Spotlight: Ella Rae Lace Merino

September 7, 2012 in Ella Rae, shawl, Sweaters

Have I mentioned lately how much fun I’m having knitting my Color Affection shawl?

You’ll remember this shawl was designed by Veera Valimaki and is for sale on Ravelry.

I’m using Ella Rae Lace Merino yarn in colors #3-Grass Green, #139-Turquoise and Green, and #34-Medium Blue.

Isn’t it stunning? And, yes, it is as soft and squishy as it looks!

I have one repeat left of the short row section. Then I’m into the solid blue edging. Judging from the comments on Ravelry that is the point people start loosing their focus. I can understand that, considering the rows will be over 400 stitches long at that point!

But I’m not worried. I’ll put a good show on TV, or sit on the porch while the dogs are frolicking, and enjoy the process of knitting with this lovely 100% merino wool yarn.

Did you know there are three weights to the Lace Merino family? The original Lace Merino I’m using for my shawl is fingering weight. A worsted weight version was introduced last year. New for this fall is a chunky weight.

All three weights are wonderful for projects ranging from accessories to garments. Let me show you some project ideas.

Fingering Weight

The fingering weight version has a recommended gauge of 6.5 sts per inch on a US4 needle and comes with approximately 460 yards per 100 gram hank.

This fun ruffled scarf is in Book #114-Lace Merino & Latte. It takes two skeins of Lace Merino yarn.

This pretty, garter stitch shrug is a free pattern on our main website. It takes between 5 to 7 hanks of Lace Merino and has finished bust measurements to fit from 35″ to 53″. It should be suitable for an advanced beginner.

You can see more project ideas and all the colors for the original Lace Merino yarn on this page.

Worsted Weight

The worsted weight of Lace Merino is a good option when you don’t want a bulky project but the thought of knitting on small needles doesn’t appeal to you.

This version has a recommended gauge of 4.5 sts per inch on a US7 needle and comes with approximately 230 yards per 100 gram hank.

This sweet, garter stitch cardigan is in book #113-Lace Merino Worsted. It takes from 2 to 4 hanks, depending on the size you make.

This Long Ribbed Vest is also in book #113. It takes from 6 to 8 hanks of Lace Merino Worsted.

This Long Textured Cardigan is another free pattern on our website. It has 3 sizes ranging from a 31″ to a 47″ finished bust. There is minimum shaping involved, but the pattern stitch will keep you awake.

Chunky Weight

The new Lace Merino Chunky has a suggested gauge of 3.5 sts per inch on a US 10 needle and comes with approximately 132 yards per 100 gram hank.

This is the choice for projects that will work up quickly. But you won’t have to sacrifice looks and comfort.

This Men’s Vest is in the new Lace Merino Chunky booklet that will be out later this fall. The booklet includes patterns for women and unisex accessories.

Our fans are wasting no time getting their needles into the new Lace Merino Chunky.

Johanna Jacket designed by Kate Oates

Trish from Yarn Gallery, a local yarn store in Pennsylvania, sent us this picture of the Johanna Jacket they knit using Lace Merino Chunky. Contact the store to find out about those great buttons and which color yarn they used.

Westport Yarns, a local yarn store in Connecticut, recently held a beginning weaving class. Their staff member Pam used Lace Merino Chunky for her project. Aren’t the colors stunning?

Her scarf looks pretty good for a first attempt! Makes me think some Lace Merino might finally inspire me to figure out how to use my own loom.

But first I think I’ll finish my Color Affection shawl.

What types of projects have you make with the Lace Merino family? Have you tried to weave with it, too?

Tags: children, mens, WIPs, womens
2 Comments »

In Vogue Knitting 30th Anniversary Issue

August 19, 2012 in Debbie Bliss, Gloves, Sweaters

We’re excited to have two patterns featuring Debbie Bliss yarns in the 30th Anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting magazine.

The Fall 2012 issue goes on sale September 4 and promises to be as needle tempting as ever.

Mitts using Cashmerino Baby and a sweater in the new Angel Print yarn are sure to have you tossing any current works in progress aside.

Isn't the cover beautiful?

We’re excited to have our yarns featured in two patterns in the issue.

