New Designs for a New Year

Happy New Year!

I am pleased to show you two new designs, both commissioned by the Jade Sapphire Yarn Company and both previewing at TNNA, right now!

The first design is call Netsuke Wrap. It is knit with a new Jade Sapphire yarn called AngelWing. This yarn is handspun laceweight, 100% Mongolian Cashmere and as soft as a cloud. Because the yarn is really handspun, the yardage varies from skein to skein. For such a soft yarn, it has remarkable stitch definition.
This project has an interesting construction and includes Ivory Ceylon beads in the first tier of the border. I consider it a challenging knit.
It is warm and light and can be worn as a wrap...
And also as a shrug, just by adding some ribbons ties.
Very interesting to knit and yummy to wear...

The second project uses one of my favorite yarns, Jade Sapphire 2-ply Silk and Mongolian Cashmere. The colorway that I used is called Purple Haze and the design is called The Beaded Serpent.
I used just one skein (about 400 yards) of yarn, plus Amethyst Gold Luster beads on both ends, along with a gold tassel. The color of the yarn and beads is a perfect blend.
This project also uses an interesting construction, with a provisional cast-on and no cast-off.
A very elegant serpent...

You can ask for both of these new designs where Jade Sapphire yarns are sold. The are brand new, so it might take a few weeks for shops to get them. If you have trouble finding them drop me a comment and I will help!

I added three more patterns to my Raverly Pattern Store (link on the left.) These are Blue Ribbon Sampler, Jade Flower and Crimson Cowl, just in case you were looking for any of these...

Finally, I am getting ready to launch my winter project. It is going to be a Pi shawl, using the traditional construction (thank you, EZ.) I did try to stretch the limits of that construction and I trust the project will be challenging and fun. If you belong to either of my YahooGroups you will get the details by later today. I will post details here next week, so stay tuned!

Until then, knit on!

Happy Solstice!

BadKitten and her Cousin Ben made us cookies to celebrate the season. They are getting very good in the kitchen, eh?
I wanted to bring all of you a gift for the holiday season, and what could be better than a hat? Quick to make, fun to wear and it chases the winter chill.

This pattern began life as a basic doily, which I shared for free. You might recognize Little Flower... Catherine Dunlap took the doily pattern and made a lovely hat, which she was kind enough to share with me. Her hat is made on larger needles than are in my comfort zone, so I reworked things for a finer gauge. Her hat is styled as a tam, with a decrease at twice the rate of the increase. My version is a classic beret. This pattern contains three charted versions. The first version is a beret in sock weight yarn. The second is a beret in DK weight yarn, and the third is Catherine’s original, a tam in DK weight yarn. Thanks to Catherine for generously sharing her concept! Special thanks to Mary Rose and Judith Gilbert.
BadKitten graciously humors her mother by showing off the light weight beret. I believe that she looks gracious...
I think she is getting a little fed up, but hiding it well...

Materials for Light weight Beret
-1 skein of Ella Rae Lace Merino 100gms/460 yards in color 103
-1 set of 5 US 2 double pointed needles (7 inches or longer)
-Yarn needle for weaving in ends
-12 inch dinner plate to block (optional)
Gauge:
7 stitches to the inch blocked in stockinette.

Materials for DK weight tam or beret
-1 skein of Baby Bee Sweet Delight Twist in color yellow
-1 set of US size 8 double pointed needles (7 inches or longer)
-Yarn needle for weaving in ends
-12 in dinner plate to block (optional)
Gauge:
5 stitches to the inch in stockinette.

Directions
-Cast-on 8 stitches to four double pointed needles and join in the round being careful not to twist.
-Work one round plain.
-Begin following the chart
-Repeat chart eight times for each round (twice per needle.)
-After completing your chosen chart, cast off loosely in ribbing.
-Soak in cool water and block to shape. You can use a 12 in plate to block the berets.

For those of you who have been with me for the long haul, you know what to do with the following pictures! Click on them and print in Landscape mode. First you have the chart key...

Second you have the chart for the light weight beret...

Finally you have the chart for both the DK beret and tam...

