New Shawl Patterns

I have 2 new shawl patterns out. The first which has be a while in the works is Dáiríne Stole

After one lovely sunny week in Trondheim (in March) and I thought spring had sprung. However I was oh so wrong, as we then got several inches of snow! The snow and cold kept coming while I longed for spring, and this shawl is the result of that! DÁIRÍNE is derived from Irish Gaelic dáire meaning “fruitful, fertile”. This stole is knit in three pieces and grafted together using the kitchner stitch. Sides A and B are knit from the bottom up, the center section is then worked in the round.

Note that the gauge listed above is relatively loose with 3mm needles, I suggest that tight knitters go up a needle size.

The shawl can be easily lengthened by increasing the number of vine chart repeats in sides A & B.

The second was a stream-of-consciousness knit that is easily customizable called Radiate

This semi-circular shawl is knitted using a combination of lace and cables. Beginning with a circular CO this shawl is knit top-down. The increases can be placed at any interval making the shawl easily customizable to any length or width.

Both are available on raverly.com for download. :)

New stole in the works

I knit this shawl for my shawl exchange partner. I was inspired by the lovely yarn from Wooly Wonka Fibers. We had just had one lovely sunny week in Trondheim (March) and I thought spring had sprung. However I was oh so wrong, as we then got several inches of snow! The snow and cold kept coming while I longed for spring, and this shawl is the result of that!

I have been asked by serveral knitters when the pattern will be out. You will be happy to know that I believe (fingers crossed) that I have worked out some kinks in the pattern, and plan on writting it up this week. Hopefully testers will receive it on Monday and finish by the end of June!

This stole is so far unnamed. I named my project, Fiorella, which means little flower, but I am not entirely happy with it. I am also toying with DÁIRÍNE derived from Irish Gaelic dáire meaning "fruitful, fertile". Thoughts?

Good Day Sunshine

My latest desgin Good Day Sunshine can now be found on knitty.com :)

Winters can be cold and dark in Norway, so when spring comes I take every chance to be outside in the sunshine. In fact, you are looked upon as kinda crazy if you choose to stay inside when you can soak up the sun. Every year, when it is warm enough to sit outside I catch myself humming Good Day Sunshine by The Beatles:

“I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good, in a special way
I'm in love and it's a sunny day
Good day sunshine ”

This is my humble ode to Sunshine.

Estonian gathered stitches combined with eyelets create the fabric for the center of this sunny shawlette. A mix of lace and cabling is then used to flare out the shawlette into intertwining rays of sunshine, ensuring that the shawlette sits nicely on your shoulders.

New Design - Nimrodel

“Beside the falls of Nimrodel, 

by water clear and cool, 

her voice, like silver falling fell 

into the shining pool”

Nimrodel is a cable and lace triangular shawl worked from the top down. The pattern can be easily customized by changing the number of repeats of Chart A. The pictured shawl uses approximately 700 yards of fingering weight yarn. 400 yards would make a shawlette size.

I knit to audio books a lot and was listening to Lord of the Rings, and trying to come up with something for my shawl exchange partner. She said her favorite colors were water tones, and the beautiful yarn from the yarn yard reminded me of cool water. So I tried to come up with a pattern that reminded me of water flowing over stones and this is what I came up with.

Aurum

My latest design Aurum is now available as a kit exclusively with Wooly Wonka Fibers here. This design was inspired by a good friend who is soon to be getting hitched. I wanted to knit her something special and came up with this lace and cable shawlette.Aurum is a crescent shaped shawl that is knitted from the bottom up using short rows. The main motif involves both a simple lace and cable design. The cable design is meant to be done without a cable needle, tutorials on this method can be found at the end of the pattern. It is finished with an I-cord BO. It will be offered on it own starting in Sept 2011 here.

Kobenhavn

My newest shawl pattern Kobenhavn is up! It can be purchased here from Knit Picks.Kobenhavn is a reversible triangular shawlette or shawl. The construction of this shawl is non-traditional. The shawl is CO at one end of the garter stitch triangle, increased to the desired size then decreased forming the triangular basis. Stitches are then picked up along the sides of the triangle, and a feather & fan chart is knitted top down. The shawl finishes with a knitted on edging.

