Knotty Knickers

Free Single Skein Fingerless Glove Pattern

I've got another free pattern up at The Rare Yarns Company website! 

These sweeties are knit flat and were created to help encourage knitting off of charts for the customers where I work.  They take just a single skein of DK and I'd love to see what you make of them - just link to the pattern on Ravelry and share what you've created!

Pattern Release - Free at Present!

TADA!

I wrote and knit this pattern up ages ago, but we've taken some time to get the new Rare Yarns website up and going before we started running the free pattern of the month. 

It'll be free until mid-February, so pop on over to the freshly revamped Rare Yarns site and get it while the gettings good!

Free Pattern: Simple Fingerless Mitts

As you might be aware, I knit a lot of fingerless gloves.  I love the things. 

They use small amounts of pretty wool for one. 

They knit up fast for two. 

They keep my hands useful in the cold winter mornings for three. 

They protect my palms from cold pints of beer for four. 

I could go on and on, but you get the point. 

This easy pattern has developed from my experience following patterns which usually required downsizing on the thumb for a better fit (I have anorexic thumbs, it's weird).  Additionally, though one of the best things about sock wool is the amazing hand painting artistry done on it, many fingerless glove patterns for sock wool don't let the colouring show through.  For me this pattern makes for a snug thumb and offer a chance for less than 40 grams of indie sock wool beauty to be worn nearly daily.

Download Simple Fingerless Mitts

Materials Needed

50g of your choice 4ply/Fingering/Sock/Baby wool

Pictured: Knitsch 100% Merino Sock, in the sadly discontinued 'Paua' colourway

2.75mm double-pointed needles, set of 4

2 small stitch holders or waste yarn for the thumb stitches

3 stitch markers, one a different colour to distinguish the beginning of each round

 

 

Collaborative Inspiration: Sock Yarn Blanket

Martine and I had a little convo last week and thought that two post showing how to make a mitered square sock blanket/shawl would be better than one.  

Now, Martine, the wonderfully accented force behind iMake, has had some practice putting together tutorials.  I have not.  So it took me the better part of Sunday to slowly make my way through a four square block on my blanket, stopping for photos on the way and fighting to insure the light was alright, the camera in focus.  I've always understood the practicality for using worsted weight yarns for technique tutorials, and now I understand down to my atomic level.  Sock yarn: I love you, but you are a fickle photography subject!

Above you see the layout for the third block on the sixth tier of my Samavrtti/Savasana Sock Scrap Blanket.  (Samavrtti = even waves; four part breath; Savasana = Corpse Pose; restorative practice of lying on floor during which I plan to cover myself with this blanket while doing.)  

Point of interest: so far, tier six is all iMake yarns!  I've got another block almost done since, bringing me to the end of my current iMake scrap stash, and I love all the colours and have had great fun with them.  

Firstly, some pattern basics.  I'm using 4-ply yarns of all sorts, each having a majority of natural fibers.  Stitch count: 16 per side, which means casting on 32 and marking the mid point between the two.  I pick up with the Right Side (RS) facing, and knit the first row on the Wrong Side (WS).  The actual pattern goes like this:

Row 1 (WS): knit all stitches

Row 2 (RS): slip first stitch, knit until 2 stitches before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog TBL (through the back loop), knit to end.

Row 3 (WS): slip first stitch, knit until end of row.

Repeat rows 2 and 3, casting off on a WS row when only 2 stitches remain.  

My cast off is a slip one, knit one, pass slip stitch over and pull yarn through, breaking to leave appropriate length tail for weaving in and/or seaming.

What makes my blanket a bit different than others is that instead of always picking up in the same direction, I alter the orientation to create blocks with diagonal lines of decreases.  The orientation of picking up is one of the things I want you to see here.  There are also, at first, lots of images of the actual picking up, some of the decreases, and hopefully, with all these you too will be inspired to create a one of the kind masterpiece.  (Or else just send Martine your scraps, or me directly, and we'll use them and send them to others doing a similar thing.)

