December 25, 2011

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Merino Mix, 51% Merino/49% Acrylic Worsted Weight yarn in Beige (it looks a little green here, oddly).

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 7.25 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: O Christmas Tree

Source: St5, p. 138-139 (stitch 134)

Comments: I had rather a busy knitting day on Christmas Day, but didn't actually get to knit this swatch till the next day.  But I'm posting it for Christmas Day anyway, just because I can.  :)

December 23, 2011

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

Needles: 3.5 mm / 5 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 10 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Diamond Patchwork

Source: St5, p. 84-85 (stitch #89)

Comments: To me, this stitch looks like a bunch of little menorahs, albeit ones with only 5 candles. Seemed appropriate, given that I knit this in the middle of Hanukkah.

December 3, 2011

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK, 100% superwash merino wool, in Raspberry

Needle: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Bed of Roses

Source: St5, p. 27 (stitch #32)

Comments: The winter theme lost out to the colour of the yarn on this one.  Oops.  :)  This is a nice bulky mesh - I think it could work well in place of a trinity stitch in an Aran sweater.  Maybe not in this colour, but that's just a design issue.

December 2, 2011

Yarn: Sandnes Garn Lanett, 100% 4-ply Superwash Merino Wool, in White

Needle: 3.5 mm / US 5

Gauge: 9 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Footprints in the Snow

Source: St5, p. 78 (stitch #85)

Comments: I don't see the 'footprints' in this pattern.  If anything, it reminds me more of the Bare Branches pattern, but with a chevron effect included.  This yarn is really nice - its pretty fine, but the softness really makes up for that.  I wonder how long it would take to knit myself a 4-ply sweater?

December 1, 2011

Yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, 100% worsted weight wool in Chocolate

Needle: 4.5 mm / US 7

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 4 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Gingerbread Crumbs

Source: St5, p. 16 (stitch #12)

Comments: Given that it's December, I thought I'd try to choose this month's swatch stitches according to their wintery and/or Christmas-y names - so of course we start with a gingerbready stitch, knit in a gingerbread-brown yarn.  You'll soon see how long that lasted.  ;)

November 16, 2011

Yarn: Green 4-ply yarn, in some kind of wool/acrylic mix. 

Needle: 3.5 mm / US 4 (I think - I can't really remember!)

Gauge: 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Vine and Leaf

Source: St5, p. 77 (motif #82)

Comments: There are a lot of patterns like this - the arched leaf shape curving towards a centre line.  I think this is one I haven't knit before, although with the many possible names that each pattern can have (especially when switching between stitch dictionaries), its really hard to tell!

September 3, 2011

Yarn: Pingouin France +, 50% Acrylic/50% Wool (DK) in Tweedy Blue

Needles: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Sail Away, Ladies (14-stitch repeat)

Source: St5, p.60-61.

Comments: The book offers 4 versions of this pattern, which differ only in the number of stitches in each repeat - you can do 10+1, 14+1, 16+1, or 22+1.  I went for one that was somewhere in the middle, but not the 16 one, because that's the one in their sample photo.  :)  Anyway, the name of this one seemed appropriate somehow...  ;)

August 8, 2011

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Stella - 60% Silk/20% Cotton/20% Rayon, in Teal

Needles: 5mm / US 8

Gauge: 4.25 stitches x 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Hanging Vines

Source: St5, page 68.

Comments:  I think this pattern might be more effective in a thinner, less textured yarn.  The silk in this yarn gives it a heavier feel, so the plain bits detract from the eyelets.  But then maybe that's the point?  I think there are other eyelet options that I'd choose over this one, if I were looking for something to lighten up an otherwise plain piece.

April 7, 2011

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 100% Worsted Wool, in Brown

Needles: 4.5mm / US 7

Gauge: 4 stitches x 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Bare Branches

Source: St5, p. 89.

Comments: I'm trying to mix up my sources a little - it seems like I've been relying on the Barbara Walker books too much!  :)

March 3, 2011

Yarn: Cascade 220, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in Gold

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Dandelion Fluff

Source: St5, #94 (page 88)

Comments: Decided to branch out into my very much neglected Vogue Stitchionaries for today's swatch.  I took my queue for the design from the colour of the yarn - I think the idea of bright yellow dandelions went very well with the spot of sunny weather we had this morning.  :)