It is shown here in KP Shimmer above, and KP Stroll Tonal below. The pattern is written for 2 sizes, but is easily customizable.

Socks, Shawls, and Smitten

Well I have been knitting up a storm. I finished my Kobenhavn sample, and the pattern is soon to be release on KP.

Socks to be gifted

I also made a pair of Kjærlighetsvotter or Lover's mittens for a wedding present. Aren't they great! So that you and your sweetie can hold hands in the mitten. I think I will write up another version of these that are slightly less traditional.


I tested out this lovely blouse and am starting on another test.

I have also finished testing my 3rd shawl design, but it is being kept secret for the time being. =)

Carol Stole

I take part in the bi-annual Ravelry Worldwide Shawl Exchange (RWSE). This year my partner inspired me to design a shawl and here it is.
Traditional Estonian lace stitches are used to create this lacey stole. This rectangular stole begins with a provisional CO and is knit in both directions. Side edging is knit as part of the main pattern and completes the ends using the knitted on edging technique. Beads are used in the last stitch motif and NUPPs can be substituted in place of beads.

The pattern is available for sale here, through Knit Picks IDP.

11 Shawls in 2011

I love knitting shawls. Last year I joined a rav group set on knitting 10 shawls in 2010, which added fuel to the fire, and I ended up knitting 13 shawls! Now it is 2011 and I am off to a good start at meeting my 11 shawls in 2011 goal ;)

First up was a test knit for a wide but shallow shawl which is perfect to wear around the neck!
Next is a beaded stole knit using 855 yards of lace yarn, destined to be raffled off in the fall at the Harvest Bazaar in my home town of Boulder City NV.


And lastly was the first installment of the Shakespeare in Lace Accessories Club run by http://www.woolywonkafiber.com/. This installment was inspired by the Tempest and will be making it's way to one lucky lady soon ;)
So 3 down, 8 to go! I have one KAL shawl in the works, and a lace & cable stole that I am in the process of designing!

Beads vs Nupps

A Nupp is a bobble like stitch found in Estonia lace patterns. It is found in many lace patterns, but is also often replaced by beads. I did just that in this Swallowtail shawl, knitted using Knit Picks Gloss lace yarn in Ultramarine.

Crochet Cast Off

Here are 2 shawls that both have a crochet cast off. It is a very quick cast off that gives a shawl a nice stretchy edge.

Here is Luiza, knitting using 633.6 yards of Knit Picks Gloss lace yarn.

Haruni knit using 637.6 yards of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal fingering yarn.

Summer Flies

Here is a modified version of Summer Flies. (I changed the edging)  It is knit in Knit Picks Shimmer lace yarn (held double) which is a nice alpaca/silk yarn. I used about 730 yards (665 m). It blocked out to 50 inches by 18 inches. 

Tree of Light

Tree of Light Shawl knitted in Bare Gloss Lace yarn (670 yards). Blocked size 77 inches by 44 inches.

Support my knitting habit!

Well, since I have been knitting things for a number of people lately and everyone seems to want to know what my current projects are I thought I would set up a new blog, and hope that I remember to update it. ;)

If you want to support my knitting habit by having me knit you something, or would just like to donate yarn here are some yardage guidelines:

Lace weight or 2 ply yarns are mainly used for lace shawls, but can also be used for other projects.
400-450 yards will give you a small shawl such as this Annis shawl



500-900 yards will give you a medium shawl such as this Percy shawl



1200-1800 yards will give you a large shawl such as this Study in Grey shawl



2 strands of lace weight yarn was made to make this Viften sweater (2650 yards)



Fingering Weight,Sock or 4 ply yarn can also be used for shawls. They can also be used for socks 400 yards are needed for a pair of adult socks. Fingering weight also makes nice scarfs, hats, mittens and baby projects.





Sport weight or 5ply yarn can be used for sweaters and accessories.



Approx 220 yards of color A and 110 yards of color B for a pair of Selbuvotter


DK weight or 8ply yarn can be used for sweaters and other accessories.
720 yards for this Tempting sweater.


Aran or 10ply yarn also makes nice accessories
150 yards for this Spring Beret


200 yards for this Twisted Raveler


If you have any specific project questions please let me know. ;)