Lace Shrug, or, what I learned from knitting with cotton

Just two balls of Rowan Purelife cotton DK (currently in the sale in John Lewis) and one week of commuting has produced this handy lace shrug. It was a free pattern on Ravelry ("Something Lacy Shrug" by Vera Sanon for Cascade Yarns) and very enjoyable to knit.


Basically this is a rectangle of lacy loveliness with some ribbing on the sleeve edges and around the neck/back part. It is a fantastic project for the novice lace knitter since it's clear to see which part of the pattern you are knitting as you go along. It is easy peasy to memorise the repeats and  therefore safe to knit on the train or anywhere you may be distracted by, say, the strange behaviour of commuters or an exciting event in an episode of Miss Marple. 

I really loved knitting this shrug. I used lifelines to safeguard from having to rip it all back if I made a mistake because unpicking lace knitting is quite tricky. Well, enraging actually. Especially if it's your first lace experience. I am scarred by memories of ripping back hours and hours of lace knitting once. Anyway...

Lacy Shrug and creased dress.

Taking a photograph of your back, while trying to make a shrug look flattering, is tricky. Ignore the creased dress. Thank you. 

Lacy Shrug

Now for the learning points. 


1) Cotton doesn't have much give. I was worried this garment would either be too big and therefore baggy, or too tight and all bunched up in my under-arm area and pulling at my neck.  The shape of the shrug and ribbing does mean that is a risk:

Shrugs. Snug in the under-arm area.

Thankfully it seems to fit perfectly and stretches with wear.  It is a little inelegant when trying to put it on, though. The only issue when knitting with cotton was that it was tricky to pick up stitches because they are not stretchy like wool. But it was fine thanks to the selvedge edge. Phew! I had never used a selvedge edge before but it's genius for sewing up.


2) Binding off loosely. Wow. I thought I had, but cotton is a stubborn fibre and even the baggiest of cast offs leaves you feeling as if you're going to have a really nasty sagging edge to your work, but nope!

Clenching and unclenching the fists helps the blood to circulate...

This sleeve is fine in reality and has stretched since wearing it for a while.


That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about this little project but there we are. I've had a lot of coffee and spent too much time indoors today. 

30's Jumper "To Wear With a Summer Suit"

After around 12 months and one minor disaster of the scissor kind, I have finally finished this lovely jumper from A Stitch In Time (Volume One)! Hooray!

To Wear With a Summer Suit

This was my first ever pattern incorporating lace. I loved knitting the lace portion of the front and back of the jumper; it felt like each pattern repeat was a mini-goal and therefore made for a satisfying knit. The moss stitch sleeves were quite slow in comparison but worth it - moss stitch is just beautiful in this yarn (Rowan Pure Wool 4-ply).

Vintage buttons and pearls to set it off!

One of my favourite things about knitting garments is buying vintage buttons to put on them. Etsy has so many great ones it is difficult to buy just one set... I'm a button glutton.

 

Vintage buttons from Etsy

This week I bought some Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton (DK) on sale in John Lewis to knit a lacy shrug for summer. Strangely, the colour of the yarn is very gray in natural light. I was hoping it would be more brown. I'm quite enjoying knitting with cotton. I'm also shocked at how restrained I was in that sale. How I walked away without bags of other goodies I don't know!

Something Lacy Shrug, Cascade Yarns pattern by Vera Sanon

Have a lovely weekend!

The Chill Pill (Free Knitting Pattern)

The Chill Pill. Copyright KnittingPony.

This squishy woollen pill with a serene smile fits in the palm of your hand.

Materials:

• Two colours of the same weight yarn (I used Rowan 4ply wool)
• Fiberfill for stuffing
• A circular needle or double pointed needles in the recommended size for the yarn you are using (the instructions below are for circular needles using the magic loop method OR a pair of straight needles - 2 needle version of the pattern follows the dpn version at the bottom of this post
• A yarn needle
• Scissors
• Eyes: safety eyes/black yarn/embroidery floss/small buttons (I used 6mm safety eyes)
• Red yarn or embroidery floss for the mouth

Abbreviations:

• K: knit
• P: purl
• Inc: invisible increase by picking up the yarn between the stitches and knitting it to make an extra stitch.
• K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
• DPN: double pointed needle

Pattern:

Using a circular knitting needle cast on 10 stitches in colour A.

Divide so 5 stitches are on each needle. Proceed using the magic loop method. There are many good videos to explain how to do this online. If using DPNs, divide the stitches evenly on three needles.

Row 1: K all stitches (10)

Row 2: K all stitches (this is an extra row which doesn’t feature at the other end of the pill and is to ensure making increases in the next row is easier as there is more give due to more rows of knitting) (10)

Row 3: Inc between the stitches on the needle. As you have 5 stitches on each needle when using circulars, you will end up with 9 stitches on both needles.(18)

Row 4: K all stitches (18)

Row 5: Inc between the stitches on the needle. As you have 9 stitches on each needle when using circulars, you will end up with 17 stitches on both needles. (34)

Row 6 – 21: K all stitches (34)

Change to colour B and knit 16 rows.

If using safety eyes, add eyes (and mouth if desired) and stuff with Fiberfill. If embroidering the eyes and mouth or sewing on button eyes, this can be done at the end.

