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Arabella Shawl Tutorial

ArabellaVP

To get your Arabella Shawl kit (over 30 colorways available, worldwide shipping), visit the SKEINO website.

The free pattern is available on Ravelry, and the video tutorial is below and also here on YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you provide us with the written instructions for the way you work wraps and turns? (These instructions are also in the free pattern.)
– knit up to the stitch to be wrapped
– pull the working yarn forward between the two needles
– slip stitch from left needle to right
– pull the working yarn back between the two needles
– slip same stitch from right needle to left
– turn work
– pull the working yarn back between needles to be in position to continue knitting
2. Can I use German Short Rows instead of regular wraps and turns?
Yes, you can use GSRs, but there really isn’t any reason to. The awesome thing about GSRs is that they eliminate the need to pick up the wraps, which can be difficult in traditional wraps and turns. But this pattern is in garter stitch (knitting every row), and picking up the wraps is not necessary. If you prefer to use GSRs you certainly can, they won’t hurt anything in the pattern.
3. When I start the second triangle, do I knit 150 (like the pattern says) or 170?
You can trust the pattern – at the end of the first row in the new color, you cast-on 20. Knitting 150 is correct – it will not reach the end of the row, and it will make each triangle the same size, and give you the “staggered” effect I demonstrate in the video. 150 is divisible by 6.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The colorway I used in my shawl is Clematis.
The colorway in the still photo is Aqua.

The bulky yarn I use for demonstration is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, and the needles I used are Knitter’s Pride Platinas, from an interchangeable kit.

The plastic clippie markers I used can be found here.

The coil-less saftey pin markers can be found here.

My silver ring is actually a knitting needle gauge, and can be found here.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, and isn’t actually a color, but I like the way it looks. It’s a nail treatment, called Oxygen Nail Treatment. It seems to help my nails grow, and prevents chipping and peeling.

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Giveaway! SKEINO Arabella Shawl Kits


CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway.

To see the colorways available in this kit or to purchase a kit, visit the SKEINO site here.

The free pattern is available here on Ravelry.

SKEINO ships from the US, to locations worldwide.

The colorway I used in my shawl is Clematis.
The colorway in the still photo is Aqua.

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), May 11, 2015; and the winners will be announced in video on May 12, 2015. The winning email addresses will be chosen by random number generator.

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Ravelry Tips – Using Your Ravelry Library

Maybe you’ve seen the “library” link in Ravelry, but are you using your library? It’s there, working for you now, whether you click the link or not! In this video, I show you how useful your Ravelry library can be.

If you don’t yet have a free Ravelry account, you can get one here.

If you would like to friend me on Ravelry, my profile is here.
And the VeryPink Knits group is here (feel free to join).

The computer I’m using is my producer’s, the brand is Qosmio. He uses this computer for video editing, more info here.

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Sugar Cubes Stitch

This weeks new video is part of the Fancy Stitch Combo Series, sponsored by Lion Brand. I get the pleasure of demonstrating the Sugar Cubes Stitch, which is a great dishcloth stitch, in the luxury LB Collection yarns. This stitch also gives me the chance to show how to keep good tension when switching between knits and purls in a single row – a technique that can help you with almost all of your projects.

The yarns I show in this video are:
LB Collection Cotton Bamboo
LB Collection Cashmere
LB Collection Superwash Merino

Instructions for working this stitch:
CO a multiple of 8 stitches
To feature the pretty side of the CO, purl one row.
Row 1 (RS): Knit
Row 2: *p6, k2; rep from *
Row 3: K the knit sts and p the purl sts
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: p2, *k2, p6; rep from *, end k2, p4
Row 7: K the knit sts and p the purl sts
Row 8: Purl
Rep rows 1-8.

Instructions for working this stitch in-the-round:
CO a multiple of 8 stitches
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: *k6, p2; rep from *
Round 3: K the knit sts and p the purl sts
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: Knit
Round 6: k2, *p2, k6; rep from *, end p2, k4
Round 7: K the knit sts and p the purl sts
Round 8: Knit
Rep rounds 1-8.

To make the dishcloth I show in the video:
CO 42 stitches using size 6 US (4mm) needles.
K 9 rows
Row 1 (RS): Knit
Row 2: K5, *p6, k2; rep from * to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 3: K5, K the knit sts and p the purl sts to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 4: K5, Purl to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: K5, p2, *k2, p6; rep from * to last 11 stitches, k2, p4, K5
Row 7: K 5, K the knit sts and p the purl sts to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 8: K5, Purl to last 5 stitches, K5
Repeat Rows 1-8 five times (or to desired length).
Knit 10 rows, BO all stitches.

My Ravelry page for the shawl I’m wearing (not my design), can be found here.

The needles I use for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo DPNs.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “London”.

A yarn like the super bulky roving yarn I use to demonstrate knit and purl stitches can be found in this Etsy shop.

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Delicate Brambles

brambles-lg

I designed this little scarf to be both a pretty and quick pattern as well as a good introduction to lace knitting. Experienced lace knitters will find it a simple pattern to follow, and new lace knitters can use this project as a good introduction to more complicated lace.

