I’ve just had a new pattern published with Knitscene for Spring 2012 (Spring always seems like wishful thinking at this time of year!)   There are some very wearable designs in this issue, I’m really fond of Beulah Cardigan by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark, I love the wonderful color and delicate design of the cardigan.

I worked with a yarn for the Florence Cardigan that was new to me but really works for the pattern.  Its a slubby cotton/linen mix that was knit at a slightly loose gauge.  This allows it to drape and flow which is what the design needs!  It’s a simple pattern with a few little twists to make it unique!  I would love to knit another one for myself, seems like a good all purpose summer cardigan.

You can see more about Florence Cardigan here, you can buy this issue of Knitscene (Spring 2012) here and you can see more details on the ravelry page here.

I try to take a few photos of me wearing the knits before I send them off to magazines.  I think that way you get a chance to see the piece in two different settings and worn different ways.  Here are my photos from last summer of the cardigan:

I’ve been waiting patiently for Christmas when my niece came to visit, I had several little girl patterns waiting for her to model! (She did get to keep some of them!)
She is very fond of pink at the moment so the pretty Watermelon color of this yarn was one of her favorites! The yarn for this project is Spud & Chloe ‘Sweater’ that they kindly provided for the project. This is one of the best yarnd out there for kids, machine washable in great colours with a mixture of wool and cotton. Anyone with kids knows the importance of this, even a hint of a scratch and you won’t get them near it!

This is Ignus Junior knitted in size 4 worn by a child who is 4 1/2 (that 1/2 is important!)

Ignus Junior $5.95

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In the next few weeks I’ll have a couple more little girl patterns available, when I have a model available I want to take full advantage of her!

Ignus is the cover photo from my newest booklet Scrumptious Knits.  This booklet is still on pre-order but it’s almost ready.  We’re on the last set of edits and it will be released at the end of the week.  So if you want to take advantage of the reduced pre-order price (and the exclusive bonus pattern Ignus Junior) order quickly!

I had promised you some details about the patterns in the booklet, the first I’ll look at is Ignus.  I’m really happy with how this tunic turned out, it incorporates so many things I love, raglan shoulder shaping, ribbing, just a little cables and a long length.  Over the last year I’ve found myself drawn to longer tops, they are so versatile and flattering to wear with leggings or skinny jeans.  If longer tunic styles isn’t your cup of tea it’s an easy job to shorten this, just omit some of the hip increase rounds, start the ribbing sooner and make it just a couple of inches rather then the depth shown.

Here is a detail of the side cable.  It’s worked into the ribbing pattern and ends just before the bottom of the ribbing.  This cable detail is echoed in the cowl neck sleeve and in the hip ribbing.  The ribbing along the side gives a very flattering fit, it adds a little extra stretch without being clingy.  It’s the same with the sleeves, worked in ribbing it does take a little longer but they fit so nicely it’s worth it!

Here in this detail of the front you can see that it has raglan shoulder shaping.  This is started at the neck and is worked from the top down.  There are a few short rows at the back of the neck to raise it up and the neck is curved to create a good shape.  When the neck shaping is finished you join to work in the round and the rest of the top is worked in the round.  The side shaping is worked on either side of the ribbing as you go so it’s easy to move it up or down to suit your own natural waist.

Finally the cowl neck is worked at the very end.  I love the finishing touch this gives to the tunic.  Until this was added when I was knitting it looked almost naked!  It really needed the extra detail to finish it off.  As with the length of the tunic the length of the cowl is also customizable.  I knit a longer version but just try it on as you go until you get the finish you want.  I’ve got a little secret to tell you about my blocking, I had a bit of a disaster….It got slightly shrunk!!  I ended up stretching the body, cowl and sleeve length back to the original size and it just about worked.  The sleeves ended up a touch shorter than originally but only I’d notice!  It worked really nicely for the cowl, stretching it created really nice drape, so due to my accident I discovered how nice a drape you get in the cowl with extreme blocking!

So, we’ve come to the end of the CIK (Contemporary Irish Knits) KAL.  I’ve been watching everyone’s progress over the last few weeks and there are some really gorgeous knits being finished!  Now the time has come to photograph you knits and get it up on my Stolen Stitches group tomorrow to be seen.  Sue is going to put up three different threads; one for adult garments, one for kids garments and one for accessories.  You just need to post your photo, tag it with ‘CIK2011′ and tell everyone about it.  Get your friends voting as the project with the most ‘loves’ will win the prize!

