Nimbus Bulky Cardigan

Berroco is offering a few new free patterns via KnitBits, and this is the one that caught my eye. Made on size 11(US) needles and bulky yarn (Peruvia, in this case), it should work up very quickly. Looks really cosy, doesn’t it?
pattern

Knitting as Art: The Wicked Pullover

photo: John Scarisbrick

photo: John Scarisbrick

Some of the creations of fiber artist Sandra Backlund. Referring to her technique as “heavy wool collage” she fancies herself as a sculpture more than a knitter.

Well, it’s not too hard to figure out why the model looks like that.

Knitting News: Cables without the Sweater

photo from Vogue Russia

Here’s a brand new take on the classic cable sweater, from Russian designer Irina Shaposhnikova. Billed on Stylefrizz.com as the trendiest sweater for fall, the cables are held together via a “transparent layer” of something, cloth, I guess. Better start knitting all those Christmas sweaters for the stylistas in your life!

More photos here .

Knitting Tips: Fix a Too-Long Sleeve without Frogging

There are few things more aggravating than finishing a sweater and discovering the sleeves are an inch, or 2, or 3, too long. All that knitting, all that seaming. Though still not fun, I recently figured out how to shorten the sleeves without taking everything apart.

Snip a stitch or two at the cuff. Good project for when you’re watching TV. Unravel back to the length you need. Then, using some of that raveled yarn, take a crochet hook of the appropriate size and crochet a new border around the sleeve bottom. I use single crochet, but you can do picots or whatever you please. No, the cuff isn’t ribbed, but it’s still pretty and now you can wear a sweater that fits properly. Ta daaa!

Vintage Raglan Baby Sweater

From Good Needlework and Knitting Magazine, August 1938

Check it out in color here:

