Pattern: Unicorn Party

Unicorn Party on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

Fun to knit and a blast to wear, Unicorn Party puts garter stitch to work mixing up colors in your favorite multicolor skein before adding colorful mini skeins of sock yarn (your best leftovers, color packs, unicorn tails) for the edging. Thoughtful details and helpful notes will make this small shawl your new fave to knit and to wear. The only limit on this party is your imagination.

What you'll love about knitting Unicorn Party:

• Starting at the bottom with three stitches and following my notes means no fear of running out of yarn
• This is a perfect stash buster . Grab your favorite leftovers or rock one of those gorgeous gradient packs that have taken the knitting world by storm and have a party!
• Garter stitch makes for great social knitting, plus it breaks up the pooling that can occur with speckled and hand-dyed yarns - have fun knitting yourself a Unicorn Party at a party ;)

What you'll love about wearing Unicorn Party:

• Color party! Knit and wear yourself a rainbow or a gradient or a mix of your favorite colors
• You get a squishy cozy fabric from Garter stitch - fantastic for keeping you warm and colorful any time of year
• Shallow triangle shape makes it perfect to wear as a shoulder shawl, scarf, or bandit-style neck warmer

Size/Finished Measurements
Width: 66½ inches/169cm Depth: 14 inches/35.5cm high

Materials

• madelinetosh tosh sock (100% Superwash Merino; 395yds/361m per 3.53oz/100g); MC color: Holi Festival; 1 skein {approx 395yds/361m}
• madelinetosh Unicorn Tails (100% Superwash Merino; 52yds/48m per 14g); CC1 color: Edison Bulb, CC2 color: Neon Peach, CC3 color: Pop Rocks; 1 skein each {approx. 37yds/34m each} 
• US6/4.0mm 40-inch circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
20 sts x 40 rows = 4 inches in Garter Stitch, blocked
Note: I am a loose knitter. While gauge is not critical in a shawl, you may run out of yarn if your gauge is different from the gauge given.

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• increasing
• decreasing

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Maureen Hannon, Lana Ananth
Test Knitting: dezignmama, knittygal, pinhappy, strickgut

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Unicorn Party is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern.



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Castaway

Castaway on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

You’ve been cast up on a desert island. Luckily, you kept hold of your skein of Malabrigo Lace and a circular needle, so why not cast on a Castaway?

This is a straightforward “wide triangle” shawlette (four increases on the “right” side, two on the “wrong”), mostly knitting one way and purling the other, with an occasional row that will cause your stitches to run. The final section creates a pretty ruffle along the edge.

Malabrigo Lace knits up into a divinely soft and cozy shawlette (an LYS owner friend of mine thought it was cashmere!). The pattern takes advantage of the yarn’s tendency to be a little sticky, which will keep the dropped-stitch ladders open and lacy.

Desert island? Not too bad!

What you'll love about knitting Castaway:

• 1 needle + 1 skein of yarn (choose one you love!) + 1 pattern = yards and meters of pleasurable knitting
• Worked top-down from a center tab makes for an easy beginning with a pleasant stretch of Stockinette knitting before you reach the drop-stitch excitement
• Dropping stitches! Remember when you first learned to knit and dropping stitches was so scary? Maybe that was just me, but dropping them here is FUN (and a little subversive).

What you'll love about wearing Castaway:

• Dropped stitches create a wonderful texture
• So. Soft. So soft. Especially when you wear it wrapped around your neck, bandit-style
• Also makes a lovely shoulder shawl, so everyone can see the drop-stitch lines

Size/Finished Measurements
Width: 57 inches Depth: 17 inches

Materials

• Malabrigo Yarn Lace [100% Merino; 470 yards/430 meters per 50 gram skein]; color: Blue Surf; 1 skein
• One US4/3.75mm 29-inch circular needle 
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
26 stitches x 44 rows = 4 inches square in Stockinette St.

