I'm Back!

              After a little bit of a hiatus I'm back!  Sorry for the delay on patterns, I found a job and got a new apartment at the same time.  So after a hectic few weeks I'm back on track with the patterns.  

               Portland is it's usual lovely, rainy self and I decided it was time for a beret to cheer up the end of winter.  I used Malabrigo Worsted that I got at Yarn Garden and a large crochet hook so you can whip this up in no time.  The Pink Frost color works almost like a neutral so you can wear it with everything.  Hope you enjoy it!

                As usual, feel free to use the pattern to make something for yourself but please remember to reference me as the designer.  Thank you!

Berry

1 skein Malabrigo Worsted, col. Pink Frost

1 size G crochet hook 

Darning needle

Removable stitch markers

I love hats, and I love Malabrigo Worsted, so a hat out of this beautiful yarn seemed appropriate.  Berets never go out of style so I decided to update it by using a worsted weight yarn with a larger crochet hook.  It’s a quick and easy accessory, perfect for the last bit of winter!

With crochet hook and yarn chain 3, join with a slip st

Work 7 scs into circle

Next round:  work 2 scs into each sc, (these will be the base for the increases), place marker at end of round

Begin increase rounds:

Round 1:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc in next st, repeat 6 mpre times

Round 2:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 2 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 3:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 3 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 4:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 4 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 5:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 5 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 6:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 6 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 7:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 7 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 8:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 8 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 9:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 9 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 10:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 10 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 11:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 11 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 12:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 12 sts, repeat 6 more times

Round 13:  work 2 hdcs into V, work 1 hdc into next 13 sts, repeat 6 more times

Work 3 rounds of hdc 

Begin decrease rounds:  

Round 1:  work a hdc into next 6 sts, skip 1, repeat 13 more times

Round 2:  work a hdc into next 5 sts, skip 1, repeat 13 more times

Round 3:  work a hdc into next 4 sts, skip 1, repeat 13 more times

Round 4:  work a hdc into next 3 sts, skip 1, repeat 13 more times

Work 1 round of hdc

Work 2 rounds of sc

Work a slip st and fasten off yarn

Weave in ends

Wear and enjoy!

Knit Night at Yarn Garden

I went to last night's knit night at Yarn Garden,  http://yarngarden.net/, and immediately remembered why I loved going to their knit nights on Tuesday.  Everyone there is at Yarn Garden is so nice, and the knitters that show up are so much fun it's hard to leave.  (But I had to because I take the bus and my transfer was going to expire.)  Thanks to everyone who complimented me on my cloche, I hope you all enjoy the pattern!  And thanks to Yarn Garden for supplying the wonderful treats!   Trust that there will be no more hiatus from this knit night for me!

Twisted and Twinkie Chan Workshop

   Last night Portland yarn store Twisted, http://twistedpdx.com/, had a workshop with crocheter Twinkie Chan.  She makes wonderful scarves, hats, hand warmers and more, all food themed.  (Find her website here:  http://www.twinkiechan.com/)  I'm not the best crocheter but I had so much fun making a crocheted cupcake I'm going to attempt to make the scarf.  (I think it might be a great way to use up some of the odds and ends in my stash.)  Twisted has, in addition to a wonderful selection of yarn, a great selection of teas.  The staff were great, offering us tea and real, edible cupcakes during the class!  So much fun!   Thanks to Twisted and Twinkie Chan!

New Pattern

Here's the newest pattern.  It's a cardigan made from Noro's lovely Kureyon yarn that I found at one of my LYSs, www.knit-purl.com.   (Find Noro here:  http://noroyarns.com.)  Hope you like the cardigan!  As usual, feel free to use the pattern but please remember to reference me as the designer when posting pictures of it.  As with all my creations I'd love to see your finished projects so send me pictures of them and I'll post them here. Apologies for the photos being at the end of the pattern but I had a little difficulty getting them on the blog.  Thanks for looking and good luck!



If you have any questions, or run into any problems with the pattern, please email me and I'll do my best to help.

Noro Cardigan with Mistake Rib 

4.5 sts to 1”

7 balls Noro Kureyon colourway 217  (If you want your cardigan or sleeves longer, or if you just worry about running out of yarn, purchase another skein.  There were only 7 skeins of the colourway that I liked at my LYS.  I ended up having about 3 yards left when I finished.)

size 7 24” circulars 

size 5 24” circulars

size H crochet hook

4 stitch markers in colour A, 2 stitch markers in colour B

3 buttons

The neck of this cardigan is shaped with short row shaping so the collar will lay flat. This is a top down cardigan, perfect for beginning knitters who are comfortable with increasing and decreasing and a quick and easy knit for experienced knitters.  You will be increasing during the short row shaping so be sure and read through the pattern before beginning the cardigan to familiarize yourself with what you will be doing.   I made it 36” around to fit a 34” bust.  Because of the wide neckline and the customizable button bands you can easily make it a bit larger or smaller just by working a few more or fewer increase rows.  Just remember to do this after the short rows have been worked. 

