Knitted hat with cables - Vanilla Cloud Hat pattern release

 It is never too early or too late to knit another hat for yourself or your little one! Knitted hat is also a great present for your friends who do not knit but appreciate warm cozy accessories. Also begin of spring is a great time to bargain lovely winter yarn on a sale. Please meet my new hat design - Vanilla Cloud Hat Light.

Vanilla Cloud Hat Light - design

This comfortable cables hat is knitted in combination of moss stitch with simple braid cable. Pattern calls for Aran weight yarn, but for extra cozy look you can replace it it with a strand of DK yarn held together with a strand of mohair in lace weight.  

Knitting pattern for Vanilla Cloud hat Light is written for wide range of sizes from baby to adult L. Pattern has both full chat for each size and detailed row-by-row instructions. The hat is knitted in the round seamlessly. The height of hat can be easily adjusted to a slouch style by adding a repeat or a few before crown shaping.

Knitting pattern for Vanilla Cloud Hat is available from Ravelry and Lovecrafts

Vanilla Cloud Poncho

There is also Vanilla Cloud Poncho and Hat set is available in my collection. You can read more about it in my blog post - Vanilla Cloud Poncho and see the knitting pattern for it on Ravelry, Etsy and Lovecrafts.

To see some behind the scene photos you can follow me on Instagram.

You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.

Read more ...

Knitting two parts together and improving of knitting techniques.

 Knitting two similar parts together helps to maintain uniform gauge, optimize yarn utilization, help keep track of increases/decreases as well as prevent “second sleeve syndrome”. Let’s discuss this in details and discover how it help us to create perfect knitted garments such as sweaters and cardigans.

1.    Consistent Gauge: 

Knitting both sleeves simultaneously helps ensure consistent gauge and tension. Our tension can change a bit for example if we are tired or it can depend on our mood. It is particularly important for sweaters and cardigans where matching sleeve length and width is crucial for a perfect finish and professional look.

You can also read how to check your knitting gauge correctly and why it is important to achieve the correct gauge in my blog post - Knit a gauge swatch. 

Photo: Emmer Cardigan

2.    Efficient Use of Yarn: 

Knitting two sleeves at once allows you to use the yarn more efficiently. This is especially advantageous if you're using hand-dyed yarn, ensuring both sleeves have the same colour distribution.

Photo: Colourscape sweater

3.    Uniform Increases/Decreases: 

If your sleeves involve shaping through increases or decreases, knitting them simultaneously helps to work the shaping consistently on both sleeves. In this case it is easier to mark increases/decreases with stitch markers rather then making notes and counting rows.

4.    Faster Progress: 

While the initial setup for two-at-a-time sleeves might take a bit longer, the actual knitting tends to be faster. You make progress on both sleeves in each knitting session, reducing the overall time needed to complete the pair.

5.    Prevents Second Sleeve Syndrome: 

"Second Sleeve Syndrome" refers to the phenomenon where knitters lose motivation after completing one sleeve and struggle to start or finish the second. Knitting both sleeves together avoids this issue, as both sleeves progress simultaneously.

Photo: Teifi sweater

6.    Pattern Verification: Knitting both sleeves concurrently allows you to verify the accuracy of the pattern as you work through it. If you find any issues or errors in the pattern, you can fix them immediately on both sleeves.

Photo: Love Locks sweater

7.    Easier to Learn New Techniques: 

If your pattern introduces new techniques, knitting both sleeves concurrently provides more practice, making it easier to master the new skills by the time you finish the pair.

Are you team 'both at once' or 'one after another'? Let's discuss! Share your preference for this method in the comments

To see some behind the scene photos you can follow me on Instagram.

You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.

Read more ...

Yarn review - Samite from Blacker Yarns

I recently received a parcel from Blacker Yarns containing their new Special Blend Knitting yarn – Samite. This yarn, Samite, was created to celebrate Blacker Yarns' 15th anniversary in the market.

I've been a fan of Blacker Yarns for a few years now and have used their products to create numerous designs for both children and adults. I even had the opportunity to visit their team in June this year, which you can read about in my post.

So, I was thrilled to try this new addition and experiment with different stitches, comparing it to their existing products. Let's take a closer look at these lovely skeins and explore what we can knit with them.

Yarn story

The story behind Samite yarn is a tribute to Cornwall, celebrating the county's connection to the Arthurian legends in local folklore and literature. In the Middle Ages, Samite was known as a luxurious and heavy silk fabric.

Blacker Yarns' Samite range is crafted from a blend of 15% recycled silk, smooth drapey Blue Faced Leicester, and the airy froth of Shetland wool. This unique combination of pale and dark fibers results in a yarn with rich colors and delicate silk nepps. Samite retains the characteristic bounce of Shetland wool and is more durable than the standard silk blend, making it perfect for colorwork, cables, and texture.

The yarn palette consists of eight colors, including one undyed and seven brightly dyed shades. All colors are named after characters from the legends of King Arthur: Merlin (Undyed), Lancelot, Guinevere, Uther Pendragon, Gawain (The Green Knight), Nimue (The Lady of the Lake), Galahad, and Morgan Le Fay.

Technical Information.

