Luca - Cabled Baby Blanket

I am on a roll this week with my patterns! I am really happy about it actually as I have been off from work all week and have done quite a bit on my to do list such as cooking, redecorating and of course knitting. I have been on Ravelry so much this week my hubby is starting to call the laptop 'the axiom'. (If you haven't seen Wall-E, run out and see it. You won't regret it!)

I posted about this blanket awhile back (ok, nearly a year ago) but here's the pattern for 'Luca' (find it on Ravelry too, here) named after it's first recipient. I have realized that I didn't take down too many details about making this blanket in my notebook, so I apologize in advance but it's a simple rectangle so I hope this will suffice!

'Luca' - Cabled Baby Blanket

Materials used:

8 or 9 x 50g balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (I used colour 9)
5 mm needles ( I knit ‘straight’ on a long pair of Addi Circular needles so it was easy to handle)
Cable needle
Darning needle

Gauge: Sadly, I didn’t take note of this but this pattern can really suit any gauge

Size of FO: approx. 24 inches x 36 inches

Abbreviation: C8B – Sl 4 st to cable needle and hold to back, k4 then k4 from the cn.

Stitch Pattern:
This starts as a 13 Row pattern with two cable rows in the first sequence and one cable row in every sequence thereafter.

Odd numbered RS Rows: k10, p3, (k2, p2, k8, p2)* to last 15 sts, k2, p3, k10
Even numbered WS Rows: k13, (p2, k2, p8, k2)* to last 15 sts, p2, k13

Pattern:
CO 168 stitches with your preferred cast on method.
Knit in garter st until work is 1.5 inches.

To start stitch pattern:
Rows 1 and 3: k10, p3, (k2, p2, k8, p2)* to last 15 sts, k2, p3, k10
Row 2 and 4: k13, (p2, k2, p8, k2)* to last 15 sts, p2, k13
Row 5: k10, p3, (k2, p2, C8B, p2)* to last 15 sts, k2, p3, k10.

Continue and repeat Rows 6-13 only until work reaches desired length.

Row 6-12: follow odd and even number row pattern above.
Row 13: k10, p3, (k2, p2, C8B, p2)* to last 15 sts, k2, p3, k10.

To complete, end on Row 8 and change to garter st for last 1.5 inches.

BO when blanket is desired length and weave in ends. Block if desired.

Arianna

Matilda - A winter scarf

Hello all...

Another pattern for you from this year's knitting arsenal. 'Matilda' is an amazing scarf that I fell in love with it after the first pattern repeat. Not only did I get amazing compliments every single time I have worn it, but it really knits up as the most luxurious yet sturdy fabric. This really is a showstopper and by far my favourite project of this past winter. I would really recommend it as your next scarf project as it is so interesting to knit and you will love the texture. Especially if you love cabling and even more so if you are one of these super coordinated people who can whizz up masses of cables without a cable needle!


I have named it Matilda, as I was watching the glorious BBC series Cranford while I was knitting it. (A series I really hope continues, it is just so so good!)

I chose the wool on impulse early last winter when Rowan Cocoon came out as it just called to me from across the room. It's beautifully spun and with a slight sheen and I really adore it. I chose the lightest colour as it really makes the lattice cable pattern pop and I wouldn't recommend the darker shades for this for that reason. If you see the archives of this blog, you will see that I frogged a striped cabled scarf in Cocoon with the dark charcoal shade because it was very stiff and was like night and day in texture to the fluffy lovely Scree colourway. Pattern also on Ravelry of course, here.

(Please note that this pattern has been recently adjusted due an error. Apologies!)

‘Matilda’ – Cabled Winter Scarf

Materials Used:

5 x 100g balls of Rowan Cocoon in ‘Scree’ for a scarf length of 2 meters or as many to make your preferred length.
7mm needles
Cable Needle

Gauge: any will do ;-)

CO 50 stitches (or multiples of 6 to suit your yarn/gauge + 1 edge st on each side) with your preferred cast on method.

