wheelers first appear in Ozma of Oz. Their arms are the same length as their legs, and all four limbs end in wheels made of fingernails. Their clothing is colorful and heavily embroidered. As a child, they terrified me! But, now I admire their attitude and steampunky outfits.

Wheels is a crescent-shaped shawl that features a high-contrast colorway in wheels and stripes against a neutral background. The wheels are worked flat, using short-rows to create the curve. The body is also worked flat, bottom up, from a combination of stitches picked up from the wheels and newly cast-on stitches.

This pattern can easily be lengthened by making more wheels. Each additional wheel will use approximately 32 yards of MC and 27 yards of CC. If you have two 400-yard skeins, you could safely begin with as many as 11 wheels.

Wheels is part of the Steampunk Oz Collection. Look for The Wizard (two skeins of DK yarn), Glinda (two skeins of fingering-weight yarn), and Winged Monkeys (two skeins of DK yarn).

New Pattern: Winged Monkeys

October 1, 2015remilyknits 2 Comments

It’s time for the third Steampunk Oz design!

Winged Monkeys calls for two skeins of Aesir in complimentary colorways. The sample uses “Ruby Slippers” and “Winged Monkeys” — the latter was influenced by this photo …

The Winged Monkeys were once a free people, living in the forests of Oz. They were carefree, but regrettably rather mischievous. They lost their freedom when the King of the Winged Monkeys, as a prank, tossed Quelala into a river, ruining his silk and velvet outfit. Gayelette (his fiancée) was furious and enslaved them to the Golden Cap, which allows its possessor to command the Winged Monkeys three times.

This shawl shapes a variegated colorway into the swooping curves of wings. A complimentary tonal colorway fills in the gaps and edges to create an easy-to-wear crescent shape.

Worked primarily in garter stitch, this design uses basic increases and decreases, slipped stitches, short rows, and picked-up stitches to create the shapes and join the pieces together.

Winged Monkeys is part of the Steampunk Oz Collection. Look for The Wizard (two skeins of DK yarn), Glinda (two skeins of fingering-weight yarn), and Wheels (two skeins of fingering-weight yarn).

New Pattern: The Wizard

September 15, 2015September 14, 2015remilyknits Leave a comment

It’s time for the second Steampunk Oz design! This time I’m using two skeins of Aesir in “The Wizard” — blues and yellows like this book cover…

Oscar Zoroaster was an ordinary ventriloquist and balloonist in Barnum & Bailey’s Great Consolidated Shows, until his balloon ropes twisted and he floated away to the land of Oz.

The stitch pattern on [The Wizard](/patterns/library/the-wizard-3) shows off high-contrast variegated colorways with a combination of no-wrap short rows and knitting on the bias. Colors pool between garter-stitch stripes, calling to mind the panels and gores of a hot air balloon. The stole is stretchy and drapes delightfully, curling in slightly at the edges.

This pattern is easily adapted to any yarn weight (just use the right size needle) and any yardage (cast on an even number of stitches, do as many repeats of the pattern as you like).

The Wizard is part of the Steampunk Oz Collection. Look for Winged Monkeys (two skeins of DK yarn), Glinda (two skeins of fingering-weight yarn), and Wheels (two skeins of fingering-weight yarn).
[1]: http://www.rareozbooks.com/images/Dorothy-and-the-Wizard-of-oz-3.jpg

FO Friday: Sugarbunny Cloche Divined

January 11, 2013January 3, 2013remilyknits 3 Comments

Seriously people … I think I have a new most-favorite hat ever:

Project: Sugarbunny Cloche Divined

Pattern: Cloche Divine

Designer: Meghan Jones

Available: FREE! on Ravelry

Yarn: Knit Picks Sugarbunny in Hawk

Some time back in 2011, I made mittens for a friend. In payment, she bought some yarn from my KP wish list: two balls of the limited-edition “Sugarbunny” merino/angora blend. Recently I got a PM on Ravelry asking if I’d sell a ball to someone looking to finish a sweater … I couldn’t do that without making a hat first, because I knew the hat would take one full ball and a bit of the second. Ergo: hat!

This was a remarkably quick knit. I cast on Dec 15th, and finished Dec 17th. The pattern has the entire hat knit flat and seamed, but I elected to knit in the round after the brim was complete. There were a few things that seemed overly fiddly to me — I saw no need to cut the main yarn while putting on the “tab” that “gathers” the short rows, for example — but that is a minor quibble with an otherwise excellent (and FREE!) pattern. The gathers are made with short row-shaping and then knitting the layers together to hold them in place. I made a size L (for my extra-big head) but began crown shaping at 7 inches (otherwise it would have been far to L, even for my extra-big head).

FO Friday: Sea Drift Toque

January 20, 2012January 9, 2012remilyknits 2 Comments

For Christmas, my in-laws gave me a copy of Weekend Hats. Swoon! I cast on and finished this sweet little hat in less than a week — I found the pattern absolutely addictive. My middlest son was kind enough to model for me … but I think this hat will be for ME, thank you very much :).

