Dalkey Set

From Contemporary Irish Knits

Anyone who has been looking at my designing over the last year or two know that I love lace and cables combined.  They complement each other so well, lace by itself can be very insubstantial and cables add bulk to knitted items.  Combine the two together and you’ve got a match made in heaven!

This cowl and fingerless mittens set is a great way of using your extra special skein of sock yarn.  One skein of Dublin Dye Studio Merino Sock was enough for a large size cowl and medium size mittens with just a little extra left.

You can see the stitch pattern in this detail shot of the cowl more easily, cables twist back and forth with lace in between.  The pattern is easy to remember after the first repeat, and the cowl is knit in the round so no wrong side rows!

This version of the cowl is the larger slouchy size.  It will fit loosely around the neck, this is ideal to pull it easily over your hair and it can be neatly folded at the neck and pinned with a brooch as seen in the top photo.

The coordinating fingerless mittens are as light as air.  Everyone should own a set of fingerless mittens in fingering weight yarn!  One repeat of the lace and cable pattern is centered on the top of the mitt for a subtle effect.

Rathcooney Fingerless Mittens and Hat

From Contemporary Irish Knits

I’ve always loved this stitch pattern, the cocoon stitch.  It is so delicate and subtle, increases and decreases move the single rows of knit stitches in and out.  The idea for this set came from the stitch pattern, I was trying it out and began experimenting with how it worked flowing from the stitch into ribbing.  I loved how it worked, the cocoon stitch is perfect for drawing in the wrist and head band for both the hat and mitts and then the ribbing forms the body of both.  As an added bonus this ribbing looks extra good when decreases are worked between it to form the crown of the hat!

The wonderful yarn for this set was donated by Beata from Hedgehog Fibres.  I knit the set using 4mm (US6) size needles which gives a fairly tight gauge for this yarn.  This helps for two reasons, firstly it gives an extra warm hat and mitt set and also the tighter gauge really allows the stitch pattern to pop out and create a very sculptural effect.

All of the edgings on the set are worked as I-cord.  I love the clean, finished look this gives to a knit, simple to work but very slick!

The mitt set is knit in size 7.75″/19.5cm shown with some positive ease and the hat is shown in 19.25″/49cm with around 2″/5cm of negative ease.  Remember that hats work best with a little negative ease so that they stay on snugly!

The full set was knit using Hedgehog Fibres Silk Merino singles (50% silk, 50% merino wool; 164 yd./150m per 100g skein) in color Winter Thaw.  Beata has told me that this yarn now has extra yardage so 2 skeins should knit that full set for all sizes!

The gauge for the ribbing is  25 sts x 30 rows = 4″ (10cm) and for the cocoon stitch pattern it is 28 sts x 32 rows = 4″ (10cm).

The final pattern from Stolen Stitches Autumn Collection 2011 is up – Tembo.

I got this yarn (Osprey) a few months ago for the first time. I had a big pile of deadline projects and it just taunted me from the corner of the office I wanted to knit with it so much!
Eventually I was able to give in and got to knit this cardigan. I love wearing it. It is soft, comfortable and very flattering to wear.
I knit it from the bottom up, separating for the pockets. The shoulders are joined together using a three needle bind off and then stitches are picked up for the sleeves and the set in sleeve cap is knit using short rows from the top down.
The collar looked very strange while it was being knit as each side is knit in one piece and the two sides are grafted together at the back of the neck. That is where the name came from – Tembo means ‘Elephant’ in Swahili, as the collar looked like an Elephant’s ear when it is being knit!

Now back to work…

I’ve just added the next pattern from to book to Ravelry – Killybegs.

(c) Joseph Feller

This design is very close to my heart, it was the very first one I completed for the book!  It took me ages (and much ripping) to get the top of the yoke just perfect.  Just the right amount of curve across the back from short rows without it becoming too high.

The cardigan is worked around a traditional honeycomb stitch cable pattern.  This is usually used as an accent panel but I’ve played with the structure so that all of the decreases are worked into the pattern around the yoke.  Its worked seamlessly from the bottom up.  The body and sleeves are both knit first of all, and then are joined at the yoke and worked in one piece.  The natural ‘drawing in’ quality of cables is used at the waist so that the increased cabling creates the waist shaping rather than decreases.

This pattern is worked up in Donegal Yarns ‘Aran Tweed’ (also sold as Studio Donegal and occasionally still under the Kilcarra label).  It’s a great color green that has fleck of orange and purple running through it.  As soon as I’m finished using the samples for my trunk show this cardigan is going straight in my wardrobe!