Eyes and smile added before the stuffing goes in

Row 37: K2tog until one stitch remains on needle, knit last stitch (repeat on other needle) (18)

Row 38: K all stitches (18)

Row 39: K2tog until one stitch remains on needle, knit last stitch (repeat on other needle) (10)

Row 40: K all stitches (10)

Cut yarn leaving a 20cm tail and thread yarn needle. Thread the tail through the stitches on the needle, once all stitches are threaded on, pull tight and secure yarn by weaving the end into the pill.

Yarn needle threading the tail through the stitches.

Weave in any ends.  If you have a hole where the colours join, take the tail of one of the colours and make a little stitch to disguise it.

Using the tail of the yarn to disguise the hole at join of second colour.

Little hole from colour join has been disguised with a fake stitch!

2 needle version

This version has two fewer rows so that the increases and decreases are worked on knit rows which I believe is easier to do than on the purl rows.

Cast on 10 stitches in colour A

1: K all stitches (10)

2: P all stitches (10)

3: K1, *K1, Inc; repeat from * until last st, K1. (18)

4: P all stitches (18)

5: K1, *K1, Inc; repeat from * until last st, K1. (34)

6: P all stitches (34)

7: K all stitches (34)

8: P all stitches (34)

Repeat rows 7 and 8 (so you are working in stockinette stitch) until row 20 which is a purl row.

Change to colour B and work the other half of the pill as follows:

21: K all stitches (34)

22: P all stitches (34)

Repeat rows 21 and 22 (so you are working in stockinette stitch) until row 36 which is a purl row.

37: K1, *K2tog; repeat from * until last st, K1 (18)

38: P all stitches (18)

39: K1, *K2tog; repeat from * until last st, K1 (10)

40: P all stitches (10)

Cast off and seam the pill along one end and up the middle using mattress stitch.  Make sure you add the eyes (if you are using safety eyes) and stuffing before you’ve done too much seaming!

Copyright KnittingPony. For personal use only. Please do not sell any chill pills you make from this pattern, or distribute or sell this pattern. Please contact me for any other information or for any errata submissions.

Tiny knits for Easter

After knitting the tiny baby bunny from the lovely Mochimochi Land free pattern, I was inspired to knit some mini gifts to take to my family this Easter. 

Tiny baby bunny pattern from Mochimochi Land made by KnittingPony

I don't know why the knitted pirate olive *needed* to be invented and knitted, but that is simply what happens when I knit random things for my father. He loved the olive and has requested an arrrr-tichoke. 

Designed and knitted by KnittingPony

I'll leave you to investigate the strange hamster-ewok hybrid I made for my sister over on my Flickr page if you fancy freaking yourselves out. Just don't look into its eyes.  Happy Easter!

Knitted Royal Wedding

I have been busy working on a variety of projects over the last couple of weeks.  The most fun project is the Footman for the Royal Wedding knitted display in the lovely yarn and gift shop, Rose & Dylan in St Albans.

I finished him last night - there was lots of sewing involved and it was very interesting to knit something like this and understand the construction of the project, since I'd usually crochet (amigurumi) people/animals. 

 

 Here he is with his very neat hairstyle:

 

Above is the book, in case you haven't a clue what I'm talking about!

In other knitting news, I am just finishing up these lovely vintage-inspired fairisle wrist warmers, just in time for the wrong time of year. I'll pack them away for the autumn. 

Designed by KnittingPony

 I'll leave you with an picture of some tulips, which last a lot longer than daffodils. Love springtime flowers! Oh, and some knitted corgis, although I'm not sure why the knitted Queen looks like she's doing a jig.

 

 

Sleepy Owl

Just finished off this sleepy owl cushion and thought I'd take the opportunity to photograph him while there is still some natural sunshine coming in through the window. 

 

He is a bit of a decadent owl. He is made from 100% merino wool and his tummy feathers are made from VV Rouleaux velvet ribbon and hand stitched with embroidery floss.  His eyes and beak are embroidered with Mirasol K'acha yarn, a mix of alpaca, silk and merino from Peru.

He's not haughty about it though. Just sleepy. Like me. I was up very early to go to the Focus on Imgaging exhibition in Birmingham today. It was interesting, with some great demonstrations but a few too many stands selling picture frames and photo albums for my taste. Lovely to have a day off and an outing though :D

 

Meet the Ancestors

I received some exciting post from my mum yesterday; scanned copies of photographs of my Italian ancestors. I love how stern my great-great-grandmother looks, and her hair is unbelievable! And look at my great-great-grandfather with his proud hand-on-hip stance! Gorgeous. 

 

It is a very gloomy and blustery Sunday. Having been out for a full English breakfast (my first non-vegetarian full English in 17 years!), done the shopping, descaled the kettle and done the washing up, I feel I can stay inside for the rest of the day and take some time to do a bit of designing. I plan to knit a vintage-inspired hot water bottle cosy and hope to adapt the finished pattern for cushion covers too.


Yesterday I completed a basic tea cosy in moss rib but I don't know exactly what I will do to embellish it. There are too many appealing yarns in my stash and I can't choose. I'm quite pleased with it, since it is my own pattern and worked quite well first time!

 

Happy Sunday!