May 05, 2008
Daisy pattern
To fit size: 32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52) inches
Finished size: 33.5 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46.5, 50.5, 54.5) inches
For days which appear, through a window, glorious, but on venturing out are found to be cooled by a breeze. Elbow length sleeves, v-necked, invisible fastening and fabric binding to back neck.
Knit in Rowan Wool Cotton, a 50% wool/50 % cotton blend with a stated tension of 22-24sts x 30-32 rows over 4 inches. 50gm (113 metres (123 yards) x 9 (10, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) balls.
Skills: Knit and purl stitches, slipped stitches, working a hem, increases, decreases, yarnovers, sewn buttonloops, sewn-on binding
NB: Read more about the method used for sewing the buttonholes here.
£3.50 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 1.8Mb
For more photos, see my previous entry here
Elsa was down early: she waited on the folding chair, set up in the herb garden outside the kitchen door, for the first signs of tea. Alas, great aunt Dilys was visiting, down from Somerset, so the afternoon’s activity had been curtailed.
She didn’t really mind. She had spent the greater part of the day lying flat on her stomach on one of the unmade beds in the spare room, where the stairs ran up to the attic. A favourite passtime was to grab at random one of the endless boxes of ephemera that the attic could yield, and bring it down to sort through, rescuing anything that needed rescuing, consigning to the waste basket anything irredeemably decayed. Once she had found a bundle of correspondence between mother and father, sent, from the dates, well before they were married. She read two paragraphs of one letter before yelping and blushing furiously, stuffing the letters back in their box and labelling with large letters ‘LOVE MISSIVES – MA AND PA. DO NOT READ’.
Today she had found a scuffed box, papered with a dusty snakeskin print carefully labelled ‘Daisy. Treasures, 1949’. A yellowed, folded poison-pen letter, worn soft and battered on the edges, threatened parents with ugly death should they fail to grant Daisy her only demand and send her to boarding school. The glue on some of the letters had come unstuck. The message had perhaps never been sent: or, more likely, had been delivered, read, and returned to sender with a sigh.
From her deckchair, Elsa observed the bees, newly busy with the spring flowers. There would be honey, melting through the holes of a crumpet, for tea; although Elsa would have to restrain herself, being in company, from wiping her finger through the honeyed, buttery goop left on her plate before sucking on it.
Soon after that, she would be able to slip away, unnoticed. She could avoid the talcum-powder and handbag smelling kisses goodbye – great aunt Dilys’s visits were a great performance in terms of preparation and maneouvering her from car to seat and back to car, but never lasted long – and stretch her legs with a walk as the lengthening evening turned the sky to violet.
Posted by Anna at 06:36 PM | Comments (4)
August 02, 2007
Marla pattern
To fit size: 32 (34: 36: 38: 40: 44: 48: 52) inches
Finished size: 32 (34: 36: 38: 40: 44: 48: 52) inches
A sweet summer sweater designed to show off the beauty of hand-painted yarns, with a contrast cotton trim and envelope neckline.
Suitable for hand-painted 4ply (fingering) weight wool, with 100% cotton trim. Show in
yarn A: Koigu KPPPM 100% merino in P1573 50gm (160m [175 yards]) 5 (6: 6: 7: 7: 8: 8: 9) skeins
yarn B: Rowan 4-ply Cotton in 153 Cream 50gm (170m [186 yards]) 1 (1: 2: 2: 2: 2: 2: 3) balls
Gauge:After blocking, 28 sts and 44 rows on 3mm needles in garter stripe pattern (6 rows st st, 6 rows garter st) with yarn A to 10 cm (4 inches)
Skills: Knit and purl stitches, knitting in the round, ribbing, short rows, increases, decreases, picking up stitches
£3.50 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 0.43Mb
For more photos, see my previous entry here.
Posted by Anna at 09:50 AM | Comments (13)
April 06, 2007
Blustery pattern
To fit size: (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) inches
Finished size: (33, 35, 37, 39, 41) (43, 45, 47, 49, 51) inches
A neat and tidy button-through vest. Has a small single pocket, and optional tubular cast- ons and offs to all ribbed edges. Easy to wear, easy to make - what could be nicer?
Knit in a DK weight wool blend. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK is a wool/microfibre/cashmere blend with a stated tension of 22 sts x 30 rows to 4". 50gm (110m [119 yards]) (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 8, 9, 10, 11) balls
Gauge: After blocking, 22 sts and 30 rows in St st, to 10 cm (4 inches) using 4 mm needles.
Skills: Knit and purl stitches, ribbing, tubular cast on, tubular (sewn) cast off, buttonholes, increases, decreases, picking up stitches
NB: Read more about the tubular cast on method here.
And more about the tubular (sewn) cast off method here.
More about buttonholes here.
£3.00 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 0.35Mb
Posted by Anna at 04:40 PM | Comments (18)
December 03, 2006
Flicca pattern
To fit bust: 32-34: [36-38: 40-42: 42-44: 44-46] inches
Finished size: 36.5 [40: 44: 47.5: 53: 58] inches
A cozy winter cardigan coat, quick to knit on large needles. The a-line shaping and bell sleeves come from an all-over graduated rib. A shaw collar is reinforced with ribbon trim on the inside neck. No buttons on the original, but they're easy to add if you prefer.
Knit in a chunky weight wool blend. Sirdar 'Click' is a wool/acrylic blend with a stated tension of 14 st x 19 rows to 4". 50gm (75m [81 yards]) 19 [22: 24: 25: 28: 31] balls
Gauge: After blocking, 12 sts and 15 rows in K1 P1 rib, to 10 cm (4 inches) using 7 mm needles.
