Pattern: Bloc Pulli

Bloc Pulli on Ravelry $8 (no account necessary)

If you have a weakness for amazing-colored sock yarn and a known aversion to knitting socks, what are you to do? Knit yourself a Bloc Pulli! Contrasting cuffs shaped with short rows and a garter stitch edging at the collar set off that sock yarn from a straightforward body with a round yoke that doesn’t distract from the gorgeous color blocking.

What you'll love about knitting Bloc Pulli:

• Short-row shaping on the long cuffs is fun to work
• Sometimes you want a bit of in-the-round comfort knitting - you've got it! Nary a purl in sight (just three purl half rows to raise the back of the neck)
• Sideways-knit collar means no tight (or fiddly) bindoff plus you've mastered a wonderful and useful technique

What you'll love about wearing Bloc Pulli:

• Color blocking!
• Lightweight yarn makes this a great multi-season sweater you'll reach for all the time
• Though not fitted in the body, the properly-sized yoke ensures you'll look pulled together

Size/Finished Measurements
Women’s XS, S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X (shown in size M with 4” ease)
Chest circumference: 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56 inches
Materials

• MC: Harrisville Designs Shetland (100% Wool; 217 yards/198 Meters per 50 gram skein); color: Midnight; 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7 skeins 
• CC: Madeline Tosh Tosh Sock (100% Superwash Merino; 395 yards/361 meters per 114 gram skein); color: Tomato; 1 skein for all sizes (50g skein of fingering-weight yarn is sufficient for XS, S, and M sizes) 
• US3/3.25mm 29-inch circular needle 
• US6/4.0mm 29-inch circular needle 
• Set of US6/4.0mm DPNs 
• Waste yarn or stitch holders 
• Stitch markers 
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
20 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches in MC in Stockinette stitch on larger needle
24 sts x 48 rows (24 ridges) = 4 inches in CC in Garter stitch on smaller needle
Skills Needed

• Casting on 
• Binding off 
• Knitting 
• Purling 
• Increasing 
• Decreasing 
• Short rows

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Karen Clark
Test Knitting: voodikon, ryam
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Bloc Pulli 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: Wavelette

Wavelette on Ravelry $8 (no account necessary)

Wavelette is a lovely layering piece with its lace front and delicate rolled hems. Fingering-weight yarn and a loose gauge make this light as air and quicker to knit than you might think.

Crest of the Wave (provided in both chart and written form), a variation on the classic Shetland Old Shale pattern, is easy to work and so gratifying with lacy bits and waves of double-strands of pearls (purls, really). This sweater is perfect for strolling on the beach or strutting out to dinner.

What you'll love about knitting Wavelette:

• Worked in the round from the bottom up
• Lace front provides knitterly interest without being too difficult
• Very little finishing work

What you'll love about wearing Wavelette:

• Fingering weight yarn makes this a lightweight, virtually year-round sweater depending upon what you layer beneath it
• Delicate rolled hems at collar and cuff enhance the elegance of this sweater
• Show-stopping lace panel in front makes this sweater truly special

Size/Finished Measurements
Chest: 28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52) inches Shown in 36-inch with -2 inches ease.

Materials

• Louet Gems Fingering Weight [100% Merino; 185 yards/169 Meters per 50 gram skein]; color: Cloud Grey; 4 [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] skeins (approximately 666 [815, 977, 1145, 1325, 1509, 1685] yards)
• US6/4.0mm 32-inch/80 cm circular needle
• Set of US2/2.75mm double-pointed needles (DPNs)
• Waste yarn
• Stitch markers
• Coil-less safety pins or other removable stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
24 sts x 26 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch on larger needle

Skills Needed

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

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Karen Clark
Test Knitting: 100creations, lalalaclaire, mythik, villageknitting
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Wavelette is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Both written and charted versions of the Crest of the Wave 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: Solstice Cardi - now on Ravelry!

UPDATE: The Solstice Cardi is now available on Ravelry! Subscribers to The Sweater with Kathleen Dames newsletter receive a special coupon for 50% off the pattern until 11:59pm EDT on Monday, March 28th.

Solstice Cardi on Ravelry $8 on Ravelry (no account required)

You need one of those little cardigans that you throw on over everything. But wouldn’t you like it to have a v-neck, flatter your figure, and be fun to knit with little finishing?

Solstice Cardi is the one for you! Stockinette with shaping where you need it keeps things smooth and simple. Garter stitch edges and integrated button bands give a crisp finish and are easy to work.

Watch the first season of The Sweater with Kathleen Dames on YouTube to knit this pattern with me.

And if you prefer listening, subscribe to the audio-only podcast on iTunes.