pattern

Toddler Hoodie

BERNAT COTTONTOTS
#203 TODDLER HOODIE (TO KNIT)
SIZES
Chest measurement
6 mos 17 ins [43 cm]
12 mos 19 ins [48 cm]
18 mos 21 ins [53.5 cm]
2 yrs 21½ ins [54.5 cm]
Finished chest
6 mos 21 ins [53.5 cm]
12 mos 23 ins [58.5 cm]
18 mos 25 ins [63.5 cm]
2 yrs 27 ins [68.5 cm]
MATERIALS
Bernat Cottontots (100 g/3.5 oz)
Sizes
6 mos 3 balls
12 mos 3 balls
18 mos 4 balls
2 yrs 5 balls
Size 4 mm (U.S. 6) knitting needles or size
needed to obtain gauge. 5 buttons.
GAUGE: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4 ins [10 cm]
in stocking st.
INSTRUCTIONS: The instructions are
written for smallest size. If changes are
necessary for larger sizes the instructions
will be written thus ( ).
BACK
Cast on 50 (54-60-62) sts. Knit 5 rows
(noting first row is WS) and inc 3 sts evenly
across last row. 53 (57-63-65) sts.
Proceed in stocking st until work from beg
measures 6½ (7-7¾-8½) ins [16.5 (18-
19.5-21.5) cm], ending with RS facing for
next row.
Shape armholes: Cast off 5 (6-8-8) sts
beg next 2 rows. 43 (45-47-49) sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 4½ (5-
5¼-5½) ins [11.5 (12.5-13-14) cm], ending
with RS facing for next row. Cast off.
LEFT FRONT
**Cast on 24 (26-29-30) sts. Knit 5 rows
(noting first row is WS) and inc 2 sts evenly
across last row. 26 (28-31-32) sts.**
Proceed in stocking st until work from beg
measures 6½ (7-7¾-8½) ins [16.5 (18-
19.5-21.5) cm], ending with RS facing for
next row.
Shape armhole: Next row: Cast off 5 (6-
8-8) sts. Knit to end of row. 21 (22-23-24)
sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 2½ (3-
3¼-3½) ins [6 (7.5-8-9) cm], ending with
WS facing for next row.
Neck shaping: Next row: Cast off 5 (5-6-
6) sts. Purl to end of row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next and following
alt rows until there are 12 (13-13-14) sts.
Cont even until work from beg measures
same length as Back to shoulders, ending
with RS facing for next row. Cast off.
RIGHT FRONT
Work from ** to ** as given for Left Front.
Proceed in stocking st until work from beg
measures 6½ (7-7¾-8½) ins [16.5 (18-
19.5-21.5) cm], ending with WS facing for
next row.
Shape armhole: Next row: Cast off 5 (6-
8-8) sts. Purl to end of row. 21 (22-23-24)
sts.
Cont even until armhole measures 2½ (3-
3¼-3½) ins [6 (7.5-8-9) cm], ending with
RS facing for next row.
Neck shaping: Next row: Cast off 5 (5-6-
6) sts. Knit to end of row.
Purl 1 row. Dec 1 st at neck edge on next
and following alt rows until there are 12
(13-13-14) sts.
Cont even until work from beg measures
same length as Back to shoulders, ending
with RS facing for next row. Cast off.
SLEEVES
Cast on 33 (35-35-37) sts. Knit 5 rows
(noting first row is WS) and inc 2 sts evenly
across last row. 35 (37-37-39) sts.
Proceed in stocking st inc 1 st each end of
needle on 5th and following 4th (4th-4th-
6th) rows until there are 47 (51-53-55) sts.
Cont even until work from beg measures
6 (7½-8-9) ins [15 (19-20.5-23) cm] ending
with RS facing for next row. Place a marker
at each end of last row. Work a further 6 (8-
10-10) rows even. Cast off.
HOOD
Cast on 91 (93-95-99) sts. Knit 5 rows
(noting first row is WS) and inc 6 sts evenly
across last row. 97 (99-101-105) sts.
Proceed in stocking st dec 1 st each end of
needle on next and following alt rows until
there are 77 (79-81-85) sts.
Cont even until work from beg measures
7 (7¼-7½-8) ins [18 (18.5-19-20.5) cm],
ending with RS facing for next row.
Shape back seam: Cast off 7 sts beg next
8 rows. Cast off rem 21 (23-25-29) sts.
FINISHING
Pin garment pieces to measurements and
cover with a damp cloth and allow cloth to
dry.
Buttonhole Band: With RS of Right Front
facing for Her or Left Front facing for Him,
pick up and knit 43 (48-52-60) sts evenly
between neck edge and lower edge. Knit
3 rows.
4th row: (RS). K2. *K2tog. yfwd. K7 (8-9-
11). Rep from * 3 times more. K2tog. yfwd.
Knit to end of row.
Knit 2 rows. Cast off knitways (WS).
Button Band: Work as given for
Buttonhole Band on Left Front for Her or
Right Front for Him, omitting all reference
to buttonholes.
Sew shoulder seams. Fold Hood in half at
back and sew back seam. Pin shaped edge
of Hood to neck opening, beg at center of
button or buttonhole bands and matching
back seam of Hood to center back neck
edge. Sew in Sleeves placing rows above
markers along armhole edges of Fronts and
Back to form square armholes. Sew side and
sleeve seams. Sew buttons to correspond to
buttonholes.
P.O. Box 40 Listowel ON N4W 3H3
“home style… life style… your style.”

Knitting News: Coraline’s Star Sweater pattern

The buzz about the knitting in the new Coraline movie has energized knitters everywhere. Now, you can knit one in real people sizes, from kids through adults:

Coraline sweater

Stashbuster Striped Pullover

Use up those single skeins, or those leftovers you can’t bring yourself to throw away. Change the number or width of the stripes. Endless variations are possible with this easy pattern. Worsted weight yarn and size 7 and 8 (US) needles. Pattern free from Straw.com. Link to Random Stripe Generator: stripes

pattern

Turnberry Crochet Cardigan

Just in time for spring projects, NaturallyCaron has published this lovely, lacy cardigan pattern. I’ve worked with their recommended yarn, Spa, before, and it works up beautifully, light but drapey, and comes in so many beautiful shades.
pattern

Beautiful Gansey

This is the most beautiful gansey pattern I’ve ever seen. Thanks to Lori and Ann for bringing it to my attention. I tend to knit “big”, so I think the largest version of this child-sized pullover will be just right for me. Love the color, too. First thing tomorrow, off to find the yarn, probably in green, though I’ve always been partial to fisherman’s off white. Can you tell I’m excited?

Here’s the  pattern, from Unicorn Books and Crafts:

pattern link