Technique Class - Knitting in the round, August 6

We have added a new class to the July/August line up, at customer request.

Technique Class
Knitting in the Round

· I- cord
· Double pointed needles
· Circular needles
· Joining in the round
· Adding new yarn in the round
· Avoiding ladders
· Moebius techniques
. How to change a flat pattern to knitting in the round

Saturday 6th of August 9.30am – 11am
$22, materials included for use in class

10% discount for circular and DP needles purchased by class participants on the day.

Purple socks

The next pair of must finish socks are also in Sante Fe. This colourway is called grape jam. I think it is my favourite - or maybe it is just my favourite at the moment.



The socks are my own pattern again, the usual, but with an eyelet insertion down the front. I am very pleased with how this turned out - it is visible, but not bulky or uncomfortable to wear in boots or closed shoes. I will be using this one again.

I am preparing for a learn to knit class tomorrow. I like to start a few simple patterns so that the students can see what they can make for a first project - at least that is my excuse for starting 2 or 3 new projects whilst there is still a significant WIP pile!

Green socks

I can hardly believe it. Only a week or so ago I claimed that I would be finishing some WIP socks, and I have actually done it! I have also managed to avoid starting any knitting project for nearly a month, which must be a record. Oo
ps, that is a lie, I made a flower brooch last week, but truly that was just finishing off an embellishment for something I had already started....
Enough confessions, here are pair #1 in the beautiful greens of Sante Fe


These are from my own everyday sock pattern, and I did try a little addition - can you see the reverse stocking stitch leaf at the back?

I can't either. Lets put this one down to experience and pretend that they are plain socks.

Knitted flower brooch. Free Pattern.

Having just completed a cardigan that needs a pin for closure, I decided to try some embellishment knitting, having seen some of this in RTW. Hand made is better in my opinion. The pattern for the different shaped petals is at the end of the post.



First I knit 8 teardrop shaped petals, with the base petals more rounded than the upper, in Jo Sharp rare comfort kid mohair, using 5.0mm needles.



Next I used the long cast off tails of the petals to assist the petals to curve. I wove in the tail towards the top centre of the petal, then ran the thread in and out of the central column of stitches, using a wool needle.



Once I had made 4 base petals, I stitched them together at the centre.



The upper petals were made in the same manner, then joined individually over the base petals.



All the tails were threaded through to the back, and knotted in pairs around the fixed leg of a kilt pin. After this knotting, the tails were gathered together, formed into two bunches, and tied in a reef knot around the same leg of the pin.



After construction, small beads were stitched through the centre of the flower, using standard sewing thread and a beading needle.







Base Petals - teardrop shape: Make 4

1.Make a slip knot, leaving a tail of at least 15cm, Cast on 2 stitches,
2.Knit in to front and back of each stitch (4 stitches)
3.Purl row
4.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
5. Purl row
6.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
7. Purl row
8.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
9. Purl row
10. Knit row
11. Purl row
12. Knit row.
13. Purl row,
14. Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
15. Purl row
16.Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
17. Cast off 8 stitches in Purl. Leave a long tail (15cm)

Upper petals - make 4, these are more elongated than the base petals.


1.Make a slip knot, leaving a tail of at least 15cm, Cast on 2 stitches,
2. Knit row
3. Purl row
4.Knit in to front and back of each stitch (4 stitches)
5.Purl row
6.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
7. Purl row
8.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
9. Purl row
10.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
11. Purl row
12. Knit row
13. Purl row
14. Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
15. Purl row
16.Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
17. Cast off 8 stitches in Purl. Leave a long tail (15cm)

Jen's Willow Cowl

Look what Jen made from Sante Fe, more often encountered as a beautifully soft sock. The colourway is 1335, also known as "vintage" , and I just love it. I have to admit that I am a weak woman. When Jen showed me her almost completed and gorgeous cowl, she had hardly walked out of the shop with the yarn she needed before I had cast on a sock in the same yarn. I will probably need a cowl too ;).


We will not talk about the 3 pairs of work in progress socks that I currently have lurking about somewhere. I am blaming them on the sock knitting class we held in...ulp, March!. How did it turn into May already?

You can see more about Jen's cowl here if you are a Ravelry member.

The pattern is Willow Cowl by Amelia Lyon, which is a free pattern downloadable on Ravelry.

Crofter Scarf

I am very fond of the wearability of the Sirdar Crofter range. I have just finished making 3 rib scarves for my children from the Chunky weight, and no one has even mentioned the dreaded "itchy" that lurks menacingly behind any project knitted for direct application to the skin.



Here is the first version, in colour 59, Rambler Rose. I actually made this scarf to co-ordinate with the Hat for Camp that Rocks.

This started a chain of family requests.
The next one is much shorter, and in the manly shade of number 61, Misty Moor.



Naturally, I then needed to make a third scarf, this time in the lovely greens and purples of colour number 50, Bracken.



These were really quick scarves that I was able to knit as a handbag project-a portable size, and the sort of knitting you can pick up or put down at any stage.
Now I am almost ready for something more complicated.

Moss stitch Infinity Scarf

I am hooked on moebis scarves/cowls. This version, for my daughter, is knit in moss stitch, from two yarns held together, Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair (Char), and Silk Road DK Tweed (Peppercorn).

I love the texture of these two yarns together, they make a beautifully soft and snuggly fabric. The lighter Peppercorn yarn shows more in the purl stitches, giving the scarf textural interest, even though the colours are subdued.
You can wear the scarf long or doubled.

I will be knitting more of these.