Knit in the following stitch pattern until the scarf measures 2 meters or your desired length. Weave in ends.

Stitch Pattern:
6-st RC Sl 3 sts to cn and hold to back, k3, k3 from cn.
6-st LC Sl 3 sts to cn and hold to front, k3, k3 from cn.

Row 1 and all RS rows : Knit.
Rows 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: K1 (edge), K3, *6-st RC; rep from * end to last 4 stitches, K3, K1 (edge).
Row 7: K1 (edge), *6-st LC; rep from* to end to last stitch, K1 (edge).
Rep Rows 1-8.

Enjoy!

Arianna

Toasty - Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cover Pattern

I know I am the worst blogger in the world, so to make up for it, I would like to give you a pattern of mine that I have just now finally written up. I am posting this as my very first pattern on Ravelry because someone asked me for it! You can find it here on Rav or below.

I made this cabled hot water bottle cover for my friend Laura last winter and I would really recommend it as a great Christmas gift and there is plenty of time to get started.

Without further ado...

'Toasty' - Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cover


Materials used:
4 x 50g balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky (I used colours 11 and 23)
6 mm needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Cable needle
Darning needle
Standard Hot Water bottle (I used Sanger brand)

Gauge: 16 stitches/24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette.

Stitch Pattern:
Row 1: k2, p3, (k12, p3)*rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 2: k5, (p12, k3)*rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 3: k2, p3, (k4,C8F,p3) *rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 4: k5, (p12, k3)*rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 5: k2, p3, (k12, p3)*rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 6: k5, (p12, k3)*rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 7: k2, p3, (C8B, k4, p3) *rep *to last two stitches, k2
Row 8: k5, (p12, k3)*rep *to last two stitches, k2

Pattern: For the body CO 52 stitches with your preferred cast on method. Knit in stitch pattern until work measures double the length of the hot water bottle. Change colours half way through if making a contrasting coloured cover.

BO when cover is desired length, fold and mattress stitch up the sides and the shoulders leaving 24 stitches on each side, in the centre, to pick up and knit for both edges for the neck.

For the neck:
Pick up and knit 24 stitches and knit in double rib (k2, p2) until neck measures 8 inches. Repeat this on the other side and mattress stitch the two pieces together on the sides. Fold over completed neck as shown in photo and insert empty hot water bottle. Alternatively, you could knit all 48 stitches in the round with one or two circular needles if you are familiar with these techniques.

Tip: Water bottle goes in easier through the neck when bent a bit in half vertically.

Enjoy!!

Oooh....ahhh!

I know I promised a cake update but look at the lovely yarn I bought at the knitting show this weekend! Mostly the show was appalling, so crowded and so much crap...(who knew they made acrylic yarn in 5 lb balls?) and I have never been body checked by so many old ladies on their way to a cross stitch demo but there were treasures to be found. Treasures indeed!

The top yarn is Shimmer 5, 'Velvet Olive' by Colinette. Ooh and Ah. I wanted to wrap myself up in all the long flowing hanks at their display. So gorgeous. I think I am going to make a scarf out of this one because it's so shiny and so touchable. Pattern, tbc.

The bottom yarn is Koigu, for socks of course, from the lovely Socktopus stand. So gorgeous but unbelievably expensive!! Really shocking actualy. I hope it's as nice as everyone says.... I think monkey socks for these babies as the colourways should really show off the pattern.

I started this scarf over the weekend but I think I am going to abandon ship and start on the shiny Colinette for a cable scarf instead. I am not that thrilled with it. It's Rowan Cocoon but I don't really like how it feels knitted up. Maybe for a cool stripy hat instead? I only bought two balls, but still... waste not, want not.

Also, I was finally invited to join Ravelry! I am really excited about it and have been slowly putting up pics and patterns. I think it's going be very fun to geek out over everyone's photos and amazing talent in one cool place. Yay!

Hope you had a nice weekend!

Arianna