Knitting

I finished the first prototype of my new Double Basket Beanie. Based on Barbara Walker’s Double Basket Pattern this beanie is comfortable and squishy. Also an easy knit. The stitch pattern is just knits and purls. Like my Basket Weave Beanie I’m writing the pattern to be easily sized by adjusting the number of stitch patterns knit. Next, I’m going to start knitting a medium version in a fun color. Once I have a small version done and the pattern cleaned up, I hope to get some test knitters to try out the new pattern. ...

I’ve started putting together the Bulky Swatch Blanket. I plan to tile the swatches together somewhat randomly and use different colors for the connecting knitting bands. The swatches are various sizes, so I will keep it random and shoot for a Mondrian-style look. We’ll see how it goes 🙂

I am working on a new Beanie using the delightful Double Basket pattern. The prototype is comfortable, squishy, and has an interesting texture. Keep an eye on this space and I’ll let you know when the pattern is ready on my Ravelry page. Enjoy!

I just added my first pattern to Ravelry. The pattern is for a great little beanie using the Basket Weave pattern. Enjoy! ...

My first seam is done on the wonderful Checkmate Sweater by designer Knitwits & Yarns. As I’ve mentioned, I’m working through the TKGA Master Hand Knitter certifications, and I’ve been doing a ton of seaming practice…and I feel like it is improving. Like most things in knitting, seaming is another skill that requires an understanding of technique, practice, and patience. I highly recommend this pattern. It’s an easy sweater knit flat and a very simple introduction to intarsia. Also, I am really happy I went with the Brooklyn Tweed Shelter; what an amazing yarn, and I love the colors. I can’t wait to finish it and wear it. ...

It took a while, but I finally finished my first Westknits shawl, Vertices Unite. I used the sock yarns from @by.delz’s sock club, so each section has a nice sparkle. It was a fun knit, and I love the colors. Now I need to wait for cooler weather to enjoy it. ...

On page 91 of Barbara Walker’s, A Treasury of Knitting Patterns Vol 1, pages 88-89 is the “Fair Isle” pattern. It is nice stranded colorwork and a nice intro to Argyle patterns. It is an enjoyable knit, and for the swatches, I’m trying to keep a 2 stitch border on each side in garter for later seaming/joining into the larger blanket, but I ran into some challenges with this. I tried several different approaches early on (don’t look at the edges, they are a mess) but ultimately found that just holding both colors together for the first 2 and last 2 stitches worked the best and matched the thickness of the fabric. That’s what this project is all about…experimenting and learning. ...

My new favorite pattern from Barbara Walker’s, A Treasury of Knitting Patterns Vol 1, pages 88-89 is the Harlequin Pattern. It doesn’t look like much from the accompanying picture in the book, but a) this is a fun knit, b) the resulting texture is robust, and c) the pattern is delightful! I am also delighted with my choice of colors using Berroco Vintage Chunky, colorway 6110 Fondant, and a lovely contrasting colorway 6151 Cardinal. Of course, it’s only my favorite till the next one. They are all fun. They all have tricks to learn and new skills to try. ...

For this swatch/block in my crazy quilt project, I knit a combination of the Knotted Rib and Broad Spiral Rib from Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns Vol 1, page 49. This square is knit using Berroco Vintage Chunky in colorway 61194, Rhubarb. I made no effort to compensate for the cable flare. Shame on me! I may need to redo this swatch before I add it to the Bulky Swatch Blanket. ...

The next swatch in my crazy quilt project is the Swiss Check Pattern from Barbara Walker’s, A Treasury of Knitting Patterns Vol 1, page 90. I knit this with Paintbox, colorway 300, Paper White, and colorway 329, Grass Green. It’s a fun color-change pattern. Note the caution about leaving the strand loose behind the three slipped stitches on rows 2 and 6. Also, slip as if to purl, and always slip with the yarn to the wrong side. ...