Knitted Chokers - Two New Designs

Update: The knitting pattern for the Brocade Choker is now available here.

Brocade Choker

After completing a huge circular throw I was in need of a smaller knitting project and ended up designing two new lace chokers, the Brocade and the Cascade Choker, which are currently being finished.  

Whilst waiting for the Brocade Choker to complete its time on the blocking board, here are some in-progress images of the designs. 

The Weekly Swatch: Diamond Rib Knit Stitch

Against a background of reverse stockinette stitch, the Diamond Rib stitch creates vertical columns featuring framed, diamond-shaped motifs. The stitch requires multiples of nine plus two stitches and is worked over eight rows. Due to the intricate details of the stitch motif, it's probably best suited to lace-weight and sock yarns. 

Diamond Rib Knit Stitch (Yarn: Araucania Botany Lace, Needle Size 3mm)

The Weekly Swatch: Diamond Trellis and Garter Triangle Stitch

The Diamond Trellis and Garter Triangle Stitch

For this week's stitch, I have been knitting up two swatches, one for the Diamond Trellis stitch and for one of its (many!) variations, featuring a garter stitch effect in the upper part of the diamond motif.  

Both require a multiple of ten plus three stitches and repeats are worked over sixteen rows.  

As can be seen from the images below, this lace stitch is best suited to yarns with a good stitch definition. For my samples I have chosen Rowan Bamboo Soft and Stylecraft Kon-Tiki, both on 4mm needles. 

The Diamond Trellis and Garter Triangle Stitch

The Weekly Swatch: Waterfall Lace Knit Stitch Pattern

The Waterfall Lace Knit Stitch

For this week's stitch, I have been knitting up two swatches in the so-called Waterfall lace pattern.

This stitch motif requires a multiple of six plus three stitches and repeats are worked over six rows. 

An uncomplicated stitch, which you will be able to remember after a few pattern repeats, this pattern creates vertical columns and the positioning of the yo-increases results in the effect of cascading water. This stitch is ideal for throws, blankets and scarfs. 

As can be seen from the images below, this lace stitch is suitable for yarns of all types of  weight. For my samples I have chosen Rowan Kid Classic and Wendy Zena, an Alpaca  / Acrylic blend.

Waterfall Lace Knit Stitch Pattern

The Weekly Swatch: The Net Knit Stitch or Filet Net Knit Stitch

For this week's knit swatch I have prepared the Net Knit or Filet Net Knit Stitch. This is an uncomplicated openwork lace knit stitch, which is worked over two rows, creating a mesh fabric. 

When playing around with the swatch, I got the idea that this stitch might be suitable for a project incorporating beads and the below photo of the swatch with black yarn showcases the stitch worked with wooden beads, which were incorporated on the 2nd row. 

Net Knit Stitch or Filet Net Knit Stitch (Yarn: Stylecraft Kon-Tiki) 

The Weekly Swatch: Trellis Lace Knit Stitch

Trellis Lace Knit Stitch

For this week's swatch I have chosen the Trellis Lace Knit Stitch, a simple stitch motif that results in an open mesh fabric, ideal for summer garments, scarfs and throws. There is nothing complicated about this stitch. The pattern is knitted over four rows, all even rows are purled throughout and the lace pattern can be memorised easily. 

The stitch motif is suitable for yarns of all weights and I chose to showcase my swatch sample utilising Stylecraft Kontiki (grey) and Patons UK Vintage (pink). 

Trellis Lace Knit Stitch (Yarns: Stylecraft Kontiki - grey and Patons UK Vintage - pink)

The Weekly Swatch: Another Zig Zag Lace Knit Stitch

As mentioned in my last weekly swatch post, in which I was showcasing a 'zig zag lace stitch pattern', there are many variations of the so-called 'zig zag stitch' motif in lace knitting. That's why I have decided to knit up another zig zag swatch for this week's not-so-weekly, weekly swatch. 

Zig Zag Lace Knit Stitch Variation, Yarn: 4 ply Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light

Here, we have another zig zag stitch motif. It requires a multiple of 9 stitches and is knitted over 16 rows. Stitches on all even rows are purled throughout, all in- and decreases are a combination of yos, k2togs and pssos.

The Weekly Swatch: Lace Zig Zag Stitch Pattern

My blog post directory tells me that I published my last 'weekly' knitted swatch (the lace rib knit stitch) in September 2018. This is unacceptable and shows how busy life has been over the past year. 

After Pickle's passing at the onset of 2019, I finally seem to have regained my mojo for knitting, crafting and blogging somewhat. So, without further ado, here is my latest swatch project, showcasing a lace 'zig zag' pattern. 

