cosmicpluto knits!

plane knitting

As every knitter knows, the most difficult packing task is deciding on the knitting – how many projects, how much yarn, and what if you need that tool you hardly ever use? What if you RUN OUT OF YARN?

When packing for TNNA this is compounded by the fact that it’s a needlecraft industry show and nearly everyone you meet is a knitter, or at least knows a lot about yarn! So your knitting projects are on display and everyone is looking and touching. The pressure is on! (Just kidding, fellow TNNA-ers. You’re all awesome and non-judgey.)

I packed cashmere.

A plainish pullover in some silvery grey Handmaiden 4ply 100% cashmere. Canadian representation, easy to knit while chatting and drinking, and oh-so-amazing. I got a good chunk of the sweater done while I was away. My only concern is that I only have 5 skeins of the yarn, and they’re only 50g each! I’ve knit a sweater in this yarn before, and I used 6 last time – but cashmere grows a fair amount with washing and wearing, and I think for this little sweater I should be fine. I’m almost up to the underarm with just 2 skeins, and the 3/4 sleeve I finished this week at home took about 40g. By my calculations, I’ll have about 70g, or more than 25% of the total yarn to use for the yoke. The second sleeve is my toss-in-my-bag knitting now.

Cashmere part 2 was my peacock feathers shawl:

If you’ve been reading this blog awhile, you miiiight remember that I originally started this shawl on my big trip to Asia in early 2009. Although looking back through my archives, I can’t remember if I actually posted about it. Anyway, I worked on it a bit then, and a bit when I got home, but then I put it down in favour of worky design stuff and because I didn’t really have the knitting energy left over to work on a project that requires a little more concentration and a lot of chart reading.

I’ve decided that I will get this shawl off the needles soon, preferably earlier rather than later, so I took it for the 5 hour plane rides between Toronto and LAX. I figured I might actually put in some time on it, and I managed to get through about 1.5 of the charts. I was even able to watch some movies on the plane and knit the shawl at the same time.

There are 7 charts for the body of the shawl, and then a big edging one. I’m about halfway through chart 6, and while the end might not quite be in sight yet, at least it’s looking like I’ll be able to finish it! I’m knitting it in some laceweight cashmere that I bought a couple of Rhinebecks ago, on 2.25mm needles. The pattern calls for 3.5mm, but I want it to be smaller than 88″ across the top. So far it looks like it isn’t going to be enormous, so I’m pleased.

But it might be difficult to keep working away on this since I came back with so much lovely yarn that is tempting me towards some new projects.

Tower Mill Shawl

The Tower Mill Shawl is a versatile shawl or wide scarf, beginning with an innovative garter stitch border cast on and shaped with short rows for a subtle curve. Tower Mill also incorporates a fun lace and cable pattern reminicient of windmill sails which flows into the clean ribbed edge.
Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani.

SIZE
58” / 147cm along top edge, 11.5” / 29cm deep at center

MATERIALS
Madelinetosh Tosh DK (100% superwash merino; 225 yds / 206m per 4oz / 113 g skein) Colour: Norway Spruce, 3 skeins or 675 yards / 618m of DK or worsted weight yarn
US 7 / 4.5mm circular needles 40” / 100cm or longer tapestry needle cable needle stitch markers (optional)

GAUGE
20 sts and 32 rows = 4” / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch

PATTERN NOTES
Wrap begins at the top edge. The Garter Stitch border is worked at the same time as stitches are cast on for the full width of the shawl, resulting in a border which is perpendicular to the main body of the shawl. The stockinette portion of the shawl is shaped with short rows for a slightly curved wrap. Both charted and row-by-row directions are given for the Lacy Windmill Stitch.
Note that for the chart, odd numbered (RS) rows are read from right to left, and even numbered (WS) rows are read from left to right. All rows are charted.

MORE INFO
Skills Needed: cast on, knit, purl, lace, cables.

Pattern is a 4 page PDF file with full colour photos, written and charted directions for the Lacy Windmill stitch, and abbreviations list.

Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

$5.00 CAD

Crossfield Shawl

I’ve gotten a few emails about what I’m wearing in my Welcome photo over on the side there, and I’m happy to announce that the Crossfield Shawl pattern is now available!

CROSSFIELD SHAWL

A super light, airy square shawl reminicient of a bandana or silk scarf. Easy to knit stockinette in the round with a fun garland lace edging. Wear it folded and tied, over your shoulders or any way you’d wear a bandanna!