Let's get started.  In the photo above you'll see not only the planned yarn placement for the wee balls, but my positioning of the blanket for picking up the first square, the lower right in a block.

NOTE: if this is your very, very first square of the WHOLE project, you will just cast on 32 and proceed as instructed as above, following the pattern above.  Then you can skip down to the orientation details for squares 2, 3 and 4, and start again, here at square 1, knowing that the first tier only requires you to pick up the stitches for one side, not two.  Oy, is that confusing?  Sorry!  Let me know if you don't get it!

Here I am beginning to pick up the first side:

One stitch on!  Do it again:

And again and again until you've cast on 16 stitches along the square, as seen here:

You are then ready to turn and work the second side of the square, along the pale green wool.

The start can be done a few times to meet your approval.  Here I got an art shot of the step.  Not particularly helpful, but good to remind us that knitting is meant, in today's age, to be a pleasurable thing.  Liking the way it looks is for me part of that.

Back to it for real though...you continue down this second side, picking up stitches as you go.

At the end you will have 32 stitches, separated by a marker, and a funny shape to your immediate area of knitted fabric as the two sides on the needle stretch it out.

After working a while in pattern things will be clear.  If, however, you are unsure what the point of my decrease instructions are, well, let's look and see how to do them, then what they should look like and be doing...

RS rows: Slip first stitch, knit until 2 stitches before marker, K2tog:

I think most people know to K2tog.  The only thing I want to note here is that I slip the K2tog off the needles with the stitch marker.  This works because though I have a small marker, I'm working on small needles, so it's very fluid.

Once the K2tog is off the needles, (see below, how the stitches are fat and happy together, leaning to the right?) it's time to K2tog TBL:

Decreases done!  Simple, eh?  And flatteringly to the pattern, really.  

Here they are, in their glory, sloping off from one another and giving shape to the square:

Spiffy and simple.  Can you see the slopes to the right and the left?

Now, just carry on as you are and, in a short while (I clock 30 minutes when not taking photos as I go or watching a riveting program) you'll have the first square complete!

Now, here is where one needs to consider: do I really want to make these diamond crosses over the whole project, seen niftily above, or do I want to reduce my seaming as much as humanly possible?  It's up to you.  I like the diamonds, they make me think of quilts, and since I don't sew for a number of reasons (I look at sewing machines and the bobbins explode, one should really iron the fabric before sewing and I am anti-ironing to my core) I like the reference.  

If you don't want the seaming or the diamond, pop over to see the much more streamlined and professional tutorial Martine has created.

Brave hearts, if you too want diamond decrease lines, turn your work above 90 degrees and cast on, picking up 16 stitches along the top of square 1 and then using backwards loop cast on for a further 16.  

Proceed with pattern until square 2 is complete:

Attempt to remain calm in the presence of the need to seam and the fact that, very likely, your squares won't look evenly matched for seaming.

Then approach the seam as a small and achievable item on your 'to do list' for the day.

Turn your work so the open ends are at the bottom.  Hopefully you'll have left yourself enough of a tail from square 2 to easy work the sewing up. 

To be aware: my seaming is a bastardized variation of mattress stitch that is properly shown in this step by step lesson.  I'm partial to my way because it is a bit thicker, passing under two pieces of yarn, not just one, and therefore making me feel it is stronger and more secure.  I have no proof of this, but I do have nice looking seams on things, so I can say that, with practice (as with all knitting techniques) it gives a good finish.

Seaming step 1: with long tail on a blunt sewing needle, run it under the bottommost garter ridge of the square to the left, as so:

Step 2..................................................................................Step 3

Step 4..................................................................................Step 5

Get the idea?  Back and forth, going in and under on one side where you'd previously come up and out.

Until you get a messy sideways looking stretch of stockinette, which, with careful tightening from the bottom up disappears!