Here are Cathrine Dunlap's photos of the tam that she made. Here model is Lauren Ruff, who was kind enough to let us use her photograph.
You can see the shape in this picture.
And the front edge here...
Finally, you can see the original Little Flower right here!
Both Little Flower and now this remix are available as PDF files at my Ravelry Pattern Store. They are both free! If you want to know more about Little Flower, check this old post for details.
I wish all of you a wonderful, wonderful whatever you are celebrating. I hope it is filled with fiber and cookies!

Little Gifts...Plain and Fancy

With holidays coming fast, we all need a few small gifts that can fly quickly off the needles, use modest amounts of yarn and please a wide audience. Each of these project uses one skein of the specified yarn. As an added bonus, these project each involve more advanced techniques for lace knitters, and we could all buff our technique... The Green Spiral uses one skein of AllHemp 3 from Hemp for knitters. It has a center start, a simple spiral pattern and a knitted edging. Lots of good lace technique to practice on this one!

The finished Spiral is perfect on your table and looks great with my nice pots. It is equally as pretty as a wash cloth, and a crocheted loop is optional. This piece is about 15 inches across.

The Purple Square is also knit in the AllHemp 3, and is started at the center. This is another good piece for practicing that center start.

The finished Purple is 13 inches square and can be used as a table centerpiece or as a bath cloth. You can see the optional crocheted loop in this version.

The third project in the pattern is The Bronze Square. This one is knit in Marks and Kattens Linen (153 yards in 5o grams.) It is the simplest, and is a squares with a border pick-up and worked around. The techniques include using a provisional cast-on and and picking up a lace border.

The Bronze size is 11.5 inches square and it works as either a table center or a wash cloth. This piece and a fancy bar of soap are perfect as a hostess gift or stocking stuffer for the fussiest people on your gift list!

The pattern, which includes all three projects, is available now at my Ravelry Pattern Store. Knit on into the Holidays!

The Summer Squares Festival!

I have some amazing work to share with you today! Following are photos of finished projects from The Summer Squares Suite, with some details below each photo. I grouped the projects together, starting with The Summer Squares Blanket:
These two blankets are knit by Sue:
"Summer Squares Blanket #1 and 2: US 5 needles, Colourmart Exotic Cotton in Pale Leaves, Red Clay, River Sand, Hot Sand, Pale Earth, Single crochet chain to lace corners." I envy the lucky people who gets these beauties!

Next we have a couple of Dark Star Stoles:

This is Malle's Dark Star, made with "Knit Witch Yarn 100% Superfine Alpaca."
This is Sue's Dark Star (with Rocky)
"Dark Star: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) needles, 1 skein of Aurora Whisper in green, 1362 yds." Rocky looks pleased...

We have a few Blue Quartet Blankets next:

This version is from Sue:
"Quartet blanket: US 6, Colourmart Exotic Cotton in Pale Leaves and Silver Sand, 1 skein each 1100 yds. Modified the easy edging to 10 stitches with some YOs."
Mary Rose did this unique project borrowing elements from a few!
She calls it: Summer Mash
"Elann Norweigian Sport Wool (discontinued) and Knit Picks Telemark Wool
size 6 (US) needles
Elements of Summer Blanket (joins and edging) Golden Eye (border) The Blue Quartet (extra garter between the squares) "
This Blue Quartet is from Malle:
"Knit with Adriafil Snappy Ball, cotton."

These two photos are of Cara's Blue Quartet:
"The Quartet was knitted following the original directions with no additional repeats. I used Colourmart 4/28 Cashmere and a size 5 needle. Finished size is about 39 inches square."

Finally, we have a slew of Golden Eye Shawls:

This version was knit by Mary Rose (with TDQ):
"Golden Eye : Valley Yarns Hand-dyed 2/14 in Tapestry
size 4 (US) needles
modifications: added extra border repeats to enlarge the shawl"
This is Malle's version, and is knit from wool yarn.
This version was knit by Sue:
"Golden Eye: US 5 (3.75 mm) needles, 2 skeins of BBKnits laceweight in color "Peachglow" for a total of 1760 yds. I knit three extra repeats of the border. Hope to use it as a baby blanket!"
Cara knit this version:
"Golden Eye was knitted following the original directions with no additional repeats. I used Colourmart 2/16 Merino/Angora in green and knitted with a size 3 needle. Finished size is about 36 inches square."
Knit by Colleen Archbold:
"Knitpicks Shadow colour heathered blue, 3 skeins
3.75mm needles
I worked an extra round in the border.
size 8 beads, triangle fuscia lined light blue
Loved every minute of this project:)"
This one knit by Lara and she used Bernat Baby yarn.
Jean knit this version
"Yarn : Cashmere wool blend yarn 24 S/2
Needle size: 00 1.75mm
Color : Turquoise
Size: 45” square
She made 9 border repeats!"