Vogue Knitting Fall 2012, photo by Rose Callahan

The first is this fabulous pair of fingerless mitts designed by Debbie Bliss.

Don’t you just love all the rich texture provided by the cables and the bobbles?

Sized for an adult woman, they take two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Baby yarn.

The pair in the magazine are worked in color #72-Kingfisher, which is one of 14 new colors for the fall.

Cashmerino Baby is a wonderfully soft 55% Merino Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 12% Cashmere blend yarn with approximately 137 yards per 50g.

Learn more about them in the “Ode to the Aran” section of the VK 360 preview.

Vogue Knitting Fall 2012, photo by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com

The second pattern is this enchanting Batwing Top designed by Nell Bliss and Teresa Conway (Conway + Bliss).

This deceptively simple top is knit cuff-to-cuff in stockinette stitch so even a beginner knitter can tackle it.

The yarn does all the work to create the complicated looking stripes.

Sized for Small/Medium, Large/X-Large, XX-Large the sweater uses 4 (5, 5) balls of the new yarn “Angel Print” in #08 Chagall (purples and pinks).

Angel Print is a multicolor addition to the family that already includes the original Angel and Party Angel, which has Metallic Polyester fibers for extra glamor. This new 76% SuperKid Mohair, 24% Silk blend with approximately 220 yards per 25g is arriving on store shelves with 12 colorways.

By the way, there are eight new colors of the original Angel for the fall and one new color of Party Angel.

Learn more about the Batwing Top in the “Glamour Gallery” section of VK 360.

Look for the magazine and yarns at your local yarn store.

Tags: magazines
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A Sweater Divided

August 13, 2012 in Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Sweaters, Tips

The Olympic Games ended last night. For knitters and crocheters active on Ravelry it also meant the conclusion of the Ravellenic Games.

With millions of yarn lovers allover the world I know that whenever I’m casting on or completing a project it is very likely that at least one person (if not more) is at the same point as me. Sort of like knowing people share your birthday even if you haven’t met them.

Still, there is something extra fun about participating in a Knit Along or Crochet Along when you know people are intentionally starting a project at the same time.

While the overarching goal of the Ravellenic Games is to attempt to start and finish a challenging (for yourself) project between the opening and closing ceremonies, I prefer to approach it as an opportunity to expand my skills. That may be because my projects are usually too ambitious and I don’t finish in time!

That was once again the case this year. But I went into the Games knowing my actual chances of finishing my Three Lace Cardigan were slim and was using them instead as a way to stay focused on one project for an extended period of time.

Considering I was working on a lace cardigan knit using lace weight yarn on US 5 needles, I think I made pretty good progress.

Divide for Fronts and Back

Scraps of yarn make good stitch holders.

When working a sweater all in one piece this instruction should not scare you.

Once you introduce the spaces for the arm holes into the garment they will prevent you from working in long, continuous rows. Think of it as the draw bridge is up and the roads a no longer connected.

Now it’s a matter of rearranging the stitches so you can work on the individual sections. When the shifting is taking place the instruction might way “work in pattern” or just “work” in either case you should continue working the lace, texture, or color changes you’ve been knitting or crocheting all along unless you are specifically told otherwise. If I’d stopped working the lace pattern I would have ended up with an odd stockinette row right in the middle of my cardigan!

In this case the pattern told me to continue working on the left front of the sweater first. Now that is the “left front” when I’ll be wearing the cardigan, not as I’m looking at it on my lap.

I opted to move the waiting, live stitches to a piece of scrap yarn until I’m ready for them. I just threaded a darning needle with the organ yarn and slipped the stitches over. I kept the markers in place to make it easier to track the lace pattern when I return to that section.

You can save some brain cells later on by making a note about which pattern row you ended with on the working copy of your pattern.

You can get a variety of stitch holders at your local yarn store ranging from giant metal safety pins to plastic rods. I have even seen people use a circular needle with point protectors on the ends.

But for a light yarn like Findley I prefer to use a piece of scrap yarn because it doesn’t pull on the knitting as much as one of those other options.

A Few Stitches Short of a Repeat

Switch to stockinette when you run out of stitches.

If you haven’t knit a lace garment before, or any lace project that requires shaping for that matter, you might become puzzled how to stay in pattern once you start decreasing.