This shawl would also make a beautiful baby or lap blanket worked in fingering weight or heavier yarn for a larger finished size.

Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani

SIZE
One Size; 28” / 71cm square, blocked

YARN
Laceweight yarn, 815 yards / 745m.
Shown in The Woolen Rabbit Whisper in Chocolate Chambord (100% merino wool, 1700 yds/235g skein), less than 1/2 skein used.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 2.5 / 3mm double pointed needles (or needles of choice for small circumferences in the round)
US 2.5 / 3mm 24-32” / 60-80cm long circular needles (change length as required as the shawl grows)
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
26 sts and 40 rounds = 4” / 10 cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MORE INFO
Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, optional chart, knitting in the round.

Pattern is a 3-page PDF file with full colour photos, written and charted directions for the lace pattern, and abbreviations.

Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

$5.00 CAD

Massey Wrap

And now for the fruits of that photoshoot at Wychwood Barns!

MASSEY WRAP

This lacy wrap in fingering weight yarn scrunches up as a scarf or expands to be a stole. Versatile and easy to wear, Massey is knit on the bias in an easy lace pattern that looks great on both sides! One side features a geometric diamond pattern while the reverse is a wide and lacy rib. The knit-as-you-go I-cord edges are neat and pretty – a perfectly lovely piece for spring layering.

The stitch pattern used in this piece was inspired by “Another Lacy Rib” from Lynne Barr’s mindbending book Reversible Knitting. Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani.

SIZE
One Size: 13 inches / 33cm wide by 80 inches / 203cm long, blocked

MATERIALS
Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock (80% superwash wool, 20% nylon; 215 yds / 195m per 2 oz / 57 g skein)
4 skeins in Cranberry
or 860 yards / 780 m of fingering weight yarn

US 6 / 4mm needles (circular or straight)
tapestry needle
stitch markers (optional)

GAUGE
5 repeats of lace pattern = 3.5 inches / 9cm square, blocked
Approximately 24 sts = 4 inches / 10cm across in Stockinette Stitch

Gauge is very flexible for this pattern – use a needle size that will get you a fabric that you like.

Skills needed: knit, purl, increase, decrease, chart reading. This pattern is suitable for beginner lace knitters.

3-page PDF includes charted lace patterns only – no row-by-row instructions.

Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal.

$5.00 CAD

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

hibiscus revisited

Some of you may have noticed that I’ve deactivated the Hibiscus shawl pattern from my Ravelry store. I’ve done this so I can reknit the pattern to investigate some problems that people have been having.

I’m knitting it up in some nice merino sock yarn from Maple Creek Farm, a Rhinebeck vendor that has great yarn but I don’t think sells anywhere else! I’ve been working away at it and I’m almost done. I’m also taking this opportunity to add stitch counts throughout the pattern.

The pattern should be back up for sale very shortly. I’m also going to continue donating a portion of the sales from this pattern to Haiti relief through February. I haven’t calculated the total for the January fundraiser yet, but I know it’ll be an amazingly generous amount!

Thanks to you all for purchasing patterns and helping to donate. If you’ve had your eye on any of my patterns, you’ve still got one day to contribute a portion of the purchase price to MSF and the Red Cross.

Hope you’re keeping warm this weekend.

sagano shawl

Sagano is an area located in western Kyoto, Japan, where the serene landscape includes one of the most spectacular bamboo forests in all of Japan. This textured scarf-sized shawl evokes the quiet beauty of bamboo in its leafy main stitch and stemlike ribbed edging. Use a special, soft yarn and keep the drafts away!

FINISHED SIZE
46 inches / 116 cm across the top, 15 inches / 38 cm down the centre of the shawl. The size of this scarf is easily modified to be larger by using a heavier yarn or working more repeats.

Special thanks to Bonnie and Erica for test knitting!

MATERIALS
Fingering Weight yarn, 450 yards.
Shown in Wullenstudio Sock Yarn (75% merino, 25% nylon; 450 yards/100g) in Green Tambourine.
US 6 / 4 mm circular needles, 32 inches / 80 cm or longer stitch markers tapestry needle

GAUGE
25 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm square in stockinette stitch. Exact gauge is not crucial for this project, although the gauge will affect the final size.

3-page PDF pattern includes both charted and written directions.

Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal.

$5.00 CAD

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.