NORTHERNER

Reversible cables are the ultimate for cabled scarves and cowls.  You never have to worry about them flipping over to show their bad side, because they just don't have one.  Plus, this technique creates a fabric that makes the finished project even warmer and cozier then it's one-sided cousins.  

NORTHENER can be made in any one of three lengths.  By adding a couple of large buttons to one short edge, you can button NORTHERNER closed to form a cowl, or wear it open as a scarf, whenever you please (for this option, be sure to knit one of the two larger sizes).  Of course, if you just prefer scarves, knit it up in either the second or third size and leave as is, button free.

You should also be let in on the often unknown fact that making cables is a deceptively easy technique. And, the pattern includes both written and charted instructions.  The hard part will be deciding whether to make a small cowl, a double wrap infinity/short scarf, or a cosy, long scarf (not pictured).

I used a soft semi-solid, but I think it would look great in any hand-dye, as long as you stay with shades that are light to medium dark.

Interested in knitting this project?  Here is some helpful information.

SIZES:  

• Small cowl - 60.3cm (23") long and 14cm (5½") wide
• Double wrap infinity/short scarf - 120.7cm (47½") long and and 14cm (5½") wide
• Cozy, long scarf - 181cm (71¼") long and and 14cm (5½") wide

GAUGE:  20 sts/18 rows = 10cm (4") in 1x1 Ribbing using 8mm (US11) needles

MATERIALS:  

• 1 [2, 3] skeins Malabrigo Yarns Mecha, 120m (130yds) per 100g skein
• 1 pair 6mm (US10) needles (optional -- for cast-off)
• 1 pair 8mm (US11) needles
• cable needle
• 2 large buttons, approx. 3.5cm (1¼") diameter

This project has so many options length and style of wearing, it is sure to fit into any winter wardrobe.

ABBIE

Meet ABBIE, the little sister shrug of ABIGALE.  It really is a girls' sized version of my favourite shrug.  Still a sleek, close fitting garment with optional thumbholes,...

short-row shaping to eliminate unwanted excess fabric in the back,...

and a new, pretty, lace cuff detail (ABIGALE's cuff sports mini cables).

My little model sure had fun playing around the garden in her's,...

and it even met the approval of the garden fairy!

Interested in knitting this project?  Here is some helpful information.

SIZES:  3-4 (5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12) years

GAUGE:  26 sts/38 rows = 10cm (4") in Stocking St on 3mm (US2½) needles

MATERIALS:  

• 355-395m (388-432yds) of Fingering/4-ply weight yarn (shown above in Manos Del Uruguay Yarn's Alegria, col# A8686)
• 3mm (US2½)  - 100cm (40 inch) circ. needle or 3mm (US2½) needles & 1 set 3mm (US2½) dpn
• 1 set 3mm (2½US) dpn, for connecting sides
• waste yarn for provisional cast-on
• 4 st holders or waste yarn
• stitch marker

This project uses a provisional cast-on.  For helpful information on this technique, check out How to Avoid the Provisional Cast-on Pitfall.

Inspiration 5

One of several different sidewalk stamps I saw during a stroll down Main St, on a recent trip to Vancouver, BC.  Too fun!

How to Avoid the Provisional Cast-on Pitfall

I tend towards a "there has got to be a way", problem solving personality when it comes to things like my knitting.  This has apparently resulted in developing a way to pick up stitched from a provisional cast-on, avoiding the usual pitfall of ending up with one less stitch than was originally in the cast-on.

I honestly was not aware of this common problem until it was brought to my attention by someone who was making my ABIGALE shrug.  In this pattern, I use a provisional cast-on at the mid-back as the start point for knitting the project.  This wonderful knitter had a very valid concern.  She worried that knitters working with this pattern might be confused by my instructions: "Remove provisional CO, picking up all 140 sts...".  The foreseen problem being that, if casting on 140 stitches, only 139 stitches will be available for pick up from the provisional cast-on.  A very good explanation of this can be found at TECHknitting.  At this link you will find solutions to this problem, but here I will provide one of my own -- avoiding the pitfall all together!

The diagram at top was done up to look much like a diagram on TECHknitting (which I have inserted below it), in order to demonstrate how I look at the loops and "tails" from the provisional cast-on differently.  The big difference here is that I include the "tail" on the far left of my diagram, which is created when the ball yarn is pulled up to work the next row of the project.  By doing so, I end up with just as many stitches from "tails", as I had from the loops of the original stitches.  In an attempt to make this clearer, the following is a photo tutorial, demonstrating the pick-up of this final "tail".