It can be a little confusing when the lace has a six stitch pattern and suddenly you have only 4 stitches (or fewer).

The solution is to either work as much of the pattern stitch as you can or default to stockinette stitch (or another appropriate vanilla option that will fit in with your garment such as reverse stockinette stitch or garter stitch).

If the pattern stitch includes pairs of increases and decreases make sure you can work both of them before deciding to “work in pattern” otherwise your stitch count will be off. If you work a yarn over without the corresponding decrease you’ll run into problems later on.

Having the edge in stockinette stitch can also make finishing easier down the line.

In this case I have stockinette stitch along the armhole, which will be easier to attach the sleeve to when the time comes than an edge full of yarn over holes and decrease bumps.

Since it’s located right along the edge of the arm it won’t be very noticeable when I’m wearing the sweater.

My sweater is moving along nicely and I’ve got enough momentum to keep going even though the Ravellenic Games have ended.

Did you succeed in your quest for Ravellenic glory?

Tags: lace, womens
1 Comment »

On The Needles: Three Lace Cardigan

August 8, 2012 in Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Sweaters, Tips

The “Three Lace Cardigan” is from the Juniper Moon Farm Findley book.

This is my final goal

The smallest size (for a 30 1/2″ bust, which I’m making) takes one ball of Findley yarn. The other five sizes take two balls. From what I’ve seen, there is a lot of stretch in the finished cardigan and even the smallest size will fit a variety of people.

Findley yarn is a delicious 50% Merino Wool, 50% Silk blend. It launched with 12 colors and two more have been added for the fall. This yarn is soft, shiny, and alluring. If your impulse is to just let it sit on your desk so you can pet and admire it (rather than knitting or crocheting with it right away) take comfort in the fact that you are not alone.

I fell in love with the Three Lace Cardigan as soon as I saw it, but haven’t gotten around to knitting it until now. You know how that goes, too many current projects on the go, gifts to be made, etc. I also admit to being a little intimidated by the idea of knitting an entire cardigan out of lace weight yarn even if it is on size US 5 needles!

To break the cycle I declared the TLC my Ravellenic Games project. That would give me an excuse to toss all other projects aside and just focus on the cardigan.

I was impatient to get through the garter stitch hem.

This tactic has worked well, as you know if you are a fan of ours on Facebook where I have been regularly posting progress pictures.

On one of the pictures someone asked if I had tips for beginners and I was puzzled since the pattern is pretty straight forward so far, but I think I’ve thought of some.

Be Bold! Go Forth and Knit!

However, most of my tips are not specific to the Three Lace Cardigan but are general knitting hints that will apply to most projects.

First, don’t be intimidated by all the lace in this pattern. The stitches are written out AND charted so you can look at both. In fact, if you aren’t sure about reading charts this could be a good pattern to start with since it has both.

I’m not an accomplished lace knitter who produces tons of fabulous lace shawls, but I’d say the lace patterns in this cardigan are simple enough for someone new to lace to manage.

Highlight, Circle and Make Notes.

This is one of those patterns where you’ll want to make a copy and then scribble all over it.

Circle the numbers related to the size you are making. Highlight the “at the same time” directions for the neck and arm shaping. By reading the pattern through once in advance of starting to knit you’ll avoid surprises later on.

Keep in mind that stitch markers are your friend. I’ve been applying them liberally as I go along.

Stitch markers can help keep you on track.

First I used them when I was casting on. Since it was over 100 sts, I placed a marker after every group of 10 to make them easier to count.

I took them out on the first row since I was just knitting garter stitch for a while.

Then I replaced them at the end of each pattern repeat for the first lace pattern. I like to knit while I watch TV and the markers helped keep me on track. I could glance down to work the yarn overs then zip along to the next marker.

I removed them for the second lace pattern, which has a lot of stockinette stitch, and then replaced them for the third pattern.

Starting the third lace pattern.

So far I haven’t made any mistakes!

Take time to admire your work

I recently read an interview on the Vogue Knitting website with Brooke Nico and she pointed out that people forget to look at their knitting. You have to know how your project looks when it’s correct to understand when it’s wrong.

