#WIDN: Test Knit for paige parkin of the knit diaries
i recently had the pleasure of test knitting a new hat design for the incredibly talented paige parkin aka @knitdiaries! paige has designed a number of seriously cute and stylish sweaters (rainbow in the storm and piper are two of her designs that are VERY high on my to-knit list), so i was pretty excited to be involved in the testing group for her new slouchy ribbed hat, the make it fitted, make it slouch.
if you follow paige on instagram you know she has an undeniable talent for creating really beautiful marls, so i wanted to pull out something special from my stash to honor her new design. i chose a very recent acquisition, my first skein of primrose yarn co. adelaide in color paranormal. i chose a drops design fabel superwash merino in a simple navy blue (color 107) as a base.
i must say i’m not usually a swatch knitter, but i’ve been diligently doing it for test knits and i am enjoying my growing collection of beautiful swatches!
the basic construction of this hat is a simple 1x1 rib, which is kind of funny considering i just finished the 1x1 ribbed mawson hat! paige’s pattern asked for a circular needle, but since i didn’t have the correct size i didn’t think much of it and just grabbed my usual DPns.
paige wrote this pattern for all sizes, and in two variations: a fitted crown or a slouchy crown. as a big fan of slouchy hats (and versatility), i chose to test out the slouchy crown in the adult small size.
to finish out the crown, i learned two new techniques: german short rows and a 3 needle bind off. for the german short rows, i definitely wished i had purchased the correct size circular as it got pretty confusing. but for the bind off, my dpns worked great!
i love the way my finished hat fits, and it has the perfect amount of slouch. i also love that i can fold up the brim to change up the look! the design is simple and excellent for both men and women, and combining two yarns together makes for endless color opportunities. i can’t wait to make another one and perfect my german short row skills!
download the pattern for make it fitted, make it slouch here, and make sure to follow paige on ravelry and instagram so you don’t miss any of her designs!
#WIDN: Mawson Hat by Jared Flood
one of my big goals for 2019 is to knit a bunch of other designer’s patterns. when i first started knitting, i was filled with so many ideas and was very headstrong about trying to figure things out for myself. Now, i see the extreme value in trying others’ written patterns. not only do i want (need) to make some of these beautiful designs for myself (another 2019 goal), but i am excited to learn new skills and techniques to expand my own design process.
so, when i was thinking about what to make my dad for his birthday this past december, i settled on a mochimochiland starter gnome and the mawson hat by jared flood, the esteemed designer behind brooklyn tweed. mawson is a simple 1x1 ribbed beanie or folded-brim watchcap with some really cool decreases that make the hat completely reversible. i love that the pattern includes instructions for both styles, and it is written so you can make one in either worsted or dk weight yarn. Basically, this is a great go-to hat pattern for men or women that you can make with almost anything from your stash.
i typically let my dad pick out his own hat yarn, so while i was home in the bay area for the thanksgiving holiday we visited my favorite yarn store in the area, uncommon threads. he sprang almost immediately for a luxurious string yarns Dolcetto cashmere/merino in color 200741/dark khaki. it’s so incredibly soft!
i was excited to learn a new cast-on technique for this pattern, the 1x1 ribbed cable cast on. Though it gave me some trouble at first, once i got the hang of it it was cool to see the ribbing start right from the get go. then, the body of the hat is all 1x1 ribbing. some knitters may really hate endless 1x1 ribbing, but even though it slows me down a bit i find it very soothing.
guys, the decreases for this pattern threw me for a loop! i generally like to listen to podcasts while i knit, and i figured out very quickly that i really needed to focus on this part of the pattern. the technique was not difficult but definitely required all of my attention! but wow, i’m really impressed with the crown shaping on this pattern and the fact that the decreases render the hat completely reversible. so so cool!
even if you’re experienced with the cast on and decrease techniques, i still highly recommend this excellent pattern. first of all, it’s incredibly well written. and, the finished hat came out so great and is the perfect fit for my dad. now that i have it down pat, i’m looking forward to making the watchcap version, most likely for myself :)
#WIDN: Mochimochi Land Starter Gnome
My dad is obsessed with garden gnomes, so for his birthday this past December I made him the Starter Gnome from Mochimochi Land. I love to make 3D toys, and Anna Hrachovec is undoubtedly the master. From her wide selection of incredibly designed toys and patterns to the seriously amazing stop-motion animations she makes, my family and I are huge fans of her work.
This little gnome was so fun to make and knit up very quickly. I used a selection of scrap worsted and doubled-dk weight yarns in various colors from my stash. the best part of knitting up this pattern for me was insight into Anna’s construction methods, particularly the arms and legs - it’s so clever!
isn’t he so cute?
you can find the pattern for the starter gnome on the mochimochiland website here. And be sure to follow along with Anna on instagram so you don’t miss any cuteness!