We’ll have a lovely mixture of prizes, which will include yarn, button/stitch marker goodies, patterns and a little surprise.  Remember that you can enter each category for multiple chances to win!

For anyone in the Cork area our wonderful local hand dyer ‘Hedgehog Fibres‘ is having an opening party for her new studio.  I’m really looking forward to this and if anyone local is coming, see you there!  Beata has very kindly donated some hanks of her lovely yarn for one of the KAL prizes so I’ll be picking that up on Saturday as well to send on to the lucky winner!

We took some photos of my original Bakerville hoodie (from Scrumptious Knits) at the same time as the second version.  You might notice some similarities :)  I’m rather fond of this colour grey in cardigans.  In fact if you went through my wardrobe you’d find probably 75% grey for knitwear!  I love grey paired with brighter colours, a bright orange t-shirt with a grey cardigan over it is just a lovely combination.  My first test version of this hoodie was done using some Knit Picks simply cotton sport that I had in my stash.  When I knit a first version I experiment a little with the construction until I get a finished piece that looks good and is as easy to knit as it can be.  After that I got some sportsweight/4-ply Scrumptious Yarn in slate and Dixie knit the sample for the second version of the hoodie.

This hoodie uses one of my favorite construction methods, top down with set in sleeves.  For this you begin with a provisional cast on across the shoulders, work short rows to slope the shoulders and work the back to the armpits (shaping them as you go).  Then the provisional cast-on is undone and the front section is worked just like the back but with the central neck stitches held for later.  At this point the front and back can be joined and worked together in the round.  You can see here how the ribbing is worked down the side of the body with shaping worked at each side of it and a pocket added for good measure.  Note as well that this is the Fyberspates version below, you can see the beautiful shimmer of the silk in the sun.

When the body is finished we begin work on the generously size hood.  This is shaped into a hood by working short row decreases across the top which form lovely seam lines as they are worked.

At the very end you work the front diagonal ribbed panels.  These are worked all the way around until the hood is finished, then the two front panels are worked for a little longer to create a crossover front placket.

I’ve been hinting a little over the last few months at another medium size project I’ve been working on.  It’s a pattern collection called ‘Scrumptious Knits‘ in collaboration with Fyberspates using their aptly names ‘Scrumptious’ yarns.  I’ve done a few individual designs using Scrumptious before but the range of yarn weights and colours available really begged for a more substantial collection.  Jen (who owns Fyberspates) is busy expanding the business with a new American distributor (Lantern Moon) as well as rolling the yarn out in many UK and Irish shops so it seemed like the perfect time to put the collection together.  The fact that Jen is so much fun to work with makes it always a good time to work with her :)

So, now the knitting is finished, the test knitters have finished and the tech editor has done her work.  A few weeks ago I had great fun doing a photoshoot with Joe downtown in Cork.  The photos were taken in Fitzgerald’s park by the skate park and on the shaky bridge and below UCC by the Glucksman gallery.  (In case you’re wondering, the shaky bridge really is shaky…we had to wait for people to pass between shots as it bounces so much!)  The final steps are now out of my hands, Joe is putting the final layout together and then its off to the printer!!  I’m both excited and really nervous about getting my first booklet printed as its a bigger money investment than I’ve done before.

Because of that I’ve got it up for pre-order while the layout is being finished.  This should bring in enough funds that the printing won’t involve the credit card :)  For anyone thinking about pre ordering I’ve put a nice package together for you, you not only get a reduced price but also an exclusive bonus pattern ‘Ignus Junior’.  This offer will expire once the full ebooklet is released in mid-December.

To buy a print version of the booklet please visit Fyberspates.  A 20% discount coupon for a print version will be included with your electronic purchase.  This will also apply if you buy a hard copy of the booklet first, you’ll have a single use coupon for a discount on the electronic version.

Yarn shops may pre-order this booklet also, find all my distributors on my wholesale page (Fyberspates, Lantern Moon and Deep South Fibers).  If you’ve got a LYS that you’d like to see the booklet in tell them to get in contact!

