Needles on the Move

Firstly, thank you so much for all your kind comments and congratulations! It is a pretty big thing to be published in Knitty and my mum is so proud of me :-D I hope there will be more to come there next year.

And now, a little Christmas present for you all. This pattern has been tossing around in my outbox for ages, being submitted to various places. I finally decided to just let y’all have it!

It’s a really fast knit, great for using up leftover sock yarn and filling up with choccies to give to people for pressies. you definitely have time to make a few before Christmas rolls around this year.

Download the pattern for free here

The beaches near where I grew up in Australia were full of those little critters that burrow in the sand and turn the surface into a fascinating series of little waves and ripples. The Beach Fog colourway of these socks contains all the hues of the sand and scrub of Victoria’s south coast and the ripple pattern is reminiscent of the pippies, right down to their tiny breathing holes.

Size: Women’s small to medium (see fitting notes for further sizes)
Gauge: 8.5sts and 12 rounds = 1 inch in stocking stitch.
Requirements: Yarn: 1 skein Dream in Colour Smooshy sock yarn (4oz/450yds) colour: Beach Fog; Needles: 2.5mm/80cm circular needle for magic loop, or needles for your preferred method of knitting in the round; Notions: stitch markers (optional); crochet hook and waste yarn for cast on; yarn needle;
Pattern Notes: These socks are worked from the toe up, beginning with a provisional cast on. Short row toes and heels are used but can be replaced with your favourite toe-up construction if you prefer. Full charts and written instructions are included.

Price: US$4.95

This pattern is sold as an electronic file and will be delivered to your email inbox immediately upon purchase. File size is 638kb, 4 pages.

 My favourite stitch motif - garter beading - appears again on these socks. This would be a great men’s pattern too if you have sock yarn in nice boy colours. The pattern is dead easy, but interesting enough to make a ribby sock fun to knit.

Size: Women’s medium 

Gauge: 8sts/inch

Requirements: 1 skein STR mediumweight, 2.5mm needles, crochet hook and waste yarn for provisional cast-on

The socks are knitted toe-up with a provisional cast-on and short row toes and heels. Of course, the pattern would work just as well with your favourite top-down method.

Download the pattern for free here

Photos, as usual, by talented chief photographer Bronte.

Nothing is growing in the winter garden. A single, brown creeper clings fitfully to the trellis and the picket fence waits patiently for its rambling vines to be renewed. As pale sunshine reflects on the snow and earth, the leafless shrubs remember warmer days and stretch themselves towards the springtime.

Size

Small[Large] (shown in small size); Finished measurements: 7[8]inches long, not including cuff; 8[8]inches around.

Requirements

Yarn: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift (100% Shetland wool, 25g/105m): 1[2] balls MC #880 - coffee; 1[1] ball CC #130 - sky (please note, yarn requirements do not allow for a swatch).

Needles: 1 set 2.5mm and 1 set 3.0mm circular or double-pointed needles for your preferred method of knitting in the round, or size needed to obtain correct gauge.

Notions: smooth waste yarn, yarn needle, 2 stitch markers.

Gauge

8sts and 8rounds per inch on larger needles after blocking.

This pattern is sold as an electronic file delivered in PDF format. File size is 831kb, 5 pages. Upon payment, the file will be automatically delivered to your email inbox.

Price: US$4.95

See, now isn’t that more interesting :-D

I am about two inches past the afterthought thumb stitches, with about three inches to go before the shaping starts. Somehow colourwork always seems to rocket along.

The yarn, by the way, is Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift. The same as in Eunny’s Autumn Rose. I picked it up for a song (not on sale, this yarn is cheap!) at Iknit and will definitely be using more of it. A bit scratchy maybe, but fine for outer wear. If you want to get yourself a head start on the pattern, I expect we’ll need two balls of each colour.

ETA for Lin: The shades are ‘coffee’ #880 and ’sky’ #130. 

Does anyone know how to stop?

Yep, that’s the boring side. I might reveal the top tomorrow ;-)

I’m sure my postman must think I’m carrying on some sort of underground business the way parcels keep arriving lately - little does he know, it’s just that I’m a sucker for every swap that comes along :-D

Here’s the first parcel I received in the Fiber Frenzy Swap over at Spindle and Wheel:

Heidi sent me two lovely skeins of handspun yarn, both merino; Norwegian chocolate (see how it looks unopened - that’s a trick of the camera :P); and the most beautiful stitch marker and dangly sheep thing which I will now put back on my Go Knit pouch where such things reside.

And in knitting:

Mittens-to-be.

Project for the week is a new sock pattern, here’s a hint of what’s to come:

It’s the first time I’ve used Socks That Rock - it’s soooo scrummy! This colourway is called ‘Midsummer Night’ and is in the medium-weight.

Look out for the pattern early next week :-D

The flattering round neck and intricate cabled rib on Mabelle make her perfect for a night out when chilly winds are blowing. Dress down with jeans and a white tee-shirt underneath and she’s just plain Mabel, wear her anywhere! There is no complicated shaping in this pullover: the heavily cabled rib creates a figure-hugging waistline and careful adjustment in fitting will accentuate your curves perfectly.

Size: XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X]

To fit bust : 30[33, 36, 39, 42, 45]inches

Requirements: Yarn: 8[8, 9, 10, 11, 12] balls Debbie Bliss Rialto DK (105m/50g) Needles: 4.0mm/80cm circular needle, 4.0mm/120-150cm circular needle (optional), 3.75mm/80cm circular needle, or sizes needed to obtain correct gauge; stitch markers, cable needle, spare circular needles.

Gauge: 22sts/30rows = 4 inches in stocking stitch on larger needles

Pattern Notes: Mabelle is knitted completely seamlessly from the bottom up, sleeves and body are united at the underarm and the yoke is knitted with raglan shaping. Short rows raise the shoulders and back of neck for a more comfortable fit. Detailed notes are included in the pattern for tailoring the fit of the garment and working the short-row shaping.

This pattern is sold as an electronic file delivered in PDF format. File size is 603kb, 4 pages. Upon payment, the file will be delivered automatically to your email inbox.

Price: US$6.95

With thanks to Kai for the photography.

Friday.

My photographer is busy moving house ;-)