I am in love with the texture of this diagonal zig-zag knit stitch.
Saturday, 4 December 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Diagonal Zig Zag Knit Stitch
I am in love with the texture of this diagonal zig-zag knit stitch.
The Weekly Swatch: Garland Lace Knit Stitch
The Weekly Swatch: Faggot Knit Stitch
Sunday, 21 November 2021
Sock Knitting for Beginners - 5 Tips for Perfect, Top-Down Vanilla Socks
Taking stock of my knitting projects this year, it appears that I have been knitting rather a lot of socks over the past 11 months - 5 pairs in total so far, to be precise. Following my very first sock knitting project back in 2015, I turned my attention to other types of knitting projects and focussed mainly on lace knitting, but this year I fancied a change and focussing on sock knitting and sock knitting techniques felt just right.
Finished Socks on DIY Sock Blockers |
Based on my recent excursion into the world of sock knitting, what follows are a few recommendations for novice sock knitters, including five tips to achieve perfectly fitting, vanilla top-down socks.
Monday, 15 November 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Loop Mesh Lace Knit Stitch
Saturday, 6 November 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Sheaf Knit Stitch
As I said, I am catching up with the weekly swatches today and now it's time for the second swatch post of the day.
Next up is a stitch, I have really enjoyed preparing, the Sheaf Knit Stitch.
K2 / P2 ribbing forms the foundation of this stitch motif; and the texture is achieved by wrapping the working yarn around two stitches on every fourth row.
The Weekly Swatch: Double Basket Weave Knit Stitch
Wednesday, 29 September 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Bamboo Rib Knit Stitch
I have prepared another rib knit stitch for this week's not-so-weekly, weekly swatch.
It's the Bamboo Rib Knit Stitch - an incredibly simple knit stitch.
The vertical columns are created by yarn overs, which are lifted over the knitted stitches. This stitch is worked over two rows on a multiple of two stitches and all wrong side rows are purled.
For further posts on ribbed knit stitch tutorials and my knitting patterns utilising ribbed stitches, please visit this link.
Sunday, 22 August 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Brioche Rib Knit Stitch Variation
Thursday, 19 August 2021
Free Knitting Pattern: Irish Moss Diamond Dishcloth
Free Knitting Pattern: Irish Moss Diamond Dishcloth
Sunday, 18 July 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Bubble Knit Stitch Tutorial
Today, I have prepared the bubble knit stitch. The texture of this simple stitch is achieved by slipping stitches with yarn held in the front of the knitting (wyif) and at the back (wyib). The stitch requires a multiple of 8 plus 4 stitches and is knitted over 16 rows.
Tuesday, 18 May 2021
Doll Round-Up: Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll with Varying Skin Tone and Doll Wig Making for MGA Moxie Girlz Dolls
Madeline Hatter, First Chapter Doll - The Tanned Version
Sunday, 25 April 2021
Free Lace Choker Knitting Pattern: The Jera Rune Lace and Cable Choker
After an initial test knit and following some minor adjustments to the design, here is, as promised, my new knitting pattern for the Jera Lace and Cable Choker.
The Jera Choker - A Rune-Inspired Choker Design
As mentioned in a previous post, which is featuring an earlier version of this design, the pattern for this choker was inspired by the Jera rune, the twelfth rune from the Elder Futhark.
Jera in its literal translation means ' (good) year' or 'harvest'.
The Jera rune is a symbol for connection and perpetual movement, representing the seasons and the natural cycle of recurring change at a steady pace and regular intervals.
With the vernal equinox now behind us, the release of this design celebrates this seasonal flow - the passing of long, dark nights and short, gloomy days and it welcomes the arrival of spring as we are approaching summer solstice.
Jera Rune Inspired Lace Choker Knitting Pattern |
Just like my earlier lace choker knitting patterns (the Nameless, the Brocade Choker, the Cascade Choker, and the Virga Choker) the Jera Choker is a quick and beginner-friendly knitting project, incorporating elements of both lace and cable knitting techniques in a quick-to-knit project. The choker can be completed in a day or two, including the time it requires to block the finished piece. It's also ideal for using up tiny amounts of yarn. (For my choker I used approximately 6g to 7g of Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush mercerised cotton yarn.)
