December 30, 2011

Yarn:  Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK, 57% Wool, 33% Microfiber, 10% Cashmere, in Mirage

Needle: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Elvis' Brioche Stitch

Source: BriocheStitch.com

Comments: This stitch is why I love the internet.  As you saw in earlier posts, I was using the Brioche Stitch website to try out a number of different brioche stitches.  When I tried this one, I couldn't make it work - something in the pattern just wasn't right.  So I emailed Nancy Marchant, the author of the site, and 2 days later she emailed me back!  At first it looked like she wasn't going to be able to review and revise her pattern, but not 4 days later, there it was in my inbox!  Thanks so much Nancy!  This pattern is reverse-engineered from a sweater worn by Elvis - you can see a photo if you click the link above.  But be warned - as of my writing this (Jan 1/12), the pattern on the site is not yet the correct version.  Please email Nancy if you want a copy - I don't have the rights to distribute the pattern!

December 19, 2011

Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4-Ply, 100% wool, in Green

Needles: 3.5 mm / 4 US

Gauge: 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Reversible Garter Stitch Rib

Source:  Leisure Arts #932, 60 Easy to Knit Pattern Stitches Combine to Create Sampler Afghans, pattern number 51

Comments: Simple is good.  Especially when you're more interested in what you're watching on TV than what you have on your needles.  :)

December 7, 2011

Yarn:  Some kind of worsted weight yarn, hand-dyed red by Kate, and passed on to me via Darcy.

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 5.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: 'Barège Knitting for Shawls'

Source: My Knitting Book, by Miss Lambert (1845), p. 79-80

Comments: According to Google's dictionary, 'Barège' is "A light, silky dress fabric resembling gauze, typically made from wool."  I suppose this could make a light fabric, but you'd have to use a much lighter yarn.  This was the last of my forays into 19th century knitting patterns.  After this one, I took a bit of a break and went back to my regularly scheduled knitting.

December 6, 2011

Yarn: GarnStudio Drops Alpaca - 100% Alpaca, in blue/turquoise mix

Needles: 3.5 mm / 4 US and 5mm / 7 US (I think)

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: 'Raised Knitting for a Shawl'

Source: My Knitting Book, by Miss Lambert (1845), p. 76

Comments: This is a very bad photo - it doesn't do justice to the stitch.  It caught my attention because it uses two different sized needles - a set of the smaller ones, and just one of the larger one.  I had to upsize my needles to suit my yarn - the pattern calls for sizes 19 and 18, which in modern versions are something like 1mm and 1.25mm needles.... and you thought knitting with lace weight yarn was difficult!

December 5, 2011

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Merino Mix, 51% Merino/49% Acrylic Worsted Weight yarn

Needle: 4 mm / US 6

Gauge: 3.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Laurel-Leaf Counterpane Pattern

Source: The Lady's Knitting Book, by Elvina M. Corbould. 1878.  (accessible here), p. 38-39

Comments: Another from that same vintage book.  The increases on this one are worked by way of a yarn-over at the very start of each row - hence the less than straight edges.  Not sure I like that approach - we'll see how it looks once its sewn into the rest of the blanket.  For the knit and purl section at the top, the instructions say to work in ribs, decreasing at the beginning of each row.  Good thing she then explains exactly how to work these ribs, otherwise I probably would've switched to a standard 2x2 ribbing!  :)

December 4, 2011

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

Needle: 3.5 mm / US 4

Gauge: 6.5 stitches and 11 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Talisman Pattern

Source: The Lady's Knitting Book, by Elvina M. Corbould. 1878, p. 41.  (accessible here)

Comments: Someone on one of my knitting mailing lists pointed out that the University of Southampton in the UK has made available a digital collection of 19th century knitting books - and far be it from me to ignore a resource such as this!  The hardest part of these patterns (especially the early ones) is the wording of the patterns.  Some are more easy to understand than others - I suggest  that you try to work the patterns as you read them - it makes them far easier to understand!


This one looks liek another stitch I've seen somewhere, but I can't figure out which one!

October 17, 2011

Yarn: 2-ply 100% DK Wool from MeadowMist Farm on Mayne Island, BC.

Hook: 6.5 mm / US 10.5-K

Gauge: 3 stitches and 3 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: single crochet (double crochets in the UK system - which terminology is used in Europe?)

Source: Swatch for Snuggly Slippers, from Crochet Today! - Special Issue 2010. 

Comments:  I keep stealing Mike's wool socks to keep my feet warm, so I figured I'd better hurry up and make myself some slippers!  The yarn I want to use is smaller than what is used in the pattern, so I had to make a swatch first.  I didn't get gauge, hence the widening of the swatch to see if one extra stitch would make up the required 4 inches.  Not that that helps my overall gauge, but I think I'm willing to just fudge the pattern a little!  :)

August 22, 2011

Yarn: Dale of Norway Heilo, 100% Sport weight wool, in Goldenrod

Needles: 3.5 mm / 5 US

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Margaret Murray's Pattern - Filler Square

Source: Knitting Counterpanes: Traditional Coverlet Patterns for Contemporary Knitters by Mary Walker Phillips, p. 65.