Skills: Knit and purl stitches, decreases, picking up stitches, short rows.
£3.50 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 0.75Mb
For more photos, see my previous entry here.
Posted by Anna at 05:14 PM | Comments (35)
May 23, 2006
Cherry pattern
Or buy it with your yarn at Get Knitted.
Sizes to fit bust 32 [34: 36: 38: 40] inches
Finished size 33 [35: 37: 39: 41] inches
A neat, sweet summer cardigan with short, slightly full sleeves, defined at the waist with a drawstring tie. Ribbed cuffs and hem. Textured with an all-over ‘little birds’ cable pattern. Button and press-stud fastening. Wear with a full, 50s-style skirt, capri pants, or style like Katherine Hepburn with Oxford bags.
Knit in Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton - 50gm (100m [109 yards]) 6 [6: 7: 7: 8] balls
Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows in cable pattern to 10 cm (4 inches) using 4 mm needles.
£3.50 - on payment you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file.
Posted by Anna at 11:21 PM | Comments (35)
January 22, 2006
Jess pattern
Sizes to fit bust 32-34: [36-38: 40-42: 42-44: 44-46] inches
Finished size: 35: [37: 40: 43: 45] inches
A useful, between-seasons jacket. It's a quick knit on large needles, and there's plenty to keep you interested with the hemmed cuffs, basketweave stitch pattern, buttonholes and integrated button bands. The stitch pattern makes a stretchy fabric which gently hugs, giving the jacket its fit.
Knit in Elle yarns Pure New Wool - an all-purpose superwash merino DK, which knits up at 22 st x 30 rows on 4mm needles. 50gm (100m [109 yards]) 12 [13: 14: 15: 16] balls
Gauge: After blocking, 12 sts and 16 rows in basketweave pattern and yarn held double, to 10 cm (4 inches) using 8 mm (US 11) needles.
Skills: Knit and purl stitches, knitting a hem, slipped stitches, buttonholes, decreases, picking up stitches
You can find a tutorial for easy crocheted buttoncovers here
£3.50 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 1.5Mb
Posted by Anna at 10:00 AM | Comments (10)
January 21, 2006
Sock set
Patterns for Badcaul, Nautilus (scroll down) and Giotto are now available, individually (follow the links above) or as a set
Size: women's medium
All the patterns are written for magic loop technique, but would convert easily to dpns. The Giotto socks use no cable needle, and Badcaul is perfect for practising cabling without a cable needle - the cabled stitch is slipped, so it doesn't 'want' to run. If you're using magic loop technique, make sure your circular needle has a smooth join before attempting Giotto or Nautilus, or you will end up cursing just as I did.
All knit in 4-ply (fingering) weight yarn (I used Koigu, lucky me) on 2.25mm needles at 15 sts and 20 rows over stocking stitch to 10 cm (2 inches)
£4 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 2.3Mb
Posted by Anna at 02:00 PM | Comments (9)
January 14, 2006
Pippa pattern
Sizes to fit bust 32 [35: 38: 41: 44]
Finished size 35: [38: 41: 44: 47] inches)
I have to tell you I love this cardigan. It is perfect for work, even on days when I have meetings. It is also perfect for any occasion when one wants to look a little less than casual - Sunday lunch with Gran, for example. It draws compliments on every outing. So very comforting to wear, and the little cables make flattering vertical stripes which extend down through the cuffs. With a silk camisole underneath, and pearl buttons on top, I couldn't ask for a stitch more luxury if I was a millionaire.
I won't pretend it's a quick knit; there are a lot of stitches. If you invest the time and a lovely yarn, though, you'll treat yourself to a timeless cardigan to love for years.
Knit in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (10 [10: 11: 11: 12] balls) on 3.25mm (US 3) needles at 28 sts to 20cm (4 inches).
Skills: Ribbing, stocking stitch, twisted stitch pattern, increases, decreases, knitting through the back loop, picking up stitches
£3.50 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 1.5Mb
Posted by Anna at 02:21 PM | Comments (11)
November 26, 2005
Jemima pattern
A simple, comforting raglan in an easy fit. Slightly longer sleeves for extra coziness, and a flattering wide neck with shoulder opening to set off pretty buttons. Tipped with a contrast colour, a classic piece that will be a useful addition to any wardrobe.
Sizes to fit bust 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 inches.
edit to add
Knit in RYC Cashsoft DK, (7 [7: 8: 8: 9: 9] balls including trim), on 5mm (US 8) needles at 18 sts to 20cm (4 inches).
More pictures here.
Skills: Tubular cast on (optional), ribbing, stocking stitch, increases, decreases, knitting through the back loop, picking up stitches around neck, sewn buttonholes, basic crochet
£3 - you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file, approx 2Mb
Posted by Anna at 04:52 PM | Comments (14)
September 20, 2005
Trudie
Trudie, started 7 Aug 05 finished 8 Sept 05
Pattern: My own, available from Hipknits.
Yarn: Hipknits silk
Petals, and insect wings. In seaweed green and a rich deep purple, it put me in mind of peacocks, and scarab beetles. It feels refined, precious, cool and heavy against the skin.
Edit: a couple more pictures added, as requested by Francoise:
Posted by Anna at 10:27 PM | Comments (38)
August 21, 2005
Claude pattern
For more pictures see my previous post. The type of buttonhole described in the pattern is elaborated on here - but of course you can use your preferred buttonhole method.
Sizes to fit bust 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 inches.
Skills: Stocking (stockinette) stitch, moss (seed) stitch, increases, decreases, cables, buttonholes.
Posted by Anna at 06:04 PM | Comments (8)