Project: Sea Drift Toque

Pattern: Drift Toque

Designer: Jocelyn Tunney

Available: in Weekend Hats ($15.30 on Amazon.com)

Yarn: Happy Feet DK in #52

This hat has a really cool construction! It’s worked sideways from a provisional cast on. The cables sidle back and forth using increases and decreases (hidden by the reverse stockinette), and the crown shaping is accomplished with short rows. I’m great at hiding short rows on the stockinette side — looks like I could use some practice hiding them on reverse stockinette too. At the end, the large graft is a bit of a bug-a-boo, but totally do-able. I only had to undo stitches once, and that was only 10 or so.

CO Monday: Sea Drift Toque, Happy Green Fyllyrd, Jan 2012 Mystery Lace KAL

January 9, 2012January 8, 2012remilyknits Leave a comment

There is nothing like a big UFO purge and Ravelry Queue clean-up to make me really want to cast on something new! 🙂

First up: a Drift Toque from my Christmas copy of Weekend Hats. I’m using some stashed Happy Feet DK — the color is gorgeous, and a little hard to capture with my camera. I love the up-down cables and the sideways short-row construction. I opted to use the called-for needle size (instead of going down a size, which I usually do, thanks to my loose knitting habits). I have a huge head, and thought this might be enough to make the hat the right size for me. Alas, it looks like it might be coming out a touch small … but, I think I can add an extra “wedge” of hat + short rows and make it fit.

Next, I’m doing a Fyllyrd as part of the January KAL in the Beginning Lace Knitters group. I’m using my newly liberated Dream-in-Color Smooshy in the “Happy Forest” colorway. I have already used as much yarn as I frogged … SO the right decision. I just finished the first nupps repeat, and I am really enjoying it. If it looks like a neat pattern, join in the fun! This is an open KAL that will be running all month (and, usually, afterwards as people finish up).

I am using my other skein of DIC Smooshy (“Dusky Aurora”) for a different KAL (this one closed yesterday, so it’s too late to join in). SusannaIC’s January Mystery KAL features nupps, beads, and a cast-on of 300+ stitches. Fun times!

FO Friday: Zaubershawl

September 16, 2011September 6, 2011remilyknits Leave a comment

“Sun in Cold Water” is the September KAL in the Beginner Lace Knitters group on Ravelry. Since purchasing a ball of super-colorful Zauberball in March, I’ve been searching for a pattern that would show off the stunning colorway. After several failed attempts, I’d put the ball aside — but this pattern seemed like it would suit perfectly. I’m pleased with the results!

Project: Zaubershawl

Pattern: Sun in Cold Water

Designer: Julia Faranchuk

Available: FREE! on Ravelry

Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball in #1536

This shawlette is a crescent, worked from the bottom up. The designer’s intent was to allow intentional pooling of a short-repeat variegated yarn — of course my extra-long repeat Zauberball doesn’t do that. The initial cast-on is provisional — you come back at the end to work a loopy crocheted-chain edge. (You can also make the crochet chain first, and pick up every 6th st to cast on.) Short rows shape the body.

After my recent spate of shawlette-making, I’ve become opinionated. I made a number of modifications to this pattern, to suit my own preferences.

using s2kp throughout instead of sk2p throughout
changed last two rows of chart to line up better with the leaves
short rows: did graduated lengths for a more crescent-y shape
3-st icord bind off at top edge
bottom finish: SC in each loop, ch3 between (instead of ch6)

Before blocking, the lace edging was very rumpled:

I decided to pull out points, rather than pin each of the 259 crochet-chain loops:

The blocked shawl:

New Pattern Release: Berrie Pie

July 8, 2011July 8, 2011remilyknits 2 Comments

Introducing my latest pattern: Berrie Pie! This adorable sleeveless dress for babies and toddlers has a knit-as-you go flower stitch pattern that is perfect for colorful hand-painted yarns. Design features include a button-up back, scalloped collar and hem, and an optional built-in diaper cover.

Pattern: Berrie Pie Baby Dress

Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)

Available: in Knit Magazine #38

Yarn: Wild Fire Fibres Tempo

Inspiration: I love buying hand-painted colorful yarns, but sometimes it can be difficult to match them with a pattern. The flower-stitch pattern on the skirt of the baby dress breaks up pooling and flashing nicely, and takes full advantage of high-contrast hand-painted colorways. The scalloped neck and hem use short rows to play with color too. I designed a built-in diaper cover with snaps to make it an easy-wear garment and prevent riding up. I designed this garment with my friend’s baby girl in mind, and the prototype (in pink, below) found a home with her.

Design/Skills Needed: This is a challenging pattern with a lot of little quirks! The diaper cover is worked flat, then set aside. The skirt begins with short-row scallops and is then worked in the round using a slip-stitch flower stitch. The diaper cover is knit in at the hip. After the waist, the bodice is worked flat. Button bands and holes are worked as you go. The collar is knit separately, then joined to the neckline. Knitters should be comfortable with a wide variety of stitches and garment construction, and be willing to read the pattern closely.

I would be delighted to answer any questions or help any knitters working on this project. I made a quick video to help explain the flower stitch:

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