Materials
Donegal Yarns “Aran Tweed” (100% wool; 88 yd./80m per 50g skein); Color: Green (4824); 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) skeins
NOTE: This yarn is also sold under the “Kilcarra” and “Studio Donegal” labels.
US 8 (5mm) circular needle, 32” (80cm) length (or longer for larger sizes), or size needed to obtain gauge
US 7 (4.5mm) circular needle, 32” (80cm) length (or longer for larger sizes)
US 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles
Cable needle
Removable stitch markers
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle
9-13 hook and eye closures

All my boys are off on their summer holidays this week, even though the house is full (and work is much, much harder!) it’s really nice not to be tied to a schedule.  This year feels quite different, my oldest son is now in secondary school so he finished early as well as coming and going to friend’s houses and getting ready to head off on a 3 week camp.  Not to mention the fact that he is now very, very nearly my height!  The transition from child to teenage happens really, really fast.  So far I’m loving it…ask me again in a year or two when it really hits…

This week on my ravelry board a few knitters are putting an Akoya KAL together.  If you are think about knitting this and would like company go on over and join them.  I’ll keep following the thread to make sure that any questions you have are answered.

Last Thursday I was at the This Is Knit 5 year anniversary party in Dublin.  It was so much fun, they had a great crowd of knitters (and several fellow designers, Debbie Bliss, Kieran Foley and Aoibhe Ni) and everyone was so excited to be there.  There was so much trying on of garments over the afternoon that by the time it was all over my table of samples looked like a pile from a rummage/jumble sale.  I forgot to take any photos but keep an eye on the This is Knit blog for some photos of the event coming soon.  I got to give everyone a sneak peak of my Contemporary Irish Knits – only a few weeks to go!!  This party was so much fun I’m really looking forward to putting a big book launch party together, hopefully in September.

(Photo courtesy of Sweensie).

(Photo courtesy of Diane.)

While recovering from the trip to Dublin my head is already heading to London for Knit Nation next week.  Just 10 more days and it’ll be here!  I’m printing my maps and class notes and soon I’ll be all ready.  I’ll even sneak a few of my book samples into the suitcase so you can have a peek.  The publisher has sent me a little stack of a sample pattern from the book so if you want one over the weekend and see me just ask.

I’ve had a few patterns that seem to have come to completion (or near completion) at the same time. I was trying to decide the best way to release them and I ended up putting them together as a little collection of 3 – Stolen Stitches Autumn Collection 2011. All 3 have a very autumnal feel, greys, browns and cozy!

add to cart

I’ve released the first of the set already (Maenad) and I plan on releasing a cardigan from the collection in July and August.  If you want to get a reduced rate for all 3 pattern you can pre-order the complete set before the end of July  ($12.95), after that date the full price will be $15.   When you buy the collection new pattern pdfs will automatically be uploaded to your ravelry account as soon as they have been released and you’ll get an email to let you know….very convenient!

By the way if you want to get a little sneak peek of the other cardis take a look at flickr here!

Due to the delightful changing weather here in Ireland our entire household appears to have come down with a cold. I imagine the 20 degree (C) temp difference between Ohio and Ireland may have played a part for me also though!
I did however have a very pleasant surprise this weekend – the new Interweave Weekend issue was out. As well has the excitement of having a pattern in the issue I discovered that my Spoked Cardigan made it to the front cover!

This cardigan brings back lots of memories of last December when I sent it in.  I was working on it before Christmas when DH was away, we had freezing weather and no water due to frozen pipes.  I had the knitting finished before Christmas but had to wait until the post offices opened again to sent it off to Interweave!

As you can probably see from the color striping this cardigan is knit from side to side.  It starts at the front edge, works around one side (with stitches cast on for the sleeve) all the way around to the other front.  The yoke of the cardigan uses a varying garter stitch pattern to create a  yoke that moves in and out as you work it.  This yoke is charted for different sizes so it’s easy to combine the garter stitch pattern with the short row shaping.  The bottom of the sleeve is grafted for a seamless finish and the only seam in the whole garment is across the underarm.

I’m getting really excited now about This Is Knit’s 5 year anniversary party next week, it’s so close.  I’ll be among great company – there will be Debbie Bliss, Kieran Foley (designs amazing lace and colourwork) and Aoibhe Ni (very talented crochet designer).

I’m not certain if there are any tickets left for the event but check with TIK if you want to go, the full €5 cover charge will be donated to the Irish Cancer Society.  Plus you’ll have the added bonus of seeing me embarrass myself by attempting a speech.  I’ll be bringing a good selection of my self-published pattern samples for anyone who wants to try then on as well as a few sneak peeks from my new book ‘Contemporary Irish Knits‘ due out in August.

After my last post about a summer KAL we had a vote on my Ravelry group and my new pattern has won by a mile!  I’m going to call the new pattern Gilligan and I should have the pdf finished and ready within a day or two.

If you want to join the KAL come sign up here.  Everyone who signs up will get a 50% coupon for the pattern sent to them.

If you want to get yourself organised the pattern details are:

SIZES
To fit bust up to size: 31 (35, 38, 42, 44, 47, 51, 53, 56)”/
78.5 (89, 96.5, 106.5, 112, 119.5, 129.5, 134.5, 142) cm
0-1”/0-2.5 cm of negative ease recommended.

Finished bust measurement: 30.25 (34.5, 36.75, 41, 43.25, 45.5, 49.75, 52, 54.25)”/77 (87.5, 93.5, 104, 110, 115.5, 126.5, 132, 138) cm
Size 34.5”/87.5cm modeled with no ease.