What you'll love about knitting Solstice Cardi

• You can knit along with me over the 12-week podcast season beginning 8 January 2016! 
• Both pattern and podcast are filled with tips and techniques that you'll use on all your knitting projects 
• Integrated button bands cut down on finishing work, so you'll get to wear your sweater more quickly 

What you'll love about wearing Solstice Cardi

• You'll look fabulous! 
• Fingering-weight yarn makes this the cardigan you'll grab all year long 
• Figure-flattering shaping is built into the pattern 

Size/Finished Measurements
28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52) inches circumference, closed. Shown in size 36-inch with two inches negative ease.

Materials
Julie Asselin Stella (84% Merino, 16% Metallic; 400 yds [366 m]/4.06 oz [115 g]): color, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins; {approx. 600 (700, 800, 950, 1100, 1250, 1450) yds fingering weight yarn}
US6 (4.0 mm) 24-inch (or longer) circular needle
Markers
Removable stitch markers
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry needle
6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7) 1/2" buttons

Gauge
24 sts and 32 rows = 4 inches in St st

Skills Needed
Casting on
Binding off
Knitting
Purling
Increasing
Decreasing

Thanks!
Photography: Nicholas Dames
Technical Editing: Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits
Yarn: Round Table Yarns - Camelot in Orkney
Buttons: Remembrances Pottery

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

Don't forget to tag your project with the hashtags #solsticecardi and #kdsweater on social media.



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Benwick

Benwick on Ravelry $8 (no account necessary)

To celebrate the publication of Benwick (and Valentine's Day), use code persuasion2016 at checkout to receive 20% off this pattern, as well as my favorite Persuasion-inspired patterns, A Vest for Charles, An Aran for Anne, and An Aran for Frederick, from 11-14 February 2016.

[Captain Benwick] had an affectionate heart. He must love somebody. 

—Chapter 18, Persuasion, Jane Austen

Louisa Musgrove takes the air on the Cobb. She has finally recovered from her interesting illness and is escorted, of course, by Captain Benwick. A passing breeze gives our invalid a chill. Our gallant captain wraps his coat around her shoulders. How very interesting she is! And how ready to fall in love is he!

Far from an exact replica of naval dress, this cardigan nods to Royal Navy uniforms with it's epaulet-like braids and clean front closure. It is also trimmed with matching braids at the collar, cuffs, and hem. In a nod to all the love Captain Benwick has to give, there is a heart on the sleeve.

Feel like the heroine in your own novel!

What you'll love about knitting Benwick:

• Seamless saddle-shoulder construction is so much fun to knit - you'll feel so clever using the specified decreases to set in the sleeve and make a saddle for each shoulder
• Matching braid at collar, cuffs, hem, cardigan fronts, and epaulets are delighfully matchy-matchy and a good excuse to practice cabling without a cable needle
• Who doesn't want to knit a heart on their sleeve? This one makes clever use of increases to make a lovely heart
• Finishing work is modest: seam up the sleeves (or work them in the round if your gauge is similar working flat vs. in the round), weave together the underarms, and sew on those hooks and eyes

What you'll love about wearing Benwick:

• You've got your heart on your sleeve!
• Matchy-matchy cables makes everything look sharp
• Hook-and-eye front closures are crisp and elegant

Size/Finished Measurements
32 (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) inches bust circumference, closed. Shown in size 36-inch with two inches negative ease

Materials

• Seven Sisters Arts Nova (100% Bluefaced Leicester; 200 yds [183 m]/4 oz [113 g]): cobalt, 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8) skeins {approx. 900 (950, 1050, 1150, 1200, 1300, 1400 yds}
• Size 6 (4 mm): 29-inch circular (cir) needle (ndl)
• Markers (m)
• Cable needle (cn)
• Removable stitch markers (rm)
• Stitch holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• 7 hook-and-eye sets, sharp-point sewing needle, and matching thread

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

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• working stitches out of order (otherwise known as cabling)
• following charts

Thanks!
Previously published in: Jane Austen Knits, Fall 2013
Photography: Angela Lee

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



Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Solstice Cardi

Solstice Cardi on Ravelry (available free to subscribers)

You need one of those little cardigans that you throw on over everything. But wouldn’t you like it to have a v-neck, flatter your figure, and be fun to knit with little finishing?

Solstice Cardi is the one for you! Stockinette with shaping where you need it keeps things smooth and simple. Garter stitch edges and integrated button bands give a crisp finish and are easy to work. Join us on The Sweater with Kathleen Dames podcast to knit this pattern with me!

What you'll love about knitting Solstice Cardi

• You can knit along with me over the 12-week podcast season beginning 8 January 2016! 
• Both pattern and podcast are filled with tips and techniques that you'll use on all your knitting projects 
• Integrated button bands cut down on finishing work, so you'll get to wear your sweater more quickly 

What you'll love about wearing Solstice Cardi

• You'll look fabulous! 
• Fingering-weight yarn makes this the cardigan you'll grab all year long 
• Figure-flattering shaping is built into the pattern 

Size/Finished Measurements
28 (32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52) inches circumference, closed. Shown in size 36-inch with two inches negative ease.

