The Snow Queen Rises...

Finally complete and ready to share! This shows you as much as I could get in the frame.
This is a detail of the beaded section in Chart F.

And this is a detail of the "Hearts and Crowns" in Chart G.
My Snow Queen Group is still in progress, and people are finishing one by one. I plan to share more versions of Snow Queen with you as the group finishes up. For today I will just share my version.
The pattern is now available at my Ravelry Store. I suggest that you follow the link to the store for details and more photographs. You can use this link if you are not on Ravelry. The cost is $8.50, and the pattern is a 15 page booklet with lots of detail. My patterns are very well charted but do not include line-by-line (written) directions. This pattern includes a center start, many nupps and beads and is for the adventurous knitter! It is a really fun knit.
Abbreviated Materials Discussion from the pattern:

Yarn: I used Colourmart 2/28 10% cashmere 90% wool. One cone has 150 grams which is just over 2200 yards. I used under one cone. I choose to work in a natural white color for this project. You can stick with me and use one cone of a 2/28 Colourmart yarn or you can use any other yarn of your choice. Please refer to the swatch section for a good discussion about figuring out how much yarn you will need.
Beads: I used 8/0 Japanese crystal rainbow seed beads. If you use all the bead placements and knit the full Chart F you will need about 33 grams of beads (based on 350 beads per 8 grams which is approximate.) To break it down, you will need 64 beads for Chart E and 448 beads for each repeat (there are three) of chart F. You will need 48 beads for Chart G. This takes us to a grand total 1456 seed bead. There are also some optional drop beads or magatama beads in the cast-off (42.) You have the option to omit any of the beads that you choose.
Needles: I used US 2, 3 and 4 needles, or size for gauge with your middle size needle. You need a set of four or five double points for the center and a 32 inch circular for the final chart.
Other Stuff:
-You will need stitch markers if you like to use them. I suggest 16 markers, with one being unique to mark the start of the row.
-You will need stainless steel T-pins to block.
-You will need a ruler to measure yarn (see swatch section.)
-You will need a calculator
-You will need a yarn needle to weave in ends

I have some blocking photos and directions that I will post next week. Until then, knit on!

Please meet my friend...

Jeri Riggs! We knit together most Thursday evenings. Actually Jeri not only knits. She is an amazing art quilter too. But today I want to share her newest contribution to our craft, The Ingrid Cardigan. Jeri has been knitting these amazing, intricately cabled, top down sweaters. She just starts at the top and when she is done it fits her like a glove. The problem has been that she never writes down what she does. All that has changed with this new design, which is why I am so excitedSo Ingrid is worked from the top down and is carefully shaped to flatter.
The cables are charted and the instructions are very detailed, well illustrated and clear.
Her attention to detail is really amazing.
You can appreciate the wonderful shaping detail in the back.
I just have to show you another version...
Jeri loves zippers, and the two versions I am sharing have zippers in them. The pattern allows for buttons too, if that is more your style.
If you look on Ravelry you will see two other versions. One with buttons and one without anything. They all look great.
I am usually making something with holes in it, but I adore texture and cables too. Jeri is selling her pattern for Ingrid on Ravelry and I would go check it out! A spectacular design and a very wearable sweater. I have such cool friends!

I posted the final chart for Snow Queen at our Yahoogroup today, so we should be wrapping that project up very soon. I will be back next week with blocking directions for Snow Queen and some photos of the finished piece. Until then, knit, knit, knit...