I’ll leave you with a few shots from the book but you can see a little more descriptions on the Scrumptious Knits page or the ravelry page.  I’ll blog a little more about each pattern over the next week or two so you can read about the design and construction process.

I’ve just had a new pattern Corcovado published in the Winter issue of Twist Collective. It is always such an honor to be part of the wonderful Twist team, their attention to detail and wonderful photography makes it just as exciting for me as any other knitter when the issue goes live!  One of the tech editors I work with, Ashley Knowlton, has some beautiful socks, Darlington in this issue also…now just to find some time to knit them (I appear to be running very short of hand knit socks!)

This cardigan was quite different for me in many ways.  I rarely work in multiple colors or with seamed designs!  The construction made sense for this cardigan, the back and front panels are worked in different directions so it was just as easy to sew a seam afterwards as to pick up stitches.
For anyone who really dislikes seaming I’d suggest picking up stitches from the side of the back panel and knitting directly from the back so a seam is unnecessary.

If stranded color work makes you nervous you’ll be happy to hear that this is created using slip stitch color work so you are only ever knitting with one color at a time and the color changes are close enough together that they can be woven up the side to avoid having to weave in a million ends!

I love how the brightly contrasting colors created a woven effect for the front of the cardigan.  In fact that’s how I came up with the name, Corcovado is a national park in Costa Rica close to a spot that my sister in law used to live.
A very different effect would be created with this cardigan if the colors used were closer in tone to each other, I’m curious to see any variations that people knit, so get knitting people!  You can see below my original swatch with only two colors, purple and pink:

I’ve been hinting a little for the last few months at a new booklet I’ve been working on for Fyberspates.  I’m coming up to the final stages of finishing the booklet now and I’m getting very excited to see it all coming together!  Anyone who has used Fyberspates Scrumptious Yarn knows how delicious it is to work with (well it lives up to it’s name really!) so this was a pleasure to put together.  There will be a mixture of garments and accessories for women in the collection (7 patterns in total) and it will be available both digitally and in print.  Over the next few weeks I’ll give you a few more peeks at the collection…here is the first look, the cowl neck tunic.  (I still haven’t gotten my names for the pieces together!)

We’ve done several photo shoots for the booklet, but the final one from last Thursday really gave us some beautiful shots, the wonderful autumn light and bright golden leaves really create the perfect atmosphere.

I wanted to get this booklet printing this time so that it could be available for yarn shops to sell also.  If you’ve got a local yarn shop you’d like to see it in just tell them to contact one of my distributors.

This booklet should be available to pre-order in the next few weeks, with an extra exclusive pattern for anyone who pre-orders!  With the high cost of printing the pre-orders for this booklet will be important for me to help fund it.  Anyone who’s had anything printed recently knows just what I’m talking about.

There were a few of you who were looking at the photos from my launch party in September and wondering what cardigan I was wearing…

At the time the pattern was not finished, I had made a mad dash to knit the cardigan up in time for the book launch!  It is a crazy fast cardigan to knit, I think it took 4 or 5 days in total.  It’s top down raglan with a cropped body style and 3/4 length sleeves so a perfect rush job to add that splash of colour to your wardrobe!  In the pattern I’ve added tons of options, different lengths and 3 different sleeve lengths.

I’ve finished writing the pattern up and it’s currently at the tech editor.  For anyone who’d like to knit a little number for your Christmas party I’m selling the pattern on pre-order at the reduced price of $5.00.

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When you buy now you’ll get a pdf to download with project details, then when the pattern is released in approx 2 weeks time you’ll get a link to download the complete pattern.  Once the pattern is released it’ll revert to full price.

Pattern Details:

Vivido Cardigan

Add a splash of color to your wardrobe with this cardigan that knits up in a flash.  Knit from the top down with raglan shoulder shaping, and a flattering a-line body, there are several different options given for modifying as you go.  The sample is shown in a cropped style with ¾ length sleeves but options are given to add length as well as giving 3 different sleeve lengths.

SIZES

To fit bust up to size: 29 (32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53)” / 73.5 (81.5, 89, 96.5, 104, 112, 119.5, 127, 134.5) cm

0-2”/0-5cm positive ease recommended.