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Ruth Garcia-Alcantud
Test Knitting: Elizabeth Hutchinson, Annie Rota
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Castaway is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version of the pattern is now in your library. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: On the High Seas

On the High Seas on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

Sometimes it’s a little chilly at the helm of your ship. Or perhaps you want to drape a little something across your shoulders (for modesty?) to greet that boarding party. A shawlette is just the thing. This one uses your favorite sock yarn and the beautiful Crest of the Wave lace pattern, which has enough “lace action” to keep you interested without being so complex that you can’t keep an eye on the horizon. I’ve written out the chart, so if charts don't work for you, you’re out of excuses!

What you'll love about knitting On the High Seas:

• 1 needle + 1 skein of yarn (choose one you love!) = yards and meters of pleasurable knitting
• Crest of the Wave is a wonderful lace with one "action" round to remember that gives you a beautiful undulating edging
• Worked top-down from a center tab makes for an easy beginning with a pleasant stretch of Stockinette knitting before to reach the lace excitement

What you'll love about wearing Upon the Spanish Main:

• Wide-triangle shape is perfect for style or warmth: wear it any time of year as a shawl as I've shown here or bandit-style filling in the neckline of your coat all Winter long
• Perfect for adding a pop of color to your outfit
• Makes a lovely gift for someone special on your list (only one skein of sock yarn!)

Finished Size
Width: 64 inches Depth: 20 inches

Materials

• Laughing Rat Studio Superwash Merino Sock Yarn [100% superwash merino wool; 435 yards/398 meters per 109g skein]; color: Pacific; 1 skein
• US5/3.75mm 24-inch circular needle
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
22 sts x 30 rows = 4 inches square in Stockinette St.

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• following written or charted instructions for Crest of the Wave lace pattern (both included)

Thanks!
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful On the High Seas is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Both written and charted versions of the Spanish Lace stitch pattern are included.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version of the pattern is now in your library. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: In the Shallows

In the Shallows on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

What’s that? You have more sock yarn? You’re in luck! In the Shallows will allow you to use up just about every last yard in a cozy shawl to be tossed casually around your neck like a scarf, worn bandit style, or gently draped across your shoulders for modesty or warmth—the shallowness of the triangle makes long ends that can be tied, if you like. And the fabric choice is yours: Plain (garter) or Fancy (eyelet).

After a long detour through Stockinette, I rediscovered the joy and simple pleasure of Garter Stitch. No offense, Stockinette, but sometimes your smoothness and tendency to curl up brings me down (only a little - I love ya, Stockinette). Garter Stitch, with all its squish factor, marvelous ability to lay flat, and awesome ability to mix and mingle stitches in variegated yarn into a more cohesive whole, is awesome too. In the Shallows puts Garter Stitch to great use, and you get to decide if you want to be plain or fancy. Better yet: make one of each!

What you'll love about knitting In the Shallows:

• 1 needle + 1 skein of yarn (choose one you love!) = yards and meters of pleasurable knitting
• Once you get started, the pattern is a breeze to remember
• A lot more fun to knit than the traditional long scarf
• Notes are included for some tips and tricks you'll use again and again

What you'll love about wearing In the Shallows:

• You get to wear that skein of yarn you love!
• Shape of the shawl means you can wear it as a shoulder-warming shawl, scarf with trailing ends front and back, AND bandit-style to keep your neck cozy and provide a pop of color to any outfit
• It's the simple, elegant piece that won't fight with other parts of your wardrobe

Size/Finished Measurements
Plain Shawl
Width: 64 inches Depth: 14 inches

Fancy Shawl
Width: 75 inches Depth: 13 inches

Materials

• Plain Shawl: Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 [100% superwash merino wool; 382 yards/349 meters per 115g skein]; color: Ocean; 1 skein
• Fancy Shawl: Plymouth Yarn Alpaca Prima [100% alpaca; 363 yards/332 meters per 100g skein]; color: Cream; 1 skein
• US5/3.75mm 24-inch circular needle (ndl)
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
18 sts x 22 ridges = 4 inches square in Garter St.