That’s good advice and I’ve been keeping it in mind as I work my Three Lace Cardigan. Even if I hadn’t read that article the yarn and pattern are so pretty that I would still be stopping to pet it on a regular basis!

Taking Shape

This cardigan is worked in one piece to the armhole shaping.

That’s nice because it reduces the amount of finishing needed at the end.

The next challenge will be dividing for the front and backs after I work a few more rows of the third lace repeat.

I’m sure that if I take it step by step it won’t give me any trouble.

The Ravellenic Games end on August 12. I know I won’t have the cardigan finished by the deadline, but I’ll have made enough progress to keep going.

When the end of a project is in sight, especially a fun one worked in yummy yarn, it’s hard to put it down!

Tags: lace, WIPs, womens
3 Comments »

Noro Treasure Hunt Winners!

August 6, 2012 in Noro, Sweaters

Oh, boy! We had such a good response to the treasure hunt to find the male model who appears in multiple Noro books. Everyone who played seemed to have fun so we’ll try to hatch up another one soon.

But what you really want to know is whether you were one of the lucky winners. I was able to email almost all of you, so check for a message from Ann (twitter at knittingfever) to claim your prize.

First Tier winners will receive a skein of Noro yarn and a Noro booklet:

Anne T, Cheryl, Julie P, Michelle, Linda B., Gabriele N., Txlady, FamilyDayCareMama, Poizniv, and Ryan H.

(Psst, Ryan! I sent you a message on Ravelry.)

The lucky Second Tier winner who will receive a BAG of Noro yarn (10! balls) and a Noro booklet is: Emily H.O. –Emily, you signed in with Facebook so I couldn’t see your email address. I sure hope you see this! Use the “message” button on Facebook to contact me so I can verify your name when you claim your prize.

Now You See Him…

The challenge was to find the same male model who appears in Volumes #21 through #31.

Most of you did a great job finding him, but some of you might still be wondering (or missed the chance to enter).

The answers are:

Of course, everyone is a winner when they knit with Noro yarns! (groan. Give me a break, it’s Monday and I need another cup of tea!)

But don’t take my word for it, review some of the sweaters and decide for yourself.

Design Y-846 from Volume #26

This great entrelac sweater is in Volume #26. It is knit using the ever popular Silk Garden yarn. There are 16 new colorways for the fall. Wow! That’s a lot of colors from which to choose.

Entrelac is a fun and challenging technique. Actually, once you get the hang of it you’ll find it zips along. It’s very much one of those mysterious knitting techniques that is easy when you know what you’re doing but creates visually impressive results.

You should check with your local yarn store to see about a private lesson or group class to learn entrelac. You’ll be glad you did.

Design Y-595 from Volume #26

These uni-sex cabled sweaters are also in Volume #26. They are knit using Kureyon, a durable 100% Wool yarn great for garments and accessories. There are 8 new colorways for the fall.

Y-894 Hooded Jacket (Rear) from Volume #30

This hooded jacket is another uni-sex garment. This pattern is in Volume #30. It is knit using Kogarashi, a yummy 51% Silk, 49% Wool, available in 14 colorways.

Design Y-892b from Volume #30

This cabled sweater is also in Volume #30. It is knit using Nadeshiko, a 40% Angora, 39% Wool, 21% Silk blend available in 7 colorways. The high angora content makes this yarn soft and warm, and gives it that lovely halo.

…Now You Don’t

But those 10 booklets aren’t the only place to find great men’s patterns using Noro yarns. There are patterns scattered through the other Noro publications as well.

Man's Ribbed Sweater from Noro Magazine

This great sweater is in the premier issue of Noro Magazine. It is knit using Kureyon yarn. The magazine also includes two hats intended for men.

Noro Men book by Jane Ellison

The “Noro Men” book by Jane Ellison is full of sweaters and accessories to cover a guy for head to toe.

Great patterns for men are out there, you just have to know where to look.

Tags: mens, Noro
2 Comments »

Off The Needles: Simple Tank

July 30, 2012 in Debbie Bliss, Sweaters

I finished my Simple Tank Top from the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Debbie Bliss Magazine.