Finished bust measurement: 28.25 (32, 35.25, 38.5, 40.5, 43.75, 47, 50.25, 53.25)”/ 72 (81.5, 89.5, 98, 103, 111, 119.5, 127.5, 135.5) cm.

Finished length: 21 (21.5, 22.25, 22.5, 23, 23.5, 24.25, 24.5)”/ 53.5 (54.5, 55, 56.5, 57, 58.5, 59.5, 61.5, 62) cm.

Size 35.25”/ 89.5cm modeled with minimal ease.

MATERIALS

Yarn

Cascade ‘Eco+’ (100% Wool; 478yds/437m per 250g skein); Color: 8463; 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins for ¾ sleeve cropped version, actual yardage: 600 (655, 700, 750, 795, 860, 925, 1010, 1080) yds/550 (600, 640, 725, 790, 850, 925, 985) m.

Note: Ensure you have extra yarn available if you are going to lengthen the sleeves or body.

Needles & Notions

Size 10 US/6mm circular needle, 32”/80cm length

(Size 10 US/6mm dpns if not using magic loop)

Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Stitch markers, tapestry needle, 1 button approx 1”/25mm diam.

GAUGE

15 sts and 20 rows = 4″/10cm in St st.

17 sts and 24 rows = 4″/10cm in Sl Stitch pattern.

Techniques described:

I-Cord Bind Off, M!L, M1R, M1p.

Other Skills Needed:

Cable Cast On, Backwards Loop Cast On.

(c) Knitscene

This was the first pattern I’ve done for Knitscene so I was very excited about it!  It’s a simple but very wearable cardigan.  Knit from the top down with raglan shoulder shaping all of the detail is worked afterwards in the collar.  The garter stitch collar is picked up once the body is finished and it is shaped as you work to form a curved front edge.
The sample sizes given in the magazine included the front collar bands, I’ve also given back widths on the ravelry page here to help with choosing sizes.

The sample is the size 38″ which has a back width of 16.75″ and it fits me well (I’m around a size 34-35″ bust).

This was my first time using this yarn (Plymouth Yarn worsted Merino Superwash) and it was really wonderful to use.  Soft, no pilling with fantastic stitch definition.  Will jump at the chance to use it again.

I knitted the magazine sample with 3/4 length sleeves but there is an option for full length sleeves written in the pattern as well.

For anyone following my blog tour for Contemporary Irish Knits it has stopped today at Fickle Knitter here, happy reading!

This last month has just passed in a blur, I’m kind of in shock that we’re already in October!  We’re trying to get ready for another potentially cold winter here so I can hear the plumber banging away behind me upgrading our heating system.  We’ll now actually have thermostats and controls, how fancy are we!!

For anyone in the Cork area I’d really love if you could come along to Vibes & Scribes on Saturday 15th of October.  I’m going to be in the wool section of their shop (on Lavitt’s Quay) from 10.30 until 1 just hanging out.  I’ll have the samples from my book with me so if you want to try them on, ask about construction or modification I’m happy to chat!  If charts or cables make you a little nervous I’d be happy to talk through how they work with you.  So if you’re around come on in!

I’m finding the results of the survey really interesting, if you haven’t taken it yet I’d really appreciate if you could take a few minutes to fill it in.  You can find it here.  Once I get around 20 more responses I’ll post the results up here on the blog for everyone to see.  There were a few surprises!

We’re over halfway through the CIK book tour now.  Yesterday Ann Hanson posted a great review here with lots of photos from the book, and a chance to win the book if you comment before Thursday.  If you’ve missed a stop on the tour you can see the full list again below.  (You can even hear me chatting about the book with Marly Bird on her podcast!)

Tour details:
15/9/2011 Stephen West
17/9/2011 Hoxton Handmade
21/9/2011 Shannon Okey
23/9/2011 Rosemary Hill
25/9/2011 Ann Kingstone
27/9/2011 Marly Bird
29/9/2011 JC Briar
1/10/2011 Woolly Wormhead
3/10/2011 Anne Hanson
7/10/2011 Stephannie Tallent
11/10/2011 Alice Yu
13/10/2011 Michelle Miller
15/10/2011 Deirdre Thornton
17/10/2011 Ilga Leja