The Summer Squares Group will be wrapping up, and the full suite of charts and patterns (all 40ish pages) will be available shortly. The individual patterns will also be available. Keep an eye on my Ravelry pattern store.

I can't thank all of you enough! The project was made so much richer by your willingness to share your finished work with me (and everyone else!) I hope all of you enjoyed the process as much as I did. I put all your names in a hat and asked LucyFur to close her eyes are pick one, but she reminded me that she does not have opposable thumbs...so I asked BadKitten to do it instead.

The winner of my small Summer Squares Festival Post gift is:
Malle!
Email me privately with your mailing address! The yarn and beads above will be on their way to you!

Finally, stay tuned! I have a nifty winter project in the works, and this one will be blog-based and great fun. Until next time, knit on!

Athena and Friends...

I have a new design to share with you. This is what I call "travel knitting." There is a bunch of simple knitting that does not require much concentrations, and a few spurts of fun. I knit this project on my recent trip to Greece. It was not the only knitting that I had with me, but it was the only project that did not require constant attention to charts or small beads. I knit on planes, boats, beaches and mostly in a car on twisting mountain roads. This was a great project for all of that! It is available at my Ravelry Pattern Store as of right now. If you don't have a Ravelry account but still want the pattern, drop me a comment with your email address.

There are lovely 6/0 violet goldluster beads in the eyelet panel across the back and in the final border. I also used long magatamas, which were really fun to work with. The yarn is Araucania Itata Solid in color 2010 and I used 2 skeins (about 800 yards total.)
I showed you the fiber I dyed a few weeks ago. Yes, it will be yarn sooner rather than later. I am working on selecting some beads for this yarn right now, but the pattern I plan to knit is already designed, yes sir...

And finally, I made more socks using the new Jade Sapphire sock yarn, called Sapphire Sox. I decided I really like the yarn. The photo is terrible, but the pattern is pretty nice, so take a closer look. Better photos to follow, but the pattern is available right now at my Ravelry Pattern Store. If you want the pattern but not the Ravelry account, leave me a comment with your email address and I'll get back to you! You can still find a free (different) pattern for this yarn at the link for the yarn.

Finally, please look at the other recent additions to my Ravelry Pattern Store and thank you for your interest! I added Ojo De Dios and Tallin Sunset a few weeks ago.

I have several other major projects about to jump off my needles, plus some great little holiday gift projects and a big winter blog project all hiding up my sleeve, but first I have to go to Rhinebeck this Saturday. Neither rain or snow or sleet or...whatever!

Summer Squares Comes to a Conclusion...

I posted the final charts and directions for The Summer Squares project last week. Now everyone just has to knit! The blanket can have as few as four squares (for a crib blanket) or as many squares as the knitter likes (for any size blanket you like!) The edging is simple, with lacing and a bow at each corner. My yarn is a very light cotton/silk blend, but this project can work in any weight yarn you want to work with.

The squares are joined using contrasting yarn and a fun, totally knit technique. No sewing is required for this project at all...

Before I say my final farewell to summer, I want to alert all my Summer Squares participants to a special Thank-You Contest. I want to share pictures of your Summer Squares projects here on the blog. Send me pictures of your completed projects, along with yarn specs, and I will put your name into the hat. Send me pictures of more than one completed project? I will put you name in the hat more times! And what will you get if you name is pulled from the hat??? Yarn and beads...shipped from my home to your home, anywhere in the world:
A ball of Lacey Lamb in this gorgeous, spicy orange and 20 grams of silver-lined warm, brown beads...perfect for an Autumn project! Until next week...knit on.