Materials
Julie Asselin Stella (84% Merino, 16% Metallic; 400 yds [366 m]/4.06 oz [115 g]): color, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins; {approx. 600 (700, 800, 950, 1100, 1250, 1450) yds fingering weight yarn}
US6 (4.0 mm) 24-inch (or longer) circular needle
Markers
Removable stitch markers
Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry needle
6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7) 1/2" buttons

Gauge
24 sts and 32 rows = 4 inches in St st

Skills Needed
Casting on
Binding off
Knitting
Purling
Increasing
Decreasing

Thanks!
Photography: Nicholas Dames
Technical Editing: Corrina Ferguson/Picnic Knits

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

Don't forget to tag your project with hashtag #kdsweater on social media.

Sign up for The Sweater with Kathleen Dames newsletter to get your free copy of the Solstice Cardi pattern.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!
xoxo,

Pattern: Mermaid's Mitts

Mermaid's Mitts on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

Even mermaids get cold hands! And these little pretties are quick to knit, light and cozy, and require just a smidgen of laceweight yarn. If you are ready to move beyond the basics but not ready for the time commitment of a shawl, you’ll flap your tail for this pair in fishtail lace.

Mermaid's Mitts are a great way to learn about working in the round (for the cuff) and back-and-forth (for the thumb opening) in a lace pattern. I provide notes, charts, and information to help you master this skill. Since these mitts only use about 80yds (10g) of laceweight yarn, they are a quick and satisfying project that adds to your skill set. Plus, covering up your wrist pulse points really does keep you warmer!

What you'll love about knitting Mermaid's Mitts:

• only 10g of laceweight yarn
• master a pretty lace pattern in the round and back and forth
• quick and portable
• the lace pattern creates its own lovely cuff edge

What you'll love about wearing Mermaid's Mitts:

• so pretty
• it's amazing how much warmer you feel when you cover your pulse points
• perfect for adding a splash of color to any outfit 

Size/Finished Measurements
Women’s Medium/Large (modeled with 1 inch negative ease)
Palm: 6 1/2-inch circumference; Length: 6 1/2 inches

Materials

• madelinetosh tosh lace [100% Superwash Merino Wool; 950 yards/868 meters per 118 gram skein]; color: Baltic; 1 skein
• US2/2.75mm set of five DPNs
• Stitch marker(s), tapestry needle

Gauge
24 sts x 40 rows = 4 inches square in Fishtail Lace

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• working in the round
• working back and forth
• following written or charted instructions for Fishtail Lace pattern (both included)

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Joeli Caparco
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Mermaid's Mitts is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Both written and charted versions of the Fishtail 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: JOY garland

JOY garland on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

Let everyone know that a knitter lives here (or a knitter loves someone who lives here) by hanging a sign on the door! JOY is quick to knit and employs some clever use of i-cord and garter stitch. If you can knit, increase, and decrease, you can add a little holiday joy to your home (or office).

This is a perfect pattern for the beginner who wants to master basic increases and decreases OR for the experienced knitter who wants to explore some simple but clever techniques for a joy-ous result. Letter templates to craft your own holiday message are included.

I smile every time I come to my apartment door when this is displayed. Plus, the bells on the points make a happy jingling sound when the door is opened (maybe don't put it up on a door that is opened too many times a day?), and if you've seen It's a Wonderful Life as many times as I have, you know what happens when a bell rings!

What you'll love about knitting JOY:

• garland is created in one "go" with almost no finishing
• if you can knit, increase, and decrease, you can have your very own knitted garland
• perfect project to knit from stash

What you'll love about displaying JOY:

• your very own knitted garland!
• make a long version of the small size to hang on the tree
• add the large one wherever you need to spread some joy

Size/Finished Measurements

S [L]; 3¼ x 2-inch [8½ x 4-inch] triangles; small five-triangle garland is 31 inches long, large three-triangle garland is 40 inches long

Materials

• Plymouth Encore Worsted (75% acrylic, 25% wool; 200 yds [183]/100g): Red, 1 skein
• US8 (5.0 mm): double-pointed needles (DPN) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle
• Three [five] 9 [15]mm jingle bells
• White felt
• Fabric glue or sewing thread and needle

Gauge
16 stitches x 16 ridges = 4 inches square in garter stitch

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• increasing
• decreasing
• working i-cord

Everything you need to create your own beautiful JOY garland is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern, including letter templates to create your own message.

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: Sailor's Valentine

Sailor's Valentine on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

Originally Sailor’s Valentines were shell-encrusted boxes brought back from Barbados for sailors’ sweethearts. Today, keep the love alive with a romantic collection of cables to make a seafaring sweater of love, perfect for any Valentine.

