Saturday, October 29, 2011

Wheat Ear Cable

Sample knit with Lighthouse Waves Yarn on US size 6 needles


Looking through the stitches I have covered so far, I realized that I haven't paid much attention to cables.  Not because I don't like them, but mostly because the cable patterns I lean towards are too long to video, and I like to have a corresponding video for the stitch patterns I post.  Then I found this one, which is only a 4 row repeat on 10+2 stitches.

Multiple of 10 stitches, plus 2

Pattern note: C4B = Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 2 sts from left needle then knit the 2 sts from cable needle.  C4F = Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 2 sts from left needle then knit the 2 sts from cable needle

Row 1: P2, *K8, P2*
Rows 2 and 4: K2, *P8, K2*
Row 3: P2, *C4B,C4F, P2*

Repeat these four rows for pattern

And here is the video.  Enjoy!


Saturday, October 22, 2011

Lacy Ribbing

Lacy Ribbing sample knit with Patons Silk Bamboo on US size 6 neeldes

I was a bit unsure of which stitch to sample for this week; as I was looking back through the stitches already posted, I decided it was time for another type of rib stitch.  So here is a lovely, lace ribbing.  Very easy to do and with only two rows, easy to remember also.  

Depending on what you are using this stitch for, I would recommend adding at least one more stitch on each side for a border; the 'plus 2' in the instructions is for edge stitches, but in my opinion would look better with a wider border, particularly if you plan to use this stitch alone for a scarf.  If you just want to use this in a project where it will be surrounded by another pattern, then don't worry about the edge stitches.

Cast on a multiple of 3 stitches plus 2

Row 1: K1, *P1, K2tog, YO*.  Repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Row 2: P3, *K1, P2*.  Repeat from * to last two stitches, K1, P1

Repeat these two rows for the pattern.

And here is the video.  Enjoy!




Saturday, October 15, 2011

Alencon Lace: Vintage Stitch Series

Sample knit with Butterfly Super 10 Mercerized Cotton yarn from Mouzakis on US size 8 needles

Another beautiful vintage stitch - Alencon Lace.  This makes a narrow lace edging, good to use on whatever you like.

Pattern notes: 
YO(2) - make a yarn over twice - wrap the yarn around your needle two times, instead of once as for a regular yarn over.  Both of these wraps will be worked in the next row.
In Row 2, the P1 is to be worked on the second wrap of the double yarn over from Row 1.
To make a yarn over at the beginning as in Row 2, just place your right needle under the yarn, hold it in place with your index finger, and then begin knitting as normal.


Cast on 10 stitches

Row 1: K3, YO, K2tog, YO(2), K2tog, YO(2), K2tog, K1
Row 2: YO, K3, P1, K2, P1, K2, YO, K2tog, K1
Row 3: K3, YO, K2tog, K8
Row 4: Bind off 3 stitches, K6, YO, K2tog, K1

Repeat these four rows until the piece is as long as you like.

And here is the video - don't mind the cat.  Sorry for the funky lighting on this one; it is extremely windy today, so I filmed inside in front of a window.  The sun was behind a tree outside of the window, so you can sometimes see shadows moving around - that is the branches of the tree blowing around.  



Saturday, October 8, 2011

Lemon Seed Lace: Vintage Stitch Series



Sample knit with fingering weight yarn on US 8 needles


I am in love with this stitch!  How pretty is this?!

This was published in the NY Tribune on May 29, 1881, contributed by "Miss Newton".  

Cast on 23 stitches

Row 1:  K3, YO, K2TOG, K3, YO, K1, YO, K5, YO, K2TOG, YO, K2TOG, YO [4], K2TOG, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 2: K5, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K13, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 3: K3, YO, K2TOG, K1, K2TOG, YO, K3, YO, K2TOG, K3, YO, K2TOG, K1, YO, K2TOG, K4, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 4: K8, P1, K2, P1, K13, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 5: K3, YO, K2TOG [2], YO, K5, YO, K2TOG, K2, YO, K2TOG, K2, YO, K2TOG, K3, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 6: K7, P1, K3, P1, K13, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 7: K3, YO, K3TOG, YO, K2TOG, K3, K2TOG, YO, K2TOG, K1, YO, K2TOG, K3, YO, K2TOG, K2, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 8: K6, P1, K4, P1, K11, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 9: K3, YO, K2TOG, K1, YO, K2TOG, K1, K2TOG, YO, K3, YO, K2TOG, K4, YO, K2TOG, K1, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 10: K5, P1, K5, P1, K11, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 11: K3, YO, K2TOG, K2, YO, SL 1, K2TOG, PSSO, YO, K4, YO, K2TOG, K5, YO, K2TOG, YO, K2TOG, K1

Row 12: BIND OFF 3 STS, K7, P1, K11, YO, K2TOG, K1

Repeat these 12 rows for desired length.

Here is the video.  This updates the original video posted with this pattern to show the pattern in its entirety.  Happy Knitting! 







Sunday, October 2, 2011

Spider Stitch

Sample knit with Caron Simply Soft,  on US size 6 needles

I hate spiders, but I love spider stitch patterns!  I think a lacy scarf or shawlette (or whatever you like) would be beautiful in spider stitch on a lace weight yarn.  I used a heavier weight just for the sake of everyone being able to see it in the above sample.  I did a video way back of a spider stitch pattern, and being close to Halloween now, thought it was time to do another.  This is a very easy stitch to master, don't let the 'K3tog' scare you away.  If you are a tight knitter, you may want to try and knit a little more loosely than normal so you can work that part of the pattern.  Also, some of the rows begin with a YO, and since I don't have any border stitches in my sample, you get to see how to do an YO at the beginning of a row!  Aren't you excited?!?

Work on a multiple of 6 stitches, and I recommend adding a few more for a border so you have nice clean edges.  If you are just going to use this stitch within another pattern, then don't worry about adding extra stitches.  I'm partial to seed stitch borders, myself.  Moving on...

Row 1: Knit all stitches
Row 2: Purl all stitches

Row 3: YO, K3tog, YO, K2tog, YO, K1
Row 4: Purl all stitches
Row 5: YO, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, K3tog
Row 6: Purl all stitches

Repeat Rows 3-6 for the pattern.

And as always, there is an accompanying video for this stitch.  I apologize if I go a little fast, I usually film outside so I get good light, but it is cold and rainy today, and my fingers were starting to go numb from the cold. I was trying to hurry so I could get back inside!