There are many variations of 'zig zag' lace stitches out there. This one is extremely simple, utilising k2togs and pssos for the decreases and yos for the increases. 

After a few rows practising, you won't have any trouble memorising the pattern. The stitch is knitted with a stitch count of 6 plus 1 stitches over a multiple over 12 rows. All even rows are purled throughout. 

Zig Zag Lace Stitch Knitting Pattern

The Weekly Swatch: Lace Rib Knit Stitch

The Weekly Swatch: Horseshoe Lace Stitch Pattern

The Weekly Swatch: Lace Mesh Stitch

Winter Stole Update: Test Knit Completed ✔

Back in January I released my pattern notes for the Winter Stole, a lace stole knitted with a chunky alpaca / wool blend on 6mm needles. More background on the rationale behind the design and my choice of yarn is available here; and the pattern is available here.

The Winter Stole pattern was developed to encourage knitters (and myself) to diversify the choice of materials when knitting lace. Depending, of course, on the complexity of the lace stitch sequence and the overall design, I was aiming to showcase that it is possible to produce knitted lace with chunkier yarns. 

Winter Stole (yarn: Wendy Zena, pattern available here.

Winter Stole (yarn: Wendy Zena, pattern available here.

Thanks to Tara (tara53aus on Ravelry) I am now pleased to announce that the pattern has undergone its first 'independent' test knit and Tara's completed stole is pictured below:

Tara's Completed Winter Stole 

Regular readers of this blog will know that I am always thankful for the feedback I receive from the knitters of my designs, especially from those, who put their trust in a pattern that has so far only been completed by the pattern's very own designer. This was the case with the Winter Stole pattern. 

This time round and following the feedback I received from Tara, I am particularly pleased to announce that my original Winter Stole pattern is free of mistakes, slips and no modifications are necessary.

Tara's Stole Blocking

I was also delighted to see that Tara not only used a natural, undyed alpaca yarn to complete her stole, she also chose a very special handspun yarn from an independent producer in Western Australia. 

Sadly, I was not able to retrieve more information on the producer over the web, but the ball band details can be seen in the picture below. So, if you are located in Western Australia, I suggest you get your hands on a delightful skein (or two) of Greg's and Wendy's handspun.

A remark on the pattern from my side: I have decided to update the pattern notes of the Winter Stole slightly with optional variations, to take those knitters into consideration, who are opting to use handspun yarn (Alpaca or otherwise) and may thus only have a finite amount of yarn to complete the project. The stole was designed to be rather wide and fewer cast-on stitches (resulting in fewer lace motif repeats in the body of the piece) will ensure that the piece will turn out long enough to be classed a 'stole'. These notes on modifications of the original pattern will be published shortly. In the meantime, the original Winter Stole pattern is available here.

Finally and once again, a very big 'THANK YOU!' to Tara for her feedback, for being the first to test the pattern and for choosing a delicious, independently produced, handspun yarn to complete her project. 

For any interested knitters, wishing to complete a Winter Stole and requiring pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry (ClariceAsquith), Twitter (@Slipstitched), 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.

Knitting with Non-Traditional Materials: The Nameless Choker meets the Nameless Cuff

Roughly one year ago I released project notes for a simple knitted lace choker, the Nameless Choker. The pattern notes for the 'Nameless Choker' are available here. 

Specifically designed to use up the last remnants of sock yarn after the completion of a larger project, Nameless is an ideal project for a very small quantity of yarn (approximately 10 - 20 grams).

Nameless Choker, Knitting Pattern available here

One year on, I decided to explore the choice of material for this project in more detail. Whilst certain types of sock and cotton yarn (especially the sturdier varieties) work very well with the design, the pattern provides an ideal starting point for venturing into new territory, i.e. the cross-over point where knitting and jewellery-making techniques meet and blend into one another. 

For my revision of the pattern, I am planning to adapt the original design with the help of a number of non-traditional materials such as waxed cotton thong cord (1mm), leather cord (1mm) and, potentially, jewellery wires.

Having completed an initial experiment with waxed cotton cord (shown below), it is clear that certain design elements  of the original pattern (stitch count, lace repeats, needle size and quantities etc.) will obviously have to be revised and modified to take the properties of cotton thread into consideration, but I am quite happy with the initial outcome.

The first insight derived from yesterday's cotton cord knitting session is that 10 metres of waxed cotton thong are not sufficient to produce a fully fledged knitted choker on the basis of the original Nameless pattern, but they will be enough to make a knitted wrist cuff.   