Mine was made using Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 Ply yarn, a soft 100% ExtraFine Merino with approximately 198 yards per 50g, in #27-Silver, #22 – Fuschia, and #28 – Tangerine. Those are the colors from the magazine, but I thought they were charming and have been receiving lots of compliments. I think it would also look good with blue and green stripes.

There are enough colors of Rialto 4 ply to make a different top for every day of the week!

Here is a picture of the front:

And here is a picture of the back:

Don’t you love it when your finished sweater actually fits properly?

I made the smallest size, which gives me about 2″ inches of ease.

It’s a good idea to take your measurements regularly so you know for sure which size to make. With all the images we are bombarded with in the media our perception of our bodies might not be in line with reality. By ensuring you’re making the right size to start with you’ll avoid disappointment down the line.

The Craft Yarn Council has a handy guide online that shows you how and where to measure yourself.

Another good idea is to really pay attention to the fit of the clothes you enjoy wearing and try to replicate it in the garments you knit or crochet for yourself. If you like close fitting store bought clothes, then don’t make a big over sized sweater. The opposite is also true. If you like some breathing room, don’t make that sweater that is supposed to be worn with negative ease.

Of course, these principles also apply to the garments you make for other people. If you want the things you make to be worn and used make things you like!

Oh, dear! I’ll get off my soapbox now and get back to my pretty new top. LOL!

What am I going to do with all these ends?

I started the Simple Tank in April and didn’t finish it until mid-July, but the hands-on knitting time wasn’t really that long. I moved house at the beginning of June and the need to pack, move, and unpack threw my knitting off schedule.

And I always drop the ball on the finishing. In fact, I must have dragged my feet for a week when the tank was all knit and it was time to pick up around the arm holes to knit the trim.

I always want quiet and a good hour to work when faced with the prospect of picking up stitches evenly across a section of sweater. I used the trick of dividing the armhole into smaller sections placing stitch markers at the half way point, then dividing the half in half, etc. It is easier to pick up a small number of stitches over a small section than it is to pick up a large number of stitches across a great expanse.

Ta-da! All woven in.

When I realized I would never have a finished project if I kept avoiding it I went to my local yarn store to get in the right mind-set. It was so nice to hang out at the table, picking up stitches, and chatting with the other knitters passing through. (I might have bought a couple new magazines as well!)

Have you noticed that magical effect yarn stores have on your knitting or crocheting? And if you do get stuck there are people around to ask for advice!

You can't even tell from the outside.

The trim around the neck and arms is very simple, but many people have commented on how nice it is.

Once the trim was knit, it was a simple matter of seaming the sides and weaving in the ends. I’m glad I carried the colors up the sides without cutting them. That greatly reduced the number of ends I had to weave in.

I always feel such a sense of accomplishment when I finish a project. And it’s an even better feeling when I wear a new top for the first time and can tell people who compliment it, “Thanks! I made it!”

Tags: magazines, summer, sweater, womens
2 Comments »

Ruffling Yarn Beyond Scarves

July 16, 2012 in bag, Circulo, Debbie Bliss, Euro Yarns, Free, Inspiration, Katia, Knitting Fever Inc, Sublime, Sweaters

Self-ruffling yarns like Flounce from our Knitting Fever line and Triana from Katia have been popular for a number of years now. Almost as soon as a local yarn store gets them on the shelf they sell out!

The appeal is understandable.

This style yarn comes in a variety of colors and textures and some even have metallic thread for extra interest. Some of the yarns have a mesh construction which you knit or crochet by opening flat and inserting your hook or needle through the holes in the mesh. Others have a ladder yarn on one edge and fibers on the other. This style you work through the holes of the ladder with the fibers create the body of the project.

You can learn more about some of the self-ruffling yarns we represent and see a video about how to work with them in this blog post.

While the quickest and easiest project to make with any of these yarns is a scarf (most people report being able to finish one in between two to four hours), people are starting to explore the potential of these yarns for uses ranging from trim to entire garments.

Here are a few that have caught our eye.

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2012

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2012, photo by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com

This stunning garment is the “Ruffle Wrap Cardigan” designed by Cheryl Murray. The pattern is in the Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2012 issue. You can see a preview of the issue on the Vogue Knitting website.

The sweater is sized for Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large

The body is knit using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (Amounts: 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) balls in #9 gray) while the trim is Circulo Tecido Trico Animal (Amounts: 1 hank in #2631 gray leopard).

