Thursday, January 26, 2012

I am just bowled over by these




I love simple projects with awesome results. I also love to create unconventional designs for all of the many yarns in my stash. Combining the two with the ability to knit or crochet something quickly is, well, my idea of a perfect craft. I've been knitting felted bowls for several years and have been very attracted to a range of beautiful colors and fibers that can produce really spectacular results.

I recently discovered this wonderful T-shirt yarn from http://besweetproducts.com/ and crocheted this beauty in just about an hour. It was fun and it was easy and I used barely 60 yards of Be Sweet's T-shirt cotton. Looking forward to seeing the range of colors available so I can experiment with other shapes and sizes.

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Winter Knitting - Lace Edged Gauntlets


Not only is winter a great time to wear one's knits, it's often the most productive time for those of us who knit professionally because it is so much easier to hunker down by the fire to get the work done. The past few weeks were particularly busy for me and I set out goals to finish many of my UFOs and to experiment with some of the lovely new fibers that have arrived here at my Knitting Salon. Particularly satisfying has been the Misti Alpaca Baby Alpaca worsted, a soft and extremely warm yarn without the weight of a bulky fiber.
I wanted to knit long gauntlets that would be stylish and long to slide gracefully up my forearm. I usually find that my more formal coats are often loose at the wrist area allowing the cold air to seep up my arms. A long and attractive gauntlet would be both chic and practical. I added the lace cuff just for interest but, these lovely fingerless gloves could just as easily be worn without a coat to show off the divine lace design along the top quarter of the glove. Wear them slouchy or tight - you'll find them snug at first- which is really fine on a very cold day. The finger area is nice and roomy and almost reaches your fingertips for extra coverage when necessary. And of course, we have this beautiful yarn right here, should you wish to order directly from me.


Lace Edged Gauntlets

Design by Laurie Kimmelstiel for The Ethelridge Road Knitting Salon

Arm and hand warmers should do just that – warm the hands and forearms. This design has a wonderful and relatively simple lace pattern decorating the glove just below the elbow. The glove itself stretches down the arm allowing just enough of an opening to allow the fingers to move about and still be protected from the cold. Elegant and practical, they are rather quick to knit and can be created in any of a number of beautiful fibers. I choose some really soft baby alpaca for these but, they would be equally special in cashmere or silk.

Materials: Yarn: 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca Baby Alpaca worsted, 109 yards per ball. Needles: US5/3.75mm double points (5.5” length is best); stitch marker.

Abbreviations:

YON: Yarn over needle

K2 tog tbl: Knit 2 stitches together thru back loop

YFRN: Yarn forward and round needle. Same as yo

Lace Pattern:

Row 1: K2, *P1, yon, k2togtbl, P1, K2 Repeat from* to end of row.

Row 2: K2, *P1, K2 Repeat from* to end of row.

Row 3: K2, *P1, k2tog, YFRN, P1, K2 Repeat from* to end of row.

Row 4: K2, * P1, K2 Repeat from* to end of row.

Instructions:

Cast on 32 stitches, divide onto 3 needles, pm and begin lace pattern for 20 rows. (5 repeats)

Knit in the round until piece measures 11.5”

Begin Thumb Gusset:

Thumb Gusset:

Note: M1 {make one} by picking up the horizontal bar between two stitches, placing it on your left needle, and knitting it through the back of the loop with your right needle.
Row 1: Knit to last 2 sts. K1, m1, k1.

Row 2: Knit to last 3 sts. K2, M1, k1.

Row 3: Knit across row.

Row 4: Knit to last 3 sts. k1, m1, k2.

Row 5: Knit to last 3 sts. k1, m1, k2.

Row 6: Knit across row

Row 7: Knit to last 4 sts, K1, m1, k1, m1, k2.

Row 8: Knit across row.

Row 9: Knit to last 5 sts. K1, m1, k1, m1, k3.

Rows 10 - 12: Knit these rows.

Row 13: Knit to last 10 stitches. Bind off these last 10 sts.

Continue knitting in the round on 30 stitches, for 3 “

Top edge: over 3 rows: Purl 1 row, Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row.

Decrease Bind Off as follows: *K2 sts tog tbl and without twisting, slip st from right needle back to left needle and repeat from * until all sts are bound off. Weave in all ends and enjoy!

The entire contents of this pattern and the knitted design to which it refers are subject to copyright. Please use this pattern for your personal non-commercial use only. www.whiteridgecrafts.com

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