Thanks!
Technical editing: Joeli Caparco.
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful In the Shallows is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version of the pattern is now in your library. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Hap-py

Hap-py on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

A new-world homage to the Shetland Hap shawls of old. Worked all in one piece with one needle and one skein of yarn, this makes a perfect travel project, whether you’re waiting on a park bench, soaring above the clouds, or sailing the high seas. Plus, the Crest of the Wave pattern (provided in both written and charted forms), an interesting variant on the traditional Feather and Fan, is easy to master with spectacular results. What are you waiting for? It’s time to get Hap-py!

Instructions are given for a swatch, which will make a perfect little shawl for an 18" doll, plus the full-size shawl, which measures 32" square. Swatch and shawl do use all of the skein of Madeline Tosh Prairie, so be aware that not achieving gauge may lead to your needing more yarn.

I do love projects like this for travel: one "small of size but large of yardage" skein of yarn paired with a circular needle provides hours of knitting entertainment without the danger of losing a needle (or stabbing your seatmate). The central square (really a diamond kept on the square by working in Garter Stitch) is worked like Grandmother's Dishcloth plus the excitement of occasional eyelet rows. Then the edging is picked up all around the flexible sides of said diamond. Working the center from point to point means your shawl is free from the tight edges that can result from casting on and binding off many stitches. I've included my recommended bindoff for producing the perfect, flexible edge for your shawl.

What you'll love about knitting Hap-py:

• 1 skein + 1 needle + 1 pattern = 1 perfect portable project
• With only three stitches to cast on and the lace bindoff, the shawl is free of tight spots and a dream to block
• Center section is made of up Garter Stitch and Eyelet rows - straightforward knitting you can work without constantly referring to the pattern
• Crest of the Wave is a wonderful lace with one "action" round to remember that gives you a beautiful undulating edging

What you'll love about wearing Hap-py:

• Laceweight yarn gives you a lightweight shawl - perfect for style and warmth and easy to tuck into your purse to always have on hand
• Garter stitch and increases every row blend multi-colored hand-dyed yarns into a beautiful whole
• Square shape gives you multiple options for wear - drape it over your shoulders for elegant drama, fold it on the diagonal and cozy it up around your neck for warmth

Size/Finished Measurements

Shawl: 32 inches square
Doll Shawl/Swatch: 13 inches square

Materials

• Madeline Tosh Prairie [100% Superwash Merino; 840 yards/768 meters per 114 gram skein]; color: Plaid Blanket; 1 skein Note: With swatch, entire skein was used.
• One US6/4.0mm 40-inch circular needle
• Stitch markers, including one different to mark end-of-round
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

18 sts x 18 ridges (36 rows) = 4 inches square in Garter Stitch after blocking

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• following written or charted instructions for Crest of the Wave edging pattern (both included)

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Ruth Garcia-Alcantud
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Hap-py is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Both written and charted versions of the Crest of the Wave stitch pattern are included.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version of the pattern is now in your library. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Upon the Spanish Main

Upon the Spanish Main on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

Wrap yourself in a luscious shawl dripping with Spanish Lace before heading out onto the deck of your galleon. A little stockinette over your shoulders, and then Spanish Lace flows down your back. This worked-on-both-sides lace is so spectacular, it doesn’t need a separate edging, though it will require your concentration. You will have pride of place on the treasure fleet in this extra-wide triangle shawl!

I am excessively fond of the wide triangle shawl. The wider shape places more fabric around your shoulders and upper back, while the shorter depth prevents that "arrow pointing directly at your bum" thing that sometimes happens with standard triangles. Plus, I find that no matter how gorgeous a shawl, eventually I stop wearing it occasionally as a decorative piece and start wearing it all the time wrapped around my neck for warmth and gorgeousness-close-to-my-face.

This shape does make lace patterns more complicated to present, since we increase twice as often at the outer edges as we do in the middle of the shawl. But don't worry! My job is to make your knitting easier, and I have done that here with multiple yet tidy charts and cleverly color-coded written instructions for Spanish Lace.