This pattern includes links to a four-part video tutorial (video below). This scarf is appropriate for knitters who have at least “advanced beginner” skills, meaning you’re comfortable with the basic stitches, as well as simple pattern reading.

This pattern is a FREE Ravelry download.

Important note on the yarn – the Colinton Yarn I used in my scarf is currently only available in a few limited colors here. Any lace weight yarn that is predominantly animal fibers (wool, alpaca, cashmere, etc.) can be used as a substitute, 225 yards required.

Finished Size: 6” wide by 38” long (15cm by 97cm)
Needles: Size US 4 (3.5mm) 24” circular needle and size 2 US (2.75mm) needles straights or circulars
Yarn: 1 hank of Colinton Australia Lace (100% kid mohair, 50 grams, 225 yards)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving ends
Gauge: 8.5 stitches per inch in Lace Pattern stitch.

The color of Colinton Lace I used for my scarf is Amethyst.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
Some brands of lace knitting needles that I recommend are:
Knitter’s Pride Platina
Addi Lace
Signature Needle Arts

The yarn I used for demonstration is Berocco Ultra Alpaca.

The needles I used for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

My silver ring is actually a knitting needle gauge, and can be found here.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, and isn’t actually a color, but I like the way it looks. It’s a nail treatment, called Oxygen Nail Treatment. It seems to help my nails grow, and prevents chipping and peeling.

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ATX Linen Tote

ATX small

I named this bag ATX after the city where I live, Austin, Texas. Austin is one of the many cities across the world that has banned the use of free, cheap plastic bags at most stores and shops – and everyone I know has adapted to the new rule very well. What crafty person would want to carry a plastic bag when they can make their own reusable bag, and a unique and pretty one, at that?

This pattern includes links to a five-part video tutorial (you can see the video below), where I explain the trickiest parts of the project. This bag is appropriate if you are at least an “advanced beginner” knitter, meaning you’re comfortable with the basic stitches (casting-on, knitting, purling, basic decreases), and you have at least a little pattern reading experience.

This pattern is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD.

Size: One size, bag bottom is 14” in diameter (36cm), length is 14”, strap can be made any length
Needles: Set of 5 size US 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles, same size circular needles, or size needed to get correct gauge
Yarn: 2 hanks of Euroflax Sport Weight yarn (each hank in a different color), 100% linen, 270 yards per 100 gram hank; or any Sport or DK weight cotton or linen
Additional Materials: 4 ring stitch markers, one clippie marker, tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette

The colors I used in my bag: Euroflax Sport in Navy and Caribbean Blue.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The yarn I used for demonstration is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky.

The needles I used for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

The ball chain stitch markers can be found here.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, and isn’t actually a color, but I like the way it looks. It’s a nail treatment, called Oxygen Nail Treatment. It seems to help my nails grow, and prevents chipping and peeling.

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Granite Relief Stitch

The yarns I show in this video are:
LB Collection Superwash Merino
LB Collection Cotton Bamboo
LB Collection Silk

Instructions for working this stitch:
CO a multiple of 2 stitches
To feature the pretty side of the CO, purl one row.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 K2tog across row.
Row 3 K into the front and back of each st.
Row 4 Purl.
Rep rows 1-4 to desired length.
Finish Row 4, and BO on RS.

To work this stitch in the round:
CO a multiple of 2 stitches
Round 1 – Knit
Round 2 – p2tog around
Round 3 – kfb into each stitch
Round 4 – Knit
Repeat rounds 1-4 to desired length, BO.

To make the dishcloth I show in the video:
CO 44 stitches using size US 6 (4mm) needles.
Knit 9 rows
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: K5, K2tog across row to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 3: K5, K into the front and back of each st to last 5 stitches, K5
Row 4: K5, Purl to last 5 stitches, K5
Repeat Rows 1-4 ten times.
Knit 10 rows, BO all stitches.
Finished dishcloth is about 8″ square.

My Ravelry page for the shawl I’m wearing (not my design), can be found here.

The needles I use for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo DPNs.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “London”.

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Ravelry Tips – Using Advanced Search

In this video, I show you how to use Ravelry Advanced Search to drill down through all of the thousands of patterns to find exactly what you’re looking for. Maybe you’re forgotten the name of a pattern? Or maybe you have a good idea for what you’d like to knit, and you want to see what is available and matches your criteria? Here’s how to do it.

If you don’t yet have a free Ravelry account, you can get one here.

If you would like to friend me on Ravelry, my profile is here.
And the VeryPink Knits group is here (feel free to join).

The computer I’m using is my producer’s, the brand is Qosmio. He uses this computer for video editing, more info here.

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Giveaway! Feel Good Yarn Co. Connectivity Glove Kits

Click HERE to sign up for the glove kits giveaway.

Since not everyone can win, you can get your own Connectivty Glove Kit from Feel Good Yarn Co. here.

The free pattern on knitty for these gloves can be found here.

The shawl I’m wearing (not my design) can be found here.

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), March 25, 2015; and the winners will be announced in video on March 26, 2015. The winning email addresses will be chosen by random number generator.