Virga Choker - Free Lace Choker Knitting Pattern

As an in-between project I finished another lace choker, the Virga Choker, and my free pattern is available below.

Virga - Knitted Lace Choker

I was inspired to knit a choker in this lace pattern when looking at in-progress project photos of my Virga shawl (pictured below, more information here), an upcoming pattern for a semi-circular lace shawl, which will be published on the blog soon.

Virga Lace Shawl (in progress, before blocking) 

When I took the photos of the shawl, the dressmaker's dummy still had my Cascade choker wrapped around the neck and I got the idea to make a choker in the same lace pattern as the Virga shawl. 

The result of this endeavour is my Virga choker.

Introducing the Virga Shawl

New Knitting Pattern: The Virga Lace Shawl

Despite having completed work on a number of new patterns in recent weeks and months, I have not updated the blog with them. 

This is about to change and I decided to make a start today by posting a few images of my new shawl pattern, the Virga shawl.

Whilst the first test knit of the pattern is now complete, the shawl still requires blocking as well as a minimal amount of finishing; and I need to get to grips with my pattern notes before combining them into a usable pattern.

Monster High: Knee Highs

Free Monster High Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern

After a pair of Monster High doll leggings and tights, it was high time to knit a pair of knee high stockings for the Monsters Highs.

Monster High Doll Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern

The knee high stockings are knitted seamlessly from the top-down and finished off at the toes with kitchener stitch.

Monster High Doll - Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern

Free Knitting Pattern: Brocade Lace Choker

As promised, here is my latest free pattern for a knitted lace choker - a project ideally suited for beginner lace knitters looking for a sense of accomplishment in a quick and easy lace project, which can be completed in a day or two. 

Brocade Choker - Free Knitting Pattern

The lace motif, which is knitted over eight rows, is simple, consisting mainly of a combination of standard in- and decreases across fifteen stitches. All wrong side rows are a combination of knit and purl stitches. 

Brocade Lace Choker Knitting Pattern - Lace Detail

For this project I used just 5g of Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush mercerised cotton yarn and 2mm double-pointed needles (dpns). Though it is possible to knit this project on wood or bamboo needles, I recommend the use of pointy, metallic dpns, especially if you are opting for the use of mercerised cotton yarn with this pattern. This will make the knitting experience much more enjoyable. 

The size of the choker can be adjusted easily for different neck circumferences and I recommend you check the fit whilst knitting. Altogether, you should ensure that the body of the choker covers around 80% of the neck before the piece is blocked. The choker is secured with the help of two dainty i-cords, which each measure approximately 20 cm in length. These will be tied to a bow. Beads can be attached to the ends of the i-cords for a more sophisticated finish. 

Brocade Lace Choker - I-Cord Detail

The completed piece should be wet-blocked (to open the lace detail) and left to dry over night.

If you decide to substitute the mercerised cotton with another type of yarn, the number of lace repeats will obviously 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, especially sock yarn.

Brocade Choker 

Brocade Lace Choker

Free Knitting Pattern

Measurements

Before starting this project, measure your neck circumference. The lace body of your choker should cover around 80% of your neck and it will be secured with two i-cords, which should be long enough to tie a bow comfortably 

The knitting instructions for the Brocade choker below will produce a piece which measures 26.5 cm (body of the choker after blocking) and the i-cords each measure 20 cm in length. For a choker measuring 26.5 cm, you will work 16 repeats of the lace sequence for the body of the choker. One repeat measures approximately 2 cm. Adjust the number of lace repeats for a shorter or longer choker.

Brocade Choker Knitting Pattern

Materials and Tools

• 5g of Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush mercerised cotton yarn 

• 2 mm double-pointed needles

• 1.5 mm crochet hook / fine darning needle (for sewing-in yarn ends and attaching bead)

• contrast yarn (for provisional cast-on)

• 2 beads for securing the ends of the i-cords (optional)

• Blocking utensils

Brocade Choker Knitting Pattern 

Instructions

• Cast-on 15 stitches, using the provisional cast-on for the three centre stitches (7,8,9) as shown in the photo below. The three live stitches are located, where the i-cord will be worked later.