I started out by using the Crochet Provisional Cast-on demonstrated in Tubular Cast-on: Part 1, casting on 8 stitches.  I then worked up a number of rows in stocking stitch, using a larger than recommended needle to help make the stitches show up better in the photos.

The yellow arrow tab is pointing to the last "tail" which would normally be picked up off the provisional cast-on.  The purple  arrow tab is pointing to the "tail" created when the ball yarn goes up to work the next row.  This "tail" is caught in the waste yarn of the provisional cast-on, just like all the other "tails".

In the photo above, all "tails" have been picked up, minus the last two.  The first from the needle is the "tail" pointed out by the yellow arrow tab in the  previous photo, and the second is the "tail" pointed out by the purple arrow tab.

After picking up the usual final "tail" (the first from the needle in previous photo), what I refer to as the my final "tail" is still caught in the waste yarn.

Pick up this "tail" to create the final picked up stitch from the provisional cast-on.

There are 8 stitches from the original knit portion off the provisional cast-on showing at the bottom of the photo, and 8 stitches from the pick-up at the top of the photo.

This is just one way of dealing with the provisional cast-on pitfall.  Whether you choose to use this, or one of the solutions provided on TECHknitting, I hope that all who purchase ABIGALE will enjoy their finished project!

Inspiration 4

My obsession with Kaleidoscope in Photo Booth continues, but I tried out X-Ray on these Pansies.  Not quite as fun as Kaleidoscope, although I love how the leaf veining shows up, and the halo effect of shadows in X-Ray.

TRELLIS

This pattern was born out of the arrival, several years ago, of a beautiful new yarn at the LYS where I work.  The yarn was Louet's KidLin Lace.  This yarn is no longer available, but it was literally the combination of a thread-like strand of linen and a fine mohair.  It provided the best of the two yarn families; a light and airy finished product, that also had drape and warmth.

With KidLin out of picture, I reworked this project with the two halves of that yarn.  I also added a shawl size.

Linen and hemp have incredible stitch definition and drape.  They are a great choice for a fashion scarf, or a spring/summer scarf or shawl.  And don't let the rough feel of these yarns turn you off.  After even just one washing, they soften considerably.

The mohair version is feather light, with a soft haze and open, gossamer beauty.

Despite its delicate appearance, mohair provides an amazing amount of warmth.  Out of all the various versions of this project (and I have knit several), my favourite is the mohair scarf.  Made from just one ball of fine mohair, the scarf folds up so small it can be stowed in the most compact of purses, making it easy to have on hand in case the weather takes a turn for the worst.

So many choices in one pattern.  Make a scarf or a shawl, out of hemp/linen or mohair.  Or maybe make your own KidLin-type combination.  You could always make one for each season.

Interested in knitting this project?  Here is some helpful information.

SIZE:  

• Scarf [shawl] in linen or hemp measures approx. 178cm (70") long and 23cm (9") [46cm (18")] wide, after blocking.
• Scarf [shawl] in fine mohair measures 147cm (58") long and 23cm (9") [46cm (18")] wide, after blocking.

GAUGE:  

• 15 sts/22 rows = 10cm (4") in Trellis St pattern on 5mm (8US) needles, blocked, using linen/hemp
• 14 sts/24 rows = 10cm (4") in Trellis St pattern on 5mm (8US) needles, blocked, using fine mohair

MATERIALS:

• 280-560m (306-612yds) of linen or hemp yarn, such as Hemp for Knitting's allhemp3 OR 200-400m (219-438yds) of fine mohair yarn, such as Debbie Bliss' Angel or Rowan's Kidsilk Haze
• 1 pair 5mm (8US)  - 100cm (40 inch) needles
• 1 pair needles at least one full size larger than 5mm (8US) if using hemp or linen, and at least two sizes larger than 5mm (8US) if using fine mohair 

Inspiration 3

I was very generously given an iPad mini for my birthday, and the result has been an insane obsession with the Kaleidoscope feature in Photo Booth.  I've been taking photos of everything, including my cat.  This is a photo of a bouquet of roses, which I also got for my birthday.  Hope you like it, as you may see a lot more Kaleidoscope photos in the future!