What you'll love about knitting Upon the Spanish Main:

• This lace pattern only looks complicated - there are just two sides and four pattern rows, but they flip back and forth between the sculptural flowers and delicate faggotting that make this pattern so spectacular
• Spanish Lace is provided in both charted and written formats for every row (I have to be honest here: it was a LOT of work to get this right, and my test knitters were particularly awesome in working with me to make sure this pattern was clear and precise)
• You will be incredibly chuffed that you can work lace on both sides

What you'll love about wearing Upon the Spanish Main:

• Spanish Lace! What else is there to say? It is one of the most gorgeous lace patterns out there
• Wide-triangle shape is perfect for style or warmth: wear it any time of year as a shawl as I've shown here or bandit-style filling in the neckline of your coat all Winter long
• If you've chosen a yarn as decadent as Jill Draper Makes Stuff Splendor Sock (Merino/Cashmere/Nylon), you will want to snuggle up in this shawl all. the. time.

Size/Finished Measurements

Width: 64 inches Depth: 19 inches

Materials

• Jill Draper Makes Stuff Splendor Sock Yarn [80% Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere; 435 yards/398 meters per 100 gram skein]; color: Glacier; 1 skein
• US6/4.0mm 29-inch circular needle
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

20 stitches x 30 rows = 4 inches square in Stockinette St.

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• following written or charted instructions for Spanish Lace pattern (both are included)

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Karen Clark
Test Knitting: galzanne, jennieeilerts, KnitterlyGoodness, luise-k, arzucarolina, chau7, mattnmay, ninjacassy, bluemodesty, bills25, and ludivine77
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Upon the Spanish Main is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Both written and charted versions of the Spanish Lace stitch pattern are included.

Lovely knitters who purchased this pattern when it was originally released should have received a message from Ravelry that the updated version of the pattern is now in your library. Don't miss the special customer coupon code!



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Captain Austen's Scarf

Captain Austen's Scarf on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

A cozy scarf is a must for walking the deck of your ship, and what better way to dress it up than with a little of Frank Austen’s fringe? He worked the very same fringe (on some curtains) while on shore leave with his sister Jane. Luscious, bulky Malabrigo Twist makes for a quick knit, and the reversible Seaweed stitch pattern will keep your interest until it’s time to tie that fringe and board your ship.

This pattern is designed so that you can use every yard/meter of two lovely skeins of Malabrigo Twist or 300 yds/274 m of your favorite Aran weight yarn. The Seaweed stitch pattern is lovely to work in knits and purls, plus it is easy to remember after one time through the pattern. And like all the best scarf patterns, it's reversible! Seaweed looks different but equally attractive on the reverse side.

And then there's the fringe! While, in general, I'm not fringe-y, I love working this fringe and can see how Frank Austen could work up fringe for the drawing room quite happily (even if he had a bad cough). You could leave off the fringe (I worked up a plain version of the scarf for my fringe-averse husband), but I think it really adds a special touch to this scarf

What you'll love about knitting Captain Austen's Scarf:

• Seaweed stitch is a straightforward knit-purl pattern - easy to work, provided in both written and charted versions
• Designed to use up just about all of two skeins of Twist - no awkward amounts of leftovers
• Fringe edging is fun to create - you'll start looking at everything around you to see what else might need fringe

What you'll love about wearing Captain Austen's Scarf:

• There is no wrong side to this scarf - sometimes you fall for a scarf that has to be worn "just so" to be seen to advantage; this scarf looks great front- and reverse-facing
• Worked in a lusciously soft yarn like Malabrigo Twist, you will love having this around your neck all winter long
• You will entertain yourself with that fringe
• Makes an excellent gift for any man or woman - just choose a favorite color and knit away!

