Category Archives: Knitting

Pattern release day: Sensu wristers/gauntlets

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Sensu gauntlets

Inspired by traditional Japanese fans, this twisted ribbed wristers/gauntlets feature some simple travelling cables which expand and contract just like a fan.

Two lengths of wrister/gauntlet are provided and all of the instructions are written out round-by-round as well being charted.

Yardage for wristers: 130-150 yds/120-140m.
Yardage for gauntlets: 200-220 yds/180-200m.
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows in 4”/10cm in twisted ribbing using 3mm needles
Finished size to fit hands of circumference 7-8“/17.75-20.3cm.

Instructions are also provided as to how to adapt the wristers/gauntlets to fit over different hand sizes.

Also available are a matching hat (coming soon), and cowl.

Available for immediate purchase and download here.

Click on the photo above for more photos.

Sensu cowl

Pattern release day: Sensu cowl

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Sensu cowl

Inspired by traditional Japanese fans, this twisted ribbed cowl features some simple travelling cables which expand and contract just like a fan.

Two options of how to arrange the cables are provided (option A is shown), and all of the instructions are written out round-by-round as well being charted.

Instructions are also provided as to how to adapt the cowl to fit over different head sizes.

Available for sale here: Sensu cowl.

Also available are a matching hat, and wristers/gauntlets (coming soon).

Yardage requirements: 240-260 yds/220-240m of 4 ply/sock yarn
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rows in 4”/10cm in twisted ribbing
Needles: 3mm needles or whatever needed to meet gauge
Finished size to fit over head of circumference 20-22“/50.8-55.9cm.

Note, this sale is for a pdf file of instructions required to hand-knit this item, and not for the finished object.

Click on the photo above for more photos.

Floral lace poncho

Pattern release day: Floral lace poncho

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This fun floral lace poncho is great for wrapping up on cool summer nights. Featuring an all-over floral lace pattern, with contrast diagonal flowers you can wear this in multiple ways.

A delicate picot edging both starts and finishes this poncho.

The instructions are provided in both chart and line-by-line written formats, to suit all knitters.

Finished size is 64“/163cm square, 29“/74cm straight drop from neck to edge.You can find more pictures by clicking the image above, and can buy the pattern here: Floral Lace Poncho.

Lightning shawl

Pattern release day: Staccato Lightning Shawl

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A simple, but effective lace pattern inspired by the extensive branching found in staccato lightning, this large lace shawl features an easy to memorise lace pattern, and delicate attached edging.

Instructions are both written and charted, and the pattern uses only knits, purls, k2tog, ssk and yarnovers to achieve the effect.

After blocking the wingspan is 73”/186cm, the depths is 45”/114cm and the diagonal length is 58”/147cm.

For more images click on the photo above.

You can buy it here: Staccato Lightning Shawl.

Conygar shawl

Pattern release day: Conygar shawl

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Inspired by the flint arrowheads found at the Conygar Hill barrow in Dorset, this crescent shawl is a perfect Spring cover-up.

Light and airy, this easy to memorise lace pattern uses only ssk, k2tog and sk2p decreases and regular yarnovers. Bordered with a double-sided floral lace pattern to mimic the flowers which grow on the barrow, it is edged with a simple pointed garter motif which makes it easy to thread through blocking wires and shape.

The instructions are both written and charted out, and a tally chart is provided with repeat quantities and stitch counts throughout the pattern.

Click here to buy it now: Conygar Shawl.

You can see more images by clicking on the picture below.

Pattern release day: Beryllium set

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It’s been hot and sunny during lockdown, but the weather is on the turn and don’t forget the wise words “Ne’er cast a clout till May be out”. I’ve been working on a couple of hat, cowl and wrister sets in fingering weight yarn which are perfect for this in-between weather.

The Beryllium set features a neat cable that gives a honeycomb effect, trapping extra air for additional warmth. It’s also reversible, so as long as you are careful with any yarn joins and weaving in your ends, you don’t have to pay attention when you pick any of the items up. Just pop them on and luxuriate in the warmth.

You can buy the patterns here for the: hat, cowl or wristers.

You can also find more images by clicking on the picture below.

Alpe D'Huez

Pattern release day: Alpe d’Huez set

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Inspired by the switchbacks of the Alpe d’Huez and shown here in Tour de France leader yellow, the striking chevron pattern of this cowl, hat and wristers set is both reversible, and super warm.

Only using basic stitches (knit, purl, and decreases for the hat/increases for the wristers) this set is simple to complete whilst also being visually striking.

Available to buy here individually as the hat, cowl or wristers.

You can see more images by clicking on the picture below.

Pattern release day – Stacked Hearts

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I have been busy in the run up to the traditional gifting season as we (in the Northern hemisphere) watch the days getting shorter and look forward to when the sun comes back again.

I have created another set of patterns using a stranded colourwork pattern which provides both visual interest and extra warmth during these dark days.

You can buy the individual pieces here, the: hat, cowl, wristers and mittens.

See more pictures by clicking on the image below:

2018 Stashdown – late year update

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From you have I been absent since the spring. Oops.

I have been busy knitting and spinning, but I’ve managed to completely fail to update here (mostly because I’ve been rubbish at getting photos done). I will cover Tour de Fleece in its own post, but will just summarise here that I turned 886g of fibre into 3,500 yards of yarn during the TdF period.

So, what have I been otherwise up to since April?

After finishing Abisko (the last recorded stashdown entry), I worked my Winged Fancy gradient into a short-sleeved pullover (Cullum), using up 904 yards in the process:

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/cullum

I stayed working with handspun to complete another short-sleeved top (Bayside), which took another 918 yards out of service.

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/bayside-pullover

Next up was a quick baby jumper for my hairdresser, using 467 yards of stash:

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/seamless-baby-sweater-10

This was followed by a stranded cardigan which mixed handspun and Wollmeise, for a total of 1,191 yards (and which I only added the buttons to yesterday):

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/116-9-frozen-cherries

This took me up to the start of Tour de Fleece, where (as I said) I turned 886g of fibre into 3,500 yards of yarn:

I also managed to spin another 280g of fibre into 1,584 yards of 2-ply light-fingering weight yarn, but finished this after Tour de Fleece had finished:

https://www.ravelry.com/people/fak/handspun/mermaids-lair

I immediately started working with this new handspun, starting with a long waterfall cardigan (Bienvenidas), which used up 1,376 yards of yarn:

 

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/bienvenidas-cardigan

Then I got stuck into another gradient sweater, using up 946 yards of yarn:

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/daisy-sweater

That was September. I ran an overseas marathon in September (Berlin) and another in October (Chicago), so was a bit busy with those, before tackling another gradient sweater, this time a version of Elfe without any striping, using up 1,148 yards of handspun:

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/elfe-3

I still had a fair bit of the Mermaid’s Lair gradient left after that so threw together a cowldana design (part cowl, part bandana) which used up 169 yards in the first iteration:

And 260 yards in the second:

https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fak/strobilus-cowldana-2

That brings me to, since April:

Yarn out:  8,468 yards, 2,013g
Yarn in: 5,084 yards, 1,166g

Net yarn decrease: 3,384 yards, 847g

Fibre stash reduction: 1,166g.

Updated stash figures as at today (and before I get a new fibre delivery):

Yarn stash:  48,129.2 yards (just over 29 miles).
Yarn stash: 11,377g

Fibre stash: 600g

The eagle-eyed may spot that my figures don’t quite tally from the Q1 update, that is because I have marked some small scraps of yarn all used up as they will be used for tying up skeins, etc.