Body:  cast on 16 sts, pm, cast on 8 sts, pm, cast on 38 sts, pm, cast on 8 sts, pm, cast on 16 sts, pm

Purl 1 row

Begin short row shaping: 

row 1: knit across 59 sts, w & t

row 2: purl across 35 sts, w & t

row 3: knit across 38 sts, w & t

row 4: purl across 40 sts, w & t

row 5: knit 2, kfb, sm, kfb, knit across 36 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit 1, w & t

row 6: purl across 49 sts, w & t

row 7: knit 4 sts, kfb, sm,  kfb, knit across 38 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit 3 sts, w & t

row 8: purl across 54 sts, w & t

row 9: knit 6, kfb, sm, kfb, knit across 40 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit to end

row 10: purl to end

row 11: knit across 15 sts, kfb, sm, kfb, knit 9, kfb, sm, kfb, knit across 42 sts, kfb,sm, kfb, knit across 9 sts, kfb, kfb, knit to end          

row 12: purl

This ends the short row shaping for the cardigan.  From here on you will increase before and after the markers as normal by knitting the front and back of each st.  All wrong side rows will be purled.

row 13:  knit to 1st marker, kfb, sm, kfb, repeat 3 more times, knit to end

row 14: purl

Repeat these two rows 15 more times

There will be 31 sts for each front, 43 sts for each sleeve, and 76 sts for back

Divide for body and sleeves:

knit across front sts, remove markers, place 43 sleeve sts on scrap yarn, sm, knit across back sts, remove marker, place 43 sleeve sts on scrap yarn, sm, knit to end

(142 sts left on needles)

Body:

*please note all waist shaping for this cardigan will take place at back darts

Starting with a purl row, work 3 rows in st st

Set up row for back darts: knit across front to side markers, sm, knit 15 sts, pm, knit across 46 sts, pm, knit to end

purl 1 row

Decrease row: knit to 1st back dart marker, sm, ssk, knit to 2 sts before 2nd dart marker, k2tog, knit to end

row 2: purl

row 3: knit

row 4: purl

Repeat these 4 rows 8 more times  (124 sts left)

work 10 rows in st st

Increase row: knit to 1st back dart marker, sm, k1, m1, knit to 1 st before 2nd back dart marker, k1, m1, sm, knit to end

row 2: purl

row 3: knit

row 4: purl 

Repeat these 4 rows 6 more times, ending with a RS row

Change to smaller needles

WS: sl1, p2, k2 across row to last st, sl1

RS: knit across row

Repeat these 2 rows until the ribbing measures 3”

Bind off

Sleeves:  

Transfer sts from first sleeve to larger size needles

Pick up 2 at underarm (45 sts)

Work in st st for 14”, increasing 1 st on last row

Change to smaller needles and knit 1 RS row

WS: sl1, p2, k2 across row to last st, sl1

RS: knit

Repeat these 2 rows until ribbing measures 1.5”

Bind off

Repeat for second sleeve

Finishing: using size 5 circular needles, pick up 92 around neck edge with the wrong side of work facing you.

Work in broken rib for 5’

*Please note*  Because of the way the collar will lie, the Rs will be the side facing you when the wrong side of the cardigan is facing you.  The collar is meant to fold back over the neck and shoulders.

Rs: knit

Ws: p2, k2

Button and buttonhole bands:  with size H hook and the right side of work facing you work 64 scs along side A, turn and sc to end, fasten off.

Repeat for side B.

Button loops:  first decide where you would like your buttons to be placed on the cardigan.  I started about an inch from the top edge, and then place the next two buttons at three inch intervals.  Sew buttons on.  Leaving a three inch tail, chain 10 with size H hook.  Using a tapestry needle, pull tail through sc band.  Fasten off chain, leave a three inch tail, and pull this through sc band, next to where you placed the first tail.  Secure, then using tapestry needle, wrap tail several times around the base of buttonloop to form a decorative detail.  Repeat this two more times, placing loops opposite the buttons.  Try on and enjoy!

Front view of cardigan 

Back neck.  Short rows help the collar to curve properly.

Back view of cardigan 

Front collar detail.  This also shows placement of the buttons.