I swear that the uneven look that the two squares had to begin will even out after seaming.  And then they'll look fine on that edge and possible odd on the open side with nothing attached.  That will be sorted on the next tier when new squares are added onto them.  Long as the ply is similar and you use the same needles throughout (I'm working with 3mm because they were the median needle size suggested on most of my sock yarn ball bands) and keep to the same stitch count, it'll all work out!

Right, so, two squares done.  You're getting the idea now.  Time for square 3, first in orientation for picking up stitches, working from the side down towards the first square, and again using backwards loop for the second side to be:

And completed:

Fourth square is all picked up stitches, from the bottom of square 3 and down the side of square 1:

It again makes for a funny pull in the project, but as before will lessen as you decrease and decrease and make it a proper square.

TADA!  A whole square!  Yes, a little more seaming is required...  No big, remember?  I usually leave an extra long tail on square 3 for seaming the next tier.  This meant that this square had two options for seaming: the purple bamboo based yarn I'd just worked with or the thicker 100% black wool from the square below it.  I used the purple, but that was just a whim in the moment.  

My whim in this moment is for my head to implode - hope your's is alright after all this!  

I'm A Winner!

Not having regular classes or the ability to be employed has meant there has been lots of fiber related time in my life these past three months.  I've got stash in spades.  I've got a goodly number of finished projects, many of them gifts, to show.  I've a young but growing Knit Night in my care.  I've got a slew of knitting blogs I'm regularly following with an eager eye to see what other people have on the needles or in their yarn hoard.  This past week one of those blogs ran a contest.  And I won it!  

Now, I won't say 'I never win anything' because it's not entirely true.  I usually don't sign up for contests, so I can't 'be in to win' as they put it here in NZ.  Then again, I scored a 27" colour TV while working at Fred Meyer.  I think it was because I'd gotten a good customer service citation and my name went in the draw for it.  I wasn't there at the morning meeting where they gave it away so I don't really know.  Never cared either: 27" colour TV, hello!  It's still working hard for our family, btheb.

What did I win you ask?  Where from?  Well...the cleverness that is Hunter shares her designs on her blog, Violently Domestic and  I scored the newest fingerless glove pattern, Interstices, and yarn to make it!  

The yarn is from Imagination from Knit Picks and I'm being blessed with the Unicorn colourway.  That's right - UNICORN COLOURED YARN!!!  My inner little girl keeps running all over throwing glittery confetti around my mind at the thought of this yarn.  Happily my inner big girl is right behind her with streamers and a kazoo.  I've never knit with Knit Picks so I'm really excited to get a chance to play with something new.  

I also won a second pattern, of my choosing, and for this I decided to be brave and break beyond my normal boundaries.  I asked for a sock pattern.  I can do thumb gussets, after all, so surely a heel gusset won't outwit me entirely.

A note about blog names.  I was informed this week that a lady at an established fibre group here in Nelson got a bit upset about the 'Knickers' part of my name when she was told about the Knit Night.  I was surprised - it's tongue in cheek word play. Hunter's blog too has a name that could be taken the wrong way, and I like that the following is on the Information pages: "Disclaimer for the Humorless: Actual domestic violence is not funny.  The phrase violently domestic is.  If you've come here looking for information on domestic violence, please go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for help."

It's interesting to me that I've been thinking about my own background in domestic violence this week, having it come up in different ways and that the contest blog should again remind me of it.  I'm absolutely grateful that I should have this come to my awareness in ways that are helpful.  The above is an American hotline, so in honour of my time being pulled between two countries, I've found one for New Zealand too: Shine.  

I sincerely hope that if people need help, they find it.  Domestic violence isn't just physical, it's emotional and psychological as well.  

Photograph courtesy of Hunter Hammersen, used with permission.

Pattern Teaser

I've had this brown alpaca from Tasmania since I visited in March of 2008.  It's soft, rich, and slightly oily feeling.  Originally I thought I might make some Knucks with it.  Then I saw a chocolate themed KAL (knit a long) and I imagined the alpaca brown combined with some acid green Kidsilk Haze I've been carrying around petting - brown and lime green not only go well together, but are the main colours of Zatori.  Thus began the designing of Zatori Gauntlets.  