This Sailor's Valentine is worked flat from the bottom up in one piece to the underarms. Sleeves are also worked flat (to maintain a consistent gauge) from the cuff up, then all three pieces are joined to work a seamless hybrid-style yoke. But the fun doesn't stop there! This sweater is topped off with a turned-heel hood (worked the same way you would to create a short-row heel on a sock), which keeps the Heart Strings cable going all the way from the hem to the top of the hood.

Ribbing at the sides of the sweater gives a closer fit without working waist shaping. For a unisex sweater, simply substitute Seed Stitch for the 2x2 rib.

What you'll love about knitting Sailor's Valentine:

• Variety of beautiful cable patterns that are not only fun to work but have special meaning
• Reef Knot - sailors worth their salt know how to rig their ships
• Triple Gull Stitch - gulls keep sailors company out at sea
• Heart Strings - twisting, turning, entwined hearts
• Twin Waves - gentle undulations on the ocean
• Sailor's Rib - a little something special (and seaworthy) along the front edges and framing the hood
• Once you've mastered the cables, it is so much fun to bring them all together in the hybrid yoke, which cleverly shapes the body and sleeves up and over your shoulders
• If the yoke wasn't fun enough, the hood will blow you away by bringing the Heart Strings all the way to the top.

What you'll love about wearing Sailor's Valentine:

• Who doesn't love a great hoodie?
• Ribbing along the sides makes for a figure-flattering shape (substitute Seed Stitch if you're looking for a unisex fit)
• Hybrid yoke creates a great fit in the shoulders

Size/Finished Measurements
Chest: 30 [34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54] inches
Shown in 38-inch with 0-inch ease

Materials

• Bartlettyarns Fisherman 2-ply [100% Wool 210 yards/192 meters per 113 gram/4 oz. skein]; color: Cranberry #378; 5 [5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9]
• One US6/4.0mm 29-inch circular needle (ndl)
• Set of four (or five) US6/4.0mm double-pointed needles (dpns)
• Cable needle (cn)
• Stitch markers
• Coil-less safety pins or other removable stitch markers
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Tapestry needle
• 23-inch (or desired length) zipper in color to match yarn
• Knit-picker tool, or desired tool(s) for zipper installation (visit Techknitter's zipper installation post for more information about the knit-picker - I found mine at Joann's in the sewing tools section)

Gauge
16 sts x 20 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch


Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• working stitches out of order (cabling)
• reading charts
• short-row shaping

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Karen Clark
Test Knitting: barleystonks, justmama, lexisknits, and puce59
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Sailor's Valentine is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Charts for all the cable patterns 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: Mermaid's Cardigan

Mermaid's Cardigan on Ravelry $7 (no account necessary)

An elegant cardigan just right for a mermaid. Gentle waist shaping follows your curves, and Fishtail Lace sleeves pique the knitter’s interest. By eliminating sleeve increases, the lace is not too difficult and the sleeves blouse out from an i-cord cast-on. To keep the lines clean and the hems from rolling, the entire cardigan is edged in i-cord.

What you'll love about knitting Mermaid's Cardigan:

• Stockinette body gives you some lovely, "mindless" knitting, while...
• The sleeves are filled with knitterly excitement - i-cord and lace!
• Integrated i-cord is used to great effect to not only smoothly finish your sweater, but to create your cardigan's buttonholes.

What you'll love about wearing Mermaid's Cardigan:

• Perfectly placed princess-seam waist shaping flatters your figure
• Lace sleeves give you a bit of ventilation - this is a great transitional cardigan
• The little puff of sleeve at the cuff - very subtle but very fun

Size/Finished Measurements
Women’s XS [S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X] (shown in size M with no ease)
Chest: 30 [34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54] inches

Materials

• Madeline Tosh tosh dk [100% Superwash Merino Wool 225 yards/206 meters per 50 gram skein]; color: Baltic; 4 [5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8] 
• One US6/4.0mm 29-inch circular needle (NDLs) 
• Set of five US6/4.0mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) 
• Coil-less safety pins/removable stitch markers 
• Waste yarn or stitch holders 
• Tapestry needle 
• Eight 5/8-inch buttons

Gauge
20 stitches x 28 rows = 4 inches square in Stockinette St.

Skills Needed

• casting on
• binding off
• knitting
• purling
• increasing
• decreasing
• working i-cord
• following written or charted instructions for Fishtail Lace pattern (both included)

Thanks!
Technical Editing: Ruth Garcia-Alcantud
Test Knitting: 3catos, elizek
Photography: Nicholas Dames

Everything you need to create your own beautiful Mermaid's Cardigan is provided in the professionally designed (by me!) pattern. Both written and charted versions of the Fishtail 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,