simple things shawlette pattern

I'm excited: the Simple Things pattern is ready and published! You can check out the projects already completed and in progress by the test knitters and some early purchasers (thank you!!) on the Ravelry pattern page.

This is a simple little shawlette, designed to use just one skein (360 yards) of a particularly lovely handpainted yarn. Worked from the center top down, it’s knit in easy stockinette stitch with increases along the edges and a center spine. Garter eyelet ridges along the bottom edge prevent curling and add texture while still letting the yarn draw focus.

A handy small traveling project, it's also good for beginners who want to try a shaped shawl and eyelet work without a lot of complicated patterning.

Worn draped around your shoulders as a small shawl or tied around your neck as a triangular scarf, Simple Things is versatile and easy to throw on with just about anything and add a little color, softness, warmth, and handknit goodness to your day.

Simple Things is available for purchase for $5.00 through the "buy now" button below.

materials needed:

yarn: 360 yards (329 meters) fingering-weight (4-ply) yarn; shown in Pagewood Farm Alyeska Hand-dyed Sock Yarn; 360 yards (329 meters); 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 3.9 oz (113 grams) colorways: Harvest (brown version) and Misty (grey version)

needles: 1 US 4/3.5 mm circular needle, 24” (or size needed to obtain gauge)

notions: tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch marker (optional for confident knitters after the increasing pattern is established, but especially helpful while working the garter ridge section)

gauge:

19 stitches and 28 rows = 4”

finished size:

46” from point to point along top of shawl, and 17” down center increases from the top to the point

please note: though getting exact gauge isn’t crucial for this project in terms of fit, it was designed to use nearly the entire 360-yard skein of yarn called for. Please have at least 350 yards to use for this project and check your gauge (blocking your swatch) especially carefully if you are close to the required yarn amount to help ensure that you won’t run out. You can also easily subtract a few rows before the garter eyelet ridge section for a smaller shawlette, or add additional garter ridges for a larger one, to help you get the very most out of your chosen yarn.

notes about this pattern purchase

You are purchasing a pattern in pdf file format, and will be able to download your pattern via a link that will be emailed to you once your payment is completed. All payments are processed by PayPal and you can use either your PayPal account or a credit card to pay. The pattern is delivered by Ravelry but you don't need an account in order to purchase. This pattern may be used to make items for personal use, for gifts, or for charitable donations. This pattern may not be used to make items for sale. You may print this pattern for your own personal use only. You many not distribute this pattern in any hardcopy or electronic format, for free or for resale.

If you have any problems with your purchase or any questions about making this pattern please email me and I'll be happy to help you! Thank you so much!

simple things: coming tomorrow!

The Simple Things Shawlette has been completed by a few test knitters now, and I've gotten some great notes on the pattern. I love working with tech editors and test knitters - always so nice to get feedback and throw around ideas on how to clarify directions or improve a photo or note, however small. I'm so grateful!

I'm excited to say that I think the pattern is ready to go! Tonight, I'm going to be redoing the patterns section of my website to improve the layout, and tomorrow I'll be putting Simple Things up for sale here and on Ravelry! This is my first pattern in quite a long time and I'm glad to be getting back in my swing with designing. Here's a little sneak peek:

The real deal will be ready tomorrow!

gathered pullover

I took some pictures of my happy lovey heartbubbles sweater today - the more I wear it, the happier I am with the finished sweater! The pattern name isn't really happy lovey heartbubbles, of course... this is the Gathered Pullover (with quite a few mods) and the yarn is Classic Elite Inca Alpaca (I love this stuff). Cozy, warm, and cute!

I had to refigure the numbers of the pattern because I wanted to knit an in-between size. I also added some lengths to the body before shaping and to the sleeves (these are standard modifications for me - I pretty much always add an inch or two to the body and sleeves). Finally, like many other folks in Ravelry, I omitted the line of decreases/increases across the bust. I prefer the smoother look of the projects that had just left those out (particularly on curvier women like myself), plus the cable stands out nicely on its own without them.

The yarn is wonderful! I've used it before - it was a staple alpaca at Knit Cafe and I knit several hats using it in my pre-Ravelry days. This is a very soft alpaca with a nice halo. So far I’ve worn the sweater over camisoles and it is soft next to my bare skin and not itchy at all! It's obviously very warm and cozy since it’s knit in alpaca, but the Inca Alpaca is slightly loose and open at this gauge so it doesn’t feel heavy or overly hot. I also think that this neckline is a good fit for an alpaca pullover since it’s so open; on very colder days I’ll wear layers underneath to cover up a bit more.

All in all, I'm really happy with this! I love the bright color, love the fit, love the soft, warm yarn. I can see myself wearing this one pretty much constantly this winter. Yay!

Potter beginnings

It took a couple of swatches but I'm now getting gauge using size 5 needles. This means that I'm a looser knitter than Norah Gaughan. I kind of love knowing this little bit of trivia!

The sweater is Potter, from Berroco: Norah Gaughan Volume 5. Cirilia wore it at TNNA in the great model-off, and I fell in love with it.

It is an essentially simple, wearable cardigan, but there are some very lovely Norah design details (a really cool color, some nice shaping) that make it pretty awesome, I think!

The Pure Merino is SO SQUISHY. I haven't used this yarn before, and I really like it. My swatches grew and softened a bit when I washed them (about 1.5 stitches over 4" bigger - enough to make quite a difference in final fit!) but they remained very squeezable - lots of body to the yarn. This is the Regatta colorway, a really lovely rich blue.

I have some Jennie the Potter buttons that might be perfect for this sweater! If they aren't quite big enough when it's finished, I'll go hunting for some Bakelite or celluloid ones. I do think that some big goldenrod or burnt orange Bakelite buttons would be amazing against this color. We'll see what I think when I'm done!

finishing

The man-made clocks may have fallen back an hour this weekend, but there's no fooling my body's clock (and there's certainly no fooling Charlie's: we've barely needed to set the alarm since adopting him). Up before sunrise this morning at 5:20 am, I sat down with some coffee for some quality time putting the finishing touches on my Gathered Pullover (Ravelry link). Seaming up the sleeves and weaving in the ends (almost done!); next comes setting them in and blocking.

I actually really enjoy finishing - even though I tend to be an almost-finisher with projects. The last bits of knitting can drag for me, but once I'm ready to get everything tidy and fit together and neat, I'm so happy. it's lovely to watch it come together. With temperatures in the high 60's this week, I'm not sure I'll be wearing this alpaca sweater right away, but cooler days will be here again soon enough!