DIY: free chunky oversized sweater knitting pattern
Happy new year everyone!
the holidays are officially over (whew), and it feels really good to settle back into the routine of life and get back to the studio. even though i got off to a later start this year than i originally planned, i was able to finish my gift knits just in time. When my husband and i were invited to attend an ugly sweater party with our friends, i just knew i had to find some time to whip up a special sweater.
by the time i was in a good place with gift knits to cast on it was already december 18th, and the party was planned for the evening of the 22nd. considering the time crunch, i decided to keep the sweater design extremely simple and chose a bulky weight yarn to ensure i wouldn’t get bogged down in endless rows. i tend to prefer oversized shirts and sweaters anyway so i made it a large, boxy fit that would complement many different sizes and body types.
beginning with the bottom front, i worked a few rows of ribbing in contrast green before transitioning to the main body of the sweater. the front and back are knit as one continuous piece, and i bound off a selection of stitches across a row to create a neck hole. i then picked up stitches along the “shoulders” and knit flat each sleeve, decreasing the amount of rows towards the cuff and finishing with matching contrast ribbing. the sweater is seamed underneath the sleeves and down each side, and to complete the design i picked up stitches along the neckline and added contrast ribbing.
this is a really great project for beginners, especially those who have been wanting to try out a sweater but might have felt intimidated by the workload or techniques. this sweater requires no advanced stitches or techniques, and no math. as long as you can knit, purl, and pick up stitches, this sweater is easily worked up in a few days!
the end result is a simple and cute drop shoulder design that is super cozy! and it was a huge hit at the party :)
this simple pattern can be customized in so many different ways with different color combos, embroidery, colorwork, stitch patterns, or fringe! i’m excited to have a cozy christmas sweater to wear for the years to come, but i think this pattern would look stunning in a neutral camel brown color.
on to the pattern!
materials
main color: 5 skeins lion brand wool ease thick & quick in cranberry (i ended up using 4 1/2 total)
contrast color: 1 skein lion brand wool ease thick & quick in kale (i used about 3/4 of a skein)
or
6 skeins lion brand wool ease thick & quick in any color or color combo of your choosing
size us 15 (10mm) needles (for body and sleeves)
size us 13 (9mm) needles (for neckline)
tapestry needle
scissors
key
k - knit
p - purl
k2T - knit two stitches together
b/o - bind off
pattern
c/o 50 stitches in main or contrast color, depending on desired finished design
alternate k1/p1 ribbing for 6 rows
switch to main color, continue in stockinette until sweater front measures 24” (approximately 54 rows), ending on a purl row
to shape neckline,
R1: k14, b/o 22, k14
r2: p14, c/o 22, p14
continue in stockinette until sweater back measures 24” (approximately 54 rows)
switch to contrast color, alternate k1/p1 ribbing for 6 rows and bind off.
to make sleeves, pick up 36 stitches (in main color) across the shoulders with the neckline hole centered. continue in stockinette for 19 rows, ending on a purl row.
then, k2t, k32, k2t
continue stockinette for 5 rows, ending on a purl row
then, k2t, k30, k2t
p across row
* k2t, knit until last two stitches remain, k2t
p across row
repeat pattern from * until 20 stitches remain, ending on a purl row
switch to contrast color, k2t, k16, k2t
alternate k1/p1 ribbing for 6 rows and bind off.
to create the neckline, pick up 50 stitches around the neck hole in contrast color using size us 13 (9mm) needles.
alternate k1/p1 ribbing for 6 rows and bind off.
finishing:
using yarn tails, seam sweater from both sides up and underneath both sleeves. weave in ends and do a happy new sweater dance!
what do you think? what colors would you make this sweater in?
#WIDN: Custom Hat in Malabrigo Rios
One of my recent commissions was a request for a special winter hat, and after being deep in Turkey Hat orders for the last two months I couldn’t think of anything better than taking a break from stuffing and seaming legs than to refresh my brain with some beautiful yarn and a quick new project.
I went to pick out yarn at one of my local yarn stores, The Altered Stitch. It was my first time visiting despite driving by all the time, and I’m so grateful for the commission that sent me there seeking yarn...they have the most amazing selection of indie-dyed yarn from a large range of makers and it was hard not to desperately covet all the sock yarn (Hedgehog Fibres Typewriter was particularly calling to me!)
I ended up choosing two skeins of Malabrigo Rios, an incredibly beautiful 4-ply superwash merino. My client particularly wanted something very fun and bright, and these colors jumped out at me almost immediately.
I chose two skeins of color 093 Fucsia (a solid color with some very, very subtle variances that make it very rich and interesting) and one skein of 057 English Rose, just a mind-blowing variegated in all the colors that make me drool.
In true Elise fashion, I didn’t reference or use any patterns…I just kind of jumped right in. I’ve made so many hats at this point in my life that I have a pretty good idea of how many stitches to cast on depending on the yarn weight. Using two strands of Rios at the same time felt to me similar to worsted weight. So I grabbed some US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles and got right to work!
I held two strands of Fucsia together and knit a simple 1x1 rib for the brim. I just love a 1x1 rib...I love how it looks, and I love that it helps the brim keep from getting too stretched out.
For the body of the hat I originally wanted to do a fun stitch pattern like seed/moss stitch or skinny cables, but after I did a quick swatch that all went out the window. The yarn is so pretty and the colors are so vibrant that I thought it looked best showcased in simple stockinette. I finished the body of the hat holding one strand of Fucsia and one strand of English Rose together. I knit the body to make a slouchy fit, long enough so it could also be worn with the brim flipped up for some extra warmth.
And then of course I finished it off with a large pompom, made with a mix of both colors. It’s seriously the best part.
I love how it turned out! The Malabrigo Rios was such a dream to knit with, I’m already scoping out other colorways.
What do you think? Have you knit with this yarn before?