There is only one gauntlet presently.  The ending part of my project met with many rip backs, frogs, and redos.  When I cast off at last Big Spoon kept checking in with me since he could tell I wasn't entirely pleased.  I explained that while I liked it, it was so far removed from my original idea that I was really having trouble deciding if it was done. 

Last Thursday at Knit Night (which we have at Zatori, naturally) I took in the one finished piece and got feedback from the other women.  Consensus likes that it is reversible.  Feels that anything more would be 'gilding the lily' and overkill.  Which means that after the three remaining gift gloves, last hottie cozy, and a baby knit, I'll work up the second gauntlet.  Which will allow me to double check my pattern notes, rewrite and format them for others, and then post another free pattern.  

That's right: free pattern.  Knotty Knickers designed.  Stay tuned.

The Honk-shu Hottie Cozy

Knotty Knickers Presents

A Solution to a Naked Hottie

The Honk-shu Hottie Cozy

Simple, swift, and sure to inspire happy snoring.

 

Difficulty: EASY AS!

         During my aromatherapy training an English girl inspired mass desire in our class with her very portable, very cute, small hot water bottle.  This envy was delightfully placated when similar ones were found at the local pharmacy.  Once I got my hands on one I could think of nothing else than to knit a cover to insure safe snuggling, and so – the Honk-shu Hottie Cosy was created.        

         The double moss stitch pattern effectively quilts the knitted fabric and keeps you warm and snuggly snoring the night through.

         Substituting yarn is an easy affair, making this a perfect stash-busting project; two yarn weights are outlined in the instructions as guidelines, but feel free to play!

Update 24/12/11: Ravelry pattern page has finally been created!  Find it here.

SIZE

One size - fits 10x6inch/25x15cm hot water bottle

 MATERIALS

One small Fashy hot water bottle.

55cm/21.5in of ribbon

Deluxe & Desirous – perfect for grown ups & those small amounts of luxurious unique yarns you’ve been stashing and skein-fondling.

I used locally handspun and handdyed from Fibre Spectrum in Nelson New Zealand given to me as a birthday present, it’s a fingering/DK sort of weight: wool & silk; 65g; colour: purple/pink multi; 1 skein (plenty left over to edge something special with)

 OR

Solid & Firm – swift to knit up & perfect for little ones with the thicker fabric making a protective barrier between skin and hottie.

This worsted (sort of) weight yarn was found for $1NZD a ball at Spotlight - the everything for the home + craft supply shop that I am now sadly addicted to.  Moda Vera Mousse: 70% wool, 30% soya; 65m/71yd per 50g skein; color: lilac; 2 skeins (took under 3 skeins to make 2 cozies!).  The tension is listed as 13 stitches x 18 rows for a 10cm x 10cm square.

 NOTIONS

1 set US #7/4.5mm double-point needles

Yarn needle

Tape measure

PATTERN NOTES

Heavier weight yarn instructions are within the [brackets].

 

Double Moss Stitch

Rows 1 & 2: *K2, P2* repeat to end

Rows 3 &4: *P2, K2* repeat to end

 

PATTERN

Cast on 56[48] stitches and arrange on three dpns.  Being careful not to twist, join in round.*   

Body:

Knit in Double Moss Stitch for 18cm.

 

Neck decrease:

Next round: knit all stitches.

Next round: *K2, K2tog, YO* repeat to end.

Next round: knit all stitches, 15[13] eyelets created.

Next round: *K6, K2tog* repeat to end.

Neck:

Knit all stitches, all rounds, for 7.5cm, measured from eyelet row. 

Next round: cast off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.  Seam bottom with mattress stitch.  Lace the ribbon through eyelets.  With hot water bottle empty, slide into cozy, the fit should be snug, and tie ribbon.  Fill with hot water and enjoy.

 * If you are new to seaming it may be easier to knit all stitches the first round rather than immediately begin pattern.