November 14, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran, 100% Superwash Aran Wool, in Taupe, and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, 100% worsted weight wool in Chocolate

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: approximately 6 stitches and 7 rows per inch - this one is hard to measure!

Stitch Pattern: Chain of Triangles

Source: BW2, p. 100.

Comments: I had intended to knit this one with a dark background and light triangles, but the pattern didn't specify which of yarns A and B in the pattern corresponded to the dark and light colours in the photo (That's a complaint I have about many stitch dictionaries. This is useful information to have when deciding how to knit a particular stitch pattern!).  This pattern is a little hard on the eyes.  When you see the swatch up-close, its easy to focus on the light colour and blur out the rest - you have to step back a little to see the stacked triangles that give the pattern its name.

November 13, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Merino Wool, in Plum Heather, and Tivoli Celtic Aran, 100% Superwash Aran Wool, in Taupe

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6-ish rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Barred Stripes

Source: BW2, p. 52.

Comments: Its hard to measure row gauge on this one, because the slipped-stitch horizontal bars technically count as rows.  I think this one could be dangerous in an overall pattern - in the top left corner, you can see the results of this swatch's run-in with an errant pin.  I can see how this could easily snag on other things as well.  I wonder how it would look felted? That would remove the problem of snagging, while maintaining that horizontal bar.  Hmm... I need more time, and more feltable yarns! :)

November 12, 2011

Yarn:  Gedifra Fashion Trend Stripe, 51% Wool/46% Acrylic worsted weight yarn in a Red, Navy, and Grey Blend.

Needle: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 4.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Double Knit Fabric

Source: BW2, p. 24.

Comments: This pattern looks like a 1x1 rib, but is actually knit by slipping every other stitch with the yarn in back. This makes a really squooshy fabric - especially in a loosely spun yarn like this one.  The swatch is teeny because this was the very last 3 grams of the yarn that I had, and I didn't want to waste it.  :)

November 9, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, 50% Merino, 25% Rayon, 25% Alpaca, in Teal

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Sailor's Rib

Source: BW2, p. 4.

Comments: This 'rib' is really just a combination of knit and purl stitches - albeit a rather effective one.  It doesn't pull in, and there's not a lot of stretch to it.  But its easy to work, and looks nice on both sides, so I think it could be useful for a range of projects.  I wonder how it would look in cotton, mixed into a patchwork blanket, alongside other simple knit and purl patterns? 


ETA: As I was updating the stitch index, I realized I've already knit this one back in April.  Oops. :-\

November 7, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK - 100% Superwash Wool, in Wine and Slate Blue

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Leaning Stripe Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 90.

Comments: This one is made with a mix of twisted and slipped stitches - by twisting right next to a slipped stitch, it pulls the fabric in and gives it this slant.  Compare it to the vertical stripes from a few months back and you'll see the difference it makes.  Of course those were wider stripes too, but I think you get the point.

November 5, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK - 100% Superwash Wool, in Wildrose

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Thunderbird Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 11.

Comments: Okay, I just now saw the 'thunderbirds' that give this pattern its name.  Pay attention when working this one too, otherwise you'll do as I did and end up working the second half of the pattern backwards, so the front faces backwards.  Oops.  :)

November 4, 2011

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 60% Alpaca/30% Merino/10% Cashmere 4-ply, in Rose Heather

Needles: 3.5mm / US 4

Gauge: 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Lucina Shell Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 226.

Comments: You have to pay attention working this one - the first time I did it I dropped stitches in the first and third  shells while trying to work the k4togethers.  I'm not fond of this as a whole fabric, but I think it could make a really cute edging if worked as a single repeat.

November 3, 2011

Yarn: Berroco Lustra, 50% Wool/50% Tencel aran weight yarn in Aubergine  

Needles: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per inch (I think - its really hard to count these stitches!)

Stitch Pattern: Portcullis Stitch

Source: BW2, p. 224.

Comments:  Not sure what to say about this one.  Its worked with a combination of yarn overs and decreases, and creates a flat fabric that lies pretty flat.  Add to it this very easily killed yarn, and you have an item that will never need to be blocked.  :)

November 2, 2011

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Silk - 80% Alpaca/20% Silk, in Parchment, and  Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 60% Alpaca/30% Merino/10% Cashmere 4-ply, in Peacock 

Needles: 3.75mm / US 5

Gauge: 5.75 stitches and 5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Stripe and Rib Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 44-45.

Comments: This is a fun stripe pattern that requires you to knit one row in one colour, slide the piece back to the other end of the needle, and then knit the next row with the other colour.  Kind of a fun way of knitting, although I think it might be a bit tough to do this on a large piece.  This yarn would have been better knit on a smaller needle - its 4-ply yarn, and would be better suited to a 3.25mm.

October 26, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, 50% Merino/25% Rayon/25% Alpaca, in Teal

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Vertical Drop Stitch

Source: BW2, p. 219.