Tecido Trico is a 100% Polyester fabric ribbon available in a variety of flower and animal prints. Can’t get your head around knitting with fabric ribbon? Learn more about it in this blog post, which includes a how-to video.

Cashmerino Aran is a soft, 55% Merino Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 12% Cashmere blend available in a rainbow of colors. Have fun mixing and matching the yarns to create a unique look all your own.

Trimmed in Trico

Use either Renda Trico or Tecido Trico as trim

For a more casual look, try your hand at one of these Trico trimmed shrugs, which are available as free patterns on our website.

The one on the left uses a flower print of Tecido Trico for the trim compared to the animal print used in the Vogue Knitting sweater. The body of that shrug is Debbie Bliss Cotton DK, a 100% Cotton yarn available in 20 colors. You can download this version of the shrug pattern here.

The shrug on the right uses Renda Trico for the trim. This is a lace version of the fabric ribbon from Circulo. It is available in 14 colors. The body of the black shrug is knit using Sublime Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK, a 67% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 33% Nylon blend that is available in 10 colors. You can download the black shrug pattern here.

Although the body of both shrugs is simple garter stitch the patterns are recommended for an intermediate knitter because of the unique construction technique. But don’t let that deter you! Help can always be found at your local yarn store or at your knit/crochet group.

Dress up a store bought top

For something a little different (and quicker) have a go at dressing up a store bought top by adding a fun Tecido trimmed collar. Download the guidelines for this project here.

Tutu Cute!

Ruffled Tutu Skirt by Ewetopia Fiber Shop

But why should grown-ups have all the fun?

This adorable Ruffled Tutu Skirt for a toddler is from Ewetopia Fiber shop, which is out in Wisconsin. They are generously allowing us to share the pattern with you for free!

The version shown here is using Bossa Nova yarn from Katia. This 72% Cotton, 28% Nylon blend is available in eight colors. (We have a free Bossa Nova Scarf pattern on our website, too.)

This Tutu skirt looks equally cute using a yarn with a larger mesh like Rumples or Triana.

It’s In The Bag

Ruffles Galore Purse by Unwind, A Yarn Shop

These yarns are also great for accessories.

The Ruffles Galore Purse comes to us from Unwind, a Yarn Shop, which is located in Oklahoma. They are generously allowing us to share the free pattern with you! It uses Tecido Trico and a coordinating worsted weight yarn of your choice.

When working this pattern remember that the Tecido Trico yarn with automatically form the ruffle as you work with it. When the pattern says “knit ruffle” there isn’t really a pattern stitch to be worrying about since it will happen automatically.

Evening in Paris Purse by Knitting On The Fringe

The Evening in Paris Purse was designed by Knitting on the Fringe, which is located in Michigan, using Flounce yarn. You can buy the pattern on their website. If none of the Flounce colors catch your eye, consider using Rumples, Triana, or Tricor instead. Or jazz it up with one of the metallic versions of those yarn such as Flounce Metallic, Triana Lux, or Broadway.

Ruffles Incognito

Quick Knit Capelet by Knitting On The Fringe

Keep in mind that with most of these self ruffling yarns you have the option of toning down the ruffles by not opening the mesh.

You can see this in action on the Quick Knit Capelet by Knitting On The Fringe. This pattern is also available for purchase on their website. It was knit using Triana yarn, but instead of opening the mesh they treated it as a traditional bulky yarn.

Another option is to open the mesh occasionally to create ruffles in targeted places.

It is also possible to open the mesh to take advantage of the lacy effect created, but not have ruffles, as seen in the Kelp Forest Shawlette by karinknits designs, which is a free pattern on Ravelry. She includes a link to a helpful video with both knit and crochet instructions on the Ravlery project page.

I hope these projects have inspired you to think beyond scarves when you are considering using these fun self-ruffling yarns.

Have you already tried them out for trim or other projects? Share a picture on our Facebook wall, we love to see the creative things you are making!

Tags: bag, Circulo, Katia Triana, ruffles, sweater
5 Comments »

Pansies Bolero Neck Shaping

June 24, 2012 in Ella Rae, Sweaters, Tips

I have been zipping along on my Pansies Bolero without any other problems.

