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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.

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Toe-Up Socks Using German Short Rows

GSR Socks VP and Rav
After an overwhelmingly positive response to a short technique video I released on German Short Rows, I listened to your feedback and created a sock pattern with NO WRAPS AND TURNS! German Short Rows are a simple and exciting technique that allow you to create shaping in socks without the frustration of trying to pick up the tiny wraps around traditional short row stitches.

These socks are knit with either DK or Sport weight yarn (also called 8-ply). This weight of yarn allows you to learn the techniques quickly and complete the socks, and you get a nice weight of socks when you’re finished. Once you follow this tutorial and learn how to apply the German Short Row technique to socks, you can easily take that skill and apply them to other sock patterns you’d like to knit, in any weight of yarn.

This pattern includes bonus content – both in the written pattern, and a bonus video. The bonus content explains how to modify this pattern for both magic loop knitting, and two at-a-time magic loop knitting. The link to the bonus video is in the pattern.

Sizes: Women, Men, and Children; normal foot widths, any shoe size
Needles: Size US 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles (bonus video includes information on magic loop and two at-a-time magic loop knitting)
Yarn: 100 grams DK or Sport weight yarn (also called 8-ply yarn)
Additional Materials: Size G or H crochet hook, a few feet of worsted-weight scrap yarn in a contrasting color, tapestry needle for weaving ends
Gauge: 6.5 stitches per inch in stockinette

The yarn I used in my socks:
– Pink socks: Lion Brand LB Collection Superwash Merino, DK weight, 306 yards. This yarn gave me an 11 inch cuff in the women’s size sock (measuring from the last row of the heel to the bind-off at the cuff)
– Multi-colored gray/pink socks: Knit Picks Hawthorne Sport Multi in color Arbor Lodge, sport weight, 258 yards. This yarn gave me an 8 inch cuff in the women’s sized sock (measuring from the last row of the heel to the bind-off at the cuff)

Pattern, links to four-part video tutorial and bonus video – $8 US via PayPal. addtocart

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The yarn I used in my pink socks is Lion Brand LB Collection Superwash Merino, in color Peony.
The yarn I used in my multi-color socks is Knit Picks Hawthorne Sport Multi in color Arbor Lodge.
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 little bamboo pins I use 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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Simple Stretchy Bind-Off

So simple, and so stretchy! This is my new favorite bind-off, good to use whether you need a little or a lot of stretch.

Instructions for working this BO in 2×2 rib:
Step 1: K 2 stitches, insert the left needle into the front of the two stitches you just worked, wrap the back needle and knit them together (k2tog tbl)
Step 2: P 1 stitch, Insert left needle into the back of the two stitches you just worked, wrap the front needle and purl them together (p2tog)
Step 3: Repeat Step 2
Step 4: K 1 stitch, insert the left needle into the front of the two stitches you just worked, wrap the back needle and knit them together (k2tog tbl)
Step 5: Repeat Step 4
Repeat Steps 2 through 5

Instructions for working this stitch in any other stitch combination:
K every knit stitch, and k2tog tbl it with the other stitch on the right needle
P every purl stitch, and p2tog it with the other stitch on the right needle

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The shawl I’m wearing (not my design) can be found here.

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

The bulky yarn I used is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in colors Crush, Yonder, and Honey.

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

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Winner Announced! Knitter’s Pride Dreamz Single Pointed Needle Set

If you didn’t win this time, this needle set can be purchased here.

In the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride retailer here.
Outside the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride (Knit Pro) retailer here.

The random number generator I used to pick the winner can be found here.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel – new knitting video every week, and more giveaways coming soon!

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Lace Stitch

The Lion Brand LB Collection yarns I used in the samples are –
LB Collection Baby Alpaca

LB Collection Silk

LB Collection Cashmere

LB Collection Superwash Merino

Instructions for working this stitch:
CO a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 1
Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.
Row 2: K1, *yo, sk2p, yo, k1; rep from * across to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2
BO purl-wise on WS with 1 needle size larger

To work this stitch in-the-round:
CO a multiple of 4 stitches
Round 1 : Knit
Round 2: *K1, yo, sk2p, yo; rep from * to end of round
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 to desired length, BO.

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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