Comments: I really like this drop stitch pattern - I think its a great one for summer scarves (when worked in cotton or linen, or something, of course) because it gives great texture without a lot of weight to it.  Working it in slightly larger needles than recommended for the yarn might help open up the dropped stitch areas (I think!).  Also, don't use a really fuzzy yarn like mohair, because you'll never get the stitches to release when you try to drop them!  :)

October 25, 2011

Yarn:  Patons Classic Wool, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in Dark Grey Mix

Needles: 4.5 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Twisted Diagonal Stripe

Source: BW2, p. 147.

Comments: I need to do this again in a lighter colour because you can barely see the twisted stitches in this swatch.  That said, it definitely helped when I switched to Barbara Walker's "better" method  of working twisted (outlined in the intro to the chapter on Twisted Stitches).  can you see where I switched methods?  Its about halfway up the swatch - look closely and you can see how the stitches make a neater line, with more define gaps between the stitches.

October 14, 2011

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in Barn Red

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Lobster Claw Cable

Source: BW2, p. 180.

Comments: I don't think I like this cable - or its name.  These look like wishbones to me - I always think of lobster claws as pointing upwards, because they point in the direction that the lobster is going, and that's generally away from the person chasing it!

October 1, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK - 100% Superwash Wool, in Wildrose

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Crystal and Pearl

Source: BW2, p. 266.

Comments:  I got lazy and did only one repeat of today's pattern... which was bad, because you can't really see it all that well in this photo.  I blame the fact that we're back to autumn weather, which brings grey skies and really poor lighting conditions for indoor photography that doesn't use a flash.  Oh well... these are supposed to be hourglass shapes, made out of rows of eyelets - look closely, and you'll see what I mean.  :)

September 30, 2011

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Worsted - 50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon in Cerulean

Needles: 4.5mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Wickerwork Pattern

Source: BW2, p. 146.

Comments: The title of this one caught my eye - I keep wanting to say that it was the name of a movie, and then have to keep reminding myself that what I'm really thinking of is The Wicker Man.   Fun pattern, not too difficult.  This yarn has a tendency to grow when washed and/or steamed - makes sense, I guess because its half synthetic.  Its funny - I liked this wool when I first tried it ages ago (I made a toy with it), went off it for a bit because it was too shiny and acrylicy-looking, tried it again for a kid's hoodie and decided it wasn't so bad, and then recently made a hat from it and have now gone off it again.  I think I just have to give up on it again, and go back to my earlier belief that anything more than 25% synthetic is just too much!  :)

September 25, 2011

Yarn: Regia Sock Yarn in Brown, and James C. Brett Pure Merino - 100% Merino DK Wool, in Lilac
 
Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.5 stitches x 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Russian Stitch 

Source: BW2, p. 61-62.

Comments:  This is a mosaic stitch, so you work one colour at a time and slip all the stitches that need to stay in the opposite color.  I think this would have been better if I had used two yarns of the same weight - this DK is a bit on the thick side, and of course the sock yarn is a 4-ply so the contrast here is quite obvious - the brown ends up getting a little lost , I think.

September 23, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton, DK weight 50% Cotton/50% Wool, in Citron and Moonstone
 
Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5.5 stitches x 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Dice Check 

Source: BW2, p. 51.

Comments:  This three-colour pattern only ever uses one colour at a time, so it doesn't require you to carry a yarn across the back... pretty ingenious, really!  :)

September 22, 2011

Yarn: Tivoli Celtic Aran 100% Superwash Wool in Beige 

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Clamshell

Source: BW2, p. 129.

Comments: I made a mistake in this pattern, and fixed it half way through - look closely, and you may be able to see it.  Basically, I reduced the increased stitches by knitting the 5 stitches together, instead of knitting them together through the back loop as I was supposed to do.  You can see how the stitches in the top two rows of, um, "clams" twist slightly to the left rather than to the right.  I thought maybe this would affect how well the clams stand out, but I don't think it does.

September 20, 2011

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky 85% Wool, 15% Mohair in Grey

Needles: 5 mm / US 9

Gauge: 4 sts and 5.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Shadow Rib

Source: BW2, p. 6.

Comments: I don't really like this one...  its more of a slightly textured reverse stockinette stitch than a rib.  Maybe it could be useful if you wanted something rugged-looking - not that anything of that sort comes to mind, of course.  :)

September 19, 2011

Yarn: Shepherd Classic 100% Wool in Orange

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Tiny Bowknot

Source: BW2, p. 125.

Comments: Somehow this stitch seemed more effective in the book than it does in real-life.  Its a little too subtle for my taste, although I guess that can sometimes be useful.

September 18, 2011

Yarn: Patons UpCountry 100% bulky weight Wool in Olive green, and Lamb's Pride Bulky 85% Wool, 15% Mohair in Khaki

Needles: 5 mm / US 9

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Picot Stripe

Source: BW2, p. 117.

Comments: These look like little Christmas trees to me... I think this one, like the flowers from the other day, would make an interesting border along the bottom edge of a sweater or something.  Or maybe in a felted item, where it would bring some texture to the piece?