I’m using Ella Rae Pansies yarn in color #8.

Although it’s a simple pattern that is good for auto-pilot knitting while watching TV or chatting with friends, I did decide to make a little change at the armhole shaping.

After working the cast offs to start the shaping the pattern calls for working k2tog at both ends of the needles. It also has you work them in the first and last stitches of the row.

That’s all fine, and it will get me where I need to be, but it’s not the method I prefer.

Instead of working the decreases right at the edge I worked them one stitch in. Instead of starting the row K2tog I worked K1, K2tog. I feel having that one plain stitch will make seaming easier down the line.

I also decided to work mirrored decreases.

You know how certain decreases (and increases) make the stitches slant in one direction or the other? Well, when you pair them so they slant either toward or away from each other it’s called a mirrored decrease.

When there is extensive shaping involved so that the decreases and increases become a design element it is called “full fashioned.”

In the case of the Bolero there are just a few rows of decreases so my change will probably be hardly noticeable.

Instead of working k2tog on both end, I worked SSK at the start of the row and k2tog at the end of the row.

Then it was smooth sailing to the shoulders.

When I started working the shoulder shaping I found the wording a little confusing.

The pattern is correct, it’s just not presented the way I expected. I’ve noticed that European knitting patterns often assume the knitter knows how to do the basic, simple steps and will often give them only a passing mention. American patterns tend to give detailed descriptions for every step of the process.

It’s sort of the difference between a cooking recipe from a friend that says to “saute onions” and a recipe in a cook book that spells out heating the oil, chopping the onion, and how long to cook them to get the same results.

Anyway, back to knitting.

I’m working the smallest size. The pattern says to “Cast off 6 sts, K20 sts , turn, leaving remaining sts on holder.”

I knit 20 sts and realized I had 21 sts on the right hand needle. That just didn’t sound right. I suspected the stitch left on the right hand needle counted as one of the 20.

To verify, I talked my way through the remaining rows without knitting them. As I counted off the stitches to cast off I kept my finger in place to indicate the shortening rows. Sure enough, I had one stitch left at the end.

I realized the directions wanted me to work 19 more sts for a total of 20 sts. Happily, I only had to pick out one stitch to get to the correct count.

On the smallest size, the stitches for the shoulder and neck shaping are in sets of 26/14/26. If you are working one of the larger sizes you’ll want to do a quick count to determine your stitch distribution before you start working the shaping.

Another spot where the breezy European style showed up was when it was time to work the second shoulder. The pattern just says to leave the center 14 sts on a holder and knit to end.

It skips the important step of reattaching the yarn. But, on the other hand, it’s not like I would have been able to continue knitting if I hadn’t reattached the yarn. Obviously, I was going to do that whether the pattern told me to or not!

It just goes to show you have to stay alert even for auto-pilot knitting.

Like what you see? Find local and online stores near you that stock the Ella Rae line by using the “find a store” feature on our website.

Tags: cotton, WIPs
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On the Needles: Pansies Bolero

June 20, 2012 in Ella Rae, Sweaters, Tips

I started the Bolero from the Ella Rae Pansies book over the weekend and it is moving along quickly as I expected.

The pattern calls for a US 5 needle for the edging and a US 6 for the body, but I got gauge on the US 5. That means that when it is time to work the edging I should probably use a US 4 needle.

Start of my Pansies Bolero

As I mentioned before, Pansies is an unmercerized 100% cotton yarn, but it has a 3-ply construction for strength.

Unlike some cotton yarns that can be a little harsh to knit with because they are stiff, Pansies has just enough “give” that it hasn’t tired out my hands. It is also pleasantly soft as it’s running through my fingers.

It is fun to watch the stripes develop.

I’m enjoying watching the stripes take shape. It’s so nice to be able to work plain stockinette stitch and allow the yarn to do all the hard work of adding visual interest!

The only problem I’ve had so far was when I managed to twist as stitch as I was knitting. That’s what I get for not paying attention to what my hands are doing!

When I make a mistake in my knitting or crocheting I ask myself a few questions before I decide whether to fix it or ignore it.