Comments: This book is really making me want to knit an entire counterpane (also known as a bedspread).  I'm loving these little knit from the centre squares that are used to join the larger panels together (many of the panels are hexagonal/octagonal, hence the need for the filler squares in the middles, and filler triangles for the edges).   Maybe I'll make some of the main panels next - if I make them in cotton, they'll make lovely dishcloths!

August 12, 2011

Yarn: Rowanspun 4-ply, 100% 4-ply Wool

Needles: 3.5 mm / US 5

Gauge: 5.5 stitches x 12 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: 'Swirls and Square' Patterned Square

Source: Knitting Counterpanes: Traditional Coverlet Patterns for Contemporary Knitters by Mary Walker Phillips, p. 40.

Comments: Another deliberately small pattern - this one is meant to be a joining piece for a counterpane made up of octagonal medallions.  Ms. Phillips calls it "moderatelydifficult" - I think that's because of the fiddly-ness of having to start this with 8 stitches on 4 needles! :)

August 7, 2011

Yarn: Shepherd Classic 100% Worsted Wool in Orange

Needles: 4mm / 6 US

Gauge:  5.5 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Embossed Diamond

Source: Printed Silk Cardigan in Interweave Knits, Spring 2008

Comments: In the cardigan repeats of this diamond are used to provide texture to the upper bodice of the sweater.  Its pretty effective, although the left leaning twists are far less neat than the right-leaning ones.  I wonder if that's user error (ie: my fault), or if they could be improved by using a different twist technique?

July 12, 2011

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

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Zigzags

Source: Knitting Basics: All You Need to Know to Take Up Your Needles and Get Knitting, by Betty Barnden, p. 92.

Comments:  I was flipping through this book and spotted this pattern and thought I'd try it out.  In the book's pic the holes from all the yarn overs are smaller, but that might just be due to a little over-zealous blocking on my part.  :)

May 8, 2011

Yarn: Patons UK Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK, 100% Wool

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 8 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: "Cable Motif F"

Source: Aran Throw pattern, from the Step-By-Step Knitting Workbook by Debbie Bliss (the new version has a slightly different title)

Comments: This wasn't the motif I intended to knit - the pattern doesn't have a diagram or picture of the entire blanket indicating which motif goes where, nor does it offer any charts for the motifs (hopefully they fixed this in later editions!).... so I read through Motif F quickly, saw the bobbles, and assumed I had the right one.  So much for my assumptions!  :)

May 7, 2011

Yarn: DROPS Karisma, 100% Superwash Wool in Black

Needles: 4 mm / 6 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Hexacomb pattern

Source: Hexacomb Cardigan, from Interweave Knits, Spring 2008

Comments:  This one is a good example of why dark yarns and texture patterns are not always a good mix.  I've had to lighten the photo to make the design more visible, and its not all that much better in real life either.

May 3, 2011

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

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Cable Pattern from Elinor Brown's Tuckernuck Cardigan, featured in Interweave Knits, Winter 2010

Source: Interweave Knits, Winter 2010

Comments: I like the cables in this pattern, so I thought I'd try it out. (Have you noticed my new trend in stitch pattern sources - about time I put all my knitting magazines to good use!).

April 29, 2011

Yarn: Cascade 220 Paints, 100% Worsted Weight Wool, in Maple Fall

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4.5 sts and 7 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Sailor's Rib  

Source: BW2, apparently, although I got it from the Vintage Inspired Jacket pattern from Interweave Knits Fall 2005

Comments: A variegated yarn is used in the pattern, so I thought it might be suitable for this one too.

April 28, 2011

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Baby Silk - 80% Alpaca/20% Silk, in Cedar

Needles: 3.5mm / US 4

Gauge: 7 stitches and  8 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Little Birds

Source: The Stitch Pattern from Cherry, by Anna Bell

Comments: This one is for Darcy.  :)

April 27, 2011

Yarn: Cascade 220 100% Worsted Weight Wool in Christmas Heather

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch

Stitch Pattern: Crocus Pattern

Source: the Crocus Cardigan, by Laura Grutzeck, Interweave Knits Winter 2010.

Comments: I was flipping through this magazine and decided to try out one of these crocus patterns.  

March 23, 2011

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

Gauge: 5.5 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Moss Panels

Source: Leisure Arts #932, 60 Easy to Knit Pattern Stitches Combine to Create Sampler Afghans, pattern number 22

Comments: I like this one - its very unusual, and it gives really interesting texture.  Nice to see how well I blocked it, eh!  Shows real care and attention, I'm sure!   :)

March 18, 2011

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

Needles: 4.5 mm / 7 US

Gauge: 4 stitches and 5 rows per inch 

Stitch Pattern: Wheatear Stitch

Source: Leisure Arts #932, 60 Easy to Knit Pattern Stitches Combine to Create Sampler Afghans, pattern number 22
Comments: This is kind of a random pattern - I can't really think of a good way to use it...  and I don't really like the way the yarn-over hole at the bottom of each lacy bit is so big.  :-\

March 14, 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: Grain of Wheat Pattern

Source: The Knitting Collection, Looseleaf Binder Cards, from Golden Press (circa 1982)

Comments: I've been letting the yarn tell me what it wants to be these days, and today the yarn wanted something wheat-like...  there followed a search through my stitch books, and this is what I came up with.  :)