Nameless Cuff (knitted with 1mm waxed cotton cord)

Nameless Cuff (knitted with 1mm waxed cotton cord)

Nameless Cuff (knitted with 1mm waxed cotton cord)

Nameless Cuff Prototype

Nameless Cuff - Prototype

Further updates and finalised project notes on the Nameless Cuff and the modified Nameless Choker will be up on the blog shortly. 

In the meantime, stay tuned... 

Cast-on loosely and don't knit tight - knitting lace with fingering weight mohair yarn

Wisp: Pattern by Cheryl Niamath (published in Knitty, Summer 2007), Yarn: Patons UK Misty

The Wisp Shawl pattern by Cheryl Niamath has somewhat turned into a classic lace knitting pattern and due to its simplicity it tends to attract many beginner lace knitters, who may never have used cobweb or fingering weight yarn in any of their projects before.

Though not my first lace project, I, too, opted for the pattern as I wanted to gain experience knitting lace with fingering weight yarn, whilst completing a relatively simple pattern. Niamath's Wisp fulfils these requirements and due to its straightforward stitch sequence, it allows you to concentrate on your manual ability and, above all, to get a feel for working with extremely fine yarn. 

The Weekly Swatch: Fern Stitch Variation

Many lace stitch motifs are referred to as 'Fern Stitches' and the below swatch sample showcases one  of the many variations of the Fern Stitch. 

Knitted with a cotton / acrylic yarn (Stylecraft Kontiki), the texture and look of the sample reminded me somewhat of Entrelac knitting. The stitch motif requires a  multiple of 8 plus 4 stitches.

Fern Stitch Swatch, Yarn: Stylecraft Kontiki

A Tribute to Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi

In an earlier post on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, I outlined why I believe that Zimmermann's no-frills paperback should be considered a very special publication indeed, despite its somewhat bland appearance and apparent lack of project photography. 

First up, a few words on the low-cost nature of the paperback edition: The Almanac features instructions to over 15 patterns (including 4 sweaters) on approximately 150 pages, making this a densely packed publication. With the exception of the book cover, the project photography is in black and white throughout, thus lacking the visual appeal and photographic detail of contemporary knitwear publications. 

In short, the project photography (though decent and undertaken with great care) is by modern standards outdated. As a result, those of us, who derive inspiration from ogling an appealing finished object before casting on, will undoubtedly be disappointed.  To really get in the mood for knitting a Zimmermann pattern from the Almanac, it might be best to start off by trawling the web for pictures of finished Zimmermann projects and adaptations of her original designs. At this point, her true genius will be revealed. The Pi Shawl pattern provides a perfect case in point.  

Zimmermann's Pi Shawl design and instructions have inspired countless knitters to produce a multitude of design variations based upon Zimmermann's original design. The Pi Shawls featured below are merely a small selection of the many outstanding projects on show across the  web. 

Special thanks go to MadKnits, Terhi, Aisling Doonan and Glenna C aka crazyknittinglady  for allowing me to showcase their most amazing, finished Pis here on the blog. Thank you so much! 

For even more Pi inspiration, please visit my Pi Shawl board on Pinterest.

Terhi's Pi, Yarn: Wetterhoff Sivilla and Fiberphile Merino 

Free Pattern: The Winter Stole

New Year! New free pattern! 

A lace stole made with a chunky alpaca / wool blend. 

Lace Winter Stole in Wendy Zena

Knitting Lace with Chunky Alpaca Yarn

Admittedly, to a sock yarn lover the above might not sound particularly intriguing. As a sock yarn connoisseur myself, I have to admit that the idea of knitting simple lace with a chunky alpaca / wool blend did not seem appealing. Nevertheless, in the interest of reducing the size of my yarn stash, I decided to embark on this adventure some time in late 2014. 

Winter Stole in Progress (Yarn: Wendy Zena)

New Free Pattern: The Commuter Cowl

Evening Rush Hour London Victoria

Another experiment in simple lace knitting. This project was conceived of and completed during the daily commute and that's how it came to its name, the Commuter Cowl. 

The cowl's lace pattern gives the impression of vertical ribbing, which is achieved by a simple lace sequence, ideal for beginner lace knitters.

The project is extremely portable and the pattern's lace rows are followed by simple knit rows, making this an ideal beginner project. The cowl is knitted entirely in the round.

Update on that "Bag of Weed"

My so-called "sabbatical" ended unexpectedly at the onset of October. This accounts for the silence on the blog, which I'm about to interrupt with a post on blocking.

Blocking again! I don't seem to be able to get away from the topic of blocking.

Commuter Cowl blocking, draped around dressmaker's dummy