The first question to ask is, “Does the mistake mess up the pattern?” In a lace or texture stitch a mistake can effect every subsequent row, which probably means repairs are necessary. In stockinette stitch it might be possible the just fudge a different row by increasing or decreasing to get back to the correct stitch count.

The second question to ask is, “How noticeable is the mistake?” If it’s in the middle front of the sweater it might be glaring, in which case I’d probably want to fix it. If it’s on the edge it might get absorbed into the seam or regularly covered by my arm, in which case I might ignore it.

The last, and most important question, is, “Can I live with it?” Some people will drive themselves to distraction trying to make their project “perfect.” Sometimes to the point where they don’t end up finishing because they get so exhausted and annoyed. Other people take the view that humans make mistakes and a slight flaw in a hand knit or crocheted project makes it unique and adds character.

Only you can decide with type of crafter you are. But the important thing to remember is to relax and enjoy the process!

In this case, I knew I wouldn’t be able to live with the mistake (even though it was on the back). Also, it was an easy mistake to fix.

First, insert the crochet hook through the last live stitch

I started my repair by dropping the stitch off the needle that was in line with the twisted stitch.

I then gently manipulated the yarn to drop the stitch down until I reached the offending stitch. Usually dropped stitches are a reason to gnash your teeth, but done in a controlled manner then can be useful.

Then I got my crochet hook and began the process of working the stitches back up.

Use the hook to grab the strand and pull it through the loop.

It’s a simple matter of grabbing the loose strand (or “ladder”) from the next row up and pulling it through the stitch on the crochet hook. When you reach the top row, place the last loop back on the left hand needle, being careful not to twist it.

The still photos give you the general idea. I also made a little video so you can see the process in action.

I hope this gives you confidence to attempt a repair the next time you make a mistake.

Remember, the staff at your local yarn store are always a good resource for repairs. Sometimes all you need is the moral support of other knitters nearby when you attempt a repair.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a Bolero to knit!

Tags: cotton, summer
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Ella Rae Pansies

June 17, 2012 in Ella Rae, Sweaters

Pansies is the name of a new spring book and yarn from Ella Rae.

This 100% Cotton yarn has approximately 93 yards per 50g ball and a suggested knitting gauge of 5.5 sts per inch on a US 6 needle.

It is available in 10 variegated colorways. This is a close up of colorway #4. As you can see, the color has a distressed look with a variety of stripes, flecks, and speckles.

When worked up the yarn has a self-striping effect, but the extra texture in the colors creates a lot of interest.

Pansies is an unmercerized cotton, which means it has a soft, buttery feel with just a hint of surface fuzz. You are probably more accustomed to working with mercerized cottons, which have been treated to add strength and shine. Mercerized cottons have a crisp appearance. Pansies has a more relaxed feel reminiscent of a favorite pair of jeans.

The companion pattern book, #119 Pansies “Floral Fancy”, features six sweater patterns that take advantage of this casual feel.

These sweaters will end up being favorite weekend wear equally nice for hanging out in the backyard with friends or running errands around town.

The Boat-Neck sweater seen above has a relaxed fit and would be suitable for an advanced beginner because of the minimal shaping. Actually, an advanced beginner ready to take the next step from a drop shoulder sweater would probably find this a good project.

The Simple Cardigan lives up to it’s name. The plain stockinette stitch really allows the fun colors to shine.

This is another pattern that would be good for a beginner wanting to tackle his or her first cardigan. At the same time it will be a soothing auto-pilot project for an experienced knitter looking to relax.

For something a little more challenging, you might enjoy the Lacey Cardigan.

The simple eyelet pattern doesn’t interfere with the stripes of the yarn, but will keep your attention while knitting. There is also a pretty Double Diamond Lace edging around the neck line.

The cardigan is closed by a tie at the neck, which means there is no need to worry about working button bands.

The last pattern I want to highlight is the Bolero.

This cropped, short sleeved cardigan looks like a quick knit for an experienced knitter. It might be a little more challenging for a beginner because of the shaping on the fronts, but every pattern should advance our skills!

I think the Bolero will look equally good with a sun dress or jeans. This will be a good coverup for spring and summer.

I plan to make mine in color #8.

You can preview the rest of the book on our website. Which pattern do you like best?

Tags: cotton, summer, womens
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