Provisional cast-on for i-cord

• Knit 4 rows (garter stitch)

Start of lace pattern:

• Row 1 (right side): k2, p2, k2tog, [k1, yo] twice, k1, sl1, k1 psso, p2, k2
• Row 2 (wrong side): k4, p7, k4
• Row 3: k2, p2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, p2, k2
• Row 4: k4, p7, k4
• Row 5: k2, p2, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, p2, k2
• Row 6: k4, p7, k4
• Row 7: k2, p2, k2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2, p2, k2
• Row 8: k4, p7, k4

• For a choker body measuring 26.5 cm repeat the above lace sequence 16 times. Adjust the number of repeats according to your own requirements.

• Knit 3 rows in garter stitch, ensuring that the cast-off is started on the wrong side.

• Bind off all stitches up to the three centre stitches, knit the centre three stitches (7, 8, 9) and cast-off the remaining stitches. 

I-cords: 

• Start knitting a 20 cm i-cord with the three remaining live stitches, bind-off i-cord  and attach bead (optional). 

• Pick-up the three centre stitches from the provisional cast-on edge, attach yarn and proceed to knit the  second i-cord. Ensure the i-cords are long enough to comfortably tie a bow.

Brocade Choker - I-Cord Detail

Finishing:

• Weave-in all yarn ends and block piece to ensure the lace is opened up.  

Should you require pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry, Twitter, Facebook, by e-mail or leave a comment below.

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission. Neither may you sell any items made from the directions in this pattern.

Should you wish to knit another choker (and, let's face it, one can never have enough chokers), the pattern for my Nameless Choker (pictured below) is available here and the pattern for the Cascade Choker (last image in this post) is available here.

Nameless Choker

Cascade Lace Choker

© 2020 Clarice Asquith. All rights reserved. http://makedoandmendnovice.blogspot.com

Free Pattern: Knitted Leggings for Monster High Dolls

Free Monster High Leggings Pattern 

The Monsters were in need of some new clothes, and I decided it was time to make a few knitted leggings / pants.

This pattern is for  Monster High dolls, measuring approximately 26cm in height. Knitted seamlessly from the waist down, it gives you the chance to check whilst knitting to ensure a snug fit; and the length of the leggings can obviously be adjusted as you go. 

Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern

Knitted on 2.5mm to 3mm needles, the pattern is suitable for all types of sock yarn. For the leggings below, I used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (Victorian Gothic) and Araucania Botany Lace. 

Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern

As you can see in the images, two of the Monsters are wearing a light green, fluffy jumper and OOAK wigs made from brushed acrylic yarn. The pattern for the jumper is available here, and instructions on how I make my doll yarn wigs can be found here and here. All of my other Monster High projects are available via this link.

Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern

Without further ado, here is my knitting pattern for the knitted leggings: 

Monster High Doll Leggings

Pattern Notes

Materials and Tools

• app 5 - 10g of: 4 ply Sock Yarn 

• 2 - 3mm Double-Pointed Needles 

• 4 Stitch Markers

• Scissors

• Safety Pin x2 or Scrap Yarn (in contrasting colour)

• Darning Needle, Sewing Needle or Crochet Hook (for sewing in ends)

Free Pattern - Picot Dress for Monster High Doll

As promised a little while ago, I have been busy designing another Monster High doll dress pattern. Originally, I just wanted to have a go at designing a jumper. I ended up knitting a few pieces before arriving at the final pattern and whilst working on the design, I got the idea to extend the jumper and made it into a dress, featuring a Picot border instead. Adding the Picot bind-off is optional and my pattern also gives you the option to knit a 2x2 ribbed yoke or work the yoke in plain stockinette stitch. 

For this project, I was playing around with different yarn options. The photographs show the dress knitted with both fingering weight mohair (Yeoman's Elsa, modelled by both Frankie and Madeline), 2ply dk weight (also Yeoman's) as well as 4ply sock yarn (Knitglobal). All of these yarn types are suitable without making any alterations to the pattern as such, but will give the finished dress a very different look and feel. 

