Thursday 30 June 2022
The Weekly Swatch: Ostrich Plume Lace Knit Stitch
Friday 17 June 2022
The Weekly Swatch: (Simple) Shell Lace Knit Stitch
Carrying on with shell motifs, here we have the simple Shell Lace Knit Stitch. It's a fun, versatile stitch, that can be memorised easily after a few repeats.
If you are considering incorporating this stitch motif into a project, please bear in mind that this stitch has a tendency to slant, especially when worked over a larger area.
For this shell stitch, all wrong side rows are purled throughout and the stitch motif is created with yarn over increases and psso (pass slipped stitch over) decreases on the right side rows.
The stitch requires a multiple of 7 plus 2 stitches and is knitted over 12 rows.
The Weekly Swatch: Diagonal Shell Lace Knit Stitch
I'm totally in love with shell stitch motifs at the moment.
Saturday 14 May 2022
The Weekly Swatch: Herringbone Eyelet Knit Stitch
Sunday 24 April 2022
The Weekly Swatch: Faggot and Chevron Rib Knit Stitch
Sunday 10 April 2022
Free Knitting Pattern: Cascade Lace Choker (One-Piece I-Cord Version)
- These are the pattern instructions for the one-piece i-cord version of the Cascade Choker. The pattern for the Cascade Choker with attached / grafted i-cords is available here. -
I recently finished another Cascade Choker and rather than attaching i-cords to the choker after knitting the body of the choker, I decided to knit the i-cords directly at the beginning and at the end of the project to achieve a more organic look.
This lace choker can be completed in a day or two, including the time it requires to block the finished piece (blocking is absolutely essential to open up the lace).
If you decide to substitute the mercerised cotton with another type of yarn, the number of lace repeats will differ. As you can check the fit whilst knitting, this should not be a major issue, making this project ideally suited to using up all types of yarn leftovers.
Saturday 4 December 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Garland Lace Knit Stitch
The Weekly Swatch: Faggot Knit Stitch
Monday 15 November 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Loop Mesh Lace Knit Stitch
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
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.
Friday 2 April 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Garter Lace Diamonds
Tuesday 16 March 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Bud Lace Knit Stitch Pattern / Knit Stitch Tutorial
After a series of more involved knit stitch motifs over the past few weekly swatches, this week I have prepared a very simple lace knit stitch, the Bud Knit Stitch. On the right side, the stitch pattern produces what appear to be staggered columns of bud- or droplet-shaped motifs.
This stitch is knitted over twelve rows on a background of reverse stockinette stitch and the texture on the wrong side has a nice look and feel, too - making this a good candidate for a reversible stitch motif.
Tuesday 9 March 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Wrapped Openwork Lace Columns (Knit Stitch Tutorial)
I am still in love with openwork knit stitches and have prepared another super simple openwork knit stitch for this week's weekly swatch.
This knit stitch is worked over two rows on a multiple of three plus two stitches, making this an extremely simple, yet highly versatile lace ribbing stitch. This stitch looks (and feels) entirely different, depending on the yarn used. To showcase the look of this stitch in different yarn weights, I knitted my swatches in the images below with Araucania Botany Lace (sock yarn) and Rowan Bamboo Soft.
Monday 1 March 2021
The Weekly Swatch: Ratchet Eyelet Knit Stitch
Catching up with the weekly swatch posts today, next up is the Ratchet Eyelet knit stitch.
This stitch motif is knitted over 28 rows, making this a more elaborate stitch. When complete, the stitch results in what looks like garter stitch medallions, which are framed in a circle of eyelets, resembling ratchets. All the wrong side rows are purled throughout, allowing you to take a break from all the in- and decreasing on the right side rows.
The Weekly Swatch: Openwork Lace Knit Stitch
Sunday 21 February 2021
Free Mohair Scarf Knitting Pattern: The Winter's End Scarf
This weekend I completed the final rows of my Winter's End scarf and proceeded to block the scarf right after it came off the needles. The Winter's End scarf is knitted with fine 3 ply lightweight mohair yarn. As the pattern is straightforward and simple, this was my in-between, go-to project for the past four months.
Simple Mohair Knitting Pattern with a Technical Twist
The stitch pattern for the scarf is a simple 1x1 rib and to keep things interesting and achieve a unique look, this mohair scarf pattern incorporates a technical twist. In order to achieve the long chain of stitches and airy texture of the scarf, the project is knitted on needles of two different sizes, radically different sizes to be precise: 2mm and 8mm.
Free Mohair Scarf Knitting Pattern |
For this reason, and even though the project is perfectly suitable for beginner knitters, the challenge lies not so much in the stitch pattern, but in its execution; i.e. staying in charge of the fuzzy yarn, whilst working the pattern on odd needles and showing them who is boss.
Free Mohair Scarf Knitting Pattern |
I enjoy working with superfine mohair and really appreciate the unique qualities of this type of yarn, but I am well aware that the fuzziness of the material can be a source of frustration. From my experience with mohair knits, the golden rule for working with this type of yarn is to cast on loosely and to ensure you do not knit tightly. (More information on this, is available here.) This advice holds true for all mohair knits, but is even more important when knitting with mohair on odd needles.
For the Winter's End Scarf I used Yeoman's 3 ply Elsa ( 30% mohair 40% acrylic 30% nylon), which is a budget option when it comes to Mohair yarn. The pattern is equally suitable for similar yarns or more upmarket choices with a higher mohair component (such as Drops Kid Silk) or, if you are preferring the luxury option, those with an added silk component, i.e. Rowan Kid Silk Haze or Debbie Bliss Angel.
Free Mohair Scarf Knitting Pattern |
Gauge is not important for this project and my scarf is designed to be 35 cm wide and 135 cm long, thus producing a generous, versatile piece that can be worn in a variety of ways, either wrapped around the neck several times to keep chills away, as an accessory draped loosely around the shoulders to show off the knitting or as a protective layer for the head, shielding you from the elements, whilst simultaneously covering your entire head without destroying the hairstyle underneath.
For a narrower scarf, simply cast on fewer stitches, ensuring you cast-on an odd number of stitches. The length of the scarf can be adapted by measuring the scarf as you knit.
Free Mohair Scarf Knitting Pattern |