Jera Rune Inspired Lace Choker Knitting Pattern |
The choker's simple elongated cable motif is created over 6 rows, consisting of knit and purl stitches, a variety of standard in-and decreases and by creating elongated stitches, which are subsequently worked as cable stitches.
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Jera Rune Lace and Cable Choker Knitting Pattern - I-Cord Detail |
Depending on your chosen needle size and whether you decide to substitute the mercerised cotton with another type of yarn, the number of lace repeats might differ. As you can check the fit whilst knitting, this should not be a major issue, making this project ideally suited for using up various types of yarn leftovers.
- app. 7g of Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush mercerised cotton yarn
- 2 mm or 2.5 mm double-pointed needles
- cable needle
- 1.5 mm crochet hook / fine darning needle (for sewing-in yarn ends and attaching beads)
- 2 beads for securing the ends of the i-cords (optional)
- Blocking utensils
Row 3: Sl1 (knitwise), p to last stitch, k1.
- Weave-in all yarn ends and block the piece to ensure the lace is fully opened up.
Nameless Choker:
Virga Coker and Virga Beaded Choker
Cascade Choker
Saturday, 24 April 2021
Pebble's Trip to the Vet: Dental Extractions, Abdominal X-Rays and an Unusual Amount of Sublumbar Muscles
It's been a busy week in cat care terms.
Pebble had to see the vet for dental extractions (five teeth). Though she is a healthy, almost ten-year-old cat, her teeth appear to be a weak point. Following her first trip to the dentist back in 2019, this was the second dental she has had in as many years. She appears to be recovering well from the procedure and will hopefully feel the benefit of the extractions going forward.
During the course of Pebble's dental intervention, we decided to take advantage of the anaesthetic and had a small lump removed from her thigh, which thankfully turned out to be a lipoma and not a dreaded mast cell tumor. (Following Pickle's death from colorectal adenocarcinoma I was preparing myself for the worst.)
We also had abdominal x-rays taken to see whether these would provide a clue as to why Pebble appears to be constipated at times and has a tendency to scoot across the carpet after visiting the toilet for a number 2.
After ruling out the obvious culprits, including parasites and anal gland issues, x-rays were the next logical step.
Abdominal X-Rays and Pebble's Sublumbar Muscles
I am now pleased to present the two most expensive images taken this year so far:
Image no 1 of Pebble's abdominal x-rays:
Abdominal X-Ray Pebble (Feline) |
Sunday, 18 April 2021
Introducing the Jera Choker: A Rune - Inspired Free Lace Choker Knitting Pattern
It's been a productive weekend in crafting terms. The first test knit of my new choker knitting pattern is finished, blocked and I have finally decided on a name for this design. Looking at the lace pattern motif, which is achieved by a series of elongated cable knit stitches, I was somehow reminded of the Jera rune, the twelfth rune from the Elder Futhark, which in its literal translation means ' (good) year' or 'harvest'.
Made up of two separate charachters, which appear to spin around one another from the centre, this rune symbolises connection and perpetual movement, representing the recurring seasons and the natural cycle of perpetual change at a steady pace and regular intervals.
Tuesday, 6 April 2021
How to block a knitted I-Cord or ...a new way to block an I-Cord
I am currently working on a new choker pattern, which will be up on the blog very soon. The new choker design (no name yet, and I am having a hard time finding one...) is a quick and simple lace project, which incorporates a cable stitch motif with some simple lace.
Monday, 5 April 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Braid Cable Knit Stitch Pattern / Tutorial
Following up on my plan to explore more cable stitch motifs in my weekly swatch motifs, I have prepared another simple cable stitch for this week's swatch post, the Braid Cable Knit Stitch.
The cables are worked on the right side rows and following the completion of the set-up rows (1 and 2), the stitch is worked over three rows.