Size/Finished Measurements
70" long x 6" wide, including fringe

Materials
Malabrigo Twist [100% merino wool; 150 yards/137 meters per 100g skein]; color: Ravelry Red; 2 skeins
US8/5.0mm needle(s)
US H-8/5.0mm crochet hook (optional)
Tapestry needle

Gauge
20 sts x 22 rows = 4" square in Seaweed stitch pattern

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• following written or charted instructions for Seaweed stitch pattern (both included)
• working fringe (written instructions included)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Caught in the Rigging

Caught in the Rigging (photo: Nicholas Dames)

Caught in the Rigging on Knitty (FREE!)

I love cables and sweaters - the more the better! But sometimes I want something a little different: a focus on a single, intriguing cable (Tangled Ropes) and a shape that isn’t complex but is more than just a tube. Caught in the Rigging cape + cowl are the perfect combination of pattern and shape. The cowl, while keeping your neck warm, also serves as your swatch. The cape sits nicely on your shoulders thanks to its raglan shaping. Separated increases and decreases in the body portion cause the fabric flanking the cables to bias, adding textural interest. Worked from the top, down, you are free to make this cape as long as you like. Just don’t get caught in the rigging!

Caught in the Rigging (photo: Nicholas Dames)

What you'll love about knitting Caught in the Rigging:

• working the cowl first will give you a chance to get to know your yarn/needle combination, as well as the cable pattern
• top-down in-the-round means you can make it as long as you wish
• carefully-placed increases and decreases keep your interest along with that fabulous cable

What you'll love about wearing Caught in the Rigging:

• cape and cowl are separate pieces - two knits for the "price" of one
• raglan shaping in the shoulders make for a great fit up top where it matters most
• increases and decreases add a bias effect for additional textural interest

Caught in the Rigging (photo: Nicholas Dames)

Size
Cowl: One size
Cape: Women’s XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size L)

Finished Measurements

COWL
Height: 6.25 inches
Circumference: 18 inches

CAPE
Chest: 28 [32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52] inches {eds., the garment circumference after increases is 36.5 [41.5, 48.5, 52, 57.25, 62.5, 67.5] inches, sized to fit the aforementioned chest sizes - not sure how you would like to handle.}
Length: 19 [19.5, 20, 20.5, 21, 21.5, 22] inches

This garment is sleeveless. To determine fit, measure around the fullest part of your bust and your upper arms (you’ll need a friend to help). This is likely about 1/3 bigger than your bust circumference. Choose a size with 2-3 inches of positive ease compared to that full circumference measurement.

Caught in the Rigging (photo: Nicholas Dames)

Materials
MissBabs Yowza - Whatta Skein! [100% Superwash Merino; 560 yds/512 m per 226g skein]; color: Oyster; 2 [2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3] skeins

Cowl requires approx. 48 g/120 yds for cowl
Cap requires approx. 220 [260, 310, 340, 380, 425, 470] g/550 [640, 765, 835, 940, 1050, 1165] yds

16-inch US #6/4mm
32-40 inch US #6/4mm circular needles

Notions
cable needle
stitch markers – of a few different colors or styles

Gauge
20 sts/30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Skills Needed
Casting on
Binding off
Knitting
Purling
Increasing
Decreasing
Working stitches out of order (cables)
Working from a chart

Today's photo shoot brought to you by: fog and rain and Hunter Boots and the Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge. This is a good one, folks. #seekritknitting #littleredlighthouse #hunterboots

A photo posted by Kathleen Dames (@kathleendames) on Jun 1, 2015 at 6:34am PDT

How lucky was I for my photo shoot day? June 1st was a chilly, misty day, so no heat stroke for me wrapped in quite a bit of cozy wool. Plus, shooting at the Little Red Lighthouse is something I've always wanted to do (how many times have I read The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge to my kids?!). Combining the lighthouse and my Hunters gave the perfect pops of color to my beautiful grey cape (which otherwise might have been a little, well, grey).

Caught in the Rigging (photo: Nicholas Dames)

Visit Caught in the Rigging on Knitty

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,