Test knitter wanted

I think I have the pattern finalized for the Diamond Brocade toddler sweater, but before I publish it, I really want to have somebody else test it out.  It's written in sizes 18/24 mos. to 4T.  If anyone is interested, leave a comment and we can work something out.

Sneak peak at a new pattern

I've been knitting alot lately, so much so that my hands are starting to hurt.  I think I better take that as a sign to lay off of it for a while.

Diamond Brocade Toddler Sweater

I've been working on a new pattern.  This drop shoulder sweater features an expanded neckline by shoulder fastening, a diamond brocade design on the body with a little bit of diamond brocade on the sleeve too.  Right now I only have the pattern written for 18-24 months, but I'm working on making it multiple sizes.  When done, the pattern will be available for sale in the shop.

Baldwin the Bathroom Monster

The other week I was at the craft store, picking up more yarn when I ran across  Rebecca Danger's The Big Book of Knitted Monsters.  Paging through it, I thought what a perfect way to use up all my left overs or single odd skein.  The projects are fairly simple and knit up fast.  I was able to knit Baldwin on a 5 hour car trip.  I have more left over yarn to use up, so I'll be making more in the near future and donating them to a local children's charity.

Vine Lace Beanie pattern

I tried to make this pattern a PDF file, but here it is in case you can't access it.

 Vine Lace Beanie

Brenda Hoffman

Gauge: About 20 sts/4 inches     Vanna’s Choice WW Yarn

Needles:  #7 & #8 16” circular needles

With a #7 needle cast on 88 sts.  Place marker to indicate beginning and work k2, p2 rib for 12 rows or 1 ½ inches.

Increase round as followed

With #8 needle, work 43, kfb, work 43, kfb  (90 sts)

Start lace pattern, starting with row 2

Lace Pattern (multiple of 9)

Row1: k                                                                                                  

Row 2: *yo, k2, skp, k2tog, k2, yo, k1 rep from * to end

Row 3: K

Row 4:*k1, yo, k2, skp, k2tog, k2, yo rep from * to end

Repeat these 4 rounds, until hat measures 6 inches

Crown

On the next round (work 43 sts, k2tog) 2 times. [88 sts]

Work one round even.

Shape crown as described below.

Round 1: *Work 6, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [77 sts remain]

Round 2 and all even rows: K

Round 3: *Work 5, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [66 sts remain]

Round 5: *Work 4, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [55 sts remain]

Round 7: *Work 3, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [44 sts remain]

Round 9: *Work 2, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [33 sts remain]

Round 11: *Work 1, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [22 sts remain]

Round 13: *K2tog. Repeat from * around. [11 sts remain]

Finishing

Cut yarn, a generous tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches on the needle. Pull gently to close hole. Weave in tail.

Weave in ends.

Finished projects and a free pattern

I finally finished the vest I've been working on for quite a while.  I was planning on offering the pattern for sale, but as I worked on it I made changes here and there and never bothered to write them down.  And once it was done I wasn't to thrilled with it.  Don't get me wrong, it looks fine, there's just something about it that I don't like.  I'm going to try it again with a couple revisions in mind and a different yarn.  Maybe those changes will be enough to make me change my mind.

On another note, I do have a pattern to offer.  This beanie is the result of playing around.  My daughter loved the pattern and requested a hat.  Since then I've gotten couple requests for the pattern and decided to offer it here for free.  I'm working on matching fingerless gloves, if I can figure out how to do the thumbs without messing up the pattern.

Gauge issues

Measuring my gauge has always been one of my biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to knitting.  And this project is no different.  I knit a swatch and carefully counted my stitches and rows and came up with 6.5 stitches & 8 rows/inch.  Using these numbers, I figured I needed  234 stitches to make a 36 inch wide piece.  It wasn't my math that was off, it was my gauge.  Turns out my gauge was more like 6 stitches/inch, so right from the beginning I inadvertently added extra inches.  So now the garment I meant to make as a small is more a medium or even a large.

Since this pattern is still a work in progress, I'm going to finish it as is and see how it turns out.  Knowing what I know now, I'll be able to make the necessary adjustments to make the next one the size I intend.

Scary lace

I've avoided lace patterns up until now, because I was scared they were to complicated and to difficult to keep track of the stitches.  The last time I attempted lace was when I was just learning to knit and picked a pattern that was way over my head.  The last couple of months I've been browsing through my stitch dictionary longing to do something other than basic cables and ribs.

I chose horseshoe lace for this project because it looked to be one of the easier ones.  I already knew how to do all the stitches.  It was just a matter of putting them in proper sequence; which wasn't as easy and it seemed.  I can't tell you how many times I started out, sure I was following the pattern, but by the time I got to the end of the row, something was off.  I either had to many stitches or not enough, throwing off the rest of the pattern.  It wasn't until I realized I could use stitch markers at the end of each repeat to keep track of where I was.  Now even though I have 200+ stitches in a row, they just seem to fly by and I've finally gotten to the point where I've started to memorize the pattern.  I'm finding lace really isn't as scary as I thought.

Sneak peek at my next project

Here a little sneak peek at what I'm doing next.  This is yarn I bought last weekend at  Interlacements booth at the Shepard's Harvest Festival.  This is the thinnest yarn I've ever used and I haven't had much luck with lace patterns before so this is definitely a challenge.  I'm in the process of designing something and everything goes well, I'll be publishing the pattern for sale in the shop.