The Samite yarn is available in both fingering and DK weights, offering a total of eight beautiful shades. These colors provide endless possibilities for stunning colorwork projects. The range includes subtle heather tones like Uther Pendragon, Gawain, and Galahad, as well as vibrant options such as Lancelot, Morgan Le Fay, and Nimue. Additionally, there are natural blends like Merlin (undyed) and the taupe/brown shade Guinevere. What I particularly appreciate is how well each shade complements both natural colors and other shades within its own color family. Among my personal favorites are the two green hues and the bright shades: Lancelot, described as pink but closer to a muted beetroot color in my opinion, and Nimue, a vibrant pop of yellow that pairs beautifully with Galahad (dark navy colour).

Swatching:

I created three swatches using different techniques and two different needle sizes, all of which have been properly blocked.

1.         The first swatch, done in stockinette, was knit using 3.75 mm (US 5) knitting needles with a gauge of 19 stitches per 10cm/4 inches. I measured the size of the swatch before and after blocking, confirming that the fabric retains its size after washing, which is a fantastic characteristic.

2.         The second swatch features cables and was knit on 4 mm needles, a more common choice for DK weight yarn. The cables look neat and beautiful after blocking, making this yarn an excellent choice for Aran projects.

3.         My third swatch showcases twisted stitches, a technique I'm currently addicted to. I could not resist adding a garter stitch background (and moss stitch to my cable swatch, as you may have noticed) to some triangles. This swatch was also knit on 4mm needles.

 As you can see, the Samite blend performs wonderfully on all three swatches, resulting in a soft fabric with a slightly rustic appearance, thanks to the recycled silk and the yarn's subtly uneven colour.

I have not explored lacy stitches yet, as I am not particularly fond of lace knitting on 4mm needles with DK weight yarn. However, I am confident that Samite in 4-ply weight would be ideal for creating delicate and beautiful lace garments and accessories.

You can read more about the yarn and obtain it from Blacker Yarns website here.

Project Ideas with Samite:

Samite is incredibly soft and comfortable against the skin. I thoroughly recommend it for various knitting projects, ranging from snug cozy hats to warm oversized sweaters. It's also an excellent choice for children's knits since it's non-itchy, creates a bouncy and flexible fabric, and maintains its quality after washing.

Here are a few of my designs that I would be delighted to reknit using the Samite blend:

1. Chainring Hat

Pattern is on Ravelry. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chainring-hat

2. Saunter Sweater

Pattern is on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/adult-saunter-sweater

3. Saunter Poncho

Pattern is on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saunter-poncho

4. Cable Whisper Vest

Pattern is on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-whisper-vest

Read more ...

Knitting pattern - Saunter sweater

As the leaves start to change and the air becomes crisp, we can feel the familiar excitement in the air – it's the beginning of a new knitting season!

I am happy to introduce you to my new sweater design that's sure to become your fall and winter wardrobe staple. Please welcome Saunter Sweater! 

Design overview

Saunter Sweater is comfortable oversized sweater which is knitted bottom up on straight needles.  Design features are dropped shoulder, boxy silhouette and long turtleneck collar. Front of sweater is decorated with beautiful cables combination. The sweater designed with positive ease of 10-13 cm/ 4 - 5⅛ inches

Yarn choice

Saunter sweater is knitted with Pure Shetland DK Coffee range yarn in shade Latte. This yarn is dedicated to love of coffee and made with Shetland fleece, the finest of all British Breed wools. It comes in 6 beautiful shades. The yarn is lovely to work with and creates soft drapery fabric, which is lovely to wear next to skin.

Knitting pattern

Knitting pattern for Saunter sweater comes in wide range of sizes from 18-24 months through 13-14 years. It is available from Ravelry and Lovecrafts. 

Knitting kits

Blacker Yarns launched the project kits for Saunter sweater which can be purchased from their website. Project kits come in a recyclable box and contain the set of yarn Pure Shetland DK Coffee Range and the pattern. 

Discount code

To celebrate the pattern release I am happy to offer 15% off the pattern with code COFFEE15 on Ravelry. Offer valid until 17th of September 2023.

Saunter Poncho 

There is also comfortable poncho in my collection, which is knitted with the same cables combo, raglan sleeves and the hood. You can read more about this poncho hear and find knitting patterns for it on Ravelry and Lovecrafts.

Read more ...

Cable Fantasy Poncho - finished project

Recently I have completed another Cable Fantasy Poncho for my older daughter.

Designed in 2015, it became a favourite piece of wardrobe almost straight away. It served my little princess well over many years – first as a poncho, and then as a comfortable short sleeve vest.  Even six years later, she was not ready to pass it to her smaller sister so I decided to knit her a new one.

The new Cable Fantasy Poncho is knitted with my favourite yarn Debbie Bliss Falkland Aran in shade Basil. This yarn is my first choice for all sorts of cable knitting. 

I decorated the poncho with wooden buttons in natural colour that matches perfectly with blond hair of my daughter.  

The knitting pattern for Cable Fantasy poncho is written for sizes from 2-3 years up to 10-12 years and available from Etsy, Ravelry and Lovecrafts. It is also available as a knitting kit from Mary Maxim.

Last but not least, I could not resist to knit a matching poncho for myself too. So I’m happy to announce that the knitting pattern for Adult Cable Fantasy Poncho will be available this winter. This week I'm planning to open new test knit for it. If you are interested to participate in it and fancy to knit yourself this comfy poncho before the pattern release, please join my knitting group on Ravelry or follow me on Instagram to be the first who knows about the test knit. 

Read more ...