Ever After High Cocktail Dress with Picot Border and Stockinette Yoke (Yarn Yeoman's 2 ply DK Weight)

The dress is designed for Monster High dolls approximately 25cm tall, but the design is also suitable for Ever After High Dolls, as is evidenced by Madeline. Please note the photos of the grey dress below show the dress unblocked. As soon as it's finished blocking, I will post an update with photos of the blocked dress and more in-depth information on my finishing techniques, including options for fastening the dress at the back.

Monster High Cocktail Dress with Picot Border and Stockinette Yoke (Yarn Yeoman's 2 ply DK Weight)

Monster High Cocktail Dress with Picot Border (Yarn Yeoman's 2 ply DK Weight)

Pattern Notes

Materials and Tools

• app 5 - 10g of: 4 ply Sock Yarn or 3 ply Mohair Fingering Weight or 2 ply DK Weight Yarn 

• 2 - 3mm Double-Pointed Needles 

• Scissors

• Safety Pin x2 

• Darning Needle or Sewing Needle (for sewing in ends) 

• For fastening the back of the dress: Button(s) / Hook and Eye Clap or Contrast Yarn

Free Monster High I-Cord Dress Knitting Pattern

After a long period of absence, I'm finally back attending to my many craft projects and I thought it would be a good idea to make a start with the release of my long overdue Monster High doll dress pattern. 

Free Monster High Doll Dress Pattern (Yarn: Araucania Botany Lace, 4 ply sock yarn)

The mini pencil dress, which will fit a Monster High doll measuring approximately 25cm, required less than 5 grams of yarn. For the pink Monster High dress I used Araucania Botany Lace, which is a 4 ply fingering weight sock yarn. For the other dress, I utilised leftover scraps of 4 ply Knitglobal sock yarn (shade: plum). Any sock yarn with similar attributes will be suitable for this pattern. 

Free Monster High Doll Dress Pattern (Yarn: Knitglobal 4 ply Sock Yarn) 

Monster High Knitted I-Cord Dress Pattern - Sneak Peek of the new Pattern

-Update: The Monster High I-Cord Dress Pattern is now up on the blog and available here.-


Following on from knitting a small pencil dress for a Takara Dollcena / Petite Blythe and Little Pullip doll (photos below) a few months ago, I have adapted my pattern to fit a Monster High doll.   

Knitted Mini Pencil Dress for Takara Petite Blythe / Dollcena Doll

The pattern for the knitted I-Cord dress for Petite Blythes (above) is available here.

My knitting pattern for the Monster High dress (below) will be on the blog soon. In the mean time, I couldn't resist releasing a sneak peek of the new Monster High dress.

I-Cord Dress Knitting Pattern for Monster High Doll

Knitted Pencil Mini - Dress for Petite Blythe or Little Pullip - Free Knitting Pattern

As promised months ago, here is my pattern for a miniature knitted pencil dress, designed for both Petite Blythe dolls, Dollcena Dolls and Little Pullips. 

Little Pullip Doll in custom Hand-Knit Pencil Dress 

The pink mini pencil dress, worn by the Little Pullip doll above required less than 2 grams of yarn. I used Araucania Botany lace, which is a 4 ply fingering weight sock yarn, but any sock yarn with similar attributes will be suitable for this pattern. The construction of the dress allows you to easily adjust the design when fitting the dress on your doll whilst knitting. 

Knitted seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, the pencil dress is secured at the back of the doll's neck with the help of two i-cords. The simple design can be customised by adjusting both the length of the dress itself and the length of the i-cords. In two prototypes of the design (worn by a Takara Tomy Dollcena below) I turned the mini into a maxi dress, but overall I prefer the shorter version.

Takara Tomy Dollcena Doll in Knitted Pencil Maxi Dress 

Knitting for Dollcena Takara Tomy Dolls

After knitting a pencil dress with sock yarn for this Takara Dollcena doll, I decided to make another in black (also with sock yarn). Project instructions will follow. Soon. I hope.

Here's the prototype.