Finished length: 21.75 (22.75, 23.5, 24, 24.25, 24.5, 24.75, 25, 25.25)”/ 55 (58, 59.5, 61, 61.5, 62, 63, 63.5, 64) cm

MATERIALS
Yarn
Rowan ‘Milk Cotton dk’ (70% Cotton, 30% Milk protein; 124yds/113m per 50g skein); Color: Water Bomb (098); 6 (7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 11) skeins
Needles & Notions
Size 5 US/3.75 mm circular needle, 32”/80cm length
Size 5 US/3.75 mm straight needles
3.75mm/F-5 Crochet hook
Stitch markers, waste yarn, tapestry needle, 5 shanked buttons approx ½”/12mm diam.
Gauge
22 sts and 30 rows = 4”/10cm in St st or Ribbing Pattern (relaxed)
Techniques used:
Crochet edging
Short Rows
3-needle Bind-off
Increases in lace

I’ve given details or links for all these techniques within the pattern and even if you haven’t tried some of them before there is lots of support to get you through your first go!

As with all KAL I’ll check in daily if possible and am happy to help out with problems that crop up.  We should have a good size group of knitters working along as well so you call all help each other along to get your top finished!

I’ll be sending out my May newsletter in a couple of days so if you haven’t joined my mailing list just go fill the form out on the left of my website.

I’ve just put up my newest pattern – Zola.

I love the loose, draped feel of this cardigan, just perfect for adding a little extra to an outfit during the spring and summer.  This version was knit using a sports weight linen but it would also work well with cotton or another yarn that has lots of drape which the cardigan needs.  The big draped pockets add a little bit of drama to a low key wearable top.

This pattern will be on special offer price of $5 until the end of the month and from May it will go up to the full price of $5.95.

I’ve done something a little different with this pattern, when you download it you’ll get two pdf options.  One is the starndard pdf in full color with photos and the second version is a print only version that is kept to the bare minimum with only text and schematic.  This means that if you are printing out the pattern you can save yourself some ink and just print the essentials.  If you like this idea let me know and I can start rolling it out across all my patterns.

My newest pattern is now available from the Twist Collective, Trousseau.  This shawl was a pleasure to knit, the lace pattern is quick to memorize and the gorgeous Sundara yarn just flows off the needles.

I love the concept of the ‘Pi’ shawl; working outwards from the central point with increase rows being spaced further and further apart. After the first few increases you have a wonderful large canvas to use for your lace stitches without needing to worry about fitting the increases in! This can make for very relaxing knitting as there is less counting as you work though it to ensure you have worked all of the increases every row correctly.
Now you may have noticed looking at the photos that this shawl isn’t actually a full circle ‘Pi’ shawl, well that’s because it’s a half-Pi shawl! This seems like a much more practical shawl to me. A full circle shawl can only be worn folded in two so half of your hard work never get to be seen. The same concept as a full Pi shawl applies but you just start with half the amount of stitches and work back and forth rather than in circles.
The lace pattern used in this shawl is not overly complex but it creates wonderful diagonals and visual interest across the knitting. You can see how with each increase the direction of the lace diagonal changes and the lace panels increase in size and length with each repeat. This lace is easy enough that it can quickly be memorized and the shawl quickly becomes a very relaxing knit. If fact I think it would make an excellent first shawl for a confident beginner.
We have done something a little unusual with the yarn in this project, usually the larger shawl is knit in the heavier yarn but we have actually shown the smaller sample with the heavier yarn – Sundara Yarns ‘DK Silky Cashmere’ in Raspberry. This nicely size shawlette only take 2 skeins (50g each) of this truly delicious yarn (or 320 yds). Almost all of both skeins were used, I think I just had a few feet of yarn left when I finished. This is one of the most beautiful yarns I’ve knit with in a long time; it is so soft and just glides off the needles effortlessly. The yarn holds the lace pattern while you are knitting also; it stayed open and did not need to be blocked aggressively to open it up.
The second shawl was knit from Sundara Yarns ‘Fingering Silky Merino’ in Caribbean. This shawl was a larger size (knit with lighter weight yarn and smaller needles) and used a little under 1 skein (150g). This yarn behaved very differently and more like a wool based yarn being worked in lace. As you are knitting it pulls in on itself with the lace pattern virtually invisible. However after a good soaking and some aggressive blocking and pinning it opened out beautifully to reveal the hidden pattern. I think that blocking lace often feels a little like a butterfly unfurling itself from its cocoon.
Two sizes and yarn weights are detailed (and knit) in the pattern but this is a very easy pattern to modify. A much smaller shawlette can be knit if you used the lighter yarn and smaller needles (from the larger size) and only worked the smaller size or alternatively a larger version could use the heavier yarn with bigger needles but work it until it is the size of the large shawl. The only thing to bear in mind with these modifications is yarn amounts; I’ve given an estimate in the pattern of how much more or less yarn would be needed for variations in the size but every knitter will vary with the yarn amount they use.