Pencil Dress for Takara Tomy Dollcena Doll, hand-knit with Araucania Botany Lace 

And here's a preview of the little black pencil dress: 

Dollcena Takara Tomy doll in hand-knit pencil dress

Dollcena Takara Tomy doll in hand-knit pencil dress

Dollcena Takara Tomy Doll in Handknit Pencil Dress (Sock Yarn) - Beaded I-cord Halter 

Dollcena Takara Tomy Doll in Handknit Pencil Dress (Sock Yarn) - Beaded I-cord Halter

Crochet for Dollcena Dolls - Little Grey Hat

I literally have no idea how this little doll hat came together. It's a crochet hat and I can't crochet. I have some sort of mental block when it comes to crochet. 

I'm not entirely sure what I did and how it's constructed, I just used a crochet hook and it happened to turn out this way. By lucky coincidence, it happens to fit my Dollcena Doll. 

I'm afraid, I won't be able to write up project notes this time. But should I happen to attempt another crochet doll's hat, I promise to pay more attention to the process.

Dollcena Doll with Crochet Hat - Yarn: Stylecraft Kontiki

Dollcena Doll Crochet Hat (Doll by Takara Tomy, Yarn: Stylecraft Kontiki, Craft: Crochet)

Exploring Basic Shapes: The Knitted Star

An end to a thoroughly unproductive day, in which I merely managed to complete the pattern notes for a basic knitted star in preparation for another upcoming project, which - going by the speed it's taken to complete these notes - will take a little while yet. 

Without further ado, here are the instructions for a basic star, which is worked in the round on double-pointed needles. The star's outer edges are shaped with short rows. The size of the star can be modified by increasing or reducing the total number of stitches before working the spikes on the outer perimeter.

Knitted Star

Materials Required

• 4 double-pointed needles (dpns)
• Approximately 10 - 30 grams of yarn (matching the needle size of the dpns) 
• Scissors 
• Darning Needle

Set - Up

• Cast-on 7 stitches in whichever method you are most comfortable with (using a dpn)
• As if knitting an I - Cord, bring the yarn to the first cast-on stitch
• K1, KFB, K3, KFB, K1 [ 9 stitches in total]
• Divide these 9 stitches evenly on three dpns and join in the round

Knitted Star after completion of first increase row 

Body of Star

Row 1: K9 

Row 2: KFB into all stitches [18 stitches]

Row 3: K 18

Row 4: *KFB, K2; repeat from * to end [24 stitches]

Row 5: K24

Row 6:  *KFB, K3; repeat from * to end [30 stitches]

Row 7: K30

Row 8: *KFB, K4; repeat from * to end [36 stitches]

Row 9: K36

Row 10: *KFB, K5; repeat from * to end [42 stitches]

Row 11: K42

Please note: For a larger or smaller star, you can continue to increase the stitch count (adding 6 stitches on every even row) or decide to start the shaping of the spikes before you reach 42 stitches. Instead of utilising KFB increases, it is also possible to increase the stitch count with 'yarn overs'. This will result in a lace star.

Knitted Star - Detail

Before you start shaping the points, you should ensure that each dpn holds an even number of stitches. Half of the stitches on every needle will be shaped into one of the six outer points.

Shaping of the Outer Points

Shaping the Outer Points

Row 1: K7, turn (do not wrap the stitch when turning!)

Row 2: P7

Row 3: Sl1, K1, PSSO, K3, K2Tog, turn

Row 4: P5

Row 6: Sl1, K1, PSSO, K1, K2Tog, turn

Row 7: P3

Row 8: Sl1, K1, K1

Row 9: P2tog

Row 10: Bind-off remaining, break yarn

Proceed to shape the remaining five outer points in the same fashion.

A star is born.

Knitted Star

For pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry (ClariceAsquith), Twitter (@Slipstitched), Instagram (@clarice.asquith) leave a comment below or by e-mail: clarice.asquith@googlemail.com.

For a link collection to all original designs on the blog, please visit this link.

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission.

© 2015 Clarice Asquith. All rights reserved. http://makedoandmendnovice.blogspot.com